#maybe do a rug hook commission here and there | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

bluecookies02 · 4 years ago

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Dom!Twice x Reader

summary: Jin and you bumped into each other khm, the attraction evident coming from both sides. Despite you being a hero you can't resist him and you end up together in a hotel room.

->While this wasn't a previously discussed dynamic, Twice is just being rough but its consensual nonetheless. Take care of your Doms/Partners on each occasion, even while having one night stands, someone might need you💕

⚠️warnings⚠️ : voyeurism (two people watching and jacking off /it's a dirty hotel room why r u surprised), degradation, spanking, facefuck, female eating out a male, threesome (with a clone), rough to gentle (twice is a sweetheart and needs to be loved), unprotected sex/creampie.

A/N: this was a paid 6k word commission however for a male!reader (during a blm protest) and much more filthy and taboo but taking from the messages and triggered ppl in my asks and on wattpad, some ppl aren't comfortable with extreme topics so i won't be posting the full story (fuck it i added Jin sucking a guy off... i had to) because the "hate" I get makes me rly insecure about some kinks. Also Jin sucks a guys dick here. Be warned. It's wholesome tho.Kinda.

edit:male version here-> http://www.archiveofourown.org/works/25896667?view_adult=true

Sry for the long intro, enjoy.

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈๑⋅⋯ ୨˚୧ ⋯⋅๑┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

You've been strolling down the streets in hopes of getting back home before the curfew, not having the strength or the luxury to get caught by the cops.

Moving through familiar streets, you found yourself wondering off to today's events, the protests thankfully not becoming too dangerous and hazardous, making your heart flush in small victory.

Your attention was snapped back to reality as you heard a familiar gagging sound, and a loud, angry groan followed after it. Your eyes darted to the source of the filthy sounds, gulping once you managed to make out two bodies in the dark. A blonde-haired man choking on a fat black cock as what's supposedly spurts of cum coated his throat. The semen slowly spilled down the blonde’s lips and the tall man above him pulled the blonde up by his hair. The black man dipped his finger into the blonde’s mouth and glided it on his tongue, smearing the sticky liquid before connecting their lips before disappearing around the block.

His hooded eyes turned to look at you, a satisfied smirk forming on his lips.

Gulping down the cum down his throat, he wiped the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand before slowly walking to your frozen form.

He reached for your hand, smiling brightly before introducing himself to you.

"Name's Jin, It's really nice to meet you," he said, looking you up and down, tongue swiping along his bottom lip.

"Y/N, I'm sorry for interrupting" a chuckle left his lips as he shook your hand.

"Oh none of that, I should be thanking you, it tripled my fun..you here for the protests, right?" you nod, your hand falling back down.

"I am. You support them?"

"In my own way apparently, now let's go, we have 5 minutes, I know a hotel nearby" he rushed out, motioning for you to follow.

You stared in confusion before realization hit you, quickly checking the time before rushing off to catch up with him.

He fumbled with his wallet, going to the register and dumping a few crumbled bills on the counter.

The hotel was dirty and smelly, the furniture in the waiting hall dusty and probably washed a decade ago.

"You can wait here until we prepare the room, with this money, you leave at 6 am sharp." the guy behind the counter rang for the staff, sending them off to unlock the room and change the sheets( at least that will be clean )

Jin and you sat on the dusty couch, him already familiar and comfortable, spreading his legs and laying back.

He fumbled with his lighter and the pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

The crappy hotel was full of people rushing in and out of their rooms, borrowing/stealing stuff from one another, and when you took note of it, it looked more like a homeless shelter.

You wondered how many times did he stay in here, maybe even lived here.

"So...you don't like heroes huh?"

"Pft, I resent all people equally...though I make exceptions for those with a fat ass" he mumbled, straining his neck to look you up.

"And you pass the requirements" he laid back down, choking out the cigarette on the couch.

The maid came back shortly, giving you a key and directing you to a room on one of the top floors.

You pressed the elevator button, Jin following you suit as he stood close to you.

You turned your eyes to the numbers on the elevator suddenly interested in the worn-out digits on the metal buttons.

"You know, now that you're standing in this light, you look tasty all over..." his hot breath ghosted over your neck, his arm slipping down to clutch at your hip, pulling you against him.

"And you're so small I could eat you all up...push you down and pound into that fat pussy of yours."

his hand moved lower, grabbing a handful of your cheeks and kneading them in his palms.

You made no move to stop the man, the thought of the elevator opening as he was about to slip his hand in your pants made you swallow a lump in your throat, your cunt throbbing as you imagined the look on whoever was unlucky enough to stumble upon the two of you.

"You look so committed to your little acts of bravery, let's see how committed you are to sucking a cock" the elevator door opened, the floor you reached empty.

His hand tangled in your locks, pushing you out into the hall and forcing you to your knees.

His musky scent filled your nostrils as he pushed you against his clothed bulge, rubbing your face against a wet spot damping his sweats.

"I'm not gonna teach you how to do it, it's not gonna bite" he snarled, watching the way your hand reached up to pull at his sweatpants.

"That's a smart girl, go ahead" he hummed in approval, his hips jerking forward as you grabbed the front of his sweats, tugging the material along with his boxers.

His length hooked on his clothes, snapping up with a quiet "pop" sound as you finally had the opportunity to see it in all its glory.

From the way his cock bulged in his restraints a second ago, you were already drooling at the imagination of it, the situation you were in also adding to your excitement, thinking if some weird lowlife creep could be watching the two of you from the dark.

You gave a teasing pump, your fist tightening around his shaft as he bucked his hips into your hand.

This man was definitely packing, your thighs clenching at the thought of it plowing in and out of your throat.

He watched you carefully, adoring the way your eyes glistened in hunger. Reaching a hand to hold it around your own that was wrapped at the base of

his cock, he guided his member along your lips, his other hand still keeping your head in place.

His wet cock prodded at your lips, your willing mouth stretching around him as he slowly pushed in all the way, your nose mushing against his navel as he removed both hands from his shaft.

You gagged around him, the urge to cough burning in your chest before he pushed you off to the tip.

Spit piled up in your mouth, slicking up his arousal, making it easier to slip right back in. Your nails dug in his hips, holding onto him as he rocked shallow thrust into your constricting throat. You tried your best to loll your tongue out, gliding it against the ridges of his member making him hum in pleasure. You began bobbing your head on your own, timing it with his thrusts as you tried to hold your breath in for a bit longer.

He pulled you off his cock completely, letting you catch a quick puff of air before sinking back in, continuing his assault on your mouth.

You slurped around him, a mess dripping down your lips and onto the floor as your spit dripped over his balls.

"That's a good cocksleeve...you really want someone to catch us huh...if you don't I advise you to try and keep the slurping down" he warned, rocking into you with more speed.

You only got louder, purposefully gagging and moaning as he fucked your face.

His thrusts were now timed and fast, each time almost pulling out before slamming back in, giving you hardly a second to time your breaths.

He smirked, biting his lip as he watched you gasp for air each time he blessed you with an opportunity.

His pubes were messy and long, tickling your nose as you closed your eyes, trying to focus on not losing too much air, already imagining his heavy taste on your tongue.

Your jaw ached and your throat was starting to go numb, begging in your head for him to cum already.

You whimpered and whined as he squeezed your cheeks around his cock, the additional friction of his fingers dipping into your flesh and rubbing against his member making him throw his head back.

"That's it, that's a good little slut...come one swallow around my cock, I want to feel you clench around it"

You did as you were told, gulping down around him, drinking in his sour precum and strings of heavy saliva.

You spread your knees, sinking lower, your aching pussy rubbing against the dirty hotel carpet, still fully covered by your pants.

"Oh, you get off on this too much you filthy shit...who knows who stepped foot on that disgusting rug..."

he all but whispered, finally stilling your head flush into his pubes, the veins on his cock twitching before warm liquid slid into the back of your throat, making you gush and cough around his length, him not pulling out until his cock stopped throbbing, only pushing deeper against you as you struggled to stay still.

Finally, he realizes his grip from your locks, letting you detach from his cock with a disgusting mix of a gag and groan. He cupped your chin with his palm, collecting anything that escaped your mouth and pushing in right back in, watching it dance on your tongue as he kept your mouth open.

"Really...I give you my cum and you have the guts to spit it out...what a shame." he roared, collecting some spit in his mouth before adding it to the mix in your own.

"Swallow." And you did, your sore throat hurting from the large gulp you took in.

"I'm gonna fuck you real good...you seem to like that carpet a lot..." he hooked his arms around you, spinning you and then throwing you face-first into the floor.

Your pants and panties are pulled down to your knees, your legs tied together as you brace yourself on your elbows.

"What, Jin? Is my pussy that-" you're tumbling forwards on your cheeks, the rug burning your chin as Twice slaps your ass.

"I don't like it when you talk, toys don't talk" with that he spat at your hole, prodding two of his fingers making your scream in pain, feeling like losing consciousness before coming back to your senses once you feel a weight on your face.

Jin's foot is pressing you down on the floor, his dirty boot mushing your face as he fingers you.

What you don't see is the two dudes on the far end of the hall watching the way your squirm for his cock.

Jin takes note of them, sending them a threatening but a teasing look, purposefully pushing his knuckles deep in your cunt. Your groan out, rutting your hips in his hold as you beg for him to give you more, finally used to the sudden stretch.

"Oh they sure are jealous of me don't ya think?" you struggled to snap your head back and see who he's talking about, the heel of his shoes pushing even harder against your skull. You grind your ass back, giving it a meaningful wiggle to show off to whoever he's talking about.

"C'mon Jin, don't let them wait, they'll think you don't know how to actually fuck" your cunt is filled with one well snap of his hips, not letting you comprehend how fast his fingers left your body or how fast was his hand now wrapped around your neck, both of his knees now settled between your thighs, pushing them further apart so your back arches down, your pants thrown off of your ankles somewhere around the hall.

You hiss at the roughness of his thrusts as you feel a hand covering your mouth.

"As much as I want to hear you scream and beg, you have too much of a bratty mouth to be left alone". One of his fingers dipped between your lips, letting you bite down on it as he pounded into you, his face never leaving the two intruders as he watched them rub their cocks over their pants.

They don't have the guts. They could never make you feel so good and wanted. They wouldn't know what to do if a delicious pussy like yours hit them in the face.

Both of his hands are on your head as he plows in and out of you, his hips slapping against your thighs, making perfect leverage to bounce against you.

You're trying your best to keep up, your arm reaching beneath youto flick at your clit.

Jin's kinda lost in the way your hips bounce, losing himself in the rhythm as you hear him mumbling incoherent words into his chin.

You don't have the time to pay attention to it, too lost in the way your pussy is being stretched and used.

You heard a snicker from the far end of the hall, a line of disgusting remarks as they whispered about recognizing Jin from the news, apparently "recognizing his disgusting stitched up forehead" comparing him to Frankenstein and other monstrous creatures.

You knew they were just boiling with jealousy, unable to get any as they were left to only masturbate as the two of you literally couldn't wait to enter your room that was only a few meters away.

"Oh I'm fucking you so good, you look really pretty with my cock in your cunt" "I'm so fucking disgusting, they should lock me up and leave me to rot"

He's not looking at those creeps anymore, his mind struggling as his hold on you loosens.

His thrusts are slowing down, your knees trembling as you have to come back down from the intense pace from seconds ago.

You pick yourself up, looking at Jin as he hides his head into his hand.

This must've been what he thought about when he talked about people not helping him fight his fights, judging and mocking even in these absurd situations, not even letting the man fuck in peace.

You reached for his hand, him flinching on instinct when your fingers tangle with his.

His eyes hold panic in them, aimlessly looking around as he bites his lip in order to stop words coming from his mouth.

While you loved being manhandled, what you loved even more is making people feel safe, so you wasted no time in picking up the keys and your clothes, sending a wink at those jerks as you pulled Jim into the room.

"My face, cover my face...it's gonna-" you closed the door behind you, sitting Jin onto the bed as you tried to see what's going on with him.

You sat yourself on his lower belly, leaning down to cup his face in your hands, leaning your forehead against his.

"Sorry handsome, but if anyone stormed in and saw me putting a pillowcase over your face, I don't think they would hold back on calling the cops..."

His eyes struggled to stay closed, his breaths deep and pained. You didn't know this man for long, but there was something really fucked up going on with his head. Your lips caught his, pushing your tongue in his mouth as you wrapped your legs around his back.

"That's good, you're a really tough guy c'mon...open your eyes for me." He did, his pupils trying to adjust to the pitch-black room.

"I know I might be butt ass naked and you literally have your cock out, but I'm willing to listen "

And you do...listening to him remble out all of the self-hatred he feels, degrading himself as he struggles to make sense of the biased sentences pouring out of his mouth.

"I'm only good for a quick fuck, that's the only thing I can somewhat do right" while indeed you really looked forward to getting your guts rearranged, you found yourself involved in this man, deciding to be the first person to show him kindness and passion.

You made him lay on his back, seating yourself between his legs as he covered his face with a pillow, his ramblings never coming to a stop.

"Hey...You're not gonna split, see... I'm right here" you said reaching your arms to place on each side of his hips.

"Have you ever tried doing something that feels good for you...apart from literally fucking my throat...but you know...letting someone treat you?” you asked, kissing along his chest as you awaited his response.

He shook his head no, head poking over the pillow, his mind focusing on your moves.

You nodded, leaving light kisses along his salty skin.

"The reason those assholes kept talking must've been because they were jealous of your ass, I'm sure of it" you stated matter of factly before dipping your head to kiss at his thighs.

"I don't think that's-" "Fuck yeah, I'd eat it myself if I had the chance" you chuckled at his response, wrapping your hand around his length as you dipped your tongue down his balls.

"Yeah...I'll have to agree with the second one...everyone would, if given the chance, how convenient" your wet tongue prodded at his hole, dipping in only slightly before coming back up to his cock, licking up a heavy strip along his veins as you heard him swallow.

You slammed your face back into his ass, moving your hands from spreading his cheeks further apart to grabbing his hips as you pulled yourself into him. Sticking your tongue out you began licking up and down his hole as you continued to grind your face against his backside, reveling in the smell and taste of it.

"Yeah, lick that ass you whore, you take it so well..." his hand covered his mouth in surprise, eyes wide as you looked up.

You were breathing in deep, licking hungrily, everywhere, every inch of his exposed puckered skin, your hand now giving lazy strokes to his cock.

You close your eyes, enjoying the rhythm his body swayed in against you, all but riding your face as he struggled not to speak.

You continue applying pressure with your tongue, getting deeper, centimeter by centimeter. As you are applying pressure with your tongue you press your lips around his ass and make open-mouthed kissing motions, effectively massaging the area around his hole with your full lips.

The pleasure he felt made him feel all that more guilty, eyes squinting as he tried to think.

Maybe he could do it, he's just gonna make one... He won't get lost...he knows who he is...you know who the real Jin is, you have to know.

You feel a light push at your hole, struggling to look back as Jin's hand keeps you squashed against his hairy hole.

"Clones, I make clones" he tries to explain in a hurry, his head buzzing up again once you hum against his crack.

"Ooh that's a pretty little hole, you sure that's for me boss?" a voice quite similar to Jin's sound from being you, rubbing the tip of his flush cock against you.

As Jin doesn't respond, your balance is interrupted, your face suffocating between his thighs.

"Oh she's so tight boss, you sure you don't want some of this?" the clone asks mockingly, his hips snapping forwards with great force, each thrust feeling like a completely new one as he pulls all the way out, making irregular pauses to keep you guessing about when will you get his cock again.

You try to snicker a bratty remark but you don't manage to detach from Jin as the clone begins to shove his heavy cock in and out of you.

"Disgusting little cunt do you have here...it's making a mess of my pretty cock...how filthy" he scolds, his palm meeting with your flesh, stinging sensation burning up through your body.

One of your fingers slips pass your tongue, making Jin's soft walls twitch as you pump the digit slowly.

"Damn boss, you let her play you like that?" the clone mocks, grinding your ass against his dick.

Jin doesn't respond as you push more fingers in, stretching him open as you bounce against the clones cock, your clit pink and puffy since you still didn't get to cum.

Jin's close, his breath hitching in his throat as you abuse the soft patch of flesh in his ass, your tongue still silking up the fingers plowing into him.

Your hand speeds up on his cock, small pumps focusing on his tip as you urge for him to release.

His clone is now still inside you as he looks at Jin, smirking once he sees him spurting ropes of cum into your hand, white liquid pooling in your fist as you continue to stroke him, your fingers pressed snuggly in his hole.

Jin takes a moment to catch his breath, his copy waiting for his orders as he takes your hands away from him.

He finds his place beside you, reaching his hand to flick at your clit.

The clone sets a brutal pace, Jin's palm securing against your clit as you rut into it.

"Yeah, make me cum, make me cream all over, c'mon" you spur them on, fisting the sheets as the bed creeks from the three of you.

Jin watches in aww as you lose yourself on the clone's cock, violently meeting the thrusts and chasing Jin's fingers.

