#my feelings are hurt in a way i did not know feelings could get hurt

[luveline]

Have you done a drabble on Reid and bombshell r wedding day?? I just read the proposal one and :(( it warms my heart

Ty for requesting!!! fem

The morning of your wedding day isn’t the chaos you’d both pictured. Spencer wears the finest suit he’s ever had. You wear a white silk dress with drops of diamonds hanging in your hair like the rain. There are no morning drinks, no catastrophes to correct. 

You sit on a chaise lounge. He sits in a wooden chair, dragged to you, his hands on your knees careful not to wrinkle the skirt of your dress. 

“It's so quiet,” he whispers. 

“I know.” 

Somewhere in the venue, Penelope and Luke are waging war on the florists —you did not order yellow geraniums. Hotch is explaining to Jack that you and Spencer met years ago, and have been smitten with one another pretty much every moment since. Derek’s cradling his toddler before he takes stage as the best man. JJ, Emily, and Tara are debating the kiss; will you make a show of things, pulling him in by the tie for a smacker, or will Spencer tame the excitement?

There’s a whole team of people making sure today goes smoothly. And still, Spencer‘s worried about some thing. 

“You know how beautiful you look?” 

“I should say that to you.” You reach for his tie, rolling it gently between your fingers. “My beautiful husband.” 

“This is… I don’t really know what to say.” 

“You don’t have to say anything, Spence.” Anything he has to say about you, you know it all. The same way you’ve told him every thought you’ve had about him for years. He’s part of your psyche. 

“I’m so nervous about my vows,” he confesses then. 

“Don’t be.” 

“What if yours are better than mine?” 

“They will be.” You raise your hand tentatively to his face, fingertips drawing in the hollow of his cheek. “But you’re the academic, baby…” 

“I can write them again.”

You smile at him keenly. “If you don’t like them, you can try again on our anniversary. Or in a few years when we renew them, yeah? It doesn’t have to be perfect. You’ve promised me all this stuff for years.” 

“My speech isn’t good enough, either.” 

“Your speech will be perfect. It’s Morgan’s you should worry about, he’s gonna rehash all the embarrassing things… Savannah said he’s been practicing when Hank’s sleeping. That he,” —you laugh, in love with not just Spencer but the world— “keeps waking him up laughing at his own jokes.” 

Spencer dips toward you at the sound of your laughing, he can’t help himself. “If it didn’t wrinkle your dress, I’d really try to have you in my lap,” he admits in a whisper, nothing salacious, just the honest truth. “We could sit on the floor, like we did that time in New York.”

“Where would we get dessert now?” 

“That’s what we’ll do tonight, right?” He looks for your thigh in the dress, squeezing nicely. 

“Yeah, Spence. Yeah, I’ll even put the dress back on.” You tilt your chin up and follow your nose down, meeting his gaze with an unnamed emotion. Total devotion, perhaps. Something too soft to describe accurately. “We’ll share the spoon, just like New York.” 

Three kisses and a careful hug, his hair tickling your forehead as he curls over you. “This is the best day of my life.”

“It’s the best day of mine!” You let your hands climb his back, aiming for the mop of his hair to play with. “You’re everything, sweetheart. You’re just perfect. I can’t believe you’re seeing me in my dress though, everybody says that’s bad luck.” 

But you and Spencer don’t worry about what everybody says anymore. Not for a long time. 

“It’s good to see it now. I… I know I’ll cry, but this is taking the edge off.” 

“Don’t cry, honey. You’ll make me cry, and if I cry up there I’m gonna feel so silly all day.” 

“Silly,” he says, beginning to rub your back in swoops. “If you don’t cry, I might feel jilted.”

“So I have to choose between mortal embarrassment or hurting my husband?” 

He hugs you tighter. You aren’t married yet, but by the end of the night you will be. You’ll order desserts to the hotel room and sit in his lap on the floor by the heater, your white dress surely wrinkled, his tie either side of his neck, undone, neck exposed to be caressed with the tip of your nose. 

“I can’t not cry,” he says now. “Don’t expect me not to.”

“I don’t really expect you not to.” And no one will expect it of you when you cry like a child as he slips on your ring, but it makes sense to him. You and Spencer always make sense to each other. 

[licking-rocks]

Gonna answer these for fun because why not

Good with my mom; amicable but not close with my dad; not too close but alright with my step-dad

My cat lol. Aside from that - my mom, probably

Not off the top of my head, no

Not particularly. I used to be awfully insecure when I was about 17-18, but not anymore. It took a while to internalize the fact that no one else notices the things you're insecure about and if they do, they probably don't think of it as much as you do

Single and very aroace

Quick and painless. Not quick enough for me to not understand what's happening though - I want to know what dying feels like before I go

A bowl of cereal

Somehow this question made me realize that no, I've never played sports. Huh. I thought I used to do at least something when I was younger but nothing comes to mind.

I try not to, but yea. It's a bad habit I'm trying to get rid of. I even tried that nail polish that tastes nasty to make you stop, but still - I can't help it sometimes

When I was a little kid with my sister. I'm not the kind of person to get into fights

Nope :))!

Nope, I don't think I ever even got to 24h awake T~T

No, I don't think so. For some reason hating someone feels childish (the bad kind of childish. Generally I don't mind being childish, so long as it's not petty schoolyard fights)

All of my middle school friends. I didn't miss them as much as I do until I went out with two of them earlier in the year after seeing one on the bus. Now I've realized we've all changed so much we couldn't have the kind of friendships we did even if we really, really wanted to. Also my dad - haven't seen him face-to-face in a few years now. I wish I could give the man a hug

A cat named Spirga :))). Gonna reblog with an image for her when I get home :))

A little anxious - I have to present something in at most a few hours and even though it's only gonna take 5 min I'm nervous about it

I've never made out with anyone at all T~T Also in a bathroom? Seems like an odd spot for it

Only if they're close enough to climb on me. If that little guy is by the ceiling - they're chill and can hang out there all they want. If they're on my desk - please leave and don't hurt me :((

Yea, just to see if everything looked as colorful and nice as I remember it. I want to experience the summer of 2016 again

Ok I had to look up the meaning of "to snog", but nevertheless - primary school's yard, circa 2011

The local thrift chain is dropping their prices to 0.5 euro a piece on Saturday, so I'm going to every. single. one. in my city. And my niece's birthday is on Sunday, so I'm gonna do that too

Biologically - not a single one. Adopted - maybe 2-3, if I'm economically stable enough for it

Just the usual lobe piercings. I'd love at least a few more lobe piercings (I'm thinking 2 in one ear, 3 in the other) and perhaps an industrial or bridge? Idk, haven't thought about it much

In high school, my best was easily English (I don't live in an English-speaking country, so the class wasn't a literature analysis class, but just a regular language class). Currently (3rd semester of uni) it's, oddly enough, gender studies (one of the few free electives that has nothing to do with my actual field of study - geography)

See answer to question 14

So, Lidl has these crispy salted caramel chocolate and it's to die for, I love it

Not that I know of, no

Can't get cheated on if you never date ;)

Can't make a bf/gf cry if you never date ;)

Someone is loudly whispering across the classroom and I can't focus on what the professor is saying

My family and my friends :333

I have a very unhealthy obsession yellow

Quite the opposite - I trust very, very easily. If you aren't holding a knife at me, you could probably easily take me into the woods with you and I wouldn't realize "hey this ain't safe" until way too late

I dreamt I was walking into the woods near my house, got chased by a beaver, fell into the little stream running through the woods (which is, like, 20 cm deep) and somehow got carried right to the Arctic (the little stream does not go directly to the sea. It goes into another river, which I did not end up in. That river also goes into another river, which then goes into the Baltic sea - far from Arctic)

My mom when I decided to drop my driving lessons (I'm SORRY driving a manual is HARD and I'm STUPID and when she reassures me that it's fine I CRY)

I'll give 2565623th chances like it's nothing

Forgive, I think. To forget something truly, really hurtful would take much, much more effort, especially if you plan to keep the person in your life

So far - it's in the middle sorta. Had better, am planning better (first ever solo trip in January 2025 WOOOOO) but I also had a lot of fun this year and would love for every year to be something like this :))

Like 7? I think? I had my last one so far (excluding family members) not too long after lol

.... No?

Grilled cheese. Also your numbers are fuckde up D':

Nah, I think some stuff happens just because

Scrolled Twitter

NO

I try not to be. I hope I'm not

None

Yea :33

Sunny, a little warm (14-16­°C), no wind. I often see this type of weather in mid/late spring and ooooh I love it

Yea, it's fun!!

If it works out, sure. I don't feel romantic attraction, but if a friend asked me to marry them, I'd probably say yes

Depends on the circumstance, I guess. I gotta know them enough/like them enough. Also if they're over 5 years older than me it's not cute, it creeps me out

Dude so, so much - seeing a small animal, nice weather, a good walk, good music, good food, giving gifts or being given gifts, spending time with people I love, talking to new people, even if it's just a quick convo on the bus, making something I can be proud of, etc

Yea, I'd like to one day. I saw the last name "Šalna" ("Frost") in a book and got absolutely enamored with it. Not too sure about a first name though. I want something pretentious on purpose (like the name of a goddess or otherwise a long, uncommon name, like Severija or something (I hate the book I associate this name with, but I gotta say, really rolls off the tongue)

I haven't talked to him in, what, 10-11 years? Also he was kind of a prick, but, then again, he was a kid. Regardless, yea

Think stuff over in terms of compatibility - would we make good roommates? Financial partners? Potentially co-parents? You can't keep a relationship afloat on love and lust, you need to get along in many different spheres of life. Otherwise? I guess I'd go for it

I have like one friend of the opposite sex and we don't talk outside of class

My stepdad, probably

My little sister

Yea. There isn't a doubt in my mind that some people are just meant to be together. Not always romantically, but they're meant to have each other around

Anyone I care about. I'd like to think I'd also die for someone weaker than myself if push came to shove, but I probably wouldn't.

WOW that took longer than expected

70 horrible questions ... Fuck it

01: Do you have a good relationship with your parents? 02: Who did you last say “I love you” to? 03: Do you regret anything? 04: Are you insecure? 05: What is your relationship status? 06: How do you want to die? 07: What did you last eat? 08: Played any sports? 09: Do you bite your nails? 10: When was your last physical fight? 11: Do you like someone? 12: Have you ever stayed up 48 hours? 13: Do you hate anyone at the moment? 14: Do you miss someone? 15: Have any pets? 16: How exactly are you feeling at the moment? 17: Ever made out in the bathroom? 18: Are you scared of spiders? 19: Would you go back in time if you were given the chance? 20: Where was the last place you snogged someone? 21: What are your plans for this weekend? 22: Do you want to have kids? How many? 23: Do you have piercings? How many? 24: What is/are/were your best subject(s)? 25: Do you miss anyone from your past? 26: What are you craving right now? 27: Have you ever broken someone’s heart? 28: Have you ever been cheated on? 29: Have you made a boyfriend/girlfriend cry? 30: What’s irritating you right now? 31: Does somebody love you? 32: What is your favourite color? 33: Do you have trust issues? 34: Who/what was your last dream about? 35: Who was the last person you cried in front of? 36: Do you give out second chances too easily? 37: Is it easier to forgive or forget? 38: Is this year the best year of your life? 39: How old were you when you had your first kiss? 40: Have you ever walked outside completely naked? 51: Favourite food? 52: Do you believe everything happens for a reason? 53: What is the last thing you did before you went to bed last night? 54: Is cheating ever okay? 55: Are you mean? 56: How many people have you fist fought? 57: Do you believe in true love? 58: Favourite weather? 59: Do you like the snow? 60: Do you wanna get married? 61: Is it cute when a boy/girl calls you baby? 62: What makes you happy? 63: Would you change your name? 64: Would it be hard to kiss the last person you kissed? 65: Your best friend of the opposite sex likes you, what do you do? 66: Do you have a friend of the opposite sex who you can act your complete self around? 67: Who was the last person of the opposite sex you talked to? 68: Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with? 69: Do you believe in soulmates? 70: Is there anyone you would die for?

[marscardigan]

bad thoughts

joel miller x reader

Not a lot, just forever universe

This is my first fic here, hope you enjoy thiss <3

Summary: After feeling down for a while, Joel makes you smile again.

Warnings: Pregancy, Ellie being kinda mean.

You have had a shitty day. Since the birth of your baby girl, you felt exhausted. You only wanted to be inside your bed all day, or between your boyfriends arms. So when you came home after a walk to ease your nerves, and you didn't find Joel, you were on the verge of tears. It wasn't really that bad; you just weren't in the mood to get to sleep Clementine, especially knowing how hard it was. It wasn't until Ellie came down the stairs that you got an idea.

"Hey kiddo" You sighed, with your daughter in your arms. 

"Hey," Ellie didn't look at you. Instead, she grabbed a banana and her backpack. "I'm going to Dina's tonight".

"I-uh... I was hoping you could help me to get Clem to sleep." The named one started crying. "I'm exhausted today"

Ellie groaned. "When you're not lately?"

The comment surprised you. "Well, could you help me, please? I promise I will make up to you." You tried to smile, shushing the cries of the baby. 

 "It's- ugh" She looked up at you, now. "I'm kinda late."

"Please, Ells, you know I normally would do it myself, but my back is hurting really bad."

"Jesus." The teenager then grabbed your daughter and went up the stairs. The moment the baby left your chest, she started to get quiet. 

Ten minutes later, Ellie was leaving Clementine's room with an unhappy frown. "Done."

"Thank you so, so much, hon." You then went to hug her, but she dodged it. She was gone by the time you said goodbye. 

The last months, you and Ellie weren't at the best point of your friendship. You tried to think that it was because she was becoming more independent, but when she still did all the things she used to do with Joel, you couldn't help but get an uneasy feeling in your stomach. You then went to your shared bedroom with Joel, and tears started rolling. Likewise, you didn't even hear the front door opening and Joel calling your name. It was then when he found you, curled up in your bed with your face all wet. 

"Hey, hey, hey, angel." He grabbed softly your chin to look at your eyes. "What happened?"

You babbled something, but your head was all melted. You couldn't make coherent thoughts, let alone talk. "It's okay; breathe with me."

Minutes went by, and Joel didn't leave your side until you calmed yourself down. 

"It's just-" You hiccuped. "I just feel like an awful mother"

"With Clem?" You avoided his gaze. "Yeah. And also Ellie. Both hate me."

"Don't you dare to say that." He made you look into his dark, warm eyes. "You are the best mother they could ever ask for. Why would you think that?"

"Well... I can't put asleep my own baby - that I birthed myself - also, if I grab her, she screams like I'm burning her." Tears threatened to come again at the thought of your daughter loathing you. "And Ellie... Lately, I feel like a burden when I'm around her. I feel useless; I miss our relationship before I got pregnant. When she used to tell me everything and we cooked together. I feel like I'm losing them both, and I'm scared that-" Joel called your name in a way that all your bad thoughts vanished. "You are not a burden. And you are absolutely not a bad mother. It is normal you feel that way. I can't imagine all that you have had to be gone through last year. Getting pregnant and giving birth in times like this? That alone is a miracle that you did yourself. And yes, raising a baby and a teenager at the same time might seem like hell, but we will go through it, together" He then kissed your forehead softly. "I've been having this feeling Ellie is kinda jealous or something about Clem, I don't know. What if you two talked tomorrow? Just tell her exactly what you just told me. She might be kinda bratty, but she is mature enough to understand what you're going through. I'm sure. And about little Clem, let me take care of her this week. You need to rest and before caring about others, you need to care about yourself first. If you're okay, we will be okay."

Tears rolled again in your cheeks, and Joel dried up every single one of them. "Please, don't ever think again any of those awful things. You are marvelous, angel." You then smiled, stealing a kiss from those lips you loved so dearly.

[keeryhours]

wildflower chapter three - eddie munson

Eddie Munson x Henderson! female reader

Main Masterlist

Series Masterlist

Eddie Munson Masterlist

Summary:

A confrontation, secrets are revealed.

Chapter Warnings:

Language, drinking, secret baby

Word Count: 3.1k

A/N:

Thank you guys so much for the support on this story ❤️ You’re the best! And thank you to @floredaqueen for being amazing and helping with some dialogue!

—

The world stopped in that moment.

Somewhere deep inside him, Eddie knew. He knew who the child in the photo was. He just didn’t want to believe it or admit it to himself.

He repeated your name, his voice shaking. It felt like you were locked in a stare down with him and Steve, who was frozen in the doorway, ready to back you up however you needed.

The look on your face only confirmed Eddie’s fears. His expression twisted into one of horror. He felt like he was going to be sick.

He was going to be sick.

He dropped the frame back on the counter and sprinted into the bathroom, emptying the contents of his stomach. The hangover did nothing to help the situation, only making him feel even worse.

You looked to Steve, who placed a hand on your shoulder in support. When Eddie returned, looking like absolute hell, you knew you couldn’t avoid the conversation any longer.

“Maybe we should sit down,” you finally managed to say, indicating the sofa.

Eddie nodded weakly, collapsing into the recliner close to him. You took a seat on the couch, sitting facing him. Steve hovered awkwardly by the door.

“Uh…should I leave?”

You knew this was a conversation you should be able to have alone, but you didn’t want Steve to go. The idea of being alone with Eddie again was overwhelming. Especially with the conversation you were about to have.

“No. Please stay.”

That’s all he needed to hear before he was nodding and taking a seat on the couch next to you. Eddie’s eyes were locked on yours, his emotions swimming through them like the crashing tides.

“Please,” Eddie said, his voice small and pleading. “I need you to say it.”

You took a shaky breath. “Eddie…”

“Just say it.”

His tone was harsher that time, and you flinched slightly. Not that you ever thought Eddie would ever hurt you, but you had gotten yourself into a situation that was far more serious than you had ever admitted to yourself.

“His name is Asher,” you started slowly, watching Eddie’s face intently for every reaction. “He’s almost 2.”

“Is he mine?”

The words hit you like a punch to the gut. But you couldn’t run from the truth anymore. “Yes.”

Eddie let out a rush of air, leaning back in the chair and looking up at the ceiling. “Jesus Christ.” His hands were shaking as he rubbed them over his face.

What now? Where do you go from here? You had found yourself in some seriously deep shit. Face to face with the ex boyfriend you hated for years, after drunkenly sleeping with him, now having to admit the existence of the son you hid from him. You could kick your own ass for being so stupid.

“I just…” Eddie finally started, looking like he couldn’t organize his thoughts. He laughed humorlessly. “How could you keep this from me?”

“Because you were finally going to live your life!” you said, finding your voice. You knew you were in the wrong to not tell him about the pregnancy, but you also felt he had no room to be upset with the way he had treated you and your friends. The way he had thrown you all away like trash. “Eddie, you left.”

“So because I left, for the band, that means I didn’t deserve to know about my kid?” He huffed another disbelieving laugh. He was getting angry now.

“You didn’t just leave, you abandoned us! You abandoned me! You said you loved me!” You hadn’t noticed when they started, but tears were rolling down your face now. You wiped them away angrily with the back of your hand. Steve gently squeezed your thigh.

“This is…” Eddie stood up, beginning to pace around the room, running a hand through his hair, which was even wilder and more disheveled than usual. “That’s fucking bullshit. It’s bullshit and you know it.”

“Is it? Because you never called. Why didn’t you fucking call?” You were fully crying now. Steve wrapped an arm around your shoulders, wanting to support you in whatever small way he could.

Eddie stopped pacing and looked at you then. His expression softened. “Baby…”

“I’m not your baby anymore, though, am I?”

He looked as if he’d been struck. “You just…I…you don’t understand. You don’t get it.”

“What don’t I get?” You stood, too, sadness flipping back to anger like a switch. “How hard is it to pick up a fucking phone in two years?”

“You don’t understand what it’s like on the road!” Eddie exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air. “I had no time to myself. And we broke up, I thought…I thought you didn’t want to hear from me anyway.”

“What the fuck are you even talking about?” You yelled back. “You promised. You fucking promised!”

Eddie was pained. He looked at you with his heart breaking in his chest with your every word. “It’s not that I didn’t want to. I never forgot about you. You don’t even comprehend what you mean to me. The moment I let go of your hand that day in front of the tour bus, I realized the magnitude of what I had lost.”

“Then why didn’t you do anything about it?” It was your turn to laugh. “I waited, you know. I loved you.”

Eddie flinched. “Loved?”

You both stood in silence, staring at each other. You took another deep breath.

“Yeah, loved. And you know, the saddest part is that I’d always let you break my heart. I would have let you do it again and again. But not anymore.”

Eddie shook his head. He muttered your name. “I never meant to hurt you. I just…the band-“

“Was it worth it?”

He didn’t know what to say to that. Was it worth it? He couldn’t say. He was living his dream, what he had always wanted. Corroded Coffin was famous, a real band. He was a real rockstar. But at what cost? He had spent the last 2 years living it up, loving his life, but face to face with what he’d given up for it, what he’d left behind - he wasn’t so sure anymore.

“You should have told me,” Eddie said, ignoring your question instead. “About the baby. You should have told me.”

“Would it have changed anything?” You questioned. “Would you have turned around, come home, gave it all up?”

He was lost for words once again. Truthfully, he didn’t know what he would have done. He would like to think he would have stepped up to be a father, not knowingly leaving you to do it alone. But would he have been strong enough to do it?

“That’s not fair.”

“It’s a valid question.”

Eddie shook his head again. “It doesn’t matter now. What matters is that I have a fucking son you didn’t tell me about, who I’ve never met. And that is so fucked up.”

“Don’t even get me started on what’s fucked up, Eddie Munson.”

“This whole situation is fucked up! And if you think you’re not to blame at all here,” Eddie stepped closer, pointing a finger at you, “you’re dead fucking wrong. You had no right to keep this from me.”

Steve stood up then, stepping between you and Eddie. “Okay, let’s calm down-“

“Fuck you, Eddie!”

“Yeah, fuck me.” Eddie laughed again.

“You know what,” you said, looking away from Eddie. You couldn’t stand to see his face anymore. “I’m not ready to have this conversation. I think you should leave.”

Eddie just watched you for a moment. Then, “Fine. But this isn’t over. If that’s my fucking son, I deserve to know about him. I deserve to know him.”

You stood behind Steve as Eddie stormed back into the bedroom, dressing back in his clothes from the night before. He stomped back into the living room and pulled the front door open. He paused, turning back to look at you one more time.

“You’ll hear from me,” he said. Then he left, slamming the door behind him.

You and Steve stood in silence for a minute after Eddie left. The adrenaline flowing through your body began to fade, and you realized all you were left with was the aching in your chest and the tears falling down your face again. Steve wrapped his arms around you in a tight hug.

“Sweetheart,” he mumbled against your hair. “It’s going to be alright.”

As you let the tears flow, crying into his strong chest, you wished you could believe him.

