#my first oc i have genuinely fallen in love with and enjoy writing to no end | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

wriospersonalworm · 2 years ago

Text

NSFW !!!

oc x canon tingz

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" What do you need, Lumi? "

The blonde ceased his nearly perfect typing to glance up at his coworker. They were the only one he'd stop working for, even if it's just for a split second. No one really noticed; except for Ranpo of course, and Dazai, and Yosano probably figured it out eventually, and maybe even–

Perhaps Kunikida believed no one noticed, he only hoped they hadn't picked up on his hints towards his favoritism for Lumi. Was favoritism even the right word? He didn't like Lumi more than the others, no, he cared for them all equally. In fact, he doesn't like Lumi at all; he loves them. It was such a strange and difficult realization for him. His ideal partner was nothing like Lumi! How could he have fallen for someone who sometimes reminds him of a certain lazy, playful, and annoying coworker of his?

Nevertheless, his feelings for them were genuine, of course. He treasures them and cares for them like no other; he's to blame for giving Lumi back their ability to put their trust into other's in the first place. Kunikida definitely has a special place in their heart.

" Do you have a list of supplies somewhere? I was told to go out and buy them. "

That was a silly question. Kunikida always has everything needed for work, whether its truly for him or not. He's got a personal first aid kit in his drawers, he's got everyone's reports on every case—except for Dazai's most recent one he's yet to complete—, supply lists for the Agency, everyone's contact numbers, Lumi's favorite things to eat, their favorite places to go, the brands they like to shop at–

A bit sidetracked there.

" Yes, let me find it real quick, I'll print out a copy for you. "

" 'Kay… "

The room went almost silent, the only sounds heard being the clicks of a mouse and the taps on a keyboard. It wasn't necessarily awkward silence, it was just silence. That's another thing about their relationship, nothing between them is ever awkward. They actually enjoy the silent moments they have, typically when they're snuggled up together in bed or on the couch, or even when Lumi's avoiding their report and just wants to watch Kunikida work.

During this moment of silence, Lumi found themself fiddling with the items on his desk. They'd reach down and grab a paperclip, bending it open and making a completely different shape from it. They'd grab his stapler and start clicking it. They'd wiggle the screen of his laptop back and forth just a little bit. Dating Lumi only meant getting used to these random behaviors, so it didn't bother him that much. He'd glance at their hand reaching to grab something before looking back at the computer.

" Here, this should be the updated list. If you have any questions – "

" Where do I go to get these things? "

I take back my comment on no awkward moments between them.

"...What do you mean? "

" Like– what stores? I've never bought supplies for the Agency before. "

He stared at them blankly for a brief moment. He couldn't blame them completely for not knowing, they're not native to Japan and they spent most of their time here hiding away with the Port Mafia, it's not their fault they don't know where anything is.

" Here, let me see it. I'll write down which stores have which supplies. You have your phone right? Just type the store name in on your GPS and it should guide you, okay? " Lumi just nods in response as he takes out a pencil and begins writing the store names, describing and giving basic directions to them.

Then, a door slowly creaked open. Kunikida was too focused on helping Lumi out to even notice, but his partner sure did. They looked just like an intrigued and curious cat; their eyes widening slightly as they watched what looked to be a futon creature crawl his way out.

" Kunikida, I'm getting hungry… Can you get me a snack from the store? Something filling but quick. " Lumi's eyes widened more as they realized it was a man. What was he doing in there? Has he always been there? Who even is this guy? They've never seen him before.

Kunikida, on the other hand, seemed to be more annoyed than confused with his sudden presence. The pencil in his hand snaps in two, immediately catching Lumi's attention.

" If you want a snack, go to the store yourself and get it! I'm not your maid! " He shouts angrily at him, squeezing and crumpling the supply list in his hand.

" Kuni… The paper… " Lumi gently reminds him of the paper's presence. He looks at them and then to the paper in his hand. He's quick to unfold it and flatten it on the desk, scanning over it quickly to make sure his handwriting was still clear. He lowers his head and hands them the paper, strangely calm now. " I apologize. "

The strange man in the other room notices Kunikida's strange behavior and peeks further out the door to look at whoever he was speaking with. He notices their dark, long hair and dark-colored eye, and almost immediately he's head over heels. His awkwardness hindered him from getting a proper word out, and instead he stared widely with his mouth agape. He stutters over his own words, only sounding like he was speaking gibberish. It took him what felt like five minutes to say a single word.

" H-Hello…! " He says rather loudly, his voice cracking a bit. He mentally cursed at himself for making such an embarrassing mistake. Both of them turned towards him, one of them looking at him with a curious look on their face, while the other looked like he was going to grab the man and throw him out the window.

" He– "

" Katai, don't even think about it! Have you finished what I asked of you?! "

" N-No, but – "

" I will bring you back something to eat, now get back to work! "

Without another word, the strange man quickly retreated back into the room. Everything happened far too fast for Lumi to process any of it. They blink, turning towards Kunikida with the same confused expression they've had this entire interaction. " Uhm… who was that? " The blonde groaned with frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose, " That's Katai. He works in there by choice, he doesn't like being out here with others. "

" Oh… "

Kunikida normally gets aggravated easily when others distract him from his work or are repeatedly slacking off, Lumi knew this, but that interaction felt a lot more tense compared to how he normally is with Dazai. If it wasn't someone he liked, he would've told them about him already, but they couldn't figure out what else could be upsetting him so much. The possibility of it being the stressful workloads was also high, so they decided to go with that.

" Uhm… I was gonna get the supplies later. It's pretty late in the afternoon, would you like me to grab you something to eat? " They ask, slowly walking around his desk to stand in front of him. Their soft smile, the "innocent" look in their eyes, their hands hiding behind their back; it was all too familiar. Lumi was obviously up to something, it was evident in their behavior and how strangely close they were getting.

His face was already turning a light shade of pink. They loved teasing him in order to get their way, it wasn't anything new, but he was growing nervous knowing it worked on him every single time. " No, I'm fine… '

Lumi comes closer and closer as he talks and fidgets, eventually they're pressed against him, their hand reaching for his tie and pulling him down to their level. " Really? You sure? " It was so hard to breathe, and not because of their grip on his tie. His face was only getting hotter by the second, his eyes quickly moved from their eye, to their lips, to somewhere else in the room. Lumi has always been this way, yet he was never able to get used to it.

Their hand reaches up to gently touch the side of his face and he could've sworn he felt himself beginning to melt. It felt like his legs were going to give out any moment now. He clears his throat about once or twice before nervously answering their question, " Uhm… Yes, I'm fine, thank you. " They figured he'd deny their request, but they weren't done.

" Alright… Can you at least meet me somewhere in thirty? The storage room? " They were a mere inch away from his face now, their lips nearly coming into contact, only causing him to become more flustered.

" I can't, I've gotta– "

Lumi presses a finger to his lips and hushes him, tilting their head to the side. " Uh-uh, you're supposed to say 'Yes'. Try it again. "

"... Yes. " His change in response made a bright smile appear on their face. " Good boy. " They gave him a quick peck on his lips before turning around and heading out the room, leaving the younger male to process what just happened.

