#my cat slept on my lap the entire time I drew this

[cozynobodies]

some michael x pete x mike type mike and michael marking pete's neck i love so much this ship

So I think Michael would be a lot more gentle, and Mike would bite super hard, pretending he’s actually a vampire

[skellebonez]

I hear people talking about Sandy basically being a human shield and it gave me an idea with #79 for Silktea Angst. Huntsman notices some scars on Sandy's back and when he tells Huntsy he got them while protecting his friends it leads the spider demon to think, less then highly of team MK. (not that he thought highly of them to begin with) - Pixel Anon

Well I can’t argue with that! After all... I was hoping to expedite a chapter two of a certain fic I started...

How did you get that scar?

Huntsman went over his clothes one last time before returning back to the spider lair, making absolutely sure there was no left over cat hair clinging to his coat or pants. No one could know where he just was. No one could know anything about the conversation he and Sandy has just shared. No one could find out about...

A shudder wove its way up his back, born of concern and fear of being discovered. He couldn’t believe he told Sandy that much.

But he did. He hadn't told the other man every single thing, but if anyone knew he'd certainly have hell to pay. Something about Sandy, the warmth and openness he held despite what Huntsman had done, just drew all of it out of him. Maybe it was the fact that the warmth he exuded was such a stark contrast to the coldness added to his home since the Lady Bone Demon arrived.

He couldn't even blame it on the idea that the tea was secretly a truth serum. He'd told everything before he'd even taken that first sip.

And then that smile...

A thump resounded through his chest.

... oh.

"... oh no," Huntsman whispered to himself as he snuck back into his home, careful not to alert anyone to his presence and careful not to let his internal revelation stumble him as he felt that same odd thump in his chest as before. The one from when the other smiled at him, the second smile that was far softer than the ones he was greeted with before.

It was at that moment Huntsman knew... he may have messed up.

~

"You're back sooner than I expected," Sandy said nonchalantly as he opened his door at 5 past midnight the next evening. He gave him the other kind of smile, the one that was too wide and open for his liking, and welcomed him inside without question.

Huntsman hadn't needed to sneak out this time at least. He'd had time to plan, make sure that he covered his tracks properly like a good hunter did when going after their prey, and to come up with a reasonable explanation for his absence in the night. Given what they were planning behind the Lady Bone Demon's back that was easy enough.

While Syntax would be a better lead for finding certain things they need they needed him back in the lair to plan and build. Huntsman, on the other hand, could sneak and find and bring things back much easier than his more technologically impressed counterpart. And while he may have lied about where exactly he was going to hopefully get what he needed, Sandy...

He knew Sandy wasn't just muscles and tea, even if he had mocked him for it before. The boat he lived on was proof enough of that.

"I want to tell you more," he started slowly, sitting down on the couch and watching as the calico cat that had approached him last time stood and sat on the arm across from him. "And... Ask for your assistance."

Sandy paused what he was doing, tea cups only left partly filled for a moment before he continued as. "With what?"

"My Queen has a plan," Huntsman began, and this time he didn't hold anything back.

He told Sandy about what really happened at the festival. How he'd seen her true face after stealing the demon revealing mirror. How MK had snuck into their lair and had fought Spider Queen in shrunken form (he did not miss the shock and confusion and then a sad realization on Sandy's face at this revelation, but shouldn't he have known that already? it wasn't that long before he'd gone to retrieve the flower in the first place). How they had a plan, something that may just be enough to halt her provided they were able to complete it. How he and his two counterparts had looked at their plans and realized they may not have enough time on their own.

How Sandy's offer was probably one of the only things he could think of that could help them at this point. When they were quickly running out of time.

Sandy had brought him some tea half way through his explanation and said nothing the entire time. Just kept watching him and nodding his head to show he was listening.

"And now you know exactly the depths of the trouble we're in," Huntsman finished gravely. He held his empty cup in his hands, glowering down at the loose leaves in the bottom.

"I'm gonna be honest with you," Sandy started, swirling his own cup with a far off look on his face. "I didn't... I didn't know most of this. MK never told us about going into the sewers."

"What?" Huntsman asked incredulously, looking at the other in disbelief. "You can't be serious."

"I am!" Sandy insisted, face firm and worried. "Until last night I didn't even know it was the Lady Bone Demon you were working for! He hasn't told us any of this, just that someone was working with the Spider Queen and that's it. This explains his reaction to the game though..." He trailed off, looking deeper into his cup as if the tea would spill all of the secrets he needed to know.

"I thought heroes were supposed to be more honest than that." Huntsman scowled, jolting a bit as the calico climbed into his lap. At least this time he didn't have to worry about removing every cat hair, stray cats were common in the city and it wouldn't be odd for him to encounter one while out, though he would certainly still try.

"MK's a good kid," Sandy said softly, standing with a sigh and rubbing the back of his neck. "But... I think he thinks he has to deal with this on his own. To prove something."

"That's stupid."

This time Sandy leveled him with a glower, rough and harsh and not unlike the one he was met with during their fight. It made him freeze, a cold shudder running through him at the memory of the scenery around them he'd watched whiz past him as he ran.

The mountain that was more crescent moon hole than mountain now.

But that glower only lasted a moment, Sandy sighing and rubbing his face. He looked... tired. More tired than just from staying up late... had he slept after their last encounter?

"MK's not stupid," he defended as he sat back down. "But I can't deny that his choice to not tell us anything, no matter the reason, is foolish at best and dangerous at worst. I need to talk to him."

"Will he believe you figured all this out on your own?" Huntsman raised an eyebrow. The calico's claws dug into his legs as she, he was certain the cat was a she now, made herself comfortable.

"No. But I don't have to tell him you told me now if you want these two visits to remain a secret. I'll tell him you said something when I got the flower that was making me worry and that I put the pieces together over the last few days."

This made Huntsman pause himself, looking at Sandy with a narrowed gaze. "That's... shockingly generous of you."

"I know what wanting privacy feels like," Sandy said easily and something akin to a cold knife stuck itself in Huntsman's stomach as he remembered their fight once again. "...Thank you."

Again, this surprised Huntsman (there was a lot of that about this night it seemed). "For... what?"

"Telling me all this," Sandy said with a gesture of his arm and that damn smile. "You didn't have to. But you trusted me enough to do that anyway."

Trust... did Huntsman trust Sandy? Or was his just concerned enough for his Queen and his own life to push any distrust aside for the sake of their survival? Or was he just lonely with only a distracted queen, his old companion, and the newest addition who he already didn't see eye to eye with as regular company that didn't show frustration at his presence? So lonely that someone smiling at him so genuinely made his heart (yes, he was certain that was his heart now) thump harder than he ever remembered it doing in his life.

"... don't mention it," it what he chose to reply with instead of confronting any of those thoughts head on. Especially that last one.

He could unpack that later. Or never. Preferably never, but something told him that wasn't going to happen.

"Well!" Sandy suddenly announced, standing up and clapping his hands dramatically with that too wide smile back on his face. "I'm hungry! And I have just the perfect snack for this next batch of tea!"

Before Huntsman could argue that he wasn't hungry himself Sandy had turned around and was off into his kitchen, the sudden movement making the calico cat startle and jump off Huntsman's lap.

And then the spider demon was alone.

The temptation to take what he needed from the boat, wherever it may be hidden, and leave was strong. So strong. But he knew that if he did that the rest of his plan would be for nothing. He knew they needed more time and that wasn't something they could buy. Not anymore, not when the Lady Bone Demon had so much of what she needed already. But more help could make up for that time... and as much as he knew that his Queen would be furious with him for going behind her back, for seeking help from one of the Monkie Kid's friends of all people, he cared more about them living than her wrath at this moment.

Maybe he would have felt different if he was faced with that wrath head on, but he wasn't.

So instead, for whatever reason he told himself that wasn't just "sheer curiosity", he stood and followed the other man part way into the kitchen as quietly as he could manage and watch. And then he noticed something he'd seen before.

He couldn’t help but stare. He had noticed them during their first encounter on his boat, but hadn’t paid attention, really. Too focused on the conversation at hand and worrying about how this could all go horribly wrong. But now... now he couldn’t help but stare at Sandy’s back, wide and vast and muscled and scarred. Little nicks and wide chasms of slices and cuts and stabs littered his spine and shoulders, each of varying levels of age and healing. So much more than on his chest.

Sandy said he didn’t fight unless he had to, so... Huntsman had to ask.

"How did you get that scar?"

"Which one?" Sandy countered almost immediately, and Huntsman realized he may have been more aware of his surroundings when in his own home than Huntsman had given his credit for.

"Any of them. All of them. Take your pick."

He didn't look away from his back. Sandy didn't turn to face him.

"Most of them are old," Sandy started, the scars moving as his shoulders moved to prepare whatever it was he was making. "Pretty obvious some of them are recent. I told you I don't like to fight, but my friends..."

Sandy trailed off, most likely looking for the right words to explain. But Huntsman realized the implication long before he had the chance.

"Don't tell me you've been making yourself a meat shield for your friends," he said with a scowl. The idea of him doing that for people who were supposed to be heroes... for some reason he didn't like that at all.

"I wouldn't put it that way," Sandy countered, turning around with a plate of some kind of cup up sweet. "They don't really like it, but if my friends are in danger I want to protect them. Sometimes I forget I'm not invincible like other people."

"Wow, sounds like bad decisions are just a theme for us," Huntsman said under his breathe with a scowl, regretting saying that the second it left his mouth.

Sandy hadn't seemed to have heard him though, or if he did he made no indication that he had been offended by the statement. Which... seemed to be a pattern with the other. He didn't seem to get offended by much unless you were hurting his friends directly.

... Huntsman realized he had no idea what that felt like on either end.

But it struck him as odd, and foolish. His friends should be able to take care of themselves. He'd seen even the human scholar fight during the festival and in the celestial realm, he wasn't nearly as strong as everyone else but he put up a decent defense. For Sandy to jump in front of them to take a blow, and for them to allow him to do that...

He scowled even deeper than before. Had they no pride? No shame in letting someone else take the hits for them like that? Foolish indeed!

"You gonna sit back down?" Sandy asked after a moment, shocking Huntsman from his thoughts, gesturing to the couch. "You still haven't told me what you need."

"You sure you trust me enough to give it to me?" Huntsman asked as he sat back down, reaching to push away the plate of sweets from his side of the table. He had no interest in food at the moment.

He didn't get to do that, Sandy's hand reaching out and grabbing his wrist instead.

His hand was warm and firm and calloused from years of whatever it was he had done before and from working on tech. His fingers slipped under the cuff of his coat slightly and Huntsman could have sworn that the other man could feel how fast his heart had begun to beat in response.

"I told you before," Sandy started, pushing his hand back away from the plate. It was that Huntsman realized he had slipped something into his hand. "I don't trust you, not yet. But I offered you that second chance."

"Y-yeah," Huntsman stammered out as he wrist was let go of. He yanked it back, looking down at what was in his hand. Another tea bag and a different sweet. Store bought and wrapped. A simple fruit flavored hard candy, nothing more. But given to him all the same. Something he could choose to eat when he wanted... or not at all. Maybe that meant something, maybe it didn't.

The warmth that seemed to linger on his wrist felt like it did though.

"Now, what do you need? I can't guarantee I have it, but I'll do my best to help."

Huntsman's scowl remained on his face as he explained what materials they needed and what they were hoping to find to expedite a few certain old creations in their building of what they needed.

His scowl remained as Sandy handed him everything he needed, bidding him a safe return to his home with a yawn when he made his leave.

It remained as he rushed back to the lair, back to his Queen, to present the treasure trove they needed to get everything back on track. As Syntax looked at him in suspicion. As he returned to his own quarters holding his wrist, wanting to feel the same warmth around it that was now missing again. As he snuck a cup of hot water into his room and he dipped the tea bag into it and waited.

It only dissipated as he opened the hard candy, popping it into his mouth as he took a sip of the new tea.

The natural sweetness of the new tea tea mixed with the mouth punching sourness of the hard candy.

Huntsman couldn't help but smile, just a bit, as the flavors mingled in a way he knew many people would find unappealing. But he loved it. Sour and hard mixed with sweet and smooth.

The big guy was more insightful than he thought.

[seacottons]

— christmas with ateez

notes: fluff, mildly suggestive dialogue.

— park seonghwa

"But it's not fair! I gave you your present early!"

The male merely spun around, ignoring your whines as he adjusted the flickering lights over the fireplace. The wood crackled merrily in the fire and casted a brilliant orange glow onto the man's chiseled face.

"Yes, and I love it, but I never agreed that I'll give you your present early," he spoke as he jabbed the wood with the poker stick, sending bursts of sparks in the air, "Just be patient, love. Only a few more days."

"Okay, but," you grumbled as you sat crossed leg onto the couch, arms crossed and lukewarm coffee long forgotten on the table, "It still isn't fair."

With a sigh, your lover stands up to walk into the bedroom, before towering over you with a palm sized gift box. Taking the cover off, he dipped his hand inside, "Alright, fine. Since you won't stop acting like a baby, I guess it's only fair if I return the favor. You're going to love this," your eyes grew wide in anticipation as he simpered mostly to himself. He drew out his empty hand, only to shoot you a heart with his index finger and thumb. You guffawed momentarily, jaw dropping and heart sinking. Disappointment washed over you as he nearly doubled over with laughter.

"Park Seonghwa! You're not funny!"

You attempted to push his chest away with your fuzzy sock-clad feet, only for him to settle down in between your legs, hand propping his face up as he gazes at you in amusement. A mischievous glint sparkled in his orbs, one that you matched with a subtle glare.

"I was going to save this for Christmas, but you're so stubborn and insistent," reaching back, he pulled out a tiny, blue velvet box, hands working it open to reveal a ring, its brilliant, prismatic colors beaming against your shocked face as it caught the bright lights overhead, "I take it you know what this is for, right? I've been thinking about this for a while now, really, and I wanted to wait for the perfect opportunity to ask you, will you marry me?" His face fell instantly as tears streamed down your face, his brows knitting in worry as you broke down and wrapped your arms around his throat, nearly cutting off his air supply and circulation as you nodded aggressively against the column of his neck, voice hoarse and weak from the onslaught of overwhelming emotions, "Oh, you're such a big baby. My big baby."

— kim hongjoong

The sound of spools and scissors clattering down onto the floor snapped you out of your train of thought.

"This is too hard," Hongjoong flops down onto the floor of the living room, a whine escaping his throat, "I give up. I can't make an ugly sweater!"

Numerous colors of thread, ribbons, felt, and pom-poms littered the floor. The sound of snipping pierced the silence, and you smiled as you finally cut out the shape of a snowman. "You're just too much of a perfectionist, baby," you smile as you reach down to fluff his hair, "It's not supposed to look good. That's the point."

"But I can't help it," he whined as he rolled over so that his head rests in your lap, "It needs to look good! Even if it is supposed to be ugly. It still should look decent."

Rolling your eyes playfully, you lean down to place a peck against the tip of his scrunched nose, "Relax, Joongie. Just have fun with it."

You munched on gingersnap biscuits as you amusedly watched him as he fringed the edge of a red ribbon for the cuffs of his sweater. His brows furrowed in concentration as he added more stitches and pieces of fabric scraps onto the emerald-green article of clothing. An hour passed and you grew tired, hands trembling while readjusting the thread on the spool. Hongjoong was still going at it, stubborn hands picking and taking away at decorations he had already added onto his sweater.

"Stop, it looks great like that," you nudged him playfully, a yawn escaping your mouth as you leaned your head against his side, "Hurry up and finish, Joong. I'm sleepy."

He contemplates momentarily, hesitant hands outstretched over his sweater on the floor. Dropping his hands in his lap, he glanced at you for a split second, hands reaching to brush the hair out of your face as your head nodded with drowsiness, "Alright. I'll take your word for it, baby. Now let's get you into bed before you sleep on the floor again."

— jeong yunho

"Come on! The last store is closing in thirty minutes!"

The snow crunched beneath your boots as you pulled along your best friend through the numerous window shops. Lilac and blue shadows danced along the snow-covered sidewalk as shoppers briskly walked about in droves to shop for holiday gifts. Twinkling lights hung along eaves of the buildings, lampposts, as well as the bare trees in town. A variety of holiday songs can be heard throughout every turn, each shop displaying sparkling wreaths and flashing lights to beckon customers in.

Giant candy canes flanked the streets, leading to a monstrous sized evergreen tree in the center of town. Yunho's cheeks and nose flushed red from the cold, and despite trembling in his boots from the onslaught of sharp flurries beating against his face, he takes one look at your beaming expression and is instantly filled with a strange warmth that not even a crackling fireplace can provide.

He'll admit, maybe today wasn't the best day to get dragged by his best friend to go window shopping for all your mutual friends, but his soft spot for you prevented him from disagreeing. While you rambled on and on about how it would be cute to buy Jongho a muscly teddy bear and Mingi a sparkly crown, his mind drifted to when you stopped at a particular store and suddenly ceased your talking to gaze open-mouthed at a large snow globe filled with iridescent glitter, sparkling snowmen, and penguins. The afternoon sky was flecked with shining amber and pink clouds that illuminated your sparkly eyes, and the smell of cinnamon tea and roasting chestnuts filled the town's air.

He smiled to himself, already mentally preparing the gift wrap color and ribbon. Hopefully, this year his wrapping skills will improve. Maybe he'll just let Seonghwa help him out.

"Yunho, are you even paying attention to me!?"

— kang yeosang

You woke up to an unusually bright light, brows furrowing and eyes scrunching shut. Peeking your head over your lover's sleeping frame you noted the piles of snow gathering against the window you decorated with silly, little window clings last night. Frost stretched into arabesque patterns on the glass window panes, the crystals glistening gold in the morning sunlight.

The second your foot grazed the icy tiles of your bedroom, you opted to remain in bed and steal some of Yeosang's body heat. Lifting his limp arm, you tucked yourself into his hold, face buried against his chest. The shift in movement stirred him from his slumber, and he sat up bleary-eyed and confused.

Peering down at your frame silently, he settled back against the bed, tugging you closer and placing multiple pecks onto the crown of your head. Mornings like these were your favorite. You loved to cling onto your lover like second skin as the two of you slept soundlessly. He was always so, so warm and soft, and his embrace always felt like home.

The extra hours of sleep felt like mere minutes, and by the time you peeled your eyes open for the second time, Yeosang was no longer in the center of the bed spooning you. Sitting up with a deep inhale, you grimaced at the glistening snow outside, the icy wind howling and sending tuffs of ice scattering about. The sound of padded footsteps caught your attention, and you were suddenly overwhelmed with the scent of cocoa.

Yeosang stood in the doorway with an unamused expression, two steaming mugs of hot chocolate in hand and chocolate stains on his beige, fleece sweater, "Oh good, you're awake. You slept like a rock while I nearly set the kitchen on fire."

"What did you do.." you mumbled, fists reaching up to rub at your eyes, "Should I even ask?"

You're suddenly aware of the faint smell of something burnt in the air and the thin haze of smoke lingering throughout your apartment.

"Don't worry," he mused as he handed you the red mug of hot chocolate, your eyes instantly drawn to the dollop of cream and marshmallows floating on the surface. He settled onto the bed beside you, leaning in to give you a chocolate-stained kiss, "We needed a new microwave anyway."

— choi san

"See, your shower wasn't that bad," you cooed gently as you swaddled your boyfriend's cat, Byeol, in a fluffy blanket, carrying her out to the living room. You bumped into a hard chest, Byeol instantly taking the opportunity to dive out of your arms to scurry away. Snapping your head up, you were met with a smirking, cardigan-clad San who leaned against the doorframe.

You dropped your gaze to the dangling mistletoe in his hands, scoffing playfully at the sight. Throughout your entire apartment, mistletoes hung from every doorframe and corner with San's stubborn insistence. Leaning forward, you cupped his dimpled cheeks bringing him in closer to slot your lips against his own in a chaste kiss.

"I told you, you don't need a mistletoe to ask me for a kiss," you murmured against his mouth as he placed numerous pecks onto your glossed lips. Pulling you taut against his chest, he burrows his head into the crook of your neck, and you feel his lips twitch up into a knowing smile.

"But I've been getting more kisses thanks to all the mistletoes," he laughed against your skin, arms coiling tightly around your frame, his hands fondling your rear, "Even more than Byeol. So, I think I might just keep them hung up even after-"

The sound of glass shattering startled him, his frame jolting up instantly, eyes wide as saucers.

"That better not be my new snow globe."