—

Eddie didn’t know where he was going. As he walked down the street your apartment complex sat on, dressed in his dirty, sweaty clothes from the night before and simultaneously seething and hurting, he felt for the first time in years like he didn’t know what he was doing.

He had a kid. A son. With you. A real kid existed out there with his DNA and his eyes and his hair and who knows what else he could have inherited. Did he like music? Was he wild like Eddie was as a child? The thought nearly made him smile to himself.

There was only one thing he could think to do, only one person he wanted to talk to right now.

As he reached a payphone, he dialed the familiar number. He held his breath as he listened to it ring.

“Hello?”

“Wayne,” Eddie breathed out, feeling like a teenager again. “Can you come get me?”

—

“So you went home with her after the show,” Wayne clarified as Eddie finished talking. He sat in his recliner, a beer in hand as he listened to Eddie like he had so many times as he was growing up. Wayne could be counted on for a lot of things, but one of them was to listen to Eddie without judgement.

“Yeah…” Eddie said, knowing he was avoiding voicing the worst part of the situation. He sat on the couch, arms on his knees and fingers nervously playing with his rings.

“Well, that’s not so bad, is it?” the older man said, taking a swig of his beer. “There’s a lot of history between you two, it only makes sense that something like…that could happen.”

“Yeah,” Eddie repeated. It didn’t escape Wayne’s notice that he wouldn’t meet his eyes.

“Is there something else?” he asked, and Eddie hated how well the old man could read him.

“I, uh,” Eddie began, scratching the back of his neck nervously. This would be his first time telling someone, the first time admitting it out loud.

Wayne looked at him concerned, sensing something big was coming. “You know you can tell me anything, Ed.”

“Yeah, yeah I know.” He let out a long breath before finally looking at his uncle. “This is, uh…well, it’s good you’re sitting down.”

Wayne’s eyebrows raised as he took another swig. He waited for Eddie to continue, but his concern was building.

“I, uh…” Eddie watched Wayne’s face intently. “I have a…a son.”

Whatever Wayne Munson was expecting to hear from his nephew, it certainly wasn’t that. He nearly choked on his beer. “You have a what?”

Eddie winced. He knew how it sounded. He knew how it was. “She was pregnant when I left,” Eddie continued. “I didn’t know, I swear. I didn’t abandon my kid or anything like that.” Eddie buried his face in his hands, muttering under his breath, “Christ.”

Wayne’s expression softened. “She didn’t tell you?”

Eddie shook his head. “No.”

“Well…that wasn’t right.”

Eddie felt sick to his stomach again. “Well I, uh…I haven’t exactly talked to her at all since we left.”

Wayne’s look turned to one of disapproval, one Eddie had seen many a time when he had fucked up royally. “Ed.”

“Yeah, I…I know.”

“Jesus, Ed, why would you do that? I thought you loved that girl.”

Eddie let out a long sigh. The truth was that he didn’t know. “I don’t know. I did love her. I do love her. I guess I got so caught up in life on the road. And we broke up, I guess I didn’t think…”

The words hung in the air for a while as the two men sat there, as if waiting to see if Eddie had anything else to say on the matter. It wasn’t a good excuse, he knew it. He knew he had been a dick. Eventually he leaned forward, burying his face in his hands. “God, Wayne, I fucked up bad.”

Wayne considered his words for a moment as he took another few sips of his beer. “It’s not too late to make it right.”

Eddie slowly looked up at him. “It’s not?”

“Of course not.” He gave his nephew a stern look. “But you’re a father now, Ed. It may be late, but you owe that little boy a father.”

A father. He was a father. The thought alone made his head spin.

“How am I supposed to be a father when we’re on the road? When I’m back in California?” Eddie felt hopeless about the situation. The band would be in Hawkins for a while visiting since the tour was over now, but eventually they’d have to get back to it. Back in the studio and eventually another tour. He had a home in California and everything.

“I guess you’re going to have to think over your priorities, Ed,” Wayne said. “I don’t think you need to quit the band or anything like that, but some things will have to change.”

Eddie felt a headache coming on. He hadn’t had a moment of peace in his own brain since seeing that photo on the floor. The second he had seen it, he had known deep down. The kid looked just like him. It almost made him feel a little warm inside.

“I’d like to meet him,” Wayne added. “My great nephew.”

Eddie looked up at him. He hadn’t even thought of that. He’d barely thought about meeting the kid himself. That terrified him. He didn’t have much experience with kids at all, and he didn’t know the first thing about toddlers. And he had missed so much already. He felt like just as shitty of a father as his own, and he hadn’t even started yet. He never wanted to be like his own father.

“Pretty much your grandson,” Eddie muttered, mostly to himself, but Wayne heard and a faint smile spread across his lips.

“What’s the kid’s name?”

“Asher,” Eddie answered. “He…he looks just like me, Wayne. It was fucking crazy. Surreal.”

Wayne’s face softened at that. He remembered perfectly well how Eddie was at that age. How he looked, with those same wild curls, how he was absolutely wild, climbing on everything and making a run for it when they’d be in public. He was a handful, and he could only imagine his son being the same. The thought brought a warmth to his chest.

“I’d like to meet him,” Wayne said again. It made Eddie feel a little bit better.

“If she’ll even let me be involved,” Eddie admitted, not even sure where he stood with you anymore. Did you never want to see him again? He wouldn’t blame you. He’d deserve that.

“It’s about more than just the two of you now, son,” Wayne pointed out. “This is about that little boy, and he needs a father. He deserves that much.”

Eddie knew he was right. He didn’t know if you would even accept his calls at this point, or answer the door for him if he showed up again, but he had to try. He wasn’t going to be a deadbeat like his father was. He was going to step up.

He was going to figure this out.

—

When you picked up Asher from your mom’s, he was thrilled to see you. You were excited to see him, too, but he reminded you of Eddie even harder than he usually did today.

“Hey, Ash,” you said as the toddler ran to you, wrapping his arms around your legs. You scooped him up, placing a kiss to the top of his head.

“We had a great time, didn’t we?” Your mother said with a smile, the family cat, Mews, in her arms.

“Gamma,” Asher told you, pointing to Claudia.

“That’s right,” she cooed, leaning forwards to place a kiss on his soft chubby cheek.

“Where’s Dusty?” you asked, placing Asher back down on the ground as he started wiggling to escape. He ran back to the toys he’d been playing with.

“Oh, he’s in his room.” She sat back in her chair, watching Asher play.

You made your way through your childhood home, down the hallway and to Dustin’s room. You knocked and were greeted with a “Come in!”

“Hey, Dusty,” you said as you walked in. Your brother was at his desk, working on something on his new computer. It was still sometimes hard to believe your little brother was growing up, in 11th grade now.

“Hey,” he greeted, turning around in his chair as you sat on his bed. “How was the show?”

You leaned forward, burying your face in your hands in answer.

“Oh,” he said. “That bad?”

“I’m a fucking idiot.”

“Yeah, I know.” He laughed, pushing some of his curls out of his face. “But why this time?”

“He saw a photo of Asher. He figured it out,” you admitted, finally looking up to meet Dustin’s gaze. His eyes widened.

“Eddie? How did he-“ Dustin’s eyes somehow became even wider as he realized. “Oh, no. No. You took him home?”

You groaned, flopping back on the bed. That was answer enough.

“You really are a fucking idiot,” he said.

You chucked a pillow at his face. “Yeah, thanks.”

He let out an “Oof” as the pillow hit him. “Well, what happened?”

You recounted the whole morning to him. Steve coming over, Eddie finding the photo, the fight, kicking him out. Dustin listened intently, without judgement despite his teasing.

“So, what are you going to do? Are you going to talk to him again?” Dustin asked.

You bit the inside of your lip. “I guess I have to. If he wants to be in Ash’s life, I can’t exactly tell him no.”

“Does he want to be?”

“I don’t know,” you admitted. “I think he was still dealing with the shock of it when we talked. I guess we need to talk again.”

“Eddie’s a good guy,” Dustin said, his expression soft. “He’ll do the right thing. Even if it takes him some time. I know he cared about you.”

Your brother could be perceptive, and if you’d ever hoped he was right, it was now. Truthfully, you had never moved on from Eddie. There had been no one else. You suspected he couldn’t say the same, and the thought made you sick. All the time you had known him, you had felt you could rely on Eddie. You weren’t so sure now, but you hoped Dustin was right.

At the end of the day, you just wanted the best for your son. And maybe to be happy, too, finally.

tag list

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[filthyf1]

A Long Short Time

pairing: Daniel Ricciardo x Reader

content warning: MINORS DNI (18+); Porn WITH Plot, cunnilingus, blowjob, unprotected sex, slightly tipsy sex?... Not entirely healthy relationship dynamics….

summary: Daniel and you broke up two months ago. He comes back to get the last of his things…. And the rest is history.

word count: 5k

author's notes: AHHHHHH this was so nerve wracking.... it's been so long since I've written anything so please let me know your thoughts!!!

____

Two months. A short time that felt like a millenia to you. The apartment felt emptier than usual. He wasn’t there often before, but it was more than never. Life felt slow and tedious, and you weren’t exactly adapting well. 

It had been two months since you and Daniel broke up. That felt like such a silly and simple way to explain it, but that’s exactly what happened. It was and then it wasn’t. Four years and it was over just like that. 

Daniel was let go from VCARB after the Singapore GP. The fans could tell something was wrong from his interviews, and their guesses were spot on. He’d known it was the end and given it his all, understanding that it wouldn’t be enough. His whole life came to an abrupt halt, just like that. What was the point of contracts in the first place? It felt like a crime to let him go before COTA, and yet… 

Just as his career came to a screeching halt, your relationship did as well. The comfort you thought you could give was simply not enough. Nothing you could say or do could make it right. It made sense even if it hurt. What do you do when the thing you’ve worked for your whole life gets pulled out from under you? Some people cope and move on, collect the pieces and figure out how to go forward. Some people burn the rest of the world around them and crash. 

What began as trying to comfort him turned into an all-out shouting match and ended in the door slamming behind him. 

“I can’t do this! What the fuck would you do?”

“I don’t know! Lean on my friends? Family? My fucking girlfriend, maybe?”

“Well, nothing like this has happened to you. You just get to sit around and be pretty. Life is so fucking easy for you.”

That last one stung - his sharp words certainly hit their mark. You played the conversation over and over again in your head for the past 60 days, trying to think of an alternative ending.

The movers eventually came and took his things, leaving both the space and your heart wide and empty. And that was how the past two months went. Your apartment was small, but when a whole other person’s things were removed, it felt much too large.You got to see him unwind and find himself by his own posts and his friends’ on social media. The news outlets were fucking annoying. Apparently, one of the most interesting things to report on was an F1 driver’s relationship status. And the paparazzi had exactly as much sympathy as you expected. You were sure there were at least a dozen photos of you crying floating around on Twitter, Facebook, etc. 

It was your turn to feel stuck. You felt like the last four years were a waste. What were you working towards? It was upended so swiftly and easily. You saw Daniel regaining the light back in his eyes while he attended sporting events and went dirt biking with his friends. You sat in your flat drinking wine and looking at the city lights contemplating what could have been. 

There were things you wanted to accomplish that you put on the back burner and now regretted never pursuing. Maybe once you got your spirit back, you’d go after the fashion degree or write that book that always sat in the back of your mind. Just a little bit more groveling…

What really hurt was finding things the movers missed. Little things here and there that you knew he would miss, a helmet here, a jersey there. So instead of burning them like a lot of people might, you gathered them and put them in a box. You put your big girl pants on and sent him a text, hoping it would still go through, and let him know he could pick it up whenever he was back in the city. And to your surprise, not only did the message go through, but he answered. It was the only thing you’d heard from him since he left and unfortunately, you clung to it. 

It was another Friday night that wine was your companion. Your friend had visited for a few days for some gossip and retail therapy, but unfortunately she had left earlier that day and you let the loneliness seep back in. The riesling helped dull it a little bit. You were halfway through the bottle, feeling the pleasant buzz settle into your muscles. 

Music swept through your apartment while you danced and cleaned things here and there when your phone dinged on the counter, interrupting the melody you were currently feeling. Thinking it was your friend who forgot her lipstick on your counter, you swiped the message open without a second thought. Once you read it, however, the blood drained from your face and you looked on in horror.

Be there in 20 if you’re still awake.

Okay…. Okay. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

You were very much not sober enough for this. The bottle of wine looked on in amusement and you glared at it, as if it wasn’t your choice to partake in the first place. That still didn’t stop you from chugging the rest of the glass in front of you. Maybe it would help you to be more relaxed or cool in his presence. You glanced at the clock on your oven.

11:20PM.

Late, but not ridiculously so. You wondered what exactly he was doing in the country. But that wasn’t really any of your business anymore. 

It was fully in your right to deny him, let him know it was not a good time to stop by. Your sober self needed 3 to 5 business days to prepare for this, but your tipsy self wanted him to stop by now. Your chest ached at the thought of seeing his face again in person. You craved it desperately. Against your better judgement, your fingers sent out a quick, “Ok.”

Oh, God, what were you doing? 

Simply put, you fucking missed him. There was no denying or getting around it.

“Fuck, this is happening,” you breathed to yourself. You ran a hand through your hair, a nervous mess. You ran to the bathroom to do a once over; you looked as much a mess as you expected. Hair everywhere and eyes slightly glassy from alcohol. You swallowed hard, trying to fix things, but gave up after a minute or two.

Sitting back in your kitchen, you nursed another glass of wine. There was no going back now, so you might as well commit. A knock came a few minutes later, causing you to jump in your seat. 

“Fuck,” one more for the road. 

You approached the door slowly like a victim in a horror movie. One last hesitation, and the door swung open and there he was.

He stood tall, not at all bowed under the pressure he had experienced so recently. His hair was longer than you remembered, the curls so perfect and tangled it hurt. They weren’t yours to run your hands through anymore. You were sure you looked sad and pathetic, and he stood in front of you looking healthy and radiant, something you hadn’t seen in a long time. He looked damn good.

A breathy, “Hi,” was all you could muster. You immediately kicked yourself internally. So much for keeping your cool. Daniel gave you a once over that made you feel hot inside and self-conscious at the same time.

“Hi,” he gave a soft smile and you nearly melted. It was such a stark difference from how your last conversation ended. You stood in silence for another few seconds, taking him in. This was how you wanted to remember him. 

“Fuck, uh, sorry, I don’t have your stuff here,” you shook yourself out of the trance. “Do you… want to come in for a minute?” You weren’t sure if this was a good idea or not. You didn’t have a great track record with exes and them visiting your place of residence. 

“I’ve got the time,” he said. 

You’d be lying if a plethora of less than innocent thoughts were running through your head. He looked better than you remembered, and the feelings were still there, ready to be unearthed at a moment's notice.

He took everything in. The air felt heavy with unspoken tension and you wondered what he was thinking. His eyes settled on the empty wine glass and less than full bottle.

“Been drinking?” He asked and a smirk settled onto his lips. His facial hair was growing in, and you’d be lying if your mind didn’t wander. Beard burn was a hell of a drug.

“Yea,” you said sheepishly, a hand running through your hair to dispel your nerves. “There’s whiskey if you want a drink. I still have your favorite… I don’t really drink it…” You trailed off, not really expecting him to accept. You thought he would be itching to leave as soon as possible, the weight of the last conversation heavy on your mind. To your surprise, he opened the cabinet that he knew very well and grabbed the whiskey. He grabbed a glass (that cabinet never changed either) and poured himself a double. 

“Cheers,” he held the cup out. You poured the rest of the wine into your stemmed glass and clinked your glass against his. You paused, watching him down the glass, his Adam's apple bobbing and a single droplet of whiskey dripping from his lips and trailing down his neck. Sinful thoughts flashed across your eyes, but long gone now were the days where you could lick it away. You averted your eyes quickly and drank your wine in one swift gulp. Anything to distract you from the images circling through your head. 

“You’ve been doing well - at least from what I’ve seen,” you placed the wine glass down in the kitchen sink and Daniel followed suit. The heat of his body was heavy behind you, his arm right next to yours. You fought everything in you to fight freezing. Surely, he wasn’t doing this on purpose? You didn’t have much time to contemplate as his body was gone in the next moment. 

He leaned against the kitchen counter - his arms propped his body up and you chose to avert your eyes from his toned form. Two months was clearly not enough time to stop those thoughts from clouding your mind. Was it you or did he just look you up and down?

“I’ve been… okay,” he didn’t elaborate, but the silence explained enough. Maybe it was easier to put on a smile for the camera.

“You still miss it,” it wasn’t a question.

“Every day,” he nearly whispered. His warm brown eyes held yours for a second too long and you wondered if you were still talking about racing. You cleared your throat, not totally sure how to address that. 

“Things ended pretty poorly, huh,” you averted your eyes. Now was not the time to let your tears get the best of you. Your last argument was the elephant in the room and you’d explode if you avoided it for another second. There was a tightly wound bundle of resentment, pain, and anger in your stomach. You were mad at him for walking away. Mad that he seemed to get over things pretty damn quick while you were still fumbling for a grasp on things. Mad that he walked right back in like nothing happened.

“You could say that again,” he said simply. You went to speak again but he cut you off. “I’m sorry for the things I said.”

Your eyes shot to his. He wasn’t really one to open up and talk about things like that. He tended to take things out on the track and work through them that way. He didn’t have that anymore though, so maybe he found talking was easier these days. 

“Thank you,” you said roughly. Blinking rapidly to stop tears from coming forward. What were you supposed to do now? You never stopped loving him, but you were feeling so many other conflicting feelings at the same time. Daniel made a move as if to come forward and comfort you, then thought twice about it. He was obviously feeling a lot of things too. He cleared his throat.

“So, you said you put everything in a box?” He looked around. If things were heavy before, they weighed a ton now. 

“Um, yes, your stuff is in the hall closet. I put it in a box for you - I’m not sure it'll fit in whatever car you drove, but you can always send someone to pick it up for you,” you over-explained as you walked towards said storage. Were you delirious or was that his body heat on your back? This time it did not disappear. 

You slowed, turning to face him. He was as close as you suspected, his strong frame standing over you. His pupils were blown, his breathing slightly accelerated. You’d be a fool to deny that his scent was intoxicating. The same cologne and musk you remembered that was distinctly Daniel made your head spin. You swallowed hard and Daniel’s eyes flickered down to your eyes then your throat.

“Daniel?”

“I’ve missed you,” he breathed out, his voice deep and husky. Your heart pounded hard in your chest. You wanted this more than anything. You wished he’d just kiss you already. Your body ached to feel his against yours again. It had been so long. You were both suspended in time, your eyes locked with each others’.

“I missed you, too,” you replied. He looked relieved at that, like he thought you had moved on. As if you’d ever be able to do that.

“Yea?” He was even quieter that time.

“So fucking much.”

“Can I kiss you?”

“I wish you would.”

Whatever dam was once there broke in an instant. Daniel surged forward and his lips enveloped yours. You couldn’t help the groan that leaked from your throat. You missed this so much it hurt. One of his hands wrapped around your waist, pulling you into him. His other hand found the back of your neck and his fingers wrapped into your hair. His body was hot against yours, your skin searing wherever it touched his. He backed you into the wall without his lips leaving yours once. You eagerly reached your hands to his hair and pulled on the curls you missed so much which earned you a groan in return. You fit together like two puzzle pieces. 

You gulped in air as he moved his attention to your neck, his facial hair scratching you in the way you remembered. Words couldn’t describe how much you missed this. His leg parted yours to push against your clothed cunt and pin you to the wall. God, if he thought you were moaning like a whore now… He suckled hard on the soft skin of your collar bone and your fingers tightened in his hair.

Things were complicated, sure, but this was here and now. Right now you were feeling pretty damn good for many reasons and your present self didn’t care much about the potential consequences. Daniel was a man starved and you were an oasis in the desert. 

“Take me to the fucking bedroom before I strip you here,” you barely got out.

“Can do,” he replied between pressing kisses up your neck. “Not that I would entirely mind…” His strong arms moved to loop under your thighs and lift you up easily. He took a moment to hold you against the wall and kiss you again. His need was as evident as yours; you could feel him straining against his jeans. His tongue was hot and furious against yours and you feared being fully consumed by him. 

Your body temperature was running at one-thousand degrees and you felt like you were about to burst. Daniel’s tongue was wet and insistent against yours and you drank him in. Soft groans echoed from him and you could barely handle it. He carried you to your room, placing you softly onto your plush bed. His body was heavy upon yours, barely holding himself above you. You took the opportunity to roll your hips against his, eliciting a moan from both of you. You wondered if he was with anyone in your absence and then quickly pushed that thought away. It was none of your business, and you chose to believe the answer was no based on the way he was acting. 

Your hands trailed around each other; you missed the feel of each others’ bodies. Something told you that neither of you would last long. Already you feel yourself soaking through your panties.

Barely able to tear himself from you, Daniel managed to rip his shirt off. He looked just as good as ever and your mouth watered at the happy trail disappearing into his pants. 

“See something you like?” He grins evilly.

“Shut the fuck up and take my pants off,” you sigh. He did not need to be told twice. Your pants were removed in a flash leaving you in your underwear and shirt. The shirt was quickly removed after. Lucky for you, it was nearing laundry day which meant you had only your skimpiest and laciest underwear leftover. 

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Daniel sighed. 

“I’d apologize but I’m not sorry…”

“You’re going to be the death of me,” he leaned back in and placed soft kisses down your torso. His hands pawed your chest roughly, pinching your nipples between his fingers and causing you to keen into him. He came back to place one more kiss on your lips and captured your bottom lip between his teeth to nip at the soft, swollen skin. You rolled your hips into his again but this time he caught them and pushed his own into you to fight back. Everything with him was a delicious push and pull.

He edged back down, but not without placing wet kisses along your torso on his way there. He grabbed the band of your underwear between his teeth and pulled them off. His eyes held yours as he did so and you felt the blood rush to your cheeks. The man knew how to make you blush, that was for sure. They peeled back from your dripping pussy in a way that was almost embarrassing. You didn’t miss when he took the panties and shoved them into his back pocket. 

His lips ghosted over the inside of your thighs and drank you in in a way that made you light headed. You wanted nothing more than him to put his fucking mouth to work. He could sense your urgency and gave a cheeky chuckle.

“Don’t pretend you don’t want this as much as me. I’ll suck your dick if you hurry up and eat me out,” you threatened.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

His mouth was warm and the pleasure shot deep through your core as soon as he ran his tongue over you. 

“Fuck,” you barely managed. Your head hit the mattress - Daniel held you tight and didn’t allow an inch for you to squirm. Your legs draped over his shoulders and your toes curled as he worked on you. The wet sounds that came from your cunt were sinful; when Daniel paused for air and to smile at you, you could see his chin glistening. He was relentless, moaning into your folds and your head started swirling. “Daniel,” you gasped and one hand clawed at his shoulder while the other held tightly to his hair. “I’m not gonna last - if you keep doing that I’m gonna come.”