"Good slut, you're gonna cum when I fill up your ass c'mon"

The clone goes feral, his hands kneading and digging into your fat, groaning and praising the way your ass sucks him up, his thrusts sloppy and uneven as he chases his release.

Just as the first wave of warm liquid fills your pussy up, you're clenching down on his cock, Jin's hand flicking in a hurry as he stares at your blessed out face. Your hips are jerking and trashing as the final throb of your cunt ruins the sheets, the clones cock slipping out to stare at your contracting hole, the soft flesh spasming around nothing.

Jin eventually lays down, pulling your body next to his as the clone leaves, rubbing your back in soothing circles.

"I...thanks" he whispers in your hair, reaching for the covers as he drapes them over both of you.

He'll be seeing you again.

i remember telling someone i won't be doing twice soon but...commission is a commission and the idea also caught my attention

___________

Requests:closed

commission:open (1 slot)

Ko-fi link is in my bio💕

#mha fanfiction #twice x reader lemon #twice x reader #villan x reader #bnha #mha #jin x reader lemon #jin bubaigawara x reader #jin x reader

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sassyduckqueen · 4 years ago

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Miraclous: Rise of Anatis 49

And here's Guitar Villain. I hope you like it. The next chapter is the silencer inspired chapter, which I'm very exited for but right now, it's 3 am so I will be going to bed and I'll start it tomorrow. Also I can't believe this story's nearly at 50 chapters :D Anyway my bed calls!

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Chapter Forty-Nine: Guitar Villain Vs XY (2/2)

Luka smiled as he watched Jagged play his guitar. He was stood next to Penny and Bob Roth as Jagged played a solo for his new song. It was a rock song, devoted to Anatis and Lady Noir. Luka had to admit that it captured their energy perfectly and it made him wonder if Jagged had a similar ability to himself. He found it fascinating to watch Jagged as he easily moved his fingers across the fret-board. He really was an amazing guitarist. Maybe one of the best of all time. The rockstar was wearing his signature Eiffel tower glasses and was headbanging as he rocked out as well as jumping around, making Luka smile. He really did have a lot of energy. He jumped and did a power slide, throwing his head back.

"My miraculous!" He sang, bringing the song to an end as Luka clapped along with Penny clapped before Jagged jumped and handed Penny his guitar. Bob Roth, on the other hand, didn't look so impressed but Luka got the impression that it was hard to impress the guy. "So what do you think of the first single on my new album? Can you feel it, Bob? Isn't it killer?"

"Not bad, Jagged, not bad," Bob replied before lifting his hand into the air a little as Luka took a seat on the sofa. Fang climbed up and rested his head on Luka's lap. He smiled and gently patted the crocodile as he watched the adults. "But if you really want to be making something killer, let's talk about this duet with Mr XY,"

"No way, he's not a rocker," Jagged replied, frowning as Luka rolled his eyes. XY's music wasn't even music at all. There was no heart or emotion. It was just boring and repetitive. It's almost as bad as Lila's heart song if you could call it a song. Luka thought it more as screeching, like a distress animal trying to call for help or foxes in mating season. "He's a baby. I bet he doesn't even shave yet. Nah, if you want me to do a duet with someone young, it should be my kid. He's got real talent,"

"Yet not even signed," Bob argued, throwing a glare at Luka. However, he quickly looked away when Fang let out a low growl. "Besides, this 'baby' just pushed you out of the number one sale spot!"

"And?" Jagged asked, shrugging. "Doesn't make him a true musician like me. Penny and Luka think what I'm doing is Rockstar material. They think I'm killer,"

"Penny might be your agent and that boy might be your son but I'm your real boss," Bob growled, making Jagged glare at him and Penny step back. Instantly, Fang moved off the sofa and toward them in a protective manner. He pinched his nose before sighing. "Listen, Bob Roth records can't afford to be No.2 in sales or rep a No.2 rockstar! Get real, Jagged! You gonna have to modernize your music, change the way you look... Get a whole new style!"

"Tsk," Jagged replied clearly annoyed as he crossed his arms. "You wanna talk about real? I'm a genuine rock and roller, Bob, not some pop star in diapers! I'm a real artist with real talent. Even my hair is real! And that's what people love about me!"

He grabbed his guitar and slid over to Fang.

"Isn't that right, Fang? Yeah," He asked the crocodile, grinning before jumping up. "And the artwork you came up with my new album is a waste of my time! Seriously, Bob, what is this trash? It looks like a perfume ad!"

"And that's what people want these days!" Bob replied, poking Jagged in the chest.

"Well, I don't!" Jagged replied, frowning. "Honestly, Bob, I don't get what your issue is! Last year, I got to number one without looking like that! My album covers are suppose to be raw to the bone, exuding the smell of sweat and leather!"

"You do know, don't you, that if your next album doesn't rank no.1 in the charts, it will be the last one you'll ever do in Bob Roth Records,"

"Doesn't seem like a loss to me," Luka muttered, causing Bob to glare at him.

"I'd rather put out nothing at all rather then sing some pathetic duet with that baby faced nobody," Jagged muttered, turning his back on Bob as he glared. Penny held up her hands as she stepped in to control the situation.

"Bob, Jagged and I had an idea," She replied, taking his arm and causing him to look at her. "It's concept is modern but it also respects Jagged's own 'rugged' style,"

"The school girl who made these glasses has some real talent. I've commissioned her for several pieces since she made these and she's real good friends with my son so I know she is killer too," Jagged grinned, holding out his glasses as Luka glanced over. Is he gonna suggest what he thinks he is? "She gets my style. She'll design the cover of my new album,"

"A school girl?" Bob asked, unimpressed.

"Luka, show Bob your jacket," Jagged grinned, causing Luka to stand up and grab his jacket from the hook. He pull it on and walked over, causing Bob to look at it. His expression quickly turned from unimpressed to fascinated. "Marinette is a totally killer designer with a real bright future,"

"She also is the same age as the target audience, Bob," Penny explained, making him nod as he listened. "Here's her address,"

"Alright but just think about this duet with Mr XY," Bob replied, taking the address and leaving the room as Luka took off the jacket and flopped back onto the sofa.

"Why not contact Marinette yourself or commission her through her website?" Luka asked, making Jagged eyes go big. He forgot that Jagged didn't know about the website yet. Marinette was still shy about telling people, especially with the whole Reflekdoll incident. Luckily, they redid the photo shoot and got some really nice pictures. Juleka modeled most of the outfits but he also modeled a few of them. They even got some great photos of them together. He was really happy to see Juleka doing it. She honestly did amazingly. "Marinette's gonna kill me,"

"Yep," Penny laughed before sitting down. "Since it's for Jagged's album cover, it works a little different to how we get his outfits but I'm sure Marinette will agree and do great. Though I wish Bob would drop the whole duet thing with XY,"

"Why does he keep pushing it?" Luka asked, frowning, Penny sighed.

"Probably because XY is his son," Penny sighed, making Luka frown. He didn't know that. "Either way, I can't wait to see what Marinette will come up with,"

"Same here," Luka smiled as Jagged handed him a guitar. He smiled and took it before the rockstar grabbed his own and took a seat. The two of them began to jam, causing Penny to smile.

~Later that Day~

"Marinette is here," Penny smiled, showing the girl in. Luka smiled and waved at her, making her wave back at him. He could tell she felt nervous but it wasn't because she was in front of Jagged Stone or Bob Roth. It felt like she was worried that they wouldn't like her design and honestly her music sounded a little dull, like her normal creativity had been sucked out of her. He frowned a little as she walked over to them and held out the cover design. Jagged took it and instantly frowned, holding it by the corner. Luka frowned as he saw it too. It was nicely designed but definitely not Jagged or Marinette's style. In fact, it looks very similar to the XY album cover and like a perfume ad but that explained Marinette's song.

"What happened to the raw impulsive artistry that made this?" Jagged asked, dropping it to the floor but Marinette didn't even react. She was not proud of her work at all. She sighed and stepped forward.

"Yeah... about that," She mumbled, rubbing the back of her head. "Mr Roth told me-"

"Marinette's young, Jagged!" Bob gasped, pushing her out of the way. Instantly, Luka narrowed his eyes and gripped his guitar tightly. "She represents the target audience. She's come up with a modern concert that's exactly what you need,"

"You mean you pressured her into making that for what you need," Luka stated, making Bob glare at him as Marinette looked a little surprise. She pressed her forefingers together. So he was spot on then.

"Doesn't it look a lot like the cover of that YZ guy?" Jagged smirked, clearly knowing what Bob had tried to before he turned to Marinette. "Marinette, don't listen to Bob. Could you do another one... you know Jagged Style?"

"Yeah... sure," She replied but Bob placed his hand on her shoulder and growled a little, causing Luka to narrow his eyes again. He was ready to jump and pull her away from Bob if he moved his hand any farther. "But I don't know if..."

"You're my girl, Marinette. Remember... raw, impulsive artistry" Jagged stated, taking her hand in his before turning to Bob. "I think we're all done here, Bob,"

"No, we'-" Bob started, moving his arm around Marinette, causing her to look uncomfortable. Almost as soon as he did, Luka jumped up and easily pulled her out of his grip as Fang growled. He held her protectively as he glared at Bob backed away from Fang. Seeing the chance, Penny got up and walked over to them.

"Come with me, Marinette," Penny smiled, leading her away from Bob. Luka gave him one last glare before turning to Jagged.

"I'm gonna head out with Marinette," He explained, getting a nod of him. "See you later,"

"Of course, Luka. Just drop us a text when you want to spend some more time with your old man!" Jagged grinned as Luka put down the guitar and grabbed his jacket. He jogged over to Marinette as Penny told her not to worry, causing Bob to notice. He tried to say they weren't done but Fang growled at him again, scaring him.

"You off, Luka?" Penny asked, getting a nod of him as Marinette blinked up at him. "Well, don't be a stranger,"

"I won't be," He smiled before turning to Marinette and offered her his arm. She giggled but happily took it as they walked over to the lift.

"You didn't have to leave because of me," She mumbled, making him look at her.

"It's fine," He smiled. "I was getting hungry and the music in the room was getting pretty loud so I could with the fresh air,"

"Ah, I see," She replied before doing a dramatic sigh. "And here I thought you just wanted to spend some time with me?"

"I mean um..." He gasped, going bright red and making her laugh. "I cou-could get you lunch if you like?"

"Hmm, you know I'd like that," She smiled as they walked in the lift. She leaned over and pressed the button as she sighed. "But I really should get started on this album cover,"

"Oh right, yeah... of course," He mumbled, going a little red. She giggled a little.

"But maybe we could hang out tomorrow?" She asked, making him glance at her. "I know it's not quite lunch today but it would be nice to spend some time with you,"

"Y-Yeah?" He asked. His cheeks were still a little bit flushed. "That would be great,"

"It's a date then," She grinned, smirking as he went a little red. She giggled as she thought it was adorable. The door opened in the lift, causing them to step out and head towards the exit. Marinette stopped and leaned up, kissing Luka's cheek. "I'll see you tomorrow then,"

"Kay," He muttered, a little dazed. She smiled and walked, lifting his hand to wave as she left. He stood there for a few seconds as he smiled dreamily before Tikki poked him in his side, making him blink as Adrien got out of his car.

"Hey, Luka," He smiled, waving to him as he walked over. "You ok? Your cheeks are red,"

"O-oh I'm fine," Luka grinned as Chloe rushed past him and hugged Adrien, causing him to smile and greet her back. She noticed Luka and grinned.

"Hey, Luka. Are you wanting to meet Jagged Stone as well?" She asked, making him chuckle a little. If only she knew. "I've arranged for me and Adrien to meet him! If you want you can come with us!!"

"Oh, that's nice of you, Chloe," Luka smiled. "But I was just gonna get a bite to eat and head home,"

"Ooh, why don't you have something from the restaurant?" She gasped, grabbing his hand and dragging him inside with Adrien, who just shrugged. Luka went to say he couldn't afford it, making Chloe tut. "Oh, don't sweat it, Luka. I'll get it for you. It's the least I can do given how kind you've been to me. Besides, you're my friend,"

"Thank you but I really don't mind getting food else where," He replied, noticing Bob Roth sat doing an interview near by. He glared towards him a little.

"Honestly, it's fine," She grinned, pressing the lift button. "Daddy won't care as he gives me anything I want,"

"Well, I gu-" Luka started as Bob Roth mentioned something about Jagged doing a duet with XY but a growl cut him, causing everyone to look in direction it came from. Luka gasped as he saw a giant purple dragon that looks similar to Fang before noticing the man below it. He was dressed in a dark gray sleeved top with a turtle neck collar and yellow flames going up the sides. It also had pointed edges on the shoulders and the sleeves were purple with black fishnets on them. He had a dark gray belt with purple spikes on it around his waist. Her pants were dark gray with yellow flames up going up with his legs. His gloves and boots were dark gray with purple spikes on each of them. His hair was in long dreadlocks and was light pink with a dark pink ombre. He had black face paint around his eyes which resembled the face paint of Gene Simmons of Kiss. He was holding his guitar, which was a shiny purple with two black points instead of it's circular form.

"From now on, you call him Guitar Villain and he'll never do a duet with Mr XY!" The akumatized Jagged declared, causing Luka to stare at him in shock. "In fact, soon there won't even be a Mr XY! Rocking Riff, Baby!"

He played his guitar while head banging, causing a purple energy to appear and hit Bob Roth and the woman who was interviewing him. They started to rock out and jump around as if at a metal concert, causing Guitar Villain to smirk.

"Soon there will be nothing but guitar villain fans," He declared, moving his hand in front of him. "The one and only rocker on earth,"

"Dad," Luka muttered as he held up his hands in the horns symbol.

"Dad?" Adrien questioned, causing Luka to turn and face him and Chloe, who looked at him with surprise. He had forgotten they were there. Adrien blinked and looked over at him. "Jagged is yo-"

"Please don't tell anyone," Luka gasped, surprising them as the lift door opened. He pushed them in and pressed the upper floor. "I'll explain everything later but go and hide. I'm gonna alert the akuma app and hide behind that plant pot,"

"Huh? But isn't it sa-" Chloe started but the door to the lift closed before she could finish the sentence. Luka moved behind the plant pot and ducked down as Guitar Villain began to walk down the stairs. He took out his phone and activated the akuma alert app, even though he was already on the scene. It would stop Adrien and Chloe from questioning him about that part.

"Yeah! Guitar Villain!" Guitar Villain declared as he walked to the door with Fang flying next to him. "Whoo!"

"Well, at least he's kind of himself," Tikki muttered as she flew out of his pocket.

"Still it's like Hawkmoth has an issue with my family," Luka muttered, frowning. Hawkmoth has targeted Rose and his mum once and he's targeted Juleka twice. Now he's gone after his dad. If he didn't know any better, he'd think that Hawkmoth knows who he really is. However, he knows that he's been really careful with his identity. He let out a sigh before looking at Tikki. "Time to face the music. Tikki, spots on!"

He transformed into Anatis and rushed outside as the doorman head-banged. He threw up his yoyo and swung onto the rooftops. He looked around and saw that a number of people, pigeons and cars had been hit by Guitar Villain, causing them to be forced to head-bang. He frowned to himself before swinging over to the Fontaine du Palmier, landing on it as Guitar Villain hit a mother and her child with his beam.

"You know moshing is really bad for people's necks!" He declared, causing Guitar Villain to face him.

"Trying to crash my party, bug boy?" He asked, taking out his guitar. "Awesome solo!"

He played his guitar, directing a golden beam towards Anatis. He jumped up and moved out of the way as it hit it, causing it to fall. Guitar Villain didn't seem bothered by it's destruction and kept playing his guitar, trying to hit Anatis with the beam. He jumped over a number of cars to get out of the way of the attack and took out his yoyo, going to throw it at Guitar Villain but before he could, green fire was directed at him. He jumped out of the way and looked up, seeing Fang flying the sky. He opened his mouth again and breathed fire towards Anatis, causing him to run out of the way. Guitar Villain smirked and directed his guitar at Anatis as he tried to dodge Fang's fire, hitting him with the golden beam that pinned him to the wall of a building.

"Welcome to my fan club, Baby," Guitar Villain chucked as he repeatedly hit him against the wall before letting him fall to the ground. Anatis jumped up and ran as Fang tried to blow a fire at him again. He jumped over a car but he was thrown back by the awesome solo beam. He landed against a lamp post and fell to the ground as Fang flew over and when to breathe fire at him. However, Lady Noir jumped in front of him and redirected the fire with her baton, allowing him to get to his feet.

"Annie, you ok?!" She asked as he dusted himself down.

"Yeah, I'm fine," He replied, glancing up at Fang as it flew around and turned back round. "Glad you turned up when you did. Your baton would work nicely right now,"

"Sounds like a plan. Give me a step up?" She replied before running towards him. He placed his hands to get, allowing her to step on them before he brought them up, throwing her upwards and towards Fang. She threw her baton as he opened his mouth, trapping it in between his jaws. She grabbed held of it but Fang shook her off, causing her to fall down. She moved her body around and jumped off the side of a building as Fang snapped his jaw, sending her baton flying. She caught it and landed on the ground, glancing around as Guitar Villain jumped on Fang and flew over to them.