Peeling himself from your hold, San scrambled to the bedroom, the sounds of his cries reverberating throughout the apartment. Reaching down to pick up the forgotten mistletoe, you laugh as he scolded Byeol, who in return dashed out of the room without a care in the world.

San stood in the doorway with a broken snow globe in hand, a pout eminent on his features, "I'm giving Byeol coal for Christmas," he spat angrily as you walked over to him, eyes rolling and hands working on unbuttoning the cardigan he had on to continue what he had previously started, "I knew she should've been on Santa's naughty list."

He suddenly ceases his rant, peering at you with a questioning gaze.

You raised your arm high in the air, and the mass of green dangled in front of San's curious face. His eyes flickered from the mistletoe to your face repeatedly, before his crestfallen expression morphs into one of mischief, "And you are most definitely on San's naughty list."

— song mingi

Mingi lets out a loud shriek as the roof of his gingerbread house topples over into a mess of frosting and gummy treats. Peeking over from your side of the table, you nearly laugh at the sight of him apologizing to the fallen gummy bears smeared with excess frosting, "Ming-Ming, try adding more frosting! It'll help."

"This is a lot harder than it looks!" he complained as he delicately squeezed a line of vanilla icing onto the edges of the cookie, "I nearly killed the gummy bear family. My hands are just too big and clumsy-"

He squeezed his eyes shut as he once again placed the remaining piece of gingerbread cookie onto the house, one eye peeking open to stare in awe at the stabilized cookie house. His eyes glimmered with joy, mouth stretching wide into a contagious grin as he silently points at his creation in fear that his voice will send it crashing down for a second time that night.

Mingi's gingerbread house was cute, you'll give him that. Smears of frosting stained the sides and the roof, and excess frosting dripped from the seams connecting all the pieces together. His hands scrambled to pick out the first of his decorations.

"Let's see," he hummed in satisfaction, "Baby, help me out. Peppermint candies or gum drops for the wreath on the door?"

"I don't think your gummy bear family will approve of their kind being used as a wreath," you giggled, your sock-clad feet intertwining between his legs underneath the table as you reached into the bowl of treats to plop a few in your mouth, "Pass me the red icing, please."

"You're absolutely right," he says in a matter of factly, eyes wide and curious as he squeezes dollops of icing onto the sides of the gingerbread house, "The gum drops will be the flowers around the house. Y'know, just like Spongebob's house?"

When he wasn't met with a reply, he peers up curiously, mouth dropping instantly with a loud gasp, "No! Stop! Don't eat the gingerbread men! I need those!"

— jung wooyoung

Crouching down, you admired the way the frost glistened in the sunlight, your fingers reaching forward to trace the arabesque patterns on the tree trunks and leaves. A flying mass of white flung over your head and onto the tree bark, another hitting you square on your bum. A high-pitched scream rung out almost immediately from your throat, your frame stumbling onto the snow littered ground.

You whipped your head back at the source of laughter from behind you, and your eyes instantly squint in aggravation at the cackling male behind you. Wisps of ebony locks peek out from his red beanie, framing his amused face and cheeky grin. He trudged towards the snowmen you two built ( the same one with the goofy, crooked smile he insisted looked like you ) and struck a pose on one leg, arms stretched high to form a heart as he winked at you, his long, lilac shadow stretching onto the expanse of soft snow.

"Baby, haven't I taught you to never turn your back on your enem-" He startled as a tiny golf-sized snowball slammed and crumbled onto his nose. Brushing off the snow and clenching his jaw, he then released a huff through his nose and whined, boot-clad feet stomping into the snow, "Ah! I was being cute for you! Don't ruin my moment!"

His nose grew considerably more flushed from the impact of snow, and he drew back, threatened, when you stomped your way towards him, a sheepish smile finding its way onto his features. Attempting to assert dominance, he cleared his throat, eyes smoldering as he leaned in close towards your face with a faint smirk, "It's okay to be a sore loser, you know?" Reaching down, he pats your bum free of the remaining snow, snickering to himself when you slap his hands away, before releasing a loud cry of surprise when you push him back to land on the smaller of the two snowmen.

"No!" he whined instantly, "Baby! You made me crush your twin." He scrambled up to assess the damage as you cackled beside him, his eyes practically slits as he pulled you in by your scarf, "That's what you're going to look like too, after I'm done with you."

— choi jongho

This year, your boyfriend disagreed to all your attempts to buy a faux tree for your living room, and instead flaunted his strength as he single-handedly chopped one down and dragged it to his car. The pungent smell of cedar was overwhelming in your tiny apartment, but you thought it was well worth the trip to see Jongho so proud and satisfied with himself for doing all the hard work with no aid.

He carefully stood on a stool as he wrapped golden tinsel around the tree, his brows furrowed on concentration, "Tell me if it's crooked, baby," he crouched down as he reached the end, hand outstretched in a silent gesture for the scissors. You placed the box of hand painted ornaments and ribbons down, hands reaching in to grab at a few, only to be stopped by Jongho, "No, no. It's okay, I can do it. Don't worry, love."

"But I want to-"

"Ssh," he places a finger to your pouting lips and stops your futile attempt to persuade him, "Let Macho Jongho do all of the work, princess."

Crossing your arms with a roll of your eyes, you watched him tie multiple bows of ribbon along the edges of the tree. Jongho always regarded you like delicate glass, never allowing you to do any tiresome work if he was around. In the beginning, it was quite endearing, but moments like these you wanted to pull on his ear and demand him to accept your help. Besides, decorating the Christmas tree was the highlight of the entire holiday.

A muffled cuss caught your attention, and you perked your head up to gaze at the frustrated male across the room. You watched as he struggled with the fairy lights, the thin metal coiling around his arms and fingers, "Babe," he called out in defeat, "I need help."

"I thought you'd never ask."

[fanfic-she-wrote]

A Cute Mistake: Part 2

No warnings just fluff

The next morning you awoke and found Dracula gone as usual. As he slept you found you had ample amount of time to learn the spell you needed. You got up and stretched letting out a long yawn as you went. As you made your way to your office a sudden thought occured to you. How did Dracula get in his coffin? You took off in the opposite direction and went toward his bedroom hoping he wasn't a pile of ashes when you got there. You flung open the door and stepped inside, your eyes immediately darting to the coffin, which remained unopened. Oh no. Hurriedly you searched the castle hoping he had managed to hide himself away somewhere. Finally, you found him lying under your bed with his belly up looking content. You let out a sigh of relief. Gosh, he was so adorable right now. You thought, resisting the urge to touch his soft fluffy belly. Surely, he would kill you for that. Quietly you left the room, not wanting to stir him from his peaceful slumber even though you really wanted to.

Most of the day you spent immersed in your books and practicing the spell hoping that by the time Dracula woke up you could change him back. You hadn't even noticed the light slowly fading to darkness as the hours slipped by. It wasn't until you heard scratching at the door that you realized just how late it was. You put your wand down and opened the door to see Dracula on the other side.

"Have you learned the spell?" He asked stepping into the room, eager to return back to his normal self.

"Hello to you too." You mumbled, shutting the door behind you. "You'd be pleased to know that I have." 

"Good! Then let's get this over with." Dracula said, sounding a slightly relieved as he sat on the floor in front of you. You grabbed your wand and took a deep breath, preparing yourself. Slowly you flourished your wand in a circle around him while speaking a strange incantation as you did so. He quirked his head to the side and watched you. How attractive you looked when you were in your element. Once you finished the spell you gave your wand a quick flick. Smoke emerged from the tip of your wand and suddenly englufed you, obscuring your vision. How strange, you thought. You didn't remember there being this much smoke the last time. "Y/N?" You heard Dracula call out nervously.

"Yes, Im here." You responded. "Did it work?" You asked as the smoke slowly began to dissipate.

"I don't think so." He replied, once he caught sight of you.

"Crap!" You exclaimed as you came face to face with Dracula noticing that he still remained a cat. "Hey, what am I doing down here?" You asked, suddenly realizing that you were no longer looking down at Dracula but  eye level with him. "Oh no..." You gulped, running to the nearest mirror and to your horror a black cat stared back at you. "What have I done?!" You shrieked looking at yourself in the mirror, your mouth hung open in shock. You were hopeless...You thought despairingly to yourself.

Dracula felt bad and in an attempt to comfort you he rubbed his head against yours. "I'm sorry." He said softly.

"I'm the one that should be sorry. I'm such an awful witch. I can't even perform basic transfiguration spells..." You uttered.

"No you're not. I've seen you do plenty of great things. Everybody is allowed an off day every now and then." He assured you. You gave him a small appreciative smile and a kiss on his cheek. (Which in cat terms was with your tongue.) It was almost instinctive, like you had unintentionally adapted some cat characteristics.

"Oh sorry!" You apologized, pulling away realizing what you had done. Dracula blinked not knowing quite what to think about that. This was all very strange.

"Is there any other way you can change us back?" Dracula asked.

"Well, we could always wait till the spell wears off." You told him.

"How long does that take?" He groaned, dreading the answer.

"It's unpredictable. Sometimes a couple days sometimes a week." You answered.

Dracula sighed. "Well, at least it's not permanent." He added gratefully with a shrug.

"So what do cats do?" You asked trying to figure out what to do. He stared ahead blankly for a moment.

"I'm not sure. Eat and sleep mostly." He replied.

"Well I guess this as good time as ever to catch up on my reading." You sighed heading back towards your desk.

"I'll join you." Dracula said following you. He had read a little bit about witchcraft before, but there were some things he was still curious about.

You looked up at your desk feeling slightly intimidated by how high it suddenly was. "I can do this." You assured yourself as you bent your knees and wiggled your butt, preparing yourself to jump. Dracula chuckled watching you, noting how cute you were. Then you pounced and you almost made it too, but it wasn't quite far enough. You slid down digging your claws in trying to catch onto something, but unfortunately the only thing you managed to grab was some papers. "No, no, no!" You gasped as you slid the rest of the way down landing on the floor with a thump, covered in papers.

Dracula stood over you, his eyebrow cocked. "That was graceful." He remarked.

"Let's see you do it then." You scoffed as you got up and shook yourself off. Dracula nodded his head confidently and approached the side of the table. In one carefully coordinated leap he reached the top with ease. He turned around and grinned down at you triumphantly. "Piece of cake."

You groaned. "Show off." And readied yourself once more, this time you finally made it to the top.

Quietly, you and Dracula read some of your textbooks together. Trying to read with paws certainly made things interesting. For one thing it made it difficult to turn the pages. But turning the pages wouldn't be the only problem you would encounter, after all your week (or if you were lucky earlier) learning how to be a cat had just begun.

Thoughout the week several more random incidents occured. Eating became a bit of a chore. Without thumbs it became nearly impossible to raid the cabinets or icebox. After many failed attempts you just settled for whatever you could get your paws on which was mostly bread.

However there were many positives to being a cat. You quite liked how flexible and agile you were, being able to jump from one location to another, especially high places. As the days passed your new favorite activity was finding some place to hide and jumping out at Dracula trying to scare him. Most of the time it worked and when it did, he chased you around the castle till finally you surrendered.

As the week slowly drew to a close, you were actually kind of happy that this had happened. That you both were able to take a break and enjoy yourselves. Secretly, Dracula felt the same although he would never admit it.

As you two sat sharing a chair by the fire, dozing off you suddenly felt a little strange, like the entire world was spinning. You closed your eyes wishing it would stop and then when you finally felt better you slowly opened them again this time you found yourself sitting on Dracula's lap in your human form. "It's over." He sighed, holding you. You wrapped your arms around his neck and smiled, suddenly realizing how much you had missed seeing his handsome face.

"Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" You asked.

"Not from where I'm sitting." He said, leaning in and giving you a well over due kiss. How he missed kissing your soft lips. Kissing you as a cat was definitely not something he would miss, and for that matter neither would you. You loved him the way he was and you wouldn't change it for the world whether he was a vampire or a cat, you loved him all the same.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Eye of the Storm 13

Warnings: nonconsensual sex, angry Thor, spanking, binding.

This is dark!Thor and explicit. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You are a new servant at the palace of Asgard but the job isn’t so easy as you thought.

Note: It’s the moment you all (and @lokislastlove​) have been waiting for.

Thank you. Love you guys!

As always, if you can, please leave some feedback, like and reblog <3

Thor was so angered by Loki's impromptu visit that he did not follow through on his threat to his wife. He left his marital duty undone and you didn't miss the mix of relief and concern as it sparked for an instant through her stoic veneer. The king thanked her for the meal and gruffly ushered you from the room and back to his own.

The night ended much the same as the previous. Thor was just as insistent, just as impatient, and just as cloying in his attentions. You spent hours writhing with his head between your legs, begging him to stop one second only to plead with him to keep on. As before, it ended in a haze of fatigue.

However, you did not awake alone. The king slept beside you, his hand nestled between your legs. He snored as his other arm stretched beneath your neck and his body pressed against your as his breath warmed your cheek.

The sunlight streaked in across the stone floor and the end of the bed. You were careful as you sat up and lifted Thor's hand from your cunt. He grumbled and you watched him nervously as he fell flat on his back. As if instinctual, his hand slipped over his own pelvis. You shuddered and left him alone.

You were even more sore than before. It hurt every time your thighs brushed together, every time you took a step. Your clit still felt swollen and was sensitive to even the slightest stimulation. You pissed and wiped yourself with a wet cloth, holding in your whimpers.

You lingered in the bath chamber. You paced and paused before the round looking glass over the counter. The golden collar remained, shining against your skin. You touched the little mjolnir along the front and grimaced. 

You'd always known you were little more than property but now you felt little better than a lamp or a stool. You were just a thing to him. Only good for his use, for his pleasure.

"Pet," Thor's voice was thick with sleep and cleared his throat. "Ah, ever clever. I do think we should wash away our deeds."

You turned to him and bowed your head, hiding your distress. You went to the pump and began to churn it. The water spilled out and you watched the ripples crash and build as they spread across the marble and flooded its depths.

Thor did not wait. He stepped in and eased himself down into the steam.

You stopped the water as it reached his chest and he ran his fingers along the lip of the tub. He smirked at you, his other hand dipping beneath the surface.

"Come," He coaxed. "You needn't be so nervous now."

You swallowed your voice and lifted your leg over the side. The warm water felt good despite your retiscence and you lowered yourself down with a suppressed sigh. He reached out and drew you to him. He brought you against him and slung your leg over his. 

"You slept well," He said. "You looked... peaceful. Satisfied."

You kept your eyes down and resisted the urge to shove him away. He was always near, always touching you. It had barely been more than a day since he'd dragged you back and you couldn't stand his presence. even if he could make you feel such wonderful things.

"I am tired still," You said softly. "I could sleep some more, my king."

"Well, you've much to do but you might earn yourself a cat nap," His wet hand went to your chin and he turned your head. "If you ask nicely." 

He kissed you and his hand crept down your arm. He took your hand and drew it over into his lap. He pressed your palm to his hard cock and groaned into your mouth. He closed your fingers and pulled back to let out a sharp breath.

"Keep me happy and I'll do the same in kind," He uttered as he guided your hand up then down. 

He dropped his hand and you carried the motion. He kissed you again as his arm hugged you closer. His tongue explored your mouth and you found it hard to breathe and keep your hand moving. When he parted, he pushed his forehead against yours and gave a low growl.

"That's it, pet. Just like that," He rasped. "Faster, just a little--"

As you obeyed, he spasmed. You didn't let up until he stopped you himself and whined. He sat back heavily and exhaled. He shook his hair back over his shoulders and you looked down as his cum floated in the water. Your stomach turned.

You recoiled and slid away from Thor. He barely seemed to notice as he basked in his bliss. Your entire body was on fire and yet it felt like ice had frozen in your veins. This wasn't who you were. This wasn't what you wanted to be for... for... forever.

The water fell off of you as you stood and climbed out of the tub. Your lip quivered as you felt yourself close to cracking. You heard Thor's voice but you're heart was beating so loud in your ears that his words were gibberish. 

You rushed into the bed chamber and found the showy red dress. You pulled it over your head, the skirts folded into and tangled with each other. You heard the king, heard his feet slap across the stone as you turned to flee into the receiving chamber.

You ran for the door but were stopped by a sudden bang before you. The large hammer, that sacred tool, landed before the doors and blocked your way. You stared at Mjolnir and turned slowly to face Thor as he stormed in behind you. His nostrils flared as he seethed.

"What do you think you're doing?" He roared.

"I can't-- I can't do this," You reached to your neck and fumbled with the clasp of the collar. You loosed it and fought to free yourself from it. "My king, I am not-- I cannot be-- I am a maid. I am not this."

"You are what I say you are," He marched towards you until you nearly fell over Mjolnir behind you. "Do you understand?"

He grabbed you and spun you away from the door. The collar flew from your grasp and clanged across the floor. You fell to your knees and shakily got back to your feet as you turned to him. 

"Please, please, I cannot," You begged. "I could ever be your servant but I cannot bear this. You are--" You inhaled and something in you snapped. "You are cruel. You frighten me. You torture me!"

"I have fed and clothed you. I have shown you pleasure you could never--"

"No, no!" You hollered. "Say what you will, but you are mean. You are terribly unkind. Your brother might be so but he could never measure to you. Never in th--"

Thor was before you in an instant. His large hands was around your throat and he almost had you off your feet as he glared down at you.

"Never speak of my brother again. Never compare me to him or him to me," He spat. "I did not keep you to hear such insolence."

"My...king," You sputtered out as your hand slapped against his weakly. "I-- I--"

He watched you as you gasped for air, as you struggled to cling to life as your head pounded. As stars appeared in your vision, he dropped you to the stone. You hit it hard and scraped your elbows.

"You think me cruel?" He bent to grab you and wrenched you back to your feet. "I will show you cruel."

He dragged you back into the bedchamber and tossed you against the end of the bed. You bounced off it and barely stayed on your feet. 

He tore open a draw along the side of his wardrobe and fished around. He turned around, a thick belt in hand and held his other in the air. A hum came and the heavy hammer soared through the air into his grasp. He placed it onto the floor only a foot from you and forced you away from the bed. 

He wound the leather around your wrists, your struggle nothing to his strength. He hauled you forward and yanked your hand down so that you bent. He wove the other end of the around Mjolnir's handle and once more around your wrists and secured it tightly. You were trapped, prone and bound to the immoveable hammer.

He stood straight and stomped around you. Still naked, you looked up with a sob and pulled at your hands. You could do nothing but strain every muscle in your attempts to free yourself. His cocked bobbed before him, throbbing, and he rounded you once more.

He pushed your skirts apart and his large hand stretched across your ass. There was a pause, a silence. Horrid and hellish. He drew back and you closed your eyes. You knew the slap would come before it landed. Your legs trembled at the force and you bit into your bottom lip. You'd never felt such pure agony.

He struck you again and the breath was forced from you. A third time and you cried out. Again and again as you got louder and louder. Each left your as more raw than last. The pain rippled down your leg and had your eyes streaming.

You lost count as his hand settled on your lower back and his other continued to fall steadily. Your knees buckled and your fingers wrapped around the hammer's long handle. You braced it as you fought to stay on your feet. He hit you again and your entire body went weak. 

You crumpled and whined. In your teary-eyed panic, you swore the handle had twitched just a little but you remained weighed down by the immoveable mass. 

Thor chuckled darkly and grabbed your hips. He pulled you back up and held you as you struggled to get your feet beneath you, still bent over Mjolnir. He rubbed your sore ass and pinched it. You yelped as your nerves buzzed with fear.

"I would have been patient," His hands ran up your back and he grasped the back of your dress. "Gentle even." He tore it with three sharp yanks and it fell away, bunching around your wrists. "I thought perhaps you might even enjoy it. Gods, a king! How gratefull you should be."

His hands slid down your sides back to your hips. He steadied you as you quivered and clung to your left hims as his other hand left you. His heady breath filled the silence and you felt a prod along your cunt. He rubbed his tip up and down your fold, pushing until he found your entrance. When he did, he did not hold back.

He jerked your entire body as he entered you. You shreiked as he filled you to his limit and well past yours. He held you up completely as your legs went limp. His fingertips sank into your hips as his other hand grazed your tender ass. He thrust and you exclaimed.

"My-- king," You pleaded. "It-- I'm so... sorry. Please-- stop! stop!"

"I didn't want you to be like them," He snarled as he rutted into you, each stroke sent a jolt up your spine. "Gods, everytime I-- try to fuck--" He grunted as he hammered into you. "My damn wife-- I can't-- even-- Fuck!"

He growled and you felt the flood of warmth inside of you. He dug his nails into your hip as he stilled and huffed. He stayed inside of you and there was a long moment of silence.