—

Thirty minutes passed by painfully slow. Every minute, Kunikida would look at his laptop's time out of nervousness. It's not like Lumi's oddly suggestive demands and their unintentionally seductive behavior was anything he hadn't seen, why was he so stressed? Was he still struggling to forget how easily flustered he became earlier? Or was it that there was a possibility they would end up doing something unprofessional in a professional setting? He really couldn't tell.

Once the clock changed for the thirtieth time, he gave a quiet huff before standing from his seat and stiffly walking out the room. His palms grew more and more sweaty the closer he got to the storage room. He stood before the closed door filled with tension. He knocked on the door with his tightened fist, " Lumi, are you in there? "

Silence.

This is embarrassing. Why was there no response? Were they in there? Were they asleep? Or was this one elaborate scheme most likely started by Dazai just to mess with him? He was seconds away from quickly storming off back to work before a hand grabbed him from behind, yanking him into a dark room. He shrieked, hearing the door shut in front of him, and looked around frantically, desperately searching for a light source.

" Hey! Kuni, relax! It's just me! Watch your hands, you'll knock my food down… " The sudden yet recognizable voice startled him even more. He looks down at what he believed to be the source, his eyes beginning to adjust to the change in brightness. " What are you doing here in the dark? I thought we were meeting in the storage room, this is the custodial room? " Lumi looks down at their food with a snarky smile, " Yeah well… I thought giving you a slight scare would also be funny. "

They set their half-eaten food aside and lifted themself up to sit on what they believed to be a stack of boxes, surprisingly well-balanced at that. " Right… Why did you call me here in the first place? I need to get back to wo– " Every time he'd bring up work or needing to focus it was like he was dragging his nails on a chalkboard, and Lumi had had enough. Who cares about writing that report right now when he's in a locked room with his partner? They were quick to silence him, grabbing him by his shirt and pulling him between their legs, which were wrapped around his waist to prevent him from shying away.

" Ugh, shut up about work already… You think I don't notice the pent up frustration from working? Here you are hidden away in a room with me, there's barely anyone here, and the only thing on your mind is more work? "

Their hands snake their way around his neck to pull him even closer. They were trying their very hardest to break this hesitance and shyness off of him. He wasn't hiding the fact he wanted to do this very well, so it's not like that's the case, nor was this their first time being so intimate, it was purely because they were in a work environment.

" I– We really shouldn't do this… "

" We shouldn't, but who cares? You obviously want to do it anyway; actually it looks like you're really eager to do it here. " They tighten their legs around his waist, pulling him closer to them and pressing his obvious bulge against their panties. His hands rested on the box they were seated on, a soft groan slipping past his lips from the contact. Kunikida was trying oh-so hard not to let his perverse thoughts and feelings overcome his own rules and guidelines, but a man can only take so much. He wanted nothing more than to have his face and cock to be covered in his lover's slick and cum. Doing this on the job wasn't only incredibly unprofessional, but it also hindered him from completely taking them. Had they been at home in bed right now, he'd be spending the next few hours ramming in and out of them and shooting his seed deep inside their abused cunt.

He presses his forehead against theirs and finds himself staring down at the buttons on their shirt. His hand gently caresses their cheek and he speaks in a low mumble, " Fine… But, this isn't going to be enough. I expect you to still be ready to take me when we get home too, got it? " Lumi nods with a soft hum, mumbling quietly in response against his soft lips. " I love you. " They teasingly pecked him on the lips, smiling contently with their eyes closed, while Kunikida was already reaching for the ruffled collar around their neck. " I love you too. "

A moan of relief slips out from both of them as the space between them closes. Their lips felt as though they connected so perfectly, it was like they were truly made for each other because of it. Their kisses were always so enjoyable whether they were short and sweet, or long and passionate. No matter the context of it the kiss always held some amount of gentleness to it. Perhaps it was just carefulness on his part? That's another notable attribute of his. Moments like these always started off gentle and cautious, no matter how desperate he was. He was always careful to remove their clothes slowly, taking his time to love on every part of their body before getting to his main course. After that, all his sensibility and self-respect typically washes away; though he's quick to apologize afterwards with more affection and romantics.

His hands gently grasp their shoulders and slowly lays them down on the boxes, not once separating himself from the kiss. They then moved to the loosely tied collar he had been working on; removing it completely and setting it aside. He parts from the kiss for just a spare moment, " I need to see you, but I don't want to take your clothes off completely… Is it alright if I just take a few things off? It won't get too hot? " " It's fine… I'll tell you if it's too hot. " He hums in understanding before returning his lips to theirs. His hands were busy unbuttoning their shirt, whilst theirs were combing through his now messy hair, even removing the hair tie keeping it together at some point.

He opens their shirt just enough to have access to their breasts, reaching behind them and unhooking their bra. He took notice of its color; white. Lumi always wore matching undergarments so it was safe to say their underwear would be the same. He always loved it when they wore white under their darkly-colored clothes, it's just not something you'd expect. It was like Lumi themself; dark, mysterious, and scary-looking on the outside, but soft, pure, and innocent on the inside.

He moves their bra aside completely and leans in close to their neck. Lumi instantly leans their head back, allowing him much more access. He plants small, gentle kisses along the side, starting with their mole, then moving towards their scars. That was their favorite. They loved whenever he kissed the areas that pained them. They knew as long as he continued to purposefully kiss their scars, his love was genuine. He wouldn't spend so much time dealing with them if it hadn't been.

His kisses made their way down to their breasts, as well as his hands. He always loved how perfectly they fit in his hands. He loved the soft, tenderness of them. He'd never squeeze them, that's much too rough for his liking, instead he'd massage and caress them; planting loving kisses anywhere he possibly could. His hands were a bit rough to the touch, but the sensation left Lumi squirming and giggling regardless. Honestly, it was almost like it tickled them. They tried their hardest not to let too much laughter out, but it all felt too good, they felt so loved it made them happier than they could have imagined.

" Are you laughing at me? " Kunikida pulls away from their chest and leans over their face. Despite feeling a bit confused and embarrassed from their sudden laughter, he gave them a rare, playful smile.

" No ~ I promise. It just feels so good… " They run their hands up and down his arms, gently rubbing their thumb along the skin. Their eyes moved back and forth from his eyes to his lips, all the while keeping a soft smile on their face.

Oh, he loved it when they did that. Nothing was more attractive than when they'd ask for something with their eyes. They were so beautiful— and with them lying down, their hair was forced to the side and he could see both of them. One being a mesmerizing blackhole that immediately sucks you into a trance once you've made eye contact, and another being a stunning baby blue that gives you a sense of comfort and relief. He leans down and gives them the kiss they were practically begging him for.

" Right… Here, let me take the clip out of your hair... "

" You know, it's been about ten minutes since we started. Despite complaining about having work to do and not wanting to be caught, you sure are taking your time. "

" What? I always do it like this? "

" I'm just saying… Your words aren't really matching your actions, gramps. "

His eye twitches from the random nickname, " Gramps? Fine, whatever you want, your majesty. " There was a small hint of sarcasm in his voice just then. Lumi lets out another giggle, watching him sit up and move further away from their face. Their skirt was then pushed upwards, while he pulled their underwear down– slowly, mind you. Lumi couldn't help but bite down on their lip from the sudden breeze, eyeing Kunikida's actions and movements as they readied themself for his entrance.

