#my eyes are sore so I didn't want to stare at my computer

[mossyspot]

shumika week day 3 - Acanthe :3

my lore knowledge is still at like the very top of the iceberg so I just redrew some shots from the mv that I like!!!

[rafeandonlyrafe]

reserved chair

words: 10.9k

warnings: 18+ only, smut, college au, past car crash, anxiety/ptsd, shy!reader, virgin!reader, soft!rafe, fingering, female recieving oral, p in v sex, protected sex

you take a deep breath before pulling open the door, eyes scanning the lecture hall. despite being ten minutes early to class, most of the seats are already taken. you turn quickly towards the stairs, climbing them slower than your feet want to, desiring to speed up the stairs to stop being able to see everyone's eyes and just the back of their head.

you let out a second deep breath when you get to the top, only a few students in the back row. you walk until you're as far away as possible from any other students, sinking into your chair the second you're sat down. you allow yourself a moment to breathe before working on getting your stuff out, placing your head down to just focus on lessing your anxiety.

upon picking up your head, you swear everyone's eyes are on you. you glance around towards your fellow classmates, but they've almost all turned to stare at the back row, not even trying to hide looking at you.

“wh-what is it?” you whisper to the girl in front of you, the one closest who thankfully looks nice.

“that's rafe camerons seat.”

“who is rafe cameron?” you question. it's the first week of classes, how could he have already claimed a seat? 

the doors open before she can respond, and despite other students entering without anyone caring, everyone's attention shifts, his energy and presence entering the room before he does.

you instantly know that he must be rafe cameron. his eyes land on you before you can scurry to a different seat, trapping you in place, a slight smirk on his face as he casually makes his way up the stairs, and then down the aisle until he is hovering over you.

“is-is this your seat?” you manage to mumble out. “ill move.”

“nah, pretty girl, you stay right there.” rafe grabs the chair next to you, pulling it closer than the allotted distance between work areas before sitting down, so close you can practically feel his leg hovering close to yours, making you shrink even more in your seat.

you can feel his eyes staring at you, paying no mind to anyone else in the classroom, even as the professor enters.

“do you need a pencil?” you ask, reaching down to place your bag on your lap, knowing your voice just came out pathetically timid and weak.

“nope.” he hums, placing a laptop on the desk from a bag you didn't even realize he was carrying onto the table. you should have known he was the type to write notes on a laptop. you wish you had that kind of funds, but you have to head to the library every time you need to use a computer, already struggling just from the tuition alone.

you nod, keeping your head turned down as you get out your notebook, favorite mechanical pencil, and the syllabus you pre-printed out and highlighted.

“what's this?” rafe questions, reaching over to tap your finger, making your eyes widen at the touch, even though he just taps the bandaids around three of your fingers.

“oh! um…” you move quickly to hide your hand. “i write a lot. i get sores on my hand from holding my pencil if i don't bandage them.”

“shit.” rafe laughs. “that's intense.”

you're not sure if he's making fun of you, if he's mocking or sincere. “yeah.” you just whisper.

“what's your name?” he questions, head tilting to the side out of curiosity.

“y/n.” you mutter out. he's probably the first person you've introduced yourself to at college, even going as far as to manage the extra money to get a single dorm, knowing you'd need the privacy and silence to recover from the social interactions.

“im rafe. rafe cameron. where you from y/n?”

“norfolk.” you whisper your answer, your professor starting to introduce himself, but rafe keeps talking as if he isn't going over the syllabus, and for some reason the professor ignores him.

“ah, nice. im from the outer banks.” rafe nods. “you must be pretty smart to get into duke.”

“i guess.” you shrug. you know your test scores are impressive, and you had plenty of time to start dual enrollment since you were homeschooled for high school. it's why you're technically a freshmen in a class full of sophomores and juniors.

“whats your major?”

“general literature.” you shrug. at least thats your major for now, you are considering changing to research psychology, knowing you have to figure it out soon.

“good class for you then.” rafe chuckles, looking at the screen on the wall, words blown up large to show the name of the class LIT 290: SPECIAL TOPICS IN INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE AND CULTURE.

“what's your major?” you question, whispering while rafe talks at a normal volume. you wait for the professor to scold him, occasionally giving him angry glances, brows furrowed together, but the shushing never comes.

rafe shrugs. “just kinda taking classes for now. i guess im technically in government. gonna take over my dad's development company once i graduate and he retires.”

“oh, like real estate development?” you quirk your head to the side, half listening to him, half listening to the professor as you scribble down notes.

“yup. you've probably heard of the company.”

your brows furrow as you think, not sure why he's so confident about having heard of it before, it's not like you can really name any real estate- oh.

“rafe cameron. cameron enterprises.” you mumble, eyes widening.

“exactly right.” he smirks. “you stay in one of our dorms?”

you nod, you do in fact. there's several cameron sponsored dorms around campus, you're in east campus: cameron.

“i guess that explains a lot.” you take a deep sigh. no wonder everyone was staring at him, why the professor refuses to say anything to him, his family's company practically sponsors the entire school.

“ill let you focus now.” rafe sits forward, hands coming to his keyboard as the professor begins the actual lecture.

you furiously write, nervous to miss any information, not wanting to waste the scholarship money allowing you to take this class.

“y/n.” rafe says, making you jump slightly, forgetting he was next to you, so focused in paying attention to the professor.

“yeah?” you hum, putting your notebook into your bag as the professor ends class, reminding everyone to review the syllabus and get their reading done.

“sit there next week.” he says, tapping the table in front of you before standing, striding out of the class without a care in the world, people stopping in their tracks to let him pass.

--

you can hear their whispers and footsteps, breaking the silence of the evening as you sit on front of your window, desk pushed up close as you take notes, textbook opened up, the lamp on your desk switched on as the setting sun turns the sky a warm orange with hints of pink, making the fall colors in the campus trees looking even more red.

there's a knock on your door, making you jump as the pencil clatters to the floor. you expected the whispers and footsteps to pass. certainly they must be at the wrong room.

you consider staying silent, but want them to go away, not try to knock again thinking that their friend just didn't hear them.

“hi.” you smile as you open the door. “i think you have the wrong room.”

“no, we've got the right one.” you recognize one of the three girls as the girl in front of you in lit 209, the one who told you whose seat you were in.

“im angie. this is chelsea and veronica.” she gestures to the girls behind her. “we saw you talking to rafe. i… kinda overheard some of your conversation. chelsea is also from norfolk and im also studying literature. i thought we'd invite you out to join us at the dining hall.”

it takes you a second to realize what she's asking you. finding commonalities, inviting you out, basically asking you to be friends without the direct words.

“yeah.” you nod. “let me just grab my bag.” you step into your dorm to grab your bag off the book, double checking that your student id is inside to get into the dining hall. you shove your phone into your back pocket before stepping out, not letting your anxiety stop you from making friends, you need at least one person to confide in and hang out with.

“so, where did you graduate from?” chelsea asks, the one also from norfolk.

“oh, i was homeschooled.” you hate having to explain it, but the reason why you had to drop out of public school is the same reason your heart beat is skyrocketing as you head towards the elevator, palms sweating and nervously swallowing.

“oh, nice!” chelsea smiles. “i graduated from maury high.”

you're thankful it's not the high school you pulled out of, there's no way that she would have heard about you, about your intense anxiety after you were in a car crash, then sudden disappearance from school.

the conversation shifts to the other girls high schools, veronica telling a funny story from her graduation. you occasionally chime in, but the girls seem happy to keep the conversation flowing between each other as you head out of the dorm room and through the walkways to the dining hall.

the conversation doesn't shift until you until you're sitting down at a booth.

“so, rafe, huh?” chelsea asks.

“i don't know him.” you shake your head. “i just sat next to him and offered him a pencil, really, that's it.”

“you do know who his dad is right?”

you glance around the cafeteria, even that has signs of cameron enterprises sponsorship. “oh, i know.”

“that's why he goes here.” angie says. “he wouldn't have gotten in if it wasn't for his dad.”

“he's so hot, right?” veronica giggles before taking a bite of her pizza.

“yeah, is he even better up close?” chelsea turns to ask you.

you shrug. “i mean, i wasn't really paying attention.” it's a half truth. you absolutely were aware of how attractive rafe was, but you spent all of the lecture and most of the conversation trying to avoid looking at him for fear of eye contact.

“i heard he's such a bad boy. apparently he broke like five girls hearts last year because he was sleeping with them all at the same time.”

“oh, jeez.” you cringe. you should have guessed rafe was a player, but you also don't know the truth behind the rumors.

the conversation shifts from rafe to about other boys at the school, allowing you a moment to breathe and center yourself, calming down slightly. the girls make you feel comfortable enough that you finish dinner and bid them goodbye without a major anxiety attack, but the second you get back in your dorm, you collapse into the bed and pass out.

--

you stare at the seats, wondering if you really should sit in the same one. angie looks back at you with a gentle smile, mouthing a quick “sorry.” as there's already people sitting on either side of her.

you shake your head. it's fine, you tell yourself, and pull out the chair and sit down, right in the same spot you were at last week.

rafe walks in moments later, a real smile on his face when he sees you. you glance at him quickly before looking down, fiddling with your pencil and writing random gibberish until he's sat next to you.

“so i didn't scare you off?” rafe questions, setting his laptop down and fishing out his cord to charge it. you notice the outlet inset into the table is directly in front of you, rafe having to lean over into your personal space to plug it in.

“we can switch spots.” you blurt out, despite the cord being plenty long enough to reach.

“nah.” rafe shakes his head. “you look pretty in my seat.”

you're not sure how you looking pretty relates, and how you would look any different sitting in the opposite chair, but your face blushes and you stammer something intelligible, making rafe smirk.

“you're real cute, you know that right?”

“oh, i um- noooo.” you chuckle awkwardly.

“even cuter when i make your face all red like that.”

you don't say anything in response, not sure you can even form words as you reach to press your fingers over your cheeks, willing them to cool down.

“i got something for you.” rafe reaches into his bag. he pulls out his computer and then a second laptop, making your brows furrow as he sets it in front of you, along with a charger and bluetooth mouse.

“what is this?” you question. you’ve heard of loaner laptops through the school, but this brand is way too nice to be the one they’re handing out to dumb college kids to give back at the end of your semester.

“a laptop. for you.” rafe says, like it’s obvious.

“i-i can’t!” you shake your head as the professor begins his lecture. for once, you don’t even bother to pay attention as you pick up the laptop and move it back towards rafe. “i can’t afford it.” “it’s already paid for.” rafe places it back in front of you, opening it up. “the password is my name.” he smirks as the screen turns on, illuminating your face. 

“its too expensive, i really can’t accept this.” your hands go to the keyboard despite your words, typing in his name rafecameron. you click enter, the computer unlocking for you to a clean home screen.

“its pennies to me, really. i want you to have it.” he glances at your still bandaged fingers. “so you can stop wrapping your fingers.”

“i-i don’t know how to thank you.” you shake your head.

“oh,” rafe reaches back into his backpack. “i got this for you. its touchscreen.” he sets the pen for the computer next to the mouse. “in case you prefer to write over type, but please, try typing for the sake of your fingers.”

“thank you.” you smile at him, opening up a browser and logging into your email, quickly opening up google docs to take notes, attention turning only half to the professor, the other half of your mind stays focused on rafe smiling at you.

--

“how did i know i’d find you here?” the voice makes you jump. it’s strange to hear rafes voice outside of the lecture hall, even as the weeks have gone by and you’ve hung out occasionally with angie and the few friends you’ve made, you’ve never seen rafe outside of class.

“no one is ever here.” you look around the empty room. it’s a study room, technically met for literature majors, but you’re sure no one would say a word about rafe being inside.

“thats how i knew you’d be here.” he plops down on the seat across from you. 

“do you need help with your homework or something?” you ask. your professor assigned you an essay, maybe rafe is seeking out your help.

rafe lets out a scoff, looking at you with an exasperated expression. of course. you should have known he didn’t need to really try on his homework to get straight a’s.

“i want to take you on a date, come on.” rafe cocks his head toward the door.

“oh!” your eyebrows rise in surprise. sure, rafe has always been flirty before and after class, but you thought it was mostly out of teasing you, riling you up, not serious enough to actually ask you on a date.

“your choice. now or in two hours.” rafe glances at the clock on the wall.

“now is fine.” you also look at the clock. you don’t want to stay out too late, needing to get back in your dorm and work, and you also don’t want to end up at a party, it’s probably your worst nightmare to be surrounded by drunk college kids shouting and dancing.

“perfect.” rafe picks up your bag when you put your stuff away, slinging it over his shoulder as you follow behind him, having to pick your pace up to keep up with his long strides.

“taking you to dinner off campus.” rafe says, leading you out of the building and towards the parking lot. you freeze ups, eyes widening. rafe doesn’t realize you’ve stopped following him, stuck in place on the sidewalk, until he’s feet away from you.

“hey…” rafe says softly, approaching you carefully. “you alright?” “i-i-” you hate how much you’re stuttering, you can’t help it when the nerves take over and your hands start to shake. “i don’t like- um. i don’t like being a passenger.” just uttering the words make that night come back to you, you trusting your friend, getting into their car, only for them to roll it repeatedly, somehow all walking away, but the scars inside of you are mental ones.

“you can drive then.” rafe holds his keys up like an offering. “or we can eat dinner here, whatever you want.”

“im okay driving.” you trust only yourself. maybe someday you’ll learn to feel safe with someone driving you, but it took you weeks to get behind the wheel with even your mom, having to use calming techniques every time you’re on the road.

“perfect.” rafe stays pretty quiet, only making small comments about how to turn on his car (you’ve never been in a push to start before) and how to get to the restaurant. he doesn’t even turn on the radio, seeing how nervous you are, letting you concentrate fully on driving. you do feel better when you’re in control of the vehicle, but the fear of a rogue driver hitting you is always there.

“i want to tell you something, rafe.” you say shyly, now sat at your table at a nice restaurant, wishing you would have changed into something fancier, but rafe doesn’t seem to care, so you don’t either.

“okay.” he nods.

“i was in a car accident in high school. that’s why i don’t like being a passenger. thats why i have…” you take a deep breath. “so much anxiety.”

“hey.” he says softly, reaching across the table. “its okay. you don’t have to explain yourself to me. i like you just how you are.”

the comments angie and chelsea come to the front of your mind. “why do you even like me? everyone says you’re some sort of bad boy.” you don’t have to point out that rafe has only ever been nice to you, ridiculously kind and generous.

“when i walked into the classroom that first day and saw you sitting in my seat, looking at me like that…” rafe shakes his head. “you’re the prettiest girl i’ve ever seen. i love that you’re shy. it’s cute, i swear.” “you like my anxiety?” you giggle, sure that no man could actually mean that.

“well, no.” rafe shakes his head, his eyes bright. “i like that you’re like a puzzle, waiting for me to solve.” “i-i don’t know what to say. im not mysterious or anything.” you tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

“maybe not, but i want to figure out what makes you tick. how you like to be kissed, held…” rafe raises an eyebrow and you don't need him to say the next word as you're suddenly very interested in staring at your food.

“there's that blush i love so much.” rafe smiles. “you're so gorgeous.”

“there's like, way prettier girls than me at the college. i don't get your interest in me at all. awkward and… shy.” you shrug.

“don't sell yourself short.” rafe reaches across the table, squeezing your hand in his. “you're beautiful. plus, half the girls just want me for my dad's money, and the other half hate me for sleeping around last year.”

“yeah, i kinda heard about that.” you admit, trying to concentrate on your palm to keep it from getting sweaty. “angie told me you were sleeping with five girls at the same time.”

“they were all just hookups.” rafe shakes his head. “never went farther than that with any of them. it isn't like that with you.”

“well… it's nice to know you're serious about me.”

--

“hold your hand out.” rafe says, still sat in the same classroom, the rest of the students long gone, and with no other classes scheduled for the rest of the day, you feel like you could stay here with rafe all night.

you cup your hand and wait for whatever surprise, unsure how anything could beat the laptop he gifted you.

rafe unclips his gold chain from around his neck and drops it into your palm. “for you to wear. if you want of course.”

“is this the college equivalent of giving me your letterman jacket?” you giggle, perception of high school skewed towards idealized versions in books and movies since you missed out on most of the personal experience.

“i would love to call you my girl.” rafe smiles softly, so genuine it makes you almost want to lean forward and plant your lips on his.

“like… exclusively?” you wiggle the chain in your hand, feeling the weight shift around. certainly real gold.

“of course. i told you, im serious about you. i want you and only you, but im willing to move at your pace. if you're not ready yet, ill wait.”

you take a moment to think about it. weighing the pros and cons. con, you're inexperienced. pro, you really like rafe. con, rafe could get bored with you after a week. pro, you really like rafe. con, a boyfriend would distract from your schoolwork. pro, you really like rafe.

you hand the necklace back to rafe, watching the way his face falls, thinking it's a rejection, before you pull your hair up. “put it on for me?”

rafes smile is brighter than the sun as he strings the necklace around you, fingers gently teasing your skin, grazing against you anytime he can while he does the clip.

you smile back at rafe as you turn back towards him, feeling giddy. “so, what now?”

“what do you mean what now?” rafe chuckles. “now i kiss you.”

rafe leans in as your eyes widen, heartbeat skyrocketing as you suddenly shout out. “im a virgin!”

rafe sits back in surprise and confusion.

“im a virgin, ive never had a real boyfriend and ive never had a first kiss unless you count one that happened in second grade with a boy named lincoln on the playground-” you know you're rambling, so you're thankful when rafe cuts you off.

“that's okay.” rafe says. “i like that you're untouched. just means i need to do things right for all your firsts.”

you nod, not really understanding what he means, but knowing that you like the sound of it.

“as much as id love to lay you out on this table and wreck you-” your eyes widen at that very image. “your first time will not be in an empty classroom, and your first kiss definitely won't be either. are you free tomorrow night?”

“im… kinda free whenever.” you admit. you only have homework and studying, but you're willing to move those around for dates with rafe, as long as your grades don't slip.

“well, im about to make sure you are a very busy lady.”

--

rafe doesn't try to kiss you the following night. or the date a day later. or at your next class when you end up staying after again. you expect it to be that moment every time, but rafe keeps it slow, almost too slow.

he started with holding your hand. then wrapping his arm around his shoulder. he finally advanced to kissing you on the cheek, and while you appreciate his thoughtfulness, you're starting to go crazy.

“you're lost in thought.” rafe says, making you shake your head and refocus on him. “i just hope it's about me and not about your upcoming assignments.”

“it's always about you.” you smile. your grades are still perfect, you just spend all your study time working hard to complete everything perfectly and quickly to get back to rafe.

“just what i like to hear.” rafe is sat on the end of your dorm bed, twinkling fairy lights above your head as you just relax, both in casual clothes.

“do you think you could stay the night?” you blurt out before quickly going to explain yourself. “not to… have sex. but just to sleep in the same bed.”

“are you sure? you don't have to-”

“rafe!” you squeal. “i want this! i want you!”

rafes eyes widen at your outburst, probably the loudest he's ever heard your voice, before he dissolves into laughter. “ive been taking this too slow, haven't it?” rafe asks as you pout and nod.

“jesus, ive been trying so hard to hold back and not fuck it up, i ended up just fucking up in the other direction. im not used to caring about girls, or anyone, this much. im sorry, y/n. you dictate the pace, not me.”

“i want you to kiss me. tonight. and i want you to stay over and cuddle and hold me.” you allow the sudden rush of boldness to loosen your tongue.

“then that's what we will do.” rafe nods.

he doesn't kiss you immediately, he waits for the perfect moment. the lights are still on, now set to slowly fade in and out.

rafe is laying facing you, not touching you at all, but you can feel the presence, practically itching to reach out.

you're nervous, but you're not letting it stops you. as the lights dim again, your hear the movement on the bed, and then feel rafe move closer.

the second the lights begin to turn back on, rafe is on you, his lips pressed against yours. he doesn't let your first kiss be a simple peck as an arm rounds your back and pulls you into him. he leads the kiss, leaving you just to follow his movements and not stress about being perfect.

rafe slows the kiss down gradually until he pulls away, both of you taking a deep breath.

“that… was amazing.” you giggle, watching the way rafes eyes light up as you laugh. “oh my god! how have i been missing out on that?”

“wanna do it again?” 

“yes!”

rafe kisses you until you start to feel dizzy, having to remind yourself to breathe as he holds you close, but it's still not enough.

you sling a leg over his hips, attempting to pull your bodies flush together when rafe suddenly turns onto his back.

“i don't think you want to do that, baby.” 

“why- oh!” you're about to question the sudden change of attitude when you look down rafes body and see how your kissing has affected one particular part of his body.

“i can't help that you're really sexy, but we aren't doing this tonight in your college dorm. i need to lay you out and make you cum many times in a place where you can be as loud as you want.”

“should i… put on a tv show until it's gone then we can cuddle and sleep?” you offer, trying to ignore his words despite knowing your face is now beet red.

“i don't know if ill ever be fully soft when laying in bed with you, but that will definitely help.”

--

“you have to tell me everything.” angie says, a plate of fries pushed between you to share.

“oh my god he's just… such a gentleman, which i never expected just based off-” you wave your hands around. “everything.”

“that's good because i don't care who his dad is or how rich he is, if he was treating you bad id kick his ass.”

you let out a soft giggle. “i don't think he's gonna mess this up but if he does, ill remember that.”

you both groan as you glance at the clock. you can only spend so much time talking with your new friend when you're supposed to be studying.

“alright.” you pull out your textbook along with the laptop rafe gave you. rafecameron. you didn't even think about changing the password.

“how many words is this essay supposed to be again?” angie hums, also powering on her laptop.

“2,000.” you roll your eyes. “which is just so ridiculous you know the professor isn't reading everyone's.”

“he probably puts them into some ai grader shit.” angie agrees. you both quickly get to work, even getting a refill of fries. you've found that when you have a friend with you you prefer working in the dining area.

“hey baby, i figured you were down here.” rafe slides into the seat next to you, pressing a kiss to your cheek. “how's the essay?”

“actually im pretty much done.” you shrug. you know you have a talent for writing, but its when the topic genuinely interests you. “just don't really know how to end it.”