“Good,” he barely pulled back. Now that he had that information, he didn’t hold back and within a minute you were writhing and moaning underneath him as white hot pleasure coursed through you. He alternated between sucking and swirling his tongue around your clit. His strong arms barely flexed to hold you down as your hips rolled against his tongue. He only relented when your hips stuttered as you became overstimulated. You were gasping and swearing. It was way too long since you’d felt like this. He pulled back, but only far enough to place more open-mouthed, sloppy kisses along your thighs. He let you recover and kissed his way back up your body on your hips, your stomach, your breasts, and finally your collarbones and neck. 

“Sooooo, you said something about getting my dick sucked?” He asked and completely evaporated the heavy mood. You couldn’t help the laugh that exploded from you and you hit his shoulder weakly. He fell back dramatically on the bed, holding his shoulder in mock pain. “You wound me, woman!”

The light humor was nice, but it made your heart ache. You missed this so much and you realized that this ended with Daniel walking out the door. This was all a moment of passion after time apart. He’d take the rest of his things and go back to his life and you’d go back to yours. Instead of wallowing, you chose to shove it to the back of your mind and enjoy the moment that was happening in front of you. You put the smile back on your face and turned your attention back to Daniel. You kissed him deeply and softly once and ignored the slightly confused look on his face.

You pushed him back into the bed and he propped his head up by putting his hands behind his head, and you swallowed hard at his flexing biceps. He still wore his jeans so you palmed him roughly through the thick fabric which earned you a look that could kill. You licked a stripe over the coarse hair that sprouted up his stomach. He was hot and salty with sweat and you craved to take him into your mouth. 

Removing his belt slowly, you teased him; how much could he take? To your surprise, he was exceedingly patient and looked down at you with a disgusting smirk.  You pulled down his jeans and wiped said smirk off his face by placing a feather light kiss over his clothed cock. He smelled hot and musky, and you couldn’t wait to strip him completely. The pants and boxer briefs came off together and got tossed somewhere along the rest of the clothes on the floor.

He was just as you remembered. You suppressed the whine that built in your throat. He was already cocky enough; he didn’t need to know you missed sucking him off. You took as much of him in your mouth as you could, the rest taken care of by your hands. Another thing he didn’t need to add to his ego was his size. He was heavy and warm on your tongue with the sting of bitter saltiness from the precum that leaked from his swollen, red tip. A deep groan came from him and you looked up to see his head thrown back and his bottom lips caught between his teeth. A small ego boost for you too. 

You dragged your tongue from his base to his tip. Following the thick vein that ran up his length, you took him in again and hollowed your cheeks. He couldn’t control the groans and moans that spilled from him and one of his hands came down to wind through your hair and hold it up.

“Look at me,” he commanded. Bold of him, but you had to admit you missed this possessive side of him. You obliged him and looked him dead in the eyes but did not pause your ministrations. You let him push his hips into your mouth to fuck your throat. You were out of practice and gagged once before holding it back. Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes and you loved it. You swallowed around his length and his hand tightened painfully in your hair. His hips thrusted against his own will and his eyes squeezed shut. “Okay… okay, stop, or I’m not gonna make it to the main event,” he breathed heavily. Still got it, you thought smugly. You released him but not before placing one last kiss on the crevice between his crotch and his thigh which earned you a satisfying twitch.

You climbed up, settling yourself on his lower stomach. This was one of both of your favorite positions. Daniel loved seeing you above him, riding his cock and finding the exact right spot that got you off. It was a position that allowed you both some control and he liked being able to see your face. You scooted back and grabbed his length, ready to position him and sink down when he halted you by catching your hips in both of his hands.

“Fuck, I didn't bring a condom,” he sighed and paused. You almost lost your mind. 

“I don't fucking care,” you moaned and pushed against him. “And I'm still on the pill.”

“You didn't stop it?”

“Just be glad I didn't and fuck me already, Daniel,” you whined. You knew adding his name would be the cherry on top of a cake he couldn't deny. He took the head of his leaking cock, swiping it through your folds to collect the excessive wetness there, and pressed himself into you slowly. The stretch ached deliciously. It had definitely been awhile. Daniel hissed between his teeth as you sunk down on his length inch by agonizing inch. 

When he was fully inside of you, you took a moment to adjust. You steadied yourself with your hands on Daniel’s chest, and he grabbed your wrists to pull you back down to him. Your lips met his in a surprisingly tender kiss that stirred things in your chest that you were having trouble keeping buried. You blinked away tears for the second time that night, but this time a warm hand came to cup your cheek and stroke the skin there. 

Whatever happened tonight, you hoped you and Daniel talked after this. He brought you so much joy and comfort. His warm brown eyes held yours as if to say everything would be okay.

“Okay, I’m fine. You can start moving,” you breathed out and began rocking your hips. He listened and held your hips to guide you up and down on his cock. He felt just as good as you remembered. Maybe better. The room was filled with the harmony of your moans and the wet, rhythmic slaps of your hips meeting each other. There was no sweeter sound.

“Fuck, you feel so good, baby,” he moaned. “So fucking good for me. So tight and fucking soaking. All for me,” his hips snapped to meet your movements. Him calling you baby lit a spark in your belly and spurred you on.

“Faster. Fuck me faster, Daniel,” you whined, desperately chasing your high. He complied and moved faster and harder. He stuck his two forefingers in your mouth and you sucked on them, your tongue swirling around the digits. You looked at him through your lashes and he groaned deeply. You felt deeply in your soul that only you two could have this effect on each other. His thrusts became more erratic, his breathing deeper and faster, and you knew he was nearing the edge. You decided to spur him on, wanting to hear his sweet sounds and see the beautiful face he made when he reached it. You beared down on him, squeezing him and matching his rhythm.

“You’re so good, Danny. You make me feel so good,” you could barely get the words out.

His eyes squeezed shut as he tried to maintain his composure. Sweat beaded on his brow and shined on his chest. One hand left your hip to rub quick circles on your clit to give it right back to you. You were so sensitive from earlier that the effect was immediate. One hand flew to muffle the sounds coming out of you, but Daniel ripped it away. He wanted to hear every sound uninhibited. 

He held on until your orgasm crashed over you. You hoped you wouldn’t be receiving a noise complaint from your neighbors the next day, but would understand why if you did. Your thighs shook and you couldn’t control how you rutted against Daniel like a crazed person. That was all he could take and his hands tightened painfully into your soft skin. He bit his lips hard and his eyes screwed shut. His hips hit once, twice more before slowing. Was that a whine coming from him? God, that sound alone could make you cum again. You reveled in the bliss, slowly moving your hips to ride it out. 

The room was quiet for a few minutes after, save the heaving breathing coming from both of you. Finally, you pulled yourself from Daniel, a soft sigh coming from him. You were battling yourself on what to do next. Now that it was over… What came next? Maybe you would take a hot shower and then he’d be gone with his things when you emerged. That was usually how this kind of story went, right? At least he wouldn’t be around to see you fall apart.

You made a start to get off the bed, but a warm hand wrapped around your wrist. You were pulled back down. Warm arms wrapped around you and then you were laying against his overheated body, your legs draped over his like nothing had ever changed.

“Don’t go,” he said into the top of your head.

[everyonewooeverywhere]

X-RATED X-MAS DAY 2: CNC & KNIFE-PLAY W/ YUNHO

pairing: yunho x female!reader

rating: 18+

content/warnings: cnc, pet names (little bunny, baby, good girl), knife-play (more like a knife is present in the scene, but no one is cut), "break in" (he has the key)

notes: inbox is open for the ✨holiday season✨

NSFW 18+ | MINORS AND AGELESS BLOGS WILL BE BLOCKED

Your agreement is pretty simple. As long as you’re alone in your apartment, he gets free reign. He can take you in any room, on any surface, in any position or hole. It’s all up to him. And fuck if he doesn’t get off to the adrenaline of it all.

And a little breaking and entering never hurt anybody, did it? (you gave him a copy of your key.) Loves to creep into your apartment when he knows you’re home. Will find you sitting on the couch watching a movie all alone. And you’re so engrossed in it that you don’t hear the click of the front door. And you don’t notice him standing behind you. Watching you as you stare intently at the TV. He finds it endearing. How you’re able to ignore the world. Able to feel so safe in your own home that you never think for a second someone could be there to hurt you.

Eventually he has to break you out of your little trance though. Running a soft hand over your hair from where he stands next to the couch. Clamping his other hand over your mouth to stifle your yell. “Shhh little bunny. Don’t wanna wake the neighbors, do we?” You take a deep breath through your nose, and he gives you a few moments to tap out now if you need it. And after a few beats you tap his arm twice, a green. “Good girl,” he mutters into your hair, “Now where do we start with you…” 

He takes a hand away from your hair to grab the knife he’s kept hidden in his pants. Leaning over the couch and running the tip of the blade over your bare thigh. Watching the goosebumps rise on your skin. You’re shaking at the content. Shivering as he keeps his hand secure over your mouth. He crawls over you, securing the dull end of the blade against your throat. Pressing his thigh between your legs. The teary look in your eyes goes straight to his dick. 

And with the knife to your throat and his hand practically swallowing your face, he leans down to your ear. “I bet you’re dripping for me, aren’t you little bunny?” And you try to shake your head under the pressure of his hand, whining out a muffled ‘no.’ He smiles that evil smile you’ve come to know very well, “Mmm well there’s only one way to find out, isn’t there?”

And oh how he loves to watch you struggle. Watching you wiggle around under him. Knowing you’d be thrashing around if he didn’t have a knife to your throat. He finally removes his hand from your mouth to cup your pussy, slipping your panties aside to feel your soaking core drip all over his fingers. “Filthy fucking whore.” He smiles down at you, “I knew you liked this shit. Bet you want me to fuck you, too, don’t you?”

You shake your pretty little head desperately, “No…” you choke out under the pressure of the knife. “No? Really?” He frowns down at you with faux sympathy. “Then beg me, little bunny. Beg me not to fuck this pretty pussy until it’s gushing all over my cock.”

And the tears start flowing, and he already thinks he’s gonna cum. “Please…please don’t—“ You’re breath catches when he turns the knife around. 

You whimper when he rolls his hips into your core. “I’m sorry, baby. You were never gonna convince me anyway.“

alternative taglist (gen):

@funnyvxlentine @skzdust @sunwoosbaby @atzlordz

alternative taglist (ateez):

@linearities @sillycataround @tiny2018 @certifiedmoa @togazzo

@desirehorizon

[nmakii]

the look of love, the rush of blood

— what it means to date nagi seishiro, but not actually date him

yes this all happened sue me writers are thieves. omfg this id os humiliating to acc write down why is my life like this guys. btw can u guys like… gen tell me what u think ab this dynamic in comments i have to know im so bad at relationships

dating nagi seishiro, but not actually dating him means staying up until 2 AM together. it’s finals week, and you’re supposed to be studying. but nagi wanted to play dress to impress with you, and promised he’d help you study after 5 or so rounds.

dating nagi seishiro, but not actually dating him means everyone at school thinking you’re dating. even reo asked if you have feelings for him, and when you insistently said no, he replied, “alright, alright..! just trying to make sure nagi doesn’t end up hurt.” so that nagi doesn’t end up hurt? what does that even mean?

dating nagi seishiro, but not actually dating him means starting volleyball together. you always meant to pick up a sport sooner or later, but you were too old. it’ll be embarrassing to pick one up this late! you told nagi about this, and he said, “i mean… it’s a lot less running than in football, so maybe i’ll try it out with you?”

dating nagi seishiro, but not actually dating him means him watching your favorite anime for you. nagi always said that it wasn’t his type of show, you never really expected him to actually watch it. but one day you get a message— “finished s1, but i cant find s2… not on netflix? :x” from then on, he practically enabled you to keep ranting about the show, and he even got a little shocked when you had told him a fake spoiler.

dating nagi seishiro, but not actually dating him means him insisting to pay him back, but not actually doing anything about it. occasionally, when nagi isn’t too tired, the two of you meet up for breakfast in the morning. he lives closer to school, so he usually always gets there earlier. you always ask him to buy your order and he agrees, only on the condition you pay him back. you always pay him back with baked goods, and he always eats them up. and, he still insists he wants his cash back! you’ve given him cookies and brownies worth more than 3 orders of pancakes, you’re starting to wonder if he just likes your baking.

dating nagi seishiro, but not actually dating him means hanging out after school. nagi trains a lot. he has to, apparently, in order to become the best striker in the world. but, it doesn’t mean he likes it. if he had it his way, he’d walk to the mall with you and share a cup noodle everyday after school. he’d love to just sit around the convenience store with you for forever— or at least until he wanted to go home. but unfortunately, that time is only limited to an hour before club training starts.

dating nagi seishiro, but not actually dating him means telling him about all the people you don’t like. nagi’s a pacifist. he likes to think that he’s a very peaceful and chill guy. there isn’t many people he actually hates. but apparently, you do. you tell him almost every week about at least one person who did you wrong, or a guy who keeps harassing you— it almost makes nagi think, ‘is it actually possible for one person to get harassed this much?’. nonetheless, he still listens and internally rolls his eyes when he sees one of the people you’ve mentioned.

dating nagi seishiro, but not actually dating him means him ditching his hang out to go with you. blue lock just won against the japan U20 team. no one thought they could make it. and as a reward, anri decided that they deserve some free time to themselves in the outside world. isagi had invited nagi, chigiri, bachira, and some others to hang out with him. but because he overslept, he just decided not to go… instead he went to your house. “hey, let’s go to an arcade today?” he asked. the two of you headed into your favorite arcade somewhere in shibuya and since he was so near the café he was gonna originally meet isagi at, he did intend to say hi… but that plan sort of went out the window.

“nagi… let me win for once, would ya?” you grumbled. “but, i’ve already got 15 wins, i don’t wanna lose…” he hums in return. and when he finally K.O.’s your character, you hear a loud gruff voice.

“hey, you pain-in-the-ass gamer prince!” it calls out. and by the disgruntled look on his face, it seems nagi already knows who it is. “yer gonna lose yer friends, ya jerk!” the voice suddenly runs in behind nagi and grabs him by the neck. you recognize that face, it was the #6 of last night’s game! “caught him red-handed!” reo laughs.

you’re suddenly a bit shy surrounded by all these new people, not to mention the fact that they’re basically mini-celebrities. “oh? who’s this one you’re hanging out with?” the boy in the beanie asks, walking up to you. you’re suddenly intimidated by the aura that surrounds him. “…wanna see some ninja arts?” he asks.

you’re tempted to say yes, you’ve never seen a ninja before. the choice is taken though when that aforementioned #6 and a boy with pink hair in an updo bun (he looks like a girl, but you’re sure he’s a guy since he was in last night’s game…) yell at him. “don’t go doin’ yer stupid seducing tricks, moron!”

ignoring all of that, nagi finally answered, “…this is s/o, my friend.” isagi nods, and reo almost looks like he wants to scoff at the title, ‘friend’. “so you ditched isagi to hang out with s/o? way to choose your priorities, nagi..!” reo laughs. “well, i haven’t seen s/o in weeks… and i’ve been seeing all of you too much…” he mumbles.

most of them look rightfully offended, most especially isagi, the boy with pink hair, and another boy with a brown and yellow bob cut. the three of them drag nagi over to the dart board as the boy with the bob hums, “let’s party! nya haaa! ♪”

reo grins and encourages you to follow the group, “c’mon, let’s hang! i know nagi especially will be really glad to have you along!” nagi would be glad? …pushing those thoughts aside, you agree to join them. “yeah… sure, i’ll join.”

[jo-speaks]

🍬fluff, #8 with Quinn Hughes

prompt #8: "they're not you" quinn x atheltictrainer! reader

overview: quinn gets jealous when you're helping out his teammates.

wc: 715

Being in a relationship with the team’s athletic trainer was no easy feat for Quinn Hughes. 

He knew that it was literally your job to work with his teammates when they needed it, but he couldn’t help but feel a little bit jealous when any one of them stepped into the training room where you held the fort. 

Granted, he was glad he rarely had to step in there with his team, not wanting to let down the rest of his team on the ice. But a small part of him kept wishing for a minor injury so he’d have an excuse to see you. 

“Does that hurt?” You asked Petey, him having walked in with a complaint about his knee. 

He shook his head whilst wearing a grimace on his face. You gave him a look, not believing his not-so-convincing statement. “Petey, I don’t get paid for you to lie to me.”

“Givin’ her a tough time, Petey?” Conor Garland teased, stepping into the room with his hand on his ear. 

Elias scoffed, laughing at the situation at hand, “I think I just need some ice. We’ve got a game later.” 

You rolled your eyes, “And I think I got my degree by knowing more about this than you.”

The two men erupted in laughter. Having built a friendship with you outside of work due to Quinn, they knew you were only teasing them. Slightly. 

As you turned around to scoop some ice into a bag for Elias’ knee, Quinn just so happened to be walking past the training room, ears perking up at the laughter that flowed out of the walls. He didn’t want to feel the twang in his stomach as much as he did, but unfortunately, the sound of your bubbly laugh around anyone else but him would do that. 

He halted his steps, redirecting himself to join the three of you as you instructed Conor to sit down on one of the beds so you could patch him up. When you turned back around to wrap the ice onto Elias’ knee, you caught Quinn’s eye. 

“Hey! Everything okay?” You questioned, concern laced in your voice as well as your face even though he walked in showing no signs of any injury. 

Quinn nodded, leaning against your desk, “Yeah, just got curious about what all the laughing was about.”

Elias leaned forward so only you could hear him, “What he means is, he’s jealous of me and the married man in the room.”

You snorted, finishing up on his knee and turning to face Conor to handle the bleeding of his reopened wound, “Petey was giving me a hard time was all.” You said over your shoulder. 

As you quickly bandaged Conor’s ear, you let him know he could just relax in the room if he wanted to. He agreed, making himself comfortable on the bed he was lying on. 

Quinn’s face contorted once you were making your way to document his teammates’ visits on your laptop. Immediately noticing, you quirked your eyebrow at his facial expression, not understanding why he was looking at you in that manner.

“You sure you alright? You look like someone shoved a stick up your ass.” 

He cringed at your vulgarity, “Are you sure he was just giving you a hard time? Nothing else was going on?”

“What, are you jealous or something?” You joked, not believing he actually was until your question was met with silence. “Quinn-”

“It just sounded like how you laugh when you’re with me.” He mumbled, face flushing red. 

You tried to laugh as quietly as possible, not wanting to draw the attention of his friends. Placing your hand on the one he was leaning on, you gave him a reassuring squeeze, simultaneously asking for his eyes to meet yours. 

“Firstly, that’s how I laugh around everyone. Second, one has a girlfriend and the other is married with a child whom you’re the godfather of.” He opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off by you as you continued speaking, “Plus, even if they were single, they’re not you.”

Quinn’s body seemed to relax at your words of affirmation, all the previous jealousy suddenly fizzling out of his body. “Seriously?”

“Seriously. You’re the only one for me, Quinn Hughes.”

[basketball-lesbians]

Freefall

summary: The thing about Paige and Azzi is they were never any good at staying away from each other. Even when they really should.

OR

The fwb pazzi fic that quite literally nobody asked for but I’m providing anyway.

pairing: Paige Bueckers x Azzi Fudd

contents: angst, hurt/comfort, smut, fluff occasionally if you squint, fwb, cheating

disclaimer:

As the story progresses, some of this will be out of character for Paige, especially with Azzi (she's lowkey an asshole at times in this storyline). There is cheating in this fic (NOT between Paige and Azzi), I don't condone it, but I did write it. I literally just wrote this because I could not get the prompt out of my head and bc I think it’s hot, lol. None of this has been beta’d, please do not repost/distribute anywhere else. Hope you enjoy these silly gay bitches being obsessed w each other :)

—

It was something they’d fought about a thousand times: the impending end of their time together at UCONN, whether Azzi would declare, how they would manage being thrust into being a long distance relationship again- if the cards fell that way.

Each time they’d fought about it, they would inevitably come to a resolution that it wasn’t worth stressing about before they had to- that they should treasure the moments they had left and live in the moment while it lasted. No matter how much that conclusion equally made Azzi’s stomach turn, ever the over-thinker, Paige would soothe her with that sweet, gentle voice she reserved for only her, and brush her loose curls behind her ear as she pressed sweet kisses to her face, and Azzi would let it go.

This time though, they hadn’t had such luck. They’d been arguing ahead of the season starting for an hour- loud enough that it echoed off the walls of the shared apartment, leading Ice and the other girls to take it as a sign and leave to give them privacy.

“No Paige, you’re not listening to me!” Azzi shouts, tears welling in her eyes as she flings her hands in a gesture of frustration that shows her desperation.

“How the fuck am I not listening to you?” Paige bites back defensively, her tone hot with anger. At that, Azzi scoffs, turning around to wipe the tears from her eyes harshly. The site of her back turned as she sniffles and wipes her face clearly melts away at Paige’s resolve, and it’s quiet for a ten count before her voice softens. “Baby, we’ve been at this for an hour.” She says, clearly exasperated.

“No. For months.” Azzi corrects pointedly, turning on her heel to meet Paige’s gaze. Her voice is unsteady, but the words are sharp and sure. There’s sincerity behind it, and they both know the implications of what she’s saying as it settles into the room.

It hangs heavy in the air between them, but neither of them manages to address it, just staring at each other. “And we’re no closer to resolving it.” It slips from her lips before she really thinks about it, and even though she means it, she feels bad as soon as she says it. She knows it was a low blow, speaking something aloud that so evidently assigned blame to Paige’s career.

Paige’s frame suddenly seems small in the low lighting of the room. She stares at the ground midway between them, not quite bold enough to look Azzi right in the face. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Azzi.” She mutters, defeated.

Azzi nods, wetting her lips. She would never ask Paige to choose her over her career, in any capacity. As teenagers, they’d conspired dreams about how they’d play together in college, spend every day together in practice and win championships before declaring for the draft and entering the league together. Azzi had finished college in 3 years just so they could stay in the same class.

But life hadn’t quite worked out that way. Yes, they’d both gotten to UCONN. They’d even gotten as close to a championship as the final four, more than once. But in three years, they’d only played 17 games together, injuries always getting in the way.

Now, almost a year after her second ACL tear, Azzi was close to coming back- this time, hopefully more permanently. But Paige was expected to declare after the end of her fifth year of playing at UCONN, her eligibility to stay in college gone, and nobody- including herself- was sure if the time was right for Azzi to declare, having missed so much play time throughout her collegiate career.

She knew the importance that getting to the league held to Paige. To both of them. She would never want to put herself before that. She did wish, though, that just for once, Paige would at least admit that the tensions that declaring brought with it were causing issues between them.

Really what she wishes is that she would hold her and apologize for the stress it caused, and promise that she would still be her priority, no matter where the draft took her. But Paige, ever so stubborn and never one to take blame if she didn’t have to, had yet to do so.