He bent over you and loosed your wrists. He wrapped his arm around your middle and pulled you straight. He clung to you and turned you toward the bed. He walked you closer until your knees met the mattress. He urged your knees up and climbed up with you, still inside of you.

He kept you upright, against him, his arm still around your middle as his other hand kneaded your tit. He nuzzled your hair and let out a dusky breath in your ear.

"Your choice," He began to rock slowly. "I can be mean... or I can be nice."

He kept his thrusts slow but even. He inhaled your scent as he brushed his nose along your cheek and toyed with your nipple. His other hand crawled lower, tickling your stomach and hips. He pushed a finger down along your pelvis and found your clit. He added another finger as he began to traced circles around your bud. You inhaled sharply and your hand fell over his but you didn't, couldn't, push him away.

His voice gristled in your ear as he moved against you. Despite your fear, your doubts, your spite, it felt amazing. You wanted more, more, more. You needed it. You were almost there. So close...

Then he stopped. He chuckled and removed his hand from between your legs. He pulled out of you and shoved you forward so that you fell on your stomach. His cum seeped out of you but he hadn't climaxed a second time, as you hadn't.

He turned you over and held himself over you. He smirked and his eyes roved down your body. He watched himself as he tilted his hips, dragging his cock against your cunt. You shuddered as you couldn't look away, the sensation almost as hypnotizing as the sight.

He lowered himself slightly but kept his hips slow. He hot breath tickled your ear as he leaned close. "Tell me you want me." He said.

You whined and turned your head away. He slowed even more and drew you further from the edge. You needed release. Your already overwrought clit was so swollen and sore.

"Tell me," He sneered.

You shook your head and he stilled. He pushed his cock against you and bit your ear lobe. He let go and rocked his hips once.

“Tell. Me.” He demanded.

“I--” You quavered. “I want… you.”

“Mmm,” He hummed and ran his nose along your cheek. “What do you want me to do?”

“I don’t-- I can’t--” You uttered. “I can’t say.”

“You want me to fuck you?” He taunted. “Tell me.”

“I want-- I want you--” You choked out through gritted teeth. “To fuck me.”

“Mmhmm,” He purred. “Do you want me to make you cum?”

You sobbed as he lifted his pelvis slightly and left you wanting.

“I want you… to make me cum.” You breathed.

“And do you want me to cum in you?” He asked. “To fill you with my seed?”

“I do,” You gasped. You needed a release; anything. It didn’t matter that it was him, you just needed it. It hurt so bad. “I want you to cum in me.”

“Well, pet,” His lips were just above yours as he stared into your eyes. “You must remember your manners.”

“Please,” You touched his hip shyly and pushed your legs apart. “Please fuck me. Please make me cum.” You pressed your fingers more firmly to him. “Please cum in me.”

“As you wish, little one.” 

He pulled his hips back for only a moment and prodded at your entrance. He slipped inside you, easier than the first time, and sank to his base. You squirmed at how full you were. It hurt but it was so, so good.

“Is this what you want?” He sped up with each thrust. “You want me? Huh?”

“Yes, yes,” You stammered. “Yes.”

He snarled and kissed you as he rammed into you hard. Your legs hooked around his and he nibbled your lips as he parted, only to smear his spit down your cheek and chin. His thick arm curled beside your head and he pressed his head beside yours as he pounded even harder.

His pelvis rubbed against your clit with each thrust and stoked your orgasm. You came suddenly with a cry and clung to Thor as your body shook beneath him. Your pleasure only seemed to drive his own and he sped up once more.

He pushed himself up onto his knees, quickly regaining his pace. He looked down at his cock hammering in and out of you and bit his lip. He let out a deep, long growl as his eyes shone eerily. 

Little silver blue bolts bounced off his body and along your flesh, adding to the buzz already within you. You arched your back as another, unexpected orgasm struck you. You clawed the blanket as your eyes rolled back as you writhed like a wild animal.

Thor’s flesh clapped against yours and interspersed with the snap and fizzle of the electricity flowing off him. The bed quaked beneath him and his voice grew louder and louder and suddenly peaked. He slammed into you several times then slowed. Another burst of warmth seeped into you.

He stilled and eased himself down over you again. He snaked his arm under you and scooped you up as he rolled over. You rested atop him, sweaty and spent. The heat within you was suddenly replaced with a chill so intense it made you shiver.

And Thor began to move again. Your cunt squelched around him as his cum leaked down his cock. He held you to him as he began to pant once more. Your walls ached around him as you hung your head against his shoulder weakly.

“You are mine,” He snarled. “And the little welp I put inside you will be too.”

[tricksters-captain]

Roman Sionis/Victor Zsasz/Birds of Prey imagines - Pussy Cat

AN: Second Gif credit is @ewanmcgregorz​

Overall Summary: You’re Roman’s little ‘pussy cat’. From the moment he met you, you were his but when you catch Zsasz fantasising over you... Things change...

Pairing(s): Roman Sionis xReader, (some) Victor Zsasz x Reader

Word count: 2,920

Warnings: Smut, Masturbation, Cheating, Strong Language, unprotected sex

“Good morning my pussy cat.” Roman announced his presence as he turned the corner from the bedroom and sauntered down the hall in his pyjamas and dressing gown. 

You sat at the dining table opposite from Zsasz and your eyes glided over to Roman’s handsome morning look as you sipped your coffee. 

“Morning my love.” You greeted him back, kissing his lips lightly as he leant down before he rounded your chair to find his own. 

Your eyes moved back to your gaze on Zsasz as he stared at you back with hard look. 

“Morning Victor. Terrible weather this morning, I’m afraid we’ll have to move our plans over to tomorrow and perhaps arrange our meeting at the docks with Mr William’s for this afternoon.” Roman helped himself to the filling spread across the table, picking up some pancakes and fruit. 

“You got it, Boss.” Victor’s eyes didn’t leave yours as he spoke. 

You smirked at the staring match you two seemed to have going and you even saw Zsasz lip twitch on the corner but he controlled himself before Roman could pick up on the little game. 

“Are we still on for dinner tonight or shall I leave my dress at the dry cleaner another day or so?” You couldn't help but be cheeky with Roman which only earned a raised eyebrow and a dangerous smile. 

“Of course, Kitten. I wouldn’t want to disappoint you now.” Roman’s nickname for you rolled off his tongue and you smiled. 

Roman had called you his ‘pussy cat’ since he met you. You had walked into his club for the very first time and his eyes were watching your every move from the moment you passed through the doors.

You had reminded him of a sleek curious cat with your dark cat-like eyeliner and your silky hair that framed your face almost perfectly. You wore a black dress that hung off you, low cut at the front and even lower at the back. The thin material clung to your hips and cascaded down to the bottom of your heels, your knees only just moving the slinky dress with every step. 

You studied the room as Roman watched you. Zsasz had noticed his boss had been distracted by someone that night and when he saw you, he soon understood why. 

Roman immediately swooped you up that night and claimed you as his own. Within hours of meeting you, he knew he never wanted anyone else to have you but he also learned soon enough not to keep you on too tight a leash. 

You’d been together a while now, long enough for the entire city of Gotham to know this wasn’t some usual fling. 

Zsasz had grown more trustworthy of you, something very hard for him to do as all he’s wanted to do was protect his boss, but it was rare that you and Zsasz were alone too long together. 

“Don’t forget you have a meeting with Miss Lance this lunchtime to discuss her new suggestions.” You reminded Roman as you rose from the table in your silk dressing gown similar to Roman’s but white. 

“Thank you, my love.” Roman beckoned you towards him and you obliged, kissing him once again before you left to change for the day.

Roman was right; the weather was terrible which lead you to make the decision to stay in for the day. You spent the morning doing some yoga and working out before you finally crashed on the couch. 

Roman was downstairs dealing with some business with the club and some potential new decor that might be added so nothing too risky/dangerous. By the time lunch came around and Roman was due to have his meeting with Black Canary, he sent Zsasz up to check on you. 

When you heard footsteps coming towards you, you began to stir from your nap. 

“So, we’re all working hard and you get to snooze?” Zsasz said with a light sarcasm as he came into view. 

“Deciding on new wallpaper and seat covers isn’t exactly what I would call hard work, Mr Zsasz.” You teased the man, you actually knew that the faffing was all Roman’s business and that Zsasz would have been making business calls and sorting meetings for Roman that morning. 

You stretched out on the couch as you spoke. Zsasz couldn't help but let his eyes travel across your body as you reached up, extending like a feline before turning and resting on your stomach. 

You hadn’t changed from the morning so wore a simple sports bra and yoga shorts which hugged the curve on your ass as you lied down on your stomach. 

“Ha Ha Ha.” Zsasz responded as he studied you. 

“Roman sent you up to babysit or are you just visiting?” You knew Roman worried about you and you didn't mind too much when he sent one of his guys to check on you. 

“You wish, princess. I’m just here to grab something for the Boss.” Zsasz was a pretty good liar usually but you learned to see through his bullshit. You knew well that Zsasz didn’t really like admitting that Roman sent him up to see you, he thought it might drive you away from Roman or cause a fight and he’d be damned if he started a fight between you two. He wouldn’t hear the end of it from Roman for days...

You smiled brightly at the man to which he just turned and headed to his bedroom. 

You spent the next minute lying on the couch before you got bored and decided you should probably shower. 

You walked down the hall towards yours and Roman’s bedroom when you passed Zsasz’s door. 

An unusual noise made you stop just outside. 

“Fuck...” Zsasz groaned, his slow pants audible through the door. 

You were frozen. You didn’t know if moving away would make it more awkward. What if he heard your footsteps if you walked away and then he would know you were hovering outside?

“(Y/n)...” Your name rolled off of Zsasz’s tongue clear as day. 

You felt your heart stop and your insides flutter.

The door was slightly ajar, closed but not closed enough to latch so you could easily push it open a fraction without him noticing. 

You didn’t know what you were doing when you found yourself peering through the tiny gap with curiosity. 

You could see Zsasz in his mirror opposite the bed he was sat on. 

He had his eyes closed, his length in his hand and his chin slightly raised with his lips apart. 

You bit down on your lip subconsciously as you watched the man stroke himself, cursing and moaning your name every few strokes. 

His member was large in his hand, you could feel yourself tighten at the sight and your mouth seemed to go dry. 

“Holy shit...” Zsasz moaned again, his low voice making his thick accent undeniably beguiling. 

You watched him in the mirror as he started to pump faster, drawing himself closer and closer to climax.

Zsasz’s tongue darted across his bottom lip as his moans became louder and more gruff. 

He threw his head back as he came. His seed spilling over his knuckles as he placed his other hand above his tip. 

You weren’t aware that you stopped breathing in that moment. 

When Zsasz cleared his throat and hunched over to return his member to his pants, you took that moment to walk away, picking up your feet as lightly as you could. 

You reached the bathroom and shut the door, falling against it with wide eyes and a new found hunger. 

You switched on the shower and immediately stripped, trying to cool yourself down from what you just witnessed. 

(Gif by @directedbysnyder​)

You didn’t see Zsasz again until later that day. 

You brushed through your hair as you sat in front of your vanity mirror, you were dressed ready to go to dinner but as always waiting on Roman. 

“Boss is waiting downstairs.” Zsasz knocked lightly on your door, 

You looked at him in the mirror, he hovered in the door way, his fingers tapping on the door frame as he waited for your response. 

“He’s not changing?” You asked, trying not to stare at his fingers too long as images filled your head. 

“Guess not.” Zsasz bent his head backwards as he turned away to look down the hall.

Your chest tightened at the side of his bare neck. A vein swelling out of the skin as he looked away from you. Your eyes travelled down his neck down into his shirt where the first few buttons of his shirt were open; the scars the decorated his skin only drew you to him even more.

“What?” Zsasz had noticed you staring before you noticed he was looking back at you. 

“Nothing.” You frowned, trying to play it off. You went back to fixing your hair when Zsasz rolled his eyes. 

“You look great, can we go?” 

You were quick to leave the apartment and jump into the car with Roman. 

“Hey, I missed you.” You kissed Roman on sight and he returned it. 

His leather clad hand took hold of the side of your jaw as he deepened the kiss. 

You felt the fire that had been brewing since lunchtime light up with Roman’s kiss. You hiked up your dress enough to swing your leg over Roman’s lap, sitting yourself down on top of him. 

Roman’s hands moved to your hips but his lips parted from yours when your hands found his belt. 

“Slow down, Pussy Cat...” Roman stopped your hands with his own. 

“Why?” You whined, 

“Because we’re meeting important people tonight and I can’t show up looking anything less than I already look.” Roman broke the news that it wasn’t just you two. Of course, it wasn’t, why were you even expecting it to be. 

“Oh.” You climbed off of Roman and pulled your dress back down. 

“I’ll make it up to you later, kitten, I promise.” Roman brushed your hair from your face with the back of his hand and stroked down your neck. 

You stared ahead but pushed a smile on your face before Roman signalled the driver to leave. 

The evening seemed to fly by unexpectedly and soon you were back in the apartment, lying beside Roman in bed. 

Roman snored lightly as he slept beside you. 

You couldn’t sleep. 

Thoughts circled your head about your dirty little secret. 

You couldn't get Zsasz’s voice out of your head, or the picture of his lips only slightly parted as he breathed heavily to the thoughts of you. 

You brushed your fingers across Roman’s forehead and through his hair, he didn’t stir. You loved Roman. You admired him, found him entertaining, adored his passion and excitement. You even loved his tantrums when things don’t go his way, you loved the sex that followed them too. 

But after today... After seeing Zsasz... 

You couldn’t get rid of the feeling, the temptation, the thought of what it may be like...

Everyone couple had their slips, their doubts, the times where they considered the idea of someone else. Right? 

You slipped out of bed and headed down into the living space of the apartment.

You passed the dining table, stroking your fingers along the cool table top as you did. 

It was late. You figured around 3am but the city outside was still lively. Gotham never slept. 

“What are you doing?” Zsasz’s voice startled you. 

You were stood by the window when Zsasz found you. 

“Jesus Zsasz...” Your hand rested on your chest from where you jumped around to see him. 

“It’s 3 in the morning. I heard something outside my room, I thought it were a trespasser.” That’s when you noticed the large knife in Zsasz hand. 

“Well you can put that thing away, big boy, it’s just me.” The words left your mouth quickly and whilst it was something you’d usually retort you found your cheeks flushing which made you spin back around to look out the window again. 

“You shouldn’t be out here alone.” Zsasz commented, ignoring your remark. 

“Why not?” You asked, 

“Boss has a lot of enemies. If someone down there saw yous was alone through that window...” Zsasz gestured with the knife to the window you were people watching from. 

“And if they dared, Roman would have you on their asses quicker than you say peeled face.” You smiled, trying your hardest to avoid looking at Zsasz, especially since he was only half dressed. 

“You should go back to bed, princess, Boss wouldn’t like waking up to an empty bed.” 

“I can’t sleep.” You responded, finally looking over at the man. 

His pyjama pants were low on his hips, his v-lines prominent and dark hair trailed down. They were the only item of clothes he wore as he brandished his knife. With that, you could see all the scars that scattered over his chest and neck. 

“What’s that gap for?” You walked towards the man, suddenly interested in the empty space above his heart. 

“That’s a special place I’m saving for the Joker’s whore, Quinn.” Zsasz tapped on the space with the tip of his knife. 

“Harley Quinn?” You found yourself raising your hand to touch the empty space and you saw Zsasz visibly tense up at your touch. “You and Roman really hate her, huh?” 

You smiled up at him but it soon started to fade when you saw his eyes almost boring through you. 

His lips were agape much like before. 

You couldn’t stop. 

Your hand reached behind his head in a blink of an eye and your lips crashed against his. 

Zsasz only kissed you back for a second before he remembered who you were. He pushed his hands against you and shoved you back hard, causing you to stumble back a few steps; catching yourself on the couch. 

Zsasz was breathing heavy, he was unsure what to do. 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” You whispered, skiing your head, your eyes locked on his. 

After what felt like forever, Zsasz dropped his knife and strode towards you. His hands took hold of your face as he brought you against him, kissing you like you were water and he was dying of thirst. 

You grasped onto the man, your fingers burrowing into his skin as you kissed him back. His mouth still tasted minty from his toothpaste; his teeth grazed your lips.

“Fuck...” You managed to say. 

Zsasz’s mouth moved down your jaw and onto your neck, you had to bite down on your lip to stay quiet. 

You started pushing Zsasz towards the couch to which he didn’t resist. 

Zsasz sat down on the couch and his fingers brushed against the skin on your stomach as he grabbed the hem of your pyjama top. Your stomach was doing somersaults at the connection and all you wanted was more.

When your shirt was removed and your breasts fell free, Zsasz gripped onto your wrist and pulled you down onto the couch so that he could climb on top of you. 

“Naughty little kitty.” Zsasz purred as he stared down at you. 

You reached up, pulling his neck down so that you could meet his lips again. 

His member pressed through his pants against your leg, making the fire in your belly roar wilder. 

“Fuck me.” You begged whilst the man sucked on your nipples, nipping at them lightly. “Please.” 

Zsasz yanked off his pants, springing his member free before tugging down your pyjama shorts.

He stroke himself a couple times before pressing his tip against your sex, rubbing it against your wetness. 

You dug your nails into the man’s scarred chest as he finally pressed himself inside of you. 

“Ohh fuck...” Zsasz groaned, closing his eyes from the pleasure of your tightness. 

You, being inpatient, buckled your hips against his to take him fully and Zsasz had to bite down on your shoulder to stay silent. 

He pulled his head back, propping himself up on the couch with his arms as he thrusted in and out of you. 

He felt even better than you imagined. 

Sweat beaded on the man’s forehead, his white hair tempting you to take a handful but his length only allowing you to press your fingers against his scalp. 

Zsasz cursed again before pulling out and forcefully flipping you over, taking a handful of your ass before he entered you again. 

You whined as he gathered a fistful of your hair and pulled. His thrusts were hard and deep, drawing you closer to your finish with every pump. 

Zsasz could tell you were close, he pulled you up towards him so that your back was touching his chest. His hand covered your mouth, his thumb inside where you let yourself suck him. 

You bounced against Zsasz as he thrusted and soon you were coming undone, coming on his lap. 

“Good girl.” Zsasz hissed in your ear as he rode you through it. 

You turned your head and met his eyes as he continued to fuck you. 

Your (y/e/c) eyes are what brought Zsasz to a finish, his seed filling you as he became sloppy and slow. 

“This is our secret now.” Zsasz murmured, his chest hot against your back as he held you there. His hand now on your throat. 

You nodded, running your fingers over his plump lower lip to which he moved to suck on. 

This was gonna be trouble...

[mollymauk-teafleak]

say that you’ll hold me forever

If you enjoyed this fic, please consider reblogging and leaving a comment on Ao3! It’s totally free and keeps your writers happy!

-----

In his more introspective moments, Alec would think that the reason night running came so easily to him, the reason he’d slipped into it like a pair of well broken in boots when it was so different from the simple life he’d been leading before, was because it was so like archery. When you got right down to it, both were about breathing steadily, keeping your eyes open, having patience and knowing when to let go. All things that had been his lifeblood since he could walk.

And because both came so easily to Alec, when something was amiss it was like having something stuck in his teeth. If the arrow he was using had warped or was made out of balance, he could sense it in a moment. If his string wasn’t oiled, he knew as soon as he drew it back. If a breeze no harder than a breath were blowing between him and his target, it may as well have been a gale for as much as it made the act feel impossible.

And if something was wrong with a night running job, Alec knew it. And tonight’s particular job felt like he was trying to shoot without an arrow.

It had seemed fine that morning, when he and Seregil had been taking breakfast in the living room at the Stag and Otter; Alec ruffling the ears of one of Ruthea’s last litter on his knee and his lover shuffling through their latest stack of messages for a cat of a very different kind while they ate.

There were a lot of them, some written on fine vellum, some scrawled hastily on notes that had since become crumpled as they’d passed from hand to hand to reach the elusive, far famed and entirely fictional burglar for hire known as the Rhíminee Cat. As Seregil was fond of saying, the nobles did all sorts of silly things in the spring and it was as fine a late spring morning as anyone had ever known. The window was open to a warm breeze and honey gold shafts of early sunlight, the bells of some temple were chiming in the distance and there wasn’t a cloud to be seen.

Alec barely looked up when Seregil cursed from across the table, he only hummed, “Did it again, hm?”

“It’s these damned nobles,” Seregil scowled, holding two notes and looking between them in exasperation, “They’re too used to getting their own way, it makes them such demanding customers. They want everything done this very night or immediately or bloody yesterday! No regard for a man’s schedule...”