“can i help?” rafe asks. you nod and angle the screen towards him, letting him read over the words.

“oh my god.” angie mouths to you, glancing between you and rafe.

you blush and duck your head, resting your shoulder against rafes as he reads, watching as he types out a couple sentences to finish off your conclusion paragraph.

“wait, shit, thats perfect.” you pull the laptop back close, checking the word count quickly to confirm you've hit your minimum amount.

“jeez, can you help me with mine too?” angie asks, her eyebrows furrowing together.

“ill read over it.” rafe shrugs. “afterall,” he looks to you. “y/ns friends are my friends.”

--

you gasp when you get back from your shower to find rafe laying in your bed. he immediately tosses aside his phone that he was mindlessly scrolling on.

“missed you.” rafe tugs on your hips as you step closer. your mouth presses against him, the kisses calming your anxiety rather than spiking it like you originally worried it would.

rafes hands stay on your hips as he pulls you down onto the bed, allowing you to fall forward against him, bouncing softly on the springy mattress.

“you're gonna end up missing me a lot over break.” you chuckle softly, knowing a week off is coming up soon.

“about that…” rafe flips so you're both on your sides, facing each other. “what's your plans? driving home to norfolk?”

“actually, i was just gonna stay here.” you shrug. “the college let's out of state kids stay in their dorms during the holiday breaks and i applied for special permission.”

“well, you won't need that.” rafe says. “that is, if you want to come to the outer banks with me.”

“oh- oh my god! yes.” you nod quickly. despite not living far away, you've never actually been to the area before, and you've grown used to rafes constant presence. you're not sure what a week would be like without him.

“my family is out of town until friday anyways, so we will have the place to ourselves for most of the time…” rafes hand moves to your lower back, tugging you in close to him. you understand the implication and despite everything, you only feel excitement and anticipation.

--

“here ya go.” rafe hands you his car keys. you never had to reiterate your need to be in control of any vehicle, rafe just went along with it without pushing.

“actually…” you swallow harshly. “you can drive.”

“baby.” a smile breaks out on rafes face as he talks softly, carefully helping you into the passenger seat, making sure to keep everything slow and relaxed.

“i trust you.” you tell rafe, pulling him in for a quick kiss. “just… don't speed.”

“i wouldn't even think about that.” rafe says, kissing your forehead. “ive got special cargo.”

you giggle and roll your eyes, surprised how corny rafe has become as you both fall further.

rafe seems to have a sense of when your anxiety spikes. he moves to the drivers seat and just stays there for a moment while you breathe, not even turning the car on until you give him a slight nod.

you can tell he's going the long way, turning around a couple side streets to avoid getting onto the highway home too soon.

“ill go this speed the whole way if that's what you need.” rafe says when he pauses at a stop sign.

“just a little more around the neighborhood and ill be fine.” you assure him. you reach over and lay a hand on rafes arm as he drives, the physical connection allowing you to take a deep breath.

when rafe eventually pulls onto the highway, you find yourself breathing regularly, mind racing through all the coping mechanisms the therapist who saw you after the car crash taught you.

“im… im actually doing okay.” you admit to rafe, leaning forward to turn the radio on but keeping the music turned downed low. “thank you.”

“im just glad you trust me.” rafe reaches over and squeezes your thigh before quickly putting both his hands back on the wheel. “it's a long drive for you to do solo.”

in truth it's not much longer than the drive from duke to norfolk, but you're glad that you can relax as the hour passes. 

everytime your mind wanders, or worry strikes about a crazed driver hitting you, you just look to rafe and allow yourself to breathe.

you even manage to lay your car seat back. 

rafe smiles over at you as he watches your eyes blinking slowly, recognizing the sure signs of sleep as you end up napping the rest of the way to his house.

“darling…” rafe says softly, rubbing his hand over your thigh.

you wake up with a start, gasping and sitting up, looking around rapidly.

“hey, hey.” rafe says softly, pulling you into a somewhat awkward hug over the center console. “it's okay. you're safe. we're at my home.”

you press your face into rafes chest and inhale his familiar scent. he doesn't bring up the anxiety spike as he gets out of the car.

you're about to step out when you look at your surroundings, jaw dropping at the stunning house in front of you.

“rafe- this. this place is beautiful.” you allow rafe to help you stand, stretching your legs out. your bags can come in later, you need a tour immediately.

“welcome to tanneyhill.”

--

“we'll have to go out on the boat tomorrow.” rafe twirls a strand of your hair around his finger. “what do you want to eat? we can make something or we can order in…”

you let out a yawn, the nap on the drive just making you more tired now that the excitement of seeing rafes home has worn off somewhat.

“pizza is fine.” you hum, snuggling closer to rafe on the expansive couch. “your house is very pretty.”

“but…”

“but what?” you look up at rafe. “i mean it's… it's so grand.”

“but impersonal, right?” rafe reads you so well. “it's just not my families style. no pictures of us kids on the wall or sports medals hung up. it's gotta be kept perfect.”

“that's not how i want our house to be one day.” you frown, eyes widening when you realize what you just said.

“relax, princess.” rafe says when he feels you stiffen up. “i imagine what it'll be like to live together some day too. in fact, i think for next semester you can ditch your little dorm and stay with me.”

“move from east campus: cameron to cameron hall?” you giggle at how everything is named after his family.

“exactly.” rafe hums. “because just the walk to the east side of campus is too far from me.”

“you're… too damn sweet.” you press a kiss to rafes lips, groaning when your phone buzzing distracts you from deepening it.

“who is it?” rafe asks, confident it's probably angie or veronica.

“my… my friend from high school.” you quickly sit the phone face down on the coffee table.

“the friend?”

“yes.” you say bitterly, knowing it's not rafe you're really snapping back up but rather the “friend” who still has the audacity to message you even after causing the car wreck that ruined your life.

“it's the anniversary coming up and… i know she's said sorry a million times already, but i just don't want to hear it. i just want to put everything behind me.” you let the words out in a rush.

“maybe what your friend needs for her to heal is to know you've heard it.”

you look at rafe, blinking at him as your mind works. “what are you doing being so wise?”

rafe breaks the tension with a laugh. “honestly, im just quoting back shit my dad has said and hoping it works.”

“can't wait to meet your dad then if he's anything like you.” you smile, trying to keep up the light attitude when rafes face drops slightly. there's such a small difference you barely even pick up on it. 

“rafe?”

“my dad… isnt my biggest fan.”

“but he's your father.” you question, laying back down, slotting your arms around rafe instead of the usual other way around.

“yeah, and therefore anytime i differ slightly from him, it's a huge disappointment.”

“well… then fuck him.”

rafes eyebrows raise up at your bold words, not used to sharing you cuss often and definitely not against someone.

“you're the best and if he doesn't see that, then that's his loss. if he doesn't completely love you, he's out of his mind because he's known you all your life and ive only known for a couple months and i love you.”

rafe launches forward, lips pressing harshly against yours, a mix of tongue and lips sliding over each other's as you kiss. the passion rafe is putting in is unlike any other time, and you know what you want.

“take me upstairs, rafe.” you nod as he looks at you for confirmation.

rafe picks you up, carrying you effortlessly up the stairs until he's in his bedroom and placing you gently down on the soft sheets.

“are you sure?” rafe asks, hovering over top of you.

“im sure. i love you. i want this.”

rafe nods, then gulps. “why am i the one nervous now.” he ducks his head, and you swear you see the slightest tinge of pink on his cheeks. “i love you too. ive never said that to anyone before but… i love you. i am in love with you. i want you and only you.”

“oh, rafe.” you coo out, sitting up to kiss him. you intend for it to be a soft kiss, a gentle caress but it quickly turns fiery.

“god, you've turned me soft.” rafe says, making you laugh.

“not all of you…” you can feel a certain part pressing against you that is not soft at all.

“yeah, but he'll have to wait. not his turn yet. first…” rafe smirks at you. “i need to worship you with my hands. then my mouth. and then ill take you properly.”

rafe gives you no time to complain as his hands delve under your shirt, stroking the soft skin of your stomach, eyes staying on your face in case even a flicker of doubt comes across it.

his hands slowly move up until he's cupping your chest over your bra, keeping everything concealed by your shirt as you get used to the feeling of his large palms engulfing your breast.

“take my shirt off.” you tell rafe. “im okay.” 

rafe nods, but his movements are still slow as he peels your top away. “you're a lot better than okay, baby.”

you can feel rafes eyes on your chest, but it just makes you happy, wanting to share this with him and only him. you make the next move, reaching behind your back to unclip your bra.

“shh, slow down.” rafes hands cover yours. “i know you want this, but let me just… appreciate you.”

rafe nudges your legs apart and lowers himself in between, pressing kisses against your stomach. his movements are so soft, covering your entire belly before moving up.

rafe kisses over the swell of your breast that's pressing against your bra cup, tongue occasionally flicking out to tease underneath the fabric.

rafe picks his head up to ask if you're still doing okay, but upon seeing your face, he knows he doesn't need to. 

your eyes are already glazed over, blissed out and mouth ajar as you slowly blink down at rafe. “more.”

rafe smiles and tugs your bra away, mouth dropping over your nipple with his fingers find the other side, rubbing the pad of his thumb over the bud as his tongue does the same.

his movements continue until your nipples harden. he pulls away only to quickly switch to the other side.

“feels good.” you whimper, hands finding the back of rafes head, holding him to your chest.

“not as good as it feels to have my mouth on you.” rafe moans against your skin, tongue flicking out to press against your breast like he can't get enough of it.

“you can… you can touch me um…” you're about to say down there which just sounds stupid, but rafe thankfully understands you, his hand reaching down to graze his fingertips over your thighs.

he continues teasing, sweeping every time closer to your center until he delves between, finger rubbing against your covered clit as you gasp, back arching off the bed.

“does that feel good?” rafe asks, a smirk gracing his cheeks.

“y-yeah.” you nod quickly, spreading your legs slightly, ignoring the urge to clench them together and trap rafes hand there.

“can i get these leggings out of the way then?”

“take your shirt off first.” you giggle, looking between your exposed body and rafe still completely clothed.

“yes ma’am.” rafe jokes, making you roll your eyes.

you've seen rafe shirtless before, but this is the first time you've been able to unashamedly check him out as your eyes take in every inch of him, every line of muscle and smattering of hair.

rafe is well aware of your eyes on him, subtly flexing his muscles to make them appear bigger as he peels your leggings off your body. you let out a sigh of relief.

rafe presses himself onto the mattress on your side, partly leaned over you so he can continue to play with your chest.

you allow your eyes to close as his hand rubs against your underwear, swirling over the growing wet patch before moving up to your clit, tapping against it before rubbing.

you let out a soft moan, unable to hold back as a high builds inside of you. rafe suddenly presses forward, his hips thrusting against thigh, needing some sort of relief for his hard cock.

“you… you can fuck me now.” you tell rafe, not wanting to have him suffer in waiting.

“two orgasms first.” rafe says, focusing back on rubbing your clit, determined to get you there once before diving between your legs, even though he could drool right now just from the thought.

“i- ohhh.” whatever you were going to say in protest is forgotten as rafe adds a second finger, working them in sync around and over your clit.

“come on baby.” rafe says, breath hot against your neck as he moves up, pressing kisses and nipping gently at your sensitive skin. “i need you to cum for me.”

rafes mouth connects with yours, swallowing your moans as your arms wrap around his shoulders. it only takes a few more moments of his intense rubbing for you to feel something break. your high rushes over you as you cum loudly, squealing and hiding your face in rafes neck as your entire body shakes, surprised by how intense the feeling is.

“i got you.” rafe says softly, his fingers slowing to take you through your high, not stopping until your body slumps against the mattress.

“god, that was beautiful baby.” rafe kisses your forehead, not caring that there's the slightest sheen of sweat covering it. “if you need to stop now…”

“no!” you say quickly, eyes shooting open. “absolutely not, i need you.”

“gonna take your panties off then, yeah?” rafe makes sure you nod before moving lower, sighing with happiness as he pulls the last barrier away. 

you don't even hesitate for a second before spreading your legs wide, letting rafe see every single part of you.

rafe looks up at you, a sense of seriousness in his eyes and tone. “you're beautiful. you're absolutely beautiful.”

rafe leans forward, and all it takes is a quick lick through your wetness to have you screaming out in pleasure.

“delicious.” rafe mumbles, pushing his hips into the bed for some relief as his tongue explores your pussy, purposely avoiding your clit knowing you're still coming down from your high.

“i- oh my god.” you squeeze your eyes shut as your hands grip onto the sheets. “i never thought it could feel so good.”

“only because you're with me baby.” rafe presses kisses to your open thighs. “no other man could make you feel this good.”

you chuckle and shake your head. “relax rafe, im not thinking about anyone else, trust me.”

“just making sure.” rafe grins up at you.

his attention quickly returns to your cunt as his tongue makes broad stripes through your folds, flicking over your clit every time he reaches it.

you're almost sure that you can't cum again so soon, that your body surely isn't able to, but your high builds steadily with every swipe of rafes tongue.

despite pressing his hips forward into the bed, rafe barely pays attention to himself, too wrapped up in swirling his tongue to taste every inch of you, wondering how he managed to hold off so long when he's spent so many nights in the same bed as you.

rafe refocuses on your clit, lips suctioning around it as his eyes flicker up to you, watching the surprise and pleasure across your face.

rafe knows he can't let you cum too soon as he raises his hand to prod a finger against your entrance. rafe can tell by how wet you are that opening you up should be easy and painless, and he couldn't probably enter you right now with no issue, but he won't risk it.

rafe keeps his eyes on your face as one long finger pushes inside of you, feeling your gummy walls clench around him at the sudden intrusion, but your face doesn't change from the consistent moans.

rafe begins to pump the finger as his tongue surges forward to press against your clit, tapping the bundle of nerves in the same rhythm as his finger entering you.

“oh- oh my god im close!” you squeal, only spurred closer when rafe fits a second finger inside, your slick making it easy and seamless.

rafe picks up the speed, occasionally scissoring his fingers and feeling your walls give way to his movements.

you thighs attempt to close, the pressure suddenly sending you over the edge, but rafe lays a hand against your leg and keeps them open as your high hits, body shaking as you scream out, clenching repeatedly around rafes fingers.

“mmm.” rafe hums against your clit, pulling away only to press a kiss to your core. “can't wait to feel you squeezing ‘round my cock like that.”

rafe kneels between your legs, watching your chest rise and fall, your nipples perky and pink from his attention. your body is completely slack from the intensity of the two orgasms as rafe undoes the buttons on his pants.

“do you want me to… do anything?” you ask.

“no.” rafe shakes his head. “this is all about you baby. ill teach you exactly how i like to be touched some other time.”

“okay.” you nod, glad that you can just relax and let rafe do all the work, especially knowing he's far more experienced than you are.

“you can touch me if you want though.” rafe offers, tugging his pants down so just his underwear is covering his cock, tight against his thighs and clearly bulging against the material.

“i- yeah.” you sit up, forcing your tired body through with the excitement and adrenaline of finally doing this with rafe.

your hand pets over his thigh, moving closer and closer until his cock twitches like it's calling out for you to touch him.

you place your hand firmly over his length, squeezing gently as rafes jaw drops open. such a simple motion but he's surprised how much better it feels having it be you touching him rather than a random girl he has no feelings for.

“god, baby.” rafe groans as you open your palm and stroke it over his length from base to tip. “you're already making me feel so good.”

“want me to keep going?”

rafe is so lost in the feeling he doesn't even realize you've asked him a question until a minute later when his hand rests over yours, stopping you. “no, in fact, i need you to stop before this ends way too soon.”

you can't help but giggle, wrapping your hand around rafes neck and giving him a kiss. “how do you want me?”

“you can lay on your back, or hands and knees, however you want. you can be on top too.” rafe offers as he reaches to his nightstand, digging out a condom.

“um… ill just stay like this.” you say, laying back, knowing you can change your mind later if you need to.

“perfect.” rafe smiles at you, leaning over to press a kiss to your tummy. “you're so perfect.”

you're about to respond when rafe pulls his underwear down and all other thoughts leave your mind.

“like what you see?” rafe smirks, his cock hard and seeming even bigger now that its not hidden by any fabric.

you squeeze your thighs together, and it's the only cue rafe needs to see to understand how much you want this. he wastes no time rolling the condom over his cock, sheathing himself in the latex. it's a non negotiable for your first time, not wanting to overwhelm you with worry about getting pregnant or not liking the feeling of his cum inside you.

rafe is excited for the day when he doesn't need a barrier, but he can wait for you.

“just relax.” rafe says, laying himself down over you. “it'll be better if you don't tighten your muscles. if it does hurt at all-”

you interrupt rafe with a kiss. “ill tell you. i know.”

rafe smiles at you, his cheeks stretching even further when his cock pushes forward and rubs through your folds, covering the condom in your slick.

rafe reaches down to line his cock up with your entrance, pushing in very slowly just in case you change your mind at any minute. he pauses when he feels your hips rise up and body tighten, only for you to take a deep breath and relax a moment later.

“feel so good, baby.” rafe says earnestly, pausing fully pushed inside of you, letting himself enjoy your warmth.

“i- just give me one second.” rafe pushing against your walls feels good, but you need a moment to adjust, hips moving up and down then side to side. “okay.” you nod. “you can move now.”

rafe presses a kiss to your lips as he begins to move, the make out turning into open mouthed moans as his hips swing back and forth, fucking into you with a steady rhythm.

“ohhhh!” you moan out as rafe speeds up slightly, your hands coming to hold onto his biceps, bulging as he keeps himself held up above you.

“that's it, baby.” rafe praises you as your thighs spread further apart, opening your pussy further for him. 

“i really like it.” you whine, back arching as rafe digs his cock in deeper, pausing every couple thrusts to circle his hips and grind into you.

“i like it too.” rafe hums. “best ive ever had.”

you roll your eyes, certain any of his other hookups are more experienced and a better time than you, but rafe won't let your doubts slide.

“im serious, baby.” rafe says, not pausing his thrusts as he speaks. “it's because i am completely in love with you.”

“come here.” you pull rafe into a kiss, wrapping your arms around his shoulders to keep him close.

“you're so good i don't know how long ill last.” rafe admits.

“i-i already think i could too.” you giggle. “if you just touch me down there.”

“im gonna hold off as long as possible though.” rafe vows. “wanna give you the best time.”

“you already have.” you kiss rafe deeply, obsessed with the taste of his lips, the way they slide against yours and his tongue pokes out to enter your mouth, exploring every inch he can.

rafe picks up his pace and depth of his thrusts, knowing now that you've had plenty of time to get used to the feeling. despite wanting to give you the best experience and focus just on the pleasure of being together, he has to put his mind elsewhere to not cum too soon.

“so wet.” rafe groans, head tipping back as the sounds of your wetness gushing with his every thrust, the sound invading his ears along with the slapping of skin.

“ive never felt like this before.” you admit shyly.

“you're gonna feel this a lot more often.” rafe laughs softly, swallowing thickly when he realizes just seeing your smile and the light in your eyes pushes him closer to the edge.

“gonna touch you now, baby.” rafe shifts his weight slightly to one side, hand ghosting down your stomach before he places the pad of his thumb directly over your clit.

“oh, oh!” you squeal. “rafe!”

rafe keeps pumping into you as you moan, your high suddenly bursting forward, unable to hold back even a second longer as your legs wrap around rafes hips and pull him in.

rafe let's out a sigh of relief as he cums as deep inside of you as he can, bodies pressed flush together.

--

“do you have sunscreen?” you ask. “i know it's autumn and we aren't going to be swimming but it's still pretty bright out.”

“yeah, already got some in the bag.” rafe had woken up early and stayed cuddling you in bed for as long as he could before knowing he needed to get the day started.

while he let your body recover from last night activities, he prepared every single boat anchored on the dock so you could choose any one you wanted, as well as prepared a bag and cooler for the day.

by the time rafe crawled back into bed, you were blinking your eyes open.

“perfect.” you smile and give rafe a quick peck, taking the bag from his hands so he can carry the cooler. you shot down his protest with a quick look.

“fine.” rafe grumbles. “you can carry this one thing.”

“considering i don't even have to lift a finger when you're around, i really don't mind.” you chuckle, following rafe out the back door and across the patio to the long expansive dock stretching deep into the water.

“so…” rafe begins. “there's a smaller speedboat, a pontoon and then obviously the yacht.”

“is it okay if we take the pontoon?” you ask.

“anything you want.” rafe nods. “we got the pontoon for wheezie and her friends, but it's a nice smooth ride and a lot of space. when it gets warmer out im absolutely taking you for a swim.”

“that actually sounds really fun.” you admit. you swam in the ocean a lot in norfolk, always going to virginia beach to be alone with the sand and the calming waves whenever your anxiety levels got too high.

“mhm.” rafe nods. “fun for me too, get you out in a tiny little bikini, away from all other people…”

“oh my god.” you roll your eyes as you laugh. “we had sex once and you're already fantasizing!”

“i was fantasizing about you since the moment i saw you in my seat.” rafe takes the cooler and sets it on the pontoon before taking the bag from you. “i was just gentlemanly enough to keep it to myself.”

“sure.” you roll your eyes again, but it's all in jest, rafe knows you find him hilarious and love his silly jokes. rafe, to prove his gentleman status, reaches a hand down to help you up onto the boat.

“so…” rafe gives you a quick tour, showing you where towels are stored, even though you're not planning on swimming, and lifejackets, just in case.

“but seriously, it's basically impossible to sink a pontoon. you're very safe.” rafe stresses.

“it's okay.” you say. “i trust you, really.”

“my girl.” rafe pulls you onto his lap as he sits down in the captains seat.

rafe navigates easily through the waters, pointing out different landmarks along the coast. “thank you for showing me your home.” you tell rafe, pressing your back into his chest as you round a cove and the wind picks up slightly. “ill show you norfolk one day but it's not as pretty as here.”

“i can't wait to raise kids here.” rafe says. “teach them how to fish and golf and drive the boats.”

“you think about kids?” you turn on rafes thigh to look at him rather than the scenery.

“our kids.” rafe winks at you, causing you to giggle and press your face into his neck, but he really means it, especially bringing you back to his home. he could imagine toddlers footsteps running around tanneyhill.