He grabs under their thighs and pushes their legs backwards, leaving Lumi with thoughts of confusion, as his pants remain untouched. " You know, you typically take your pants off in times like these. " They mocked. " We're not quite there yet though, are we? " His face stayed stoic but his tone gave off a totally different impression. A random wave of heat rises up Lumi's face as they watch him kneel down in front of them; they knew where he was going with this. Neither of them broke eye contact with each other, which only made them even more flustered.

" Eh– Th-This was supposed to help you release your stress, shouldn't I be the one – "

" This is how I want to release my stress. You did say you'd offer me lunch, so– " His dull nails dug into the soft skin of Lumi's thighs, the feeling of his breath against their clit sending shivers throughout their body. " Thank you for the meal. " With that, his eyes shut close and he stuck his tongue out, sending short kitty licks to their clit before moving towards their entrance; where he licked and cleaned all of the slick that had formed.

This wasn't a new sensation to them at all; it wasn't unfamiliarity that caused them to tense or be a little louder. They simply enjoyed it. The feeling of a wet tongue being dragged and pressed into their pussy was an easy way to get them coming. They couldn't stop their back from arching, their legs spreading further apart while their hands pushed his face closer. They squirmed around like an insect, desperately craving and begging for more. Their chest would dramatically rise and fall as their breathing got heavier. It hadn't even been two minutes yet and here they were on the verge of their first orgasm.

" Kuni, I'm close…" Their hold on the back of his head loosened as they felt themselves growing weaker. They didn't want to cum just yet, but it was getting surprisingly difficult to hold themselves back any longer.

" Already? I'll speed it up for you then. " He stands back up and leans over their body, tilting his head to the side as he stares down at them. Not once did he break eye contact with them, wanting to see every expression they made aa he finished them off. His fingers trail back down to their cunt, and he instantly shoves two of them in there. A sharp, loud gasp erupts from Lumi's throat and their hand immediately flies to their mouth, biting down on one of their fingers to keep themself quiet. His fingers pump in and out of them with ease, his calm demeanor never wavering in the slightest. He watches as they desperately try to find something to dig their nails into, noticing that their eyes were beginning to look a bit glossy.

His fingers continue to move but he leans over to place a few soft kisses on their face. " Stop holding back. Cum for me, it's okay. " In an attempt to get them to finally feel that release, he kneels back down and teases their clit with his tongue, flicking and kissing it until they finally pop.

" Wait, Kuni – It's too much! " It was far too late for that. Their body quivered and shook as they finished, their hand tightly covering their mouth as their strong, violent orgasm came to an end. Their eyes were filled with tears of pleasure and overstimulation, and they couldn't help but turn their face away in embarrassment.

He hears their sniffles and whimpers and is quick to comfort them. He gently turns their face to look at him, lightly kissing away their tears. " Are you alright? Did I overwhelm you? " They look at him with half-lidded eyes, their shaky legs wrapping themselves around him and entrapping him between them. Their hair was completely sprawled out along the boxes. Their hands reach up towards his face, " Mm, I'm fine… I wasn't very prepared for something that good so soon… " They were being completely honest but they couldn't stop the playful smile from appearing on their face.

Gently stroking his cheek with their thumb, they bring his face down to theirs and kisses him ever so softly. Whenever they kissed like this, it always felt like their first. The butterfly-in-the-stomach feeling they got was something unforgettable. His lips acted like a drug to them sometimes. They couldn't just stop after one, they needed another, another, another, and another. They'd press their lips together just to pull away and kiss him again. It was so good, so relaxing, and— as cheesy as it sounds —it was like heaven.

It's not like he didn't enjoy moments like these either; and despite the fact he wanted to get back to work quickly, he didn't mind taking things slowly anyway. Again, he did want to get back to work though. He lets their kissing fit continue for a minute longer before fiddling with the belt around his pants. It took everything in his power not to bind their hands together with it, or even wrap it around their neck for a bit of breathplay. He genuinely contemplated it for a few moments before quickly changing his mind.

Setting the belt aside, he unbuttons and unzips his pants; taking them off completely and doing the same with his underwear. He carefully takes Lumi's face into his hands and mumbles against their lips, " Ready? " The silence within the room was so nice they didn't even bother using their words to respond, simply nodding with a hum. He smiles softly.

With their 'ok', he's quick to push his cock against them, rocking his hips back and forth and grinding against their soaked cunt. They both groaned at the feeling, both of them having been impatiently waiting for this. He gathers their slick and covers his dick with it, doing his best to get it as lubricated as he could, before slowly pushing his tip in. His eyes were shut tight, fully taking in every moment while Lumi couldn't keep their eyes off him. They watched his every move with loving eyes, admiring everything he did, every face he made, and every noise that came out.

They were forcibly thrown out their romantic thoughts at the sudden, quick feeling of his cock completely filling them up. They let out a loud moan, but was quick to bite down on their lip to prevent anyone who could've been nearby from getting suspicious. They laughed softly at how it startled them, looking back at him to see how his face relaxed.

" If you're gonna be like that you better find a way to keep me quiet. You'll get us in trouble if you fuck me like that ~ "

" Why do I have to keep you quiet? You just love putting more work on me, huh? "

They bat their eyelashes up at him "innocently".

" You know– whatever. I'll shut you up if you get too loud. "

" Thanks Kuni ~ "

He doesn't bother responding to their thanks, he had decided to deal with their constant teasing later when they're in a proper setting. Instead, he focuses on satisfying them both now. He had lost all track of time and it was only a few moments before someone would be back, and it worried him if that person were to be Dazai. He couldn't imagine the amounts of blackmail and mockery he'd receive from his pesty coworker.

Kunikida places his hands just below their stomach, pushing down on his palms with the slightest amount of pressure. He pulls his hips back before ramming back into them. He thrusts into them with feelings of passion and desperation. His eyebrows furrowed and his eyes once again squeezed shut, taking in the immense pleasure from their warmth around him. Unlike their composed boyfriend, Lumi was struggling to keep up. They had wanted to avoid drawing attention to them but it seems like they were having a hard time doing so. They were turned into a moaning, whimpering mess under him; taking every harsh thrust and completely tuning out their surroundings. They were craving something to cling onto and ended up finding themself digging their rather sharp nails into his arms. He felt his forearms beginning to sting but he was in no way going to stop until he was done with them.

Neither one of them were sticking to their word of keeping quiet, groans, whines, and gasps from both filled the room in no time; not to mention the sounds of their skin making contact with each other. His cock was slamming in and out of them at a sloppy pace now, the grunts he let out being another sign that he was getting close to his limit. It was so obvious to Lumi as well, judging by his increased volume and change in facial expression. They wanted nothing more than for him to cum inside them and have it spill out their slit; that was the whole point in bringing him here anyways. It wouldn't matter to them whether or not they felt their satisfaction, as long as he was happy.

Of courae, he would never allow them to feed him and not be fed in return. He moves one of his hands off their stomach and begins tracing messy, rough circles on their clit

It was like a twig had snapped inside of them. They thought he was so evil for once again giving them double pleasure, but who were they to stop him? Nothing in this world ever felt better than being prioritzed even when they don't need to be. With that, it felt like once again everything became so clear. Their mind was blank, all they could do was take his dick and completely cover it with their cum.

Mere seconds afterwards, they were both panting out of control, their moans being completely insync as they acknowledged each other's close releases. One final sound of pleasure leaves their throats before they came. Kunikida was quick to pull away from them, just enough to where they had his seed inside and outside, jerking himself off through his orgasm.