“It’s not the nobles, love, it's the fact that you have no organisation system so you keep double booking yourself,” Alec said patiently, using the distraction to snag the last bit of bacon from Seregil’s plate to feed to the kitten on his lap.

“Well,” Seregil huffed, “Still. It’s inconvenient.”

“We’ll just split up tonight,” Alec shrugged as his little friend stole away with her prize, “You go and get Duke Amon’s ring back from whoever won it off him and I’ll take whichever job you thought was tomorrow but is actually tonight.”

Seregil folded his arms and leaned back in his chair, “I’m not that poorly organised…”

“This is the fourth time it’s happened this spring and let’s not forget the time you didn’t keep a close enough track on things and nearly placed a risque miniature of Baron Carmine in Lady Raya’s bedside table rather than the ring you were supposed to put there?”

Seregil was quiet for a long time, his mouth set in a pout until he grunted, “Fair.”

“So tell me about my job tonight,” Alec grinned, reaching over to play with one of the many curls of dark hair that stuck out from Seregil’s head after a night of tossing and turning. He knew that would chase away his lover’s chagrin.

Seregil hummed and inclined his head towards the warmth of Alec’s fingers, “So some twitterpated noble has got it into his head that he’s going to propose to his beau and that it absolutely, positively must happen tonight. He’s got some ridiculous grand gesture planned in his head, having the ring delivered to them silently in the dead of night so it’s there when they wake up. Surprised he’s not having a dove slip it onto their hand personally…”

Alec chuckled, “Perhaps it was short notice. It would take rather a long time to train a dove.”

Seregil smirked, “Anyway, the problem is he’s gone and left it in his apartments in the business end of the city by the docks, he’s a wealthy merchant of some degree, and he can’t go get it himself without arousing suspicion. So our job is to slip into his place, slip back out again and deliver it to his intended.”

“Too lazy more like,” Alec wrinkled his nose, “Fine, where is this girl who I’m hoping has more sense than her soon to be betrothed?”

Seregil shrugged, “Message only says that the address to deliver it to will be written on a label attached to the box. Probably didn’t want that kind of information floating around the city on a note being handed around some more disreputable characters.”

Alec snorted, “Bet you a gold sester her parents don’t know about this match. Why else be so secretive?”

Seregil raised his eyebrows and simpered exaggeratedly, “Perhaps it’s a heartbreaking tale of true love overcoming societal disapproval?”

“Or some fool making too much of a few friendly glances and thinking himself some heroic knight saving a girl who isn’t even interested,” Alec tugged on his lock of Seregil’s hair gently.

His lover shrugged, shaking him off and sitting back with his tea cup held in his hands, “Whatever it is, talí, he’s paying handsomely. Would you mind?”

“Sounds like the easiest job I’ve done in months. I’ll make sure supper’s on the table for when you get back.”

But that had been this morning and now Alec was perched on top of a very high wall surrounding the lavish building and he was having doubts.

Not about his route into the noble’s apartments, that was clear as day. The building itself was called an inn but it was as far removed from the alehouses and winesinks that could also boast that title as a carriage horse was from a mule. It was more like a miniature manor house, each one of it’s floors a luxury suite meant for the lesser nobles who had made their fortunes on the backs of the sailors and tradesmen that worked on the wharves the inn overlooked. This was the place they’d occupy on the nights of the working week, when business held their attention, but most would also have a place not unlike Wheel Street for their leisure time, where they kept their wives and children.

Alec could see precisely how he would vault from the wall he now crouched on, land on the lip of the roof, follow it a little ways around the shadowed inn and slip into the window of his mark, safely untouched by any lamplight from the main street. It couldn’t have been simpler. But still, uncertainty sat in his stomach like he’d eaten a heavy meal.

He hesitated, trying to summon the clarity of mind that usually accompanied his night running or at least a concrete reason why things felt so plainly wrong but he received no answer except a gentle lifting of the wind that stirred the hood he’d pulled up tight around his head and carefully tucked his braid into.

If I don’t move quickly, what’s going to be giving me doubts will be a bluecoat’s quarrel in my chest he thought with irritation at himself. He abandoned his misgivings on top of the wall and sprightly hopped up onto the roof, his well muffled slippers barely making a whisper as he landed and began the slow, careful walk along the slates.

As he crept along in the shadows, he had to take a moment to appreciate the beauty of such a clear night. Rhíminee never looked more beautiful than when it was observed from the top of some high place Alec wasn’t meant to be, when it was nestled in the purple shadows of twilight, all glittering lamps in winding streets and a hundred yellow eyes blinking as people set candles into their windows, either to go to bed or to welcome new patrons in the brothels and gambling houses of the Street of Lights. The palace and the Orëska House were like looming candles, their towers still a deep orange with the last of the setting sun, their expansive floors the deep purple of true night. There was a sense of the city settling down, heaving some kind of silent sigh as another day ended and a whole new Rhíminee awoke.

And somewhere in it’s shadowed depths, Seregil was about his own business, chasing down a family heirloom some arrogant lord had wagered on a hand at the Dragon.

“Luck in the shadows, talí,” Alec whispered to the twilight, feeling the tug of the bond they shared as the thought travelled along it’s thread to his love.

The latch on the window was tricky though he expected nothing less at such a fine establishment with so many wealthy clients. There was a lot to protect within its whitewashed walls, after all. Still, between his clever fingers and the pick he kept in his braid, it was barely a few minutes before Alec had it open and most of that was looking down for watchmen or dogs in the yard below.

The room was dark, the noble of course off with the love he hoped to make his wife. Alec wondered if he was nervous, holding her tight as she slept, both anxious for the dawn to arrive and rather afraid of it at the same time. He could only imagine how it must feel, to ask someone to share their entire life with you, to hand them a piece of your heart in the shape of a simple loop of metal and gemstone, without something as sure as a talímenios bond.

It made him a little jealous, if he was honest.

He dismissed the thought quickly, seeing no sense in wanting things he couldn’t have. The window opened, he swung himself inside, landing on the rich woven carpet so no one below would hear him. As soon as he righted himself, the feeling came back as strong as it had been outside, the sensation that something was amiss.

There was just a string sense of the place being...unlived in. Sure the trappings of a young, overly wealthy man were spread around the room- fine coats in a number of rich fabrics hung by the door, the walls lined with books and the fine art on the walls, the plush looking furniture and tasteful hangings- but it was as if a layer of dust hung over it all. Alec knew how to read the traces a person left in their home, how to track their daily routines in which chairs had the deepest depressions and which books were always slightly out of alignment based on how they sat on the shelf. And this place held none of that. It was as if the place were deliberately posed, like the set for some elaborate play, but never intended to be lived in.

Alec’s hand twitched for the knife concealed in his boot. He knew a trap when he saw one.

He made no movement for the window or any other escape route. He could handle himself, whatever was about to appear from whatever shadowy corner of this place, but Seregil would scold himself for weeks even with no way of knowing that of both of those notes in his hand, of all the hundreds of summons they received, this would be the one that turned out dangerous. Alec was already dreading the look on his face when he brought the news back to him.

He moved far more carefully now, stepping into the place, heading for the desk where he’d been told the ring box was kept. His feet didn’t catch a single creaking floorboard, no figure moved from any direction. All was silent.

Frowning, he double and even triple checked the locks on the drawers. No poisoned needles, no dart ready to spring, no trap to close around his fingers. It was just an ordinary piece of furniture with a painfully average lock he had open within seconds. And that only made his suspicions deepen.

Seregil had said nothing about who’d sent them the summons, there was no way to tell if this was some secret enemy after them in particular, someone who had a grudge against the shadowy Rhíminee Cat or if this was one piece of a much more elaborate game. All there was to do was find the ring box, see where it needed delivering and wait for the tension to resolve itself. Some hands you just needed to play, even if you knew they were rigged.

First drawer, empty. Second drawer, nothing but a few clumps of dust. The hair’s on the back of  Alec’s neck stood to attention, why weren’t there any ledgers or papers, nothing so much as a pen to prove that a living, breathing man actually worked at this desk?

The box was in the third drawer along, a long, oblong shaped wooden box with a metal clasp. Far too big for a ring box, Alec thought. This must be the crux of the trap, the spring wound tight and ready to pounce. He steadied his breathing and felt cautiously for any hidden blade, catch or wax plugged holes. Were they being used as assassins here? Was he supposed to deliver death to this poor woman’s bedside table?

All his search discovered was the promised label, fastened around the clasp. Frowning, Alec checked the paper for any poison dusting one last time before turning it over to read it. He didn’t think he’d be delivering this box tonight, not until he’d had Seregil and maybe even Thero check it over or it could mean death for whoever’s name was inscribed upon it-

Alec’s throat tightened. The name on the label was his own. Not even the name Rhíminee knew him by, his true name.

Alec í Amasa.

No address, just the name. And at a glance, Alec knew the hand that had written it.

Even when he’d been certain this whole affair was a trap, his heart had stayed beating it’s usual steady rhythm in his chest, his breathing had been silent and shallow. But now his heart was pounding in his chest and it was such an effort to keep his hands from shaking as he pulled back his hood and carefully opened the box.

There was a ring, a simple band of polished coppery coloured metal. Nothing flashy, nothing that would draw attention; a ring that could be worn on any number of night running jobs and never attract notice but he would always know it was there. But the ring had been threaded around the shaft of an arrow. Not an ordinary arrow, at a glance he knew this wasn’t made for shooting. This was beautifully carved, expertly wrought in polished wood so the shaft had been transformed into a gorgeous scene of an otter and a stag curling around one another as they raced in flight, surrounded by cunningly made flowers that he recognised in an instant. The exact same kind had grown around the cottage where he and Seregil had spent that winter together. The more he looked, the more he saw depths in the design; there were fingerling dragons as small as his littlest knuckle chasing each other around the span of it, there was a mountain range carved into it that reminded him so strongly of his earliest home, there were symbols inscribed all the way along in a clever pattern that spoke of a hundred places and a hundred adventures.

The arrow told a story. It told their story.

And burned into the base of it was a question, composed of two words. Marry me?

Alec didn’t jump when he heard the footsteps behind him and he didn’t turn immediately. First he tried to wipe the tears from his eyes but it was no good, new ones sprang to replace them. It helped that, when he finally did face his lover, Seregil had damp cheeks too. And that familiar, crooked smile he loved so much.

“I...I know it won’t mean anything, not legally,” he was standing in the doorway, dressed in the simple evening clothes Alec had left him in last, looking uncharacteristically nervous, “But...I don’t care. I want it for us, we’re the only ones who need to know. I was thinking...maybe a small ceremony at Watermead, just our friends, some rings, a few words...but I want to be able to call you my husband, Alec. Even if it’s just between us, even if I just get to look at you and think it then...it would be something.”

Alec exhaled, voice soft though it carried over the small space between them, “Seregil, it would be everything.”

Seregil laughed, more tears catching the dusk light outside the window, opening his arms. Alec needed no more invitation than that, flying into his embrace, holding him so tight he couldn’t ever imagine letting go. Whether they were crying or laughing or both, neither could really say, as they sank to the carpet still clasped together.

“You sneaky bastard!” Alec finally managed to get out, grinning against Seregil’s shoulder, “How do I keep falling for this?”

“Ah, talí, but I’m so glad you do,” Seregil murmured back, drawing away enough to kiss him.

The kiss would have lasted until they had no more breath to give, if there wasn’t something Seregil wanted to do even more. The arrow was held fast in Alec’s hand so he slipped the ring off the shaft and placed it gently on his lover’s finger, first kissing the spot where it would lie for the rest of their lives. Now Alec could see there was a twin of it on his own finger.

“I told you about when I was young, yes?” Seregil murmured, stroking his thumb across Alec’s knuckles, “How I would sit in my bedroom back in Aurënen and imagine the person who would be my talímenios, how I would dream of you before I even knew your face...even then, I couldn’t know how it would feel to love you so much. How much you would make me want to be a better man, how every morning simply waking up and seeing you sleeping next to me would make me feel so damn lucky. I didn’t know, Alec í Amasa, how happy I would be with you.”

Alec just shook his head, tears sparkling like diamonds of the most precious sort as they fell to their clasped hands, he didn’t have his lover’s skill with words. He just leaned in and kissed him again, murmuring every time they stopped for air, “I love you, I love you, I love you…”

But those were the only words Seregil needed to hear.

[sif-the-tsunami]

Ropes and Roses part 4

Summary: Elizabeth Rosehill is a talented dance instructor and a force of nature that beguiles her famous student. Events in her life, however, have led her to search for more creative ways for her to keep herself afloat. What will she do to keep her dreams secure and what will it mean for her blossoming relationship. This is a very adult story about two people who are moderately terrible at adulting.

Warning: Fem! Dom/ Fem! Sub, Bisexual shenanigans, anal play, squirting, BDSM, crying, two people who are literal disasters trying to figure things out, Mentions of cheating, exhibitionism

Word count: 3300 and some change. This update is THICC

A/N: If you read it and like it, it would mean a lot to me if you could say something nice!

The next morning, Elizabeth woke up to the snuffling and snorting of one very bear like dog. He also might have stuck his cold nose right in her face a couple times. The room was unfamiliar, it took her a few moments to put together the pieces of the night before. Henry had put her in the soft flannel shirt he was wearing yesterday, but she didn’t remember that happening. The water and Tylenol were consumed, she looked around the room for a moment.  Her boots from the night before were sitting near the bedside table, placed together. Her dress and other personal affects were sitting on the empty space on the other side of the bed. The air was chilly but her bed was welcoming and warm. She didn’t think that this was his bedroom. Soon Kal was running back and forth between the bedroom and somewhere out in the living room.

Two soft knocks on the open door drew her attention the big man in the frame. “Good morning.”

“Morning,” Her normally luscious voice sounded small.

“How did you sleep?”

“Well enough I suppose. Thank you for the water bottle. How did you sleep?”

“I slept well.” He watched her scoot over a little in the bed, and pat the warm spot she had vacated for him.

��Lizzie, I don’t know. I...”

“It’s okay.” She tucked the blanket back up to her neck. “It is just cold and I wanted to talk to you about last night.”

“We don’t have to, we were drunk and having a good time. Two friends having a very… friendly… you know, make out session. Is there anything to talk about it?” He cringed just thinking about it. What the hell, Henry? He thought to himself.

“What? Oh, I guess not, is there.” Her voice cracked, she coughed to clear it. “Um, if you don’t mind giving me a moment, I guess I’ll just get dressed, and let you get back to your day.”

Henry closed the door to give her some privacy and swore under his breath. Kal whined at the door. He look up at his dad then put his nose right and the door again. He pawed at it a couple times, then very dejectedly laid down. A few moments later, she emerged, everything thrown back together, hair in a sloppy bun. She kept her eyes down and handed the flannel shirt to him.  

“Elizabeth, wait, I didn’t mean it like that.” She looked at him for a moment, all of the joy he worked so hard to bring her last night, that beautifully contented smile she had when she saw him this morning, was gone.

“I’m sure you didn’t, it’s fine.” And with that she left.

****

Later in the afternoon, Kal was resting his head on Henry’s lap when the pup let out a long low whine. He put his book down, “I know mate, I messed up. Do you think I should text her?”

Kal started wagging his tail. “I really should have cuddled with her this morning. Okay, Henry, we can do this, you like her a lot. She clearly liked you until you fucking blew it this morning. 

I’m a fucking idiot and I’m sorry

I hurt you and I would give anything to take that back. You said you didn’t know what you can give me, but I know what I am capable and wanting to give you.

I want to take you on a real date. Would you be be interested in joining me for dinner this Friday?

A couple hours later Elizabeth responded with Thank you for apologizing. I already have something going on Friday evening, I could make time for lunch, if not, I don’t have a free night until the following Thursday after my last class.

“I don’t think she has forgiven me,” Henry was then doing his dishes, Kal laying down in front of the refrigerator. “But she did say yes!”

Kal wagged his head and picked his head up.

Lunch works! What time would you like me to pick you up? He hammered out all of the details with the one he longed for. He sat down to eat an early dinner when Henry heard his phone vibrate again. It was Jeremy.

Hey, Jillian told me about you and your girl going out last night. I need to show you something, it’s important. Get cleaned up and ready to go, I’ll be there in an hour. Dress like you give a fuck.

His friend’s husband was not someone that weighs on other people’s choices, he honestly had mostly been indifferent to Henry and Jillian’s entire friendship, enough so that the text in itself caught him off guard. He showered quickly, put on a black suit with a light gray button up.

“Kal, be a good lad. Hopefully daddy isn’t over dressed.”

Jeremy said little on the way to their destination. It made his passenger a little anxious. They soon were in a dark district of the city, when businesses close for the day it usually was deserted. One dark building front had two men standing in front of it, and a flickering Edison style light bulb. Jeremy gave the man who approached their car a shiny black card, the logo read The Fox Catcher. Soon the doors were opened for them and one of the men outside was valet parking the car. Inside a large gentleman was standing there. He looked like he could crush the skull of anyone who would dare to start trouble.

In a deep Nordic baritone he said “Gentlemen, please grab a mask. The show will begin soon.”

After they had put on ill fitting masks that covered half of their faces, Henry and Jeremy were sat down at a small cocktail table by a woman with impossibly red hair hair that came down to her waist. She wore a tight black leather dress and knee high boots that made her pale skin look like porcelain.  The room was lit dimly enough that he had a hard time seeing the other people but the heat and buzz in the room let him know they were not alone.

Henry tried to make himself as comfortable as possible. Jeremy looked like he was seething with resentment and hostility. They were sitting close to where the performance would be taking place. Henry tugged nervously at his shirt collar.

“Why are we here?”

“You’ll see...” was all Jeremy said.

The light from above the stage clicked on revealed some wooden furniture. A platinum blonde was then lead out onto the stage by what Henry realized was a leash attached to nipple clamps. The man who brought her out was wearing a black mask and dark clothes attached the arms of the blonde woman to a large wooden X in the middle of the stage with her back to the audience. She was only wearing a black thong, but hers was the only face visible. Her skin was pale enough that the light above seemed to bounce off of her.  Soon came a clacking on the wooden stage floor. The unmistakable sound of high heels walking with authority came echoing out and the room fell silent. Out came a petite woman, long hair pulled back into a pony tail, wearing a leather mask with two cat ears on the top, tight pants, a suit jacket and a silver sparkly bralette under. She had blood red lipstick applied perfectly.  The stage was high enough that Henry saw the boots she was wearing as she strut out from the back.  

They looked a lot like the ones he put next to Elizabeth this morning. He bit the inside of his lip then looked over at Jeremy. His eyes were transfixed on the woman in the cat mask.  “Mate, I promise this is for your own good.”

“Good evening, Mistress Bettie.” The restrained woman said. She adjusted herself a little. A slight shuffle that caused the metal of her attachments to clink together softly.

“Good evening. I have been informed that you have been a very naughty vixen, is that right?” He knew that voice. Henry’s guts churned.

No, no, no, no. Please. He thought, his mind was screaming at him to leave. He kept looking over at Jeremy, the hatred he had on his face a moment earlier was turning into a look of smug satisfaction.

“Yes, Mistress.”

“And what do I do to naughty vixens, my darling?”

“You punish them, Mistress.”

“That’s right, so what do you think I’m going to do to you tonight?”

“You are going to punish this naughty vixen, Mistress.”

“Are you ready?”

“Yes, Mistress.”

There was a table next to the tableau, the Mistress picked up a leather paddle and softly pat her open hand with it. She set is down, then picked up a nasty looking leather tool that he didn’t know the name of, she swung it around a little bit, letting the tendrils of leather make whistling noises as it went back and forth. She hit her own thigh intentionally, making a loud thud. The blonde jumped. Lastly she picked up a whip that would make Indiana jealous. Walking to the farthest part of the stage, the domina made the whip crack to either side of blonde woman. She flinched and jumped away each time. The whip was placed down.

“That had better be the last time you move around like that, vixen, or I’ll give you a reason to squirm.”

“Yes Mistress, I’ll be better, Mistress.”

“I think I need to warm you up first, don’t you agree?” Henry watcher her put on some black medical gloves and then proceed to start spanking the bottom of woman tied up. The receiver squealed and moaned. Her pristine flesh turning a hot pink after a couple a good swats. The Domme reached between her captives legs and spanked her thighs. Higher and higher she went until she landed a slap on the cotton covered center point, but gave her a tender rub after. “You liked that, didn’t you? Such a good slut.”

“Yes, thank you Mistress,” her gratitude melted into a moan as she arched her back into the generous hands of her captor.