“you're sweet.” you kiss his cheek.

“don't let that get around.” rafe squeezes your hip as he steers with one hand. “it'll ruin my reputation around here.”

“oh yeah?” you raise your eyebrows. “tell me more about this reputation…”

you happily listen to rafe talk until your stomach starts to growl. he picks up on it quickly, moving the boat further out so you can float down the coast while you eat.

you continue to talk all through lunch, snacking on what rafe had packed.

“there's a million things i want to show you around the island, which means you'll have to start spending all your breaks here if you're not going home.”

“let's see how your family likes me first…” you mutter, giving rafe a look.

“relax. they'll love you. my dad will just be happy i found someone serious. that was the main point of him sending me to duke, was to get my shit together. and i look at you… and i want to be perfect for you. i love you so much.”

--

“this movie is boring.” you groan. “how can you make a movie about sharks and have it be boring as hell?”

“we can change it.” rafe offers, going to grab the remote when you stop him.

“no, im too deep into it now. i just want to complain.” rafe nods at your explanation and cuddles back into the couch, pulling you in tight to him.

“well…” he whispers in your ear, breath causing you to shiver. “since you're bored, how about i entertain you?”

you're not sure what rafe means until his hand pushes between your thighs, three fingers pressing against your core and rubbing.

“ohhh.” you moan out softly, eyes fluttering closed. 

“sorry, love.” rafe says. “i couldn't wait until we got up into bed, not with my family getting home tomorrow. i need you too bad.”

“in… in my pants, please.” you take rafes hand, moving quicker for him to slip it below the hem and into your pajama pants, where rafe is pleased to find you aren't wearing any underwear.

his fingers stroke through your folds, feeling your wetness steadily growing before his finger prods against your entrance, slipping in with ease.

rafe watches as your eyes open to watch a scene playing out on the television before they close again when another boring part comes on, another monologue when you expected action.

“feel good?” rafe asks, glad that you aggressively nod. 

“don't you dare stop.” you spread your thighs a little wider, having to lift a leg over his to give him even more room to press into you, hand pressing in so his palm can rub against your clit.

“as soon as this stupid movie is done im taking you upstairs and fucking you so hard.” rafe growls the last words, putting all the effort he can into fingering you and massaging your clit that he possibly can.

his eyes light up when your back arches, mouth opening as small moans fall from your lips before you turn into a shaking mess as your high breaks, reaching down to stop rafes hand as you immediately become oversensitive.

“yum.” rafe says, pulling his hand away to lick your wetness off his fingers.

“ill just read the synopsis later, come on.” you tell rafe, standing up off the couch and pulling him up the stairs.

--

“please, call me ward.” rafes father says, graciously giving you a hug.

“well, it's nice to meet all of you.” you say with a wide smile on your face to hide your nerves, looking between rafes step mom rose and his littlest sister wheezie who looks genuinely excited to meet you. “and thank you so much for letting me stay in your beautiful home.”

“we were so glad when rafe told us he met someone.” rose lays a hand over her chest. “and my goodness, you're just even better than we imagined.

“she's a keeper for sure.” rafe places an arm around your waist, smiling down at you as you tuck your head down, cheeks tinging pink.

“so, you've got to tell us all about yourself.” ward sweeps his arm towards the living room, and soon you're all chatting on the couch that rafe fingered you on the night before. you push the memory to the back of your mind as you answer all of wards questions (and occasionally a few from wheezie).

“im a duke alumni myself.” ward says.

“oh, im well aware.” you chuckle. “your name is plastered all over the school. i think it's amazing that you invest in your alma mater.”

hours go by, rose insisting you all eat dinner together, before rafe finally has you alone in his room.

“god, they love you.” rafe says, watching you while you changing into pajamas, making him promise he wouldn't try anything with his parents under the same roof.

“i was trying to say all the right things.” you giggle. “i really like wheezie though, she's sweet.”

“im sure she won't argue if you want to take her out shopping tomorrow.” rafe offers.

“id actually love that. maybe ill invite sarah too so i can actually meet her.” sarah had ward drop her off at her boyfriend's house before they even came back home from their vacation, but you can't blame her for being a teen in love.

“ill give you my card then.” rafe says. you roll your eyes. rafe pays for everything, not that it even makes a dent in what you know he's being given as an allowance from ward and cameron enterprises.

“thanks babe.” you climb into bed, snuggling under the covers as rafe sets an alarm on his phone and makes sure both of yours are plugged in and charging.

“come here.” rafe opens up his arms once he's also under the covers, and you're glad to snuggle into his chest, heart rate instantly slowing and breathing deepening just from your cheek being pressed against his tshirt.

--

“rafe.” you hum, placing a hand on his thigh as he starts up the car.

“yeah baby?” rafe is fully prepared for you to ask to drive, or tell him you're not ready to go yet. he's willing to make whatever concessions needed to get you back to duke.

“can we make a stop in rahleigh? that's where my… friend from high school lives now, and id like to stop by quickly and just tell her im okay and that i accept her apologies.”

rafe nods, blinking away a few tears as he reaches over to give you a tight hug. “im so proud of you baby.”

you press your face into rafes neck, knowing you can do this when you have rafe by your side.

-- four years later --

“are you nervous?” rafe asks, watching you adjust the cap on your head.

“actually, no.” you admit honestly. “and if i do get nervous,” you turn away to face rafe. “ill just look at you.”

“oh god, come here.” rafe pulls you in tight, kissing the top of your head. 

“alright, come on.” you step out of the hug before it can go any further. “i dont wanna be late to my own graduation.”

“ah, you know i can delay it all with one phone call.” rafe tugs on your hand, tempting you back towards the bed.

“show off.” you roll your eyes, allowing rafe to pull you back to the mattress.

[chrisbesitos]

i have a request! could you possibly do a fic of matt who's trying to look after his gf who's sick, but she keeps trying to push him away as she doesn't want him getting sick too? <33

KING OF EVERYTHING.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀matt sturniolo × fem!reader.

warnings: sickness, fluff, cursing.

synopsis: Y/N is sick and Matt wants to take care of her, but she keep trying to push him away.

Matt has been missing his girlfriend the whole day.

It's only been two hours since their last message, Y/N have said that she was going to have a nap, but Matt was already thinking that she was hibernate. But he's kinda worried, Y/N was sniffing and sneezing, Matt ask if she was feeling okay, but Y/N just pushed him away and tell him she was going to sleep on her own house.

So she barely texted him today and when they talk, Y/N said she was going to have a nap. This was two hours ago, now Matt is driving to Y/N's after bought some things for his girlfriend on CVS. He knows she is sick, but Y/N pushes him away like she always does. She is stubborn, but this is not gonna stop him from taking care of her.

After parking the car, Matt gets in the house using his keys. The house is silent, not even her cat came to receive him at the door like he always does. Matt leaves the bags on the kitchen balcony, he walks into her room and finds his girl in her bed, laying under the blankets with her cat. He approached, sitting in the corner of the bed, Matt removed Y/N's hair off her face, admiring her peaceful and pretty face.

He let a kiss on her cheek, this was enough to wake her. Y/N slowly open her eyes, blinking some times and stretch her arms.

"Hey, pretty." Matt said softly.

"Matt?" She replied with her voice raspy and deep. "What are you doing here?"

"You weren't okay yesterday and then you weren't answering me, so I came here." He smiles, patting her hair. Y/N shook her head, trying to sit on the bed, but Matt stopped her. He grabbed her shoulders and gently pushed her back to the bed. "You need to rest."

"You need to get back home, you're gonna get sick."

"I don't care and I'm not going anywhere." Matt said, rolling his eyes of her stubbornness. Y/N sights and crossed her arms, Matt let a kiss on her temple. "I'm gonna–"

"Matt! You can't kiss me, damn." Y/N pushed him away, Matt take a deep breath and sight.

"Fine, fine." He gave her a small smile. "But I'm not going anywhere."

"So don't kiss me." Matt giggled, but accepted.

Matt said to Y/N stay in the bed, he made her lunch and gave meds for her fever and pains. Even when Y/N was pushing him and don't letting him huge and kiss her, she was feeling sensitive from her sore body.

An hour later, Matt was sitting in her computer chair rolling his timeline on his phone, since Y/N didn't let he lay in the bed. Y/N was staring the TV, but she wasn't paying any attention. She had a pout on her lips and her eyes were watering, she look at her boyfriend and cries out.

"Matt."

"Yeah? You need something?" He looked at her, putting his phone aside. He knows what she wants, but wanted to hear from her.

"Cuddles. I need cuddles." She whimpered.

"I thought you didn't want to get me sick." Matt teased.

"Fuck that, I need you right now." Y/N opened her arms for Matt hug her, he giggled and smiled. "Please, my whole body aches."

Matt lay down on Y/N's side, he hugged her waist and pulled her to be next him, but she wants more. Y/N practically climbed his body, she lay her head on his chest and smiled. Matt kissed her temple, massaging her waist and whispering lovely words to her.

"I love you, pretty boy. I'm sorry for being stubborn the whole day."

"That's okay, I love you either way." He laughed, Y/N chuckled.

Soon, Y/N's aches seems to disappear, so she could sleep peacefully on Matt's arms without worrying about her sickness.

A couple days before, Matt texted Y/N saying they couldn't go out, because he got a flu.

Y/N: i told you so!!!!!!

sorry, this is very short :////

Tags: @lizzymacdonald06 @deliciousluminaryanchor @lushjunkie @sweetreliever @watercolorskyy

join my taglist!

[nerdyjournals]

Thank you for your request! Other than the little mishap, this was a fun one to do! You really had me thinking over what each one would get upset over, so hopefully they all fit!

Bang Chan

You could feel his eyes bore through you as Chan stared at you through the glass in the hospital door. He looked frazzled. Hair a mess, the bags under his eyes even worse than before.

He stepped in and you watched all the air escape him as he took in your bandaged wrist.

"And what have we learned?" He said, voice soft but stern.

"To wait until help arrives and to not be a stubborn and impatient baby," you whined as he lifted up your hand. "They said it'll be a week or so before I can lift anything."

"Do you see why I was so insistent that you wait?" You nodded. "Plus I have seven able body movers who were ready to help us later tonight after rehearsals."

You whispered another apology as he took you into his arms and held you tight.

"I'm just glad you're okay and it was nothing major."

Lee Know

You felt yourself wince as you stepped over the threshold of your apartment. You had been hoping to do some spring cleaning before Minho got home so he could just rest.

He had told you to do it in stages so you wouldn't overwork and hurt yourself, but what do you do? You overwork and hurt yourself.

Now you softly flinch as you spot him sitting in an armchair that you swear was never positioned in the middle of the hallway.

"I'm in trouble, aren't I?" You scratched the back of your head nervously.

"Big time." Minho stood from the chair and walked over. "You know I tell you not to do things because I care about you, right?" You nod. "So why go against me?"

"I wanted you to have a nice place to rest since you've been working so hard, but I just screwed up again." He pulled you into a soft hug, silently trying to find where you were hurt. "You're not even supposed to be home early. Why are you here?"

"You always send me a photo of your food before my lunch break if you're home, and I know for a fact that you have today off."

"You were worried?"

"Don't tell the media. I do have a reputation to uphold, you know."

Okay, the laugh hurt a little bit.

Changbin

The front door opened and closed without Changbin's usual fanfare. Yup, you were in trouble.

His figure came around the corner with a small pharmacy bag and two cups of boba. Okay, so he wasn't that mad....yet.

"Are you okay?" Those words shocked you, having been ready for his beratement or something along those lines.

"I'm okay. A little sore, but okay." He walked over and handed you the drink and bag. "I thought you said you'll be late tonight."

"And I knew that if I didn't come home at my earliest convenience, you'd try something stupid again." You pouted as both of you knew he was right. "I know you want our first place to be perfect, but we have all the time in the world to decorate."

"I work from home, Bin. I need something to do other than watching a computer screen for eight hours."

"Then bring your laptop with you and visit the studio. The guys won't mind. They love you."

"Are you sure I won't be distracting?"

"Never. If anything, you might get annoyed with Jisung's antics."

"I'll take that risk."

Hyunjin

The sound of feet rushing against the tile of your apartment floor brought you back to reality. Your little perch on the balcony slightly helped alleviate your headache.

Hyunjin stood there with a small pharmacy bag and a hand fan.

"Are you okay? Any breakouts or irritation?" He asked, worry filling his voice with each word.

"No. I got out quickly enough." You said, obviously tired. He switched on the hand fan and placed it yours as he set the bag aside. "I'm sorry."

"What were you doing in there anyway?"

"I wanted to clean up a bit. You were really stressed about it."

"I'd rather have a messy studio than have you in the hospital." His gaze drifted from you to the view. "Fresh air help?"

"Not as much as you."

Han

Hearing footsteps approach, you quickly tried to get off the floor but to no avail.

"Aish..." Han's soft curse came from the doorway. "Didn't I tell you to wait for me before trying to unpack?"

The two of you had moved in together recently and your stuff was the last to unpack and also the heaviest.

"Did you finish your book already?" He asked as the two of you began to pick up the fallen novels. He could see your face scrunch at all the bent pages and covers.

"I thought the next one was in the stack of opened boxes. I just wanted to start and not have to bug you for something so small."

"You enjoy reading, yeah?" You slowly nodded. "Then it's not so small. I think it's small when I interrupt your reading for a thirty second clip opinion."

You nodded and placed another book back in the box as he tilted your chin over to look him in the eyes.

"If any of your books got ruined, they're replaceable. You know what's not? You. So ask me next time, okay?"

Felix

It was a little embarrassing to have Felix walk in and see you with your hand submerged in a bowl of water.

"I thought I told you to do an ice shower," he sighed as he placed the bag in the table.

"Why would I need to shower for just my hand?" You slowly lifted out of the water and showed off the damage. "How bad?"

"Well, it's not blistering so that's good." Felix grabbed the kitchen towel to dry pat your hand. "What were you doing anyway?"

"Taking cookies out of the oven." You pointed over to where a batch of cookies still sat on the baking sheet. "I couldn't find the mitts so i used the rubber ones, but the back of my hand touched the metal."

"You're very brave to even keep them on the tray while in pain." He put the cream on and began to wrap it. "You're not allowed to bake without me here anymore, okay? At least, not until this heals."

"Oh no. I have to spend more quality time with my boyfriend. Whatever shall I do?" The sarcasm dripped from your words, making him smile and press against the injury.

"Don't make me regret it."

Seungmin

His steps were frantic as he unlocked the apartment door. Part of him was thankful they had chosen to put security cameras in the house, but the other part cursed him cause it forced him to watch his partner take a nasty fall.

"Y/N?" He didn't raise his voice, knowing that you might have a bad headache.

Your hand peeked out from behind the kitchen island and he rushed over. He found you leaned against the cabinet with an ice pack against the back of your head.

"Hey," he whispered, "1 to 10?" You held up four fingers then four more. "Can you stand?" You signed out the sign for 'no.' "Can I carry you? I got the car running outside." You signed 'yes.' "Talking hurts?" You signed 'yes' again as he carefully lifted you into his arms.

You signed 'sorry' as you made it to the car.

"Why are you apologizing? It was an accident and the guys understand that." He gently placed you in the passenger seat. "They will want an update once you're all clear, okay?"

You signed 'okay.'

I.N

Something was off. You had been avoiding his hand ever since he got home. Normally Jeongin won't mind, but you won't even hold it in front of you.

"You tried to hook up the gundam already, didn't you?" He said as he watched you freeze. "Show me the damage."

You slowly held your hand out, placing it softly in his. Small bandages say on a few knuckles while little red dots covered your palm.

"You tried to solder the wires without knowing how to use the tool, didn't you?" You tried to take your hand back but failed. "I told you to wait for me."

"But I wanted it done so that I could show it to you when you got home. Now it's just sitting there, taunting me."

"What's more fun? Building together or building alone?"

"Together." You sounded so shy.

"Then let's have dinner and we'll finish your project together." You nodded. "And then I yell at my brother to never give you a complicated set again."

"JEONGIN."

[that-sarcastic-writer]

A Love Game

DI!Single!Dad!Leon S. Kennedy X F!Teacher!Reader

Summary: You hear a glimpse of Leon's relationship with his daughter. And later he makes you a proposal you just can't refuse

Warnings: mild sexual content, still minors dni, brief phone sex, allusions to sex, Leon has a mouth on his as always, bit of soft!dom leon, mostly Leon being a soft dad on this one, foul language (as always), no use of y/n

WC: 3k

A/N: so I'm totally in love with this dynamic! And yalls support was insane. I literally wrote two separate drafts of a continuation of these two and whichever I finished first was gonna be posted, so the light smut one won bc I'm tired atm and didn't feel like sitting in front of my computer for 6 hours🙃 so this short part will have a second part to it with full spicy time. And another standalone part with these two (coffee and other things) having some more spicy time is also in the works, so stay tuned. Besitos <3

Universe Masterlist

Leon blinked slowly, his eyes now starting to grow sore from staring at the bright computer screen for so long. But he just hadn't had time to finish this stupid report. Sure, he has had two whole days to get it done, but with a tiny human clinging to his arm every waking minute, it was a bit more complicated than he thought. But he couldn't possibly ignore his little girl when he barely had the time to be with her without having to worry about stopping some mad scientist with too much time in their hands. He didn't mind though. His little girl was more important than anything else. 

Still, he took advantage of the little window of time he had now. He had given Isabella dinner a little over an hour ago. Then left her in the dining room to finish her homework. She had always been a smart girl, responsible with her homework, she never fussed when he asked her to do it, so it didn't worry him in the slightest to leave her to do her own thing. She tended to get distracted when he was around anyway. 

Though, maybe an hour had gone by when he heard tiny feet pad bare through the wood floors and he saw a mess of chocolate brown strands sticking from its bun peek above his computer screen. He slowly lowered the screen until it was almost shut and he was met with a pair of sapphire eyes that were a replica of his own. He raised an eyebrow at her. 

"Daddy." She took a step closer to him, her eyes big like she wanted to ask him something. 

Leon sat up fully, setting his laptop aside and nodded at her, giving her his full attention now. "What's up bee?" 

"Can I.. uhm.. I can play with your switch now?" She asked, dark lashes batting as she fiddled with her hands. As if she had to give him puppy dog eyes for him to say yes. He kept his face serious though. 

"You wanna play on my switch?" She nodded. He ran his fingers over his light stubble as if he was thinking real hard, he pursed his lips in thought. "I dunno hun, did you finish your homework?" 

"How did you know I had homework?" She asked with an adorable frown on her face, it took Leon all of his willpower not to break then. 

"Well I do now." He slipped a smile and she pouted. He couldn't help but chuckle at his little girl. He took her in his arms and sat her on his lap. "Well I knew before. Wanna know how?" 

Her head perked up. "How?" 

Leon leaned into her ear with a smile, "'Cause dads know everything about their little girls." He pressed a kiss to the side of her hair and set her back on her feet. "But yeah, Miss Pretty Teacher told me." 

"That's cheating!" She whipped her head around with a gasp and glared at him. He again couldn't hide his laugh. 

"Yeah alright, you caught me," he raised his hands up at her in surrender. "You can play on the switch for a bit. Do you remember how to turn it on?" 

Izzy proudly nodded and skipped over to the large TV hooked up to the living room. The TV had been on, nothing playing, but just on, since Leon had intended to play some white noise in the background but never actually loaded up anything. He switched to the right input as he watched Izzy turn on the Switch. It took her a second to remember how, but she was happily skipping back to the couch with the controllers as the loading screen came up before Leon could get up to help. He shook his head to himself, but he puffed out a breath when Izzy jumped on his lap, rather hard, the little girl giggling when he groaned. 

"Jesus Christ, when did you get so big?" He chuckled, fixing her on his lap so she wouldn't fall and watched as she scrolled through the games until she found Mario Kart. 

"I turned seven in October, remember?" She piped up, genuinely reminding him of such an important date, as if he would ever forget. He nodded. 

"I know, Izzy. I took you to Dave and Busters with Amara, remember?" 

"Oh. Yeah, you're right. That was fun. We should go again sometime! Please daddy?" She turned her head to look at him with this smile on her face and her big blue eyes. 

God, what did he ever do to deserve this kid? 

He pressed his lips to her forehead and nodded. 

"'Course. I'll talk to Amara's mom, okay?" 

He watched as Izzy excitedly nodded and cheered happily before she got lost in the game in front of her. He didn't mind her having screen time. It wasn't like she had an iPad glued to her face twenty-four-seven. He let her play once or twice a week, and maybe a third if he was feeling like playing with her. And she was more than happy to spend that time with her dad. 

Tonight he wasn't really feeling playing, so he watched her do her best. To her, she was the biggest winner there ever was, throwing turtle shells and bombs at practically nothing and hitting the wall with every curve, but she had fun with it, so he let her be, cheering her on whenever she finished a race, even if it was in ninth or eighth place. 

Maybe thirty minutes had passed when he felt his phone buzz beside him. He took his eyes away from the colorful screen to look at his phone. It lit up with a text, and his smile grew wide at the name. 

My pretty teacher. 

He grabbed his phone and quickly opened the conversation. You had been texting back and forth all day, for days now, after what he considered a perfect first date, but he just hadn't gotten around to match your schedule to plan another date. So you had resorted to texting and maybe calling once here and there. But God, he was really missing you right about now.

My pretty teacher: sorry, I went to dinner with my mom and sister. And I just got home. Hru? 

He bit his lip as he attempted to type into his phone one handed. 

Me: It's fine. I'm ok. With izzy. 

My pretty teacher: awww🥰 

Me: Can you call? I'm texting with one hand at the moment. 

You saw the message, and he could see the three text bubbles appear and disappear. Until they didn't come back. He mentally grimaced at himself, maybe the idea of talking to him while Isabella was there made you uncomfortable? Shit. He hadn't thought about that. Christ, he hadn't dated in so long he had forgotten that being a single dad wasn't exactly the biggest turn on. No matter how much one liked kids. 

His anxiety riddled brain stopped racing when he saw your contact name pop up on his screen as his phone started ringing. He grinned to himself. He glanced at Izzy— her full attention was still on her game, he shrugged and answered the call. He set his phone down, still having one ear bud in from when he was working on his laptop. 