They both sat in that silence they loved so much, catching their breaths and coming down from their highs. Kunikida was first, dressing himself again once everything faded. Lumi simply laid there with their legs squeezed shut, there was just no way they'd get back up and resume work after something like that, they were too tired now.

" What, do you want me to dress you? "

They yawned obnoxiously loud.

"...Yeah, no. You're not skipping work, face the consequences of your actions. "

" Aww, so mean ~ You don't love me. "

He rolls his eyes in unamusement, grabbing their hands and pulling them to sit upwards. He presses his lips against theirs one last time. " Yeah, yeah. I'll go with you to get the supplies, since you already messed with my schedule. "

" Aw, really? Maybe you do love me after all ♡ "

#bungou stray dogs #oc #oc x canon #bsd #kunikida #kunikida doppo #kunikida x reader #bungou stray dogs oc #bungou gay dogs

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quinloki · 1 year ago

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Hi hi! If the One Piece self ship rambling is open, I would love to throw my hat (haha straw hat) into the ring! I recently got into the show (and yes I am making my slow journey across 1000 episodes) and have been falling in love with it quickly. And uh… I may have fallen for a certain blonde pirate cook. As I like to put it. I am currently Sanji for Sanji haha! I just don’t know! The way he genuinely can be a kind and badass dude but also be hilarious has my heart. Not to mention, someone mentioned in the anime that he first fell for Nami upon seeing her being silly with her friends. Not prim and proper nor stellar. Just herself. And I just… I NEED THAT!

This led to me creating a sona for One Piece! Since I’m still working through the show, my sona lore (I tend to treat them like OCs but based off of me and my own growth throughout the years alongside other self indulgent stuff like “mmm… I’mma be a pirate”) is still up in the air. And I probably won’t talk about all the lore here since gosh it would probably be… way longer then I’d like to admit… I made a species for this (specifically an One Piece version of selkies cause I discovered One Piece did nothing with selkies yet and upon discovering Sanji had a thing for mermaids, my brain went “hmm… seal mermaids”), I just gosh I’ve been enjoying this show so much and creating this sona. So far she is a member of the Strawhat Pirates, having initially joined to get passage to her home island due to being kidnapped from it by pirates and being utterly lost only to find family in the crew and become their chronicler, recording their adventures alongside any important information they should keep in mind while sailing such as supplies and current plans. I think so far my favorite thing for planning her has been designing her cause I decided to have her face initially covered for backstory reasons so she looks intimidating only to be a crybaby failgirl who is quickly charmed by Sanji but is too nervous and caught off guard by these feelings to say anything cause expectation subversion. And I don’t know, I’m such a sucker for the trope where the hopeless flirt actually gets a win without knowing it cause the other person is struggling to convey it. And so I’m excited to explore the duo that is the “looks like she could kill you, is actually a cinnamon roll” mess and this malewife cook I adore who simp for each other

And yeah! Thanks for providing this opportunity and I hope you enjoyed the rambling! And consider me a follower of this blog since you seem epic!

\o/ I love it!! And welcome to the fandom! I hope your experience is as great as mine has been!

I've fell in with really solid people and I cannot actually hype them up enough to be honest. If you do come across someone cranky, just block 'em and more on honestly - it's a huge fandom so there's all types wandering around.

Sanji's a good choice! He's got a heart of gold as far as I'm concerned. I have plans for a multi-chapter fic for him soon ^_^ (soon being 2024 at this point, but still). He's not one of my mains, but only because he's a little too much for me xD

I love the addition of a Selkie and everything that entails. It is a solid set up for a really good romance between your OC and Sanji =3 And you can adjust it as you want in the One Piece world - have fun with it \o/

I hope your story develops, and you feel compelled to write it down, even if you don't share it! \o/ May all your words and arts for it be just as you want them. <3

#quin answers #quin muses #x reader #reader insert #black leg sanji

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practically-an-x-man · 1 year ago

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Then for Desert Song:

The Scream, Persistence of Memory, The Kiss, Wheatfield with Crows, A Sunday Afternoon, and The Swing :)

Ahhh Desert Song my beloved!! Can't wait to dive into this! Thank you again!

OC/Writing Art Asks

This one will be interesting since we're still so early into it. A bit like Necrosis for you, I think, there's so many things that I want to talk about but don't want to spoil the surprises headed your way.

The Scream: are there any moments in this work that you think could scare a reader? Are there any moments where the characters themselves are profoundly scared?

I think it depends on your perspective. This is going to be a pretty dark one no matter which way you slice it, so it's less a matter of "what's scary?" and more a matter of "where is this scarier than normal?". There's going to be a lot of high-octane action that I hope will have the readers on the edge of their seats, but there's one scene in particular that will involve some medical horror, and that might be scary. Idk, I'm pretty hardy and I genuinely like horror, so I'm sure I've got a skewed viewpoint on what's scary.

As far as when the characters are scared.... well, yes. Yes there are. You've seen a few of these already (namely the fall, and when Quinn gets hurt in chapter 7), but there's a lot more still to come. Like I said, there's some major high-octane action here, in true Michael Bay fashion, so the characters are gonna be worn to their last nerve.

Persistence of Memory: are there any moments in this work where a character's memory plays a strong role? Either an individual memory, or simply a character's ability to recall the past.

I mean, this whole fic plays with the comparison between past and present, and both Quinn's and Billy's memories of the prior crew play a massive role in how they interact both with each other and with the other Ghosts. Plus, as you've seen, there are a few flashback scenes involving Quinn's memories, and likely a few more still to come.

Memory is very important here, I'd say. In fact, I'd advise you to watch very closely for the comparisons of past to present. It's a major part of who Quinn is.

The Kiss: share your favorite kiss scene from this work. If there's no kiss scene, share your favorite moment of intimacy (romantic or platonic)

Now, I'm not usually fond of my first-kiss scenes (the balance of making it feel special without overdescribing it is difficult for me), but this is the one exception:

Billy leaned closer, impossibly closer. He was enjoying this, maybe a little too much. And maybe, past the pounding of their heart and the clouds brewing in their mind, Quinn found themself the same.

“For luck?” Billy whispered, green eyes still glinting dangerously. They were convinced, then, that he was of the Unseelie Court. He was a Fae, come to take her name and her voice, to put her under his spell, to leave her lost and wandering.

Well, she said, Take it. That name never belonged to me anyway.

She closed the gap, and the world fell away.

The wall at her back was the only thing keeping her tethered to Earth, the concrete hard and cold against her spine. Everything else seemed to have dissolved under the weight of his touch. Billy’s hands were warm as they navigated her waist and hips, pulling her close against him. Quinn’s heart was pounding, each beat a mix of exhilaration and terror and wonder and regret. They’d dreamed of this a thousand times, each time forced to wake up and remind themself that he doesn’t see you that way.

But he did. And if not for the warmth that flooded their body, real and tangible, they’d have wondered if they were in fact still dreaming.

She’d fallen hard. And it was far too late to turn back now.

There's just so many sides of this that I ended up loving. For one, the comparison of Billy to a Fae followed by Quinn "surrendering her name" to him was one of the things I was particularly proud of. I feel like it added an element of magic to the scene, and implemented Quinn's perspective as a transgender woman (surrendering the name that didn't belong to her) in a way that, at least to me, worked incredibly well for this scene.