“Just so our friends are all clear, my beautiful vixen, what is your safe word?” Still massaging the blonde’s sex through the cotton fabric.

“Milkshake, Mistress.” She gasped as the black gloved hands found their way inside.

“Thank you, pet.” She pulled her hand away and had the blonde lick her gloved fingers clean. Henry watched the two of them share a tender moment before the Domme walked away. She then grabbed the  tool he didn’t know about. “Oh no, my little vixen, you are missing something.”

The Domme grabbed a faux fur fox tail off of the table. With the flick of a switch it started vibrating aggressively enough that Henry could hear it from where he was sitting. That poor girl was going to be in for it. He had a mixture of emotions coursing through his mind. He held onto the last shred of doubt that maybe Elizabeth had a doppelganger.

“I think these need to come off first.” and she ripped off the black thong. The Dominatrix ran the plug against the delicious folds of her captive, getting as much of her arousal on it as possible. The plug was inserted, the blonde started moaning and her knees buckled. She smiled at the ashen haired woman, letting her enjoy the moment and then clicked off the remote. “Remember, my darling, you can’t come without my permission.”

The submissive let out a groan and stomped her feet. Then the Dominatrix grabbed the heavy leather flogger and swung it around the blonde artfully. Sometimes it was just the tips dancing across the reddening skin, there were times it was a heavy sounding thud. As uncomfortable as this was making him, however, he couldn’t help but notice that the woman receiving was clearly enjoying herself. She arched her back, moaned and gasped in bliss. The Dominatrix gestured to the man on the stage and he unlocked her just long enough to turn her around. He gave her arms a little rub to get the blood flow back as the suit jacket came off of Mistress Bettie. There is was, plain as day. The roses on her torso that he had become more acquainted with the night before.  He closed his eyes for a moment as a wave of anxiety washed over him. He was not supposed to be here, to see this side of her yet. But there she was in front of him. She looked powerfully sexy.

As soon as she the vixen was situated, Elizabeth turned the vibrator back on and started flogging the fronts of her thighs, her breasts and pubic mound. She was clearly very aroused, her body was glistening and her nipples protruded proudly from where they were. The dominant woman placed the flogger down and came up to her submissive, she ran her hands all over her body. She gave the vixen’s nipples some much needed attention and then slide one, two then three fingers inside of her.

“Do you think you deserve to come, naughty girl.” Elizabeth’s hand started moving faster, coaxing her climax out of her soaking wet pussy.

“Yes please, Mistress.”

“Then tell me what you are.”

“I’m a slut, Mistress, a fucking slut.” Her breath was as shaky as her legs

“Who’s slut?”

“Your slut, Mistress.” The woman’s eyes were rolling to back of her head in pleasure

“Then come for your Mistress you fucking whore. Good girl” Elizabeth smiled at her as the sub came loudly all over her hand and proceeded to squirt. Flicking the fluid at the blissful woman, she playfully scolded the vixen “Look at the mess you’ve made.”

The man in black helped her down and the woman got on her hands and knees before Elizabeth. “So now, pet. You can get to chose your next punishment. We can either play the counting game, or we can play the clothes clip game.”

Still panting, “the counting game, Mistress, please.”

“Alright, catch your breath my dearest,” Elizabeth grabbed a stool. The blonde positioned herself leaning across it, she was facing Henry and Jeremy at this point. She wiggled her fingers in a little hello at them both and settled in. “Last time, we made it to what was it eight? Alright, my vixen, make me proud.”

“Yes Mistress.” Elizabeth turned the vibrator up a little, flipped the tail up her back, and spanked the sub’s bottom. “One, thank you Mistress, may I have another.”

Another very loud thud. “Two, Thank you Mistress, may I have another.”

After six, Henry realized that this was less pleasurable for the blonde than the flogging had been. Tears were running down her face. Elizabeth leaned down and licked one of the tears from her face. She looked down for a second and saw the man sitting in the front. She stopped dead in her tracks.

She mouthed his name, he nodded slightly and she then whispered something into the blonde’s ear. One last spank and suddenly the unnamed vixen burst out her safe word as loudly as she could and started openly crying.

“Oh no, my poor sweet girl.” She gently rubbed the subs bottom, Elizabeth then draped her suit jacket on the back of her plaything, she turned and looked at Henry one last time. “I think I’ve hit her limit tonight. Good night.”

The man in black rushed forward and covered the backs of the women like the proper body guard he was, escorting the women off the stage. Henry then turned to the man who brought him and hissed through his teeth “What the actual fuck was the point of you bringing me here?”

“What, you should be thanking me! I exposed her for the snake in the grass that she is!”

Henry walked away angrily. The room was emptying out as quietly as they had come in, although they could tell that some of the clients were giving the cocktail waitresses a hard time about the show being cut short. The redhead that took care of them that evening was being harassed by an older man. Henry told him off and handed her two of the largest bills that he had on him. He pulled his phone out and messaged Elizabeth. I have really fucked up your whole day, haven’t I? Please call me, I’m worried about you.

“You selfish fucking cunt. I am trying my hardest to not wreck this poor woman’s life more than I have and you decide that this is what you want to do?” Henry was trying to keep himself from yelling. “I like her, a lot. A whole lot. She is the nicest person I have ever met and what part of any of what we just saw would make you think that I would like her less?”

“She’s a whore!” Jeremy yelled.

“And? What is your problem with sex workers? I fucking whore myself for every damn role I do. At least she’s more honest about it! The shit I put myself through is no worse than anything that happened on that stage. Does your wife know about this?”

“No, and you wouldn’t dare!”

“You have until tomorrow night to tell her that you come to clubs like this or I swear to god, I will.” He had never been so riled up before. It was taking everything to not rip the smaller, balding man apart piece by piece. “This would devastate her, and you know it.”

“Gentlemen, I need you to calm down.” The large Nordic man said calmly. Henry adjusted his suit jacked when he felt his pocket vibrate.

I’ll be out in a moment, wait for me?

Of course

As they walked outside, Jeremy started up again. Fortunately this time they were alone. The valet driver’s were getting his car as quickly as they could. “You can’t turn a woman like that into a housewife, Henry. You saw that she very clearly enjoyed playing with another girl. What will you do if she starts craving pussy? I am not okay with you seeing this bird. She will destroy you, Henry. We were all there after your last big break up. This one will be the worst of all of them. I can see it already.”

“Jeremy, I’ve know her for a few weeks at this point. After this, I wouldn’t blame her if she never wanted to speak to me again. And I probably don’t deserve to. But you do not get to make that call.”

Elizabeth watched from the door way as they yelled at each other.

“She’s literally a whore, she gets paid a lot of money to fuck people. What if she has private clients the same way she took on private dance lessons with you? How many people do you think she’s sleeping with?”

“Firstly, it is none of your business who I’m sleeping with. Secondly, I don’t do private shows, you know that, you asked me for one several time. Each time I said no.” She put her foot down. Henry reached out for her, and she leaned into him.

“Jeremy, I think you should leave. I will make my own way home.”

“You expect me to leave you here… with her?”

“Yes, and you had better tell Jillian or I will.” Henry snarled, protectively hugging Elizabeth. He turned to her and softly said “I’m so sorry.”

“Wait he’s married? And he’s calling me a whore? Hey, fuck you, Jeremy!” She snarled at the man getting into his car. “Well today has been a cluster fuck.”

“That is putting it mildly. Please come home with me, I want to make up for this morning and for surprising you like this, I’ll bring you breakfast in bed, we can do whatever you want.”

The woman smiled gently at him and shushed him with a kiss. “I would like that, but I would love to sleep in my own bed tonight. My place isn’t as nice as yours but you are welcome to be there with me tonight.”

“I would like that a lot.”

[emospritelet]

Heatstroke - chapter 6

Let’s pretend the lake is clean and in no way full of leeches...

[AO3]

x

The events of Saturday evening had left Gold conflicted. Throwing a drink over Lacey had initially made him feel a sort of smug satisfaction, but on the journey home he began to experience a twinge of regret. He rarely lost his composure, even in the face of extreme provocation, and he was uncomfortable with the idea of someone getting under his skin so much that it caused him to act out of character. Ordinarily he would have returned home and drunk a couple of whiskies while reading a good book, but instead he packed an overnight bag, along with a few food items, and drove out to the cabin that he owned in the midst of the woods. A night away from Storybrooke, and the memories of recent awkward interactions, would be welcome.

The cabin was as cool and restful as always, and he made himself a small meal of bread, cheese and sliced apples, eaten with a glass of cold white wine out on the back porch overlooking the lake. Insects buzzed in the air, but the citronella candles kept them away from him for the most part. Gold took a sip of wine, thinking over his altercation in the bar.

Knowing the young woman’s first name made it easy to make some enquiries into her identity, and he had made one or two phone calls while he sat there, and done a couple of online searches until he had some answers. Her name was Lacey French, she was twenty-six, and she had moved to Storybrooke from New York to take up a journalist post with the Storybrooke Mirror. Quite why she wanted to pursue journalism in a small town rather than the city was unclear, and Gold had learned to be suspicious of anomalies. His wealth and power had made him enemies, and while he knew that everything he did was entirely legal—one of the reasons he had so little patience with those that failed to honour their agreements—that didn’t stop people looking for something that wasn’t there. She didn’t appear to be poking her nose in anywhere it didn’t belong so far, though. Unless you counted his back garden.

He set down his glass, using his forefinger to pick up crumbs of cheese and eat them. Whatever the reason Miss French was in Storybrooke, it was probably nothing to do with him. He just needed to ignore her as best he could, and hope she ignored him in turn. The last thing he needed was to lose his head over a beautiful woman.

Gold blinked, straightening up, his heart thumping. Where the hell did that thought come from? Okay, she’s beautiful, anyone can see that - anyone who isn’t blind, anyway - but she’s a bloody disaster! I am absolutely not losing my head over her! I’m not losing anything! Except maybe my dignity.

He shook his head, pushing the plate away and drinking the last of his wine. Time to go to bed before his imagination really got him in trouble.

x

Sunday was Gold’s day to unwind. It was the one day he kept the shop closed, and used the time to catch up on jobs in the house, or to read and relax. The previous Sunday, he had decided to sunbathe in the garden, but given how that had ended, he was pleased that he had chosen to come to the cabin. It was a welcome retreat into nature and solitude, and waking up to the sound of birdsong and the whisper of leaves was soothing to a mind that was constantly thinking and planning and fretting. He threw back the covers, walking through to the kitchen and putting on a pot of coffee. The early morning sunshine was already sending dappled light through the trees, and he left the coffee brewing, walking out onto the back porch and breathing deeply. The air was beginning to lose the chill of the night, and Gold looked out over the lake that lapped at the wooden decking at the foot of the steps. It was cool and tranquil, and looked inviting, so he went inside to grab a towel, taking off the loose pants he slept in and walking naked to the back door and down to the lake

Cold water was an invigorating shock to warm skin, and his head burst through the surface, tendrils of weed stroking his shoulders like a lover’s caress. Gold swam across the lake and back in long, slow strokes, enjoying the weightlessness of his body in the water, his leg relieved of the pain of standing. A dip in the lake, followed by a hot shower and a pot of good coffee. It was a good way to start the day.

After a few lengths he swam back to the deck and climbed out of the lake, water pouring off his body and his skin tingling from the chill. The wooden boards of the deck felt warm in comparison, and he grasped the towel and drew up his knees, drying himself off quickly before towelling his hair. Dappled sunlight provided a little warmth, and he grabbed the cane and pushed to his feet, looking out over the lake again and enjoying the feel of the light breeze against his naked skin. He closed his eyes, inhaling deeply and drawing the clean scent of the forest into his lungs, and felt a sense of peace steal over him.

“Oh my God!”

Gold’s eyes flew open, and he almost stumbled and fell before he found his balance, his hand getting a death grip on the cane handle. Across the lake, staring at him incredulously, was the lithe figure of Lacey French. She was dressed in a pair of purple running tights and a matching crop top, her hair tied up on her head and her chest heaving with either exertion or outrage. Possibly both.

“I don’t fucking believe this!” she announced, gesturing at him.

“What are you doing?” he snapped, and she put her hands on her hips.

“Duh? I’m running?” She flapped her hands up and down herself before pointing an accusing finger at him. “Why are you naked? Again!”

“Why are you here?” he demanded, jabbing a finger at his feet.

“You do realise there’s a trail here, right?” she said, and wrinkled her nose at him. “Are you gonna cover up, or what?”

Gold had been thinking about wrapping the towel around himself, but at her words he clenched his jaw and met her eyes insolently, leaning on the cane a little harder and letting his hip swing outward. The movement made his cock bounce.

“Oh, man!” Lacey shielded her eyes with a hand and turned away. “I don’t believe this…”

“Why don’t you just keep running, then?” he said waspishly. “I fail to see why I should be inconvenienced on my own property. Again!” 

He mimicked her affronted tone, head wobbling from side to side. Lacey turned back to face him, hands going to hips. He watched her eyes flick briefly to his groin and back up.

“Look, Gold, I just went into your damn garden to get my cat back!” she said hotly. “I didn’t know I lived next door to a bloody naturist!”

“So you just thought you’d throw a gin and tonic at my crotch, did you?” he snapped, hand flicking outwards.

“Oh my God, for the last time, it was the cat!” she shouted. “It wasn’t me! He was sitting on the table next to you and he knocked the glass off! I tried to get to him before he could do it but I was too slow! Be mad at me for that if you have to be, but he was the one that threw a drink at your balls, not me!”

Gold had opened his mouth to say something cutting, but closed it again. Oh.

“And the second time, when I did throw a drink at you, you kind of deserved it!” she added, and he found his voice again, feeling himself swell with indignation.

“For fuck’s sake, woman, I didn’t steal your underwear!” he snapped. “I told you!”

She gave him a withering look.

“You expect me to believe my cat went on - on a campaign of taking you my panties?” 

“Well, it wasn’t bloody me!” he growled, and she tossed her head.

“Whatever. I’m out of here. Try to stop exposing yourself every five minutes, would you?”

She ran on, buttocks clenching pleasantly, and Gold glared after her.

“I’ll expose myself as often as I like on my own bloody property!” he shouted.

She didn’t look back, and he felt his nostrils flare, fists clenching. Well. Peace shattered.

x

Running with a hangover was a bad idea at the best of times, and coming across her neighbour stark naked didn't help. Still, he had provided an interesting distraction, and by the time Lacey had settled back into her run she could stop being indignant and start to see the funny side of her encounter in the woods. So much so that as she left the trails and joined the road into Storybrooke, she had to stop, doubling over and giggling madly. Wow, I almost feel sorry for the guy. If you can’t get your cock out on your own back porch, where can you?

She was still grinning to herself when she got back to the house, and she went to shower and dress before making herself eggs on toast and coffee and carrying it outside. She ate quickly, hungry from her run, and pushed the plate away before reaching for her coffee. The morning was pleasantly warm, and she thought it would be a hot day. It was fortunate she had gotten out of the door for her run early. In some respects.

Darcy was sunning himself on the grass, black fur tinged with reddish brown in the sunlight. Lacey glanced towards the drying rack where her latest load of laundry was hanging, reminding herself to check it was dry before she went back inside. She took a sip of coffee, enjoying the bitter taste that was mellowed by the cream and sugar she had added. Darcy looked up, catching her eye and getting to his feet before stretching and yawning, his tail curling over. He sauntered towards her, tail in the air, and stopped to sniff at the clean laundry hanging on the rack. Lacey took another sip of coffee. She was watching Darcy with half an eye as she mused over her plans for the day. The kitchen floor needed mopping, and she could unpack the rest of her things that were still in boxes, but other than that her time was her own. 

Her attention was caught by Darcy tugging at something, and glanced around, putting down her cup. Her eyes widened as he dragged a pair of coral-coloured lace panties from the rack and trotted off down the garden with them. Lacey bounced out of her chair.

“Hey!” she shouted, heading down the porch steps, and Darcy ran faster. 

She put on a burst of speed, but he squeezed through the hole in the fence before she could catch him. Swearing under her breath, Lacey ran around to the front of the house and through to the back garden. At least it was unlikely that Gold would be back anytime soon. She couldn’t see Darcy, and she looked around in vain, hands opening and closing, before a click from behind her made her turn. There was a cat flap in the kitchen door, and Darcy was sitting just outside it, watching her with his tail curled around his feet. There were no panties to be seen, and Lacey threw up her hands.

“You’re killing me!” she complained. “So it was you! And you just let me make a total idiot of myself accusing Mr Gold!”

Darcy bent his head to lick a forepaw, wholly unconcerned, and Lacey sighed.

“Great. So there’s a pair of panties in his house now, is there?” she said. “Well. I guess I’ll have to find some way to apologise. I don’t believe this!”

She scooped up Darcy and stomped off, listening to him purring contentedly against her chest. Anyone would think the little bugger planned this whole thing to embarrass me.

[beyondtheciouds]

.22.

The sun was setting on the third day Tessa was missing. There had been no witnesses and no evidence of any foul play. Nothing to do but search and wait. Will had sent messages to every Warlock he could count on.

No replies yet.

The room was cold, dimly lit and dusty. It had been too long since Lucie had been up here. Shadows played upon the stone walls and angeled themselves against the hanging weaponry into the the tight corners of the cathedral ceiling.

Lucie kept looking over her shoulder for a bony set of hands reaching out for her. She was worried, as everyone was.

"On the outside, you need to be pulled together. Calm. Collected. But, Lucie darling, on the inside you can crumble. Rhwygwch eich hun ar wahân. Rhwygwch eich hun yn ddarnau, ond cofiwch galon annwyl; dewrder."

The ghost of Linette Herondale smiled faintly as she pointed to the place where her heart used to beat. "Real courage is keeping your secrets."

Lucie shivered at the sound of the voice she could hardly recall from her childhood. She sucked in a breath, goosebumps coating her skin even through the thick wool of her knitted sweater. Bright yellow and itchy as heck; made by Bridget as a get-well gift.

She wished her brother hadn't made her wear it, but she couldn't get into her dresses. Cordelia had paired with a hideously long, dark navy skirt that likely mimicked Lucie's brooding mood.

Cordelia sat on the floor, wiping down Cortana with quiet care. She was humming, content, and Lucie noted she wore Linette's diamond on her ring finger.

Lucie looked away, jealousy creeping around the corner. She wasn't entirely swept out to sea. She knew what they were all hiding; her mother was kidnapped and they had been sentenced to baby-sit the injured girl.

Lucie had a very educated guess on who had taken her mother like a theif in the night. Logic was not obvious in the kidnapper himself, but he was cunning with his reasoning.

Lucie was convinced Belial was brains.

She only knew because the dream was real.

Lucie, exhausted, sighed, her eyes dazed. She needed to find out more of Belial's plan. It was easy to be ignorant of the details and Lucie had noted Tatiana hadn't even looked at the dismembered body. That to Lucie seemed odd and worth a second thought.

Grace. Grace would know.

Matthew glanced at Lucie as though he could tell what she was thinking. These days they seemed to be on the same page.

She had suspected he was worried and his demeanor seemed uncertain all day. Bags lined up under his green eyes, dull with a deep tiredness. Despite his crisp and clean clothes, he looked like he hadn't slept in days.

When Lucie had awoken, confused and scared, his had been the first face she saw. He had smiled and kissed her forehead. When he exhaled his genuine relief, her heart melted. Now, as she thoughts of Jesse crept into her heart, guilt tugged at her. The pain burned like a gnawing rat. The guilt had her thinking maybe she owed Matthew an explanation.

Imagine.

Lucie was momentarily distracted by the tug of reality, a heavy throbbing in her side. She swore she felt blood pulsating through the thick threshold of the bandages as a wave of nausea crashed into her. "My secrets get me in trouble, Nain."

Linette patted Lucie's arm like she might have in life; a grandmotherly gesture that had been meant to comfort. The feeling sent bubbles of ice courting Lucie's veins and a flutter in her belly. "Lucie, your secrets are what makes you special."

With her mouth drawn into a thin line, Lucie scowled, turning her eyes on her brother in an attempt to dissuade further conversations. She watched quietly how easily James's feet moved; choreographed to Matthew's own movement. It hadn't taken Lucie long before she realized she was sitting in a scene she could not be a part of and had been all afternoon. Now she understood why James insisted.

Matthew was staring at her and so was James.

They were worried about her.

The thoughts troubled her; knowing at this moment she should be rounding Grace up. Right now, Lucie should be searching and demanding the truth but instead she was stuck in the training room being babysat.