"Hey Miss." He spoke first, his heart racing in his chest a bit. 

"Hi Leon." He could hear the smile in your voice. That shy smile he thought was the prettiest thing. 

"You busy?" He asked, still a bit worried he was interrupting you in the middle of something. Though the indistinct sound of TV playing in the background let him know that maybe you weren't that busy. 

"Not really. I got home a little bit ago so I was just about to run myself a bath." You answered, walking back and forth between your bedroom and the bathroom connected to it. "You?"

Leon tried his hardest not to think about your words too much. Not right now. 

"Nah. Just watching Izzy play on my switch. She's kicking ass in Mario Kart." He heard you blurt out a giggle, which made him chuckle, but what made him actually laugh was Izzy shooting him a frown over her shoulder. 

"Daddy, that's a no-no word." 

Leon snapped his head down at Izzy and he frowned, not sure if he heard her correctly, "What's that bee?" 

"I said that's a bad word."

"What is?" 

"Ass." 

Leon almost snorted at the way she said the word. With a frown and her lips pursed. He didn't care if she said bad words or not. He sure as hell said them all the time, but he encouraged her not to repeat what he said, in front of other people, at least. He narrowed his eyes at her. 

"So don't say it. I'm an adult. I can say them." When she kept looking at him, he placed a hand on top of her head and —gently— turned her head back towards the TV screen, despite her protest. "Keep playing your game, Isabella. Or you can't sit on my lap anymore." 

All Leon could hear was you attempting to muffle your laughter, but he could hear your giggles loud and clear. He only rolled his eyes, but he had a tiny smile of his own. 

"C'mon don't laugh, being a parent is hard. Are you the one teaching her this no-no bull— B.S?" He caught himself, closing his eyes when you laughed even more, now not even bothering to hide it. 

"I have to! I have a swear jar, I'm sorry. I gotta set an example." 

He actually laughed at this, remembering the mouth you had on you when he had you on his bed. 

"Yeah, well, you weren't so pure and innocent when you were screaming—" He caught himself again, his own eyes widening when he remembered Isabella was right there and he sighed out softly. "Give me an hour and I'll give you the answer you deserve, Miss." 

You stayed quiet for a second, not because he offended you, but because you needed a second to breathe and control the heat that flashed between your legs at his insinuation. You exhaled deeply before responding. 

"You're what again? Playing Switch with Izzy? 

Leon hummed in response. "She is. She's sitting on my lap so I'm being forced to watch." 

"I'm not forcing you!"

"On your game, Isabella. Stop listening to my conversation." 

"Does she have her own Switch or something?" You asked, now sitting on the edge of your bathtub as hot water poured from the faucet. 

"No. It's my Switch. But I leave it in the living room so she can play sometimes." He answered you with a shrug you obviously couldn't see. 

You chuckled softly, "How old are you again?" 

"Thirty-eight, but that's besides the point. I barely have time to use the thing. I mostly bought it for Izzy." He wasn't lying— entirely. He sometimes played, late at night by himself when he wanted to drown himself in a bottle of whiskey. He would choose to play a game to blow off steam instead of getting drunk with his little girl sleeping in the next room or passing out drunk at some shitty bar. 

"I'm very convinced by that." You snorted, making him sigh out at you.

"Hmph. Whatever. You wouldn't understand how cathartic throwing green turtle shells at tiny cars can be." 

"Oh I bet." 

"Daddy?" You heard Isabella's voice through the phone and your heart warmed.

Leon looked down at Izzy, "Yeah?" 

"Who are you talking to?" She asked with genuine curiosity, her very glorious race tournament now over and her attention was on him. 

He heard you go silent, most likely having heard the little girl and he sighed out, his eyes landing up on the ceiling for a second as he thought of his answer. 

"Just a friend, bee." He ultimately decided on that answer. It wasn't that he was ashamed of being with you, not at all, but Izzy was still young, and even he knew there had to be a proper introduction of you outside of your teacher role. He actually wanted to do this the right way.

"You fuck my brains out last week and I'm just a friend now?" He heard you comment in his ear and he groaned out. 

"C'mon, that's not fair." He leaned back into the couch, his forearm over his eyes now as he basically had two women all over him, pressing him with way too many questions for his liking. 

"I'm just giving you a hard time, Leon. I get it." There was humor in your voice, lightheartedness and even though he couldn't see you, he had a feeling you had that gentle smile on your lips. That eased the pressure on his chest. 

"Listen sweetheart, it's almost Izzy's bedtime," His eyes were on Izzy now, and with his eyes he was nudging at her to start wrapping up her game. She pouted, but didn't otherwise fuss. "Call you in an hour?" 

You both had this dumb, lovesick smile on your face, if only you could see the other.

"I'll be up."

The warm water, the foaming body wash and the intoxicating smell of your favorite candle had done wonders to relax you. When you left the bathtub you felt like a whole new person. Though there still this tug of butterflies in your stomach as you anxiously waited for Leon to call you. 

You sat on the edge of the tub, warm and fluffy robe wrapped around your naked body as you mindlessly scrolled through your social media for a little while before you decided to check out for the night. You nearly slipped right off the tile when your phone buzzed and you felt a cold shiver run down your spine. 

"Hey, sorry about, y’know, earlier. Izzy and I are like that." You smiled at the sound of Leon's voice, now a bit hushed but more relaxed and carefree, like he now could say whatever the fuck he wanted. 

"It's okay. It was cute, hearing how you talk to her. You're sweet." You smiled to yourself, and you could hear him breathe out a soft laugh, most likely a bit flustered by your words, but he otherwise didn't show it. "You put her to sleep though?" 

"Yeah, I stayed with her 'til she fell asleep. I'm in my bedroom now, about to take a shower." He said the words slowly, with purpose, like he wanted you to think about it like he had been thinking about you, taking that bath. "So, you take your bath yet?" 

"Yeah, it was nice. I definitely needed it. I could've used some company though." You bit your lip, testing his reaction. There was silence, then he hummed. 

"Yeah? That so?" Now it was your turn to hum in agreement, your legs instinctively closing as you tried to soothe the ache between your thighs. "I'm sure you could've. Would've been nice to have someone hold you, right? Have someone leave kisses on your wet skin, say how good you're doing while getting your pretty pussy fingered?" 

You couldn't hold back the moan that left your throat at his words, and your free hand instantly traveled down, stopping at your belly. 

"Oh, that's a sound I'll never get tired of hearing. Fuck, you're already moaning for me and I'm not even there to give you a reason." He exhaled out a chuckle, his hardening cock starting to press against his sweatpants. 

"Fuck, I really wish you were here." You sighed out, your hand itching closer towards your already wet cunt, but you knew it wasn't your touch you ached for. It was Leon's. 

"Yeah? Why's that?" 

You whined softly, your phone almost slipping off your grip as your head fell to the side. "Leon…" 

"Tell me." 

"Because… I really, really, need you to touch me, hold me, ugh— I just need you to fuck me, Leon." 

Leon clenched his fist as his side, teeth digging into his bottom lip as he listened to your desperate words, and the sound shot straight to his cock. Fuck, he'd be lying if he said he didn't need you, too. 

"Goddamn baby," He grunted softly, his hand now brushing the front of his sweats, where his cock strained against the material, and he tried to muffle the sound between his teeth, but you heard it anyway. "You have no fucking idea how much I've been wanting to ruin that pussy of yours again. It's actually driving me crazy." 

You shuddered, the ache between your legs starting to become unbearable. "I really want to see you too, baby." 

Leon closed his eyes, biting his lip raw as he thought fuck it. He could explain in the morning. 

"Fuck it, just fuck it. Wanna take the drive here? I swear I'll give you exactly what you need and it'll be so worth it." 

You'd like to think you were a rational person, you always thought things through twice, three times if necessary. You didn't take risks, much less acted in a way that could be considered immoral, but for Leon? Fuck, for that man you would become the biggest whore in this world if it meant he would take you just one more time. 

"Be there in thirty." 

Fuck it. 

Sneak peek of A Love Game Part II, coming soon

His lips were hard on your own, messy on your jaw, like he didn't know which part he wanted to kiss more. Your fingers were entangled in his perfectly soft honey brown strands, already melting under his touch. His hand came up under your jaw to grip your face in place, long fingers sprawled out over your neck. He pulled you back by your face and his eyes were hard on you, with this mixture of authority and utter need to fuck you. He could be both. 

"This is how this is gonna be. I'm going to throw you on that bed and fuck you the way you deserve. But I better not hear a single fucking sound leave those pretty lips of yours. Not tonight. Got it?"

Stay tuned for upcoming parts lovelies. Besitos<3

[worldiary]

A few of you asked for progress updates on the crochet experiment, so here we are!

Thoughts on crocheting lace for the first time:

Glad I was forced to get a set of crochet needles, if I got to pick just one I think I accidentally would have gone too small.

Daiso has nice, cheap, lace yarn in a nice small bundle. Perfect for "idk if I'll keep up this hobby".

The upside of getting crochet needles the same day I got the yarn is that I was able to capitalize on my energy and my Sunday by getting started. The downside of not waiting for a tatting shuttle is that... I'm not sure I want to switch to a shuttle after I just bought a set of like 5 crochet needles. So maybe I'll wait until I'm bored of the crochet needles, if such a thing occurs?

My eyes and knuckles are confused by this sudden change in muscle usage. I feel like an old woman with my mildly sore knuckles and mildly irritated eyes. I work with computers, so I was excited to try a hobby that doesn't involve staring at a screen. But is it that much better if I'm staring even closer?

Oof, I'm terrible at it so far. Below is a pic from day 1. White is the YouTube video screenshot and navy blue is mine. You see how in the center of the white one there's a ring of little columns and then 2 layers up there's another ring of columns? That's (in theory) what I've achieved in the blue image. But! I'm not restarting anymore: done is better than perfect. And for a first project, it's not bad. It's in a circle shape, mostly.

Torn on my decision to start with a doily rather than straight lace. What I'm doing is less repetitive which means it's not boring (good) but I get less time to perfect each technique (bad). Also if one ring has a mistake in it, the next layer is built on that mistake (mixed). If it was straight lace, if I made a mistake it would look very obviously like a mistake, assuming I fixed it going forward. But I would get to start fresh each time. But! The doily shape is a little more usable (coaster)... Idk what I'd do with a straight strip of lace.

All that to say, once I finish this tragic coaster, maybe I'll try a straight lace strip next? If I don't try this again.

My fake!eureka moment at the end of day one/before starting to crochet in day 2 is: everything is secretly a chain stitch from a different angle. I noticed that every time I have to ladder up to the next layer, I do a bunch of chain stitches to fake whatever the end of the layer will connect to. Which suggests that all the dc-ing I'm doing through the rest of the layer will look exactly like my chain stitch by the end. I assume I'm actually wrong about this in general, but it at least seems true for this doily pattern. Maybe only true for the dc?

Today was day 2 and amusingly I started layer 5 and was like "Ohhh I think I finally understand what I did wrong in some of the previous layers. Great, I think I've got the hang of it, this is going to start looking a lot better" and then proceeded to make the most HORRIFIC layer. So now I've learned that consistent thread tension probably matters? Not that I know how to resolve that yet. Also, counting dc stitches is the worst. Chain stitches are short enough that they can sit in your bioRAM. By the time you finish one dc, you can't remember if it's your first or second one. So that probably didn't help. (Also no, I don't know what dc stands for. I think maybe double crochet? But I know it as the 1-in-pull-4to2-3to1). We'll see how layer 6 goes tomorrow! I'm optimistic it'll be better than layer 5 🤞

[vibrantbirdy]

Remembrances: A Cassian Andor and K-2SO Story

Title: Remembrances Fandom: Star Wars: Rogue One and Andor Setting: Between Andor and Rogue One Genres: Sci-Fi; Fluffy angst; Angsty fluff; Hurt/comfort; Friendship Characters: Cassian Andor and K-2SO Warnings: Mild canon-typical violence - memory of witnessing aftermath of an execution, described in abstract terms, not graphic; very slight spoilers for Andor, I guess? Word Count: c. 1.5 k Author's note: I have terrible writer's block at the moment with several of my longer WIPs, so I'm hoping a few oneshots like this one might get me back into the swing of things! My masterlist is here. Summary: Cassian has a nightmare and K-2SO tries to understand.

*********************************

Cassian is standing in the square at the end of Rix Road again. He is staring straight ahead at a clutch of occupying Clone Troopers, pioneers of a fledgling Empire.

He feels the ghost of cold metal in his hand, the phantom weight of a baton in the grip of his fist. He tastes in his mouth the ice of the frigid, Ferrix winter air. Rage, white-hot and new, melts it on his tongue.

In the corner of his eye there is something awful, something he can't quite bring himself to look at. A dark shape in his periphery swaying softly in the breeze as white flakes of falling snow settle over it with a perversely gentle indifference.

"Kassa," a voice, warm and soft whispers, cutting through the freezing wind that bites at his ears, "Cassian."

How desperately he wants to turn and run towards it...

He knows what he will see if he does, so instead he roots himself to the spot and forces himself to keep looking forwards, forwards, only forwards.

It is a losing battle. His eyes seem to be drawn inexorably towards that shrouded horror at the edges of his vision, and soon he is unable to resist the pull.

He looks. He always looks.

His father's feet aren't touching the ground.

Cassian wakes with a start. In that unnerving state between sleep and consciousness, and already unsettled from the nightmare - always the same one - he has the disconcerting feeling of being watched.

His eyes dart wildly around in the darkness, until they alight upon two bright pinpricks of light in the gloom. Hulking reprogrammed Imperial security droid, K-2SO, is looming over him, his white eyes glowing eerily in the blackness like a golem from a horror holonovel.

Upon the realisation that his observer is friend and not foe, Cassian lets out a low sleepy groan. He massages the back of his sore, stiff neck, the result of what he estimates can only have been a couple of hours of restless sleep on the ship's barely fit-for-purpose cot bed.

"K, what the hell are you doing?" he asks, his voice gruff with sleep as he tries to stifle the natural irritation that often accompanies an abrupt awakening, "Didn't we talk about personal space?"

"I noticed that you were... in distress," the droid answers falteringly, as if he can't quite compute the words necessary to assign the correct emotion to Cassian's demonstrably fitful slumber.

"It was just a bad dream, K," Cassian says as he swings his legs over the side of the cot so that he is facing the towering, black droid.

He stretches, then rests his elbows on his knees and yawns deeply as he absentmindedly runs his fingers through his sleep-tousled dark hair. Kriff, he was tired.

"Will you tell me about it?"

Cassian straightens suddenly, rather startled by the question. He looks up sharply and is surprised further still to see that K-2 is in the process of lowering his huge mechanical body to the durasteel floor where he sits, long, spindly legs outstretched, and staring up at Cassian expectantly as if he is an over-sized child waiting for a bedtime story.

There is a silence, filled only by the hum of the U-Wing's engines as the ship carries them at light speed, safely cradled in the hyper-lane, homewards to their destination of Yavin 4 and Rebel Alliance Headquarters.

"I ... don't want to talk about it, K," Cassian answers finally, truthfully.

"Well," K-2's tone is matter of fact and confident, "I heard that it is common in most human cultures for well-adjusted individuals to talk through their emotional turmoil with others."

"What, are you a protocol droid now?" Cassian grumbles irritably as he rubs the sleep out of his eyes with the heels of his hands.

There is a mechanic whir as K-2 reels his head backwards as if in offence. His luminous, bulbous eyes flick down to the ground and then back up to Cassian who feels a sudden rush of guilt.

The reprogramming process has gifted K-2SO with several unique quirks including a seemingly boundless curiosity, a brazen sense of independent thought, and a wicked, sarcastic sense of humour.

On top of that, if there were any droid in the Galaxy deemed sentient enough to suffer from hurt feelings, it would be this one, and Cassian knows for a fact that K hates being compared to protocol droids.

"I'm sorry K, that was uncalled for."

K-2SO doesn't dream - not as far as Cassian is aware of - and so with his new programming rendering him more person-like than any machine the spy has ever known, Cassian can understand the droid's desire to know more about something so inherently human as a nightmare.

Cassian hesitates and takes a deep breath before speaking again.

"It was about my father," he says, finally, "about the day he died."

The day he was murdered, he thinks, and he tries to push down the old, familiar fury that rises up and burns in his throat like lump of molten durasteel.

"Does it feel...real?" K-2 asks, and there is a note of caution in his tone that Cassian has never heard before.

The droid's wariness is not enough to protect Cassian from what the question requires him to consider. The pain, raw and visceral, which smouldering, always, at the very centre of his being ignites within him for the second time that night.

Cassian inhales the scent of newly cut pine which drifts across an icy breeze from hastily constructed gallows. He doesn't look. His feet are cold, despite being encased in an old pair of his father's winter boots which are several sizes too big for him. His own have holes in them. He won't look. The freezing air reaches down his throat and into his lungs, squeezing and constricting his chest until his breaths are jagged and painful.

He looks. Cassian always looks.

"Yes," he manages to reply, his voice little more than a hoarse whisper.

"Are all dreams memories?"

"No, not all of them."

Though mine seem to be, and only the very worst ones, Cassian thinks to himself.

"I see."

A moment passes where neither droid, nor man speak.

"K..." Cassian breaks the silence hesitantly, "Do you ever have flashes of memory when you are in standby? Or when you're powering down?"

"Are you asking me if I dream?" K-2 asks him incredulously.

"I suppose I am," Cassian admits, a sheepish smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"You know I don't," K scolds, as if Cassian is an idiot for asking such a thing, "Otherwise why would I bother asking you about it?"

Cassian lets out a small laugh at the droid's typically blunt reply, but as he imagines how it might feel to be truly free of the painful remembrances that his subconscious seems determined to make him endure over and over again, his smile fades and his expression turns sombre.

"Sometimes I think it would be better that way," he says bitterly.

K-2 enacts the slow and methodical movements needed to allow him to rise to his feet, until he is once again towering over the human being sitting before him on the edge of the bed.

To Cassian's surprise, the droid reaches down with one of his huge hands and places it on his shoulder. Touched by the gesture, the spy forces himself not to flinch at the freezing cold metal which raises goose bumps on his bare skin.

"I wouldn't be so certain of that," the K-2SO says sagely, and despite its modulated quality, the tone of his mechanical voice is unmistakably kind.

The two friends - for, Cassian suddenly realises, despite their obvious differences, that's what they truly are - look at each other for a moment before the man brings his own warm hand of flesh and bone and blood up to rest upon the droid's.

"I'll let you rest," K says, finally, withdrawing and straightening up to his full height, "You need to be functioning at optimal capacity for the debriefing tomorrow."

Cassian snorts. K often likes to drop in droll quips mocking the sterile language choices of other droids, almost as if to prove that he too finds their inability to understand the complexity of the human condition amusing, despite his own synthetic and mechanical nature.

As he lays himself back down upon the uncomfortable mattress and closes his eyes, Cassian listens to the familiar, slow rise and fall of K-2's long strides as the droid lumbers his retreat back to the U-wing's cockpit.

"Cassian."

"Hmm?"

The spy is sure he has already dozed off when K-2 suddenly speaks again. He rolls over to see the droid's huge form sentinel in the doorway, and he wonders how long the sentient machine has lingered there, watching him.

No, Cassian corrects himself, watching over him.

"I am sorry. About your father."

"Thanks, K."

With a nod, the droid disappears down the dark corridor. As he watches him go, Cassian, despite his initial reservations, feels oddly comforted by their strange conversation. He flops onto his back and awaits the oblivion of sleep.

When it comes, he dreams not of Ferrix, but of Kenari. Of tall, leafy trees, their canopies admitting fractals of sunlight which fall warm and bright across his face. He hears his sister giggle somewhere off in the distance, a melodic sound that fills his soul with unbridled joy. He laughs too, and his feet seem barely to touch the ground as he sets off, breathless and exhilarated, across the forest to find her.

[honeybearee]

A Mother's Touch

By the time Cameron found his way back home, the sky had dimmed enough to spark the streetlights to life, and he found no trace of Anna's car. Or Hanna or Jesse's for that matter. He breathed a sigh of relief as he neared the house, slowly climbing the front steps as he was suddenly aware of how heavy and sore his legs felt.

He'd long since worked off the anger and irritation that kept winding itself into his brain, like a fly that kept buzzing around his head. Now, he just felt exhausted and sad, and he desperately wanted to shower and climb into bed, where he could scroll endlessly online until he passed out.

However, once inside, he noticed his mother sitting cross-legged on one end of the couch, a crochet needle in hand as she worked through whatever project she had going currently. He could hardly remember a time when she wasn't crocheting in the evening -- and he'd had countless blankets and winter hats and scarves to prove it.

His father sat quietly at his desk, clacking away at the keys, and Cameron honestly had no clue what he was doing -- only that he was a million miles away and completely oblivious to his son's presence. All the more convenient for his mother, he decided, as she beckoned him to sit next to her on the couch.

"The kettle is still warm, if you want some tea," she offered as he sat down beside her, groaning softly as he did so. She smiled sympathetically as she continued to crochet.

"No, thanks. I'm probably just going to shower and head to bed."

"Well, why don't we talk for a little bit?" Mel asked, trying to keep her tone casual but Cam knew that she was far more invested in this conversation than she wanted to admit. Cameron glanced back at his father, whose gaze remain fixed on the computer screen in front of him, keys clicking rhythmically as he wrote. What on earth was he up to? Nevermind, he thought as he looked back at his mom.

"Yeah, sure. What do you want to talk about?" Cam asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He knew, of course, but he was going to make her ask him.

"Seems like things maybe didn't go so well with you and Anna earlier." Mel said, but she kept her eyes fixed on her project, only glancing up at the TV screen every now and again.

"No, I guess not..." Cam sighed, and he felt overwhelmed all over again. He had gone over it again and again, and he just couldn't make sense of what she had said. He never would have ignored a text from Anna. Never would have left her on read. He could see not taking a call in certain situations -- namely if Cristina was around, if he was being honest with himself -- but not outright ignoring it.

But if she said he had, then he had. Anna wasn't a liar, he knew that much hadn't changed about her.