“You know what? Nevermind. I don’t know why I even brought it up.” Azzi grumbles, reaching for her sweatshirt that was slung over the back of Paige’s desk chair.

“Hey,” Paige says in protest, stepping toward her to grab her hand. “Paige, please.” Azzi sighs, glancing at their hands together before meeting the blonde’s eyes, glossy with tears. They share a pained look, but neither of them says anything. Paige drops her hand as Azzi reaches for her bedroom door. “I’ll see you at practice.” She says, closing the door behind her.

—

To make matters worse, when her alarm goes off the next morning, Azzi discovers that in her overly tired and emotional state after coming back from Paige’s, she’d set her alarm for 45 minutes after what she normally would to get ready for practice. She groans as she wakes up, rolling over to pick up her phone, turning off the alarm.

When she sees the time, she throws the blankets off, scrambling to her feet. She pulls her bonnet off and tosses it to her bedside table, grabbing a hair-tie left behind by Paige and pulling her curls back as fast as she can. Nearly falling over as she pulls on a pair of sweats and a hoodie she's pretty sure is her girlfriends', she rushes into the bathroom to quickly brush her teeth, splashing cold water on her face in a desperate effort to wake herself up, not bothering to look at her reflection in the mirror.

Of course this would happen to her the day of the first official practice back.

She grabs her practice set and court shoes and tosses them into her duffel along with another change of clothes, quickly grabbing a few hair care products and hygiene items to get ready with after practice before zipping it closed and slinking out the door. She gets down one out of three flights before realizing her keys aren’t in her hand. She groans in frustration, hanging her head in exasperation for a moment before turning around and running back up the flight of stairs she’d just come down, swiping her card to get back into her apartment to grab her keys.

Once she finds them, she rushes back down the stairs a second time, jogging across the walkway into the lot to her jeep as she checks her watch for the time. Shit. There was no way she was making it on time. She tosses her bag into the backseat before climbing into the drivers seat, and when she does, she’s instantly met with the realization that Paige was the last person to drive her car- she’d taken it for an oil change over the weekend because Azzi had studying she’d needed to do.

It’s evident in the way that her seat is slightly further back to account for Paige’s long legs, the smell of her cologne still barely in the air, and finally, when the engine turns over, the way that the speakers are turned to full volume once her phone resyncs to the audio system.

She flinches, partially at how bad she feels for picking a fight with Paige last night and partially at how loud the music comes through the speakers. She cranks the dial down after nearly jumping out of her skin, reversing out of her parking spot and out of the lot, probably a little bit faster than she should.

—

She pulls into the practice facility and manages a parking job she’s sure she’ll hear about in the team group chat later before speed walking inside, her bag hitting her knee awkwardly every other step. She swipes herself into the facility and immediately rushes to the team room and then to the changing rooms, throwing on her practice set and pulling out her shoes to walk to the courts. She tries to slink into the gym without being noticed, but the girls are already running drills across the court, so there’s nothing to distract CD from clocking her as soon as she rounds the corner.

Azzi offers an apologetic smile, and for a second she actually thinks that the pathetic look on her face might have spared her from a lecture when CD’s expression softens as she looks at her, but then she hears it. Geno’s loud voice booms across the gym- calling her out in front of the entire team and staff.

“Azzi Fudd! How nice of you to make an appearance.” He chides, hands wide as he makes a big gesture at her in disbelief, walking towards her. She nods, dropping her court shoes to the floor, slipping her slides off to change into them. “I know- I’m so sorry,” She acknowledges, not bothering to provide an excuse, because she knows by now how their coaching staff feels about them.

“Mmm. Just decided since you aren’t fully cleared you don’t need to be here?” He asks sharply, and even though she knows he doesn’t actually think that about her, and that he’s just annoyed and trying to prove a point, it still stings. “No, I-“

She stops herself, knowing she’s getting emotional and about to launch into a defensive explanation for no reason. It was a shitty feeling right now, but he’ll forget about it before the week’s out. “No excuse, Coach. It won’t happen again.”

Even though he’s barely taller than her, she feels small as he looks at her intently. “Better not. Get your mind right, kid.” She nods, kneeling down to tie her shoe. He turns away from her, spurring the girls on the court into switching to another drill.

CD takes his place next to her, leaning over slightly so she can hear her without her having to raise her voice. “Brush it off. Lynn’s waiting for you in the team room,” She says, patting Azzi on the back as she stands up.

She nods, smoothing a hand over her hair as she offers a small smile in response. Subconsciously, her eyes scan the group of girls on the court for Paige as she walks back out of the gym, although she hears her before her eyes actually find her.

“Box out, box out! You can’t leave him open like that!” She yells to the underclassmen as she runs under the basket to rebound a shot thrown up by one of the practice players, dribbling it back outside the key and retaking the possession. Azzi smiles to herself slightly at that, walking under the banner that hangs over the doors on her way out.

Paige’s gaze finds Azzi’s figure walking out as she resets, closing in on the three point line. She pump fakes the practice player thats guarding her and pivots hard to the left, losing him fully, before coming up for a wide open jumpshot three.

Azzi’s already turned the corner and walked out of the gym by the time the ball leaves her shooting hand, but her eyes still come back to the doorway to look for her. When she doesn’t find her there, her gaze snaps back to the hoop. The shot bounces off the shooting square of the backboard, rolling around the lip of the rim tantalizingly before tipping out of the basket. Miss.

—

Paige wrings her hair out with her towel, the material of the dri-fit shirt she’d pulled on sticking to her back with her movements. The chatter from the other girls that would usually fill the locker room is non-existent this morning, Paige having stayed significantly late after practice to get extra shots up and talk to Geno.

The stress of this season was already weighing on her, but she was determined to rise to the occasion and use this season, her last, to get the Huskies to championship number 12. She’d always had a chip on her shoulder, but this year, with all the media speculation and attention, she was committed to showing up and showing out- to do what she came here to do.

No matter what the cost was. It was something she needed to prove to herself.

She sighs, hanging up the towel into her locker, and drops her hygiene bag into the open drawer of her locker, nudging it shut with her hip.

She barely hears when Azzi enters the locker room from the team room, shower kit in hand to head to where Paige had just emerged from.

“Hey,” Azzi says, a quiet start to a conversation they both know is going to feel like ripping off a bandaid. Paige nods at her, lifting a hand under her shirt to apply deodorant. Azzi’s eyes briefly skim the exposed section of taut midriff that flashes before her shirt falls back to cover it again. “Hey. Didn’t know you were still here.”

“Yeah, um. Stayed back for some cupping.” She shifts her clothes and shower kit between her hands awkwardly, lingering in place solely to talk to the other girl, who’s nodding along as she combs through her drawer, evidently looking for something specific.

“Talked with Lynn a little bit about the conversations I’ve been having with Carl,” She says, a touch of hopefulness in her voice evident at the mention of her recovery timeline.

Paige offers a slight smile at that, running lotion over her hands and face. “That’s good,” She says, pulling a hoodie on over her t-shirt. “You wanna get breakfast after you shower, talk about last night?” She asks, finally turning to look at Azzi fully.

Azzi doesn’t miss the way her tone is just a little short, her expression tense, like she’s holding back from her. She hates when she gets like this after they fight- understands it, but hates it, nonetheless.

“I have class after this,” She reminds her gently- a byproduct of the fact that Azzi had chosen in person classes while Paige had adamantly tried to keep the both of their schedules as fully online as possible.

Paige purses her lips slightly and nods, reaching for her bag. “Right. Okay,” She says, putting her shoes in the top of her locker and tidying up her space. “Well, I guess lemme know when you have time to talk, then.”

“Paige, hey.” Paige looks up, pulling her backpack over her shoulder. “What’s up?” She asks, her voice almost impatient, like she's waiting for Azzi to finish her thought so she can leave.

“I-“ Her voice falters, not sure of what to say. After not interacting at all since their fight last night, Azzi wasn’t sure what to say.

She thought they’d both soften by the time they talked about it, and maybe they had- but an immediate rejection the second that Paige offered to talk definitely hadn’t helped. Now she was doing mental gymnastics trying to figure out a way to walk that back before Paige walked out of the room.

“I finish with classes at 4. Do you wanna meet at my apartment?” Paige frowns. “We were gonna go to the women’s soccer game tonight, we talked about it in practice.” She says flatly.

Azzi nods, pretending it didn’t sting that the season had literally barely started and she’d already been left out of team conversations due to being benched. “Okay. After that?”

Paige sighs, pulling her phone out of her pocket when it starts ringing. “Shit. It’s Brittany, I gotta take this.”

Azzi draws her bottom lip between her teeth and raises her eyebrows, nodding. “Okay.” She says as Paige walks past her and towards the door.

She turns to acknowledge Azzi as she passes at least, which softens the blow.

“Sorry for not telling you about the soccer thing, it was an impromptu idea that got brought up this morning. You’re obviously invited,” She says, before drawing her thumb across the screen and pulling her phone to her ear.

“Yeah. I’ll text you,” Azzi calls after her, and Paige throws a pointer finger up in acknowledgment as she walks out.

So much for talking about it.

—

She gets ready quickly after her shower, not liking how quiet the facility was when the whole team wasn’t there, filling it with buzzing energy and a love for the game.

She pulls her hair back and makes faces at herself in the mirror for a minute before heading to her locker and putting away the gear she kept at the facility, packing up the rest in her duffel.

She pulls her phone and keys out of her bag, looking at her phone for the first time since she’d gotten to the facility. Really, for the first time since she’d been awake, what with the way she’d woken up.

She unlocks her phone and navigates to messages, where she sees 5 unread messages from Paige. Furrowing her brows, she opens their pinned conversation.

Paige Madison 💗:

12:07am: Hey, I’m sorry about tonight. Can I come up?

12:22am: I love you, Az

1:12am: U still tryna ride w me to practice?

4:45am: Should I wait for you or nah?

5:20am: Yo, you good? Getting worried now.

Azzi sighs, running her free hand over her face, frustrated. No wonder she was short with her this morning.

She probably thought she had ignored her all night, and as soon as she’d asked her to go with her to get breakfast and talk this morning, Azzi had turned her down. If Azzi knew anything about Paige from the last 7 years, it was that she hated feeling rejected.

Feeling guilty, she types out a response.

9:11am: I’m so sorry, I just saw this. I went straight to sleep and then overslept this morning

9:11am: I’m okay. I’m sorry if I worried you

Then, after a beat:

9:13am: I love you too

—

Collegiate soccer games are 90 minutes, divided into two 45 minute halves. Azzi knows this because she googled it. Twice.

The soccer game had started at 5:30, and Azzi had too much homework to go, which she’d texted to the team chat. Ice had tried to drag her with her on her way out the door, but Azzi held her ground, knowing she needed to stay on top of her coursework as the season ramped up, or she’d regret it later.

The girls complained in the groupchat at her absence, which made her feel a little less bad, but Paige had largely not acknowledged her since their tense conversation in the locker room- aside from a response to the messages Azzi had sent when she finally looked at her phone this morning.

Paige Madison 💗

9:43am: All g. Lmk if you still wanna talk after the game

So she’d texted back after her class-

11:12am: Ofc. I just have some hw I’ll be working on but I’ll be at home after my class ends at 4

And although Paige had heart reacted to it, Azzi was still feeling a bit uneasy about the whole thing.

Now it was 8:24, and Azzi’s done the math- even accounting for timeouts, substitutions, and a break at half, and even if they went into overtime, it’s getting late.

There’s nothing in the chat about the game going long or traffic being bad or something coming up- so even though she tries to assure herself it’s nothing, she’s slowly becoming convinced that it’s definitely something.

—

When the group finally comes barreling through the door, Azzi’s moved to her bed to be more comfortable, giving up on trying to stay up. She isn’t sure what time it is, but she knows it’s late enough for her to be justified in being bothered.

She goes to check her phone. 1:41am, and still no texts from Paige. Nice.

The girls erupt in laughter in the living room, and she hears Paige’s voice amongst them. “Yo, yo. Shut up, f’real. You’re acting dumb as fu-“ Her words are cut off by very obviously running her shin into something- Azzi would assume the ottoman she left sticking out.

For a second, she almost feels bad. Almost.

“Ohhhh, fuck me.” Paige groans out loudly, and then there's what sounds like her jumping on one foot to hold her leg.

The other girls cackle at her obnoxiously, and Azzi huffs, resolving to get out of bed so all the girls make it to theirs safely. She switches on the light in her room, pulling her robe on, and the way she can hear the girls scatter at the sound makes her feel like she’s somebody’s mother.

She pulls her door open, and Ice is laying on the floor clutching at her stomach in laughter while she watches Paige nurse her leg leaning against the wall. She hears Morgan giggling somewhere on the couch, and the smell of liquor coming off of the trio does not impress her at all.

She stands with her hands on her hips just outside the living room, staring at Ice. Ice giggles anxiously when she sees her, scooting across the floor and away from her.

“Isuneh,” Azzi warns, walking toward her. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” She laughs out, clearly picking up on Azzi’s agitation, despite being inebriated to the extent that she is.

“We should have texted- the girls won, like totally kicked Boston’s ass, and they wanted to go to Ted’s with us, so…” She trails off, and Azzi sighs, turning to find the other two in the dimly lit room.

Morgan, to her credit, seems the least drunk out of the three of them, but she’s entirely too bubbly considering that it’s nearly midnight on a monday.

Azzi gestures towards Morgan, not acknowledging Paige yet. The tension it adds to the room is palpable. “Do you need help getting to bed?” Azzi asks, a gentle lilt in her voice despite being annoyed.

She wasn’t trying to ruin the freshman’s fun just because she was having a bad day. Morgan shakes her head, standing slightly unsteadily.

Azzi sighs, leaning down to grab Ice’s hands and pull her up and lean her against the couch. “Get some sleep,” She says to Morgan. “Pain meds are in the cabinet above the coffee maker, I’ll make sure there’s food in the morning.”

Morgan smiles nervously at her, her posture small. “Thanks, Az,” She whispers, and Azzi nods at her, offering a small smile back.

Ice slumps into Azzi’s shoulder, giggling again. Azzi hits her shoulder, only slightly playfully. “You should know better, Isuneh,”

She scolds, pushing her back against the couch again so she can swing an arm beneath hers and get her to her bedroom.

“It’s a frikin' Monday night.” She says incredulously, mostly to herself.

Ice laughs at that before groaning, reaching for her stomach. “No, no, no,” She rushes to get out. Azzi cranes her neck to look at her.

“What?” She asks, and Ice gags. Azzi winces, saying a silent prayer that nothing comes up, and that if it does, it somehow manages to avoid her.

Ice drops her weight back towards the couch and out of Azzi’s reach. “Don’t move me, just let me die here.” She says dramatically, and Azzi makes a face, staring at her for a moment, calculating.

She sighs, picking up her feet and putting her fully on the couch. She walks to the closet just outside the living room and pulls out a blanket, fanning it out over Ice so she can at least hopefully get comfortable and sleep this off.

She feels Paige’s gaze on her, but she makes no effort to acknowledge it. She walks to the kitchen and gets a glass of water, bringing it back to the drunken girl sprawled out on the couch. “Here,” She says, holding out the glass in one hand and two aspirin in the other.

“You’re gonna wanna get ahead of this before the morning,” She says when Ice stares at her blankly. “I don’t know if I can even swallow that,” Ice slurs, trying to sit up and missing when she tries to plant her arm, nearly dropping off the side of the couch and into Azzi’s leg.

She grimaces, leaning out of the contact, and resettles Ice onto the cushions. “Come on. Take this and I’ll let you sleep.” Ice sighs loudly, reaching for the pills and taking them from Azzi’s hand.

The glass, however, she simply presses her lips to, rather than taking it from Azzi’s hand.

“Oh my god,” Azzi mutters, tilting the glass slowly so the water flows into Ice’s mouth. She swallows loudly, opening her mouth wide after the fact to show off that the pills were gone.

Azzi chuckles to herself. “Very nice,” She credits, pulling the blanket over the taller girl once she settles back on the couch.

Ice sighs, bringing the blanket to her chin. “Thanks, crazy Azzi. Don’t have too much fun with Paigey-Waigey. I’ll be able to hear it from here.” She giggles, wagging her finger at Azzi suggestively. Azzi rolls her eyes, taking the glass back to the kitchen. As if.

She walks back through the living room and Paige is already looking at her, her hand still over her shin. Azzi sighs. “Are you okay?” She asks, gesturing loosely at her leg.

Paige nods, her eyes obviously tired, and moves to try and stand, using the wall for aid. Azzi comes slightly closer, so if she falls she’d be able to catch her, and watches her carefully. “‘M fine, Az. I’m not even that drunk.” She defends, and Azzi rolls her eyes yet again.

“Right.” She says. Paige clears her throat, awkward, using the opportunity of being braced against the wall to catch her breath. “Do you need the couch or can you make it downstairs?” Azzi asks, and Paige furrows her eyebrows.

“Oh. Uh,” She pauses, looking around. Azzi swallows. She’d obviously planned to stay with her tonight.

The assumption that she would stay with Azzi would be sweet if she hadn’t left her hanging for hours, not texted, and then shown up drunk at midnight on a weeknight- if she hadn’t said they could talk tonight, and then completely stood her up. But she did.

“Come on. You probably wouldn’t make it down those stairs in once piece anyway.” She grumbles, grabbing Paige’s arm and guiding her to her bedroom. Paige starts to protest, but quickly drops it.

The younger girl makes sure Paige gets to the bed, and then turns to close the bedroom door. She pulls her robe off and drapes it back over her desk chair, Paige’s eyes tracking her movements intently.

“You look good, mama,” Paige draws, and Azzi scoffs. “Absolutely not, Paige Madison.” She clears, walking towards the bed, deliberate in staying out of Paige’s reach.

Paige’s eyebrows draw up in surprise, and Azzi stares at her incredulously, her clueless reaction making frustration flash in her chest.

“What? Did you drink so much you forgot we were supposed to talk?” Azzi asks, unable to help herself, and as soon as she says it, she regrets it.

She knows better than that, she should have waited until tomorrow to do this. It’s only going to cost them both sleep, and Paige probably won’t even remember it in a few hours.

Paige breathes heavily, leaning forward so her forearms are braced against her quads as she leans over, feet square on the ground. “Fuck, Az. ‘M sorry,”

Azzi bites at the inside of her cheek, weighing whether or not to engage further. “Seriously, Paige? What, you just spaced it?” Paige winces when she raises her voice. “No, I-“ She stops, holding her head.

She looks up at Azzi, squinting, even just from the normal lighting in her room. “We went out for dinner and a couple of drinks. I meant to text you, honest. We got caught up and…” She trails off, and Azzi’s mouth goes dry.

“And what, Paige?” She asks. The blonde groans next to her. “I’on even know,” She complains, hanging her head, and in any other situation, Azzi would sympathize more and pull her under the blankets, play with her hair and let her fall asleep on her chest.

But right now, tears are brimming her eyes and she can’t even bring herself to touch her hand. “You couldn’t even muster the presence of mind to have somebody else text? Or, god forbid, you couldn’t have just made it a priority to get back to me so we could have this stupid conversation?”

Paige's eyebrows furrow, looking up at her. “Wh’d’you mean, stupid conversation? If it’s about us and it’s important, how is it stupid?”

Azzi purses her lips, beyond frustrated that she can pick a fight over minced words but won’t actually address the problem that’s been hanging over them for months. “You tell me, Paige. You’re the one who couldn’t make it a priority.”

“I’m sorry, Az. You gotta understand, dude, I got a lot going on, and I was already upset-" Azzi laughs at that, throwing her hands up.

“You were upset? Paige, you barely even talked to me today. And then you stood me up when we were finally supposed to actually talk.”

“Whoa, you started the “barely talking” thing. You didn’t even answer my texts til practice was over the next morning.” Paige says, scooting back in the bed to lean against the wall and get further from Azzi. “Yeah, because I fell asleep. I told you that.” Azzi argues.

“Okay, well I tried to talk with you earlier, and you were too busy.” Paige stabs back. “No, Paige, I wasn’t “too busy”. I had classes. Classes I am trying to stay on top of so that you and I can have time together outside of the season and actually enjoy the last year we have together before who fucking knows what happens!”

Paige laughs. “Dude, you think I don’t understand that? That’s why I tried to get as many online classes as possible. You’re making me out to be this villain who like, doesn’t wanna be around you or something, and that’s not fuckin’ true. I’m trying so hard to be on top of classes and be a good leader for the team and keep myself in a good position to get to the league-“ Azzi cuts her off cold.

“Exactly, Paige! It’s always about the league. Your priority is always the league. And I get that that’s your dream- it’s my dream too. But fuck, Paige. It’s gonna fucking happen either way. You’ve been projected as first pick for over a year. We could bomb all season long and it wouldn’t matter- you’re getting to the W. I wish you could admit that it’s such a fucking given and focus on literally anything else for one goddamn minute.”

Paige scoffs, standing up, her blue eyes wide in disbelief. "Yes, Azzi, the league is my priority." She stares at the other girl dubiously, like she's trying to figure out why the hell that's coming as a shock. "If you don't understand that, maybe we're not doing what I thought we were doing here," She rushes out, gesturing loosely between them.

Her words send Azzi's head spinning, so much that she barely hears the next words out of her mouth.

"Going pro is everything we ever talked about. Getting drafted is foundational to the fucking life we always planned on. You being injured and not knowing when you’re declaring is fucking complicated and it weighs on you, I know. I’m sorry if you feel like I don’t focus on that enough." Anger rises in Azzi's throat at that, but Paige is quick to resume her point, not giving her a chance to verbalize it.

"It's not that I don’t care- but that only adds to the importance of me getting my foot in the door to ensure we have a good fucking life set up.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Azzi mutters, looking at the blonde in disbelief. "What, you think because I’m too fucking fragile you need to get into the league so we can ensure a paycheck?"

Her eyes sting as tears begin to well, threatening to fall. "You think I’m that incapable? That weak?" She asks, looking up at Paige from where she sits on the bed, her voice breaking.

Paige sighs, working her jaw, resolve clearly fractured by Azzi’s reaction. “No, Azzi, that’s not what I-“

“You have that little faith in my future?” Azzi asks, drawing into herself as she leans against her headboard, her arms crossing over her chest. Tears run over and fall down her face now, bottom lip quivering in a way that makes Paige’s stomach churn.

Paige moves to get closer to her, her movements still a little bit sluggish, despite how much the argument had sobered her up. “No, baby, hey-“ She reaches for her hand, and Azzi quickly pulls away, shoving at her to put distance between them.

Paige is taken aback, sitting down on the foot of the bed. “Whoa, hey,” She says, trying to soothe the other girl, but Azzi is inconsolable. She hasn’t felt this betrayed, this misconstrued since she was a child. She had definitely not ever felt this way by Paige’s hand, and she didn’t think she ever would.