"You're wasting my time!" He declared, glaring at them. "I have a concert to go to,"

With that, he flew off, making Lady Noir raise an eyebrow before the two heroes jumped up and ran across the roofs to try and catch up with him.

"So who is the rockstar wannabe?" She asked, causing Anatis to frown.

"It's Jagged Stone," He replied, making her gasp. "He's calling himself Guitar Villain but I'm not sure why he got akumatized,"

"Damn, maybe it had something to do with Mr XY," She replied, making him look at her with a questioning look. "Oh, Mr XY gave an interview and basically insulted Jagged. He called him as has-been and Ragged. He then implied that Jagged didn't know real music, stole his catchphrase... you know the whole 'killer' thing and basically dared him to come to his gig, saying he would give him front row tickets in case Jagged couldn't hear because of his age,"

"Rude," Anatis gasped, looking annoyed. "Jagged is the true musician here and he's not that old!"

"Are you secretly a Jagged fan?" Lady Noir grinned.

"That's no secret, Kitten," He grinned as they landed on a building. They could see Fang in the distance as he flew around the Eiffel tower. "Why is it always the Eiffel tower?"

"No idea," Lady Noir replied, shrugging. "So what's the plan?"

"Well, his power comes from his guitar," Anatis muttered, glancing up at the dragon. "We've gotta keep him from performing,"

"Well, let's put a stop to this one man band," Lady Noir grinned before the two of them jumped over to the Eiffel tower and scaled it. They got to the top and climbed over the gate just as Guitar Villain went to hit Théo Barbot with his 'rocking riff' attack. Anatis threw his yoyo and pulled him away before he could be hit. Guitar Villain growled and glared at them as he saw them.

"You two again!" He huffed, narrowing his eyes. "To the TV studio, Fang,"

He jumped onto Fang and flew off, making Anatis to frown.

"He's gonna get there before us," Lady Noir gasped as Anatis took out his yoyo. "We can't let him get to XY,"

"I'm on it," He replied, dialing a number and holding the yoyo to his ear. "Hello, it's Anatis. Can you put me through to whoever is interviewing XY? Yeah, I'll hold,"

He rolled his eyes a little, making Lady Noir snort with laughter.

"Ah, Ms Chamuck, it's Anatis," He stated as Lady Noir turned to Theo and made sure he was ok. "Sorry to interrupt you like this but there is an akuma after Mr XY. He's on his way to the studios now so I need you to evacuate the studio. Me and Lady Noir will be there shortly,"

He hung up and walked over to Lady Noir.

"Time to go," He stated, making her nod. "You ok, Mr Barbot?"

"Y-Yeah, just a little shaken," He replied, standing up. "Thanks for saving me,"

"No worries," Anatis smiled before the two of heroes jumped down and headed towards the studio. The two landed outside the staff entrance as Alec Cataldi came out with XY. Anatis almost got distracted from the sound of XY's heart song. It was mechanical and boring. He shook his head and walked over before he gently took his arm as Lady Noir kept a look out. "Mr XY, please come with us. We have to get you to safety,"

"So what's this guitar villain gonna do?" He asked, yanking his arm free from Anatis, making him frown as he moved his hands. "Blow me away with his 'evil' guitar solo?"

"Yeah," The two heroes replied, making XY roll his eyes. Anatis took a deep breathe as Lady Noir placed her hand on his arm.

"Once we've catch Guitar Villain, we'll get you to the Eiffel tower just in time for your concert," Lady Noir smiled but XY didn't even look bother. It made Anatis grit his teeth. This guy was getting on his nerve even more with each passing second.

"Pft, who even cares?" He declared, causing Lady Noir to stare at him in surprise. Both her and Anatis were thinking the same thing. How was this guy even considered a musician? "My roadies can just project my image onto stage. Live concerts were so ten minutes ago,"

Literally as the words left his mouth, he was suddenly swooped up into Fang's mouth, causing both heroes to blink in surprise before Anatis let out a sigh as they heard XY cry out. Alec ran off seconds later, thinking the dragon come after him.

"I suppose we better go save him," He mumbled, making Lady Noir pout a little.

"Do we have?" She asked, making him chuckle. "He's so annoying... live concerts are so ten minutes ago... how lame,"

"Don't get me started, Kitten," He stated as they jumped up to the rooftops. "It hurts my soul just thinking about it,"

"Well, you are the embodiment of creativity," She giggled as they jumped across before stopping. "So we're back to step one,"

"Unfortunately," He replied, stretching. "I say we go and observe since we don't know what he has planned for XY,"

"Hmm... are you sure this isn't just you punishing Mr XY for his lack of respect to music?" Lady Noir asked, grinning. Anatis gave her a smirk before jumping to another building. The two of them landed on a building opposite the Eiffel and crouched down to observe Guitar Villain and his hostage. Fang was flying around the Eiffel Tower as fans began to arrive. There was already a number of people out there though. It looked like it would be a sell out show, making Anatis roll his eyes a little. He stopped as he noticed a plank of wood been put out on the top of the Eiffel tower. Jagged walked out and played his 'rocking riff', hitting the audience with it. He made a devil horns sign and stuck out his tongue before walking off the plank and grabbed XY, who was tied up and shoved him onto the plank. "What is he doing?"

"What he does best," Anatis replied, frowning a little as he glanced up. Lady Noir looked at him and rose a brow in a questioning way. "He's putting on a show and I think XY is the main act,"

"Does this mean we get to go backstage?" Lady Noir grinned, causing Anatis to look at her and smirk back.

"Well, we do have VIP passes," He replied, standing up. She jumped to her feet as well. "Let's gate crash this gig,"

"Rock'n'Riff, baby," She grinned before the two jumped across the roofs again and onto the Eiffel tower. They began to climb the tower as the crowd cheered and yelled. Guitar Villain appeared, standing close to the top of the tower as he watched them.

"Hello Paris!" He shouted before jumping down and landing on the plank of wood that XY was stood on. He smirked darkly, causing the younger musician to step away from him in fear. "So you said your music is the only killer music around. Is that right?!"

"I d-didn't mean it!" XY gasped as he continued to back away from Guitar Villain, getting closer to the edge as he did. "Li-listen, Mr G-Guitar... we can... do the duet your style!"

He screamed as he almost lost his footing. He looked down and gulped as Guitar Villain jumped onto Fang and flew behind him. He tapped the plank of wood, making it wobble. XY whimpered and gasped as Guitar Villain jumped off Fang and smirked at him.

"Too late," He declared, stalking over to XY. "I'm going to show you what real killer music really sounds like! Ultimate solo!!"

He began to play his guitar, causing waves of green energy to spread out from his guitar. As soon as they hit XY, they began to make the plank he was stood on bounce up and down in a violent manner, causing the man to whimper in fear.

"Stop it! Please!" He gasped as Guitar Villain kept playing. As soon as it came near the heroes, it made them almost loose their footing and when it hit the audience, it knocked a number of them down. Anatis frowned as he held onto the side of the Eiffel tower.

"XY is gonna fall," Lady Noir gasped as she gripped on part of the tower too. The solo came to a stop, allowing the heroes to be able to let go of the tower. Anatis took out his yoyo as Lady Noir stepped over to him and held onto him. He moved his free hand around her waist and threw his yoyo, grappling them up through the inner part of the tower. However, Fang swooped in and bit the string, causing the two heroes to fall. Lady Noir took out her baton and extended it, trapping inbetween the edges of the tower. She held on it and looked down as Anatis continued to fall. "Anatis!"

Fang came back around and flew over to him, causing him to throw his yoyo. The dragon snapped it's jaws around it and flew off as Anatis held on, causing Lady Noir to let a sigh of relief. He jumped onto Fang's back and wrapped the yoyo's string around his mouth so he could control him.

"Easy there, Fang," He stated, causing the dragon to look at him as a little bit of recognition appeared in it's eyes. He smiled as he made on attempt to throw him off. "Good Fang. Let's go. We have a stuck kitty to rescue,"

He pulled on the string to direct Fang, causing him to fly down and towards Lady Noir. It flew through one of the holes in the tower and underneath Lady Noir, just as she let go. She landed on the dragon and catch her baton before Anatis flew it out of the tower. He pulled the string, getting Fang to turn around and fly back towards it as Lady Noir got up.

"You ok?" Anatis asked as she held onto his arms and nodded. He glanced over at her before lifting one of his arms. "Step over here and put your arm around my waist. It will be safer for you,"

"T-Thanks," She blushed a little before moving under his arm and placing her arm around his waist so he was stood behind her. It was a lot easier for her to hold onto him this way. "So the bug tamed the dragon?"

"Fang's a big softie really, even as a dragon," He grinned as he pulled on the strings again, causing Fang to fly down again. He frowned as he glanced over at Guitar Villain and XY.

"So how do you like the concert?" Guitar Villain asked, smirking at XY who was shaking in fear. "Still think your music is the only killer music out there?"

"N-No! Please... do-don't!" XY gasped as a loud crack was heard. Anatis frowned as he looked over, noticing a crack in the plank. It wouldn't take long to break. Guitar Villain went to use his 'awesome solo' move but Anatis pulled the strings again, directing Fang over to him.

"Not so fast!" He declared, flying Fang over low enough and close enough to cause Guitar Villain to dive out of the way.

"My dragon!" He gasped as he landed on the floor before he jumped as Anatis turned Fang back around.

"Anatis! Lady Noir! Hurry!!" XY begged as Lady Noir leaned a little closer to Anatis.

"Nice job," She smiled before Anatis pulled Fang to the side to avoid Guitar Villain's attack. Lady Noir glanced over and scanned her eyes over Guitar Villain. He didn't seem to have any item on him other then his guitar, which must be where the akuma is. "I think the akuma is in his guitar,"

"I agree but it's not gonna be easy getting to it," Anatis replied as he moved the strings to dodge the attacks. "I think it's time to go backstage for real!"

She nodded as he pulled the string and directed Fang towards the tower. They crash straight into it, trapping Fang in the tower and throwing them off him. They landed on the other side of the tower's rafters before they got up.

"You ok?" Lady Noir asked as Anatis dusted himself down.

"Yeah, you?" He replied, getting a nod of her before he turned to Fang. "Sorry, Fang,"

Fang gave him a look before the two of them jumped up through the inside of the tower. Anatis threw his yoyo as they got closer to Guitar Villain and XY and pulled himself onto a platform on the outside of the tower. Lady Noir landed next to him and frowned as Guitar Villain taunted XY.

"Or is it too awesome for you?" He asked as XY yelled out in fear. Anatis narrowed his eyes as he watched the scene. As much as he didn't like XY or his music, he didn't deserve to be tormented or fall to his death. He took out his yoyo and threw it up in the air.

"Lucky charm!" He called, causing a can of hair spray to appear out of thin air. He caught it and frowned a little as Lady Noir rose an eyebrow at him. He glanced at it and read the label. "Extreme fixing gel?"

"I never knew you wanted to be a hairstylist," Lady Noir grinned as Guitar Villain began to play his guitar again. The green wave hit them, making them wobble. Lady Noir gasped and held onto Anatis as he grabbed the side of the tower and looked around in his luck vision. Guitar Villain's hair highlighted, making him smirk. "And here I just thought you were an artist,"

"What can I say? I'm a jack of all trades," He grinned before flicking his hair. "I even do my own hair. Mind lending me a paw?"

"I'm on it," She grinned, jumping up and running towards Guitar Villain. She clashed her baton against his guitar and used it to redirect his attack as Anatis climbed up on the tower before narrowing his eyes as he waited for an opening. Guitar Villain managed to get her baton out of her hands, causing it to bounce closer to XY before he directed his 'awesome' solo attack towards her.

"Cataclysm!" She shouted, holding out her hand to protect herself. The beam hit her hand but began to freak out as soon as it touched her cataclysm, allowing her to jump over Guitar Villain and power slide to her baton. She picked it up and jumped back over to him, trapping him with her baton. Anatis dived down and ran over just as Guitar Villain threw her off and began to play his guitar to attack her, head banging as he did. Anatis shook the can and jumped over him, landing in front of him and spray his hair with the hairspray. Guitar Villain yelled and dropped his guitar, trying to pull his hair out of his face as he stumbled around blindly. Anatis smirked and went to grab the guitar as XY yelled.

"H-Hey, don't forget about me!" He yelled as the plank cracked and sent him plummeting down. "Help!"

Anatis threw his yoyo and wrapped it around his leg, causing him to bounce like he was on a bungy jump. Anatis pulled the string, causing XY to fall straight onto the guitar and break it in half. The akuma escaped from it as he took out his yoyo and threw it, catching it. He pulled his yoyo back to him and pressed it, releasing the purified butterfly back into the world before he threw the hairspray can into the air and called out for the cure. It burst into the magical swarm and dashed around Paris, fixing all the damage before it swarmed around the Eiffel tower and finally XY, Guitar Villain, Lady Noir and Anatis, moving them to a safe area on the tower. Guitar Villain fell on his knees and turned back into Jagged as XY gasped. He stood up and looked around confused before he noticed the two heroes.

"Anatis! Lady Noir! What are you two doing here?" He gasped, excited before he noticed XY. "Oh... wait... you two aren't XY fans are you? I mean I can respect it if you are but I hoped-"

"What is he doing here?!" XY gasped, cutting Jagged off as Anatis sighed. Lady Noir leaned over to him.

"I don't think he remembers," She whispered in his ear as he nodded before he turned to XY.

"He came to tell you that you completely underestimated the power of his music," He explained, causing XY to look like a fish as he gaped at them,

"This guy is crazy!" He gasped, pointing to him as Jagged dusted himself down. He placed his hands on his hips and turned his head towards XY, smiling a little. "He's insane!"

"Thank you," He replied, making Anatis roll his eyes in a playful manner as Lady Noir grinned before she gasped with widen eyes.

"Oh no! I have to go!!" She gasped, causing the three guys to raise an eyebrow at her. "I have a deadline!"

She ran towards the edge and jumped off it before bouncing through the city. Anatis shook his head and turned to Jagged as he placed his hand on Anatis' shoulder.

"That's one funny feline," He grinned, causing Anatis to groan and face palm.

~Next Day~

Marinette took a deep breathe as she rode the lift up to Jagged's room. She was feeling super nervous but she couldn't tell if it was because she was about to present her art work to Jagged or because she had a date with Luka later. Well, kind of date. She wasn't sure if it was a date but she wanted it to be. However, she was still sure he only liked her as a friend but she did like him a lot. However, she also liked Anatis a lot and she knew Anatis liked her. She went bright red as she remembered him saying that he liked her but then frowned as she remembered he had to reject her. She shook her head and took another deep breathe, vowing to enjoy her time with Luka regardless of if it was a date or not. There was nothing wrong with taking things slow and hanging out as friends. Besides, she was still moving on from Adrien. It wouldn't be fair to Luka to try and date him when she was a hundred percent over her crush on Adrien. She was getting there though. The door pinged, making her gasp before she stepped out and walked over to the door. She knocked on it and smiled as Penny opened it a few minutes later.

"Hello Marinette," She smiled, letting her in. Marinette gulped and followed her as she noticed Jagged sat on the sofa next to Fang as Bob Roth paced up and down the room. She also noticed that Luka wasn't hanging out here today but she shouldn't be surprised. He was still getting to know the rockstar after all. She couldn't expect him to be here every time. Her phone vibrated, causing her to take it out and look at it.

L: Good luck, Melody. You've got this x

She couldn't help but smile as she felt more confident. She put her phone away and turned to the rockstar. Bob Roth walked over and stood next to her as she handed the cover to Jagged. He leaned over and took it off her before leaning back and looking at it. Marinette nervously bit her lip as he studied it before a huge smile came across his face.

"Oh yeah, this is it," Jagged grinned as he held it before he looked over at Marinette. "You did it, girl. I can almost smell the leather and sweat just radiating off this design,"

He held it up to his nose and sniffed it as Marinette walked over to reveal the secret she hid in it.

"You actually are smelling it," She explained nervously as Jagged looked at her. She pointed to a sticker on the design. "I concocted a special scented sticker for your album,"

"I want it! I gotta have it!" He declared, gripping the album in his hands. "It's authentic! It's original! It's... so Jagged!"

He brought it to his face and stroked it a little as Marinette smiled. However, Bob Roth did not seem impressed at all.

"No, you can't!" He declared, making Marinette frown. "It's not what the public wa-"

"Fine then I'm out of here," Jagged declared, glaring at him. "I'm sure another record company would be perfectly happy with a number 2 chart topper,"

Bob growled as Marinette handed him back the XY album, causing him to snatch it and storm off. She smiled and turned to Jagged, who was patting Fang's head. He looked up and smiled at her.

"Great job as usual, Marinette," He grinned, making her smile "We'll send you a payment soon. Your details are still the same yeah?"