He wound up circling back to the thought that maybe something was wrong with him. Was he suffering some weird sort of memory loss? Had he just straight up ignored people and not realized it? He had even gone through his messages and phone logs as he walked, trying to find any evidence of what she was saying, but he came up empty.

He felt like he was losing his mind.

Cam sucked in a deep breath and sighed heavily before saying, "Mom, I think I'm going crazy."

Mel's hands stilled, her hook halfway through a stitch, but she set it down in her lap, her place completely forgotten.

"What do you mean?" She asked, eyes narrowed.

"I just mean like. I must be forgetting shit or just. I don't know. Anna said that I've ignored her for years and then suddenly I just want to act like everything is normal, but like. I never really got anything from her after Cristina and I got married. She just. Stopped messaging or calling me... but maybe she did, and I just deleted them and forgot about them?" He settled back into the couch and rested his head on the back, eyes staring blankly at the ceiling. "Maybe I've just hit my head too many times."

"I guess that's one explanation," Mel said slowly, absently picking her hook back up and then placing it back down. "Have you been having other memory issues?"

Cam shook his head slowly from side to side.

"No, not really... I have some trouble focusing, but you know, that's the norm," He smiled as they locked eyes, and Mel nodded, a grim smile on her face. He could vividly remember the way that she'd struggled to get him to sit at the kitchen table and work through his homework, and he felt guilt creep in, thinking about how difficult it must have been to have to try to understand a hyperactive child like he had been.

"So then what are some other ideas you might have?" She asked him as she picked her project back up, examining it closely to try and ascertain where she had left off.

"What do you mean?" Cam asked, an eyebrow raised.

"Like, what are some other explanations you can think of for why this might have happened?" She asked as she expertly dove back into her stitches, crocheting with quick, fluid movements that looked so subtle he didn't know what she actually did to get it to fit together so neatly. He had never been able to sit still long enough to pick it up -- unlike Anna.

"I don't know," He sighed, frustration creeping in as he suddenly felt like he was being led to a rationalization he hadn't yet figured out. He'd done it enough times, guiding his students to the correct answer through thinking out loud. He might as well play along if he had any hope of getting her to say whatever it was she was hinting at. "Maybe she messaged and called me somewhere that's not my phone number?"

"That seems easy enough to check," She answered, nodding her head toward his cellphone. Ah, true, he realized, and he quickly dove into the various apps on his phone, daunted by the sheer amount of "connection" focused apps that really just gave you another place to log in and forget about.

He'd gotten so lost in sorting through the various emails and messenger apps and social media and whatever else he could think of that people liked to use to chat these days that it was finally dark by the time he looked up from his phone. His father paused as he walked back into the living room with a fresh glass of iced tea, eyes locking with Cameron from over his phone.

"Hey kid."

"Hey Pops."

He walked past Cam and sat back down at the computer, keys clicking away once again.

"Did you find anything?" His mother side-eyed him from the end of the couch, and he shook his head at her, sitting up from the slumped position he'd sunken into as he scrolled and swiped through is phone.

"No, nothing... I mean, I guess the phone could have eaten the texts and stuff, but then why would it be working now? We were just texting a couple of days ago, no problem." He asked, brows furrowed in confusion as he tried to puzzle his way through.

"Do you think..." Mel paused, her hands suddenly still as she chewed on her bottom lip, before darting her eyes back to her son, her face apprehensive as she cleared her through before asking, "Is it possible that maybe they were deleted by.... someone that's... not you?"

"What?" Cam asked, cocking his head to look at his mother.

"Does anyone else have access to your phone?" She suggested, trying again to feign nonchalance, but it was the anyone else that suddenly called Cristina's face to Cameron's mind.

"Well, yeah, but-" Cam's tone was immediately defensive.

"I'm not saying anything. I'm just throwing ideas out there." Mel cut in, raising a hand to try and pacify her son before they wound up in an argument, too. Cam let out a heavy breath as he crossed his arms back over his chest, sinking further back into the couch.

"I guess if I... if I'm hypothesizing, then maybe it's possible that," He stopped, suddenly feeling a stab of guilt creep in, but he pushed through, nearly hissing her name as he continued, "Cristina could have deleted them."

"Do you really think she'd do that?" The question fell out of her mouth before she realized how dismissive it must have sounded -- she was just so flabbergasted by the idea, even though she herself had been somewhat pushing him to think in that direction. Cam even uttering the words almost felt like confirmation of what she'd suspected since he'd been home -- this marriage was probably over. "I'm sorry, I just mean that it's such a... mean-spirited thing to do."

Cameron almost burst into laughter at the words mean-spirited because it was such a simple small town and yet devastating way to describe someone -- but maybe also because it really felt like a fitting way to describe who Cristina had become over the course of their marriage.

Mean-spirited.

Could she really have stooped so low as to do something so abhorrent? Of course, he'd have to confront her, and what a horrible terrifying notion to consider. He would just as soon quietly pack his things while she was at work and simply serve her papers from afar. If this was something that she'd actually done, he didn't know if he'd ever even be able to look her in the face again.

"I don't know, Mom," Cam said honestly, pushing himself to his feet. "But thanks. You've given me a lot of stuff to think about. I'm gonna shower and head to bed, though."

He gave her a quick kiss on the top of her head and mumbled goodnight as he dragged himself up the stairs and into a hot shower where he could stand and hopefully not think for a while.

[rcdfcxr]

𝐑𝐔𝐅𝐔𝐒 𝐖𝐀𝐒 𝐒𝐎 𝐀𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐄𝐃, he didn't even hear the door open. He didn't hear his name being spoken, eyes sore; red from staring at a computer screen and paperwork for however long. The dark circles beneath his eyes ever more prominent. A half-drunk cup of cold coffee sat on his desk, one he'd forgotten about in the midst of typing. Yet still he didn't stop, he couldn't even be sure the words made sense at that point. Rufus felt the pressure on top of his hand, stilling the movement as he glanced down. A hand…? Then does he look up slowly; remembering. "… Tseng." His voice strained, tired. The hand atop his own disappeared as quickly as it came. His own balling into a fist.

They had made a plan to spend the evening together. Glancing back at the clock, late. Much too late. He sighed, there was no salvaging that. How many had Rufus missed now by allowing himself to be caught up in his work? It was doing him no good, yet his drive to keep on top of things ; ahead of things, was pushing even his limits. He knew that, he was one more sleepless night away from likely becoming sick. Rufus could see the worry hidden behind the Turk leaders eyes. Yet he knew that saying 'I'm fine' would likely do no good. Telling him not to worry was likely going to have the opposite effect. Despite their personal relationship; he supposed it was Tseng's job to worry.

"I apologise…" He said after a moment, the sigh very clear behind his words. Running a hand through his own hair, Rufus didn't want to see his own reflection right then. He could only imagine what he must look like. "You… didn't go to too much trouble… did you?" Of course it was a question, yet he knew it didn't really need an answer. Tseng always put his effort into things, the likelihood was that he'd spent many an hour preparing for their evening. Yet just once, perhaps Rufus would prefer him to lie for him. Not that he should be made to feel better, to feel less guilty for once again ruining their plans. Putting work above everything and everyone else. How much longer would Tseng put up with such things from him? Could he blame him if the Turk leader told him he wished to keep their relationship strictly professional? No. Or perhaps it was simply the ramblings of an overtired mind that had those doubts creep in. It wouldn't surprise him either way.

Slowly he reaches out, taking hold of his hand loosely. An attempt to bridge some form of a connection, was he angry with him? His tone didn't suggest so, but the way he closed his eyes did. Rufus couldn't read him properly, for once; he had no idea what was going through Tseng's mind. Rufus couldn't even say 'I'll make it up to you.' How many times had he made that same promise? Only to fail at each one? An errant thought flickered through his mind, one he batted away as quickly as it came. No, nothing my father ever said holds any weight here. A small frown was the only display that an unpleasant thought had crossed his mind, while he was usually good at keeping those at bay; he found them harder to dispel when he was tired. "… forgive me?" It was perhaps, a lot to ask; but he was selfish enough to ask it of him anyway.

The only light that filtered in was from the moon outside and the screen in front of him. Sleeves rolled up, a frown on his face; the occasional sigh was one of the only sounds that could be heard save from the tapping on the keyboard. How long had it been since Rufus had slept? Probably the last time Tseng had made him sleep. Two days straight he’d been awake now and it was starting to take its toll on the blonde. Pinching the bridge of his nose, feeling the need for coffee just to keep himself going. He glances to the clock, 3am; and he was nowhere near caught up.

from, @rcdfcxr + rufus

Despite his repeated expressions of concern, Tseng once again found himself both frustrated and worried about his partner. Rufus had been at the office for many hours past when he was supposed to be there. As a workaholic, the Turk Leader understood his desire, but Tseng drew a line. And that was tonight when Rufus failed to show up at the agreed time at his apartment.

While it is undeniable that he had lost track of time, or a later promise to 'make it up to him', he didn't regard it as a deliberate act -- Their relationship was stronger than that. The food was long gone cold, and the wine was unquestionably room temperature. As if this were an everyday occurrence, at 3am (which just lately it had been), Tseng decided to drive to Shinra HQ after sitting in his thoughts for a while.

The man paced into the office in casual attire and opened the door to see his partner exhausted and furiously tapping - though he barely looked awake or present. A calm undertone dominated his voice as he said, "Rufus.". He crossed the room length to pause Rufus mid-typing by gently placing his hand atop the one tapping away. "Rufus, stop." He said firmly. His hand was eventually removed, and he sighed as he closed his eyes. "It's late…" He added softly.

[arlecchno]

mission accomplished [ scaramouche x reader ]

one | prologue

masterpost next

you hate scaramouche. you really do. he's infuriating, a douchebag and he always manages to finish off cases more than you. he hates you too. you're mean, annoying, and a bitch. what happens when you both get paired up in a mission that will lead up to both of you being stuck together?

a/n : this is not exactly my favourite piece 😓 it's pretty much rushed and i didn't have any ideas on how to start this fic so please don't mind this messy chapter~ chap 2 is way better so please check that out 🚶‍♀️

you're pissed. first you forgot your gun at home, in which you had to go all the way back to your house just to bring it with you back to your workplace. you also slammed face first at the precint door, and now you're in the elevator with the one and only ever so detective, scaramouche. he just had to be in the same elevator as me. this day couldn't get any worse, you thought.

you think life would be much better after you got your dream job, at the most prestigious precint at that. but the second you got a desk in front of scaramouche, life completely shattered before you.

scaramouche? he never fails to make you scoff, curse out, smack him, and whatnot. you'd rather hang out with childe than be in the presence of him, and childe is already annoying enough with his constant whining of being single. can't forget the amount of times he's pulled pranks on you just to spite you. just the sound of scaramouche's name makes you gag.

you sighed, thinking about the case you needed to make a report on.

"the hell are you sighing for?" he asked coldly. "i wonder why" you said while looking at him, clearly directing at him. you ignored how he rolled his eyes at you and cursed under his breath.

the elevator dings and the 3rd floor unravels before you. everyone seems to be working on their desks, you thought. until you see childe complaining to an officer about his lonely life. ignoring his predicament, you walked to your desk, and got ready to work.

scaramouche sat at his desk in front of you, "what's with your current case?" he asked, while sipping on his tea. he's never been fond of coffee, you thought, thinking about that one time he immediately spit out coffee and messed up his work clothes when childe offered him a beverage, insisting to the short male that it was tea. you slightly snickered, almost forgetting about the said man that's in front of you. 

"what, you're gonna sweep under the rug and finish off my case again? hah, you wish" you snapped. he always steals away your cases, that gremlin.

"maybe if you stopped being a bitch i wouldn't be doing that in the first place" scaramouche snapped back, clearly not wanting to lose.

"whatever, i've already finished it anyway, it's just a missing purse of some sort, you wouldn't need to worry" you said, typing away your finished case in your computer. scaramouche stared at you before speaking,

"never said i was worried. think before you speak, loser". looking back at him, you say "sure you didn't" you shrugged at him while doing so. he was about to say something when sergeant signora interrupted.

"hey, you two, in the office. captain wants to see you both" you and scaramouche sighed.

"are you kidding me??? is she really going to assign me with her again??? this loser???" you scoffed at his words, getting up from your chair and getting ready to go the the captain's office.

"the only sore loser here is you" you said while glaring at him. walking to the captain's office, you think about what case you're about to be assigned to.

you've always been a great detective, you also happen to be one of captain tsaritsa's greatest detectives and everyone in the precint knows that, except for scaramouche of course. it does come in handy most of the time, getting cooler cases left and right sure is luxury. you absolutely love solving cases. and to be fair, you both are the tsaritsa's favourite detectives, which can't be denied even if you tried.

you two make good work even if you guys hate each others guts, hence why the tsaritsa likes to pair the both of you on most cases and missions. she always thinks you two make a great team and oftentimes would slip up the idea of dating each other, which you and scaramouche would always scoff and get defensive. captain sure likes the idea of love.

you'd never date him— not in a million years.

you knocked, and a faint voice telling you to come in can be heard from the small room. you opened the door and is greeted by the captain's office. tidy as ever, you thought.

"ah, y/n and scaramouche, take a seat" she said. you and scaramouche both took a seat on the chair prepared in front of the desk and greeted the tsaritsa.

"good morning, cap" you said, looking at her. scaramouche hummed, clearly not wanting to waste his voice on a simple greeting. "what brings us here?"

"greetings to you too, y/n, and scaramouche. i actually have a mission for you both".

scaramouche snickered. "hah, very surprising, as if we wouldn't know that already" you yawned at his words. "i mean, who knows. for all we know cap' might assign me to kill you or something, which i'll gladly do so. the tsaritsa's orders, as always" he frowns at you and was about to say something before the tsaritsa interrupted.

"now now, would you like to hear about it or not? it's a pretty big one and you wouldn't want me to give it away to childe or dottore now, would you?" the tsaritsa merely shrugged at how childish you two are being, especially in your mid 20's. "fine. go on" scaramouche said. you nodded, allowing the tsaritsa to properly introduce you to a new case.

"well, first things first, it's a long term mission. probably around a few months or something. you'll need to hand in your badge and gun within a week, so finish off the cases you two are working on while you have the time".

"done that already!" you grinned, already thinking about spending the week by catching up with the current series you're watching on netflix. no more work stress for a while, you thought.

"great job y/n, very good work" the tsaritsa said.

"moving on, you two will have to go undercover at a university, as there are reported cases that there's a serial killer on the loose hiding there. we don't have much evidence, so please do your best at this. this case could be a breakthrough and i'm counting this on my greatest detectives. i've already assigned you two as transfer students and you guys will start around next week or so" the tsaritsa said. 

"everything must be kept under the wraps as it's highly confidential so i'm gonna have to assign you both in the same dorm to make work easier."

"pardon?" you questioned, trying your best to think of anything the tsaritsa could've said other than the one thing you wished you never heard.

"i'm assigning you both in the same dorm. no worries, you'll have your own rooms. it's easier this way. i know you both aren't that fond of each other, but i-

scaramouche interrupted. "hah. 'aren't that fond'? hell, i can't even stand being in the same room as her, let alone having to stay AND live with her for the next few months. i'd rather get run over by a truck a thousand times than having to work with her on this case" he said. you hummed, a sign of agreement.

"true. i can't stand this gremlin either, i feel like i could work way better with someone like detective columbina or lieutenant pierro" you pressed, ignoring how scaramouche grumbled beside you when you called him a gremlin. "besides, i don't think i can-

"will you two zip your mouths for once?" the tsaritsa snapped. you and scaramouche stiffened from her harsh tone and you slouched in your seat, letting the tsaritsa continue her briefing.

"thank you. as i was saying, you two aren't that close. but i believe that your relationship will bloom as this investigation goes by" said the tsaritsa, glancing at the two of you before she continued.

"you guys are adults, you both have been in the line of duty for half a decade so i expect you two to have a professional relationship, not being childish and have useless banters like 6 year olds. even they act more mature than the both of you combined. i'm not accepting any objections from any of you. please, be on your best behaviours. this is a big case, i'm expecting a lot from you both" she pressed.

God, what did i ever do in my past life to deal with these two, she muttered, before realising she might have said that out loud. eyes quickly darting towards the two of you, thinking you both heard what she said. she sighed, relieved that you guys didn't hear what she said. God bless they have deaf ears.

you groaned. "fine. i'll work my best on this case. i guess i can handle being cramped inside a dorm with scaramouche for a few months. not that big of a deal".

"yeah, not like anything is gonna go wrong or something" scaramouche stood up from his seat.

boy, were you wrong.

taglist; @beriiov @bleedingwhiteroses222

let me know if you want to be added to the taglist !

[sunlightandsuffering]

I HAD TO REWRITE THIS AN IM SO FULL OF RAGE ABOUT IT BUT HERE IT IS!! AS CLOSE T THE ORIGINAL AS I CAN REMEMBER !! BUT UGH TELL ME WHY THE Y/N FANDOM GETS TO HOARD STONER EREN!?!? Tell me!! Why no one in our fandom writes him!?!? GIVE ME AN ANSWER!!!

Ugh anyway, here have stoner EM, bc I think lazy stoner Eren is somehow immensely attractive.

ston·er

/ˈstōnər/

noun

a person who regularly takes drugs, especially marijuana.

Stoner.

It's a label Mikasa has become increasingly familiar with throughout her academic career. From high school to university, it's a label she is now intimately aware of.

Not because she smokes the devil's lettuce, no, not at all. But because despite rhyme or reason, her infatuation with their small town's resident stoner will not die.

"Mikasa, you're staring again." She huffs in irritation, turning to give Armin a glare, ripping her gaze away from where the very object of her affections lays under a tree in the quad, his head laid upon some pretty girl's thighs as he smokes up between classes. "You don't have to call me out every time." Armin shoots her a daring smile, "I do actually." She releases an annoyed breath, her eyes darting back to the brunette boy in the middle of the quad, handsome and uncaring, very much unlike her, who is currently studying her ass off for midterms.

Armin smacks her arm again as she gets lost in his figure, his tall stature, long legs in black joggers, a grey t-shirt sticking to the corded muscle of his arms, just the slightest hint of his abs where his t-shirt pulls up to expose bronze skin. "Mikasa!" She glares at her blonde friend menacingly, just let her have this at least. This is her break, her reward for all her hard work studying.

It’s not easy being pre-med these days. "See, this is why I need to call you out, if I didn't we'd never get anything done." "Whatever," she mumbles, her eyes sliding back to him, Eren Yeager, her childhood best friend, and the only boy that's every made her heart go boom.

"I don't know why you like him so much, I'm pretty sure he's a criminology major. Wants to be a cop, but he's doing illegal activities almost 100% of the time." Mikasa frowns as she stares off into the distance, her stomach tugging painfully as she watches Eren bury himself in some random girl's stomach. She doesn't know why she like him either, but it won't leave, and she's not entirely sure how to get rid of the feelings, believe her, she's tried. "I don't know, I just," she sighs wistfully, "he's Eren." Armin shakes his head, "And he's really pretty, just be honest." Mikasa turns, her cheeks heating rapidly because that is also true. She smiles sheepishly at her blonde friend, admitting to it, "And he's really pretty." Armin groans, "I wish my love life was quite so easy."

Mikasa shrugs, her attention slipping right back to Eren again, "Whatever, it totally could be, you're just a pussy and you won't talk to Annie. That's entirely your fault." Armin sputters in disbelief, she can hear him choking behind her as he closes up his binder, "And your inability to talk to Eren isn't yours?"

Mikasa gives him a dirty look, "No, Eren and I are starcrossed, we can never be, that's not my fault."

"You barely talk to him, every time he says hi you get all flustered and start berating him about something stupid before telling him to say hi to his mom."

Mikasa packs her own books up a little too aggressively as she snaps back, Armin having hit a sore spot, "Well at least I talk to him!" Armin stares at her in disbelief, "Fine, go talk to him right now if you think you're so great MIkasa. I dare you, go right now and strike up a friendly conversation. Hell ask him to go for coffee with us later." Suddenly her previous assertions aren't quite so brave, especially at the prospect of talking to Eren.

“I can’t,” she says turning back to her computer, eyes set on the article she’d been reading for her biology class, “I’m studying.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re said you were taking a break.”

If looks could kill, Armin would be dead as she scowls at him from over her laptop, “Well it’s over now, Armin.”

The blonde scoffs, turning a page in his textbook, “Sure Mikasa, I think you’re just a wimp. You’re never gonna do anything about it, just face it. He’s probably going to end up with some other stoner girl smoking up in the back of his cop car.”

Mikasa frowns at the vivid picture her friend paints, he’s not necessarily wrong, and as she chances a glance back at the tree he’s sitting under, the idea seems awfully plausible, especially as he breathes a heavy exhale into some girl’s mouth.

“You’re right,” she says, slamming her laptop shut with determination, she can’t allow this future to come to pass.

Armin guffaws, “Mikasa I was kidding, you barely talk to Eren!”

She scowls at him, tone haughty as she reacts to his lack of confidence in her, “Well now I am.”

Abruptly she stands from her seat, and before she can stop herself she’s marching towards Eren with lock quick strides, her pretty white skirt billowing in the wind as she marches with purpose.

Before she knows it she’s there, looking down his attractive form, her silver gaze clashing with spring green eyes, hazy with the high of marijuana. He exhales a long drag of smoke, and there is something hot about how flagrantly he breaks the rules.

Maybe her mom’s biggest fear is right, she has a thing for bad boys, but either way Mikasa can’t deny the way her heart skips a beat as Eren finally notices her.

He blinks up at her lazily, one rough calloused hand coming up to shield his eyes from the sun as he struggles to comprehend who’s standing before him.

“Miks?” He questions in confusion his rough voice wrapping around her name so perfectly, and shit, there is one of the reasons her obsession with the town stoner is so dangerous: his nicknames.

Usually she hates them, a concept carved into her by her mother’s sense of propriety. Mama Ackerman chose her name carefully, and it’s a beautiful one, Mikasa, so people everywhere damn well better be using it.

Eren had never abided by these rules, grinning at her mom cheekily every time he’d call her something other than her name, a small rebellion, and some part of Mikasa absolutely adored it.