The self doubt and concern about coming back from this injury was something that weighed on her constantly- and she’d gotten good at hiding it, sure. Sometimes she was so good she even almost fooled herself.

But it was there. It lived deep in her chest, a voice that spoke to her every time she missed a shot in the gym she knew she should have made.

It kept her awake at night, even with Paige’s body pressed against hers, sound asleep. It was the reason she spent so much time wondering if she was even good enough to make it to the league at all- if she’d even deserved to come to UCONN, if she’d pulled her weight since being there.

Although the comment the other girl had made about their relationship maybe “not doing what she’d thought” had hurt, the mere thought of Paige questioning her abilities made her want to crawl into a hole and die.

“Azzi, that is not what I was trying to say,” Paige promises, leaning closer to try and get Azzi to focus on her rather than whatever thoughts she was quite evidently spinning in her head.

“Hey, look at me, Az,” Paige tries again, reaching to touch her face. Azzi flinches away from the contact, wiping at her face furiously. “Just go.” She says, sniffling as she leans away from the blonde.

Paige watches her with her mouth just barely open, unable to come up with a response. “Wh- don’t you think we need to talk about this?” She tries, but the other girls’ mind is made up, withdrawn from the conversation.

“I don’t wanna argue with you anymore, Paige. Just go, I’m serious.” She says, her voice small. Paige sighs, running her hands over her face.

She can’t just leave when Azzi looks so sad like this. "Come on, Az." She pleads. “That’s not what I meant, can we just-“

“Paige, I want to be left alone. Can we please just not?” Azzi croaks, pulling a pillow over her chest and furthering the barriers between the two girls. The blonde wets her lips, starting to reply and then stopping, not sure where to pivot from here.

“It’s not like it matters, anyway.” Azzi mutters, wiping at her nose. Paige’s expression drops, eyebrows knitting together as she looks at the other girl.

“Doesn’t matter? To who? What is that even supposed to mean?” She asks, hurt rising in her chest.

Azzi looks up at her, her eyes puffy from crying, her expression exhausted. “Come on, Paige. We’ve been arguing over this for months, we’re not going to magically stumble upon a solution tonight.” She says, her voice scratchy- and Paige can’t tell if its from being tired or from crying. “You’re not even sober.”

Paige stares at her, indignant at the suggestion that she wasn’t sober enough to defend her career and fight for their relationship. If Azzi was going to take dirty hits, she wasn’t going to let what she’d said go.

“Who does it not matter to, Azzi?” She repeats. Azzi narrows her eyes, scoffing at the blonde in disbelief. “I’m not doing this with you right now.” She states, getting off the bed and walking across the room to put distance between them.

Paige follows suit, getting to her feet and standing behind her, refusing to let her walk away. "I asked you a question.” She states, insistent, and Azzi turns around, adamant brown eyes meeting stubborn blue.

“No, Paige.” She says firmly. Her inflexible tone only ramps the blonde up further. “What do you mean, “no”? We’re having a conversation.”

“Not anymore, we’re not." She shuts her down simply. "Azzi." Paige prompts.

"You know I don’t like when you get like this.” Azzi says, staring daggers at her before pushing past to get around her. “Azzi.”

Paige turns her body with the movement and grabs for her wrist. Azzi pulls away hard, like her flesh is burning in the blonde’s grip. “No, Paige. I’m done. Go home.”

Frustrated tears fall silently down her pale cheeks, and she wipes at them with the back of her hand, only irritated further by their presence.

“You’re ‘done’?” She asks, incredulous, a scoff ripping its way up from the back of her throat. Loose strands of blonde hair that came undone from her bun throughout the drunken activities of the night frame the desperate look on her face.

Azzi crosses her arms, keeping distance between them. “I’m serious, Paige. Go.” She repeats, and Paige wants to scream. Her mind is moving too fast and too slow at the same time- she doesn’t know if she should storm out, raise her voice, or drop to her knees and beg Azzi to let her stay and try and make up.

As soon as that mental image crosses her mind, anger flashes in her chest at the fact she’d thought it in the first place. She hadn’t even done anything wrong aside from getting drunk when she shouldn't have. Why was she being crucified for trying to make a life for them?

Was she the only one who’d meant it all the times they’d talked about getting to the league, building a family, and living on the coast?

The anger in her chest bubbles over, and she can’t even see straight. “You know what, Azzi? Fine. Maybe its better off that way, anyway. We both could stand to lock in this year, without any distractions.” She spits.

Before Azzi can get her mouth to open, she's closing the door behind herself- and then she's gone.

Hey y’all! Here's a little something I've been working on. This is part 1 of multiple, idk how many yet. This chapter is really just to set up the rest of the story- the rest from here on out will be a lot more fun, I promise. This was not beta’d at all, so be warned! Any comments/shares/love is sooo appreciated. Thank you and I really hope you guys enjoy!

[aemondloverr]

𝐀 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐭. 𝐈𝐈𝐈

𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐱 𝐅𝐞𝐦!𝐕𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐧!𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟒 • 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟐 • 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 • 𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: At breakfast, an important event is announced, and you and cregan spend time in Wintertown, just outside the wall.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: A bit of gossip, bratty brother, denial of feelings, and a jealous man.

𝐰𝐜: 6.9k����

𝐀/𝐍: I think I'll take a bit of a break after this just because I need to lock in for school :( NGL this is a boring ahhh filler chapter but it’s necessary for pacing☝️🥸 I PROMISE. Or else it would be going way too fast. Trust me. I want it to get freaky already too. There ARE some cute things in there tho.

This may come as a surprise or not a surprise but I feel like I should’ve said this earlier 😭…This series is a Medium-burn. Not SLOW but to get to the best parts, you gotta make it to the end😔

This was originally going to be a one shot and then I thought up a backstory. Then it was 3 parts. And that was a GREATLY underestimated number. Now it’s going to be 6 or 7 parts now so uh…😃 yea…

p.s I did NOT proof read

❆ • ❆ • ❆ • ❆

𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐩:

You don't want to fall back into old patterns, let alone complicate your current situation. It hurt you to hurt him the way you did but you have to be strong...and yet, deep down, something inside you yearns for the familiarity of his presence, the warmth of his smile, the feel of his touch…

You lift the lid of the food he brought and your eyes land on a small piece of paper tucked among the food. It's a note, penned in a neat and familiar handwriting. The ink is dark, the words written with a strong and decisive hand.

As you read the words, you can almost hear Cregan's voice in your mind, the deep timbre of his tone echoing in your ears.

It reads:

"I hope the food is to your liking. Sleep well, Princess..."

C.

A note so kind yet you were so cruel.

Tonight was not a night you slept soundly, but rather, a night you pondered your words.

❆ • ❆ • ❆ • ❆

 The next morning…

Cregan rises from bed and quickly begins readying himself for the day, thinking of the promise you made to spend the day with him. After some time, he finishes preparing and makes his way through the castle, heading towards your chambers, his heart thumping in his chest. A part of him feels wary of what mood you’d be in today.

Dismissive? Angry maybe? Would you make snide remarks or would you be on the more kind and tolerating side?

There is a knocking heavily on your door and you’re awoken. All you can do is groan in bed.

“Who is at my door this early?… its just past first light...”

Cregan’s smile widens at your groggy grumble from within the room and he responds, his voice holding a hint of amusement.

"Who do you think?"

“Just…wait outside. I’m not yet decent.”

He steps back from the door, leaning against the wall as he responds.

"Take your time. I'm not going anywhere."

He can hear the faint sounds of movement coming from within the room- sheets being thrown aside, bed creaking lazily, your tired groans and mutterings. You walk over to your wardrobe and take off your shift, quickly replacing it with a dress. It’s the thickest you have, though not near thick enough to shield from the biting cold of your room after the fire in the hearth is burnt down to just embers.

After you put on your dress, you attempt to put on your corset by yourself, but to no avail. As Cregan waits outside, his ears perk up, hearing the sound of you struggling with your corset. His expression turns to one of slight amusement, a hint of a smile on his lips as he imagines you cursing and mumbling, trying and failing to lace it yourself.

“I don't know why I bother with this stupid, silly thing..." you mutter.

His amusement only grows, and he has to bite back an actual chuckle.

"Cregan?! Could you grab someone to help me, quickly!”

Cregan’s ears perk up again as he hears you call from within the room, and he pushes off from the wall and walks up to the door, responding in a quiet voice.

“Sure, but can’t I just-”

He was thinking of coming in and helping you lace it up himself but he cuts himself off as he realizes how improper that would sound, color rising to his cheeks. He clears his throat and responds again, trying to sound casual and nonchalant.

“Never mind that. I’ll- I’ll go get someone.”

He quickly locates a handmaiden or a maid in the nearby corridors and explains the situation and she nods and follows him back to your room, her own mind undoubtedly wondering what's going on.

As Sara, the handmaiden, walks in, she finds you standing there in your half-laced corset, a look of relief on your face. She can't help the small smirk that graces her own lips as she looks at you, no doubt imagining all the things that could have led to this situation - a hasty morning tryst, possibly a stolen night of passion… but none of those are the case of course.

"Thank you Sara…"

She smiles at you as she takes over the task of lacing up your corset, pulling the strings taught, cinching it tightly.

"My pleasure, Princess. Anything else you need this morning?"

"Could you brush my hair...? Style it perhaps, the Northern way?"

You want to dress the traditional style of their people if you want them to have a reason to favor you. Sara grins and nods quickly, already reaching for the brush on the nearby table.

"Of course, Princess. I'd be honored to style your hair. Just have a seat, and I'll have you looking Northern in no time!"

You take a seat on the chair in front of the vanity, and Sara moves behind you. She gently runs the brush through your hair, as she gathers sections, braiding and twisting it in a traditional style, the ones great ladies of house Stark wore.

Sara hums gently as she works, her fingers moving with practiced ease. Every now and then, she glances up to study her work in the mirror, making sure the braids and knots are in their rightful places.

"You have very lovely hair, Princess. It's a pleasure to style it."

"Thank you it looks lovely."

She finishes the last braid and gives it a final twist, securing it in place with a small pin. She steps back, a satisfied smile on her face as she admires her work, eyes sweeping over you from head to toe and taking in your now-styled hair and laced corset.

"There. All done, Princess. You look like a proper Northerner now!"

You stand from the seat, pleased with the finished product, smiling ear to ear.

"Absolutely gorgeous," she murmurs, her tone filled with approval and appreciation.

She can't help but smile back at your radiant expression, feeling very satisfied with her contribution to your appearance. However, a knowing sparkle in her eye betrays the fact that she's just dying to ask...

"May I ask who it is you're getting all dolled up for, Princess?" Of course she's caught right on.

"Dolled up? Why this is quite casual, is it not?" You get up, crossing the room to put on the pelts too large, given to you by Cregan the previous night.

Sara giggles and rolls her eyes, unable to hide her knowing smile. She follows you across the room as you move to don the pelts, eyebrow raised in slight suspicion.

"Oh, of course. I can definitely see how getting your hair braided and fussing over a corset can be 'quite casual', how silly of me Princess!"

"Oh quiet about him. I'd just like to be presentable, in case townspeople see me..."

It's quite an obvious lie. And Sara is clearly not convinced by your flimsy excuse, but decides to tease you a bit more anyway.

"And does this have anything to do with the fact that Cregan is waiting outside, looking oh so impatient to see you?"

Right on the money.

"No...A Princess should look the part at all times, is all..."

"Of course, Princess..."

"Id planned this outfit before I came North. So yes it's pure coincidence."

No royal ever packs all of their own bags for long trips so clearly, another lie. She looks you up and down one more time, taking in the complete picture of you in your Northern-style hair, corset, and pelts.

"Well, I'll admit, Princess, you look absolutely stunning. I don't think Cregan will be able to keep his eyes off you." She winks playfully, laughing at the heat creeping onto your cheeks.

"Sara Shh!! He's right outside the door!!"

Sara laughs and puts a hand over her mouth, trying to muffle her giggles and responding in a hushed whisper.

"You're right. Wouldn't want the poor Northern Lord to overhear us speaking of his obvious affections, now would we?"

"Are you trying to give me away? Quiet!”

Sara laughs again, unable to contain her amusement at your flustered state. She nods and responds in a mock-serious tone.

"As you wish, Princess. My lips are sealed. I'll refrain from mentioning the Lord of Winterfell's pining heart. At least when he's close by."

Sara watches you leave, and she can't help but feel a pang of sympathy and amusement at your flustered state and denial, knowing full well the truth. You like him just as he likes you, though, you hide it better than he does.

"Have a lovely day, Princess," she calls out after you, tone dripping with sarcastic sweetness.

 You just roll your eyes as, you often do.

Sara laughs heartily at your eye-roll, enjoying that she's managed to ruffle your feathers a bit. She gives you one last wink and watches as you walk out of the oom, eyes following you all the way to the door.

Cregan is leaned against the wall, waiting patiently for you to finish getting ready. He hears the sound of the door opening, and he looks up, his eyes widening when he sees you emerge from the room. His gaze slowly trails over you, taking in the sight of your braided Northern-style hair and the fit of the corset beneath the pelts that seem to swallow you whole.

“Shall we go to breakfast?”

He nods, unable to tear his gaze away.

"Yes...yes, of course. Then to the market after." he manages to choke out, voice slightly hoarse. He walks next to you in silence, his eyes fixed straight ahead. His heart is pounding in his chest, his stomach tied in knots. He can't really bring himself to speak, mind still filled with thoughts from the previous day. 

He glances at you from the corner of his eye, but  your expression is neutral, tension in your shoulders. The silence hangs heavily between the two of you, an unsettling reminder of the argument from yesterday.

The silence is awkward and neither of you want to talk.

Cregan steals glances at you as you walk, and unbeknownst to you, he's still fixed on the way youv'e readied yourself this morning.

Thats how she'd be dressed of she was the lady of-

He stops the thought in its path before he could even finish it, taking a deep breath as to not get flustered.

As you descend the stairs of the great keep and step out into the yard, eyes turn towards the two of you. A few Stark guardsmen standing nearby do a double-take at your appearance. Some of them whisper to each other.

Cregan notices the looks and glares, a hint of possessiveness flaring in his eyes as he guides you towards the entrance of the great hall.

He keeps one hand on your lower back, fingers splayed over the pelts. The noise and activity of the room die down somewhat as the people inside catch sight of you, many of them whispering and murmuring amongst themselves.

“Remove your hand please…” You whisper.

He looks a little hurt, a tinge of disappointment in his voice when he responds, trying his best to act unbothered.

"Sorry. I...sorry. I forgot myself for a moment…"

To your surprise, everyone in the hall stands in your presence.

“No no please, be seated.”

The Lord opposite you hurriedly stands to pull out your chair, practically tripping over himself to do so. The rest of the Lords and Ladies take their seats once more. He's clearly a little flustered by your appearance, eyes roaming over your face with a look in his eye that you cant quite place.

Cregan watches the lord, his jaw clenching ever so slightly. He can feel his possessive nature flaring up again, not liking the way the he's shamelessly ogling you right before his eyes.

Not that cregan hadn't been ogling you himself as well.

"Thank you. you are too kind!”

The Lord blushes slightly at your words, his eyes still taking in the sight of you in pelts and braids. He stutters, his voice hoarser than before as he responds..

"It's- it's nothing, my lady. It's an honor, truly, to host a guest as fine as yourself here at Winterfell."

“It’s my honor entirely. Winterfell is very beautiful!”

The Lord practically beams with pride at your compliment. The few other lords and ladies gathered at the table also nod in agreement, clearly flattered that a Southron princess is complimenting their home.

Cregan can't help but roll his eyes at the lord's reaction, silently amused and somewhat annoyed at the man's obvious attempts at currying your favor.

Sounds of forks and cutlery clattering against plate fills the hall as everyone eats.

Maybe you could use this to get back at Cregan…

The idea forms quickly in your mind, a small smile slowly spreading across your lips. You play into the lord's ego, leaning in slightly and giving him an appreciative smile, your eyes sparkling with charming sweetness.

"You flatter me, my Lord," you murmur, your voice lower and velvety-soft.

"Could I ask you something, princess?"

"Yes?”

He leans in slightly closer, as if sharing a secret, his voice lowered to a whisper.

"I do hope you won't think me too forward in asking, but...do you have plans for this evening?  

You take a moment to pretend to gather your thoughts, letting the Lord bask in his excitement and anticipation. You glance across the table, meeting Cregan's eyes for a split second before looking away again.

“I do not. Why do you ask?”

The Lord is clearly flustered by your closeness and your sweet demeanor as he responds.

"Hunting parties today, my princess. We- we have a few set to head out to the Wolfswood a few hours before noon."

“For what purpose? Is there an event or something of the sort?” 

"Yes, there is a feast this evening in your honor. It's tradition here to hunt when there is a...guest of importance on an extended stay at Winterfell. It is considered good fortune and-"

Cregan cuts in, unable to refrain from interrupting once more, his eyes fixed on yours as he adds,

"And an opportunity to display one's skills to our guest. To prove one's worth, as it were."

Just the response you wanted. Jealousy.

“That’s a similar tradition we do in the South also, except it’s for the King usually.”

The Lord nods in agreement, his heart practically beating out of his chest, bursting at your apparent interest in him.

"Quite true, my lady. It is a custom that goes back centuries here in the North. And we take great pride in honoring our guests appropriately."

“Well let us make this a bit more interesting for the people, shall we?”

The room falls silent as you stand up and tap your glass gently, all eyes turning to you, including Cregan's. The lords and ladies at the table watch you expectantly, wondering what you're about to say.

“Good morning, lords and ladies. I’ve been made aware of the feast to come this evening in mine and my brother's honor,”

Nods and murmurs of acknowledgement come from the other lords and ladies around the table. They all seem eager to know more about the upcoming feast, clearly looking forward to the celebration.

“I’d like to pose a challenge for those participating later at noon…Whoever brings me the largest game shall win my hand at the dance this evening!!”

There are gasps and low murmurs of surprise from the lords and ladies around the table at your declaration. Many of them are clearly taken aback, and a few look even envious at the prospect of being your partner at the dance.

Now that’s something worth raising a glass too.

A few of the lords and ladies around the table immediately raise their cups, clearly excited and motivated by your offer. They all toast to the challenge, already making silent plans on how they can outdo the others and win your favor.

You take your seat again as the lords and ladies around the table continue their conversations, most of them now talking about the upcoming challenge and the possibility of winning your favor at tonight's feast. Cregan sits across from you, his eyes fixed on your face, a mixture of irritation and disappointment in his gaze.

You question him, feigning obliviousness.

“What’s wrong?”

Cregan's eyes narrow slightly as he looks at you across the table, his jaw clenched.

"You know exactly what's wrong. You're offering your hand as a prize to the first hunter to bring you a big stag. What game are you playing at?"

“It’s just a bit of fun, lighten up!”

Cregan's eyes flash with irritation as he grits his teeth, clearly not amused by your nonchalance.

"Just a bit of fun, is it? Offering yourself up like a prize to be won? Can't you see how dangerous and foolish you're being?"

“Do not argue at your own table with your guest. It is impolite and rude, Lord Stark”

Cregan's jaw clenches tightly at your rebuke, a flicker of anger in his eyes. But he holds his tongue, reluctantly swallowing back the retort that nearly spills from his lips. He knows you're right, but it doesn't make him any less angry about the situation.

He forces a tight smile.

"Yes, of course, my princess. Forgive me for my lapse in courtesy."

You begin to talk to the lord beside you again. Cregan watches from across the table as he continues to talk your ear off, his eyes fixed on you. It takes every ounce of self-control he has to bite back the words that threaten to spill from his mouth, resisting the urge to snap at the man for hogging your attention.

He stabs at the food on his plate like an angry child.

“I did not catch your name. Lord…?”

The Lord blushes slightly at your question, clearly flattered that you're showing an interest in him.

"Oh, forgive me, my princess. How foolish of me to forget such an important detail. I am Lord Harwin Flint, the son and heir to Lord Wylis Flint of Widow's Watch."

“Quite a long way you are from Widows Watch.”

"Indeed, my lady. Winterfell is not the closest place to my home, but the Starks are an ancient and respected family, and I’d feel honored to be in attendance at such a splendid feast."

“Of course,” you smile before taking another bite of your food.

*****

Soon after, breakfast concludes.

The lords and ladies around the table begin to stand up, signaling the end of the morning meal. A few of them cast glances in your direction, clearly still thinking about the challenge you proposed earlier.

Cregan stands up as well, his jaw clenched and his eyes fixed on you as you rise from your seat to leave the great hall. He walks beside you in silence for a few moments, eyes occasionally stealing glances in your direction. The air between you is thick with tension, though he makes no attempt to break it yet.

“What is it?"

Cregan glances at you, surprise briefly flitting across his face that you seem to have noticed his subtle glances. He considers you for a moment before speaking, choosing his words carefully.

"That young Lord Cedric. He seemed rather... taken with you."

His tone is neutral, but there's a hint of jealousy or possessiveness in his words.

"Well I am a Princess so..."

His jaw clenches slightly at your words, his jealousy evident in his expression. His eyes flash with a hint of anger as he responds.

"True, but the way he was looking at you... it was more than simple admiration."

He pauses, his voice dropping lower as he continues.

"He didn't just see a princess. He saw a woman to admire and possibly court."

"Oh nonsense-"

"No, I'm serious. I saw the way he kept glancing at you, the way he blushed like a boy when you thanked him. He was smitten, Princess."

He stops walking, turning to face you directly, his expression dark and intense.

"You can't tell me you didn't notice."

“Were you not staring at me too…?” I tease “for quite a long time might I add…”

"I was merely observing... as any lord does when a royal guest is in his domain."

He takes a step closer towards you, his gaze locking onto yours.

"And you're deflecting. We're talking about Lord Cedric, not me."

“Observing…I see…” I say sarcastically.

Cregan's smirk widens at your sarcastic tone, obviously amused. He takes another step closer to you, reducing the distance between you even further. His eyes never leave yours as he speaks, his voice now a low rumble.

"Oh, yes, 'observing'. I was observing your every movement, your every expression, your every reaction to Lord Cedric's attention."

He leans in slightly.

"And I didn't like what I saw."

"My conversation with Lord Cedric is not for you to like or dislike. Matters of the Princess of the realm are no matters for that of the Warden of the North"

"You're right. You are the Princess of the realm, and I am the Warden of the North. However, that does not mean I cannot have opinions or feelings regarding your interactions with my men."

He pauses, his gaze flickering over you for a moment before he continues.

"Lord Cedric is young and inexperienced. He doesn't appreciate the significance of your presence here- "

"We will speak of this no more. I did not come here to listen about how you don’t like when lords fancy me.”

Cregan's expression tenses at your firm tone, his jaw working with suppressed frustration. His eyes linger on you for a moment before he responds, his voice taut and strained.

"As you wish, Princess. But just remember, the North is a place of bluntness and honesty. Here, we say what we mean and mean what we say."