"Um yeah," She gasped, not expect to be paid but happy that she was. Penny gave her a smile and led her to the door, thanking her for doing the design. Marinette smiled and left the hotel room before getting into the lift. As soon as the door closed, she jumped up and down as Plagg flew out of her purse. "I can't believe it! I just designed Jagged Stone's new album!!"

"I'm only gonna say this once so don't expect me to repeat it," Plagg replied, making her look at him as he looked to the side a little embarrassed. "I'm proud of you, Marinette,"

"Aww, thank you Plagg," She grinned, gently cupping him in her hands and kissing his head. He smiled as the lift came to a stop and flew back into her purse as Marinette took out her phone and texted Luka before smiling to herself. Today was a good day.

------------------------------------------

Next Chapter: Chapter 50

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chimchimsauce · 5 years ago

Text

The Hills

The Hills have eyes

A commission for darling @illnevertrustmyselfagain

Thank you for your patience! Commissions are open

A steady stream of sweat sticks YN’s thin T-shirt to her back and her hair to her forehead as she struggles under the weight of one of her moving boxes. It’s not all that heavy, but it's incredibly large and awkward to hold against her as she makes her way up the stairs. Finally, she sees the light at the end of the tunnel (or rather hallway) and steps foot into her brand new apartment, setting the box down immediately.

“Is there anything else you need, ma’am?” One of the burly movers YN hired asks her, sweat heavy upon his brow.

She��d brought the last box up herself, wanting to have the personal honor of finishing moving herself in.

“No,” she shakes her head, breathless from her own hard work, “That’s everything. Thank you, guys.”

She tips the men generously, knowing that it must have been extra difficult to move all of her furniture up the many flights of stairs in her new apartment building.

Now, all alone, YN can finally take a good look at it. ‘Apartment’ doesn’t quite seem to fit this new place. It’s massive - room after room with tons of space to put any and everything she could ever need inside of it. A small smile graces her face.

She’s done it. This is all her. Working every single day for the past eight years and dumping all of her time and energy into her startup has truly paid off. She may have missed out on so-called rites of passages and her relationships have certainly suffered, but she’s done it!

That little startup that began in her childhood bedroom when she was in eleventh-grade grew to something so massive that investors sniffed around in record time. Soon enough, someone gave her a number bigger than she would have ever imagined and the decision to sell was easy. YN had given her company the very best she had, but now it’s time to move onto something new.

But before she decided to dedicate her life once again to a passion project, YN makes the choice to step away for a bit and enjoy her newfound wealth by moving to the richest neighborhood in Seoul - Hannam the Hill. The security ensures that she doesn’t have to worry about anything and the location offers her proximity to everything she’d ever want to do.

And speaking of location, YN drags her exhausted body to one of the many massive windows in her apartment, looking out and seeing the evening Seoul skyline. Buildings taller than anything she’s ever seen stand tall and proud like soldiers, their lights bright like her future. The businesswoman goes to bed with a grin on her face, her dreams full of lights that shine like stars.

Within a week of moving in, YN is more or less unpacked. All of her meager wardrobe has been placed in her massive closet and her dishes all unpacked, barely filling a single cabinet in the kitchen.

“Well that won’t do,” she says to herself, looking at her mostly empty-looking apartment.

In the past she spent the vast majority of her time at the office working, so her house was of little consequence She never even hung anything up on her walls. But now, now she finally has the chance to relax, to indulge and fill her life with color.

Grabbing her keys off of the hook by her door, YN decides that now’s as good a time as any to blow some money. She shrugs on a light jacket and heads out. Excitement drums through her veins and pep is in her step. For a moment, she’s in her own world, completely oblivious to everything around her.

That obliviousness leads her to run smack into a small, thin figure, nearly knocking the person off of their feet.

“Oh! Sorry about that!” she says, continuing on her way without questioning the person’s masked face too much.

She knows the Hill’s security is top-notch, so they’re certainly someone who lives here or otherwise has permission to be here.

Annoyed and exhausted, Yoongi glares at the retreating figure, trying to figure out if he’s seen that rude person before. Her face doesn’t seem the slightest bit familiar, so he guesses she must be the new neighbor who moved in a few days ago. Shoving his hands deep in his pocket he finds his keys and heads inside, not even making it to his bed before falling asleep.

Meanwhile, YN steps foot into the parking garage. Her car is fresh off the lot, that new car smell still clinging to her seats. She sets her GPS for the nearest furniture store and pulls away.

YN stays away from leather and white. Those were all her life had been - empty white walls and uncomfortable chairs and couches. She moves through the store slowly, analyzing each and every piece of furniture before settling on a bright yellow couch. It’s loud and undeniably eye catching, something she never would have even thought about buying before.

But now . . . the black card is burning in her pocket.

An hour or two later something of every color under the sun has been charged onto her card, destined to be delivered and put together in her home in just a few days.

And boy oh boy, does it feel good!

YN could swear the world is brighter when she leaves, walking through the streets of Seoul, boutique shops and fancy cafes lining her on each side. She comes to a stop when she sees an especially fascinating looking store and raises her hand to pull open the handle but stops when she hears a small whimper.

For a moment, YN thinks she’s making something up, but the sound comes once more. She pulls away from the storefront and peeks into the alley next door, carefully making her way down the near-empty valley. The whimper comes again and YN crouches down to open a sad looking box.

There, inside, a small shivering puppy is balled up into himself, not even looking at YN. She feels her heart break. Gently, she lifts the small animal up, clutching it close to her chest and rushing towards her car, looking for the nearest vet.

Yoongi isn’t sure when the last time he left his house was. He’s been working nonstop, constantly leaning over his computer to write and compose. His work was easy initially, but Yoongi has been stuck on this bridge for only God knows how long now.

He sighs, pushing away from his desk to stand and stretch, ignoring the way his body screams out in pain and his bones creak. Chip bags and crushed beer cans litter the ground, Yoongi shuffling through the mess without bothering to pick any of them up.

Sunlight nearly blinds him when he steps into his living room. He tosses his arm over his eyes as spots swarm his vision, nausea bubbling up inside of him quickly.

Damn. He’d forgotten to close them last time he’d been out here.

Once he can finally look ahead without his vision looping he shuffles into his kitchen, plugging in his coffee maker and impatiently waiting for it to brew. The window his counter is pressed against to looks out over a park. Bored, he actually glances out for once, people in the distance not aware of the multimillionaire looking at them.

At first, he doesn’t see anything of interest, just the usual stiff-necked people wearing the absolute wrong thing to the park. But then, faster than light, a small creature dashes across the massive green space, a woman chasing after it. Yoongi thinks that maybe someone’s dog has run away, but it soon becomes evident that it’s some sort of game, as the dog starts to yip happily when the woman catches up with him.

A small smile makes its way onto Yoongi’s face as he watches them but it falls soon after. When was the last time he’d done something as simple as enjoyed a day at the park with his dog?

The coffee machine whirs to a stop but Yoongi doesn’t grab it, too lost in his own thoughts. It’s been how long since he broke up with his band mates and gone solo? Three years? Four? He honestly doesn't know. While at first, Yoongi had been all to happy to leave his twenties behind and move forward with his career as a producer and occasional soloist, it soon set in how terribly lonely such a decision made him.

He’s much too well known to simply stroll about how he could when he was a teenager, just another face in an endless stream of people with dreams. But once he reached that dream - once the words “Min Suga” were on every tongue across the globe, he realized that it wasn’t what he wanted at all.

He loved music and success but he hated always being in the limelight without a shred of privacy and under the constant creative censorship of millions of people. So when it once again became time to resign their contracts, Yoongi took a step back even though the others begged him to stay.

Yoongi remembers that day vividly. The look of shock and betrayal as Yoongi said that he wished he’d never even joined BTS, never even pursued the path to idoldom. It was all lies but he’d been feeling so overwhelmed that he just wanted everything to stop for once. Stop the cameras and stop the screaming fans each time he stepped foot out into public.

And so seven became six . . .

But it didn’t last long. Less than six months later the three youngest members decided to leave for military service together and they just never came back. Their sudden departure caused a media uproar and several lawsuits, but the boys had made more than enough money to sweep them under the rug. And then there were three. That didn’t last much longer at all.

Within a year of Min Yoongi leaving BTS, the entire group disbanded.

Yoongi sighs, reaching for his cup and tearing his eyes from the window. He doesn’t deserve such joy, not after he destroyed the only real familial bond he’d ever had. He hasn’t talked to the other members (Ex-members, he reminds himself) since he walked out on him.

Usually, Yoongi is able to create beats with very little inspiration, but lately, that same tiredness from before has sprung up inside of him, leaving him with nothing but pure garbage and terrible posture.

He desperately needs a new muse, but at this rate, he doesn’t think he’ll ever find one.

Pitying himself, Yoongi drags his feet all the way into his office, once more shutting the world out.

Within two months of living in her new apartment, YN can confidently say that her life has never been better. She’s never been so stress-free and relaxed. All this free time has her diving into new hobbies every chance she gets. While most of them don’t stick for more than a few days (Is it really a surprise that sewing isn’t her thing?) she has fallen head over heels in love with baking.

For most of her teenage and early adult years, YN lived purely off of takeout food, never once lifting an arm to cook something for herself or bake a treat. Really, it wasn’t her fault. She was always in and out of meetings, drafting new business ideas, and making trips. She just didn’t have the time! And while she is absolutely awful at most of her new hobbies, YN’d taken to baking like a fish to water.

She enjoyed it so much that she’d quickly overbaked for herself, somehow coming to be surrounded by dozens of cupcakes, muffins, pies, and every other sweet thing imaginable. So, freshly made treats in hand, YN began to introduce herself to her neighbors.

While she is phenomenal at meeting people in a business setting, going over to her incredibly rich and sophisticated neighbors’ homes had been a bit anxiety-inducing. YN has never been great at making friends, but she was pleasantly surprised how kind the other people of the hills have been. Multi millionaires tend to be portrayed as stuck up, but YN now has a few friends she meets up with for weekly coffee gossip sessions. While she doesn’t really have much to add to their conversations, it’s nice just to be included.

At this point she’s met pretty much everyone on her floor, everyone except . . .

YN has never seen her next door neighbor leave their apartment. Whoever they are, they never make so much as a peep. It’s almost as if the apartment is completely empty. YN even asked her new friends about it, but they claim that someone has lived there for over three years now.

That once buried anxiety flares up once more as YN finds herself standing in front of his door, apartment number 613. She lifts her hand up to knock politely, hip supporting a large basket of muffins. She hadn’t made this many for her other neighbors, but something about the mystery of this one had her tossing in a few extra for good measure.

No one answers.

YN tries one more time and again there is not a single sound.

Just as she’s about to turn around with her hypothetical tail tucked between her legs the door creaks open ever so slightly. She can’t even see who is behind the door.

“Oh! Hello!” YN says, a little shocked, “I”m YN. I moved in next door about two months ago.”

Silence.

“I . . . um . . . I made muffins,” YN says, thrusting the basket towards the door.

Once again, the person doesn’t say anything. Unsure if she’s creeped out, embarrassed, or some awful combination of both, YN begins her retreat.

“Ah, well, I’ll just leave these here!” She manages to say, setting the basket down and hastily making it back to her own apartment, nearly slamming the door shut behind her.

What was that? What had just happened?

Just a few yards away, Yoongi stands in his own home, looking at the muffins his neighbor left outside his door. He never opens his door all the way, fearful that some old sasaeng would have found him out. But when he saw that it was her - the woman he’s been watching at the park almost every day, he didn’t know what to do.

For the first time in years, Yoongi felt a jolt of something running through his veins. She always looks so happy and full of life that Yoongi can’t help but feel intrigued by her. Hesitantly, Yoongi peeks out and plucks the basket up, bringing it inside.

His kitchen is bare of anything but empty wrappers, so the basket of freshly baked goods looks incredibly out of place.

Yoongi’s stomach growls, so he picks up one of the muffins, pleasantly surprised to find that it’s still warm. Before he knows it, he’s eaten six muffins, all of them delicious. When he retreats to his studio once more, a soft, sweet melody is in his brain.

He composes a song for the first time in months.

The next day, as YN prepares to go on her daily walk with her puppy Sugar, a small piece of paper slips under her door. Sugar is eager to check it out, sniffing it with abandon. YN, laughing at Sugar’s adorable antics, struggles to get the paper away from him without ruining it.

YN,

I apologize for my odd behavior. I wasn’t feeling well yesterday and thus acted rudely. The muffins you made were delicious and made me feel leaps and bounds better. If you feel up to it, would you like to go to dinner with me? I’d love to make it up to you.

Thanks again,

MYG

MYG? Is that her neighbor’s name? YN recalls her friends saying that the person next door is a near complete recluse. Dinner? Should she go?

YN clicks Sugar’s leash to his collar, throwing a look over her shoulder as she leaves her apartment to head to the park, unaware of the man peeping through his door.

Sure. Do you have any restaurant recommendations? There are still plenty of places I haven’t gone to. Here’s my number XXXXXXXXX

Yoongi is more than shocked by the letter under his door when he emerges from his studio after cleaning up his latest song. That adrenaline rush he’d gotten from YN’s treats has worn off somewhat and inspiration has fallen quickly. He finished the first song in a breeze, but he began to struggle again with the second.

SO why not get to know her better? Best case scenario, YN provides more inspiration. Worst case, she’s a psychopath.

He doesn’t think the second one is very likely, but he’s still hesitant, choosing to go to a restaurant he’d been a regular in for quite some time. Yoongi books out a room in the back and texts YN the details, setting their meeting for the weekend.

When the day finally rolls around, Yoongi is more nervous than he has been in a long time. What if she recognizes him? Or worse, what is she stands him up altogether?

His fears are squashed when he sees her standing on the sidewalk, dressed too simply for the restaurant he booked.

“Hello,” Yoongi says, shoving his hands into his pockets to hide how nervous he is, “You’re YN right? I’m Min Yoongi, your neighbor.”

“Oh!” she says, brightening up and sticking her hand out to greet him, “It’s nice to meet you!”

He takes her hand in his, squeezing it gently and pretending not to notice the shivers that shoot through him.

“This is the place right?” she asks, taking her hand back and brushing her hair behind her ear.

“Actually,” Yoongi says, noticing the odd looks YN is getting based on her everyday outfit, “I was just going to pick food up here and then head to the park, if that’s okay. It has a really clear view this time of night.”

“That sounds great!” YN says.

Yoongi, slightly frantic with his new lie, heads up to the reservation counter and asks to speak to the manager, a close friend of his. A couple of hushed whispers later, Yoongi is given a bag of freshly cooked food, the producer not feeling even the slightest bit bad about taking someone else’s order.

“So . . . how have you been enjoying the Hills?” Yoongi asks as they stroll side by side to the park she always frequents.

They’re standing too far apart to be more than anything but acquaintances. Yoongi finds himself wishing she was closer so their arms would brush.

“It’s been really nice!” YN says enthusiastically, “Everyone has been so kind and it’s been so amazing to finally have time for myself.”

“Finally?”

“Oh!” YN remarks, “Yeah, I had a startup that just recently got sold. I decided to take a few months off before I began another business venture. What about you?”

The curiosity in her eyes tells Yoongi that YN truly has no idea who he is. He finds himself relaxing even more.

“I’m a producer, mainly. Sometimes I write songs as well,” he says shyly, stopping next to one of the picnic tables that sporadically dot the large park.

He sets the food down and sits opposite to her, leaving plenty of space between them.

“Really? That sounds so cool! I’d love to hear something you made one day.”

Her tone is nothing but polite but dread forms in Yoongi’s stomach. He hasn’t worked on many new projects at all and he doesn't think he has anything good enough to show this incredibly bright woman.

Yoongi’s face must betray his apprehension because YN backs off right away.

“It’s totally fine if you don’t want to share! When I was younger one of my cousins was really into art but she never showed anyone what she made. I get it, it can be really personal.”

“No!” Yoongi says a little too loudly, “I’d love to show you something. I was just surprised you asked.”

YN smiles and everything is right again. The rest of the night passes much too quickly for Yoongi’s tastes, but he leaves feeling more inspired than ever. For once, he actually cleans his entire apartment, preparing it for YN to come over. Bags and bags of trash are tossed away and candles are lit to rid the space of any lingering odors He takes extra care in preparing his studio, hiding all the evidence of months of frustration in drawers and sitting down with a melody stuck in his brain.

She visits a week later. YN is more than surprised how clean Yoongi’s apartment is. She has learned quite a lot about him through all the texts they’ve exchanged and he never rubbed her as a clean freak. Methodical? Sure. Not the best at expressing emotions? Definitely. But the cleanest person she’s ever met? That’s a new one.

Yoongi is a little dressed up when he answers the door. His smile is wide and almost childlike, adorable in a way that has YN smiling as well.

They make small talk over the treats she brought over (cookies this time) before Yoongi leads her to a large room in the back of the house.

It’s breathtaking. Expensive devices line every open surface of the studio, all gleaming under the overhead lights. The studio walls are lined with records even she can tell are rare, each encased in a glass frame. A large couch is pushed against one wall with a coffee table in front of it, tastefully decorated with magazines and small plants.