Miki, Mika, Miks, ‘Kasa, Mimi, he’s called her by every one in the book and it makes her heart positively flutter. And in a stark contrast to her mother’s views she doesn’t see Eren’s nicknames as disrespectful in the least, if anything it’s a love letter to her name itself, the way he wraps his mouth around each sweet intonation, each vowel emphasizing a different part.

When they were younger, had still been friends, before Eren had rebelled, before his dad died and he’d taken to smoking up as his preferred coping mechanism, still lived in the house across the way, she’d heard it every day, sweet nicknames called as they played in the street, as they caught the bus together. But now, how long has it been, when did they last interact?

The utterance of the nickname alone sends a shiver up her spine, and her cunt aches, the rough edge to his voice that hadn’t been there before, she’s never heard him say it quite like that.

Shit.

“Hi Eren,” she chirps out, her voice coming out much higher than she’d wanted, and she struggles to even out her tone.

“Hi Miki,” he repeats back to her teasingly, “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I umm-“

She struggles for a moment, her brain short circuiting, she’d never anticipated getting this far, her interactions with Eren usually consist of short awkward arguments, started mostly by herself out of self-preservation.

“I—“

His lips quirk up slightly at her inability to voice her thoughts and her prompts her, “Yeah sweetheart?”

She opens her mouth to finally spit something out, a confident young woman, studying pre-med, she’s calm and assertive, but she never gets the chance because the groupie next to Eren scoffs in agitation, “Can you hurry it up, you’re blocking my sun, it’s killing the vibe.”

Mikasa deflates like a limp balloon, her cheeks heating with embarrassment. She’s suddenly aware of the third party watching her make a complete fool of herself.

Worse yet, she’s probably close with Eren too. She didn’t think he currently had a girlfriend, but he had been sleeping on her lap not five minutes ago, so maybe her information is false.

But before she can apologize and leave, Eren is snapping, turning to the girl in irritation, “If you don’t like it, you can leave Heather.”

The girl gasps in outrage, her cheeks puffing up, but Eren shoots her a look that brokers no argument, and with an angry huff she’s gathering her things and stomping off towards the parking lot.

Mikasa is pleasantly surprised by the whole ordeal.

Eren shrugs, turning back to her as if he didn’t just dismiss his friend so callously, “So what were you saying Miks?”

She hesitates for a moment, maybe this is the universe giving her a chance to get out while she still can, before she embarrasses herself further. But she can’t lose this opportunity, here, now in front of him, no one else around, it’s her chance.

Tentatively she speaks, forcing out each word, “I was thinking, maybe we could go for coffee or something sometime.”

He hums in consideration, taking another long drag of his joint, looking up at her lazily through his long dark eyelashes, really it’s unfair how pretty he is, especially since he so obviously doesn’t care.

He exhales a long deep breath, and Mikasa watches as his throat bobs with each movement, how beautiful he is.

The wind picks up, blowing the smoke away and her long white maxi skirt in the wind, the fabric billowing around her thighs, the leaves rustling above them.

She tucks her hair behind her ear as it blows in her face, the slit of her skirt exposing just the creamy skin of her upper thighs.

She blushes as she realizes, a hand reaching down to cover herself but Eren tsks, his hand catching hers to smoothie over her thigh, his gaze transfixed on the smooth skin.

He traces from the apex of her thighs down to the soft sensitive skin just behind her knee and she gasps audibly at the sensation.

Eren glances up at the sound, his eyes far away, but they catch on her expression and a wicked smirk crawls up his face as he skims back up to her thigh and then down to her calf.

He squeezes gently around her ankle before reluctantly letting her go, leaning back against the tree with a sigh.

Eren settles back against the large oak tree, “I might be down,” he murmurs, taking another drag of his joint, “But I don’t like coffee.”

“Oh,” she says excitedly, “We can do something else, maybe dinner—“

He cuts her off, exhaling another breath of smoke, smirking unapologetically at her, “No.”

She deflates a little, giving up slightly, is he just teasing her?

“Then what do you want?”

His smirk widens, his eyes flashing with mischief as he leans further back into the tree, his other arm coming up to pillow his head, biceps flexing appealingly, “You.”

Mikasa is struck by the fact that maybe her obsession with the town’s resident stoner isn’t so one-sided at all.

[viking-raider]

A Cavill Christmas - IV *END*

Summary: You're at the British Arctic Survey Center, finally doing the job you had come to the Arctic to do. But, your knowledge of Glaciers gives you answers to an age-old question. Is Santa Claus Real?

Pairing: Henry Cavill/Reader

Word Count: 3,196

Previous Parts: I II III

Warning: PG-13 - Christmas!AU, Scientist!Reader, Non-Actor!Henry, the Arctic, Fluff, Secrets, Magic, Romance, Glaciers, Acceptance

Inspiration: This is obviously for Cavillmas and has influence for a bunch of different places. Merry Christmas!

Author’s Note: I hope you enjoy it! Line divider by @FIREFLY-GRAPHICS!

If you would like to get notifications for my writing! Just follow my Tag List blog, @VIKING-RAIDER-TAGLIST and turn on the notifications for it! It’s that easy!’

You stood beside the huge, elevated, red and blue, British Arctic Survey Center pods as they loaded Dr. Elliot into a life flight helicopter, so he could be flown the two hours to Longyearbyen. You were glad that he would be getting specialized care, even though you knew Dr. Lehto had done his absolute best to care for Dr. Elliot, saving his life and keeping him alive. But now, he needed cardiologists, neurologists and so much more, if he was going to come back around and make the best recovery he could in the coming future.

“Dr. Evans said, he would gladly remove those stitches for you.” Dr. Baker said, coming up alongside you.

“I'll go see him in the medical bay soon.” You answered, watching the helicopter take off. “I would like to get to work as soon as possible. If that's all right with you, Dr. Baker.”

“You can just call me, Jude.” He replied, smiling at you. “And that's quite all right with me.”

“Great.” You smiled at him, turned to climb the stairs and went inside, where it was warm. “So, where are the closest glaciers?” You asked Jude, shrugging out of your jacket.

“Follow me.” He jerked his head and showed you to the next pod, where the maps and computers were set up. “Let's see.” He sighed, unrolling one of the maps and tracing his fingertips over it. “The main cluster of glaciers are just here.” He said, tapping his finger against the paper. “They're just sixteen kilometers from here.”

“Excellent.” You nodded, studying the map. “I would like to check them out tomorrow, if that's okay.”

“Sure, we can do that. Why don't you get some rest, and we'll head out at first light.”

“Yeah, that's probably a good idea.” You sighed, staring at the map for a moment longer. “I'm going to take a shower.” You said, then headed through to the back pod, where sleeping quarters were, went into the bathroom.

You turned on the shower and stripped down, before stepping underneath the steaming spray of water, moaning at the hot water seeping into your chilled and sore skin. You couldn't stop thinking about Henry and what he said about being Santa, it wasn't possible, because Santa Claus isn't real. Right? You had written Santa every year from when you were four years old until you were almost fourteen, before you finally gave up, you hadn't gotten a single thing you asked him for in all those years. That proved you were right, didn't it? But then, you thought of the shawl Henry had given you. How had Henry known you wanted a Tartan shawl, then gotten something very similar, if he wasn't Santa?

“This is ridiculous.” You huffed, shaking your head, and shampooing your hair. “It was just a coincidence.” You told yourself, wiping a bit of soap out of your eye. “Nothing more.” You sighed, rinsing your hair.

The next morning, you went with Dr. Baker, to see the glaciers he had shown you on the map. It felt good to finally get down to what you had come to the Arctic for, and that was to study and examine the glaciers and their behaviors.

The glaciers were so marvelous as you and Jude approached them in the snow machine, seeing them looming up ahead in their eerie blue color and heavily dusted with snow. They were easily the most beautiful thing you had ever seen, as you got out of the machine. You could hear the faint crackle and rumble of the glaciers shifting and moving with their flow, with the faint sound of trickling water, as you approached the glacier, awed by it as you were.

“This glacier must be...” You shook your head, reaching out to touch it with your gloved fingers. “Four or five hundred years old.” You said aloud, eyes wide with wonder.

You walked along them, taking note as you did. You continued on, examining the glaciers, but you frowned as you watched the ordinarily rugged and uneven face of the ice started to grow smooth, your reflection shining in its glossy surface. It was so fascinating, you didn't realize how far you had wandered from Dr. Baker and the snow machine, so distracted by the oddity of the ice formation, until you made it around a large wall of the glacier and found a sizable gap in the still otherwise mirror-smooth ice.

Peeking into the opening, you saw it sloped slightly downward, before disappearing around a slight curve. Shaking your head, you turned away from it and started back towards the snow machine, when a stiff, whistling breeze blew against your back, making you shiver and groan, tugging the collar of your jacket closer to the back of your neck.

“The fuck.” You chattered, turning around to face the gap again, another blast hitting you in the face.

“There you are!” Jude's voice yelled out as he came around the corner to you. “Scared me, I thought you got lost again.” He said, his face showing his worry. “What have you found?” He asked, noticing the opening in the glacier.

“I don't know.” You replied, chewing on your lip. “Do we have rappelling gear in the snow machine?” You asked, looking up at him.

“We might. You're not thinking about going in there, are you?” Jude asked, blinking at you through his Arctic Blue sunglasses.

“I am.” You replied, moving around him and trudged back to the snow machine, searching the back of it for the equipment. “Ah.” You huffed, pulling out rappelling equipment and the two walkies-talkies.

“Why are you going in there?” Jude asked, as you returned with the harness, ropes, clips and anchors, dropping them in the snow at his feet.

“I'm a Glaciologist.” You replied, untangling the harness. “It's my job to check out glaciers and something tells me, there's something down there and I want to check it out.” You told him, stepping into the harness and slipping your arms through, before securing it closed. “So, I'm going down there.” You said, looking up at him, with a lifted brow.

Jude stared at you for a long moment, before helping you drive the anchors into the snow and ice, then thread the ropes through the clips and your harness. You handed him one of the walkies-talkies and slipped yours into the front pocket of your jacket, before approaching the mouth of the glacier and slowly started to descend into it.

“Did you make it?” Jude's muffled voice asked over the talkie.

Your feet landed at the bottom and pulled out the walkies-talkie. “Yeah, I'm at the bottom.” You replied, unhooking yourself from the ropes. “Let's see how far this goes.” You said to yourself, turning towards the curve in the path.

The further you advanced, the colder you expected it to get, but the temperature seemed to stay the same, the walls were smooth like the outside had been, a thin cascade of water falling over the surface. The path steadily grew wider as you progressed on, something about the space felt strange and different, you felt it every fiber of your being. You could still hear the groans and moans of the glacier, and you were concerned for the safety, but the overpowering feeling coursing through you compelled you to keep going.

“Have you found anything?” Jude asked, startling you in the nearly silence of the glacier.

“A winding path and surprisingly smooth walls.” You answered, tipping your head back to look at the glacial ceiling above you, drops of water hitting the ultra-UV protective lenses of your sunglasses. “I think this thing might run the length--” You froze, your mouth falling open.

“What? Come in, are you alright?” Jude's frantic voice demanded.

“Yeah, yeah. I'm fine.” You mumbled. “I just...just give me a moment.” You told him, tucking the walkies-talkie into your pocket and stepping into a large cavern inside of the glacier, turning in a circle and gawking at it. “Holy Christ.” You gasped, eyes fixing on the center of the cave.

In the center of the cavern was a massive rock jetting out of the ice, it was tall and flat on both sides, almost looking like an ancient shark fin breaking through the ice. You moved towards it, not believing your eyes.

“This can't be.” You said, shaking your head and circling the rock. “This can't be the Sieidis.”

You refused to believe what your instincts wanted to tell you, that this is what Henry had been telling you about the night of the Christmas tree lighting, that this was the Sieidis, that supposedly gave him the power of Santa Claus. You examined one side of the stone, leaning close to it and finding there were etchings in it, lines, diamonds, what looked like stick figures and other things you couldn't describe or put a name to. You rounded to the other side and found similar figures, you pulled your glove off and reached out, touching one of the carvings, feeling how icy cold the rock was underneath your bare fingertips.

“Dear God.” You gulped, looking back at the rock and glancing around the cavern. “He was telling me the truth after all.” You realized, quite suddenly believing him in full force.

You quickly made your way back through the pathway and hooked up to the ropes and ascended back to where Jude was still waiting for you to come back and helped you up and get out of your harness and pull the anchors out of the ground.

“So, what was down there?” He asked, walking back to the snow machine.

“Nothing, it just seems to go through the whole glacier.” You told him, dumping the rappelling gear in the back. “But, I need to return to Trømsvik.” You added.

“What, why?” Jude replied, frowning at you from the driver's seat.

“I forgot something very important, that I need back, as soon as possible.” You said, antsy, to apologize to Henry for everything you had said to him and for not believing in him, when he confided in you.

“I don't know if we'll make it there from here by sundown.” Jude told you, shaking his head, confused by the whole situation.

“We have to try.” You answered, resolved. “I need to right this.”

Not understanding, but willing to help, Jude turned the ignition of the snow machine and the two of you headed in the direction of the village.

It took till just before nightfall to make it to Trømsvik and you left Jude in the town square, racing through the street to Henry's place and frantically pounded on the front door, until it opened to Penelope, who looked completely shocked to see you standing there on the stoop.

“What are you doing here?”

“I need to see Henry, it's urgent, Penelope.” You told her, bouncing anxiously in place.

“He's not home.”

“Then, where is he?” You demanded.

“He's at the factor--”

She started to reply, but you spun around and charged down the street. She watched you go and knew why you were back, you had found what you needed to believe in Henry and what he was, in doing that, you realized something much more, and with that Penelope took a deep breath and smiled, coming to terms and accepting that the two of you loved each other, giving her silent blessing to the union. You slid across the sidewalk as you hit an ice patch, sprinted past Jude and the snow machine still in the square and towards the large toy factory. You burst through the door of the factory and found it empty, all of the workers having gone home for the night, but you saw the light on underneath Henry's office door.

“Henry!” You called out, skidding to a stop, the soles of your boots squeaking on the polished concrete flooring.

The door to his office swung open and Henry filled the doorway, calling out your name in surprise. “What are you doing here?” He asked, moving closer to you and crossing his arms. “Shouldn't you be studying glaciers and things?”

“I was.” You answered, biting your lip and looking down at your feet. “But, I forgot something.”

“Oh well, Penelope's at the house, I'm sure she can find it for you.” He told you, turning back towards his office.

“I've already seen Penelope and she can't help me find what it is I forgot. Um...” You took a deep breath. “I'm sorry, Henry. For not believing you.” You told him, your voice weakening.

Henry stopped and looked at you over his shoulder. “So, now you believe me. What changed your mind?” He asked, pressing his lips together.

“Studying a glacier.” You replied, looking up at him. “We went out to look at a cluster of glaciers, not far from the Survey center, one of them had a gap and I went into it.” You explained to him. “and there—there was this rock there, it was...”

“Flat, on both sides, and covered in strange markings.” Henry nodded, knowing exactly what you were talking about. “You found it.” He chuckled, shaking his head, and pulled up his jumper to show you a mark on his chest, shaped like a stick figure tree, that was identical to one of the markings on the stone.

“How did you find it?” You asked him, reaching out to touch his mark.

“I was just exploring the area, I wanted to see what was out there.” He told you, chuckling at the cold feel of your fingers on his warm skin. “I found what you found and went exploring in the cave. I saw the rock and checked it out, touching it, and this blast of cold wind hit me and swirled around me. When I returned to the village and showed Sikká the mark, she was surprised. It seems the world has been without...what I am...for almost a century, since her great-grandfather died.” He pulled down his jumper.

You tilted your head at him. “He was the last Santa?”

“He was.” Henry nodded. “You see, he's not one person, but many passed down from generation to generation. For some reason though, when her great-grandfather died, her grandfather and father went to the stone and touched it, but nothing happened. They even tried other villagers here and got the same reaction; nothing. They feared that the Spirit of Santa had died with him, and they were unworthy.”

“Until you showed up.”

“Exactly.” He smirked, his cheeks coloring. “They said nothing to me about it, keeping the secrets, like we kept it from you. I was bored one day, and it wasn't long after we got the snow machine, so I took it out. The Survey center wasn't there back then, so. I found the glaciers, they're quite beautiful. It was when I got out and looked at them, that I saw the opening and slid down to look inside.”

“You could've gotten yourself killed!” You snapped, eyes wide with horror.

“You did it!” Henry countered, grinning at you.

“I have a bloody PHD! It's my job to go inside and check them out. I know when it's time to bail out of one, when they start making the wrong sounds.” You retorted, smiling back at him.

“Well, I came out of it just fine, thank you.” He laughed, his head going back with his mirth. “But, that's how I found the rock. It had chosen me for some reason, even after not choosing the family it had for, God knows how long.”

“How did Sikká and her family feel about it?” You asked, sobering.

Henry drew in a deep breath. “Sikká was in shock, rightly so. But her parents and grandparents were rather angry for a while, that the Sieidis had chosen to bestow this gift upon me, when I had no earthly idea what it even was or meant. None of the villagers wanted to believe it was true and it took time for them to come around, which was about the time for me to do my duties as Santa.”

“So, how do you do it?” You asked him, cocking your head to the side.

“Do what?” He replied, narrowing his eyes at you.

“All in one night?”

Henry touched his fingertips under your chin, tipped your head back and leaned closer to you, a smirk on his face and sparkling in his eyes. “Magic.” He whispered, teasingly.

“Oh, come on, tell me.” You answered, bouncing on your toes, but Henry just shook his head, still smirking, making you huff at him. “Ugh, you're insufferable!”

“Did you just tell Santa, he's insufferable?” Henry roared, the muscles of his toned stomach flexing under his jumper.

“Yes! Someone has to keep your head out of the clouds!” You remarked, rolling your eyes.

Henry stared at you for a moment, before moving in and pressing his lips to yours. You didn't react like you had the first time, you pressed your lips back against his, hands reaching out and gripping the front of his cream-colored jumper. Henry's arms snaked around your waist and shoulders, pressing you against his body.

But, he soon broke the kiss and pressed his chin on top of your head.

“Stay.” He whispered, squeezing his eyes shut. “Stay here with me.”

“Here—in the village?” You replied, tipping your head back to look up at him.

“Yes.” He nodded, looking down at you, his eyes pleading. “It's not far from the Center, I can take you there.” He told you, nervously chewing on his bottom lip.

“Are you asking me to move in with you, St. Nick?” You asked, a mischievous look in your eyes.

Henry chuckled and kissed the tip of your nose. “I suppose I am.” He replied, smiling at you. “You're all I want for Christmas.” He added, softly.

Your body relaxed in his arms, pressing your palms to his broad shoulders. “I just have one question to that.”

“Ask away.”

“Have you been naughty or nice this year?” You asked, just barely managing to keep a straight face.

“I've been a good boy this year.” Henry replied, grinning at you. “I saved this beautiful woman's life and I think she saved mine as well.”

“Oh, and how did she do that?”

“I was terribly lonely, before I saved her silly, but well meaning, butt. Afterwards, I didn't feel lonely anymore.”

Your face softened at Henry's words, gentled by them. “Well, you don't have to be lonely anymore. I'm not going anywhere.” You promised, pushing up on your toes and kissing him.

Henry hummed happily, kissing you back. “Merry Christmas, then.”

“Merry Cavillmas indeed.” You quipped back, chuckling.

❄ -FIN- 🎄

[technowoah]

Fuck JYP [1:16 am]

A BangChan blurb! (Fem reader????)

Its a small thing that I whipped up because I miss bangchan

⚠︎ "babygirl", swear words, mentions of jyp (the human 🤢), angst, fluff, unresloved issue. I didnt proofread and im sorry if this dosen't make any sense.

It was something about tonight that made you feel this way.

Today was like any normal day. You woke up, went to work like usual, then Chan called you to come over to JYP and spend time with him as he worked on new Stray Kid's new album. You two havent seen eachother all day, so it was calming after a hectic day to walk into Chan's studio while listening to R&B music as it bounced through the room.

Anytime Chan lets you come into JYP he makes sure everything is safe. No one knows about your relationship, but Chan's group members. He was able to date now that the group wasn't in their rookie stages anymore, but it wasn't encouraged. Even though they could, if Chan was caught with you, all hell would break loose in JYP entertainment and in social media.

You two hated being secretive and having select times where you could sneak into Chan's studio for the rest of the night, only to sneak out when Chan is for sure positive that everyone who works on that floor was gone for the night. It was a handful but it became a routine that you two got accustomed to. The only part you hated was waiting for his texts.

Luckily at this point and time Chan finally texted you to tell you that it was okay to come. He waited for you in the back entrance and finally uou two made it to the floor his studio was on.

You two were currently sitting next to eachother close as possible in the small rollerchairs. He worked on music with his headphone around his neck while the contrast of Joji and the hard beat of a Stray Kids song, through Chan's headphones floated around. You had to admire how hard he worked for his group, how he loved his group. You admired how Chan's lips moved when he heard something he didn't like, how he sighed in frustration and reached for your hand to calm himself down, how he knew you were listening and looked to you for confirmation.

The clock on his desk striked 1:16 am and you audibly sighed.

"What's wrong?" Chan asked while still working on his computer.

"Maybe you should give your eyes a break babe." You suggested.

He saved his work, which he has been doing every 5 minutes, then turned and stared you directly in the eyes. His eyes were bloodshot from staring at multiple screens, being stressed out, and probably not blinking, but his eyes were soft and filled with gratitude.

"What are you doing?" You laughed confused.

"Giving my eyes a break. C'mere." Chan opened his arms inviting you into his lap.

You fulfilled his request and sat youself into his lap, leaning back into his chest and making Chan you new chair for now. He swayed back and forth in his chair humming along to Human Nature.

"Haven't I told you you're a sight for sore eyes?" Chan chuckled.

"Only by you." You agreed.

"Its true."

You both hummed in acknowledgement. You were ready. Not to leave, well yes leave the studio, but you wanted to leave this secretive life that you and Chan had been living. You two were in love and you wanted the world to know it. Who cares if his so called "fans" get upset, they aren't his fans if they get upset at his happiness.