I also feel like I managed to escape what is usually my downfall for kiss scenes: describing the scene in enough detail to bring the reader into it, but not so much that it becomes awkward. It's always a very difficult balance for me to strike, but I feel like this one just... worked.

And then, of course, it ends with a bit of foreshadowing, since that chapter ends with the two of them literally falling hand-in-hand. And if that's not enough... 6 Underground has this running symbolism about "luck", where pretty much every scene that involves a direct mention of luck ends up going wrong in some way or another. That's another thing I'd keep an eye on, if I were you....

Wheatfield with Crows: are there any scenes in this work that involve birds? Do the birds play a definitive role, or are they simply part of the setting?

So this is interesting, since birds are often one of my favorite topics to use for symbolism. There's just so many ways they can be utilized, both in general and by species. But from what I've written for Desert Song... not yet.

I do incorporate birds' wings a fair bit (which, admittedly, just began as an excuse for far too many X-Men references) but I don't think actual birds come into play. Yet. But knowing me, there's bound to be something eventually. I do love birds.

A Sunday Afternoon...: pick one "little moment" from this fic. How representative is it of the fic's tone and story as a whole?

I admit, it's a little tough to find a "little moment" in a fic that's still so close to the beginning. This is the part of the story where I'm still setting everything up, planting all of the seeds that will eventually blossom into ongoing symbolism. There's not much that feels "little", this early in the story. But here's this:

“Hey,” Billy said, jogging up to her from behind. Quinn twisted, ignoring the little twinge of pain that danced up her spine at the motion.

“Hey.”

“So what’s Plan B?”

“Hm?”

“I mean, if he’s not gonna make one, we might as well make one.” he said with a quick shrug, “That way we’ve at least got something, y’know? Still would like to have the whole team on board, but if nothing else… we’ve got each others’ backs, right?”

“Yeah, of course.” she agreed at once, “Always.”

“Right. So what’s Plan B, then?”

Quinn pursed their lips, squinting up ahead at the gleaming metal of their trailer. They lifted a crutch and pointed at it, then kept moving.

“Inside. It’s too hot out here, anyway.”

“Ah, yeah.” Billy said with a nod, following her over to the trailer, “We’ve gotta get you a mini-fridge. Mine’s got a mini-fridge. Mostly booze One doesn’t know about.”

“Of course it is.”

“Hey, easy with that! I might share.” he joked, “If you ask me nicely.”

Quinn huffed out a brisk laugh as she pushed open the door to her trailer. The air inside was still awfully dry, the same as the rest of the desert, but at least it was cooler. She unstrapped one crutch and propped it up by the door, then dropped into the booth at the side of the room.

I feel like this is fairly representative of the story. It shows a lot of the relationship between Billy and Quinn, mainly in how comfortable they are around each other. It shows that they've done this sort of thing before and know what to expect, perhaps even more than One despite the fact that he's the team leader. And it shows that underneath the lighthearted banter, there's actually a lot of intelligence and strategy below the surface.

I also think it shows something very important about the two of them: they're devoted to the team, but their first loyalties will always be to each other. This particular moment is small, just choosing a Plan B in case the Ghosts' main plan goes wrong (which, spoiler alert, but you've read Chapter 7...), but it shows that they trust each others' judgement much more than that of the other Ghosts, and will even go behind the others' backs for the sake of their own motivations.

The Swing: are there any moments in this fic where the characters get to slow down and have fun? If not, why is that?

This is similar to the "little moments", but so far there's not a whole lot that's separate from the plot. It's still early, and I'm still setting everything up, so even the "slowed-down" moments have some larger significance (often significance to Quinn and Billy's relationship). I'd say that the closest thing so far is the scene where Quinn sits down for breakfast with the Ghosts, since it allows for a bit of early-stage building of their alliance and friendship without too much larger significance to the plot. Even the scene with the flooded hotel, while it's a reprieve for Quinn and Billy, is a crucial private moment to the development of their relationship, and therefore not separate from the core plot.

Just like with the prior question, I feel like there's bound to be more of these moments as the story progresses, once I've settled into the themes and symbolism a little more and have room to take a break from the primary plot once in a while. But it's a little like knitting - I can't take a break until I've got enough woven that it won't fall apart when I set it down.

#this turned into a ramble that could rival some of your best (in a good way)#thank you again for the ask!!!#my friends!!!#answered asks #my ocs #oc quinn/aces #ask game #oc asks #oc ask game

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ggukkiereads · 4 years ago

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Hello!! Just a few days ago I stumble upon your blog and I'm wondering if you have some recommendations for Hybrid AUs, much appreciated if it is an OT7 and completed, but if so I will still be so thankful. (I just need some cure from the stress that modules brings) Thank You in Advance (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤

🌷 Hello! welcome to my mini fic-reading land. I’ve actually received asks for Hybrid AUs (I pinned the requests in the navi) but I just have a very messy draft.

But to help you with your stress, I think I can share a few of my ongoing reads (sorry they won’t be complete but they’re OT7). But, I added completed ones I could remember too (●'◡'●)

*note: will edit this later and organize this per member - maybe add other fics I’ll remember*

Fic Recs | BTS Hybrid AUs

→ A Place Called Home @agustdakasuga - OT7 x Reader

series [27/27] | 88k | Hybrid AU, Poly AU, Soulmate AU, Romance Humor | Fluff

Having saved your own injured hybrid, you were determined to try and help any other hybrid that crossed your path who needed saving. But being a vet in a small hospital wasn’t enough for you. You wanted to do more, you wanted to make a difference. You wanted to give them a home.

→ If I Can Never Give You Peace @candlewaxandp0lar0ids - Jungkook x Reader

series [3/?] | 17.6k+ | Mafia AU, Enemies to Lovers | A (so far)

It starts like quite a few stories do, in your world. Girl meets boy, who happens to be a hybrid, girl buys him at an auction where hybrids are sold, boy falls in love with her, girl gets bored of him. Then it’s not so typical anymore, when the boy ends up forced into illegal fighting rings, until he makes a wrong move and her father decides he needs to be killed.

Where does that leave you? Well, you’re the one who handled Jungkook’s fight and generally organized his life, and, when the girl’s father, your boss and mafia leader, tells you he wants him ‘put down’, you’re the one who has to get it done. Except, instead, you let him escape, and everything turns out fine.

🌷ggukkienote: I am so hooked on this (because I am a sucker for Mafia AUs too). This is such a great story and the OC is really different from the usual OCs. Very interesting.

→ Eunoia @wishesunderthestars - OT7 x Reader

series [15/?] | 100k+ (I just assumed this, masterpost doesn’t have wc but it’s 6k per chapter or more?) | Director!Reader, hurt/comfort | fluff, eventual smut

You are a world famous director and you have dedicated your life to your job. You have everything you could ever dream of; wealth, recognision, talent, your friends and family. But loneliness ins’t cured by success. So what happens when you somehow rescue seven hybrids? Can they fill the void?

→ Restitution @cloudteawrites - OT7 x Reader

series [7/?] | 48k+ | slow burn, poly, mystery, romance

when an estranged uncle leaves you his massive fortune you wonder if the universe is playing a joke on you. when that fortune comes with seven hybrids, you know for sure that it is.