He takes another step towards you, his eyes not leaving yours as he continues, his voice low and intense.

"And I mean it when I say that I'm not fond of seeing you with other men."

You sigh, annoyed and walk away.

Cregan watches as you walk ahead, hands balling into fists as he tries to control his emotions.

He quickens his pace to catch up with you, strides long and purposeful, closing the distance between you in just a few steps. When he reaches your side, he reaches out and gently grasps your arm, stopping you in your tracks.

You turn abruptly.

Cregan's grip on your arm tightens for a moment before he releases you, his eyes locking onto yours. His expression is a mix of anger and something else – something you can't quite place, but it makes your heart beat a little faster.

"You can't just walk away from me like that."

“Then walk faster.” You pull your arm away.

For a moment, he looks as though he's about to grab your arm again and pull you back, but he restrains himself, letting out a frustrated huff instead.

"So, you're going to act like a petulant child now?" He asks, his voice laden with sarcasm.

"I am simply protecting my sanity and I will not allow you to destroy it. Not again."

Cregan's expression darkens at your words, his jaw tensing as he recalls the history between you. His eyes narrow, the memory of past hurts and disagreements stirring up his anger.

"I destroyed your sanity? Pray tell, how I managed to do that?" he retorts, his voice sharp and filled with bitter sarcasm.

“Can we not talk about this right now? It’s far too early in the morning.”

Cregan lets out a frustrated huff, his patience clearly wearing thin. He takes another step towards you, closing the gap between you even further. His gaze is intense and unwavering as he responds, his voice low and filled with an underlying hint of anger.

"You can't just bring up such a serious accusation and then refuse to elaborate. You're acting like a child."

You stop in your tracks suddenly. “You will do well to remember who you are speaking to. I’m here because I have to be, not because I want to. So save your interrogation for a later date.”

Cregan stops walking as well, his eyes narrowing at your response. His jaw clenches as he bristles at your words, his anger flaring up once again.

"And you would do well to remember who I am as well," he retorts, his voice filled with a hint of condescension.

"I am the Lord of the North and the Warden of this castle. You may be a princess, but you are a guest here. It would do you well to remember that, and show me the respect I am due."

“I don’t owe you anything-“

Cregan's anger spikes at your impudent response.

"You don't owe me anything, huh? You come into my castle, eat my food, expect me to house and protect you, and you don't think you owe me anything?"

“I didn’t ask you to-“

"I offered you my hospitality, and in return, all I ask is a little respect."

You take a breath, sighing because you know he’s sort of right. He is providing you. But it wasn’t your choice to come here in the first place.

“Fine then if you’re so desperate for it” you mutter, just to shut him up.

He crosses his arms over his chest, his stance still tense as he responds, his voice now calmer but still laced with a hint of sarcasm.

"Oh, gracious of you. I didn't know asking for basic decency was such a challenge for a Princess such as yourself."

You simply roll your eyes as you always do.

As you continue walking through the streets of the Wintertown, the people pause in their activities, their heads turning to watch you as you pass. Some stare openly, their curiosity and surprise evident on their faces as they whisper to each other. Others bow their heads reverently, their gazes filled with awe and admiration.

Cregan walks beside you, his gaze constantly flickering from you to the people around you, watching their reactions with a mixture of pride and possessiveness.

There was no time to keep glowering when you’re supposed to be looking the part so you quickly change your expression.

You give a polite smile and the people respond to your smile with smiles of their own, some even offering timid waves or friendly greetings as you pass by.

Your friendly waves and acknowledgments only seem to deepen the impact you have on the people around you. A few of the women even whisper amongst themselves, their eyes flicking towards you with a mixture of envy and admiration. Men watch you with respectful gazes, clearly noticing your beauty and regality.

The aroma of various stalls fills the air – the scents of freshly baked bread, exotic spices, and roasting meats.

Your irritation slowly starts to subside as you take in the vibrant atmosphere around you. Children laugh and play nearby, their youthful energy filling the air. The smell of street food beckons your taste buds, and the scent of fresh herbs and spices hangs heavily in the air.

Cregan glances over at you, noticing the way your face softens as you watch the children play. Though he tries to hide it by quickly redirecting his gaze.

Pussy.

Merchants and vendors take notice of you and Cregan and offer you various goods and trinkets, hoping to win your favor. Some present intricate jewelry, others, beautifuly crafted knives, and some offer the finest produce from local farms. They seem eager to please you and you cant help but take their gifts and buy their many things.

And Cregan, well he cant help but find your kindness towards his people a desirable trait, So much so, he almost forgets the reason for his foul mood.

Your mood has brightened with your now-many things in your hands, and you stumble upon a dress. Its made of fine materials, intricate details and its black and rich red color catching your attention. Cregan follows behind you as you approach it,

"Ma'am, who made this magnificent gown? It's just lovely! and these gloves as well? The shoes even? Theres a whole set?!"

The shopkeeper, ancolder woman witha friendly smiles, steps forward to greet you. She beans at your compliments, face lighting up with pride.

"Thank you Princess," she says. "My husband and I are the seamster and seamstress who crafted this dress. The finest kmaterials money can buy. The gloves and shoes are his work also!"

"How much for the whole set?" You see another fabulous dress "Oh and that one there too,"

The shopkeeper moves quickly to fetch the dresses and present them to you, holding them up so you can see the front and the back. "Excelent choice milady," she says witha smile "Teh set of the first dress, with the gloves and shoes will be...lets see...Thats 215silver stags." She tunrs her attention to the second dress. "As for the second dress, that one will be 150 silver stags."

You think on it for a second before deciding. You practically throw your bags onto Cregan to take out your coin purse. "Oh would it really kill to buy a few more dresses? I think not. I'll take the other two dresses there and the necklance and the-" At this point, youre buying out they entire stock.

He eyes widen and she quickly fetches the other dresses, the necklace and a few more acessories, presenting them to you. "Anything else you'd like...?

"One last thing! The-" Cregan gently puts a hand on you arm, interrupting you sentence. He casts a glance at the growing pile of bags and items you are to purchase on the shop's counter, obviously overwhelmed.

"No more," He groans with a hint of annoyance in his voice. Hes already suffering enough from the many bags hes having to carry. "Youv'e already got enough to fill a small carriage-"

"Here hold this."

Cregan lets out an exasperated sigh as you hand him yet another item to carry, casting a tired glance at you, eyes silently questioning why you need so many thing.

You turn back to the Shopkeeper. "Im afraid this is all I can get...for now. If it were upto me id buy your entire stall, but i must heed the advice of your Lord before he collapses."

He smile faulters when Cregan shoots her a stern glare, warning her not to test his limits any further, sighing as he adjusts the bags in his arms once again.

"Lets go already," He orders firmly, gestering for you to walk ahead.

You give 4 gold dragons "For you and your husband. May You make the most beautiful dresses."

The shopkeepers eyes widen in disbelief, mouth agape as she looks at the hefty payment in her hand. She looks up at you, eyes brimming with tears and gratitude. "Thank you, milady," she stammers, ver voice trembling slightly. "You are too generous. i will pass this along to my hisband, and we will surely amke many more beautiful dresses in your honr."

"I do hope so. Good day to you miss." You take the box and teh small bag with the jewelry meanwhile Cregan is still annoyed about being relegated to the status of your personal pack horse.

Except you don't ride him like one. I mean, maybe you will-

He hadn't realised that something as mundane as shopping to brighten your mood so much. But he can't deny the genuine happiness on your face and he find himself unable to stay anooyed for too long. He casts a sidelong glance at you, observing your joyous expression as you carry the dresses and other items.

By the time you reached the gate, cregan almost couldnt hold it any longer. He looked positively frazzled and his breath comes in short puffs, face flushed with exertion.

You still stride ahead and he follows after you, steping heavily, silently pleading for compassion an undrstanding. You seem oblivious to his struggle. That or, you simply dont care. People give amused glances, finding the sight of him lugging your items aound quite comical.

The guards at the hate cant help but let out quiet chuckles, amused by the sight of Cregan struggling and he asks them for help. He feels a pang of embarassment at having to ask for their assistance.

"Of course can give you a hand." He hoists them over his shoulder and his friend still fights to keep a straight face, the supressed laughter threatening to burst out at any moment.

Creganhands over a couple of bags and boxes, grateful for the assistance, but still feeling a bit humiliated at the specticle hes become.

Reaching the keep, you hold open the door. "Up to my chambers, thank you."

Cregan nods mutely, body aching and cheeks flushed from exhertion, and he looks completely drained. He struggles up the stairs, following you to your chambers.

"Just a little more ways away."

The guards enter your chambers aswell, still trying not to laugh. You let out a little chuckle yourself and its not helping at all.

Cregan casts a resentfull look as you do so. He sets down the bags and packages, back aching. He lets out a sigh of relief and rolls his shoulders in attempts to loosen the tension in his mucles.

He collapses into the chair beside your bed to relax his body

"Uh, excuse you."

"What?" he asks with a tinge of irritation

"You can relax in your own room."

He rises from the comfortable chair, departing to retire to his own chambers. He had hoped for a moment respite after carrying all of your things, but he cant blame you for wanting him gone.

you walk towars the door, opening it for him. Hes muttering under his breath, dicontent quite obvious in his tone. Something about "Women" and "Too many bags" as he walks past you.

After he laves, you begin to undress in order to try on your newly purchased ones.

That same moment Cregan leaves your room, Jace emerges from his. He observes his disheveled state, out of breath and hair ruffled. Jace then unexpectedly pushes open the door without knocking, anger evident on his face.

You almost yelp, covering your body with your dress. He takes in your half state of undress and it only makes him angrier.

"What the FUCK Jace?"

"What the fuck to you too, what were you doing with Cregan??" he asks, voice coming out in a low, heated tone.

"What are you talking about?? You cant just barge in here like that!"

His expression hardens, shoulders tese and jaw clenched. "I saw him leaving your room. You wanna tell me what the hell is going on between you and him?"

"Lower your tone, nothing is going on, he only-"

Jace scoffs, disbelief evident on his face. "Only what? Why was he in here in the first place?"

"First of all, dont speak to me like that young man. You speak with respect or your turn your ass right back around and leave. Secondly, He'd carried all of my bags from the market for me. and turn around"

He just rolls his eyes, and faces towards the door so you can put your dress back on "He carried your stuff from the market? And that warrented him being in your room?"

"I asked him to bring it to my room so yes."

He found your explanation unsatisfactory and crosses his arms. "And that required being in your room while your'e undressing? Really??" he turns back around

"Do you even hear yourself right now? Why would I have undressed while he was in the room-" The realization of what he was implying suddenly dawns on you.

"I thought..." he trails off awkwardly.

Oh gods he think we really- "I didnt fuck him if thats what you're asking, alright? Gods..." your cheeks heat up at the words coming out of your mouth. Well thats definately something you never saw yoruself saying.

You might even wish that what you said wasn't true.

"I wasn't saying you did-"

"Yes you were."

He lets out a sigh and reluctantly meets your gaze. "Alright maybe I was, but can you blame me? seeing him come out of your room while you were undressing... what else was I supposed to think?"

"Youre supposed to think rationally. If you wanted me to send you home so badly, you coudve just said so."

His expression falters and his features soften as he realizes the weight behind your words. "I dont want you to send me away," he says quietly, voice barely above a whisper, "Im just..i dont know, i overreacted."

"You keepdoing this and im suck and fucking tired of it. I shouldn't have to threaten you for you to behave yourself..." you scold him with a disapointed tone. You thought he'd fixed his out of line behavior.

His shoulders sag, expression one of embarassment. "I overstepped I'm sorry..."

"Sorry isn't enough, this needs to change sooner or later. If you have concerns you let me know, respectfully."

Jace nods, his head lowered in genuine remorse. "I will..." he promises.

"Go to your room."

He turns to leave, shoulders slumped in shame.

"And on more thing."

"yes...?"

"There is a feast tonight. I expect you to be cleaned up and presentable within the next few hours."

He lets out a small sigh. "Alright. I will. Anything else?"

Knock next time. Please." He nods a third time and shuts the door behind him as he leaves.

"Gods that boy..." you mutter to youself. You make sure the door is locked this time as you undress again. "Hes so rash sometimes..." Youre still replaying the scene in your mind.

You continue to undress, shedding your outer layers until youre left in just your undergarments. Your top exposes a generous amount of skin and leaves very little to the imagination.

Knock knock knock.

"What do you want now Jace???"

There is a moment of confusion as you assumed it was Jace on the other side of the door. You call out again, your question lingering in the air, until the person on the other side replies.

"It's Cregan."

oh. "Yes?"

to your surprise he asks, "May I come in?"

"No i am not decent yet... what is it?"

cregan sesitates for a moment, clearly thrown off by your responce. he lets out a small cough, trying to maintain his composure. "Forgive me, I didnt lean to intrude. I...I just wanted to check in on you." He talks in a hushed tone now. "I heard you...arguing with Jace."

"Shouldn't you be resting?"

You let out a sigh and so does he.

"I was going to, but then i heard the comotion in your room and i wouldnt help but worry."

"How much did you hear...?"

He pauses for a moment, mind racing as he tries to decide whether or not to be truthful. You were worried he heard the part where you said-

"I overheard most of it..."

Fuck.

"I know. it wsnt a plesant conversation to listen to." but it was pleasant to think about fucking, even though you know you shouldn't.

He shakes his head to get the thoughts out of his mind. They're becoming dangerously more frequent for both of you.

"Well how much is 'most of it' ?"

Cregan leans against the doorframe, voice more quiet as he recounts what he had overheard. "You scolding Jace for barging in and jumping to conclusions about us... And.." Oh no here we go. He hesitates for a moment, voice getting even quieter.

"I heard you discussing the...less the appropriate implications he made about our...activities" He blushes furiously and awkwardly clears his throat. You silently cover your face on the over side of the door.

"Im so sorry you had to hear that..."

He shakes his head, trying to wave off your apology with a nonchalant gesture. But the blush on his face betrays his true feelings. He takes a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

"Its...Its alright," He assurs you "I shouldn't have listened in the first place."

"No we were too loud. Thanks for checking in on me." You reply

Cregan nods, his embarassment slowly fading as your words sink in. "Of course,"

You silently scream and punch the air, sursing Jace in your mind. Thinking back to those...activities, you blush too. You know he heard what you said.

"Okay.. Well um...Good luck on the hunt then. Go catch something big for me."

"You know I will," He replies, trying to sound confident. "I'll bring home the biggest buck you've ever seen."

"If you say so..." you taunt.

He grins, conficence rising at your doubtful tone. He cant let that go unchallenged. "Oh I do say so. I'll get that dance, just you wait."

"Off you go then."

As Cregan heads off to the stables, he can't shake the feeling of your prescence from his mind. The thought of you and the implications made still lingered, stirring up a maelstrom of emotions within him.

Maybe the things you said you hadn't done with Cregan, you wish you had.

He really just doesn't want any other lord to end up dancing with you. The image of another man, holding you in his arms makes his stomach churn uncomfortably. His mind fills with the image of him dancing with you and his heart quickens.

But then his thoughts take a more intimate turn and his imagination spirals out of control. Him holding you close, bodies pressed together, an embrace that borders on indecent. He can almost feel your warmth just thinking about it.

Cregan knows he shouldn't be thinking such things but he cant help it. That image of you, so close yet so far from his grasp, is consuming his mind and burning in his core like a raging fire.

❆ • ❆ • ❆ • ❆

𝐀/𝐍: SUMMARY: THEY JUST KEEP GETTING LONGER AND LONGER. I'm sorry for the boring filler guys (and for dissapearing) cuz NGL i dont think this ate at allll😔 see you at part 4 when the feast happens. At the end of the feast things get a little heated xp

@beebeechaos @iv-vee @aemondwhoresworld @6ternalsun @obscure-beauty @cregansfourthwife @msmarvelknight @kingdomzeldaquest @littlebirdgot @squidscottjeanseans @jellybeanstacey0519 @r-3dlips @fakem0net @shiggynuggiez @deemee3 @melsunshine @lipgloss05 @cherryheairt @lovevouuu @darlingcharling-blog @pearldaisy @allexlacazette

[tinylilacbun]

n o h i t t i n g ⋆. 𐙚 ˚

Rafe is outside on the balcony, trying to get some work done while Sofia is inside with you in the living room and watching some tv peacefully as he assumes.

He tilts his head a little when he hears voices, more specifically you, getting louder and waits for a moment to see if Sofia can handle the situation on her own, only stepping in if he thinks it's necessary.

It seems like it is one of those times as he keeps hearing you complain or whine and he sighs, turning off his laptop he gets up from his seat to go inside.

"Sweetie, you had enough screentime for today-" Sofia says a bit more sternly than she usually does, not expecting you to suddenly slap her hand when she tries to get the remote from your hands.

Your eyes widen in realization but before you could say something you jump in your spot on the sofa when Rafe's voice startles you.

"Hey! What the hell was that?" He asks as he strides over to you, yanking the remote out of your grip and glaring down at you. "Huh?"

You shrink in on yourself, lowering your head in shame, toying with your hands nervously but Rafe was having none of it, grabbing your chin to make you face him again.

"We do not hit anyone in this house, you understand me? Never." He says, not phased by the tears that are already welling up in your eyes.

"Rafe, it's fine-" Sofia tries to calm him down, but he won't back down on this, not this time.

He knows Sofia is too soft and keen on stuff like this but he draws the line at the kind of disrespect like you hitting or swearing at one of them.

"No, it's not." He states, momentarily turning his gaze to Sofia before back down at you, still gripping your chin. "Time out. Now."

The second he lets go, you scramble off the couch and towards the empty corner, sitting down and facing the wall with your knees pulled up to your chest, sniffling quietly.

"15 minutes you'll sit there and think about what you just did and I better don't see you moving an inch." He warns and you nod timidly.

"Yes daddy..." You whimper, resting your cheek on your knee.

It feels like an eternity, sitting there alone with your thoughts. You didn't mean to hit Sofia, you really didn't. It was just a moment of stubbornness and frustration of not getting more screentime and now you hurt your mama.

The guilt is deep and you keep crying quietly to yourself, wiping at your nose and cheeks repeatedly. You have started drawing shapes on your other knee until Rafe finally tells you that the time is over, turning your head to see him and Sofia sitting on the couch.

You slowly get off the ground, still sniffling and hiccuping as you make your way over to stand in front of them, your eyes fixated on your socked-clad feet. "I- m'sorry..."

"What are you sorry for?" Rafe presses, crossing his arms over his chest, expecting you to apologize to Sofia properly.

"M'sorry f-for hittin' mama. Won' do it 'gain." You mumble, sniffing one time.

"I forgive you, baby." Sofia smiles warmly, her hand massaging the nape of Rafe's tense neck and squeezing one time for him to say something, silently telling him to be gentle with you now.

After a moment he uncrosses his arms, patting his thigh and you instantly get comfortable on his lap at his permission, nuzzling your face in the crook of his neck.

"Good job for taking your punishment, proud of you..." He says, kissing your forehead and a small smile forms on his face when he watches you take Sofia's hand that you slapped earlier and press a gentle kiss on the back of it.

Taglist

For everything:

@my-river-lilly @pauntedblacknails @fanfictioniseverything @buckymydarlingangel @hallecarey1 @daybreakwinter @loveshineslikethesky @vase-of-lilies @white-wolf1940 @simpingbutch @mischiefsemimanaged @alina02 @teddybearsgrr @doozywoozy @angelbabydoll28 @glxwingrxse @lilymurphy03 @veryvaughnny @lokigirlszendaya @youngstarfishdinosaur @little--baby--bear @minideathgoddess @rach2602 @gh0stgurl @flourishandblotts-inc @lovelyy-moonlight @yoruse

@mythixmagic @iris-xoxo-juhu @mylettterstoyou @sunf1ower16 @sweetstars-posts @rafecameronsloverrrrr @rafenroostersgirl

For Rafe:

@chiaraanatra @chimindity @erikasurfer

[yapuniversity]

thinking about sweet boyfriend nanami who worries too much about you when you’re on your periods. “are you okay, baby?” he asks in that sweet, deep voice of his. you can't help but smile at his expression - his cute brows frowning together and his pretty lips pressed in a thin line out of concern. you cup his face in your palms and gently place a kiss on his forehead, reassuring him. “i’m fine, love.”

he rests himself on his knees in front of you while you’re sitting on the sofa. his arms placed on your hips possessively as he caresses your soft skin under his fingertips. “is your tummy hurting?” he asks, not convinced with your answer. your stomach was, in fact hurting. but looking at his growing concern over you, you couldn't help but lie. even though you liked the fact that nanami was constantly checking up on you ever since you hit your monthly cycle, you couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt eating you alive anytime he took a break from his work to look after you. yes, you did admire the fact that he cared about you and took mini breaks in between to make sure that you were fine. but you were worried that you were getting in the way of his work.

but of course, being the sweet and loving boyfriend nanami is, he constantly assured you that you were not in the way of his work and that he wanted to take care of you. he needed to take care of you.

“you’re my entire world, sweetheart,” he’d say every time you spoke about this matter. “i can't bear the thought of you being in pain. let me take care of you, please.” he’d say, his eyes never leaving your face. and everytime he looked at you like that, you knew that there was nothing but love behind those captivating hazel-coloured eyes of his.

so, when a “yes” slipped out of your lips - when asked if your stomach was hurting, he swiftly got up on his feet and lifted you in his arms, his grip protective.

“you rest. i’ll bring the hot water bag, okay?” he says, his words coming out more like a command rather than a suggestion. you have no other option but to stay quiet and obey. and you had to admit it, you liked it when he spoke to you in that tone. you liked the idea of him being in control. you liked the idea of him proving his affection towards you.

you see, nanami’s second most evident love language is acts of service and no doubt, the first one being physical touch. and then comes words of affirmation. but, he’s obviously never told this to you because he has never shown anyone this side of him. you on the other hand have noticed each and every one of his move. “i have never felt like this for anyone,” he’d say, and you could see the truth in his words. he’d made it clear from the start that he was a sucker for you, and only you alone.

he opens the door to your room and gently places you on the bed, making sure you’re comfortable. “you comfortable, baby?” he asks and when you nod a “yes”, he pulls the covers over you.

“i’ll be right back,” he says and a small smile spreads across his lips when he sees you opening your mouth to ask him where he's going, but he places a finger on your lips and says, “nuh-uh. no questions, no arguments. do you trust me?”

the question catches you off-guard. trust him? of course you trust him. you trust him more than anyone in your life. you trust him more than you trust yourself.

“of course i do,” you say, defensively.

nanami can't help but grin at your words. “then wait for me,” he says and kisses your temple. you don't say anything because you know that he wouldn't listen to you. especially after you told him that you trusted him.

ten minutes pass by and you were almost about to fall asleep but then you see nanami coming into your room, a hot water bag in one hand and a massaging oil in the other. he sits next to you, his weight compressing the mattress ever so slightly under him. he pulls the covers down to your hips and places the bag on your stomach. “does that feel better?” he asks. the warmth of the bag almost gives you an instant relief from your pain and nanami notices this. “see, i told you that you could trust me,” he says proudly and you can't help but grin at his words.