The tempation to take your phone out and post pictures on instagram and let the chaos insue is creeping up on you. You needed to talk to Chan first about it, of course, but then he would want to play it safe. Will he ever want to become public with you? You both are still young and he has so much more ahead of him, you understand the need to play safe, on the other hand you wanted to show off Chan to your friends and family, take him out in public on dates, basically be outside together without repercussions.

"What's on your mind? I know you're thinking hard." Chan leaned his head back on the head rest.

"Im thinking about us." You sighed.

"What about us? Are we good?" Chan rushed through his words.

"Yeah! We're fine don't worry Chan, I just-"

"You called me Chan." He sat up with you on his lap bringing you closer as he said that.

"What?"

"When you are upset about something you call me Chan. I dont know how you didn't pick up on that." Chan smiled down at you.

"Maybe I should change the way I speak then." You chuckled.

"No, dont do that. Just tell me what's wrong." Chan hugged you closer.

"I want to go public with you. I want the world to know that were together I dont fucking care anymore. I just wanna go outside with you without your managers breathing down your neck." You finished your small rant as Chan hummed, knowing what you meant.

Chan sighed. "I know baby girl. I know. I just-"

You cut Chan off and stood up off of his lap. "Just what? Lets go! Lets do it now, lets go outside, drive out in the middle of nowhere, stay in a hotel. Fuck JYP! Fuck, Park Jin-young he could rot for all I care. I want you Chan."

You were standing up holding both of his hands while Chan looked up from his seat in admiration. He looked starstruck and conflicted. Yes the rant came from the top of your head, and it was just a fantasy. It wasn't going to happen, you both had jobs, he had a bigger obligation to fill than you. You just wanted freedom.

"Hey! I promise we can do those things. I promise. I never break a promise. I want you too, I have you! You know I want to stay safe." Chan reluctantly said.

You sighed as Chan mumbled another "Im sorry." You sat back down in the other chair next to his, he gave you a hand squeeze before going back to his work. The situation felt incomplete, but it might've been that you didn't get the answer you really wanted, but that's okay for now.

Chan never broke his promises no matter how much he had to sacrifice to make those promises happen you two will find a way. You two always find a way.

[2:04 am]

[chenfleur]

ΒLUΣ MΩΩΠ ☾

0.6 ☾ — the girl who comes to every game

volleyball player!haechan x dancer!oc

summary. - in honour of the blue moon this year, the student parliament decided to hold a blue moon gala for the school. along with that, they created an activity. you pay $1.50 for either a lock or key. each lock and key have a pair with the opposite pendant (you would know if they were your partner if the key can unlock the lock). the person you pair with is your partner for the gala. mina thinks it’s fucking stupid. donghyuck, well—he’s always looking for some excitement in his life—but deep down he just wants someone who doesn’t like him for just his reputation.

taglist. - @oc-helps​ @jiheonie​ @philanarose @jiye0n0 @eommayaaaaaasehunnieee @softrenjunnie​ @mark3le // lemme know if you’d also like to be added!

a/n. - i only just realized that wandavision is called wandavision because it’s wanda + vision. you know. wanda . vision . like . because vision is wanda’s husband. first of all what the fuck i just thought it was called wandavision bc idk man the name sounds cool i didn’t know it was a horimiya type fuckin SHIP NAME TITLE

𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔. | 𝒏𝑒𝒙𝒕.

𝑏𝒍𝒖𝑒 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒎.𝒍𝑖𝒔𝒕

Mina pulled out her phone and began to scroll through her social medias, occasionally looking up to watch the guys play. Her eyes scanned across the court, watching each of them briefly before returning her attention to her phone screen.

Since Renjun joined the team, Mina hadn't missed a single game. Not a single one.

She knew all of their signature plays and habits. She kept a count of their wins to keep Renjun motivated when he didn't want to play. But during a game, nobody can hear what they’re saying to each other except themselves with all the screaming and cheering coming from the crowd. They seemed like computer models that were just plopped onto a court, programmed to play the sport.

During practice, she saw the way that they communicated—the way they would give each other tips and critiques on how to play better. It was so much more... down to earth.

"Alright- Jisung!" Mark called out for the younger boy. "You serve for the next few rounds. Aim downwards, make sure it skims the top of the net." He says, handing him the ball underneath the net. Jisung nodded, taking the ball from his captain and walking to the back of the court.

Donghyuck wiped at his forehead, letting out slow puffs of air. He stood in his zone on the court, waiting for the round to begin.

His eyes trailed upwards, catching sight of the girl on the bleachers. He tilted his head to the side, staring at her quizically. Donghyuck could've sworn he'd seen her before.

Maybe she's in one of my classes, he thought. Wait, she's Renjun's friend, right? I've probably seen her in one of his Instagram posts.

Even though these were extremely probable possibilities, Donghyuck shook his head. There was something so familiar about her right in this moment, and he couldn't put his finger on it.

Donghyuck squinted his eyes, observing her. The way that she sat with her legs crossed and back hunched, diligently tapping away at her phone. The way she dressed—the black bomber jacket and black jean shorts, with a pair of dirty white nike sneakers.

Suddenly, it clicked.

His eyes widened, realizing who she was.

She's the one who attends all of our games! He thought to himself, mouth slightly open from surprise.

After the first few games, Donghyuck started noticing a certain girl who never failed to show up. Always sat at the very top of the bleachers, occasionally with one or two other girls who he assumed were her friends. He would always be able to point her out too—her posture and how she always seemed to wear the same things every time—stuck out like a sore thumb.

Donghyuck stood there idly, still processing the fact that the girl who attended every one of their games was Renjun's best friend all along.

"DONGHYUCK! WATCH OUT-"

The distracted boy snapped out of his daze, turning his head towards the voice that had called out his name.

"Wh-"

WHACK.

[moonflower-31]