“This is amazing, Yoongi,” YN says, half breathless.

Yoongi can hear his own heartbeat thumping loudly in his ears at the way stars seem to have shifted into YN’s gaze.

“Thank you,” he says quietly, “Would you like to hear what I’ve been working on?”

He needs to work up the courage now before he comes up with an excuse to never show YN the song he’s been working on so diligently day in and day out.

“Of course!”

Yoongi had pulled an extra chair in front of his computer in advance and she takes a seat, waiting eagerly for Yoongi to pull up his masterpiece. His fingers shake ever so slightly as he pulls it up and presses play.

He doesn’t think he takes a breath during the entire three and a half minute long song. How could he? It’s not every day you show the love song to the woman you’ve been watching for almost two months.

“Yoongi,” YN says when it finishes.

He feels his heart clench.

“That was beautiful! Who’s it about?”

“Who?”

“It’s a love song right? Are you in love with someone?”

Her question is innocent but it sends Yoongi into a panic.

“Yeah, actually,” he says, looking at anyone but her, “You.”

For a moment everything is silent. Neither of them breathe.

“Oh,” YN says.

Yoongi never knew two letters could crush him.

“I’m flattered but . . . I don’t really see you as anything more than a friend . . .”

YN trails off, not exactly sure what to say. She’s never been the romantic type. She always figured she’d fall in love when it was time but that time certainly isn’t now. She’s just barely figuring out who she is herself. She doesn’t have space in her heart for anyone else.

“Ah . . . I wasn’t expecting you to . . . um . . .”

Yoongi stutters out words at random trying desperately hard to not make things any worse than they already are.

“Maybe I should go . . .” YN says.

She doesn’t wait for his answer, simply standing up and leaving, casting one more glance at the hunched over man behind her. Her red heels click against the floor, fading when she leaves the home.

For the next two weeks, Yoongi texts her constantly. YN can barely go ten minutes without her phone buzzing with an apology or an offer for lunch. If she felt bad about rejecting him at first, YN is glad she did now. He’s behaving obsessively and it’s beginning to creep her out. Finally, she’s had it altogether, sending him a curt message demanding he never talks to her ever again and blocking his number straight away.

For a time, everything seems okay. Min Yoongi leaves her life just as swiftly as he had entered it. She’s almost forgotten about it altogether, until she’s stuck in traffic one evening. YN is listening to the radio, head bopping mindlessly along to the beat of a song she doesn’t know. But then the chorus starts and the hair on her arm stands on end.

Really, is it strange to fall in love? Really, is it odd that I want more? You flew in just like a turtle dove, pure and sweet, I only wanted your love. Maybe I should have locked you away? Maybe I should have clipped your wings? Then at least I know you’d stay? Stay, forever here with me.

Normally, YN wouldn’t have paid it any attention, but something about the song is so eerie that she begins to get creeped out.

Another male voice joins the singer.

Sweet like cinnamon, bright as the sun, soft, so soft, I needed you to melt into me. Salvation came in a wicker basket and left in bright red heels. Maybe I should have had something better to say, maybe then, you wouldn’t have rushed away.

Ignorance is bliss, but baby you’re all I think about. I couldn’t ignore you if I tried, if I wanted to. Ignorance is bliss, baby, but euphoria lives next door.

The song fades and the host’s voice floats out afterward.

“That song was ‘Red Heels and Cinnamon’ by Dave Kim and Min Yoongi. This song has been the most popular song on the charts for weeks! The famed producer and songwriter hasn’t given the press much background on the story, simply commenting that it’s something close to his heart and that more songs with this new vibe will be releasing soon.”

Release they did. Hit song after Hit song comes out, each creepier than the one before. If YN was able to convince herself that the songs weren’t about her, they became impossible to ignore. Yoongi next released a song about a woman with aspirations and no room for love, followed by one about a man following the woman he loved to make sure she was okay. That song detailed the entire events of her day.

And finally, Yoongi released a song giving out YN’s phone number.

Having had more than enough of this nonsense, YN knocks on Yoongi’s door, leaving her blaring phone behind.

He cracks the door open again before swinging it wide, looking much too pleased to see her.

“YN? I thought you never wanted to see me again. What are you doing here?”

“I know what you’re doing. Cut it out,” she hisses at him.

“Cut what out?”

“All of the songs! And the stalking! I know you’re following me!”

YN clenches her sweater closer to her body, trying to comfort herself. Yoongi looks down at it.

“You should have gotten the red one. It suits you better.”

Chill crawls down YN’s back and her limbs go stiff.

“What do you want from me,” she whispers, unable to look him in the eye.

“I feel something different when I’m around you. I feel alive - more motivated than I’ve ever been. All I want is for you to feel that same way.”

“And if I don’t?” YN asks, daring to look at him.

He’s silent for a moment. Yoongi’s expression darkens.

“That new firm that hired you as a consultant? The CEO’s daughter is a long time fan of mine. He’d do anything to keep her happy. Even replacing you . . .”

“But I can -” YN objects.

“Get a new job? Oh, sure. But I don’t think anyone would want to hire you if they knew what you did on May sixteenth.”

YN’s blood turns to ice. There are only a few things YN isn’t proud of and getting kicked out of a bar and then arrested after starting a fight is on the very top of that list. Thankfully, she had some connections to get her out of any charges and had swept the entire thing under the rug. But if it gets out . . .

“It’s up to you. Why don’t you come inside and see what I’m working on?”

Yoongi leaves the door wide open and retreats inside.

Hesitantly, YN follows after him.

#network bangtan #yandere bts #yandere x reader #yandere yoongi #yandere au #bts yandere au

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tanjhero-a · 5 years ago

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Oblivious Affections (P.2)

Kyoujurou Rengoku x Reader

A Commission from @moonlightreetops ! The first part is HERE. This was honestly very fun to write, and moonlight is a very generous and friendly person, so it makes writing commissions much easier! Thank you very much, and I hope all of you enjoy this!

COMMISSION INFO

After a long time, Kyoujurou finally manages to get you to meet his family. He’s been attempting for quite a few moons now, because he is sure that this is the push you need to recognize his passionate feelings toward you.

Hook.

It begins at the tea house, a common occurrence for the two of you now. Ever since he snuck his way into your plans with Giyuu (and kicked Giyuu out of said plans), you were the one to propose that the two of you relaxing together be a scheduled thing. Of course, this sent hope sparking through the Flame Pillar, but your oblivious nature was a lot more powerful than he had initially realized. It’s been weeks, but nothing has happened yet, which is why the Pillar has decided to finally introduce you to his family (mostly just Senjuro, he’s not sure about his father yet). Maybe it’s the kick you need to realize that he’s serious about his feelings for you. So one common morning, Kyoujurou invites and treats you to your favorite tea along with some snacks on the side, and when you fluster at his spoiling, he merely shushes you and pushes another small cake in your direction. As he butters you up, he mentions his little brother as casually as he can.

Line.

“You know, Senjuro also loves to cook! You should try some of his dishes sometime!”

“Oh, your brother?” You ask him, a hand over your mouth as you’re in the middle of a bite. Kyoujurou grins- you’re too cute. “I’ve always heard stories about him from you! It would be nice to meet him one day.”

Sinker.

“How wonderful!” Kyoujurou says loudly- of course, he’s always a little loud, but this breaks even that as he grabs your hands with a big smile. He can’t really help it, the excitement is filling him up and it might make him burst. Or maybe he just ate too much sugar, but it’s all the same. “I know Senjurou has wanted to meet you as well! He’s at home right now, so we can head there after!”

“Really?” Your eyes widen by his enthusiasm, but you squeeze his hands as you laugh, nodding along. “Alright, that sounds fun.”

Once you commit, Kyoujurou lets go of your hands and lets you finish eating and sipping your tea. He eagerly bounces in his seat as you do, so you do your best to finish up quickly. Once you leave the teahouse, Kyoujurou grabs your hands and leads the way to his house. You swing your hands casually- always casually, your oblivious nature making you blind to why he’s truly holding you so close.

Though maybe, possibly, the next time you hold his hand, it will be mutual. It will be because the two of you are in love, and you yearn to connect. Kyoujurou can only hope- and he might have been pining for too long, because such fantasies seem so silly, but they truly make him happy to think about.

As your hands swing, you break the comfortable silence. “You’re so excited for me to meet him, you must love him a lot, Ren.” You say as you walk down the cobblestones. There’s an uneven stone that you almost trip over, but Kyoujurou twirls you playfully before you can hit it. He then tugs you back to his side, the sound of your laughter from the twirl making him smile and nod.

“I do, very much. He doesn’t get to socialize very much since he’s always at home, so I know he’ll be very happy to meet you.” The Pillar pauses before he turns his gaze your way, his head tilting as his eyes soften. “But I also want you to meet him because I love you a lot too, you know.”

You’d think looking you directly in the eyes as he declares this would get through, but you only laugh and blush, sweeping his sentiment under the rug. “Of course! I’m very excited to meet him.”

Kyoujurou huffs, but it’s another thing that goes unnoticed by you.

“Oh, this is your house, right?” Kyoujurou hadn’t even realized that the two of you had arrived at the house fences. He’s flattered that you recognize the place- you had probably only walked by once. Hope lights him up again as he straightens his back- maybe this was a positive sign!

“It is! Come, come,” he urges you past the fence and past the front sliding doors, both of you taking off your shoes as Kyoujurou announces that he’s home and you thank him for letting you in. You don’t have to wait until a child is fastly walking down the halls, a bright look in his face as he greets you.

His hair is identical to his brothers, his eyes the same, and he’s so cute that you think you love him already. If he were a bit older, Kyoujurou and Senjuro might as well be twins.

“Brother! Welcome home!”

“Senjuro! My baby brother,” Kyoujurou doesn’t hesitate to bend at the knees so he can fully embrace his brother, “how are you?!”

Senjuro laughs, his cheeks pink as he looks up at you from his brother’s embrace. “I’m fine. A-and, who are you?”

You smile adoringly down at him, bowing softly once Kyoujurou lets him go. “I’m ___, it’s very nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you!”

“Oh!” Senjuro’s face lights up. “I’ve heard about you, too! Brother is always so passionate when he talks about you,” he laughs, and Kyoujurou simply nods, not bothering to deny it.

“Is father awake?” He asks, and Senjurou shakes his head, lips pursing. You begin to wonder why their father wouldn’t be awake during the middle of the day, but soon you’re swept under Kyoujurou’s arm as he urges you forward. “Then we can have fun! Let’s go to the yard!”

The three of you scurry outside, and Kyoujurou thinks up a million things to do. He seems a lot more eager than usual, but you have fun laughing and playing the games he comes up with as a way to get to know Senjuro better. You all end up training as well, Senjuro telling you that he was naturally more weak than his brother, so you think up alternative moves and techniques for him to use that’s easier for him.

Kyoujurou watches as you help his brother swing a training katana, happiness glistening in his eyes.

By the time you have to go, the sun is beginning to set. You and Kyoujurou know very well that you must get home before it fully sets, so he doesn’t stop you as you bid your goodbyes.

“It was a lot of fun meeting you, Sen,” you rest on your knees at the entrance to their house as you hug Senjuro, smiling fondly. “You’re such a talented young boy, you know?”

“W-well,” Senjuro’s face flushes nervously, his cheeks a cute pink color. “I don’t know about that. I’m not the best-”

“You are! And you’re very cute too,” you pinch his cheek teasingly and he ducks back with a whine. You laugh as you stand, rustling his yellow-red locks of hair teasingly. “Don’t forget that!”

Senjuro doesn’t respond to you, his face red as he sputters out a ‘goodbye’ before he runs off to his room. Your heart swells adoringly as you watch him skitter and you sigh. You haven’t forgotten about Kyoujurou, your eyes looking up at him as he stands by the sliding doors.

“He’s a very cute boy. I’ve always liked children, but he might be my favorite.”

The flame pillar steps so he’s right next to you, a hand wrapping around your shoulder again as he hums. A familiar smile is painted on his lips, and he winks at you as he says, “well, save your favorites until we have children of our own, hmm?”

Crickets have begun to wake and sing their song, filling up the silence between you.

“Children of our own?” You ask slowly. “Who are you planning to have children with?”

Ouch.

“N-no,” Kyoujurou whines before he can help it, his body deflating. “No, that’s not…” How forward does one have to be? Is it actually helpless, or do you really not like him and you’re just trying to make it less awkward? He hopes it’s not the latter, but the former isn’t much better.

“Oh!”

Surprisingly, your expression lights up, and Kyoujurou looks down at you with wide eyes. Your own meet his and your cheeks are flushed dark, mouth wide open. “Well,” you say, continuing to look at him before you quickly look away. Suddenly the weight of his arm on your shoulder is a lot heavier than before and you squirm nervously. “...Then I guess Senjuro would be my favorite brother-in-law, instead.”

“Huh?” Kyoujurou, is quite frankly, speechless as he bursts red and looks down at you. His voice squeaks uncharacteristically, which is embarrassing, but you quickly duck from under his arm before he can say anything else.

“Thanks for the tea!! Bye, Ren!!”

You’re out of the house quicker than he can blink, which really isn’t fair!

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pbandjesse · 4 years ago

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Guess who did not sleep well last night!! It was me!! I couldnt fall asleep at all until like 3 and then I woke up every time James moved or their was a sound. It was terrible. When James woke me up at 8 apparently I gave him such a scowl he just put the blanket over me and let me sleep another hour.

I didnt feel great. But I shook it off eventually. I actually felt pretty good overall today. I got up and got dressed and felt really cute. James made me a sandwich. It was a good morning.

I worked on art a lot today. Just a little of a few different projects. It was really nice. James went for a bike ride and I just worked in the studio and it was good. People really responded to my bear print and so I opened up commissions for that. And I have sold two prints! I had a really nice time making the prints though and because Im using paint I had to make a line to hang the prints from. It was a fun morning.

I played a little animal crossing. Not much work to do anymore so I just checked in, fished for a little, and then back to art.

We got 4 packages in the mail today! It was very exciting. I got a bear that James bought for me. And my new crochet hooks came! And sweetp's christmas fish. And our allergy medication. It was like chirstmas all over again.

When James got home we decided we would go for a walk by the water in the park near Johns Hopkins. He got cleaned up and we headed out. Took the clothes down we were donating and took our recycling so we could make a stop at the center. And we lucked out that there was no line when we headed over there.

I had a nice time walking around the park. This one is much more rugged and I was glad I actually wore my boots. We saw a hawk drop some prey and so James wanted to go try and find what they dropped. But no luck. It was just really beautiful though. I had a great time and we even found some shells and a toy truck? Crazy.

I got a little overheated because I had a jacket over my sweater so we headed back towards the car. Stopped at burger king for a late lunch, and headed home.

We ate in the living room. Watched some videos. And then we hung out. I eventually worked on some more art. Laid in the dungeon while James played games. It was a nice day.

I took my nail polish off since it was so chipped. Maybe Ill try again. I laid on the couch and James rode over to the grocery store to get some stuff for his falafel dinner he was planning. When he got back and started working on that it smelled so good in here and tasted even better. I am so lucky to have him and that he cooks so well.

I have been hanging out watching videos for a while while James was on a call with his friends. They are going to start a new monster game together. It will be fun to listen to. He asked if I wanted to play but I just dont think I can do it. Thats okay.

I am hoping to sleep better tonight. Wish me luck. It hasnt been going well!! Ugh. Goodnight everyone!

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pftones3482 · 7 years ago

Text

Clearer

Commission for @kyoshira7. Under a cut for a very long commission lol. It didn’t quite end how I wanted, but I was reaching the end of what I could do.

Sometimes Sam wondered what his life might have been like if he had been born as a woman.

He knew that he didn't want to become one; he had thought about that for a while, considered the idea that he might be transgender, and had dismissed it early on. It was always an option, in the back of his mind, but it wasn't really what he wanted.

He just wondered, sometimes. When he caught women crossing the streets at night to avoid him, when women shielded their daughters from him as they walked past one another on the sidewalk. He wondered what it might be like to not be the center of fear for some of the women in the world.

It angered him, a bit. He'd admit that. He had done nothing to warrant the fear of these women but be born a male. It wasn't fair for him. But it wasn't fair for them to feel that way either, and Sam recognized this.

He did his best to appear non-threatening, to smile politely, keep his hands down when he spoke, going against his natural instinct to gesture and speak at the same time. It seemed to work, but there was always the stiffness in the shoulders of the women he spoke to, the protective hands on their children's shoulders when they asked, most times begrudgingly, for directions.

He didn't think living as a woman would be easier. Sam knew that. He had a few female coworkers at his software firm, some higher up than him, and even the ones who knew more and had worked for the firm longer got belittled by coworkers and customers alike.

Sam wanted the experience, though. Wanted the chance to live as a woman, to see what they went through, in the hopes that maybe he could make it easier for some of them. He wanted to have a kid, not possible without a partner of his own, wanted to feel the connection to someone he had carried himself.