Lucie couldn't deny that she felt hurt to be treated like an invalid. In her heart she knew that she needed to strengthen her body and mind. But still. She was weak. Her blue eyes were heavy as they watched the boys do the dance of death with their daggers.

Suddenly breathless, she wanted to sleep. Disappear for awhile.

It had been almost two days since she awoke and two full days since her mother vanished. Today she felt alright enough to stand without getting dizzy or sick to her stomach. James had encouraged her to watch him and Matthew spar in the training room during their session in the afternoon since she felt better. Getting out of bed would do her well.

Lucie reluctantly agreed to keep the pestering of her brother at bay.

James had thought it would be a good idea to get her mind off Jesse, their mother and her wound that was just starting to heal. There was another thing James hoped his sister hadn't yet noticed and wouldn't for quite some time.

James decided in his heart he would love it, because it was a complication as much as a miracle.

Uncle Jem had told Will in confidence the condition of Lucie once he returned to the Institute.

James had overhead and saw Will crying. He knew he couldn't tell Matthew yet. Especially not since Lucie hadn't figured it out.

James wasn't blind to their new connection. He could only speculate something huge occurred between them since Matthew was so tight lipped. He had seen the discouraged and angry looks on Matthew's face everytime Jesse's name was said.

James had also witnessed the quiet and desperate look in his eyes as Matthew held Lucie's hand when she was sound asleep.

James knew his sister remained oblivious to Matthew's want to possess her as his wife. He silently applauded Matthew's efforts. He knew his parabatai had tried to ignore the fact that Lucie was calling for another boy instead him. Although Matthew was clearly upset, he continued to tend to Lucie day and night.

Today he had carried her up four sets of stairs just to prove to Lucie that he could.

Lucie was told she had asked for Jesse every moment she was conscious. Now all she wanted to do was try to remember because she was tired of forgetting. "Why can't I remember?"

The ghost's mouth curled to the side, an invisible hand lovingly crafting onto Lucie's shoulder. "Don't fret dear heart, you will remember."

Lucie sighed disappointed with herself. Her blue eyes were shrouded by her lashes and she turned away from James. Contemplating her next move, she stared wistfully out the only window in the room. From this level in the Institute she could just see the quiet roof tops of the other buildings. No birds. Just pure white snow and a periwinkle sky. Lucie longed to be out in the frozen air. "I highly doubt that."

Her tone teased sarcasm and her mood darkened as her grandmother shifted to a protective posture. Lucie arched her mousey eyebrows and bit her lip. Her eyes were still focused on the glaring snow reflecting off the glass.

James threw both of his daggers; they sailed through the air like a pair of lethal weapons. Matthew was unprepared, still gazing at Lucie with a fixation James found spineless. With the blinding of an eye, Matthew had suddenly channeled his cat-like reflexes; honed by years of training.

Matthew jumped and somersaulted into the air as the daggers soared beneath him. He landed on his feet with a thud that drew Lucie's attention.

James groaned and threw two more daggers. The weapons flew over Matthew's head as he ducked, expertly avoiding decapitation. All four black-handled blades landed in the red center of the target on the the wall.

Matthew grinned, bowing. Even in despair he was ever the actor. Linette and James clapped as Matthew strode over towards Lucie.

Lucie frowned as her brother's eyebrows knit together as he stood in front of Lucie. No doubt, he had seen the ghost standing beside his sister. His gold eyes were focused on the ghost of their grandmother. "Nain Herondale?"

Linette turned towards her grandson with fringed interest. "My, my. You my boy look like my William more every day."

James frowned. He didn't trust his grandmother's spirit. His gut told him something was wrong. "What are you doing here?"

Linette smirked; a suspicious smile that showed her broken bottom teeth as her gaze looked past her grandson, ignoring him once more. "Byddwch yn ofalus yr hyn yr ydych yn dymuno amdano."

She spoke to quickly for Lucie to be sure that her words held an unforgiving weight. "That one. He's one of your secrets."

Lucie blanched.

Linette laughed, a jarring sound. "A secret that will soon be exposed as expected."

Lucie scowled, glancing at Linette. "Speaking in rhyme, now Nain?"

Linette grinned broadly. "Fe welwch gariad."

Lucie stayed quiet, not trusting her mouth. Her lips stayed clamped together even though she wanted desperately to scream Welsh obscenities. Hastily, her shaking hands pulled the blanket up, over her lap.

Lucie shivered as Linette's transparent fingers tapped the edge of her collar bone.

The apparition said nothing else, only stood gravely silent at Lucie's side, her blue eyes set on the Fairchild boy.

***

Will Herondale was tired. He raised his fists, cursing the angels above, his head in his hands and his heart on his sleeve. He coughed, choosing to choke on a new reality.

Lucie would be a mother and Tessa might be dead.

Tears burned in his eyes as he thought the unsettling words: Is this what you want? Giving me more than I can chew? Are you hoping Raziel, that I wil finally renounce? First my daughter. Now my wife. Who's next? James? Then the maid?

He had spent the last two nights frantically searching the streets of London for his wife instead of tending to his injured and pregnant daughter.

The locals in the bars and pubs believed him to be unlucky and insane.

Now, he sat at his desk as the sun set and Bridget prepared dinner as normal downstairs. He couldn't bring himself to see Lucie or James. He couldn't face them knowing he was crumbling.

Nothing was normal, he thought bitterly. Not even for Shadowhunters.

[stealingpotatoes]

After Hours

AO3 Link

Summary: Emily wakes up from a nightmare on the Dreadful Wale. But she’s not the only person awake. 

(NB: If you think about Meagan’s Heart line "Some nights she wakes choking, hearing the screams of a young girl, watching - her mother die", along with the fact Emily has got to have PTSD in some shape or form after DH1 it leads to... stuff. This is stuff, I guess. Perhaps poorly executed stuff, but stuff nonetheless.)

---

Emily gasped awake and shot up, panic gripping her entire body.

She looked around her frantically, before her shoulders dropped out of their tense position and her breathing became less ragged. She was on the Dreadful Wale, in her cabin. She was fine. She was safe. It was just a nightmare. It was just a nightmare.

But, of course, it wasn’t really just a nightmare, not really... most of it had actually happened. Not in quite the same way as the dream, but similar. Recognisable.

This wasn’t the first time she’d had a nightmare in the month-and-a-half she’d been on the Dreadful Wale. She didn’t get those kinds of nightmares that often -- not as often as when she was a kid, at least -- but they still happened enough.

In all honesty, Emily was hoping that with all she’d seen since the coup began, she’d have something else to have nightmares about. She’d hoped she wouldn’t have to see those masks when she slept ever again. But instead, all the events had merged into some horrid and warped amalgamation.

Tonight, it felt like she’d seen everything. She hadn’t just seen her mother killed, she’d seen the Golden Cat, the Loyalists’ massacre, her father turned to stone, Alexi stabbed. And all she could do was watch. Stuck still, no matter how hard she willed herself to move, to fight, to do anything. She was helpless. She could only watch, just like when it happened.

And the Whalers… the Whalers were there. They did it. All of it, for some reason, not only assassinating her mother. And Daud was in it. He led the Whalers. Emily couldn’t remember his face, not really. Just the impression of it. It made sense; she’d only seen it briefly, fifteen years ago. Still, she remembered his red jacket, and how big and scary he was. And his blade… his blade ripping through her mother--

Emily inhaled sharply and blinked away her tears. She needed some air.

Emily changed into her trousers and shirt. It probably wasn’t cold enough to merit her wearing her coat. Anyhow, everything felt too hot and stuffy; she could do with a bit of cold. She pulled her boots on, opened the door to her quarters and made her way to the top deck, staying as quiet as she could, careful not to wake Anton or Meagan.

She opened the outer door and was immediately met by the starry sky and a cool night breeze on her skin. Emily shut her eyes for a moment and breathed the sea air in. Exactly what she needed.

She opened her eyes again and quietly closed the door behind her, before walking to the side of the Dreadful Wale’s low-lit deck and leaning over it.

Emily stared out at the dark sea. The waves were calm tonight, as was the wind. The occasional gust rippled along the water (and blew her long, undone hair about her face), but otherwise the waves were low and methodic, gently beating at the Dreadful Wale’s side. They were small enough that they weren’t disrupting the reflections of Karnaca’s lights and the moon and stars all too much. It must’ve been about three hours past midnight, but the city still seemed to be as awake as ever, even from all the way out here.

Emily looked up from the reflection at the city itself. She’d understood why her father had missed it so much from the very second she’d seen it sailing in. She wasn’t quite sure what it was, but there was a sort of magic about it. A certain joy or brightness, even now, with all that the city and the Empire was going through. Or maybe it was just because the sky here was actually blue, and not almost always depressingly grey, like Dunwall’s.

Emily laughed to herself a little. She’d also come to understand why her father complained about Dunwall’s weather so much after being here. Karnaca was so much warmer than home. Not oppressively hot -- at least, not most of the time -- but a nice, comforting warmth. She definitely preferred it to Dunwall’s weather too.

“Can’t sleep?”

Emily startled at the sudden noise. She looked over her shoulder towards the source of the voice: Meagan Foster, standing a few paces behind Emily on the deck. Emily chided herself mentally for not hearing Meagan coming before. Meagan was weirdly good at sneaking up on people; she’d made Emily jump a few more times than she was happy to admit, and Anton had made a fair few comments about it.

Emily smiled at Meagan. She couldn’t see her properly in the low light, but she could tell Meagan was fully dressed for the day, in that cream coat she always wore, despite how early it was.

Emily’s eyes lingered on Meagan’s arm for a few moments. She still wasn’t quite used to Meagan having both arms, or both eyes again, but that made sense, really; it had only been a couple days since she’d changed the past back at Stilton’s Manor -- only a couple of days since Meagan had got her arm back. Or only a couple days since Meagan had never lost her arm...? It was all a little confusing and Emily wasn’t even going to try to pretend she understood it completely.

Meagan walked up to Emily and joined her leaning on the ship’s side.

“Yeah- it was just a bad dream. That’s all,” Emily answered dismissively.

“Ah.”

Emily glanced at Meagan. Now she was closer, Emily could see her better. She looked tired, in that sort of way people did after a rude and unexpected awakening. Probably the same way Emily looked right now. Maybe even for the same reasons… Emily remembered something the Heart had said about Meagan once; something about how some nights Meagan woke up choking, hearing the screams of a little girl watching her mother die. Had that happened tonight? And who was that girl? Was it Meagan? The Heart was always so vague and she didn’t usually answer Emily’s questions, or explain much further.

Emily knew so little about Meagan’s past.

All she really knew was from Meagan’s aside comments and that… well, that didn’t add up to much. But Emily had decided Meagan’s past didn’t matter; what mattered was that she was helping Emily now. Emily wasn’t in a position to start being picky about her allies. And if Meagan didn’t want to tell her, Emily wouldn’t ask. She owed Meagan that much. She owed Meagan her life, really.

“I take it you can’t sleep either,” Emily stated, looking at Meagan through the corner of her eye.

Meagan gave a small nod.

“Anything keeping you up?”

Meagan hesitated. “Nothing in particular,” her eyes were still trained on the water.

Emily looked out to the sea too, and they fell into a silence. The peaceful water lapping on itself and the side of the ship took the place of their conversation.

“After we returned to the Tower- after all the shit that happened after my mother was assassinated, I used to get nightmares a lot.” Emily started, breaking the quiet. She was talking more to herself than she was to Meagan, and she knew it, “And I’d always ask my father to stay with me. Because I uh- I insisted I didn’t get nightmares when he was there.” Emily laughed a little, “I still got nightmares, of course, but…” she trailed off.

“But it was nice knowing he was there?” Meagan finished, quietly.

“Mm,” Emily hummed with a smile. She looked down at her hands and sighed, “I know he was busy- he was so busy. He had all the work he had to do as my protector, then as spymaster-- and he was pretty much doing half my paperwork too. But he never said no. Every time I asked, no matter what, he’d stay. He’d sit by my bed for the whole night sometimes, just because I was a little scared of a bad dream.” Emily looked up and stared out at Karnaca across the water, “I miss him.”

Emily glanced at Meagan. Meagan was still staring out at the water and her expression was almost completely unreadable. Emily caught herself. Right… Meagan probably didn’t want to be regaled with stories of Emily’s messed up childhood.

Emily made a dismissive motion with her hand, “Sorry, I- I’m rambling.”

“He sounds like a great father,” Meagan said after a moment, with a reassuring and unusual warmth.

“He is,” Emily smiled. Is . Emily was going to free him from whatever spell Delilah had put on him, and she was going to get him back. He wasn’t gone. She hadn’t lost him.

Meagan and Emily settled into another silence.

“My uh-” Meagan stopped and took a slow, steady breath, “My father wasn’t the sort of father you came to with your bad dreams.” She paused, “But he always knew what to say to us, and when to say it. When one of the t-- when one of my... younger siblings was freaking out about something, he’d say the exact right thing. Every time...” Meagan sighed quietly, almost too quietly for Emily to hear, "I guess I know what you mean."

Oh, this was odd. Meagan was telling Emily about her past. She was actually choosing to tell Emily about her past. Was Meagan just that tired? Had Emily picked up a new Void ability? Or maybe they were just friends now? They had known and lived with each other for over a month now, after all, and… Emily realised she should probably stop analysing the situation and just be thankful Meagan was telling her.

“Are you two close?” Emily asked tentatively.

Meagan let out a sort-of amused huff, “No. Last time I saw him was… it was a while ago. More than a decade.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Emily shifted her position a little. This was definitely going to be crossing a line; “Did something happen between you?”

Meagan’s mouth drew to a thin line, “We had a... disagreement . A big one.” Meagan paused for a moment, sombering, “The kind you don’t come back from...”

There was another silence and Meagan suddenly looked quite uncomfortable and almost confused, as if she’d only just realised what she’d been saying. The silence became more awkward.

“You should get some more rest,” Meagan finally looked at Emily again, pushing herself off the side of the ship, “Aramis will be here this evening to brief you on what he knows about the Duke’s palace.”

“Yes,” Emily stood up straight too. There was a short moment before Emily gave Meagan a small wave and turned towards the doors.

After a few paces Emily stopped and turned on her heel to face Meagan again, “Thank you.”

Emily was pretty sure Meagan gave her a half-smile, but she was a little too far off to see in the dark. Emily smiled back and turned around again, heading off to bed.

[noonas-kpop-fix]

Raise me up Take me up

Hi, I’m not completely sure how long this took me but I went over it a thousand times. (Also at work) Lmao that awkward moment when your coworkers keep coming into your office while you’re working on a smut 😂

It’s an Ateez sleepover 😂

Anyways enjoy my first Yeosang smut while I work on my other softer one.

It was late in the night while everyone slept in the other room, minus myself. I stayed in my room with bloodshot eyes unable to get a wink of sleep.

Yeosang had been giving me these looks the whole day and I had his gaze engraved in my mind. It wasn’t anger, it wasn’t indifference, frustration maybe? I let it be for now..

We had been secretly dating for the past couple of months and nobody had known this. We just wanted to have a bit of privacy, we would tell everyone eventually..

Yeosang was wide awake, he lay on his side with something clearly bothering him so much that it could not wait until tomorrow. He kept re-watching a story Hongjoong had posted of him and me with a cute cat filter on his story. It was only a photo but it was getting under Yeosang’s skin. He got up as silent as possible and snuck into my room closing and locking the door behind him.

I looked over seeing a slim shadow at my door immediately knowing it was him.

“Yeo-! ” I suddenly shut my mouth remembering the members in the other room.

He stood tall in the moonlit room, eyes watching me closely.

He approached me then planted one knee on my bed then the other and crawled over me.

His neck hung down, eyes watching me as if I were his prey.

“Yeosang - what-?” I tried keeping the volume as low as possible.

“Noona, why do you always get so close to Hongjoong, hm?” he traced my waist with his fingers moving up lifting my shirt.

I felt his cold touch graze my skin making me wince from the contact.

His eyes were full of desire and jealousy, a mix that made Yeosang lose his composure and sense of what’s right and what’s wrong, causing him to act on impulse.

The carnal lust that radiated from his eyes had me shaking beneath him.

My breathing quickened, becoming heavier each time I exhaled.

“W-wait” I stopped his wandering hand from reaching my breasts that were just below my loose black shirt.

He watched me curiously, keeping the intensity in his eyes like a lion hunting its prey.

“Yeosang, Hongjoong is just a friend”

A low sigh was followed by silence. His dark orbs that peeked through his black hair penetrated into me so deep, I was paralyzed. The shadows blending into his striking pale skin made him appear almost vampire-like. His eyes softened for a brief moment then became dark again with a mischievous smirk forming on his lips.

He took my hands and pinned them up over my head and leaned into my ear.

“Noona, I just want you to remember one thing..” his words were drenched in desire hitting the nape of my neck sending goosebumps through my entire body.

He dipped his head lower and began leaving slow, sensual kisses on my neck.

His other hand crept below me pushing my shorts down caressing the curve of my butt before giving it a squeeze then moved down to my burning heat.

“So wet already” he mumbled biting his lip turning him on more.

My breath hitched and the moan that escaped me was drowned out by Yeosang’s hungry lips.

“Mm-mph” my free hand clawed onto the back of Yeosang’s black muscle shirt pulling on it.

I felt him smirk through his kisses.

“Shh, Noona, everyone is sleeping” he purred gliding his tongue around the inside of my mouth drawing out another hesitant moan from me that echoed into his mouth.

His fingers slowly swirled inside of me sending small jolts of pleasure that only teased me.

I squeezed my thighs together in a weak attempt of stopping him with the fear that I wouldn’t be able to contain the volume of my moans for long.

“Noona~ you need to open up for me, okay?~"he cooed into my lips.

His tongue slipped its way into my mouth, overtaking mine in seconds.

I kissed him back with the same hunger as his, if not more.

Under the circumstances he knew he had complete control of me and he loved it. He loved dominating me, it seemed to boost his ego knowing that I was wrapped around his finger. One would never think Yeosang was like this since he appears so shy and innocent the majority of the time on camera, but as soon as jealousy strikes his demeanor changes.

My knees weakened and I let go.

"Good girl Noona ~”

His fingers began to go faster and I rolled my hips into his motions.

“How does that feel Noona, huh?” His voice was so cocky.

My thoughts were so clouded by pleasure that I couldn’t think straight.

“Fffuck Y-yeosang..so good-” I groaned into his dominant lips.

“Are you going to cum for me Noona? Hm?” he hummed nipping the edge of my bottom lip with his teeth.

The vibration of his words with his quickening pace was driving me over the edge. I could feel my ultimate high approaching fast. His fingers kept hitting every sweet spot until I reached my climax clenching my thighs into his hand, spilling all over his beautiful fingers.

A low grunt came out of him as he felt my arousal dripping onto him.

My head fell back as I cursed Yeosang’s name through gritted teeth still aware of the members asleep in the other room.

Yeosang pulled his coated fingers out of me and sucked them off clean, making the most lewd sounds possible while keeping his eyes on me.

He leaned down pressing his body tightly on mine planting a quick sloppy kiss on my lips and I tasted myself on him.

“Good girl~”

I felt his hardened member through his sweats poke my abused core as he grined into me once. I was so drunk on desire I desperately reached down to his black sweat-pants but was stopped by his hand. He shook his head almost reluctantly.

“We’ll have to finish this another day Noona, we wouldn’t want to have everyone hear you scream my name at the top of your lungs now would we?”

It took every fiber of my being to stop myself from almost begging him to take me, I wanted him to finish wrecking me but I would not hear the end of it from the boys if they found out about Yeosang and me like this. I would be so embarrassed but Yeosang wouldn’t care, he would want them to hear and know that I belonged to him and him alone.

He smiled evilly reading my eyes and knew that I wanted him to finish me but he wouldn’t do it, at least not tonight. If it were up to him he’d probably do it but he knew that I wouldn’t want that, he wanted to spare me and the boys from an awkward situation. We had already gone a bit overboard with the current situation.

I pouted and whined tugging at his shirt.

“Will you at least hold me then?”

He smirked and lay beside me pulling me close to him.

“That, I can do.”

I nestled into his embrace for a moment because I knew he would have to sneak back out before morning.

"You’re such a fucking tease” I complained still feeling sexually frustrated.

“Am I?”

He laughed seductively digging under my shirt and drew circles around my hip bone making me flinch at his touch. His hand glided down again to my lower belly.

Yeosang’s eyes darted to me seeing me squirm and he smiled amused with himself.

At this point he just wanted to get a reaction out of me, but he was playing with fire because it was my turn to test him.