“do you want me to massage your stomach? for some relief?” he asks, taking your hand in his and intertwining his fingers with yours. his gaze never leaves your face and you almost feel shy. he’s been your man for a long time now but the feelings you have for him are still the same as when you first met him. raw, beautiful, and intense.

a “no” somehow comes out of you and he nods in understanding.

you suddenly wake up to the bag being lifted from your stomach and you immediately look at nanami. you had no recollection of falling asleep. “shit,” you curse under your breath and nanami’s gaze immediately meets yours, his expression looking like he's been craving to hear your voice for a long time now.

“sorry, i didn't mean to wake you up,” he says and places the bag at your bedside table.

“how long was i out for?” you ask, lifting your body up and resting on your elbows.

“almost an hour,” nanami responds nonchalantly.

“what were you doing for so long?”

“watching you sleep,” he says, shyness in his voice.

your face turns red at his words and you say, “im so sorry i kept you waiting.”

“you didn't, doll,” nanami says almost immediately.

you let out a heavy sigh and you hear nanami ask, “how are you feeling?”

you subconsciously place a hand on your stomach and say, “better. much better.”

nanami’s lips curves upward into a smile. he walks over to you and gets on top of you, pressing his needy lips against yours. his gesture takes you by surprise but you could almost immediately sense the feeling of urgency in his touch, almost like he's been holding himself back from kissing you like this. you kiss him back with the same intensity and after a few seconds, he reluctantly pulls away. a disappointed expression immediately takes over your face and this makes nanami chuckle.

“i'm not moving too fast, am i?” he asks, hesitantly.

“shut up and kiss me,” you say almost immediately, wrapping your arms around his neck and crashing your lips against his. he kisses you back with the same eagerness and cups your face in his palms. he pulls back once more and this time you can't help but feel irritated.

“why do you keep pulling back?” you ask, angrily.

“because i’m afraid i’m putting too much pressure on you,” he says, reluctantly.

“you’re not, nanami. kiss me, please.”

nanami couldn't hold back anymore. he grabs your face and hungrily slams his lips onto yours. he parts your lips with his tongue and lets out a low satisfied growl when he gets a taste of you. he presses his body against yours and you could instantly feel the bulge in his pants. your arousal heightens and you wrap your legs around his waist, pressing his hot and heavy bulge on your innocent cunt.

you pull away from his lips and beg, “fuck me, please.”

nanami pants against your lips and you could feel his cock twitch at your words. “no, baby,” he says, biting his lips as he tries to control himself.

“why?” you ask, your voice breaking.

nanami’s face evidently flinches at your broken voice. a pained expression taking over his face. “as much as i want to, love- i cant. it’ll be too much for you and your body is already delicate and sensitive since you’re on your periods. i don't want to hurt you.”

you sigh in defeat because you know he's right. and you know that he never denies your needs. but when he does, you know it's for your good.

“you’re right,” you say in a low and sad voice.

“i’m sorry, baby,” he says and you can feel the genuine guilt in his voice.

he kisses your neck in appreciation. he lifts himself from your body and you feel your thighs aching at the absence of his touch. but unbeknownst to you, nanami gently lifts up your shirt and looks at your exposed stomach. he places his hand on your stomach and feels your warmth under his palm. he brings his head down and gently brushes his lips on your exposed skin, nuzzling his face here and there in order to envelop into your scent. he then rests his head on your stomach and looks up at you with affection in his eyes. “i love you,” he says, almost in a whisper.

your eyes soften at his words.

“i love you too,” you say as a smile spreads across your face.

a small grin plays at the corner of nanami’s lips.

you brush your fingers against his hair and he closes his eyes at your contact. he hums in satisfaction under your touch.

do not plagiarise, copy, translate or repost my works on any platform!!!

divider credit - @xurengu0 <3

[joeyfranchise]

𝟙𝟚 𝕕𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝕗𝕚𝕔-𝕞𝕒𝕤: 𝕕𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕨𝕠

cindy lou who…

ex!joe x fem!reader

summary: the boy that you love is with someone new…

warnings: none, it’s just sad. sfw, but minors please do not interact with my page.

word count: 1.2k.

note: based on the song cindy lou who by sabrina carpenter. i also drew inspo from harry styles’ cover of girl crush, and heather by conan gray.

it was christmas eve again, and you were all alone in your apartment, deciding against traveling to be with your family.

with a glass of wine in hand and your coziest robe on, you sat on the couch ready to get comfortable and watch a christmas movie. for most of the day you moped around, sad you’d be spending christmas alone… but it was up to you to change that.

you scrolled through the endless amount of movies before settling on a favorite, love actually.

you sipped at your wine as the movie began to play, trying to immerse yourself in it. you thought about getting up and making a snack, but your phone buzzed, and that took all your attention. it was a text from your sister, nothing that really required your attention, but you opened it nonetheless.

attached was a picture of herself and her boyfriend in front of a gigantic beautifully lit christmas tree. she was smiling from ear to ear, and her boyfriend was looking at her so sweetly. the message along with it read “we miss you! wish you were home!”

you love reacted the message and responded back with a simple ���miss you!” but all it really did was remind you how lonely you were. you exited out of your messages and turned your attention back to the movie briefly before opening up instagram, ready to doomscroll. movies could never really keep your attention, but you needed the background noise.

when you looked back at your phone screen, the breath was almost knocked from your lungs. the first post was from your ex… you weren’t sure why you still followed him.

in the photo, joe was standing in a grandeur hallway, poised in front of a beautiful archway that was decorated with beautiful lights and red and green holly. next to him was a beautiful girl, the one who you could only assume replaced you.

she had long, silky, perfectly curled hair. her hand was on his chest, her beautifully manicured nails painted with tiny candy cane designs. her makeup was gorgeous as she smiled up at joe, the wing of her eyeliner was perfect, her lips the most beautiful glossy red you’ve ever seen.

he looked so happy as he stared into the camera, and it broke your heart for a moment knowing that you weren’t the one creating that happiness. you swiped to the next photo. it hurt even worse than the first.

in this photo, joe’s hand was pressed to the small of her back and he was pulling her into him. he smiled down at her, and you could almost feel the love and adoration beaming from his eyes onto her.

you knew how it felt. he used to look at you that way.

you wondered how they met, what she did to pull him in. you wondered what it took for her to break down that hard exterior he had, how she was able to melt him down, how she got him to smile like this... to post photos like this. you felt physically sick looking at it.

you swiped to the last photo. she stood there between joe and robin, with joe’s dad on his other side. they all looked so happy, smiling in the christmas lights. you could feel the bile rising in your throat.

there he was, the man you loved, smiling so happy and in love with someone else. you wanted to hate her, but how could you? sure, she was doing things you used to do, but it seemed like she brought the light back to joe. you hadn’t seen him that happy in a while, especially not the last few months of your relationship.

you reminisced on christmases you’d spent with him, how it used to be you taking photos with his parents. how it was you who woke up with him in his old bed, underneath his star wars themed sheets and bedspread.

how you’d help his mom cook breakfast, you’d spend time with his brothers’ families, you’d open gifts with him. you giggled at how you’d sneak upstairs late after everyone was asleep to have a christmas treat, trying not to laugh too loud and wake everyone up.

you tried not to throw up as you imagined them kissing under the mistletoe that’d be hung above the hearth, just like you used to. you thought about how beautiful a ring would look on her finger, about how elated joe would be to give it to her.

you remembered everything you felt for him, when he won the natty, the heisman, when he was drafted.. you were there, you were in love, but the fire began to die. joe was becoming more and more unhappy, and you had to let each other go. and now, as you sat lonely, without even your family, here was joe. happy and in love with a beautiful girl, someone who wasn’t you.

you wondered if it was snowing in ohio, you were almost sure of it. would he take her outside and spin her around in the snow, just like he did with you?

it stung, but all you could do was force yourself to be glad for him. he deserved love, you knew that. you wanted that for him, even if it was with someone else. you wondered everything about her. what did she smell like? was her skin soft? what does her voice sound like?

she was everything for joe that you couldn’t be, but that was okay. you had to be okay with it. you noticed joe tagged her in the photo, but you wouldn’t bother scrolling her page, or if it was private, you wouldn’t send her a request. her life with joe was none of your business, even if it hurt.

you didn’t know if it’d be messy, but against your better judgment, you liked joe’s post. you were going to be happy for him, no matter what. you locked your phone, placing it face down on the couch as you stood to go make yourself some popcorn.

once you returned, you focused your attention back to the movie which left you bawling by the end. you finished your wine as well, and you gathered your dishes to take them to the sink before pulling the curtains closed. you stopped for a moment to admire all the lights outside before you had them fully closed.

you picked up your phone as you got ready to head to bed, your heart sinking as you noticed an instagram notification on your lockscreen. when you opened it, your hand instinctively flew to cover your mouth, your legs feeling shaky, almost like jello.

joeyb_9: merry christmas, y/n.

that was all it read, but it nearly ripped your heart from your chest. what made him message you, you weren’t sure. you started to sob, the cries wracking through your body. it took everything in you to respond, but you did, you had to tell him one last thing.

y/n: merry christmas, joe. i’m so happy for you.

and with that you were off to bed, dreaming of joe and his cindy lou who… the girl who wasn’t you.

all photos and dividers used are not mine. credit to original owners.

taglist: @slimshiesty @starsinthesky5 @kykysinlovewithafairytale @burrowdarling @joeyb1989 @loveyatopluto @toterry @unhingedfangirl @superheroprincess22 @burreauxsworld @definitelynotdomanique @samanthamark5 @superstarshitblog @fa1ry03 @wickedfun9 @xbriexx @venic-bxtch @burrowdarling @angels555 @idbe-theman @yelenasbraid @ladyluvduv @joeburrowshaircurl @joeybisbootiful @livinobx @blairsworld22 @jarring-behavior @joeyburrrow

[letstrip13]

I feel like you should do False God 😏or like Forever and Always (with a twist) or any breakup song, but they end up meeting each other again at a party, and get back together. A solid fluff would be nice too tbh

🪞 - forever and always

summary: you and chris were the perfect couple, or so you thought until you broke up. what happens when you run into each other a month later at a party?

warnings: smut, unprotected sex, oral f!receiving, drinking/alcohol, some angst

word count: 2,460

author's note: another re-upload from the summer. it's kinda giving cheesy romcom imo

author's note 2: follow my bestie pinkfilipowicz on instagram, i'm trying to help her with her goal of getting 100 followers by the end of 2024!! she's the absolute sweetest + one of the best info/style accs for madi ever!!

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one month. thirty days. seven hundred twenty hours. forty-three thousand, two hundred minutes. two million, five hundred ninety-two thousand seconds. no matter which way you put it, it had been that long since the breakup with chris. that long of feeling agonizing heartbreak.

you sit in front of your vanity, applying glittery eyeshadow to your eyelids, making sure to pack it on there so your eyes pop. you're filled with a horrible sense of dread as you continue to apply your eye makeup, counting down the minutes until you'll have to see his face again; the first time since the breakup.

you couldn't back out of the party now. it was a birthday party for a mutual friend you and the triplets had in high school, actually the one who introduced you to them. you weren't ever super close with matt, nothing was remarkable about the bond you shared. just friends, plain and simple.

but you got close with nick fast, continuing to stay close with him throughout your ten month relationship with chris. that's why it hurt so much when you stopped talking to him. nothing against nick, of course, he was an amazing friend but you just couldn't bear the constant reminders he brought you of chris. you needed to cut them all off for your own sake.

“baby, what happened? please, tell me cause, one second, it was perfect now you’re halfway out the door”

you didn't even know how it had happened. one day something just changed in chris and he left. was it something you said? something you did? you didn't know. sure, you could've gotten closure by asking nick or you could even get it tonight at the party, but there's no chance.

“and i stare at the phone, he still hasn’t called and then you feel so low you can’t feel nothin’ at all and you flashback to when he said, “forever and always””

your goal for tonight's party was to get drunk, have fun, and forget about him. you had spent far too much of your time, waiting for the moment he comes back even though you knew deep down there's a chance he wouldn't. but that didn't stop you from perking up at every new notification, only to be disappointed when it's not him.

you finish your makeup before drying and styling your hair - still wet from the shower - and picking out an outfit. you put on a little black dress that chris bought for you when you were still together. you probably would've showed up on his arm in this very dress. but instead, you're wearing it in hopes that he'll regret ever leaving you.

you order an uber and arrive shortly after, your friend's house being close by. as soon as you get there, you're greeted by the host of the party along with a group of girls you were friends with in high school that had all drifted from each other after graduation. when you start taking shots together, you feel as close to them as you used to. for a split second, you feel okay, completely forgetting about chris.

until you glance over your shoulder and see him staring you down. you stare back for what feels like an eternity, but is really only a few seconds. you don't react, you don't really have time to before another shot is shoved into your hand. you take it and as you've barely swallowed it, you're being pulled away to go dance with your friends.

after a while of you dancing, you have to go to the bathroom. you make your way upstairs, and walk down the narrow hallway, trying not to bump into anyone. you're about to turn the doorknob to walk in when you hear a familiar voice behind you. it's nick. “hey, i haven't seen you in forever. how've you been?”

you were glad to run into him but you feel bad because you're the reason you haven't seen each other. “i'm good. umm just hold on a second. i'll be right back.” you go into the bathroom, shutting the door behind you. you take a moment to breathe before doing what you went in there for.

as you're washing your hands, you hear nick's voice followed by another one you recognize all too well. you should've known this would happen, wherever one was, the other two often weren't far. it had always been that way. you hope and pray that it could just be matt, maybe he has a sore throat or something. please, just let it be matt with a sore throat.

you finally open the door and as you take a step out, you almost walk right into chris. of course, the one you did not want to see. “excuse me,” you say, not unkindly but with an expression he can't quite read, as you try to side step him. “wait, princess, please.”

him using his nickname for you makes something inside you break, but also makes you angry. “you can't call me that anymore, not after you left.” he reaches for your arm which you quickly pull away. “please, give me a chance to talk to you. we can work things out. i miss you.”

“i miss you too, but i hate you for what you did. you broke your promise, chris.” nick has walked away by this point, wanting to give you two space to talk things out. “i know i did but-” you're quick to cut him off. “i'm not done! it wasn't fair of you to do that to me. you promised, you said “forever and always” but you still left me. you fucking broke me like i was nothing and you just expected me to be okay with it.” tear after tear is streaming down your face by now with no sign of stopping anytime soon. “and after all that, you expect me to just let you say “i know i did” as if that's supposed to make everything better.”

his heart breaks watching you cry, seeing how much he hurt you. guilt takes over him and you notice a few tears roll down his cheeks too. “i'm sorry, i really am. and i know it's not an excuse but i felt like i had to leave because i was afraid. the thought of being with one person for the rest of your life can be terrifying.” you're about to speak up but he continues before you can. “but i realize now that it's all i want. i want to be with you forever, i can't live without you.”

“well, you might have to learn to.” you walk past him, going down the hallway towards the stairs. “please, i love you!” he shouts over the music. you give him one last look, not saying a word before going downstairs. you go back down to find your friends while he shuts himself in the bathroom, wiping away the rapidly falling tears as it hits him just how much he fucked up.

you and chris don't see each other until way later into the night. almost everyone is intoxicated by this point, you lost count of how many shots you've taken. suddenly, yours and chris’ song was playing. several months ago, late at night while you two were cuddling in his bed, you agreed that having a “song” sounded cliché. but you both knew that if you had one, this would be it.

both of you, forgetting everything for a moment, search the room for each other. you find each other and within a matter of seconds, you're in each other's arms, kissing feverishly with an amount of passion neither of you had felt before. it felt as if you were the only two in the room. as your hands found their way to his back, you could practically feel the regret of leaving you dripping off chris.

“back up, baby, back up did you forget everything?”

you reluctantly pull away, still not 100% sure if you should be doing this. despite being as drunk as you are, you know this may not be right. but the pleading look in chris’ eyes are almost enough to change your mind. almost. “please, baby. just one last time and you never have to see me again. just let me taste you one last time.” that was what convinced you. if there was one thing you missed about chris, it was his tongue. “yes, let’s go,” you say, taking his hand and leading him upstairs to an empty guest bedroom.

as soon as the door is closed and locked behind you, he’s pushing you down on the bed and getting on top of you, kissing you again. within a matter of seconds, he’s gained access to your mouth and his tongue dances with yours. it feels so familiar and intoxicating, more so than the alcohol. he slips his hands down your sides and bunches the fabric of your skirt up around your hips. he runs his finger along your panty-covered slit as he trails wet, sloppy kisses down your neck and along your collarbone. soft gasps of pleasure escape your lips as he leaves marks across your skin.

he pulls away after giving you a final, playful bite. he pulls you forward so your legs are hanging off the bed and he gets on his knees. you lift your hips as he pulls your panties down, eyes locked with yours the whole time. you let out another small gasp as the cool air hits your wetness. he teasingly licks a stripe up your folds, but once he gets a taste of you, the slow, teasing nature goes away.

he lifts your knees, letting the backs of them rest on his shoulders as your legs hang down his back, crossed at the ankles. he practically buries his face in your pussy acting like he's been starved for a hundred years. your fingers tangle in his soft, brown curls as you moan and buck your hips closer to him.

he dips his tongue into your hole, causing yet another moan to escape your lips. his nose bumps your clit slightly so you buck your hips forward, craving more contact. he pulls his tongue out of you and before you can even protest, it's back in again. he gets faster with it and switches between that and lapping up the juices spilling from you as if this is his last time ever tasting you and he needs every single drop. he doesn't find a steady rhythm to it, he's quite sloppy, but it feels so good.

it's a drunken blur of grinding against him so his nose hits your clit just right and of his tongue making you feel lightheaded until you're crying out to him, legs shaking as you finish. “shit.. feels so- oh fuck!” he smirks up at you for a moment, and you take in his hazy blue eyes, and his lips and chin covered in your cum. he licks his lips before going right back in and lapping up every last drop he left behind, holding your hips down as you squirm under him.

“i missed your taste, your pussy's so fuckin’ good.” he smiles up at you as you sit up. “want you to fuck me,” you murmur in a sultry tone, “missed your cock.” the words were barely out of your mouth as chris starts fumbling with his belt, trying to get it off as fast as he can. you scoot back on the bed as he figures it out and takes it off. he unbuttons and unzips his pants, pulling them down a bit so he can adjust his boxers and take his dick out.

he doesn't give you any warning before slamming into you, his thrusts gaining speed right away. the way he’s stretching you out after not having him, or anyone, inside you for a month is a wonderful pain that has you crying out. it’s quickly overtaken by pleasure as the tip hits that magic spot inside you with every thrust. he leans down to kiss your neck, his hands squeezing your hips as he whispers to you, “take. me. back. please. i. miss. you. i. still. love. you,” each word punctuated with his hips slapping against your skin as he goes as deep as he possibly can.

since both of you were so pent up from not having each other for so long and since you’re still sensitive from chris eating you out, it doesn’t take much longer for you to finish together. your walls clench around him as he shoots his release inside you. he slowly gets off you, both of you panting and sweating as you lay together to catch your breath.

you pull your dress down and he fixes his pants before he pulls you close. he runs his fingers through your hair gently, something he’d often do when you’d be cuddling. “i meant everything i said tonight. every single word of it.”

“i,” you hesitate for a moment, “still love you too. but i don’t know if i can fully trust you. you made a promise, a commitment, to me but you didn’t keep it.” he considers what to say next for a moment, wanting to make sure it’s the right thing. “if you take me back, i will do whatever it takes to earn your trust back. anything you want, i’ll do it.”

you stay silent, taking some time to contemplate it. you love chris and you want to be with him, but you don’t want to risk him leaving and hurting you a second time. “i will take you back..” chris immediately perks up, an excited shine in his eyes and he appears to be having a thousand thoughts running through his mind. but you speak again before he can get a word out. “but, if you fuck up and break another promise, i will leave. and you will not be having a chance like this again. if you lose me again, i will be gone for good.”

he nods, trying to look serious, but he can't seem to contain his excitement. he pulls you even closer, wrapping his arms around you tightly. being in each other's arms like this feels like a weight getting lifted off your chests. “i understand. like i said, i'll do whatever it takes. i just want to make you happy.”

he loosens his hold on you and pulls away to look into your eyes. “i will love you for the rest of my life.” “forever and always?” he gives you a sweet, tender kiss on the lips, pouring every ounce of love he possibly can into it. “yes, princess. forever and always.”

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[hanniebaeee]

Destined

Hyunlix x fem!reader

Warnings: mentions of sexy times (implied?) MDNI

Genre: strangers to lovers/established relationship, fantasy au

Summary: You make a drunken wish on a magic coin, and the next morning you wake up to a life from your wildest dreams.

Dividers: @strangergraphics

Ok, so the minute you woke up, you knew something was not exactly…right. Because you woke up to the feel of buttery soft sheets against your skin. And even in your hungover state, your groggy brain immediately registered three things:

1. This was not your bed.

2. These were not your pajamas.

3. This was definitely not your apartment.

You bolted upright, your heart racing. The fucking coin.

Izzy's grandma's coin. Oh no.

A few hours earlier:

That damn look of smugness on Izzy's face as she held up an ancient looking coin - it looked like something out of an Indiana Jones movie - was priceless. 

You and Cara didn't know exactly what you were looking at. Ok, a nice old coin. But you did know that Izzy was at her grandma's, cleaning up her old house before it was put up for sale.

“Ok?” Cara said slowly, her eyes moving from the coin to Cara. “Oh my God, what about it, Iz, can you please stop with the mystery already?!”

“Guy! It's THE coin!” Izzy gushed. 

“What coin?” I asked, frowning. 

“Babe, the coin grandma kept teasing us about since forever - THE coin!”

You and Cara stared at Izzy. No way. 

So, Izzy's grandma claimed that she was part of an ancient coven of witches (which would mean Izzy was too?). You remembered those summers where you, Izzy and Cara would stay over at Izzy's grandma's, and she would tell you stories about her family. And all the magical artifacts her family secretly had in their possession. 

“Izzy, are you really…?” You didn't want to say it. You were kids at that time. You believed anything. But now?

The look of doubt on your and Cara's face had Izzy glaring at you both.

“I’m serious. Go on, try it, if you don't believe me!” Izzy challenged, flipping the coin toward you.

A magical coin that granted wishes?

But Izzy looked way too passionate about it. Fueled by alcohol and a recklessness, you snatched the coin and held it up.

“Alright, fine.”

“Don't say it out loud!” Izzy said, her face glowing with excitement, as Cara (almost completely wasted), watched silently. 

You closed your eyes and thought about something completely outrageous. Something that just couldn't happen. That's when your mind focused on the music playing in the background - Chk Chk Boom. 