Okay, so maybe he had considered the idea of being transgender more than once. But it still didn't feel right to him.

Sam sighed and unlocked the door to his house, stepping into the air-conditioned entryway and kicking his shoes off onto the rug. The door clicked behind him, locking automatically, and he set his keys on the hook that was nailed to the wall before trudging to the kitchen.

His housekeeper, Moira, had left him a note on the fridge to let him know that the plumber was coming in the morning for the downstairs powder room. There was a smiley face drawn next to her name, and Sam let out a chuckle at the sight of it. Moira was too adorable for her own good, and a great housekeeper to boot.

He tossed the note into the trash under the seat and pulled open the fridge, leaning in and grabbing a beer and sandwich fixings. He kicked the door shut and settled everything onto the marble countertops, popping open the mayo and mustard and reaching into the bread box, where Moira had stored a fresh loaf of Italian bread.

It crunched under the knife as he sliced it, slow, methodical, setting two thick slices down on a plate before returning the loaf to the box and shutting it. Making a sandwich was probably the most mechanical set of movements in the universe, Sam mused as he slathered the bread in the dressings and then topped it with turkey and American cheese. It was the same action every time, the back and forth of the knife, the setting of the meat and the cheese to get the perfect amount in every bite. Nothing was different about it, except perhaps the type of meat on it.

He put the ingredients back in the fridge and took his snack to the back deck, settling onto his reclining chair and kicking back to look at the fading sun.

It had been a long day at work, and Sam was honestly ready to give up. He didn't feel as if his life was going anywhere, didn't feel as if he was succeeding in the ways he was meant to. He sighed and took a forlorn bite from his sandwich, munching thoughtfully as the sky darkened.

If anything, he wanted some kind of experience that just...made him appreciate the other side a bit more. Nothing extreme. A day in the life of a different gender.

He puffed his cheeks out and leaned back in his seat, setting his food down on the side table and staring up at the heavens. He wasn't sure how long he stared, watching as the sky darkened from blue to deep orange and red to navy to full, inky black, but eventually instead of clouds he was star gazing, picking out the pin-pricks of light as they jumped to life.

Sam's eyes caught sight of one-star drifting across the sky, not as fast as he might have thought a shooting star would move, and he sat up in excitement, tracking it's path across the sky.

He hadn't seen a shooting star since he was a kid, sitting on the roof of his parent's garage with binoculars in hand. He had made a wish to get the new Batman comics for his birthday. Oddly, he had. He had brushed it off years later as his parents overhearing his eager wish, but now Sam stood up and leaned against his porch railing, clutching his drink in his hand and staring up at the star. It was nearly on the horizon, and Sam remembered the myth he had been told that, if he didn't wish before the star was out of sight, it wouldn't come true.

"What the hell," he muttered to himself.

He shut his eyes and wished silently. For something different in his life, for understanding about what it was like to have been born differently, if only for a bit.

When nothing happened after a minute had ticked by, he opened his eyes with a small chuckle, shaking his head. Foolish, really, to believe in childish things. It never got anyone anywhere in any real-life situation.

Sam let out a huff, downed the remainder of his beer, and then took the empty can and the remains of his sandwich inside, tossing them into their respective recycling and garbage cans before setting the plate into the dishwasher and closing the door with his foot.

He went through the monotony of bed preparation with his wish in the back of his mind, brushing his teeth and then spitting into the sink and staring at his reflection for several long minutes, noting the weary bags under his eyes, the stubble on his face, the way his hair was starting to grow out from its buzz cut.

If he was in a movie, Sam supposed that he would have some intellectual, revolutionary inner monologue, but all he could think about was how wonderful bed sounded.

He pushed off of the sink and left the bathroom, collapsing into bed without bothering to remove his clothes. For some reason, he was suddenly exhausted. Sure, he had been tired when he got home from work, but it hadn't been nearly this bad.

Must have been the stargazing, Sam reasoned with himself as he curled up into the blankets and snuggled into the silk sheets under him. That always made him sleepy when he was a kid. That plus the beer...totally the reason.

He fell asleep clinging to his pillow.

"Mommy?"

Sam groaned and rubbed his eyes, pressing the heels of his hands into the sockets as hard as he could muster. Where was the tiny voice coming from? And what was that blaring noise?

"Mommy, th'alarms goin' off."

"What?" Sam managed to croak.

His voice was...way higher than it usually was in the morning, like if Pat Benetar and Ariana Grande had a baby. That weird combination between alto and soprano. And why was Moira calling him "Mommy?"

"Th'alarm," the voice said again, and Sam realized slowly that it was not a woman's voice, but a child's. "It's been going off for like, a whole hour. Are you late?"

Work.

Sam bolted upright in bed, flinging the blankets off and faintly registering that the blankets were not the soft silk he had fallen asleep on, but rather a soft lavender cotton. He frowned down at the sheets and....why were they blurry?

Why was everything blurry, actually?

"Mommy?"

Sam turned slowly to the child next to him – and yes, they were indeed a child – and squinted down at the form. "I can't...see," he said slowly, his voice still too high for his own comfort. Was this some weird dream?

"Oh!" the child said gleefully.

They leaned over to the table at Sam's right – he didn't have a bedside table there – and plucked something off the top, handing it over with a bright smile that Sam could only make out because of the number of teeth being used. "Here you go! I'll make breakfast!"

The kid bolted before Sam could say otherwise, leaving him to open up what were definitely glasses and slide them onto his face. Sam had never needed glasses in his life, and he blinked rapidly when he put them on, everything suddenly becoming crystal clear.

His bed was no longer a king, but rather a full. The blankets were older and purple and cotton, but clean. They smelled like flowers. The room was small, more of a closet than a room, and a dresser sat tucked into a corner, overflowing with folded clothes on top – the clear time of someone with no time on their hands to put things away.

As Sam slid out of bed, his gaze still sliding around the room, he stumbled, his feet hitting the ground sooner than he was prepared for. He yelped, catching himself on the bed, and looked down to see if perhaps he had tripped on something.

Oh.

He was wearing a baggy t-shirt and boxers, but even he could see (and feel, now that it was registering in his head) the presence of weight on his upper chest.

Her upper chest.

Sam bolted to the bedroom door, furiously looking down the small, carpeted hallway and spotting what was definitely a bathroom at the head of the staircase. Sam was in the space in two seconds flat, gripping to the mirror and staring with wide eyes at the image presented.

Disheveled blonde hair, hints of brown at the roots that suggested dye, tangled into a sloppy bun at the nape of the neck and falling out from a night of restless sleeping. Clear cleavage under the t-shirt, a mess of tie-dyed colors that could only be the work of a toddler. The eyes were rimmed with a soft darkness, the only part of the body Sam could say was the same, and they glinted a dark brown color.

"What the fuck?" Sam muttered. Then, louder: "What the FUCK?"

Before he – she – could process anything further, a piercing beeping sound registered from down the stairs, and Sam spun to the door, staring down the steps and then pattering down them quickly, trying to ignore the tugging of the excess weight on her chest.

When Sam skidded into the kitchen, he – she – found it filling with smoke, the small child that had woken her up frantically blowing on the burning toaster.

Like, literally burning. The toaster was on fire.

Sam's eyes flickered around the kitchen, some instinct dragging her to the cupboards under the sink, and she pulled out the fire extinguisher that was there, aiming it at the toaster and squeezing the handle.

Foam shot out from the nozzle, dousing the toaster and the child next to it, and for a moment the pair stood in silence, the screeching fire alarm still going off. Sam put down the extinguisher slowly and then glanced up, finding the alarm mounted over a door that appeared to lead into a backyard.

On habit, Sam stretched up to turn it off, finding with irritation that she was now several inches too short to just hit the button. Instead, she had to drag a chair over from a table in the corner, clamber up, and smack her thumb into the button.

When she climbed back down and turned around, the child was in tears. "I'm sorry, M-Mommy," he whimpered, clutching to the front of his shirt and wringing the hem with his fists. "I didn't m-mean to. I j-just w-wanted-"

Something about the look of the kid broke Sam's heart, and she knelt to the floor in front of him, reaching out and awkwardly squeezing a shoulder. "It's okay," she found herself saying. "Everything is fine now."

The child sniffled pathetically and then bolted from the kitchen, leaving Sam to wobble into a sitting position on the floor.

Okay, so he...she. He was a she. Right? That seemed to be the consensus, between the new body and the child calling him – her – Mommy. Sam was a woman, and a woman with a child to boot.

The next question Sam had was why.

Why was he a woman? How did he turn back? What had happened?

The phone was ringing.

Sam pulled him-herself off the ground, clinging to the wall, and rounded the corner into what was obviously the living room to find a land line (who the fuck still had land lines?) going nuts in the corner.

The caller ID rang up as some law firm that Sam had never heard of before, and she answered with trepidation, gnawing on a thumbnail as she dragged the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"CHARLOTTE. Where the HELL are you?" demanded an angry male voice on the other end of the line. "You're an hour late, and we need to go over this case!"

"I...there was a fire at home," Sam (was he Charlotte now?) managed, eyeing the foamy mess in the kitchen. "Sorry."

There was a long pause, and then a deep sigh. "You and Blake all right, at least?"

"Who's-?" The kid. "Yeah, we're all right. He's a little freaked out, though. Don't know if I'll be able to make it in today."

Yet another long pause echoed in Sam's ear and she gnawed on her lower lip, lifting her gaze to the ceiling and crossing her fingers. Finally, the man gave a long groan. "Yeah, okay. Fine. I'll give the case to Johnson. See you Monday."

That's right, Sam mused as she hung up the phone. It was Friday, meaning that she had the whole weekend to figure out what the hell was going on.

"You did wish for this, you dunce," Sam muttered under her breath.

A small thud came from upstairs and she glanced at the ceiling again, shoulders slumping. The kid – Blake, she recalled – had seemed pretty freaked out.

"Parental instincts, don't fail me now," Sam muttered, huffing and moving back to the stairs. She climbed slowly, eyeing the family photos on the wall.

The very first one was the girl whose body Sam was inhabiting, Charlotte, at what seemed to be a rather young age. She was holding onto a baby in the picture, Blake, Sam assumed, and two older people were on either side of her, most likely her mother and father. No sign of a husband or wife, and the bed Sam had woken up in was pretty small, so Charlotte didn't appear to have any kind of permanent partner.

The rest of the photos were pictures of Blake throughout the years, in the bathtub, holding onto Grandma's fingers and toddling towards the camera, eyes squinted up in delight. His hair was a dark brown, eyes darker, and his skin tone was a lightly tanned color, the same tone as Charlotte's. He had a freckle under his nose, Sam noted.

It was easy to find Blake's room; aside from Charlotte's room and the bathroom, it was the only other door in the hallway, and it was decorated with superheroes.

Sam knocked with two knuckles, feeling nervous all of a sudden. "Uhh...Blake? You okay bud?"

"Go 'way."

His voice was muffled, and Sam pushed open the door slowly, squinting into the dark room. Blake was flopped face down onto a car shaped bed, pudgy fingers curled into his pillow. Sam stepped into the room slowly, shutting the door behind him, and hesitated before stepping over to the bed and squatting. "You okay?"

"You're mad at me."

Sam blinked in surprise. "What? No I'm not."

"Yes you are. I did a bad thing."

Sam settled onto her knees and reached a tentative hand out, setting it on Blake's back. "I'm not mad. Promise. I was just...a little scared." ��

Blake peeked up at that, brown eyes watery and lower lip puffed out. "Why?"

"Well," Sam said slowly, lifting his gaze up to avoid the probing eyes of the toddler. "There was a fire. So that's scary. But you were next to the fire, and that was scarier, because you could have gotten hurt."

"But I'm a big boy, you said so," Blake protested.

"Yes," Sam admitted, sitting back on her haunches. "But fire is still pretty dangerous. So we shouldn't touch it or play with it."

Blake nodded sagely and then sat up, shoving a fist against his eye and rubbing furiously. "Kay. Do you have to go to work now?"

"Nah, I'm taking the day off," Sam declared, giving the kid a warm smile. "Thought it would be more fun to hang out here."

"So Miss Patsy isn't coming over to watch me?" Blake inquired.

"Who?"

Blake frowned, his eyes glittering. "Miss Patsy. The neighbor."

Shit.

"Where's my cell phone, Blake? Do you remember seeing it? I can't seem to find it."

Blake bobbed his head and slid from the mattress, hopping to the floor in his socked feet and pattering out of the room. Sam rose and followed him back to the bedroom she had woken up in, watching as he trotted to the nightstand and pulled open the drawer, dragging out a phone. "Here it is!"

It was a flip phone. An honest to god flip phone. With the size of the house and the way Blake's room was furnished, Sam thought that Charlotte would have at least a basic smartphone, even if not a great one. Sam hadn't used a flip phone since 2007.

She took it gingerly and opened the cover, eyeing the lit screen on the inside. There was one missed call, sure enough, from a "Patsy Bennet" that Sam assumed was the neighbor in question.

She pressed the green phone button to call back, lifting the device to her ear and listening as it rang once, twice, and then -

"Charlotte, thank goodness. We saw smoke from the kitchen, are you and Blake all right?"

Sam blinked at the chipper voice and glanced down at Blake, who was staring intently at his fingers like he was in the midst of an epiphany. "Uh...yeah. Are you still able to watch Blake for an hour or two? I need to uh...I need to run to work, sort a few things out, and then they're giving me the rest of the day off."

"Really? Wow. You must really have freaked them out if they're doing that. Yeah, bring him over. Patrick is waiting for him to come play. See you in five?"

"Sure."

"Okie doke!"

The dial tone rang in Sam's ear and she turned to Blake, who was staring up at her in amazement. "D'you know we have ten fingers AND ten toes, Mommy?"

Sam managed a grin. "I sure did, buddy. Come on. We need to get ready to go see Miss Patsy."

Wrangling a toddler was much more of a challenge than Sam had anticipated. Sam was able to get dressed in thirty seconds flat, though that might have had something to do with how much she was trying to avoid looking at Charlotte's body while changing. But Blake was another challenge all together.

For one thing, Blake had a surprisingly short attention span and, just when Sam would be getting ready to tie a shoe or help put on a shirt, he would bolt for something in the room and start to play with it.

For another, Blake seemed intent on learning how to do everything step-by-step. Which in and of itself wasn't a bad thing, it was good for him to learn how to tie his own shoes, but Sam was kind of having an internal crisis.

"Blake, seriously, I told Miss Patsy I'd be over in five minutes almost fifteen minutes ago, you can show me that stuff when you get back," Sam finally groaned in exasperation when Blake had come bounding over with yet another art project.

Blake didn't seem to take offense, merely beamed and said, "Okay Mommy!" and then bounced to put away the item before heading for the stairs.

"Finally," Sam muttered.

They got out the door, Sam finding a set of keys next to it, and Sam let Blake lead the way over the small stepping stones in the tiny front yard that led to the neighbor's yard, blocked off by a short fence.

A woman was sitting on her front porch step holding a mug of what smelled like coffee, watching with a grin as who Sam assumed was her son Patrick went bouncing across the yard after a ball. A tee was set up in the corner, and he was holding a plastic bat.

"Mommy can I go play?" Blake pleaded.

"That's what we're here for," Sam said, voice monotone.

Blake stared at her for a long moment, his lip puffing out after a lapse of silence. "Mommy, you have to say goodbye."

"What?"

"Our special goodbye!" Blake whined, tugging on Sam's hand. "Pleeeeaasssse?"

Sam was at a loss. She had no idea what Blake wanted, or where to even begin, and she knelt in the grass slowly, dew seeping into her jeans. "Uh...how about you start?"

"That's not how it goes though!" Blake whimpered.

His eyes were getting glassy again, and Sam was about to panic, when the woman – Patsy – called out, her voice tinged with a sickly sweet Southern accent. "Hey! Charlotte! Come here for a second!"

"Sorry sweetie, I gotta go."

Sam bolted, feeling a coil of guilt in her stomach, but she moved rapidly towards Patsy, plastering a smile on her face. "What's up?"

"You sure the house and everything is all right from the fire?" Patsy asked, her eyes filled with concern.

Sam nodded. "Oh yeah. Fire extinguisher worked, and I unplugged the toaster."

"All that smoke was from the toaster?" Patsy yelped in disbelief.

"It sort of caught on fire," Sam admitted.

"How?"

Sam shifted on her feet, suddenly aware of how the next part would sound. "Um...I wasn't fully awake and Blake was trying to make breakfast for me."

"Jesus."

Patsy looked disappointed, and Sam winced. Apparently, Charlotte was not nearly as clumsy as he was. She was.

It was getting easier to think in feminine terms for himself, but Sam was struggling. He had to keep correcting his own brain, because if he started referring to himself as "he" while he was trapped in a woman's body, he was going to go insane.

Ah, fuck, he – she – was doing it again.

"Yeah, well...thanks again for watching him while I run in to work," Sam managed.

Patsy looked up from where she had been watching the boys play. "Of course, dear. I'll keep an eye out for Scott, too."