→ Lacuna @barbika1508 - Jungkook x Reader

series [42/42] | 324.3k | Hybrid AU, check for TW | Fluff, Angst, Smut

Lacuna - (n.) a blank space, a missing part

Y/N just wanted to go back home, to enjoy her peace and quiet away from problems and people. But typically, her luck strikes as she stumbles upon a horrific scene of two guys mistreating an already beaten down hybrid. Will she take matters into her own hands and help him? Or let someone else help along the way???

🌷 This is on AO3 and I got a recent ask about author’s tumblr. So if you prefer AO3 you can check their profile

→ A Hundred Percent Human by wrienne- OT7 x Reader

series [12/?] | 88k+ | Hybrid AU, fluff, angst, smut |

In which you (reader) are forced to take care of seven hybrids in a twist of fate. Drunk and down on life, you finally decide to deal with the house and the unsavory business your mother left behind. However, to your shock, you find that seven very different hybrids are included with both the house - and the business. Seven hybrids you never even met before - even less agreed to take care of.

🌷 This is on AO3. I don’t normally reco AO3 since my blog is focused on tumblr fics but someone sent an ask about this so I’m including it

→ Inferiority Complex @starlightauroras-writes - Jimin x Reader

series [10/?] | 88k+ | political themes, themes of abuse (hybrids) | A, S

You had never liked hybrids. You disagreed with their very existence, and you never wanted to have anything to do with them. And then one day, you discovered a hybrid who was more scared of you than you were of him, and everything changed as you realised you were the only hope he had…

→ Sanctuary @chimchimsauce - Jimin x Reader

series [16/16] | 20k | Wolf Hybrid!Jimin, Barista!OC, feat sanctuary staff Taehyung, hurt/comfort | F, A

YN is a young girl, bright and ambitious, but due to her busy schedule, she's been unable to make any real friends. When an ad for Saint Mary's Sanctuary catches her attention, she never expected her life to be changed by a certain hybrid named Jimin.

→ Summer Nights @marginalmadness - Jungkook x Reader

series [4/4] | 23k | Hybrid!Fantasy, Romance | F, S

A freak weather anomaly leads to a chance encounter with a rabbit-hybrid, and your kind nature results in you gaining a small, fluffy lodger, who questions your taste in television shows. It’s won’t be for long...will it?

→ Risk it All @/httpjeon - Jungkook x Reader

series [5/5] | 8.3k | hybrid au, alpha wolf!jungkook | A, F, S

ripped from your family, you find yourself in a warehouse filled with predators. just your luck, you’re right across from a caged alpha wolf.

🌷 (I linked Chapter 5 because for some reason others couldn’t find this chapter so they thought it’s still incomplete)

→ Outro Love is Not Over @kiirokero - Hoseok x Reader

series [12/?] | Daycare Teacher!Hoseok x Single Mom!Reader

You are the single mother of a beautiful 6-year-old golden retriever hybrid who you named Yunho. But you’re a human. You can’t show him the ropes of being a hybrid, and you can’t teach him things the other moms can. So, when a handsome German Shepard hybrid comes into your life, helping you and guiding Yunho in a way you can’t, you can’t help the cozy home he sets up in your heart.

→ It Takes Two To Make A Thing Go Right @imaginethisbts - TaeKook x Reader

two shot [2/2] | 11k | dom/sub themes, heat cycles | S

What’s better than one dogboy lover? Two dogboy lovers. But when Tae and Jungkook seem unusually clingy, it can only mean one thing. That time of the month has snuck up on you and your dogboy lovers do not want to share.

🌷 Also try their other Jungkook hybrid series Out of the Blue

→ Peculiar Park @daydreamindollie - OT7 x Reader

series [9/?] | 38k+ | imagines, slice of life | Writer!Reader, Psychologist!Reader, imagines | fluff

you’re a successful hybrid writer and psychologist who takes in seven hybrids on one stormy night after finding one of their pack stealing from your garden

→ Yeouiju @nomseok - Namjoon x Reader

one shot | 33.7k | Mythical AU, Hybrid AU (if you squint), suspense | A, F, S

you find an ancient stone in the middle of the mountains and bring it home with you, oblivious to the consequences of taking a dragon’s yeouiju.

→ Beautiful Stranger @/nomseok - Taehyung x Reader

one shot | 19k | circus AU | A, S, F

your dream is to take care of animals for the rest of your life in the big city, making sure that they’re cared for. but you stumble upon a malnourished, rare tiger in your local circus, and you can’t help but want to take care of him.

→ Evolution of You and I @readyplayerhobi - Jimin x Reader

one shot | 10.2k | kind of epistolary (letters), chat, childhood friends | F

For 15 years, Park Jimin has been in your life in some form. From childhood penpal’s to the closest of friends now, you can’t imagine your life without him even if you’ve never actually met him in person. It doesn’t help that you’ve fallen for him, even across the distance that separates you. But what happens when you finally meet up and you discover he’s been keeping something secret?

→ Fish are Friends @httpjeon - Taehyung x Reader

one shot | 10.2k | seahorse hybrid!taehyung | A, S, F

after moving to the seaside, there is a dreadful storm. when all is clear, a man washes up on shore…only he isn’t quite human.

🌷 you know seahorses mate for life and it’s the male that gets pregnant? Interesting huh

→ Pink Panther @gimmesumsuga - Seokjin x Reader

one shot | 13k | boss-employee | F, S

The one where your boss, Kim Seokjin, tries to show you how beautiful you are.

→ Ragdoll @ausblack - Jimin x Reader

series [17/17] | Hybrid AU, College AU | F, A

As you were studying to obtain your medical & veterinary degree, your professor came up with the idea of organizing an internship - where you found yourself side by side with a sick hybrid that needed nothing other that complete care.

→ Jagged + Catnap @opaljm - Jimin x Reader

one shot + sequel | 18k | jaguar/black panther!jimin, sand dune cat!reader, mutual pining, friends to lovers, established relationship (sequel)| S, F, slight A

The pretty little sand cat hybrid Jimin has been in love with for the past year experiences her first heat and Jimin would love nothing more than to be the one to guide her through it and breed her with his kittens.

🌷 there’s also a possible spin-off for Taehyung (Eye of the Tiger)

→ Owner @jessikahathaway - Jungkook x Reader

series [6/?] | 17.4k | Fake Dating AU, Hybrid AU, based on Kimi Wa Petto (Japanese anime) | F, S, A

With your mother hounding on you (no pun intended), you decided to get a little help from a hybrid, who was also in need of assistance.

→ Loving Him Was Red + Somewhere Only We Know @userseok - Jungkook x Reader

series [3/?] | 12.8k+ | enemies to lovers, childhood friends (sorta), college au, jock!jungkook, unrequited love (for OC) | S, F, A

you’ve been chasing after jungkook for years. after a harsh verbal altercation between both of you, you decide to leave him alone and pursue a relationship with someone who seems genuinely interested in you, thinking he would never return your feelings.

I would like to recommend the catalog of these writers:

@ditttiii - so I realize I’m following them on AO3 when I realized the fics looked familiar 🤭. They have an ongoing series called Enchanted to Meet You which you might want to check out if you like Soulmate AUs too! I recently reblogged a Jungkook two-shot comfort fic (hybrid au too) so I recommend going through their masterlist!