I reached down to his lap and began to palm his hardened member over the fabric and his evil laugh quickly turned into a distressed hiss.

“Sss-uhh” he threw his head back releasing me, overtaken by my one move.

He clenched his teeth and shut his eyes.

“What’s wrong baby boy?” I cooed looking down at him stealing the smirk that he had a second ago.

“N-Nooon-” I gave his bulge a squeeze cutting his words short.

“Hm?” I hummed in response, running my thumb over it.

“Fuck” he breathed out.

I loosened my grip and chuckled amused with myself.

“Baby, I barely touched you” I continued to tease him.

He pushed himself up breathing hard then grabbed my hand keeping it on his pulsing length.

His lips were silent but his eyes practically begged me to continue.

And just like that I was in control.

“Sit back baby boy”

He immediately obeyed, sitting up with his back against the wall.

I followed close, leaning into his neck, leaving a soft kiss then reached for the hem of his sweats and pulled it down causing his erection to spring out.

A grin formed on my lips upon seeing his throbbing shaft. There was pre-cum already seeping out of his tip.

“Is this all for me? Are you like this for your Noona? Hm?~”

Before he could answer I took his length into my right hand sliding it down slowly. My hand went down so slick and smooth from the help of his arousal.

His eyes shut and his head went back against the wall.

“Fuck” he whined

His breath sped up as he dug his fingers into the bed sheets, hanging onto them as if his life depended on it.

“You’re so sensitive tonight baby~” I giggled slipping my free hand under his shirt and around his tiny waist holding him close to me.

His words were trapped at his throat, building up the need to yell out every curse word he knew.

I moved my face closer to his right ear.

“Yeosang~ remember~ you have to be quiet, or I’ll have to stop” I purred licking his neck before biting it playfully.

He sat frozen in that same spot, eyes shut, biting his bottom lip as he forced a shaky nod.

“Good boy”

He took a heavy breath bracing himself.

I began to pump his impressive length slowly working my way up.

His body stiffened more, hanging on as I took him higher and higher in seconds.

“Fff” He huffed, his cheeks now tinted a rosy pink.

“Are you going to cum already baby boy? Are you going to cum all over me? Huh? You naughty boy?”

He opened his neck all the way back, he was close to reaching his ultimate high as he thrust up into my hand.

“Yes Noona, yes, fuck you’re so good. You’re so fucking good” his words coming out in heavy breaths and whimpers.

I pumped harder and harder with his sweet, low whimpers fueling me. He thrust into my hold harder as he rode out his high releasing on me, covering me in his seed as he held back the urge to moan out loud. His body spasmmed towards the end and his head fell on my shoulder.

The dripping sweat fell from his forehead to my shoulder.

I gently wiped us down and hugged his neck to mine combing my fingers through his dark locks.

A deep sigh rang through my ears.

His voice ragged and drained.

“Fuck” he cursed once more in satisfaction.

I held his head in my hands giving him a greedy kiss on his breathless lips.

“What did you want to remind me then?” I teased.

I felt his arms tie around me and I was quickly pulled to him again.

“That you’re mine” he said putting emphasis on the word “mine” before he locked his lips with mine

[ambersky0319]

The Boy I've Loved for Years

Human AU

Word Count : 1.8k

Parings : Logicality

----

"Patton, you are..." Logan trailed off, staring at himself in the bathroom mirror. That was where his speech currently was. And that, that wasn't too good. Not when he needed it all figured out by tonight.

He sighed, running a finger through his hair. It was messiest than normal, but did not make the teacher look any less attractive. Logan was lucky, Virgil had offered to take Patton to a movie and then to lunch while he prepared everything. Logan owed Virgil big time.

Roman as well, Logan was reminded, when the doorbell rang. He quickly left the bathroom to answer, coming face to face with Roman's grin.

"Specs! I can't believe it! Thank you for asking me to help, I've got so many ideas!" Roman exclaimed, wrapping Logan in a tight hug. "Of course, it's your decision what you do. I'm just happy to help!"

Logan laughed, adjusting his tie. "Good, because I need a chef and someone to help me set up." Roman seemed to grin more, and bowed.

"At your service, Mr. Crofters."

-

Later in the evening, Logan was beyond nervous. He was on the borderline of entering full blown panic. The only thing that kept his mind calm was the sound of the dogs barking in the pound behind him. He was waiting for Virgil to drop off Patton, as had been planned. But in the mean time, he practiced his speech under his breath.

Virgil's car pulled up, a brilliant purple atop fading into black. Patton got out and waved happily at Virgil, before dashing over to embrace Logan. Virgil did a small salute before pulling out of the pound parking lot, and Logan turned his attention to Patton.

"Sorry we're late! There was a lot of traffic and all," Patton chirped, kissing Logan's cheek quickly. "But! I'm here now! So, what did you have planned, my dear Starlight?"

Logan's cheeks flushed pink, and Patton giggled. Logan cleared his throat, smiling. "A lot of things, actually. It is our anniversary, after all. This is only one if our stops." Patton tilted his head, finally registering the sound of barking.

His eyes lit up. "You don't mean..." Logan nodded, and Patton squealed, jumping onto Logan. "You are the best boyfriend, in the entire cosmos!" Patton cried out, peppering Logan's face with kisses.

Logan laughed, carefully setting Patton down. He took the excited man's hand and guided Patton into the pound. They asked to see the dogs, both allergic to cats, and a lady brought them into a loud room.

Patton had spent possibly twenty minutes just playing and looking at dogs. One caught his attention, though. A pitbull, with scars along her sides as if she had gotten into a fight. It made Patton frown, and Logan watched as Patton tried to pet her.

She flinched away, and Patton drew back. He motioned for Logan to come sit with him, and Logan didn't deny, sitting beside Patton. Patton was patient, and one of the volunteers offered treats to give to try and coax the dog towards them.

The dog, Logan reminded himself, was named Roxy. Patton seemed determined to help her, and he looked at Logan. "She was in dog fighting, wasn't she?" Patton asked the worker, turning back to Roxy.

"Yes," replied the young girl softly. The dogs had, for the most part, quieted down. "Roxy hasn't had many good homes in her life. I'm surprised she hasn't moved, almost no one is allowed this close."

Logan tilted his head. Roxy hadn't moved away when Patton had scooted over. Patton called Roxy's name, very softly and full of care. And Logan's heart melted, and the volunteer nearly fainted.

Roxy had gotten up and moved to Patton, climbing into his lap when he had called her. Patton grinned, running his hand over her gently, and she rested her head on his leg. She looked up between Patton and Logan, and her short tail wagged a bit.

"Her. Can we adopt her?" Patton asked, looking at Logan. He looked to the volunteer, who nodded and helped the two men up, careful to not startle Roxy now that she seemed content.

Logan and Patton filed the proper paperwork, and soon Roxy was in Logan's back seat. Patton was giddy, opting to sit in the back with Roxy. The pitbull slept the entire ride to the house, and Logan knew it was a good decision to make this the first gift.

He pulled into the garage and the two men and new dog entered the home. Patton watched as Roxy cautiously explored the home, and he jumped into Logan's arms once again.

"Lolo, you truly are the best," Patton mumbled, burying his face in Logan's neck. Logan laughed, kissing Patton's cheek. Both of their glasses were askew now, but neither seemed to care much.

"The night's not over- do you smell what I do?" Patton lifted his head from Logan's shoulder and sniffed the air. His eyes widened as the smell of pizza and fresh pie finally reached him. Logan pecked his lips, setting Patton down. "How about a picnic outside, and Roxy can explore the backyard while we eat."

Patton nodded, unable to speak. He fixed his glasses and called for Roxy, leading her to the back door of the house. As Patton took her outside, Logan grabbed the pizza platter and the cake tray. He put the lid of the container over the cake, and placed it in a small basket with a blanket. He held the platter, also covered to avoid the pizza slipping off, and let the basket loop around his elbow as he walked outside.

Patton was watching Roxy carefully as she smelled their large backyard. Logan worked at a very good school, and Patton was learning how to be a therapist, currently working as an assistant therapist under Dr. Picani. They both made good money, and could afford a nice home.

Logan set up the blanket and Patton soon joined him, both helping themselves to the pizza. Just one taste, and Patton knew the chef. "Roman made this!" He chirped, looking at Logan for confirmation. Logan nodded.

"Indeed. A special homemade pizza for a special occasion." Logan said, continuing to eat his own slice. "He was quite generous."

Patton giggled, and tossed Roxy a piece of crust. She sniffed it wearily before eating it, perking up and almost begging for more. Both men were shocked she could even stand on her hind legs, and each tossed her some more crust.

The sun began to set, and all the pizza had been consumed. They ate some cake, but not too much, already full from the pizza. Once it was packed away safely, Logan and Patton lied down on the blanket. Roxy was a ways away, sleeping peacefully more towards their porch.

Patton curled into Logan, though his gaze was on the sky, watching as stars began to show. "Today was amazing, Logan. Thank you."

Logan smiled and kissed Patton's head, looking up at the stars himself. "No need to thank me, Sunshine. You deserve it all, and much more." He said, and Patton glanced at him, face flushing.

"You're a sap sometimes," he giggled. Logan laughed.

"Perhaps Roman is rubbing off on me, then."

Silence fell over the two, a comfortable one. They lied there for quite awhile, possibly two hours, if Logan was correct. Patton seemed to be dozing off now, and Logan realized he needed to actually get to the point of it all. Sighing silently, Logan glanced down at Patton.

"Love?"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you awake enough?"

"Mhmm...." Patton hummed, and it was clear he wasn't processing what Logan was saying. Not fully, at least.

Logan smiled a bit, sitting up and leaning down. He planted a soft kiss on Patton's lips, pulling away moments later. Patton almost chased the warmth, and opened his eyes. He pouted playfully. "Logan," he whined quietly.

"Sunshine, I need you to hear everything." Logan stated, getting to his feet. Patton huffed at the fact he'd have to get up, but didn't complain. Logan seemed nervous, beginning to fidget, and whatever was going to happen, Patton would make sure he heard.

Logan took a deep breath, taking both Patton's hands in his own. Roxy watched them from afar curiously and tiredly.

"Patton, you are..." another deep breath, and Logan's hands trembled. Patton remained silent, and gave Logan's hands a gentle squeeze. "You are so incredibly and astoundingly amazing. You bring light into my world. You've helped me... You've helped me through my hardest times."

Logan began to rub circles on the back of Patton's hands, looking down at their interlocked fingers. "For four years, you've stayed by my side. Didn't give up on me. You've always encouraged me and helped me deal with emotions that I had tried to lock away completely."

"Logan...?" Patton whispered, and Logan sniffled. When had he started crying.

Logan released one of Patton's hands to while away his tears before they fell too heavily. "I'm... I'm going to get to the point. Or else I might never."

Logan knelt to the ground, and Patton gasped, free hand going to his mouth as his face flushed red. Logan reached for his back pocket and pulled out a pastel blue box, before releasing Patton's other hand.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't imagine a reality where we aren't together, or where you don't make me happy every single day." Logan smiled, watching as Patton choked back a sob. "So, Patton Hart, will you marry me?"

Patton uncovered his face, a huge grin stretching from ear to ear. He bounced on his heels and nodded, tears streaming down his face. "Yes! God, yes!" He exclaimed, and Logan got to his feet.

Patton pulled Logan into a life-threatening hug, but Logan reciprocated it with as much force. Tears if his own slipped down his cheeks and he kissed Patton, smiling wide as he did so.

When he pulled away, Patton sniffled and rubbed at his eyes with one hand. Logan took the other, and Patton watched as Logan slipped the engagement ring over his finger. Patton observed it closely now, as best he could with blurred vision. It was a fairly large diamond, and the band had small aquamarine stones embedded into the silver.

"Logan, it's beautiful," Patton breathed out, tearing his gaze to meet the eyes of his fiancé.

Logan smiled, kissing Patton slow and full of love. It took Patton's breath away. "Not as beautiful as you, Sunshine." Patton giggled, laying his head on Logan's shoulder, arms around Logan's torso.

Roxy bounded over and barked, and Patton and Logan turned to her. Laughing, they knelt down and Patton gestured her over. She seemed to understand and Patton pet her head, Logan's arm still around him.

Taglist

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@treasureofpriam @theloveliestjellyfish @tacohippy56900 @acompletemusicalnerd @romanknite

[tedwoodward]

Schrödinger

Summary: Ted takes Charlotte to a local diner to help distract her from thinking about Sam

Note: inspired by this post

tw for a very brief mention of dieting and wanting to lose weight

read on ao3

“Ugh, seriously? Why does EVERYONE suddenly want coffee at the same fucking time today?” Ted groaned as he walked into the office kitchen to see that a line had formed as a new pot of coffee was being brewed.

“I just need one more cup to get me through these reports for Mr. Davidson,” sighed Paul from the end of the line, twiddling his thumbs on his coffee mug.

Ted rolled his eyes and took a seat at the table. No way was he going to stand around in line with four other people getting coffee in front of him. He was not patient enough for this.

He brought his arm up, checking the time on his watch: 3:48. Huffing, Ted contemplated how much he truly wanted this coffee. Then again, it was an excuse to get away from his computer and the stale air in his cubicle, so he stayed.

He turned his attention back to his coworkers to hear a conversation being continued that he must have interrupted with his entrance. And, boy, was tuning back in a mistake on his part.

“But, no, man, you’re forgetting the timeframe thing. That’s like the whole point of Schrödinger’s Cat. By a specific point not only will the radioactive isotope decay, forcing the poison to kill the cat, but if you leave it in there long enough, the cat’s gonna starve! So if you’re inactive and apolitical for a long period of time, you’re solidifying the fate of the cat.”

“Dude, the ‘whole point’ of Schrödinger’s Cat is that because you don’t know when exactly the decay is going to occur, there is a time when the cat is both alive and dead before you check on it. You’re looking at it the complete wrong way. It’s not talking about whether the cat is gonna survive or not. But either way, it’s not a real cat, so who cares?”

“I’m not saying the cat’s real, I’m saying this works for other situations in addition to quantum mechanics.”

“Okay, yeah, but you’re clearly misinterpreting it. Just find another analogy for whatever you’re saying at this point—”

By the time Ted got his coffee, he was going to explode. If it was possible for your eyes to pop out of your head just from rolling them, Ted would have gone blind the second those two opened their mouths. His loud sighs and glares had done nothing to dissuade them from continuing their nerdy argument. Ted now needed a break from his break.

Leaving the idiots in the kitchen, he decided to take a lap round the office, stretch out his legs, you know. He just so happened to pass by Charlotte as she was on the phone, ending a call. Ted decided to take a detour over to her desk just because it had been a while since he had last bugged her. Not because of any additional reason, no sirree.

He lingered a few feet from her station, sipping at his coffee as he waited for her to finish the call. He might be an asshole, but he wasn’t gonna interrupt a conversation with a client. And maybe he just wanted to look at her for a second. Not in a creepy way, just in a… Ted way. Okay, not like the usual Ted way that is also creepy. Just in a… way.

“Al-alright, well, I love you. And I’ll see you later tonight then, sweetheart.” Charlotte hung up the phone, letting out a deep sigh.

“Y’know, I don’t think you’re supposed to take personal calls on these phones,” Ted said as he sauntered over to her desk, startling Charlotte from her daze.

“Oh! Ted. Well, you know Sam…” She didn’t offer any further explanation. She stared off into space for a moment, looking at nothing in particular, and after a moment she seemed to shake herself out of it. “Well, I better get back to work.” She tried to busy herself, but Ted stopped her by moving even closer to her and setting his mug on her desk.

With one hand on the back of her chair, one hand on his hip, and a foot kicked over the other, he leaned down to speak closer to her ear. “So… no plans after work it sounds like?”

Charlotte glanced in Ted’s direction, “Well, Sam won’t be getting back till late this evening. Sudden extra work-load.” Something felt off, but he tried again.

“Hm. Sounds like you have a few free hours then,” Ted smirked at her, a sly smile spreading across his face.

Charlotte wasn’t meeting his eyes. His smile faltered. Normally she would continue the banter or at least push him away if she wasn’t down for it. Something was wrong.

“Charlotte?” He asked, the amount of sincerity in his voice shocking even him. “Hey, is everything alright?”

“Hmm? Oh, yes, everything’s fine, just fine.” Ted could see her fingers twitching for a cigarette and knew there was an issue she wasn’t telling him about.

“Is it Sam?” He hazarded a guess. “C’mon, you know you can’t lie to me.”

Charlotte turned her chair to properly face him, Ted no longer leaning against her. She slowly brought her face up to meet his eyes, and he could see they were red.

“Oh, I’m sure it’s nothing, but…” she sniffled and looked away. “Oh, well, when I was on the phone with Sam, I-. Oh, this is going to sound crazy, but I—I could hear that… he wasn’t at work. And-and-and I know that’s stupid, because he isn’t always at the precinct during the day; that’s part of his job, but…. And I may just be imagining things, but… I’m not certain he was on duty. A-and I’m pretty sure I heard some… strange music. That kind of modern, young pop music? Not that there’s anything wrong with it, but that’s just not Sam’s music. And I, well—”

“Hey, hey, hey, Charlotte?” She stopped stuttering through her explanation and returned Ted’s gaze. He looked at her for a moment. “So, you think he’s with Her again, huh?”

She looked away. With her eyes closed, she nodded minutely, trying to control her breathing.

“Well, hey. Fuck him, all right? He doesn’t know what he’s missing out on. He’s an asshole anyways. He doesn’t deserve you.” That last part slipped out, and Ted looked away. Charlotte blushed as he tried to sweep that moment under the rug. “You know what? You need a distraction. Let’s grab dinner after we’re done today.” Ted looked at Charlotte as her gaze finally met his again.

This was new. They had never really done anything… non-sexual before. Their relationship to this point had been originally one-sided advances and flirtatious behavior from Ted up until Charlotte out of the blue took him up on the offer. Since then it’s all just been sex. Sex when Charlotte was angry, sex when Charlotte was sad, sex when Charlotte was lonely, sex when Charlotte was horny, sex when Charlotte was bored. There was no romance; you could barely say any part of their relationship was even platonic. And they had never risked going out in public before.

“Dinner, Ted? I’m a married woman, remember?” Charlotte reminded him. “I do not go out on dates with men that are not my husband.” Funny how that’s where she drew the line, Ted thought.

“Nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-no, see I was thinking of going to that shitty diner across from that fancy Italian place on 45. Not a date. Not a big deal,” Ted reassured her nonchalantly.

“Oh… well, I suppose that would be alright. We do have some leftovers in the fridge Sam can heat up when he gets home. But just dinner—”

Ted stopped her before she could lay down any more rules, “Great! I’ll stop by when I’m done for the day.”

And with that, he was gone, grabbing his mug from her desk and throwing up a peace sign as he walked away.

Not a date. Ted wasn’t sure who he had directed that thought to, but it persisted in his mind as he walked away.

The rest of the work day wrapped up soon enough, and their coworkers began taking off. It was only a matter of time before Ted strolled back over to Charlotte’s desk, bag strung over his shoulder.

“Ready?” He asked, glancing at his watch, his put-on air of indifference betrayed by a small bounce in his step.

They were off a few moments later once Charlotte gathered her stuff. Ted led her to his car as Charlotte silently thanked the parking lot for being fairly empty of others. She did not want to attract attention to the fact that she was getting into a car with Ted Richards, the office flirt, who was known to have slept with at least half of the employees at CCRP beginning day one of his employment. Okay, yeah, whatever that would suggest was totally happening, but she still didn’t need it getting around the office.

The drive was uneventful. Charlotte sat stiffly in the passenger seat as Ted drove, her eyes glossed over, staring out the window, and worrying her lip between her teeth, still thinking about Sam. Ted silently acknowledged this but didn’t say anything about it. Instead he talked the entire drive, just rambling on about anything and everything apart from that, starting with those two idiots from the kitchen earlier in the day. Who gives a fuck about Schrödinger’s Cat anyways? You’re not in AP Psych anymore, you’re not tricking anyone into thinking you’re smart. They all ended up at CCRP anyhow, so no one gives a shit.

After a while his ranting died down, and they pulled into another parking lot.

“Alright, we’re here.”

Charlotte shook herself from her inattentive state and glanced up at the building they were parked in front of. ‘Annie’s Diner’, the sign read. She couldn’t recall ever eating there before, but she recognized the name. Still in a bit of a daze, she got out of the car and walked towards the entrance with Ted.

Ted opened the door, letting Charlotte go first (who says he can’t be a gentleman from time to time?), and an easy smile slid onto his face as he followed her into the diner.