Sam had no idea who Scott was, but she played it safe, giving a weak smile and an, "Okay, thanks."

Sam left the yard before Patsy could answer back, booking it to the old Impala sitting in the driveway and sinking into the worn driver's seat.

What the fuck was going on? Who was she? Where was she?

Sam hadn't seen any kind of computer in the house, but Charlotte had to have one. Though even if she did, Sam wouldn't know the password to turn it on.

There had to be a library nearby, so Sam put the keys into the ignition, turned, cringed when the car spluttered, and then backed slowly out of the driveway.

She went left down the road, staying cautious until she saw a speed limit sign. Eventually she came to the end of the road, hesitating before making another left on a whim.

It took nearly eight minutes, but Sam finally maneuvered out of the neighborhood and onto a set of busier roads, one named Elm street (so helpful) and the other Winchester avenue (slightly better). She found herself maneuvering the streets, circling the district until she spotted the familiar sign that featured a person holding a book, directing her towards the right.

The library was easy to find after that, and she parked and went in with light trepidation, the doors whooshing open in her face and guiding her into a relatively small lobby.

Stairs led upwards to the right, and slightly behind her was an elevator. A sign on the wall listed each level, the first as the lobby, the second as the adult floor, the third the children's, and the fourth the city archives.

After a moment of thought, Sam shifted her shoulders, cringing under the feeling of bra straps digging into her skin, and started climbing the stairs.

They were steep, and it didn't help that the summer heat made them muggy as well, leading her to have to pause at the top of the landing and take a breath, heart racing. Sam nearly put a hand over her heart until she remembered that she probably should be keeping her hands down at all times.

The second-floor door creaked as she pressed it open, and Sam winced, poking her head in. Seeing that it was totally dead – everyone was probably at work, now that she thought about it – Sam stepped inside, shoving her hands awkwardly into her jeans pockets and glancing around.

It was split up on the floor, the left-half filled to the brim with books and the other half with books lining the walls and plush chairs scattered along. Sam headed in that direction, breathing out a sigh of relief when she found the computers lining the other parts of the walls, dividers between them. Only one person was there, at the far end, an older man who looked like he'd rather be doing anything other than be there.

There was a librarian sitting behind the desk, jotting something down on paper, and Sam opted not to bother him, instead sinking down into the closest swivel chair and toggling the mouse on the screen.

A box popped up, asking for her library card number, and Sam cursed in her head, moving to dig through the purse that she had grabbed on the way out the door.

It was cluttered with a million different things – crayons, tissues, a small first aid kit, a checkbook, a paperback novel, and, way at the bottom, a fuchsia wallet.

Sam pulled it out and unzipped it, flipping open the sides and beginning to thumb through the card holders, bypassing the million store discount cards and finding the library card tucked away behind a Starbuck's gift card.

She typed in the number as it appeared on the card and breathed a soft sigh of relief when the screen lit up with the pre-programmed internet browser, leading her to Google.

From that point, Sam didn't really know where to go. What did she look for first? Body switching stories? Nearby spell casters?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard for just another moment before she did the only thing that made sense.

Where am I?

She clicked Enter, and the tiny button in the top of the screen asked to know her location. She hit yes instantly and the browser flickered, pulling up the library address moments later.

Montana. She was in Montana.

That certainly explained the Southern-ish accent Patsy had, but it didn't explain why Charlotte herself didn't.

Montana was...how far was Montana from Philadelphia, actually? She typed it in carefully, making sure to get the town name right, and clicked search again.

2,000 miles. 32 hours by car. 195 by bike.

Sam cussed softly and thumped her head into her hand, staring at the screen. Her job was going to be wondering where she was, what she was doing, she was going to be fired. Unless...

Sam sat straight up and logged off the computer, bolting from her chair and back into the stairwell, flying down the steps and stopping in the lobby, whipping out her phone and dialing her own cellphone number from memory.

The line rang several times and Sam paced the entry, gnawing on a thumb. Finally, after four rings, there was a confused, "Hello?"

That was her – his – voice speaking to her. "Um...is this...is this Charlotte, by any chance?" Sam squeaked.

A long pause, and then a whispered, "Holy shit," came through the line.

Sam managed a weak chuckle. "Hi."

Charlotte, who was in his – her? - body, laughed, though it sounded forced. "Hi, Sam. That's...that's your name, right? Jesus Christ, I got yelled at by a strange woman this morning for not being up in time to go to work and – oh my god is Blake okay, is he-?"

"Blake is fine," Sam got out, sinking down onto a random chair in the lobby and leaning her head into her hand. Her heart was pounding. "He's with uh...with Patsy. I hope that's okay."

"Yeah," Charlotte breathed. It was weird to hear Sam's voice coming out of the speaker. "Yeah, that's the normal arrangement. Looks like you have more figured out than I do."

"My housekeeper's name is Moira," Sam found herself saying, shoulders relaxing from their tensed position as she talked about the less confusing parts of life. "She's really great. She probably won't look at you weird if you ask odd questions."

"Noted. Um...Patsy is a bit nosier? But Blake is really smart, if you need help with something just ask him."

"He seems like a smart kid," Sam said, realizing that she was already very fond of the kid.

She could hear Charlotte's smile in his next words. "Yeah, he is. He...he'll be okay with you, right?"

Sam frowned, the nervousness coming through the line loud and clear. "Of course. Seriously, I love kids. They're great. I actually..."

She huffed and glanced away, eyebrows furrowing. "I actually made a stupid wish last night, that I wanted to...you know, have kids, see what it was like to...to be a mom. As dumb as that sounds."

There was hesitation in her voice, but also a challenge, like Sam expected Charlotte to fight her. Instead, Charlotte seemed to gasp. "That's...pretty much what I wished for last night. Except I wanted...I wanted to be able to just exist, be seen as me, not just...a female lawyer."

Sam frowned, gears twisting in her head. "So...we both made wishes last night. Mine was on a shooting star-"

"Same. Sam, you're not really suggesting...?"

"What other explanation is there, Charlotte?"

There was a long silence, and then Charlotte breathed out. "So what do we do then? I don't know about you, but I made that wish in the moment. I...as good looking as you are, Sam, I do not want to spend the rest of my life in a man's body."

"Fair point. Ditto goes for you," Sam admitted, shifting her weight in the chair. "Like, you're beautiful, and Blake is great, but this is...not very comfortable for me. Plus I'm sure you want your son back."

"Of course," Charlotte murmured.

Sam frowned, tapping her fingers on her knees. "Well...if we changed by wishing on a shooting star, what if we do it the same way?"

"How do you mean?"

"What if we find another shooting star and just...wish to be back to normal?"

Charlotte hummed, and there was a clattering sound in the background. Sam winced, and Charlotte chuckled nervously. "Sorry," she grumbled. "Your hair dryer is...really confusing."

"Green button for cold air, red for hot," Sam said instantly, before freezing. "Wait, did you...shower?"

"...yes?"

Sam squawked and Charlotte stammered in her ear. "I'm sorry, but you just...damn, Sam, when was the last time you really showered? You did not smell good. Jesus, I didn't look or touch anything if that's what you're freaking about. Hell, I'm sure you've taken a fair gander at me."

There was bitterness in his voice, and Sam instantly got defensive. "Excuse you, I didn't fucking look at anything. I saw that I had boobs and freaked. I'm not an asshole, Charlotte. I got dressed without looking – by the way, bras fucking suck – and I haven't even taken a piss yet. Jesus."

She scowled and almost considered hanging up the phone, but Charlotte spoke before she could. "Sorry. I'm sorry, I'm just really used to..."

"Guys being douchebags, right?" Sam muttered.

"Yeah," Charlotte admitted, his voice apologetic. "My ex is...not a good guy. Watch out for him."

Sam frowned, eyebrows crinkling, and she sat up in her seat. "Scott?"

"Yeah, how did you-?"

"Patsy mentioned him, when I dropped Blake off. I...you don't want him near him?"

"No. He's not abusive," Charlotte explained slowly. "At least, not physically. But...I won a settlement a while back, a pretty large amount, and 90 percent of it went into Blake's college fund. The rest of it is in my savings, but he feels like he's entitled to it, for being Blake's father."

"So you don't have to have this shitty flip phone?"

"Seriously, that's all you got out of this?"

"No," Sam said with a roll of his eyes. "I'll keep him away from Blake, promise."

"Thank you," Charlotte said, voice filled with relief. "Um...so back to this shooting star business...what if it only works because we wish at the same time? Like what if you see a star and I don't, or vice versa?"

"Good point," Sam muttered. Her nails dug into her jeans, and she paused while the older male patron from upstairs passed her, giving her a brief once over before leaving the building. "Well...fly out here."

"What?"

"I've got plenty of extra funds that you could easily take a flight out here. Plus, then you could see Blake."

Charlotte hesitated, and Sam could almost hear him thinking. "Are...are you sure?"

"Yeah. Have Moira take off work for you."

"Oh...okay. Speaking of work...I'm assuming you didn't go in today."

"Yeah," Sam said, nodding. Her legs were starting to cramp, so she stood and walked towards the door, holding the phone to her ear.

"The case...went to Johnson?"

"Yeah."

"Fuck."

Sam froze, guilt coiling in his stomach. "That's not a good thing, is it?"

"No, no, it's not your fault, you would have been useless anyway, it's just...we're both up for the same promotion. Ugh. Okay, here's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna get Moira to call off for you for a week, buy a plane ticket, and fly out there. You call in, say that you're sick or that Blake is sick, and offer to take all the cases home in order to work on them. I'll do the cases for you, and we can...figure this out."

Sam nodded. It was the first solid plan she'd heard since waking up that morning. "Okay. Okay, that works."

The doors whooshed open, letting her out, and Sam glanced up in time to catch the old guy from inside leering at her. He caught her eye, winked, made a lude gesture with his closed fist and tongue, and Sam quickened her pace, rage filling her core. "I'm gonna fucking murder him."

"Who?"

She had forgotten that Charlotte was still on the line. "Uh...I'm at the library. This gross old guy. I'm going to deck him."

"No."

"What?"

"You can't," Charlotte said, his voice filled with regret. "Being an attorney means that if you get into legal trouble, I could lose credibility. Or my job. Or my license. Being a woman means that if you punch him, he punches back, and it doesn't end well for you. Ignore him and walk away."

"Walk away? He just made like...a sucking gesture at me!"

"It happens. Walk away, Sam."

Sam did as Charlotte asked, sliding into her seat and slamming the door shut. "Jesus fuck."

"Sucks, doesn't it?"

Sam took a deep breath and her shoulders slumped. She leaned back against the seat. "Yeah. Yeah, it does. Okay. Um, I don't know how charged your phone is, so I’m...hopefully I can find my way back to your house."

"All of my login codes are taped to the inside of the bedside drawer," Charlotte informed her.

Sam found himself smiling. "Mine are taped under my desk."

"Thanks. Give...give Blake a hug for me, okay? I'll text when I'm about to fly out."

"Will do. Bye, Charlotte."

"Bye, Sam."

She found the house again after only a few mishaps, pulling into the driveway and shutting the car off, taking a deep breath and dragging her hands down her face. Jesus fucking Christ, what had she gotten herself into? It was just a wish, how was she supposed to know that it would actually come true?

Sam kept trying to tell herself that it was all a dream, but when she got out of the car, the sun burned the car under her touch, the gravel under her feet got in her shoes and stung, the rose bushes at the edge of Patsy's yard prickled her skin. She would have woken up now if she was in a dream, would have had some kind of weird addition to everything, like the sky turning purple or Benedict Cumberbatch crawling out of the house windows.

It wasn't a dream.

She had to keep telling herself that as she climbed Patsy's porch steps, shifting from foot to foot as she pressed the doorbell.

The door opened a moment later and Patsy looked at her, befuddled. "Since when do you ring the doorbell?" she demanded incredulously.

"Uh...sorry. Was a little lost in thought, not thinking," Sam fumbled, shooting her a sheepish smile.

Patsy tilted her head, and now that Sam wasn't quite so confused about who she was or what the hell was going on, she could better appreciate Charlotte's next-door neighbor.

She was plump around the middle, and yet she was tall, which Sam found an endearing combination. Her hair, an ashy blonde color, was drawn back into a loose braid that fell over her shoulder. She was wearing jeans and a floral blouse, and there was paint covering her hands. Her feet were bare, and her eyes glittered a deep green color in the sun. There was a pair of glasses resting on top of her head, which Sam also found kind of cute, and a smattering of light freckles along her nose and cheeks.

“Are you coming in?” Patsy asked. “The boys are finger painting.”

That explained the hands. Sam shifted. “Um...sure.”

Sam followed Patsy inside, taking in the interior of the house. It was laid out much the same way as Charlotte’s, with low ceilings and wide rooms. The front door led into the living room, with a staircase off to the left. Patsy crossed through the living room, picking her way over scattered toys, and Sam took her time following, eyeing the pictures on the wall.

Similar to Charlotte, there were a lot of photos of her son on the walls. But unlike Charlotte, Patsy clearly had good relationships with Patrick’s father, given that he was in the majority of the photos.

That thought made Sam a little sad, though she couldn’t quite place why.

Her train of thought was lost when her foot caught on a toy train and she squawked, flailing to the floor with a thud and a groan. Patsy was at her side in moments, eyes wide. “Oh gosh, are you okay?” she breathed.

“Fine, fine,” Sam grumbled, allowing Patsy to grab her by the hand. “I just...trip when I get distracted.”

“What distracted you?”

Sam frowned and nodded to the family photo as they stood up, twisting her lips up. “Just that picture,” she explained.

Patsy’s face slumped a bit, and Sam lifted an eyebrow in confusion. She didn’t notice. “Oh. Yeah. It’s...coming up on a year now. Patrick’s been kinda sad lately. Blake helps a lot, so it’s nice to have him over.”

Sam really didn’t have a good response to that, seeing as she had no idea what Patsy was talking about. She settled for wrapping a hesitant arm around her shoulders and giving her a side hug. Women did side hugs, right?

Patsy leaned into it and sighed, so at the very least Sam had gotten that right. She found herself speaking again. “Let’s go see the boys, mm?”

Patsy nodded and Sam let her lead the way through the living room and into the dining room, where the boys were sitting around the table. It was covered in newspapers, and they were absolutely covered in paint. Blake was in the midst of flinging a glob of paint onto his piece of paper, which was dripping with reds and blues, when he saw the adults in the doorway.

“Mommy!” he squealed, flinging his hands up.

Sam watched in mild horror as the paint left his fingers and splattered into the ceiling, leaving a dripping blue mass on the otherwise pristine white paint. Sam looked at Patsy slowly, who had a hand over her mouth, and breathed out a weak, “Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Patsy said after a moment, tearing her eyes away from the ceiling and turning to look at Sam. “Uh...I shouldn’t have left them alone.”

“Blake, apologize to Miss Patsy please,” Sam said, making her voice stern.

Blake at least had the decency to look sheepish. “Sorry, Miss Patsy.”

“It’s okay, buddy,” Patsy said, her voice warm. “Your mommy is here to pick you up, do you need help out of your smock?”

His smock was merely a large white t-shirt, or at least, what had once been a white t-shirt, and Blake squirmed out of it easily, handing it back to Patsy and then waving a cheerful goodbye to Patrick, who was eyeing the paint with a look in his eye that was too hungry for Sam’s comfort. She ushered Blake out of the house, eyeing the photos again on the way out but making sure not to trip again, and across the lawn to Charlotte’s house.

As she approached the porch, she caught sight of a larger man peeking through the windows of the house, one hand shielding his eyes against the glare of the sun and the other hand knocking on the panes. “Charlotte! I know you’re home, your car is here!”

Blake had stopped when Sam did, and his hand tightened. “Mommy, is that-?”

Charlotte’s warning rang in Sam’s ears and she scooped Blake up onto her hip without thinking, immediately turning around and quick stepping to Patsy’s house.

She had only made it several steps before there was a gleeful yell and footsteps behind her. Sam’s heart rate spiked and her forehead beaded with sweat, and she suddenly realized -

She was terrified.

Sam had never been scared of another man in her life. Well, maybe except for her father, but it was a healthy fear, the kind of fear that kept her from doing pot and drinking before it was legal.

This, though.

The palm sweating, finger trembling fear that coursed through her, the terror that she wouldn’t get out of this encounter alive, the absolute dread at the fact that Blake was in her arms and wasn’t fighting, wasn’t speaking, was instead burying his nose into her neck.

It was a terror that Sam had never felt in her existence.

She suddenly understood why women crossed the street at night.

“You taking the day off work?” the raspy voice behind her droned.

Sam took a breath and turned around, her grip tightening on Blake. “None of your business,” she snapped, but her voice shook.

The guy, who Sam just knew was Scott, smirked at the sound. “Playing hooky, eh?”

He was lean but tall, with clear build to his upper body. A pack of cigarettes poked from his shirt pocket, and he had a ragged beard and mustache. His hair was unkempt and greasy, slicked back into a weak bun on top of his head. The jeans he wore were tattered, the shoes more so, and he smelled like tobacco and body odor. Sam could practically taste it on her tongue.