@aroseforyoongi - who I discovered because of Gossamer (KTH). It was completed but I think it’s up for re-write/re-post? You can try the others:

Navy Blue - Jungkook [completed]

Forever Yours - Yoongi [one shot, prequel to Navy Blue]

Let Me Love You- Jungkook [one shot]

@magicalsalamander - another favorite author of mine I just feel like I’m reading a great tale every time I start on a series or one shot. They have great fics with supernatural themes too

Rabbit on the Moon - Jungkook | if you’re in the mood for police officer Jungkook [6/6]

The Act of Persuasion - Seokjin | if you are in the mood for Single Dad AU x Arranged Marriage too [one shot]

Firefly that Guards the Fox - Taehyung | if you are in the mood for mystery [11/12 - just epilogue left]

Kitten’s Little Flame - Yoongi | if you like BF to Lovers between dragon and a cat [6/6]

There’s more so please check their Masterlist

@hollyhomburg - I just love Of Fire and Love (hello dragon!yoongi and baby!jungkook? 🥺) But you can check:

their masterlist of all their hybrid fics

Dance to This series which I’ve added to fic recs based on an ask about stories that include members/readers with disability.

Don’t care if it Hurts - Jimin | this is probably my favorite (again I’m a sucker for Mafia AUs) , guard dog hybrid!jimin [12/13, just epilogue]

@angelicyoongie - I got hooked after reading their stories on AO3 but they have tumblr too! Check their masterlist for ongoing hybrid fic (Abundance - OT7) but these are completed ones:

Desolate - Yoongi, grumypy cat hybrid [14/14]

Out of the Woods - Namjoon, wolf hybrid, strangers to lovers [3/3]

@worldwidebt7 - if you like webtoons! I read parts of Jungkook’s webtoon and I think currently we’re on Yoongi’s story. Access it here

@jincherie - One of the first hybrid fics I remember encountering is Inheritance (MYG). Other fics:

Perihelion - Hoseok, college, roommate, enemies [2/?]

Butterfingers - Namjoon, teacher au, this is cuuuute READ IT if you’re looking for something fluffy [one shot]

4 o’ clock - Taehyung, single dad au (I included this in the singel dad fic recs too) [3/?]

Under the Bridge - Jungkook, found jungkook under the bridge [one shot]

@whitesparrows97 - a writer I discovered because of a Yoongi soulmate fic but I found that they also have other hybrid fics:

Cat’s Cradle - Yoongi, bestfriend [5/5]

Underdog - Taehyung, shifter, brought home what she thought a stray dog [5/5]

@foxymoxynoona - and what would my reco be without foxymoxy? So they have tumblr but their works are on AO3. I’ve listed their current works here but I didn’t include their completed works which are must-reads:

Sugar Fairy - Jungkook, mating, adopted hybrids [48/48]

A Sea of Indigo - Jungkook, ex-fighter [48/48] ⭐⭐⭐

@therealmintedmango - They have a whole masterlist of their hybrid!au fics. I recently finished Kingdom Come and I always remember Jimin from King (for some reason)

@joonbird - check their Zodiac Hybrid Masterlist of one shot per member

There are more (usually one shot per member) but I’ll probably put them in another Fic Rec List for Hybrid AUs. Sorry this list is kind of all over the place (not even organized per member 🤭). But good luck with your modules and I hope these help!

(❁´◡`❁)

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laurenairay · 4 years ago

Text

Take a Chance - D. Hamilton

Word Count: 12.7k

Summary: Ashley Miller is a Sunday-morning regular at her local coffee shop. Dougie Hamilton is the associate art curator who catches her eye.

Warnings: coffee shop au, some bad language, a lot of cute fluff, anxiety

A/N: This is my @hockeynetwork winter gift exchange fic for @huttons! I had a lot of fun researching & creating this fic gift, and I tried to incorporate all of the preferences you stated and that we discussed. This is very self-indulgent too, definitely the longest thing I’ve written on here, and I’m not going to go into the very niche research rabbit holes I fell down! Bringing this OC to life made me so happy, and I had a blast incorporating the coffee shop au element. I hope you enjoy this! 💚

Also tagging @danglesnipecelly, @texanstarslove and @itsbadgerbadgermushroom because they all listened to me stress while writing hah.

“Large latte for Ashley!”

Ashley Miller looked up from her laptop, smiling at her favourite barista at the counter. She got up from her table, leaving her laptop and scone briefly as she collected her drink, before heading back to her seat. Sunday mornings were the same every week – arrive at Storm Surge coffee shop when they opened at 7am, park herself at a table in the back corner, and consume a steady flow of coffee as she worked. Sure, her work might vary – teaching Medieval History at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill meant her lesson topics were all over the spectrum – but she just found that everything from writing notes for her classes that week to marking essays at the end of the semester became easier if she had the thrum of the coffee shop around her.

That, and she knew she’d just spend her entire weekend burrowed in her house if she didn’t get out.

Having moved to Raleigh 6 years ago to undertake her PhD, Ashley had accepted a teaching job at the very same university she’d studied at when she’d completed her studies a year ago, and she hadn’t looked back since. There was just something about Raleigh that she had fallen in love with, only a 30 minute drive away from her workplace, something that had spoken to her very soul, and actually being able to pass on knowledge about the subject that she was so passionate about made her so incredibly happy. Sure, her parents had never understood her love for 11th to 13th century European history (nor anyone else from her small town in South Dakota) but Ashley had never cared about that – New York had given her the opportunity to grow as a person during her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, but Raleigh had given her the opportunity to thrive.

And she would forever be grateful for that.

Sundays though…Sundays were something she cherished. This independent coffee shop had been a blessing when she’d found it early on in her PhD research, and they had never complained about her taking up a table for essentially the whole day (and she did pay for each of the many coffees she consumed). Baristas and bakers had come and gone over the past 6 years, but there were a couple that had stuck around recently - and a year ago when she officially became ‘Dr Ashley Miller’, her favourite barista Andrei had even given her a piece of chocolate cake on the house to celebrate. Storm Surge coffee shop was a home away from home.

Of course, there was another reason that Sunday coffee shop time was one of her favourite things in her week…

Tall Cute Guy.

He was a regular every Sunday morning, and had been for the past year - three Sundays a month he would order a mocha and an americano to go, but one Sunday a month he would come in an hour earlier and order just an americano, and drink it in the shop instead while reading an old paperback book. Every single time, like clockwork.

Okay, yes, that sounded a little stalkerish. But he was so cute. Ashley pretty much always had her earphones in playing music so she had never caught his name, but his blonde curls, pretty blue eyes and warm smile had caught her eye straight away. And he was so tall, she couldn’t have missed him if she’d tried. She’d never spoken to him, never even said hi in passing, but occasionally she would link eyes with him and he would smile at her. And that smile was enough to send her heart fluttering. Ridiculous really, but it brought her a little joy.

What was the harm in smiling back at a cute guy every now and again, right?

Dougie Hamilton walked into the North Carolina Museum of Art with a smile on his face. To be honest, it could’ve been for a multitude of reasons. His career was finally heading upwards, having moved museums to become Associate Curator of European Art a couple of years ago, and he loved his work. He had recently renovated his kitchen, which was now looking pretty sleek and awesome, if he did say so himself. His colleagues had genuinely become some of his closest friends, and he had a standing monthly poker night with several of them. But his smile today wasn’t because of any of that.

No, his smile today was because it was Sunday morning, and he’d just picked up his regular coffee order for him and his boss.