You couldn’t help but smirk to yourself - this was ridiculous, but ok - how about - I wish I am married to Hyunjin. Wait. Why just him? I wish I was married to Hyunjin AND Felix. 

You flipped the coin, as you said it in your head. There. The coin landed back in your palm with a soft thud. You were all silent for a moment before you smiled.

“See, nothing happened.”

Izzy grinned mischievously. “Just sleep on it.”

Before you could even process the luxurious room around you, the door creaked open. You pulled the soft blanket closer to your body as two men strolled in. Hyunjin, with his hair slightly messy - like he’d just rolled out of bed. And Felix, right behind him, holding a coffee mug, his deep brown eyes lighting up when he saw you.

You stared at them, completely frozen in place. What the actual FUCK. 

“Good morning, baby,” Felix said, setting the cup down on the nightstand. 

Hyunjin leaned over, planting a soft kiss on your temple like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Did you sleep well, angel?”

Your brain short-circuited. You stared at them, wide-eyed and frozen.

“Uh… wh-what…?”

“What’s wrong? You look pale.” Felix asked, frowning. 

Hyunjin gasped dramatically, placing a hand on your forehead.

“Are you sick? Do you have a fever?” he asked, cupping your cheeks.

“No!” you gasped, trying to get away.

“Maybe her tummy hurts,” Hyunjin said, looking at Felix, and his hand is immediately moving for your tummy.

“No! Stop!” you hissed (feeling way too faint now), swatting his hand away.

“Hyun, stop doing that!” Felix snapped.

“You do it all the time,” Hyunjin shot back.

“I’m her husband,” Felix retorted.

Hyunjin narrowed his eyes. “So am I!”

Oh, if you weren't frozen enough, you freeze even more at this point. 

“Wait. Hold on,” you finally managed to squeak out. “H-husband?!”

Hyunjin blinked at you like you’d just said the sky was green.

“Baby, what?” he asked, his eyes fixed on you now, looking a little hurt.

Felix looked genuinely concerned as he asked, “Y/N, are you okay? Did we… go too hard on you last night?”

Hyunjin’s eyes widened in horror.

“Oh my god. I told you we should’ve been gentler.” he breathed, like he was already suffocating on that thought.

“I wasn’t rough!” Felix protested, blushing. “You’re the one who -”

“Oh my God! STOP!” you yelped, face crimson. “What the hell happened last night? And what does this have to do with that damn coin?!”

“Coin?” Felix and Hyunjin echoed in unison, staring at you like you’d just sprouted a second head. “What coin?”

“The coin!” you repeated, gesturing wildly. “Izzy’s stupid coin! I made a wish - I was drunk and I thought it’d be funny and -”

You fell silent as you watched them exchange a look.

“Is she drunk again?” Hyunjin whispered to Felix.

“It’s like 9 a.m.,” Felix replied. “She just woke up?”

You groaned, flopping back onto the bed. “This has to be a dream. I’m going to wake up any second.”

But instead of fading away, Hyunjin plopped onto the bed beside you, draping an arm over your waist.

“If this is a dream, it’s the best one I’ve ever had.” Hyunjin said, his tone teasing. 

Felix sat beside you, smirking.

“Guess we’ll have to convince you it’s real, huh?” he added, and you were terrified of the fact Izzy's coin had actually granted your wish -  two ridiculously hot (and famous) husbands. 

Felix convinced you to stop brooding and go take a nice hot shower. He even pulled you off the bed and took you into the bathroom, and turned on the shower, making sure the water was the right temperature. He said he'll bring you some clothes when you're done and closed the door. 

At least this felt like a safe space to regroup your thoughts and try to figure out what the hell was happening. The warm water soothed you, but the second you stepped out of the luxurious bathroom, wrapped in a fluffy towel, your calm shattered.

Felix was there, with a pile of folded clothes. His golden hair glinted in the morning light, and his freckles danced with mischief as he smiled at you.

“Here, babe,” he said, stepping forward and handing you the clothes. 

His fingers brushed yours, sending sparks down your spine.

“Uh… t-thanks,” you stammered, clutching the bundle against your chest tightly.

But before you could back away, Felix leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to your lips. And your knees literally went weak as his familiar scent - yes, it was oddly familiar - surrounded you.

When he pulled back, he grinned as he said, “You’ll be okay, love. Just drank a little too much last night, yeah?”

You stared at him, wide-eyed and crimson-faced, unable to form a coherent response. This had to be a dream. It had to be.

You quickly pulled on your clothes as soon as Felix left the room. You had a mission. Find your phone, call Izzy, and figure out what was going on.

You scoured the nightstands, the drawers, and finally even crawled under the bed. No phone anywhere.

That’s when Hyunjin walked in. You didn’t hear him at first. But then -

“What exactly are you doing down there, my love?”

You froze like a deer in headlights, then shot up so quickly you almost knocked your head on the bed frame.

“Nothing! I was… I was just looking for my phone!” you said, rubbing on the sore spot on your head.

Hyunjin arched a brow, his long, dark hair falling into his eyes as he tilted his head. 

"Your phone?” he repeated, stepping closer.

“Y-yeah,” you stammered, backing up slightly. “Have you seen it?”

He hummed and said, “In the study. You always leave it there before bed. No phones in the bedroom, remember?”

You blinked. “What? No, what -?”

“Hmm?” Hyunjin leaned in closer, smirking.

You waved him off, your face on fire.

“Thanks! Okay, I’ll just -” You tried to side step him.

But before you could escape, Hyunjin grabbed your wrist. He tugged you gently but firmly, spinning you to face him. His free hand cupped your cheek as he leaned in, his lips brushing yours in a kiss so soft and lingering that it knocked the air right out of your lungs.

“That’s all I get for such vital information? Hmm?”

You didn’t answer. You couldn’t. Your brain had short-short-circuited. 

Somehow - by willpower alone - you made it to the study and found your phone exactly where Hyunjin said it would be. You frantically dialed Izzy. She picked up after two rings, her smugness practically radiating through the line.

“Morning, babe!” she chirped.

“Izzy,” you hissed, pacing the room. “What. Did. You. Do?”

“I didn’t do anything?” she replied, and you could literally see her friends through the phone. “What do you mean?”

“Izzy, your grandma's coin! I made a wish, remember?! I thought it was just a joke!” you whisper screamed. “It wasn’t supposed to work! I didn’t think I’d wake up married to Hyunjin and Felix!”

Izzy was quiet for a moment before she burst out laughing, unbothered by your rising panic.

“And yet, here we are. Are you seriously complaining right now? Isn't this your dream?”

“That’s not the point!” you groaned, flopping onto the sofa. “How do I undo this?!”

“Undo it?” Izzy gasped, sounding genuinely offended. “Why would you want to undo it?! Hyunjin and Felix are the most wonderful men I've ever met! Baby, I'm gonna pretend you never said that. Got it?”

You were about to snap back when Felix’s voice floated into the room.

“Babe? Are you okay?”

You nearly dropped the phone.

“I’m hanging up now. Go kiss your boys, and stop being ridiculous, ok?” Izzy said, and the line went dead. Classic Izzy. 

Hyunjin popped his head into the study, giving you a smile, “Busy?”

“Uh…” You glanced at him, then at your phone, and sighed. “Just… figuring things out.”

“Good. You can figure it out while we make breakfast together. Felix is pouting because you didn’t kiss him back earlier.”

“What? I-”

Before you could finish, Hyunjin scooped you up, grinning as he carried you toward the kitchen.

“Let’s go, Mrs. Hwang-Lee. Can't let you pout all day.” he sang, his grip on you firm but gentle. 

He set you down on the kitchen counter as Felix atood scrambling eggs. You were gripping your phone like it was a ticking time bomb, and you were actually a bit intrigued. They said you were married - and you are a complete photo person. You just had to take photos of literally anything you saw. It was your thing. 

So you opened your photo gallery half-terrified about what you might find. 

And oh, you found it.

The first photo was relatively tame - just you sandwiched between Hyunjin and Felix at some fancy, dimly lit dinner table. Your cheeks were flushed, and Hyunjin’s arm was slung around your shoulders while Felix’s hand rested on your thigh.

The next photo? Not so tame.

It showed Felix with a devilish grin as he held you close, your lips dangerously close to his lips. Hyunjin was leaning in from the other side, his lips on your neck.

And then there was the video. It looked bad enough, but your curiosity won, and you hit play.

The screen lit up with the three of you back at home, sprawled across the massive couch. Hyunjin, shirt halfway unbuttoned and hanging off his shoulder, his head buried between your thighs, and Felix? You both were clearly making out, one of his hands also between your legs.

You nearly dropped the phone (again), your entire body going hot and stiff. What the fuck happened last night?!

You remember (very well) that you and the girls had gone drinking. And Izzy came in with the coin. And the timestamps on these pictures and video also say it happened last night.

“Guys!” you said, waving your phone in the air. Both of them turned to look at you, Felix tilting his head in confusion while Hyunjin blinked innocently.

“What’s it, love?” Felix asked, leaning in to see what you're holding up. 

“What is this?” you demanded, cheeks red. “What happened yesterday?”

Hyunjin grabbed it first, his lips curling into a smirk as he watched the video.

“Oh… I forgot we recorded this.” he said, watching it, obviously enjoying it so shamelessly.

“We look so hot.” Felix said, grinning as he leaned over Hyunjin’s shoulder to look. “We should make our next anniversary even more -”

You gaped at them as Hyunjin handed the phone back to you and said, “Ahh, it was so good.”

Felix leaned against the counter, crossing his arms as his grin widened.

“Why? Don’t you remember, anything? You planned it.” he teased.

Your jaw dropped as you said, “I did not!”

Hyunjin tsked, shaking his head dramatically.

“Oh, you totally did. You were all, ‘Let’s make it a night to remember, boys.’ And then you brought out the wine.” he said, imitating you so well, you shriveled.

“Don’t forget the chocolate,” Felix added helpfully.

“And the blindfolds.”

You choked on air. “The what?”

“Oh, yeah. You got pretty creative, love.” Felix said, his cheeks turning a sweet pink, though his grin remained firmly in place. “She’s so cute when she’s flustered,” 

Hyunjin nodded in agreement.

“I -” You pointed at them, utterly scandalized. “You two are ridiculous!”

“And yet, you married us.” Hyunjin whispered, stepping closer, his long fingers brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. 

Felix came up on your other side, his voice low as he murmured, “You’re stuck with us now.”

You felt faint again, but Hyunjin slid an arm around your waist, “Careful, angel. Don’t faint on us, now.”

You were doomed. So deliciously doomed.

The days with Hyunjin and Felix were… bliss. Chaotic, sexy, and so damn overwhelming, but bliss nonetheless.

Hyunjin’s constant drama and Felix’s deep, rumbly voice as he called you “baby” made your heart race every single time. And they constantly fussed over you - they knew everything you liked and disliked, how you liked your coffee, and every little detail about you - it was like living in a dream.

And yet, the weight of it all started to sink in.

They loved you. Truly, deeply loved you.

You stared at the sticky note Felix had left on the bathroom mirror that morning, with a cheesy “I love you” message.

It broke your heart. You adored them, admired them. But somehow it didn't feel the same. You hadn’t gotten the chance to fall in love with them, not the way they clearly deserved.

It wasn’t fair to them.

----

A few days later, you slipped out of the house, mumbling something about going out for coffee with Izzy and Cara. In truth, you were heading straight to Izzy’s apartment.

She opened the door with a smug smile.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Mrs. Hwang-Lee. How’s married life treating you?” Izzy teased. 

You pushed your way into her apartment, and turned to face her, biting your lip. 

“Izzy… I need to reverse it.”

Her smile vanished instantly.

“What? Why?” she asked, genuinely confused.

Tears pricked your eyes as you said, “Because it’s not fair to them. They love me, Izzy. Like… really love me. And I… I don’t even know them. They're amazing…so so good to me…and I don't even… They deserve more than me playing catch-up.”

Izzy frowned, clearly caught off guard.

“But… you seemed happy.” she said, reaching out to take your hand.

“I am happy!” you cried, tears spilling over now. “That’s the problem. They make me so happy, but I'm afraid I'll never be enough because this… this wasn’t real. It was a wish. I need to start from the beginning. For them.”

Izzy studied you for a long moment, then sighed.

“Are you sure? Like sure sure? Because I can't assure you that you'll ever meet them again…”

You nodded, feeling really broken, but you knew this was the right thing to do. 

She brought out the coin, its ancient surface gleaming in the light. You held it in your palm, your fingers trembling as you made the wish. 

----

By the time you got home, your heart felt like it was being ripped out of your chest. You found Hyunjin and Felix sprawled on the couch, Felix half-asleep on Hyunjin’s shoulder while a movie played on the TV.

“Hey, baby,” Hyunjin greeted, his voice soft. “You were gone a while.”

“Sorry,” you murmured, your voice catching slightly. “You know the girls...”

Hyunjin just smiled, holding his hand out. You let him tug you onto the couch between them, snuggling close as Hyunjin draped a blanket over the three of you.

That night, you held them a little tighter. You kissed Felix’s freckled cheeks and he mumbled softly in his sleep, nuzzling into your neck and you stroked Hyunjin’s hair when he curled into you like a cat. 

They didn’t notice your tears, or the way you whispered, “I’m sorry. I’ll find you again,”

You knew the morning would change everything.

Warmth.

That was the first thing you registered as you began to wake up, your head pounding with the dull thrum of a hangover. A soft, warm body lay beside you, snoring lightly.

For a fleeting moment, your heart soared. Hyunjin? Felix?

The memories of their laughter, their kisses, and their love came rushing back in a dizzying wave. You turned your head, a hopeful smile tugging at your lips 

And froze. Of course it was Cara.

Your best friend lay sprawled beside you in her usual chaotic way, her arm slung haphazardly over you, her mouth slightly open as she snored softly.

You blinked, disoriented, yet your stomach sank as the reality of the situation hit you hard.

It was like nothing had happened.

The wish. The coin. Hyunjin and Felix.

All gone.

The ache in your chest was almost worse than the pounding in your head. You pressed a hand to your heart, willing yourself not to cry as Cara groaned and rolled over.

“Ugh, my head,” she mumbled, her voice groggy. “I’m never drinking again.”

“Yeah… same.”

---

You tried to go back to normal.

You tried to convince yourself that it was all just a vivid dream - a cruel trick played by your imagination and too much alcohol.

But no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t forget them. The way Hyunjin’s hand fit so perfectly in yours (even though it was so big), the softness in his voice when he called you “angel.”

Felix’s deep chuckles, the way he’d hold you like you were the most precious thing in the world, the way his freckles lit up when he smiled.

You couldn’t erase the way they made you feel so utterly whole, like you’d finally found the missing pieces of yourself.

Cara noticed your withdrawn nature real quick. But surprisingly, she didn't remember anything. Nothing at all. And Izzy? You haven't seen or spoken to her. 

“Honestly, you’ve been out of it,” she said one afternoon. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” you lied, forcing a smile. “Just tired.”

But the truth was, you weren’t okay. You’d never been more not okay in your life.

The ache in your chest grew heavier with every passing day. You tried to push it away, to bury yourself in work and anything else that could distract you. But it didn’t matter how much you tried.

Hyunjin and Felix had carved their way into your heart, and no amount of distraction could fill the void they left behind.

“I’ll find you again,” you whispered to yourself every night as you went to bed. 

And somehow, you believed it.

“You’re dodging Izzy like she’s the plague,” Cara chattered, her words coming at lightning speed as she gestured wildly with her hands. “Do you think she noticed? Of course she noticed. It’s Izzy. She notices everything. Honestly, if she didn’t know before, she’ll figure it out the second we -”

“Mm-hmm,” you murmured absently, nodding along without registering a single word. Your thoughts were far away, lost in a spiral of regret and guilt.

Cara has been guilt tripping you into talking to Izzy for the past thirty minutes, and after the first ten minutes, it all felt like white noise in your head.

Which is probably why the ice-cold shock of liquid hitting your chest caught you entirely off guard.

The chill spread through your white t-shirt, and for a second, your brain couldn’t process it. Then you let out a strangled scream.

“WHAT THE -”

Your words cut off as you looked up, your gaze locking with a pair of wide, guilty eyes. Two pairs, actually.

Hwang Hyunjin and Lee Felix.

They stood there, Hyunjin holding an empty cup and a rapidly melting puddle of iced Americano at your feet. Felix was frozen beside him, his freckles standing out starkly against his pale face.

“Oh my god,” Hyunjin whispered, his voice filled with horror. “I- I didn’t see you -”

“I am so sorry!” Felix burst out, stepping forward with a wad of tissues in hand. “Are you okay? Did it hit your face? Oh no, your shirt -”

Your white shirt. Your now very transparent white shirt.

You stared at them, completely shell-shocked. Of all the ways you’d imagined meeting them again, this was definitely not it.

Meanwhile, Cara? She was a statue. Her jaw had dropped, her eyes glued to the two gorgeous men standing before you, and for once, she had absolutely nothing to say.

Hyunjin dropped the cup and began flailing dramatically.

“I am so, so sorry! I didn’t see you - well, I saw you, but not until I turned around, and then my hand just - oh my god, are you okay?!”

“I’m fine,” you managed, your voice tight as you tried to cover yourself with your arms.

Felix, clearly mortified, pushed past Hyunjin with the tissues. “Here, let me -”

“It’s fine! Really.” You took a step back, holding up a hand politely.

But Felix wasn’t listening. He was already leaning in, dabbing at your shirt with the tissues, and you couldn’t stop the heat that flooded your cheeks as his hand brushed against you.

“No, no, no!” Hyunjin cried, yanking Felix back. “Don't do that!”

Felix blinked, genuinely confused. 

“Not like that! She’s soaked!” Hyunjin turned to you, his expression desperate. “I am so sorry. Can I - do you need anything - oh my god…”

Felix quickly shrugged off his leather Louis Vuitton jacket and held it out to you.

“Here. Please. I’m so sorry.” he said.

Your cheeks were practically on fire now, but you accepted the jacket, wrapping it around yourself as you mumbled, “Thanks.”

Hyunjin ran a hand through his hair, still looking utterly distraught.

“This is literally the worst thing ever!” he mumbled under his breath.

“Stop making it worse, Hyunjin.” Felix scolded, then  turned to you, his expression soft. “Seriously, though. Are you okay?”

You nodded, clutching the jacket tighter.

“I’m fine. Really. Just… shocked.” you said and Cara finally seemed to find her voice, blurting out, “You’re Hyunjin and Felix. Stray kids.”

If you weren't so shocked right now, you would've rolled your eyes.

“Guilty as Charged,” Felix said with a cheeky grin.

Hyunjin nodded too, his eyes from her to you, as if trying to place you.

“Wait… do I know you?” he asked. "It feels like..."

Your heart skipped a beat. Did he feel it too? That strange, inexplicable pull?

“No,” you said softly, forcing a smile. “Just… bad timing.”

Felix chuckled softly, scratching the back of his neck as he said, “Yeah. Worst timing ever.”

“You should take her number, you owe her a shirt you know.” Cara was back with a bang.

“CARA!” You hissed, mortified. 

“She's not wrong,” Felix said with a grin. 

Hyunjin perked up immediately, “ Absolutely! It's the least we can do!”

Before you could protest, Felix pulled out his phone (so did Hyunjin) and Cara recited your number out loud. 

“Great. So, what's your name, love?”

[mountttmase]

maybe a concept where you and mason have a fancy event to go to together, maybe like a team dinner, but it’s one of those days where it feels like nothing is going right for you— you can’t get your hair to sit right, you had to redo part of your makeup like 4 times, your dress doesn’t wind up fitting/looking like you were hoping it was going to— and part of you wants to just throw your hands up in the air, give up, and declare that you’re not going. but you know this event is important for mason, do you can’t bring yourself to do that

so you go downstairs to meet him at the front door so you can leave, and he’s just struck by how beautiful you look. like he truly can’t believe you’re his and his mouth nearly drops open in shock, but you’re too in your own head, feeling all of your insecurities at once, to even look up at him so you don’t notice. so you try to just breeze past him, barely even acknowledging him as you walk into the kitchen to retrieve something, and immediately he knows something is up

so he walks up to you, still facing away from him, and he takes your elbow ever so gently in his hand to turn you to look at him. and when he cradles your jaw in his hand, he can see that your eyes are shining with tears, your lower lip wobbling as you try your best to hold back the tears

((you can decide where to go from here))

ID LIKE TO EXTEND THIS WITH A LIL BIT OF WRITING CAUSE I LOVE THIS

‘Hey pretty girl, what’s wrong?’

‘Don’t Mase’ you pouted. Tears spilling from your eyes no matter how much you tried to hold them in and you sighed in frustration that you’d let them fall.

‘Talk to me’ he whispered, his free hand cupping the other side of your face so he could wipe away your tears but no matter what you thought about saying you knew you’d sound stupid. This was supposed to be Masons night but you were already in the worst mood possible.

‘Nothings going right’ you gulped, hoping you could keep your tears at by for now. ‘My hairs a mess, my makeup looks shit and this dress is so uncomfortable. I just wanted to look nice for you, you know? I wanted to be someone you could be proud of’ you told him and you hated the way a look of hurt flashed in his eyes at your words.

‘You could show up in your pj’s and I’d still be proud to have you on my arm’ he told you. Kissing your forehead gently before pulling back and giving you a once over as he held your hands.

‘You know, I love your hair like this. It reminds me of our first date’ he smile. His eyes crinkling at the sides as he reached out to play with one of your curls and you feel your face warm at the look of love so plainly displayed on his face. ‘And you look just as beautiful now as you did then’

‘You’re just saying that’ you whispered but he shook his head lightly.

‘I would never’ he told you seriously but there was still a hint of a smile on his lips. ‘I know nothing about make up but it looks perfect to me, I promise’

‘Are you sure?’

‘100%’ he nodded. ‘Same with the dress, you look fit as fuck but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable’

‘It’s fine, it just doesn’t look like the picture all that much and it feels weird at the back’

‘Turn around for me’ he asked and you did as you were told. Feeling him mess around with the zip and untuck something before flatting it out and zipping you back up. ‘Better?’

‘Yeah, loads. What did you do?’

‘There was a big bit tucked in the back, I think you just had it on wrong’ he smiled and a wave of embarrassment flowed through you. Covering your eyes as Mason held your waist and you rested your arm on his shoulder.

‘Uhhhh’

‘You know, when I was getting dressed put both legs into one trouser hole’ he told you quietly and you could help but giggle. ‘It happens to the best of us gorgeous’

‘I’m sorry I bet you think I’m a right idiot’ you huffed. Looking back up to your favourite smile and it was like all your worries had melted away.

‘Maybe, but you’re my idiot’ he chuckled, rubbing his nose against yours before popping a quick kiss to your lips. ‘My gorgeous, gorgeous idiot’