“Just leave,” Sam bit off.

Her grip was almost too tight on Blake, but she refused to let him go, to let him look up. Scott scowled and shoved his hands in his pockets. That didn’t reassure her.

“Look, ‘m just here to ask if you could loan me like...fifty bucks. Y’know I don’t want more than that.”

“Except if I give it to you you’ll keep coming back,” Sam spat, her entire body trembling with rage. “That money is for Blake’s college fund.”

“Hell, the boy is four years old! He ain’t going to college for more than a decade. What’s fifty bucks gonna hurt?”

“She said no.”

Sam almost groaned in relief at the sound of Patsy’s voice. The woman stood on her porch, phone in hand, and her eyes were narrowed. “Don’t make me call my sister again.”

Sam had no idea who her sister was, but it seemed to piss Scott off. His eyes glinted with anger and he took a step back. “Y’all are bitches. Can’t even help a boy’s father out.”

“You are not his father,” Patsy spat. “You’re a fucking dick is what you are.”

Sam winced, clinging closer to Blake and lifting a hand to cover his ears. He didn’t seem to be listening much, though. Sam could feel the dampness on her shirt where the tears were leaking in, and it pissed her off.

“Get off my property, Scott,” Patsy threatened. “Or my sister and the whole fucking police department will be on your ass the rest of your life.”

“Fuck both of you,” Scott snapped.

He flipped them off and left the yard, and Sam heard a vague sound that reminded her of someone kicking a car. That explained the beat-up appearance of the Impala, at least.

Footsteps behind her, and then Patsy was at her side, a gentle hand on her elbow and the other hand running it’s fingers through Blake’s hair. “Want me to call my sister?”

“It’s okay,” Sam stammered out. She loosened her grip on Blake just enough that he could shift in her grasp. “Thank you.”

“Of course, love. Call me if he comes back, mm’k?”

“I will.”

Sam crossed the yard again and went up the porch to Charlotte’s house, unlocking the door and then shutting and re-locking it behind her. She sat down on the couch, let go of Blake fully, and suddenly realized just how badly she was shaking. “You okay?” she found herself asking Blake.

Blake bobbed his head, looking up at her with wide, teary eyes. “You said the bad guy wouldn’t come back.”

Sam winced at the crack in his words and she brushed his hair from his face in what she hoped was a soothing manner. “I’m sorry. Sometimes bad people don’t know when to stay away. Here. How about you go change into something without paint all over it, and then we can spend the day...watching cartoons and eating popcorn?”

Blake stared at her. “Popcorn for lunch?”

“Yes sir.”

“Okay!”

All worries gone, he bolted up the stairs and Sam sighed, pulling out her cell and lifting Charlotte’s - or rather, her – contact from the recent calls history. She put it into a text and for a moment couldn’t remember how to type on a flip phone.

The habit came back pretty quickly though, and she managed to send out a somewhat coherent text.

Saw Scott. Blake is fine. When r u coming?

The phone buzzed in her hand a moment later and Sam answered the phone, glancing to the stairs. “Hi, Charlotte.”

“Blake’s okay?” was his immediate question.

“Yes,” Sam said, nodding even though Charlotte couldn’t see it. “Patsy got rid of him by threatening to call...her sister?”

Charlotte breathed a sigh of relief. “Her sister is the chief of police. Good. To answer your question, I’ve booked the soonest flight. I’ll actually be out there tonight. If you could...pick me up? Is that weird?”

“Maybe a little,” Sam admitted with a weak chuckle. “Yeah, I can do that. I’ll look up how to get to the airport and everything. You doing okay?”

“Yeah. Moira seems...suspicious. And your boss was surprisingly chill with you taking like a week off.”

“He’s a chill guy.”

“Seems like.”

They lapsed into awkward silence, until a small thump from upstairs brought Sam back into focus. “What happened with Patsy’s husband?”

“What?” That clearly hadn’t been what Charlotte was expecting.

“Her husband. She got all teary eyed, said Patrick was upset and stuff.”

“Oh. He uh...he was in the military, and he got killed in combat around this time last year. It’s been pretty hard for them.”

Sam wilted a bit at that declaration. “That’s awful.”

“She doesn’t like to be reminded of it.”

“Mommy, I’m reeeeaadddddyyyyyy!”

Sam snorted and shook her head. “All right. When does the flight get in tonight?”

“It said around 8. So...I guess I’ll see you then?” Charlotte asked.

“You’ll see yourself then,” Sam teased.

“Right. Jesus Christ, this is so weird.”

“Preaching to the choir.”

The directions to the airport fluttered on Sam’s lap. It had taken her almost ten minutes to figure out how to do up Blake’s car seat, and now she was sitting in the pickup lane at the airport, scouring the crowds for – well, her own face.

It was a trippy experience to say the least, and Sam already had whiplash. In less than 24 hours she had gone from a simple man to a single mother of a toddler who was a fucking lawyer across the country.

Some warbled voice filtered across the loudspeaker outside, one that Sam couldn’t understand, and she glanced up in time to see herself – himself? - step out of the exit, her old duffle bag clutched in hand.

He was looking around, a bit anxious, and Sam had to cringe at the outfit Charlotte had elected to put on. Khakis and plaid? Really?

Sam hesitated and then beeped twice, watching as he turned towards the sound and slumped in relief. He rushed forwards, pulled open the passenger side door, and froze.

“Sorry,” he breathed after a minute, managing a weak smile. He tossed the duffle onto the floor and slid into the car. “That was...just a little freaky.”

Sam hadn’t taken her eyes off him. “Trust me, I know.”

Charlotte glanced back at Blake, who had drifted off in his car seat, and visibly relaxed. ”He’s okay.”

“I told you he would be,” Sam grumbled, pulling into traffic.

Charlotte huffed and looked forward. “I know. Sorry.”

“S’okay.”

They lapsed into silence for a moment, until finally Charlotte squirmed. “It’s faster to take Mapleton.”

“Okay.”

Sam switched lanes and turned left, easing the car onto the smaller road and then sighing. “Look, this won’t end well if we’re awkward with each other. Especially because Blake will probably pick up on it and ask us five thousand questions. So...how should we go about the next few days?”

Charlotte hummed, pulling out Sam’s smart phone and squinting at it. “I don’t know how you use this thing,” he admitted. “But...when we get back, we could look up the star patterns, see how that goes.”

“Works for me,” Sam decided.

“Right here.”

They got back with minimal effort, Sam unbuckling Blake while Charlotte shifted behind her. When Sam lifted him into her arms, Charlotte frowned. “Why can’t-?”

“How would he feel if he woke up in the arms of a stranger?”

Charlotte sighed and shook his head. “Right, you’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing,” Sam said quietly as she opened the door and stepped aside, letting Charlotte pass. “He’s your kid, you’re allowed to be worried about him. You have a lot more to be worried about than I do.”

“Moira seems to care about you a lot, though,” Charlotte whispered, dropping his bag at the edge of the couch. “She’s a good person.”

“Yeah, she is,” Sam said, her voice fond.

Blake shifted in her grasp, blinking blearily at Charlotte. “Mommy, who’s’at?” he grumbled, rubbing at his eye with a fist.

“That’s...Sam,” Sam said, eyes shooting to Charlotte with a weak grin. “He’s gonna be staying with us for a little while. He’s working on some stuff here.”

“Mm’k,” Blake yawned. “Can I go to bed now?”

Charlotte chuckled, voice low. “You must be really tuckered out if you’re asking to go to bed.”

“Me n Mommy watched a whole buncha movies today.”

“Did you now?” Charlotte said, his tone indicating that he didn’t like that.

Sam winced. “Yup. Let’s get you to bed, buddy.”

When she returned to the main floor, she found Charlotte in the kitchen, holding the burned toaster in hand. “What the hell happened?” he demanded. “I wasn’t even gone for 24 hours!”

Sam scowled. “To be fair, it’s been a pretty fucked up day. If it wasn’t for Patsy I would have decked your ex.”

Charlotte slumped, putting the toaster down. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that. He thinks that because he’s Blake’s father he’s entitled to everything that I have. Patsy is a real blessing sometimes.”

“Yeah. She’s pretty great.”

Sam hadn’t realized that her voice was fond when she said it, but when Charlotte leaned over, an eyebrow quirked on his face, she froze. “What?”

“Don’t you go getting a crush on my friend. All I know about you is that you respond to catcalling with violence and that you somehow caught my toaster on fire.”

Sam spluttered out a protest, but Charlotte wasn’t listening. “I’ll take the couch, so that way-”

“It’s your bed.”

Charlotte glanced up, an eyebrow raised, and Sam gave a weak smile. “I’ll...I’ll take the couch. It’s okay.”

“What about Blake?”

“It’ll be okay. Seriously, go ahead.”

Charlotte eyed her slowly and then tilted his head. “All right. Keep an eye out on your weather app for any potential meteor showers or anything, though.”

“Will do.”

Over the next week, Charlotte and Sam put their full efforts into researching falling and shooting stars. Sam went into the law firm dressed in a scarf and fake sneezing into her hand, picked up the cases that Charlotte asked for, and brought them back. He worked on those during the day while Sam ran errands, dropped Blake off at Patsy’s, and researched.

The more Sam got to know Patsy, the more she had to admit that Charlotte might be right.

The first clue was when Patsy “met” Charlotte for the first time. Sam saw the once over she gave him, saw the quirk in her lips, and envy settled low in her gut.

Envy. That this woman was ogling HERSELF.

The second clue was when Sam caught herself smiling as the woman giggled at a joke she had made, her stomach fluttering a bit as Patsy covered her mouth to cover her laughter. It was a shame, really; she had such a lovely laugh.

The revelation that she genuinely found Patsy attractive and funny and wonderful came almost five days after Charlotte had gotten back.

Blake had become very attached to him, calling him “Uncle Sam” whenever they were together. Sam could tell that it hurt Charlotte a little, that he was struggling not to do the cutesy things with Blake that he’d like to be doing, and that made her work harder to find the right time to switch back.

To hopefully switch back.

Because really, they didn’t know if their plan would work. Didn’t know if it was all a fluke, if they would ever truly be themselves again.

Hell, sometimes Sam still expected to wake up from a dream.

The sixth night after Charlotte had gotten back, after they had put Blake to sleep, they were researching once more. Sam had convinced Charlotte to dip into the savings just a little bit and buy a smartphone to replace the old flip phone, and he had consented upon realizing that it wasn’t actually as expensive as he thought it was.

At least, when he stayed away from Apple it wasn’t.

Around 9:30, Charlotte sat up and slapped Sam on the shoulder. “There’s a meteor shower around 3 am tonight.”

“What?”

Charlotte looked up, eyes glinting, and Sam started grinning. “Are you serious?”

“Yes!”

They both whooped and high fived.

They had gotten much closer over the last few days. Charlotte had stopped worrying that Sam would be a bad influence on or hurt Blake in any way. He had seen how good she was with him, and slowly his fears had dissipated. Sam had confided in Charlotte about the fear that she had felt when Scott had confronted her and Blake, and Charlotte had guided her through that fear, made her feel better about the whole situation.

Packing up their equipment, Sam suddenly realized how much she was going to miss both of them. Charlotte and Blake had become like family she never really had.

Sure, her parents were still alive. But she never saw them, and she was an only child. Charlotte had become what she suspected a sister was like, Blake like a nephew, and Sam wasn’t sure she was really ready to give that all up.

Not to mention, Patsy and Patrick.

Though she hadn’t gotten to know Patrick quite as well, he was a great, empathetic kid. And Patsy herself was an amazing, tough woman. Leaving them would be almost as hard, if not harder, than leaving Charlotte and Blake.

“Sam?”

She looked at Charlotte, eyes wide, and blinked. “Yeah?”

Charlotte frowned, his fingers tightening on the back of his chair. “You okay? You seem a bit lost there.”

“I...was just thinking about how I don’t really want to leave.”

Charlotte looked taken aback, and then slowly he smiled. “I don’t think Blake really wants you to go either. He really likes you. Or at least, my version of you. Plus Patsy has been eyeing you all over the place.”

“She has?”

“Geez, have you not been wearing my glasses? Hell yeah she has.”

Sam flushed and looked at the floor, eyebrows furrowing. Charlotte took the silence as invitation to keep speaking. “I mean...there is a house for sale down the street. It’s certainly not as fancy as yours, but you definitely have the money to drop on it. And I’m sure Moira would love to get out of Philly.”

Sam whipped her head up. “Really?”

“Oh yeah. I can tell she doesn’t like it. She doesn’t seem like a city girl.”

Sam hummed, a smile twitching on her lips, and Charlotte put a hand on her shoulder. “Just think about it, eh?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I will.”

3 am came too quickly. They were outside at 2:30, just in case, sitting on the front porch steps and staring out into the skyline.

Living in a big city her whole life, Sam had never really had the chance to truly appreciate the stars. Now, out in the middle of bum-fuck nowhere, Montana, the city pollution was low, and the town that Charlotte lived in didn’t have much light pollution.

The sky was littered with stars, glittering and flickering along the skyline. Sam had seen the usual constellations of course; the Big Dipper, Ursa Major, Orions Belt. But out here, she couldn’t see those, could see constellations that she had never seen before, ones that she couldn’t even name.

“It’s beautiful,” she murmured out loud, flushing after she realized she had spoken.

Charlotte, who was cupping a mug of coffee in his hands, tossed her a small smile. “Isn’t it? I was only in Philly one day, but...damn, how do you stand the noise?”

“I just...grew up with it,” Sam said with a shrug. “It’s never really something I realized I could live without.”

“Mmm.”

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, staring up at the stars.

“Why did you make the wish?” Charlotte asked suddenly. “To be a woman, I mean. A mother, specifically.”

Sam fidgeted, taping her fingers against her arms. “I...I thought it might be better. Mentally, somehow. I wanted a kid of my own, but I didn’t have that opportunity. I just wanted to know...how you felt, I guess.”

Charlotte hummed thoughtfully, and Sam shot him a look. “What about you?”

“Truthfully?”

Sam nodded.

“I wanted to stop being treated like a pair of tits and more like the lawyer I actually am. And I...raising Blake is tough. He’s an amazing kid, but sometimes there’s only so much you can handle.”

“I get that,” Sam said softly.

“I miss him, though,” Charlotte murmured, taking a sip of his coffee. “My boy. I also...dicks are really uncomfortable.”

Sam chuckled, clapping a hand over her mouth. “I could say the same about boobs,” she said with a laugh.

Charlotte grinned and shook his head. “All women agree with you on that, trust me.”

Silence again, eyes turning back to the sky, and Sam’s breath hitched. “There,” she whispered, pointing.

A single star, or more likely, a comet, streaked across the sky, and the duo looked at one another.

They closed their eyes, wishes unspoken, and after a long minute, opened them ago, still the same.

“It didn’t work,” Charlotte said sadly.

“Not yet,” Sam remembered. “We fell asleep the first time, right?”

“Right.”

They stood, regarded each other, and then went inside to go to bed.

Sam passed out on the couch and woke up in bed, staring at the ceiling with perfectly clear vision. For a moment, he thought he had fallen asleep with Charlotte’s glasses.

And then he felt the soothing comfort of his old flannel pajama pants, the lack of awkward weight on his chest, and he sat up, lifting a hand to his face to find morning stubble scratching at his fingers.

“Shit,” he muttered, and it was his terrible, stinky morning voice he was speaking with.

He whooped and leapt out of bed, sprinting down the hall and flying down the stairs to find Charlotte sitting up on the couch, staring at her hands with a small smile on her face. She looked up at him and gave him a thumbs up and he tilted his head, running for the door.

“Where are you going?” Charlotte demanded, voice baffled.

“I’m a dude and Patsy is straight!” he shouted back at her.

Her laughter followed him out the door and he darted across the yard, cursing at the cold dew on his bare feet and pattering up Patsy’s front stoop quickly.

He was breathless as he hit the doorbell, and she answered a moment later, eyes tired, a robe on, and a coffee mug in hand. Her eyes glazed over him once, twice, and she lifted a brow.

Sam was suddenly very aware that he was only wearing a tank top. “Uh...morning.”

“You’re not wearing shoes,” Patsy noted, a hint of laughter in her voice.

Sam smiled sheepishly. “I uh...I know. I just...had the urge to come over here.”

“Why’s that?”

“Would you maybe...like to go to dinner? I know we don’t know each other really well, but I feel like I’ve gotten to know you this week, and you’re an amazing woman.”

Patsy’s lips quirked upwards. “Aren’t you going back home, soon?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. It depends on your answer,” Sam said. He still hadn’t quite caught his breath.

Patsy leaned against the doorjamb and lifted her coffee to her lips. “Yeah,” she decided finally. “Yeah, I’d really like that.”

Sam whooped, kissed her on the cheek without hesitating, and sprinted back to Charlotte’s house.

He had to call Moira. They were buying a house in Montana.

#my writing #commissions #writing commissions #oc characters #this one was tougher #mainly because sam and charlotte couldn't end up together and that threw me off a lot

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