He led them to a seemingly specific table inside, and the pair slid into the booth, Charlotte’s attention still clearly elsewhere. She tried to look at her menu, but all she could think about was Sam. Sam cancelling on her. Sam never being there. Sam being with that… girl. Leaving her alone. No, not alone. She’s with Ted right now. Who she has slept with. Multiple times. Who she’s cheating on Sam with. Just as Sam’s doing with Her. How can she feel hurt? What was she doing? What makes her husband’s affair worse than her’s? What kind of wife was she?

“All right,” Ted said, grabbing the menu from her hands, shaking her back to reality. “That’s enough. You’re thinking too much.” Placing the menu back behind the condiments with the others, he took Charlotte’s hands in his own. “Look, we’re here to forget about him, and you’re obviously not doing a very good job at that.”

Charlotte eyes met Ted’s, and she smiled sadly as a sort of apology.

He tapped his hands over hers a few times. “Today, we focus on having a good time, we focus on eating greasy food, and we focus on not overthinking things. All right?” Ted declared, releasing her hands in favor of returning her menu.

At that moment a lovely-looking, older woman appeared next to their booth.

“Why, hello there again, Ted. How are you doing this fine evening?” she asked, obviously familiar with the man.

“Doin’ all right, Miss Julie. About to be even better now that I’m at the best diner in the country,” he schmoozed, grinning playfully up at her.

She smacked him lightly with her notepad, “Oh, Teddy, you really are a flirt. What’re you doing talking like that in front of your friend here?” She playfully scolded him and turned her attention to Charlotte, “How you doing, sweetie? My name’s Julie, and I’ll be serving you today.” She offered a sweet smile, and Charlotte couldn’t help but smile back, no matter how absent her mind was. That kind of pure joy and loveliness was powerful. Charlotte yearned for the time in her life when she was that much of a source of joy.

Alongside some playful banter with Ted, Julie took their drink orders (Charlotte asked for just water at first, but after a raised eyebrow from Ted the orders became one strawberry milkshake for her and one chocolate milkshake, no whipped cream for him) and left the two alone, a small, genuine smile on her face to see him with someone.

Lord knows Ted needed company, and so did the staff at Annie’s. He was a regular and would come into the diner after work twice a week give or take for about a year or so. He quickly charmed his way to the hearts of the entire staff, but behind his flirtatious and cocky exterior they could see how lonely he was. Going every week after work? Must not have anyone to go home to. The staff easily warmed up to him and enjoyed lollygagging by his booth for some fun banter, and they savored the rare true smiles he afforded them (as opposed to the smirk normally plastered across his face during the work day). He seemed to enjoy it as well; they made his solitary dinners more enjoyable, and at Annie’s he found a sense of family.

As Miss Julie retreated, Charlotte had a playful smile on her face at Ted’s slightly-reddened cheeks.

“I thought you called this a ‘shitty’ diner,” Charlotte laughed, “Seems like you enjoy it more than you’re letting on.”

Ted tried to wave her off. “Looks shitty. Heart, and food, of gold, though.” He buried his face in his menu, as if he didn’t have it memorized by that point.

Charlotte giggled some more as she copied him. The two studied their menus in silence, comfortable in the mood that had settled between them.

Moments later, Julie came back with their shakes in hand. “Alright, well I know Ted’s ready, but how about you, ma’am? Any questions for me or are you good to order?”

Truth be told, Charlotte was torn over what to get. She’d been trying to eat better lately, hoping that by some chance, if she lost a bit of weight, it would help her husband care about her again, so initially she had been looking at the salad options. But Ted did say today was about eating greasy food, and she had to be honest, the burgers on the menu looked absolutely delightful. After a glance at her dinner partner she made her decision. Burger it is!

Julie correctly guessed what Ted was getting on her first try (“Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings and a side of tater tots?” “You got it, honey.”) and left to send their orders to the kitchen. Once again the pair sat in silence as Ted unwrapped his straw and swirled it around his milkshake. After a moment, Charlotte spoke up.

“Ted?”

“Hm?” he grunted in response, still playing with his straw.

“Why’d you bring me here?”

This stopped him. Sensing where she was leading the conversation, Ted built up a wall. He scoffed, “Um, for food? Duh.”

Charlotte shook her head and mimicked his earlier move by holding his hand that had been laying on top of the table. His eyes were immediately drawn to where she touched him tenderly. “This place is clearly special to you. Why me? Why am I the one you’re sharing this with?”

Ted stared at their hands a moment longer before taking a deep breath. He glanced up and looked into Charlotte’s eyes, imploring and curious. He squeezed her hand before letting go and moving both of his hands under the table, out of her reach.

“I’m an asshole. I know that, you know that, everyone knows that. I can’t say I even have work friends unless Paul counts, and even then…” he trailed off, catching himself, and getting back on track. “But, yeah. I guess it’s nice to have a place where I can just kinda live. A sorta… home? That sounds stupid. Somewhere I feel appreciated, I don’t know. And I guess I feel safe sharing this place with you. And I wanted you to see it because… I want you to have a place like this too.”

He kept his gaze purposefully away from Charlotte through his explanation, only locking eyes again when he finished, hesitant to see her reaction. He could never tell when he was crossing a line. Where their relationship stopped and became far too close for Charlotte’s comfort. When it felt real, like something she should get from Sam.

But to his relief she was smiling at him, eyes glossy with tears to see another side of him that he didn’t show much.

“That and the fact that I totally owe Annie’s a gold-star recommendation and a new customer,” Ted continued playfully. “It’s the least I could do for them putting up with me all the time. I bug these people with my presence far too often and my patronage can only get them so far.”

“Now, Ted, I’d hardly say calling this a ‘shitty diner’ is a ‘gold-star recommendation’,” Charlotte teased.

“Hey,” Ted quirked his head to the side and winked, smirking at her from across the booth, “still got you here, didn’t I?”

With the playful mood set, dinner continued easily, both parties much more present than they had been previously. Their food came, they ate, and the pair realized how easy it was for the two of them. Their previously-only-sexual and never-before-platonic relationship was working well in this new setting. They could just live and eat greasy food and be really messy and gross and it was fine, preferred even.

As their meal came to a close, Julie brought over coffee for the pair.

They had had a good time. Ted was beginning to think his earlier statement of not having any work friends may be marked untrue after this evening. He glanced over at Charlotte, busy fixing her coffee to her taste. He watched, and an amused grin slid over his face as she poured an obscene amount of sugar into her mug. God, she’s adorable, Ted thought.

Charlotte felt his attention and glanced up, cheeks reddening, embarrassed by her unhealthy coffee preference (although Ted was one to talk if you asked her).

Their eyes met, and Ted was struck speechless. A shy laugh graced Charlotte’s lips as they looked at each other, and Ted nearly swooned.

If they had been in any other situation he would have reacted differently. If they had been in private, Ted would have kissed her then and there, able to cover up his feelings with his libido. If she had not been married, he would have been professing his love on bended knee for the entire world to hear, because, God, she was beautiful and sweet and charming and witty, and fucking Sam didn’t deserve her. He would say those three words, and she would say them back, and their love would be so great even his cynicism couldn’t deny it.

But that was not the case. Even if he did bite the bullet and tell her his feelings, there was no way she would respond likewise. She was married. No matter how she felt. No matter how shitty Sam was to her. No matter how much he wanted to hear it. No matter how much she wanted to say it. She wouldn’t. She’d never leave him.

Instead he caught sight of his balled-up straw wrapper centimeters from his hand and flicked it at her. It bounced off her sweater and into the abyss under the table.

“Wha? Ted!” Charlotte gasped, putting aside the sugar in favor of the wrapper next to her mug.

She only took a second to crumple it up before throwing it at him, which resulted in the wrapper barely flying, missing Ted completely, and falling onto the table in front of him.

Ted laughed at her failed attempt at retaliation. The pair smiled at each other, and the playful dynamic returned.

Ted decided he could live. He didn’t need to hear her confess her love to him. He didn’t need reality to slap him in the face. He could live in blissful ignorance about their relationship. They didn’t need a label. They didn’t need to communicate their feelings. Ted wasn’t sure he would be able to handle that. So he decided to keep it simple. He could believe whatever he wanted about their relationship for as long as he wanted, and he’d be fine as long as he didn’t ask for clarification. He didn’t want to know the truth.

[steves-on-a-plane]

A Whole New World

Title: A Whole New World  Words: 1380 Content Creator: @steves-on-a-plane Square Filled: Castle Walls  Rating: G Pairing: Bruce Banner x Reader Warnings/Triggers: none Summary: Reader hasn’t been to Disney World since she married Bruce. They’ve been together for years but now she’s starting to have “Disney Withdrawals.” Bruce suggests a vacation may be in order and Reader gladly takes him up on the offer. Link: @brucebannerbingo

“It’s getting pretty late.” You thought to yourself. A quick check of your watch told you it was just after two in the morning. You looked to the empty spot in the bed where your husband, Bruce, usually slept. Bruce was still up and working in a different part of the house because he thought that’s what you were doing too. He thought this, because you told him that you’d be up in bed working late into the night. You’d been trying to work, at least earlier on, but you kept getting distracted by more interesting things. Things like the entire internet.

Your current distraction were several tabs each open to various sections of the Disney World website. It was no exaggeration to say you were a big Disney fan. You had all the movies on DVD or BluRay and somewhere in the attic you even had an impressive collection of VHS tapes. Over the years you’d collected trading pins, Mickey ears, plush characters and other toys. You even used to visit the parks every year but that was before you met Bruce.

“Are you still working?” Bruce yawned. He’d appeared so suddenly in the doorway. Apparently you hadn’t heard him walk up. He crossed the room and sat in his usual spot in the bed.

“Hmm? Yeah…Or no not really I suppose.” You sighed closing your laptop.

“Got stuck in a loop of cute cat videos? That happens to me all the time.” He joked, rolling his eyes.

“Basically, yeah.” You agree. “Which is too bad because I really need to get this research to my boss by the end of the week.”

“Well you’ve still got some time. It’s what…Wednesday?”

“It’s past midnight so it’s technically Thursday now.” You groan. “I need a vacation.” You add mostly to yourself.

“We should take one.” He said.

“One what?” You looked over at him.

“A vacation. Didn’t you just say you need a vacation?” He asked.

“Yeah, I did.” You nodded. You moved your heavy laptop from your lap to the table by your side of the bed. “But I don’t mean like last year when our vacation was staying out home for a week with our phones turned off.”

“What did you have in mind?” He wanted to know.

“Well, I used to go to Disney World all the time before we were engaged.” You told him.

“Yeah, I’ve seen all your pictures on Social Media. I never really thought to ask why you stopped going.” He confessed guiltily.

“When we were dating, I just went without you. I assumed it wouldn’t be something you’d be interested in. I mean you’ve never been before.” You explained. “When the Avengers first assembled you were so busy that year, you didn’t really take a weekend off let alone a vacation. That was the last year I went.”

“But things settled down after that.” Bruce reminded you. “The team figured things out after the first year or two. I’ve been able to take vacations or extended breaks since then, but it doesn’t matter why we didn’t go in the past. We should go now.”

“Now?” You asked him.

“Well not right now, but this year. We can go whenever you want.” He promised.

“Are you sure? It’s not really your kind of place. Large crowds, Amusement park rides, overpriced fast food. Should I continue?” You questioned.

“Darling, anywhere you are is my kind of place.” He declared

“You’re so cheesy.” You teased him.

“Well I’m serious. We should go!” He insisted. “We could both use the vacation and it seems like Disney World means a lot to you. I’d love for you to show me around, to let me see the place through your eyes.”

“I don’t think you understand what you’re volunteering for here, but if you mean it, I look into booking a vacation tomorrow.” You said.

“Don’t you mean today?” He joked.  

“Ahhhhhh, do you smell that Bruce?” You exclaimed before inhaling another breath of ferns, moss and sunshine.

“Smell what, Florida?” He asked, wheeling his rolling luggage behind him. You’d just been dropped off by a car service at the hotel you’d be staying at for the week.  

“Yesssss.” You sighed with delight. “Isn’t it wonderful?” You grasped the handle of your own luggage and began pulling it along towards the Hotel Lobby.

“I’ll take your word for it.” He chuckled. Bruce was enjoying seeing you so excited. He couldn’t imagine what you’d be like once you got to the actual parks. “Have you stayed here before?” He asked, following you inside the hotel.

“No, but It’s always been on my list! Don’t worry, most of the Disney Hotels are set up pretty much the same so I’ll still know how to get around. Concierge and check in there, Restaurant there, Gift shop over there, a pool somewhere.” You pointed out the various amenities that you could identify from the front door.

“You really have got this all figured out.” Bruce nodded in approval. He let you continue leading the way to the check in desk where you and a Cast Member named Meghan made sure everything on your reservation was in order. Meghan then offered a map with your room number on it and sent you on your way.

“The faster we unpack the faster we can get to the magic!” You announced, pulling Bruce off to a nearby elevator.

“Now that I can smell.” Bruce was standing on the sidewalk at the front end of Main Street eagerly sniffing the sweet scents in the air. “What is that?” He asked you.

“It’s a combination of the popcorn cart at the entrance of the park, the candied and caramel apples being hand made at the Confectionery and the vanilla scent they pump into the streets.” You explained.

“Pumped into…They pay to force scents into the air? No wonder they charge over $100 a day.”  Bruce wasn’t sure if he was impressed or offended by this idea. He decided not to dwell on it. “Where to first?”

“Pirates of the Caribbean!!!” You exclaimed before charging through the crowd. “Oooh but first, castle pic!!!”

You stopped in the middle of Main Street where a Photopass Cast Member was standing by a camera and tripod. Bruce smiled shyly for the camera and you snuggled up close to him, thrilled to have your favorite man in your favorite place. The rest of the day continued on much in the same way with you excitedly bounding from one end of the park to the other and back again. All the while Bruce followed along happy to have his own personal tour guide.

He listened as you squealed with delight as your boat plummeted downwards on the Pirates ride. He watched you talk excitedly with Gaston during your meet and greet. You both laughed when the Beauty and the Beast villain threatened to steal you away from your husband. He enjoyed the lunch you booked at an Italian Restaurant called Tony’s. It was themed after the same restaurant from Lady and the Tramp. And despite the large copper statue of the two titular dogs at the center of the restaurant, Bruce was surprised by how well decorated the place was.

As your first day at Disney World drew to a close, you and Bruce were herded along with several hundred guests standing directly at the front of Cinderella Castle, waiting with eager anticipation for the nightly fireworks to begin. Bruce studied your face, glowing from the soft yellow atmospheric lights around you. Your smile widened as you told him all about the secret hotel room hiding inside the castle. He brushed a loose strand of hair out of your face, not hearing a word you said. How could he? All he could think about was how beautiful you were and how lucky he was to be there with you.

“What?” You looked up at him, noticing him staring at you with a far-off look.

“Nothing.” He said, wrapping an arm around you and pulling you in close. He planted a kiss on the top of your head. You barely heard him whisper “I love you.” Before the park’s speakers will filled with a fanfare of music. The fireworks show was about to begin.

[aikainkauna]

“OC asks that reveal more than you think”

...part the first. From here. I decided I will do this for everybody, so I will not get too carried awa--oh, what am I saying? I mean that I did want to do Laura after all, but I also want to do some others, and doing them all at once should help deter depression that might result from analysing the darkficcier-than-darkfic stuff. And since this will be long, I’ll just post a few answers at a time. So, here we go.

***

1. Do they sleep with a stuffed animal? If they have multiple, who's the favorite?

-Laura: She sleeps with a living sex panther. I expect she had LOADS of toys as a kid (Lars-Erik in the movie is drowning in tons of fancy, expensive toys, the pampered little nipper he is). But I don't see her being that much into playing with traditional dolls--except for those fucked-up bondage/dark ritual games she bonded over with Birgitte.

-Fadl: I bet he slept with several as a child. And gave them swords made of stix. His favourite was a stuffed horse. When he has to spend nights in tents, he sleeps next to his horse, in true nomadic Arab warrior fashion. (The reason they kept the horses in their tents were because tribal raids were rampant, JYSK. All those "oh, those curious foreign customs!" anecdotes never tell you that bit.)

-Zainab: she sleeps with several soft, warm living lesbians she has been stuffing with dildos beforehand. If it's too hot to share a bed, she just hugs a big pillow so she won't suffocate on her own tits and stomach during the night. The pillow quite likely has embroideries of naked ladies, too.

2. Can they take care of a plant? What about a pet? What about a child?

-Laura sucks at plants. Torsten is an avid gardener and faps over his orchids (probably literally. Improves the alkalinity of the soil). Pets? I don't think she really is a pet person, even if she probs had the token pony all little rich girls have. But she had stable hands to take care of it. Torsten, weirdly, would get along with animals, I think, and would be all cuddly and not at all evil in his interactions with them. He strikes me as the sort of person who hates most humans but loves animals, and that pet-owning is one of the few things about him that he does "normally," when the rest of him is batshit insane. It's not an unusual pattern with mental people (the cat lady said somewhat defensively). A child?! Well. If you've read the fic, you know how they deal with children. Don't ever let them near them... please. Especially Uncle Torsten.

-Fadl: I suspect he's actually a really good gardener when he puts his mind to it! Perhaps, in his old age, that's what he starts to fill his days with at Thousand Suns--after all, the house was named after the orange trees growing in its gardens and courtyard. So maybe he decides to make it a matter of personal pride that the oranges turn out as smashing as possible. (Omg, I need to use this in a fic! Jaffar shows up and juggles with the oranges; Salsabil and her mother develop a press, Anwar glugs the juice to fuel his dance practice :3) Animals-wise, he is really, really, really big on those horses, as previously established. As a youth and in his early adulthood in Raqqa and Baghdad, he would go to the horse races with Jaffar and cheer at the Barmakid horses he had himself brought up and co-trained. And kick everybody's arses at polo, likewise with horses he'd helped bring up. Children? Don't bring it up with him if you value your life (cf. The Earth's Turning--you'll have to read that one to know why).

-Zainab: sucks at plants, abhors kids, only just gets along with animals, but doesn't really form particularly deep bonds with them. She only has domestic/work animals like horses and camels and donkeys and chickens and hounds and cattle, and has, at some point, had at least one elephant to show off with.

3. Ask them to describe their love interest.

-Laura: “My Daddy is mad, bad and dangerous to know. And I love him; I don't know what I would do without him. And he most certainly wouldn't know what to do without me, either, the aimlessly drifting cad that he is.”

-Fadl: “Zainab is a heathen goddess. And just as capricious and cruel. But I cannot help it--the marvels of her soft, ample curves, golden hair and Hyperborean blue eyes hold me captive. This Viking bitch has well and truly conquered me, and I might as well admit it. But not to other men besides my brother; God, no. A man has to retain at least a façade of dignity, even if in his mistress's bed, he may be as a slave.”

-Zainab: “Lina? She is my little mouse-mouse, my little golden pearl, my everything! She completes me, in possessing all that I lack: a calm and steady temperament and a head for numbers and books. She keeps me sane, cheers me up, is a good conversationalist and on top of that, she is insatiable in bed. I never grow tired of lapping at that delicious little cunny of hers until my mouse-mouse squeaks--what's that? Oh, you wanted to know about *Fadl.* Well, he has his uses, does my bold stallion. But he needs a fair amount of training still. But I am nothing if not an expert at the art of breaking in unruly colts...” *cracks bejewelled, plump little knuckles*

4. Do they look good in red?

You know, at first I thought I'd Photoshop these, but then I realised it'd take me an entire week. So you just get quick and dirty (literally) doodles doodles I  ended up fixing in Potatochop for two fucking hours because fuck the messiness coloured pencils engender :P

Laura:

(She doesn‘t wear her hair like that for most of the time in the fics, but I still love drawing her with Bunny’s ginormous Nancy Drew/The Beloved Brat-era cloud of golden curls. And unlike Bunny, she has Torsten’s nose.)

Fadl:

I... kind of got carried away by what Clone Brush/Burn Tool could do, there. He ended up looking as colourful as a medieval European jester. Well, he is a fucking clown, though, so... what the hell.

Zainab:

Glorious red frock over sapphire-blue, diaphanous shalwars! I reckon the belt and the trim on the sleeves is actual gold. Because she could afford it.

But, yeah. I think the girls win this round. Maybe I’ll ‘shop Fadl in red if I find a good bodyshot of the right kind of chap in the right kind of red sherwani or something. But now, I’ve definitely done my arms and hands and back in for the day as far as Photoshop goes, so that’s it for tonight, folks!