I Won’t Forget You - Spencer Reid x Reader

Masterlist 

Part 4  

Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader 

Warnings: Gun violence, child death, suicide, suffocation, cliffhanger

Tags: @dra-reid, @eevee0722, @ceeellewrites, @anotherr-fine-mess 

~~~~~~~~~ 

"Are you sure about this, (L/N)?" 

"Positive. It's all in the details. We needed to narrow down the suspects, and considering how this woman didn't just shoot these men, and the drugs aren't cheap, I had to make the connection." You insist, placing the map in front of Hotch and putting a finger on the highlighted neighborhood. Garcia had printed it out for you quickly so you could show Hotch and hopefully catch this bitch. 

"It matches the profile in that our unsub is still a medical worker, just in a place where schooling isn't required. Such as a long-term care facility or an urgent care." Spencer cut in, backing up your statement. 

Hotch sighed and looked from you to Spencer. "Alright, have Garcia run the profile by the urgent care near the neighborhood. See if it matches any of their employees. If we get any matches, we'll send out a few people to scout her house." He says, turning around and leaving the room as soon as he had walked in. 

Pretty soon afterwards, you were alone with Spencer again. Not that you didn't  to be.  

"That was good work." He spoke up, gathering the map and papers up from the table. "You wanna call Garcia or should I?" He adds after a moment. 

You keep your head down, afraid that if you look him in the eye he'd be able to see all of the covert thoughts you had about him. Even through the seriousness of this case, your mind wandered back to what had occured just days before. You were still unsure as to what he had meant by any of it. No matter how hard you tried to play it off as just an accidental touch, your heart wouldn't let you. 

You nervously pull a strand of loose hair behind your ear and chuckle to distract Spencer from your lack of looking him in the eye. "I-I can do it. Thanks for the coffee, by the way."

You might've been looking down, but you still caught the wide smile that Spencer flashed towards you. "Of course. You'll sleep when we get home though." He insists, playfully pointing at you. 

"I dunno, I might just live off coffee like my favorite Doctor." You tease, picking up your now cold coffee cup and taking a sip. 

You heard a few footsteps, but no reply. Which confused you. Until you turned your head and finally met Spencer’s eyes that stared intently into yours. 

"Oh, so I'm your favorite now? If I'm your favorite, you should listen to me." He says softly, standing so closely to you and giving you the most intense look with his brown, hazel eyes. You couldn't look into them, no matter how much you wanted to. 

It took you longer than expected to finally respond, but when you did you felt like a flopping fish out of water. "B-but w-what if I don't want to? What if… I prefer coffee to sleep?" He had you in his hands almost like putty. And you knew he could mold you any way he wanted. You just hoped he didn't know that. 

"You sure about that? Did you know that if a strong enough emotion is felt, your voice betrays you if you try to deny it?" You can feel your inner resolve crumbling. And he wasn't even doing anything! He was probably just trying to get you to take care of yourself. Which you should. But you just had to be a brat about it. "It's actually really interesting, we usually go for the facial expression one gives off, but most people can learn to fake an emotion through their face. But the voice…"

You can feel your heart pounding in your chest by now. You could feel his breathing against your neck. He was so damn close! And you had nowhere to run because of his damn legs. He'd catch you in an instant. You gulped and looked him back in the eyes. What were you doing? 

"The voice can't really be trained to not give away how a person feels. Especially when it's strong enough. Now tell me, when did you get the confidence in the last three minutes and 43 seconds to look me in the eye again?" He finally backed away, raising an eyebrow at you as you finally straightened your posture and tried to compose yourself. 

You stayed quiet however, unsure of whatever could be appropriate to respond with to that tone of voice. What was he doing? You wanted so bad to lean forward, take his soft, thick lips in yours and push him against the stale countertops inside the police station. 

"I-I… I gotta c-call Garcia. I'll let you know if we get any matches." You almost feel like kicking yourself as you back away from him and practically flee the room. This was getting to be too much. Were you reading too much into your and his interactions? Or was this really something that he wanted to try? 

You couldn't trust your own feelings anymore. So you did the next best thing: you called Garcia. You hoped that maybe you could chat a little more after you gave Garcia the addresses and the urgent care to go through. You had to talk to somebody and she was the only person that you had gotten the feeling that she wouldn't tease you for how you felt. 

"Hello my lovely! Decided to call me finally? What can I do for you my fine furry friend?" Garcia asks cheerfully. You couldn't help but smile at how happily she greeted you. And she had only just met you. 

"Yeah, sorry Penelope

Everyone else has been calling you for me. So now it's my turn." You tease. "Anyway, I thought maybe we were looking at the income of our unsub the wrong way." 

"Ooh, thinking outside the box, I likey. Whatcha got, Darling?" 

"The neighborhood I had you highlight, I want you to cross reference the residents with the people who work at the urgent care nearby. If any fit, run the profile by their employer. I think we may be able to catch this woman after all." 

"Oh I love the way you think. I'll get on that at godspeed my queen. Garcia out-" 

"Wait-!" You interject, sighing gently. 

"Oh? Can I help you with something else, your gorgeous highness?" Garcia asked, and you could hear the eyebrow wiggle. Guess that's what you got from hanging out with Gabriel too much. 

"Okay, uh, I gotta tell somebody about this before my mouth explodes all my secrets. You think you can keep it?" You ask nervously. You wanted to trust this woman so badly. You needed a girlfriend who didn't put you down for dating any guys. Or liking any for that matter, like Iris.

"Oh, some gossip! I will keep my lips sealed with superglue my lovely! Now tell me all the juicy details!" 

You giggle and look around, being sure no one but Garcia could hear you. "Okay… I don't know what the hell is going on with Reid but… I kinda like him. He's cute, I'll admit it. I used to do some hacking and I found pictures of him. He was my celebrity crush. But make it FBI." You ranted. "And now I'm getting mixed signals from him. Like just a couple days ago, his hand like--brushed against my hip as I went to try and help him with the geographical profile, and he was so damn close!" You hiss into the phone. "A-and today? He got super close again. And he practically had me trapped. But other than that, I don't get any other signs that maybe he might like me. Even if he's just attracted to me. So you can understand my dilemma." You sigh, leaning against the wall. 

Garcia was quiet for a few moments, making you worried that she was going to judge you or put you down for being so stupid. Then you had to pull the phone away from your ear for a few seconds as Garcia squealed. 

"Oh my god I knew it! You two totally hit it off when you came in here for your first day!  I knew there was something there! It's totally okay to feel like that. I don't know what you see in that boy, but go after him like the queen you are." She insists. 

"Heh, I dunno if I'll do anything yet. I want to see if things go anywhere first. Even if he just wants to be friends. I just want to be sure I'm not adding another embarrassing memory that I will never forget. But thanks Garcia."

"Of course my sweetness. That's what I'm here for. Other than being the techie for the FBI." She says sweetly. 

"I gotta go, let me know if there are any matches." You finally lead off. 

"Of course! Wait, hold on," 

"What is it?" 

"You'd think the search would massively decrease the amount of suspects, right? Well all of the suspect-women in this neighborhood, are working at this urgent care. It's like single mom central." Garcia answered, typing away on her computer. 

"That's alright, thanks Garcia. Run that by the employer with the new list of names anyway, see if he'll give any of them up." You say. 

"Will do. Talk soon!" 

You can't help but smile to yourself as she hangs up. She really was untameable. Not that you would want to. 

You turn your head and begin to head down the station hallway as you see Reid race out of the room with the evidence. 

"He-hey! What's going on?" You ask in a mild panic. 

"We have a witness, the unsub tried to kill again." 

○●♡●○

"Any information at all would help, Mr.Greeley." You assure, sitting in front of the man in the chair with his head laid against the table. 

"I want my wife. I want my son." He says in a hiccuped tone. 

"I know, sir. But if you can give us any distinguishing features it can help us narrow down our suspects to find her." You assure again, laying a gentle hand on his. 

"Are they on their way?" He asks, looking at you with sore, red eyes. 

"Yes sir. We've called some of the nearby officers to come bring them. Alright?"

The door to the room opens and you both look up, seeing Prentiss join the two of you. "Everything okay?" She asks. 

"Yeah, he's just shaken up. Who wouldn't be?" You say, sighing. "Darren, would you be up to having a sketch artist come in here? If you don't feel up to sharing what she looked like that's fine." You turn and ask the newest almost-victim. 

"No it… I can give you a few things. She… she had dirty blond hair. It was… messy. Her skin was pale, her fingers were calloused. A-and… her eyes were brown. Oh god her eyes…" he whispered, running a hand through his hair. 

"I'm deeply sorry this happened to you. This information will greatly help the investigation. We will find this woman. Do you still feel okay with the sketch artist coming in?" Emily asked, gesturing towards the door. Silently, the man nodded. You stood up and nodded to Emily, leaving the room to bring the news to everyone else. 

"Did he see her?" Morgan asks, walking up to you from the semi-circle the team had formed near the room you had been talking with the victim. 

"Yeah. Got a good look at her too. Apparently she missed his blood entirely and poured the drugs onto her shirt instead of injecting him with it. So when she pushed him to the ground he got to see her eyes. Garcia's working on faxing us the photos now, see if the sketch will match anything." You nod to him, noticing the fax machine beginning to run. 

Once the photos were faxed, you carried them over to the desk Reid was currently leaning against. You dropped them onto the surface and sighed. "About 23 women, and one description that is super common. How fast do you think we'll get stuck?" You ask him, giving Spencer a teasing look. 

"I doubt we will. Once we narrow these women down to what he saw, we can show them in a line-up fashion. See which one sparks a memory." Reid assures, looking down at the photos and closing the file in his hands. 

"I cannot imagine being this woman and thinking that I should kill these men because they just became fathers. I mean, I can understand her not wanting other women to have to deal with becoming single mothers because their partners decide to skedaddle. But still, give him a chance first." You rant, beginning to sort through the photos by whether or not the suspects fit the description. 

"True. However in her state of mind she probably views all men the same. That they'll all eventually leave her. Maybe her father left too." Spencer suggests, taking a few photos and sorting them with you once he noticed the pattern. 

"That could be true. But I guess we won't know until we get a match-" you sigh. 

Emily hurried out of the interview room and carried a sketch pad with her. "Here," she says, placing the drawing paper in front of you. "Do any of the suspects look like her?" 

You push the unlikely suspects pile of photos away, about to find Emily her answer, when Spencer spoke up for you. 

"Yes, she was one of the first women you sorted." He says, flipping through the pile faster than you ever could and pulling out a photo. "Here, this is her." He says. 

"Let's get this photo back to Garcia, see if she can get us a name." You cut in, standing up and picking up the forgotten pictures. Emily nods to you and heads off to fax the photo back to Garcia. 

○●♡●○

"What do you got, baby girl?" 

"We got a name, Kathy Burgess. She's a single mother, recently gave birth to her son Jason about 7 months ago and--oh my god…" Garcia trails. 

"What is it Garcia?" You ask, hurrying your feet towards the SUV's. She hadn't given you all an address yet, but it wasn't too late not to get ready to head out. 

"Her husband was killed in Afghanistan 3 months ago after being deployed the week before her son was born. He had left them for another woman, who ended up getting pregnant." Garcia answered. 

"Do you have an address Garcia?" Hotch asked. 

"Y-yes, 176 Washington Blvd." 

"Let's go." Hotch announces, pulling out his radio and letting the rest of the team and police know. 

○●♡●○ 

You pulled into the road followed by a SWAT van, unknowing what was going to meet you behind this woman's door. You all piled out of the SUV's and headed towards the building. 

"Is she here? Do we know for sure?" You ask, unholstering your gun and making sure it was loaded. 

"She has to be. She has nowhere else to hide. Neighbors reported her coming home about 30 minutes ago." Hotch answered, beginning to fasten on his bullet proof vest. "I need Morgan and Reid to head in first, try and see if you can get the child out first." 

"Wait, Hotch," you begin. 

"What is it?" 

"Kathy has been killing men because she doesn't trust them. So I don't think she's going to listen to Morgan or Reid. Why don't I go in? Try to negotiate with her. It'll get us more time to find a clear shot of her if she decides to retaliate." You reason. 

"I don't know (L/N). You haven't gotten much experience with negotiating yet." 

"Which is why I should start now. I… I may not know what it's like to have a child and then have the father walk away on me, but I know what it's like to feel abandoned and unwanted." You plead. Reid looks at Hotch hesitantly, turning his attention to you after a moment. 

"She is right, Hotch. She's not gonna get any experience unless we let her." Morgan encourages. 

"Alright. Keep her occupied. Try to negotiate with her. After five minutes, we'll head in after you." 

You nod to Hotch and immediately grab a bullet proof vest, fastening it around your button down shirt you had packed and worn today. It was getting later and later, the sun was about a half hour from setting. You didn't have much time to get her out of there before light was a problem. 

You then headed into the building, easing the burgundy wooden door open as you stalked inside. You aimed your pistol in each direction you looked. This building was a two story. You didn't know the layout, so you had to make it up as you went. 

Once the lower level was cleared, you headed up the stairs, pushing open the door to the master bedroom and the bathroom before you found yourself in front of the only other room upstairs. You sighed and eased the door open. 

Immediately Kathy turned around, clutching a bundle of blankets to her chest while clutching a gun in her other hand. "Don't get any fucking closer! I-i'll shoot him!" She threatened, aiming her gun at the small child in her hands. 

"Ma'am, put the gun down, I just want to talk." You say, holding your hands up. "I'm just going to put my gun away, alright?" You cautiously alert her, putting the gun into your holster again. Pretty soon the gun in Kathy's hand gets trained on you. 

"Leave us alone-I just wanted to save other women from this fate-!" Kathy says shakily, the gun in her hand wavering it's aim. 

"I know, Kathy. What your husband did to you was unfair. But what you did to those women and their husbands is worse. Those men didn't want to leave their children." 

"They would've! All men do it! Harris did! My father! My brother! Every man I've ever known has walked out on me! How would I have known that they wouldn't walk out on them too?!" Kathy screeches, tears building up in her eyes. 

"Kathy, there are plenty of men in the world who would never walk out on a partner or their baby. You can't stereotype them all to be the same. Put the gun down, and I'll get you and your son some help." You assure, taking a step forward. You heard the stairs creaking behind you. You were too late. 

"Who is that?!" Kathy asks, waving the gun towards you more threateningly. 

"Don't worry about them, just focus on me." 

"No! They're all men! All men lie! All men leave! My son's left me too!" She wailed, clutching at the baby in her arms. 

You widen your eyes at her confession, becoming too stunned to listen for Hotch. "Kathy… what did you do?" You ask.

"Kathy Burgess, put the gun down and come with us quietly. We don't want any harm." Hotch called to her. You widen your eyes farther. You had her so close why did they have to come in now- 

"No! All you men do is lie! Lie lie lie!" Kathy ranted, hitting the barrel of the gun against her head. "But I won't let you win again." She says darkly. You begin to jump into action, but it was too late. 

As soon as you took another step, Kathy trained the gun onto herself and shot through her chin, splattering blood against the wall. You race over and catch her falling child before it can hit the ground, slamming your own chest in the process. 

You stand up, holding the child, but feel an absence of warmth. You furrow your brow, a pit of worry in your chest beginning to grow heavier as each of the signs come together. 

You feel a crack form in your heart as you clutch the tiny, blue-faced child in your arms. Tears form in the corners of your eyes. If only you had gotten here sooner. The body was still a bit warm. Meaning she had suffocated him recently. If only you had reached her and convinced her to put him down. 

"(L/N), (L/N) is something wrong with-" you hear Reid begin, causing the hurt in your chest to magnify. You feel your lip tremble as you push past the genius and carry the child down the stairs, never letting go of his tiny body. 

Reid must've taken the hint, as you heard him tell Hotch as you took the stairs to the bottom floor. You had seen your brother in this child. His little curly tuff of hair was something you had only seen in your younger brother. This was too personal. It was like holding a dead version of him in your arms. 

You carried the child out of the house, closing your eyes tightly as the paramedics, who had been called, tried to approach you and take the child. 

"Ma'am, ma'am we have to take him-" the paramedic began to explain, depleting the amount of control you cared to have over your response in an instant. 

"There's no point, she suffocated him at least 5 minutes before I got to her." You answered, snapping just a tad. 

The woman in front of you sighed, directing the rest of her team to head inside. "Ma'am, I'll take it from here." She says, gesturing for you to give her the child. If you were in your normal state of mind, you'd do it no questions asked. But this was different. You held the body even closer to your chest, trying not to cry in front of this woman. 

"(L/N)..." it was Reid. How the hell was he upstairs and then back down to deal with your bullshit? The person you expected to come check on you had been Prentiss. Or JJ of all people. At the sound of Reid's voice, your resolve completely crumbled, and you handed the child to the paramedic. 

"Based on the warmth of the skin and the blueness of the face, he died at least ten minutes before we got here." Spencer started, looking at the back of your head. It was the only way he knew to comfort you in the moment: statistics. 

But that didn't matter to you. 

Spencer sighed, looking at you with sympathy in his eyes. "You… you can cry you know. No one is going to judge you for it." 

That's what broke the dam. You sniffled and turned your body towards his, hugging him tightly almost immediately. You could feel his body stiffen for a moment, almost making you pull back. But then he eased up and laid a hand on your back and one on your head, hoping to comfort you by holding you. He had read that was supposed to be helpful. 

You couldn't help but cry, holding onto him like this. How could your first case go so badly?

○●♡●○ 

By the time you all had arrived home, you were drained of almost everything. You all piled into the bullpen, the eyes of everyone in the room turning to you as they noticed the tired eyes with the darker bags that you wore. 

You sighed and took off your holster, storing it in one of the open drawers of your given desk. You run a tired hand through your hair, looking up at the rest of the team who were equally as tired and bummed out as you were. It was 8 in the morning after all. There had been a delay in getting in the air that had lasted a few hours, making you all late. 

"(L/N), my office, please." Hotch called as soon as everyone was all through and settled into their desks. You exhale tiredly and place your bag down on the desk chair before heading towards Hotch's office.  

You stepped in and closed the glass door behind you. You stood in front of Hotch's desk, nodding to him. "You… wanted to see me sir?" You asked. 

"Yes, (Y/N). Yesterday, you did well on your negotiation. After some reevaluation of the situation I believe you could have gotten Kathy out on your own." Hotch informed, going over the papers. It felt weird for someone to call you by your first name after everyone on the team had been calling you by your last name for the entire case. 

"Thank you, sir." You reply. 

"However, I think the last part of the case got a little too personal for you. I have not looked in your file, but I assume this has something to do with something in that file."

"Actually… Hotch…" you sigh. "I… I saw my brother in that baby. I raised my brother for most of my childhood. And for me to have not reached him in time…" you take a deep breath, avoiding the increasingly obvious sob that wanted to escape your throat. "It was just sensitive for me, sir. I promise, it won't happen again." 

"Since this is your first case, I'll give you a pass. But try to stay focused on the case and not on family matters. Understood?" Hotch clarifies, looking you in the eyes. You can see he's only saying this because he has to. He's flashing you a look of empathy, one you'd been given plenty of times, but never by a man in his authority. 

"Y-yes sir." You reply, the tremor in your voice barely noticeable. 

"Good. Now I expect to see you tomorrow. Go home and try to catch up on some sleep." He dismisses. You nod to him, and shortly thereafter leave his office. 

"Hey." 

You turn your head, brown eyes meeting yours. "Huh? Oh… hey." You reply back, swallowing a sigh as you turn to talk to the genius. 

"Is… uh… is everything alright with Hotch?" He asked. 

"Yeah, he just wanted to let me know how I did and what I could improve on. Nothing much." You reply, forcing your face to stiffen and wipe away the beginnings of tears. But then you remembered what Spencer had said about the voice often betraying the user when the emotion that is felt is strong enough. 

"...Are you alright?" 

You wanted to curse out your own heart for beginning to flutter. Now was not the time to be falling in love with the sexy doctor next to you. 

"I… I think i'll be okay." You say semi-honestly, squeezing your eyes tight. 

"Did you know that it's been proven that talking about one's problems can lead to catharsis, which is a feeling of calmness and relief. Of course… The pain is still there.  But afterwards we have less built up feelings and the hurt hurts just a little less." He informed, putting one hand in his pocket and one on his messenger bag strap. You feel the beginnings of a smile form on your lips, making a small bit of the heaviness in your chest ease up. 

"Is this your formal way of asking me for that coffee?" You tease gently. Spencer chuckled. 

"Maybe…" 

"Consider it a date then." You tease again, a small smile staying on your face. You look up at Spencer, not finding any indication that the idea of it being a date turned him off from the idea. "You wanna get out of here?" 

"Sure. My car or yours?" He asks. 

"Why not walk? Less pollution, and we can talk on the way." You insist. 

"Considering the environment before our own needs. I didn't think that many people were like that anymore." He says, walking with you towards the elevator. 

You giggle softly and press the down arrow. "Guess I'm not like most people." And you could almost swear you heard him reply with a soft 'No you're not.' 

You both step into the elevator once the doors open, letting the doors close after you. Sure, you had left your bag inside, but you wouldn't need it till tomorrow. You had a date with your bed after you hung out with Spencer.  

You both walked towards the exit once the elevator doors opened again, revealing to you the main lobby. 

"So when are you going to reveal to me your favorite coffee order? Or are you going to keep that a secret too?" Spencer teased, walking beside you. 

"Oh come on. I told you all I'd tell you my name soon. I just want to make sure this is where I wanna stay, that's all-" you begin, rolling your eyes with a growing smile on your face that soon plummeted when you saw who was in front of you.  

"(Y/N) (M/N) Grant!" 

Both you and Spencer jumped at the sudden sound, and you turned your head at the sound of your full name. You feel fear invade your heart as you recognize the woman who stood in front of you with shoulder pads and make-up that screamed 'I will squash you like a bug'

"Mother?"

[msmarvelwrites]

The Winter Ghost - Part 4

Info: A Devastating car crash causes you to lose your memory and start over. The only thing left in the wreckage was the horrific nightmares which plagued your mind. If you knew what today would entail you would have just stayed in bed. But you didn't and because of that, everything you knew was about to change.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Y/n

Warning: language maybe?

W/c: 3.5K (sorry not sorry)

A/n: Shuri is probably one of my favourite characters in the MCU so please enjoy her sass ❤️ Thank you again to @cutie1365 for editing and making this readable 💕

You sat in the cold steel lab, next to a pile of machines that whirled in the silent room. Small wires attached to your temples and hooked into the computers. You didn't know how you imagined Shuri, but a small 16 year old girl was definitely not it. This was who was going to be prying and prodding through your brain? I guess this is how S.H.I.E.L.D felt the first day you showed up. The thought made you stifle a laugh under your breath and wish you could only remember.

Every 10 minutes after scanning the hologram which hovered just above the desk she would stop, and ask if you were okay to continue. You would nod, unable to actually create coherent words. The process of regaining your memories was excruciating, to say the least. Shuri made it better though. She was bubbly and kind. Her voice was bright and reminded you of the wind chimes your mother used to hang on the porch.

Another blast of electricity surged through your brain, causing you to double over and yelp.

"Okay, okay, that's enough for today." She announced, crossing the room and placing a hand on your shoulder. You flinched her away desperately trying to focus away the pain.

"No. Keep going." You gasped, steadying your breath.

"Y/n, we have to take this in steps. If we dig too deep we can risk serious brain damage, or worse." She explained. You looked up at her concerned face, tears welled in your eyes but you quickly wiped them away.

"Dr. Shuri, please-”

"It's Shuri. Just Shuri. And no, I’m serious. I think we've retrieved some core memories, but there's no way to be sure." She spoke over you, turning her computer off and carefully removing the wires from your head. You winced as she pulled them out, but you were finally able to breathe right again. “We’ll just have to keep tabs on ya’.”

"How will we know what I remember?" You asked, watching her pack her equipment away.

"You won't," She stated, placing a small alcohol wipe in your hand. You blotted the small incisions the wires left behind. Gross.

"But, we'll keep doing bi-weekly checkups and monitor your behavior. There could be trigger words that Hydra has hidden in your brain. The last thing we need is you going all ‘Winter Soldier’ on our asses." Shuri giggled to herself and patted you on the back. You tried to hide the scream of pain that erupted from her contact. You suppressed a cry and smiled as best you could.

"Thank you Dr- um, Shuri. Seriously, I can't tell you what this means to me." You corrected, getting up and following him out of the room.

"Anytime. This is my new specialty I guess. I think I should consider updating my resume to super soldier fixer-upper."

You walked through the compound slowly, still unsure where everything was. Steve had assigned you a bedroom on the top level, close to Agent Romanoff, or Nat as she had asked you to call her. She and a few other former Avengers occasionally stayed in Wakanda after everything went south in Nigeria.

You hadn't really been asked if you wanted to stay here, but Nat explained that Hydra was keeping close tabs on you. It would be safer for you here while you remembered what it is they needed.

As you continued through the hallways you happened upon a large floor to ceiling mirror. You tried to not look, but your curiosity got the better of you.

Your hair was a knotted mess yesterday morning, so you decided to braid it back. Now, long strands fell from it, curling around your face and neck adding to your dishevelment. Dark circles bloomed under your y/e/c and reminded you of the sleep you so desperately needed. The faded Stark Industries tee-shirt hung loosely on your frame over the black elastic biker shorts Nat had given you to borrow. She promised she'd take you back to your Brooklyn apartment at some point to collect your own clothes. You huffed, trying and failing to tuck the few strands that fell from your loose braid back, only having two more shake loose.

As you rounded the corner you noticed two large metal doors. Loud thuds and grunts were protruding out from behind them. The closer you got, the better you could see through the small window.

Nat was sending a graceful roundhouse kick to Bucky's neck. He stumbled taking a few steps back but ultimately gained his balance again. You swallowed a gasp. Bucky was close to twice Nats size. You watched in amazement as she ducked between his legs, sending a swift elbow to the crook of his knee. He immediately dropped.

Quietly you slipped through the gym door, careful not to disturb the two while they circled each other slowly.

You watched in awe as Bucky threw a punch with his metal arm at Nat, who skillfully dodged it, grabbing his wrist and twisting. With the added momentum she swung onto his shoulders, still grasping his arm and yanked him backwards onto the mat with a loud thud.

"Holy shit!" You gasped, and quickly regretted it as the two super heros looked up. You knew they were on your side, but damn. You didn't know how anyone picked a fight with either of them. They both looked so venomous. Nats face softened when she registered your wide eyed gaze.

"She lives!" The Black Widow announced, laughing as she grabbed a towel, patting her sweat slicked face. Bucky stood then slowly, watching you intently like he was waiting for something.

You grin sheepishly and nodded. "That she does. Damn, Mr. Rogers wasn't kidding around. I still feel like I'm vibrating." You chuckled.

"Remember anything?" Bucky spoke suddenly, watching you carefully. You shook your head.

"No, not really. Shuri said it'll take time. That she recovered something, but-" you huffed, a little frustrated and body still sore. "I got this wicked headache instead." You finished. Bucky chuckled and ran his metal hand through his dark hair.

"So," You began, approaching the sparring mat, "do you think you could show me how to do that?" You ask Nat, referring to her insane fighting skills. Her eyes sparkled and she laughed softly.

"I don't know Y/n," she motioned for you to step onto the mat, "think you got what it takes?"

Her dazzling grin dropped almost as fast as her fist flew through the air. You could tell instantly that the blow would miss you entirely, but in that moment something snapped. You closed your eyes and you felt your whole body burst into flames. Images flashed through your mind and when you opened your eyes, everything moved in slow motion.

You looked to your left, watching the assassin's fist fly closer and closer. You tried to take a step back, but your body seemed to switch into auto pilot. In one smooth motion you blocked her wrist, and almost as fast jabbed her side with a harsh blow.

Natasha stumbled back, stunned. You looked down at your hands, like it was the first time you were actually seeing them. Holy shit.

“Oh God, Nat. I didn't mean to!"

Another fist flew at you, to which you ducked, dropping into a squat position you kicked your right leg out. In the same motion you twisted your body, sweeping your foot across the mat and taking Nat down as she gasped. You looked up at her, eyes wide and panting. What the-

"Fuck." Bucky finished your thought. Natasha rubbed her hip in discomfort as she reached for Bucky's hand, pulling her up.

"What the hell was that?" She challenged. You stood, stumbling back a few paces and raising your hands in surrender. What the hell had just happened?

"I- I don't know..." You stuttered, "Nat, I'm so, so sorry I-'' she waved her hand stopping you.

"I'm fine, don’t ever apologise for kicking someone's ass... Maybe you remembered something after all?" She spoke, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow sarcastically.

"My turn." Bucky rumbled. You would have frozen at the darkness in his voice, but your instincts kicked in. The soldier leaned back on his right foot, sending his left rocketing through the air and towards your face. Fire erupted through your body again, startling you awake.

Gracefully you wrapped your arm around Bucky's impending kick, absorbing the blow. His sheer strength made you stumble back a little, but you quickly slid back into the routine.

"Попался” Gotcha’, you smirked. Bucky looked at you, mouth slightly agape.

“What did you just-” He didn't have a chance to finish as you twisted your body, bringing your elbow up delivering it down onto his shoulder with a loud crack. You finished him off with a swift kick through his legs, tackling him to the floor.

"Ow," he mumbled through jagged breaths. You gawked at him in disbelief, holding his hands above his head, straddling the super soldier's waist. Bucky shifted slightly, realising the compromising position you both were in.

"Gotta hand it to ya, punk. That one actually tickled." He chuckled, as you removed your hands from his wrists. He noticed your body was still unmoving, eyes almost glassy. Carefully he tapped your thigh, knocking you back into reality. You physically shook your head, trying to center yourself.

"What happened?" You asked, still straddling Bucky. He looked at you quizzically, trying to read your face for any answers, but came up short.

"Y/n, I think we need to talk to Shuri again." He offered, picking you up by the waist and helping you off the mat.

"Yeah, I think that's probably a good idea." You said, staring wide eyed at the two former assassins.

When you entered the lab, you noticed Shuri was still there. She paced around the room, picking up sheets of paper, scanning them quickly before she looked at the hologram.

"Not possible." She breathed, still unaware of your presence. Bucky cleared his throat, alerting the engineer to the three of you.

"Holy crap!" She jolted. "Hasn't anyone ever told you not to sneak up on a girl with an endless arsonal of deadly weapons before?" Shuri clutched her heart, steadying her breath.

"No, actually." You voiced. Buck coughed trying to cover his laugh.

"Listen, babe. It's important," Nat started, entering the lab further and hoisting her petite figure onto an examining table. "Y/n just handed Bucky his tight ass without breaking a sweat, so we were just wondering... What the fuck?" She emphasized that last word with a raised brow and wide eyes. Bucky scoffed and rolled his eyes as if to say 'she hit you too.' You thought it was probably the cutest thing in the world, watching the former assassin stuff his hands into his pockets and glare at her like he was a kid.

"Y/n, how do you feel?" Shuri spoke, ignoring Natasha, which didn't bother her as she swung her legs daintily off the table.

"Um, fine I think. I'm a little tired but besides that-"

"What's happening here?" Captain America suddenly boomed, storming into the lab. You flinched, startled by his loud voice. Both Nat and Bucky look totally unfazed while Shuri only rolled her eyes. I guess Captains mood swings were a normalcy around here.

Natasha explained the situation to him while he passed the room, arms crossed and a scowl permanently glued to his face.

"How could you let this happen?" Steve finally barked, pointing an accusatory finger at Shuri. You thought if he had spoken to you like that you would melt away, but the small teen only scoffed and brushed him off.

"Hold up, Boomer. I didn't let anything happen. You brought her to me." She started, looking at you almost apologetically. "You told me to find Y/n's memories. That's what I'm doing. Unless you think you could do a better job with your zero years of education and that dinner plate you call a 'shield?'" She scoffed and went back to looking at her computer.

“You made my shield” Steve huffed under his breath.

“Uh, no. How dare you? I would never, the thing is incredibly impractical. I did make it better though.” Shuri mocked the Captain. Jeesh, the girl truly had balls, that's for sure.

"How do you feel?" Steve questioned. It took you a solid five seconds to realise he was looking at you.

"Oh, I'm fine. Yeah, I'm fine. Just really confused." You mumbled, terrified you were going to set the Super Soldier off again.

“Well I can shed some light, would that be okay with you, old man?” Shuri spoke sarcastically to Steve. He only rolled his eyes and waved his hand motioning her to carry on.

“I ran your blood through a few tests. I don't know how I didn’t see this before. I mean it's right in front of us. You failed the drug test. By like, a lot. Which I thought was weird but to each their own ya know? Anyways, I looked into it and your body is literally emanating radiation, which got me thinking. The only people I know who literally sweat steroids are-”

“She’s a Super Soldier.” Steve interrupted. You stared at him wide eyes and back to Shuri. This wasn't possible. You didn't feel super. Actually you felt pretty crappy, to say the least.

“Not exactly. At least, Y/n doesn't have the same chemical compound as you. Whatever serum she's drugged up on, it's not one I've ever seen before.” Shuri finished, holding a test tube of your blood up and analysing it. You felt like you were going to throw up. You didn't know if it was the chaos of the situation or the fun new information that past life Y/n was a steroid junky but it was enough to make you lightheaded. You stumbled back a few paces, uneasy on your feet. A strong arm wrapped itself around your waist, steading you before you could fall. You looked up at Bucky's warm smile suddenly feeling a little more at ease. Gotcha. He mouthed, and you took a deep breath. I am calm, I am okay… Just, breathe.

Ten minutes later and a bunch of arguing the room finally stilled. Shuri explained how she suspected Hydra had a weapon similar to the super-soldier serum, only more complex. The whole thing made very little sense to you.

"Why would Hydra inject me with the serum?" You argued, skeptically.

"Because, they physically couldn't make another drop. Y/n destroyed the lab with all their research. The one they gave to her was the first of its kind. It's flawed and unpredictable. Without her cooperating, recreating a serum was impossible. However, if they injected it into our friend here, they could monitor how it developed in a controlled environment." Shuri explained.

"So, you think the serum they gave me is their super secret weapon?" You asked, stunned. Shuri only nodded.

“You're the blueprint…” Bucky mumbled under his breath. You didn't know if he had meant for you to hear as no one else in the room seemed to notice he had even spoken.

"And you're sure it's in Y/n's system?" Nat asked, her eyes scanning over you.

"I mean, I guess there's only one way to know for sure. I have this…theory. I could be wrong, but I highly doubt it… Y/n, I think it's time you meet our resident teenage witch."

You followed the team into what looked they're common room. Plasma TVs hung on the walls and large floor length windows lined the room.

There sitting on the long couch was a girl. She looked to be about your age, maybe a little younger. You watched as red ribbons of electricity shot out of her hands and through the air like dangerous waves. The small tv remote hovered mid air as her red tendrils held it.

"Maximoff, front and center!" Steve announced loudly, startling the girl causing her to rocket the remote through the air. It flew past you, an inch from your face as it crumbled into the wall behind you.

"Holy shit!" You screamed, ducking as a delayed reaction and holding your hands over your head.

"Language..." Steve lectured under his breath. You mouthed a 'sorry' and stood up again.

"Didn't mean to startle you, I just have someone I'd like you to meet. He gestured towards you as her eyes followed.

"Hi." You spoke quietly. She smiled kindly and spoke apologetically, "Hi. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to throw electronics at you." She shrugged.

"Occupational hazard when you're around me. It's kinda' my thing." You chuckled at that.

"Perfect. Now that you've met... Wanda, will you please fight Y/n." Shuri spoke dryly. The girl, Wanda, looked from Shuri to you.

"Um, no?" You blurted looking at Shuri absolutely terrified. There was no way you were fighting this chick. She just fired a remote at your head with the ease and strength of a shotgun. Hell no.

"Please, you won't hurt her. It's for science." Shuri shrugged, but you weren't sold.

"Yeah, that's not happening. There's gotta be another way we can test your theory." You shook your head frantically. Wanda looked slightly intrigued, crawling across the couch and perching on the arm rest.

"What exactly would you have me do, Shuri?" She questioned, looking wickedly dangerous. The small engineer grinned, crossing her arms over each other.

"Do what we practiced." She cooed, dryly.

The team behind you took a few steps back. You hadn't realised they had deserted you until it was too late. Wanda created a small red blast of electricity in her palm. You watched as she shaped it like a snowball, carefully dropping it between her hands. You watched in awe as it sizzled and sparked between her fingers.

“I really, really don't like this idea.” You voiced, looking back at Steve and Shuri, who only watched in anticipation.

You turned back to face her as the energy surged towards your body. Before it could explode you crossed your arm over your face protecting yourself from its inevitable blow. But it never came.

Carefully you opened one eye, and then the other. More people now gathered in the common room. You looked around at their faces, landing on Bucky who, unlike his teammates looked horrified. You looked down at your hands then, and what you saw made you choke out a gasp.

Your whole body was glowing with the same red electricity Wanda has thrown at you. Your eyes darted up to her and she just stared at you in shock.

"What the hell is happening right now?" You yelled, terrified and feeling like your whole body was vibrating.

"Exactly what I thought would happen. You've absorbed Wanda's powers." Shuri spoke matter of fact, like this kind of thing happened every day. I guess with these people it did.

"Y/n, are you okay?" Bucky demanded. He felt powerless as he watched the Witch’s energy circled around you. You nodded, reassuringly. Though you didn't know if you believed it.

"Okay, what do I do. I don't want this-" you reached your arms out and with a bright flash of red, the electricity exploded from your hands, throwing Wanda off her seat and hurling her backwards. Quickly she caught herself mid air before she crashed through the window, hovering above the floor.

"Holy crap" She screamed, checking she was all in one piece "I sincerely apologise to anyone I've done that to. That really stings." She winced as she landed back on the ground.

"Shit, I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry!" You crossed the room, making sure she was okay.

Wanda laughed, "You sure do make a great first impression." She spoke sarcastically. You half smiled, not knowing how you could help.

"I guess that's kinda' my thing." You spoke, causing a dazzling smile to dance across Wanda's pink lips.

"This is so exciting! I’m going to run back to the lab and run a few more tests. Obviously you aren't able to control how you absorb your opponents powers. You're going to have to practice before we can try that again." Shuri spoke, tearing you away from your exchange with Wanda.

"I am not doing that again." You argued, horrified that you almost chucked Wanda out a plate glass window.

"Sure you are. Come now, science experiment, let's see what else you can do." You huffed and followed Shuri’s voice.

..…………

A/n: as always, feedback it welcomed!! Let me know what you think 💕💕💕

@projectcampbell