Speaking of…

“So, did you finally talk to your coffee shop crush, or did you just awkwardly stare at her like a weirdo again?”

“Oh fuck off,” Dougie grumbled, feeling his cheeks heat up in a fierce blush as his boss Jordie’s words.

It was far too early for this – he’d only just walked into their shared office for fuck’s sake! Jordie just hooted laughter at his embarrassment as he took his mocha from Dougie, making Dougie groan. “One day you’re going to have to talk to her, man. It’s just getting sad now,” Jordie teased.

“Yeah, yeah, don’t we have a museum to open?” Dougie scowled.

Jordie just beamed even more, wiggling his eyebrows as he left their office. Dougie groaned again, running his hands through is unruly hair before he sighed. Coffee shop crush. Hah. Jordie wasn’t wrong though. Not really. His crush…Mystery Laptop Woman…was one of the reasons he always volunteered to pick the two of them up coffee before the museum opened up on a Sunday morning. Jordie had come along with him only once to pick up their coffee, about 6 months ago, and ever since then he hadn’t let Dougie’s shy smile at her go. Of course, Dougie barely knew anything about her – only that she was always in early on a Sunday, always completely consumed by her work, and she had such a super cute concentration face, whatever it is that she worked on. He could never quite tell – sometimes she had a book or two with her, sometimes it was a stack of papers – but he knew for sure that she appeared to mainline coffee like a pro. Probably some kind of teacher?

He’d certainly never had a teacher that beautiful, that was for sure.

Her long dark hair was always down and always a little messy, like she ran her hands through it often (which she did, he’d noticed). Her warm hazel eyes were hidden behind tortoiseshell glasses, and her lips were always coloured in varying shades of dark pink and red. He’d only seen her standing a couple of times, but he’d caught enough of a glimpse of her long legs to have some very inappropriate thoughts. She just looked so kind, so friendly…and so beautiful. Dougie had never been able to catch her name though – she’d always had a full coffee or at least half a coffee left whenever he was in the shop, so he couldn’t even find out sneakily that way. But whoever she was, whatever she did, when he occasionally got lucky enough for her to look at him, her smile made his entire body light up like a fireworks show. It was a bit pathetic really, how much just a smile from her made his entire day, but he was a year into it now and he wasn’t going to stop that for anything. He had a great career, some great friends, and a pretty great life, even if he was tragically single.

What was the harm in smiling at a beautiful woman whenever he got the chance, right?

“Alright, we’ve nearly run out of time now, but just one final thing I want you to think about for Monday’s love in the middle ages class,”

On cue, her students groaned, making Ashley grin.

“Hey, I’m giving you a head’s up here – I could just let you walk into our general lecture blind?” she shrugged, teasing.

That got her a few laughs at least. She’d take that.

“Okay, so we know through our focus on the Medieval Expansion of Europe that one of the biggest tales about Eleanor of Aquitaine in the latter half of the 1100s was of her role in the courts of love. What I want you all to look into is whether these courts of love have the possibility of being a real thing, or whether they feed into the chivalric notions of her contemporaries and were fabricated from the courtly love dynamics of knights and maidens. Just to give us some talking points, okay?”

Her students murmured their agreement, with most of them writing down a reminder. That would have to be good enough for her. At least this way, hopefully someone would discuss the talking points with her in class – she’d found out the hard way last year that there was nothing worse for a university professor than completely uninterested students. She needed something to feed off.

“Alright then, class dismissed. Have a great weekend everyone!”

Ashley moved to her laptop, switching off the projected powerpoint presentation as her students filed out of the classroom, but jumped in shock slightly as she noticed the head of her department sitting in the back corner. How long had he been there?! What was he doing there in the first place? She just hoped her smile didn’t look as nervous as she felt, as he walked up to the front of the room.

Rod Brind’Amour was a legend in the History department for a good reason. His knowledge of military history pre-1800s was unmatched by anyone, but it was his research on the first and second crusades that had inspired Ashley through much of her PhD. Sure, he wasn’t her direct supervisor, but their work interlinked enough that she’d spent many office hours with him debating the second crusade with fervour. For such a big man, he was such a nerd, and he’d made her feel so welcome as soon as he offered her the teaching position at the end of her PhD, with the promise that she would be able to continue her research to inspire future minds. She had been so moved by his words that she hadn’t hesitated to accept the job. How could she not, when someone of his calibre believed in her?

One year in, she wasn’t regretting it at all

“Very smart, setting up some talking points for Monday’s class. I’m so glad I volunteered you to run this year’s Love in the Middle Ages lectures. You’re much better at them than I was,” Rod mused.

Ashley snorted, rolling her eyes playfully. Oh thank god. It’s true that this seminar was one part of the large mandatory Medieval and Early Modern Studies course…but it suited her perfectly.

“That’s because my research focuses on Medieval Queens and the exchange of power they brought to their marriage countries, whereas yours is the effect of each of the crusades through military history. Bleurgh,” she snickered, “Linking today’s Medieval Expansion of Europe class with the generic Love in the Middle Ages lectures on Mondays is just easy,”

“Speak for yourself,” Rod laughed, “give me military tactics any day,”

Ashley just grinned. Some things never changed. “Was there anything you wanted in particular?” she asked, packing up her laptop into its case.

“Just wanted to check in with you, in general,” Rod shrugged, sitting down on the edge of her desk.

Ashley couldn’t help but smile at the thoughtfulness. “I’m doing okay yeah, thanks. Last year’s first semester was more of a struggle for sure, but I don’t have that transition from PhD student and TA to full teaching this time round. I’ve definitely settled in quicker – and this batch of freshman feel a lot more engaged already,”

“That’s good! It definitely shows that you’re handling things well,” Rod nodded, smiling back at her, “But I meant in your life outside of the university too,”

Ashley frowned. What? “What do you mean?” she asked, confused.

Rod laughed softly at her expression. “I know last year you were trying to find your stride, but this year you’ve already got it, so I’m just checking that you’ve got things balanced outside of work too. It’s far too easy to make teaching your entire life – and I don’t want you to burn out,” Rod explained. “I value you here too much for that,”

Ashley’s heart melted a little at his concern, but she just shook his head. “I may not have much going on for me outside of work, but I do get out. I spend my Sundays in a local coffee shop,” she admitted.

Her mind briefly flashed to Tall Cute Guy, but she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind before she started blushing. So not appropriate for work.

Rod frowned slightly, but nodded. “At least you’re getting out of the house. Just promise me you’ll work on finding time for yourself too?”

“I promise,” Ashley nodded, “I intend to be here for a long time, so I definitely don’t want to burn out,”

“Good, I’m glad to hear it,” Rod grinned, “I’d better get going – see you at the faculty meeting later?”

“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Ashley grimaced.

Rod just laughed at her disgruntled face, lifting his hand in a wave as he left the room. As she packed the rest of her belongings, Ashley couldn’t help but to think over Rod’s words. Was she in danger of a burn-out? Surely not, so early on in her career? Maybe she did need more of a balance in her life…but how?

Another Sunday, another early morning. Sure, Ashley could give herself a lie in every now and again, but that would mean not being able to relax on her Sunday evening, to not have the chance to unwind and reset before the working week starts up again on Monday morning. Spending all weekend in her little 2 bed house wouldn’t do her any good, even as comforting as she’d made it.

Besides, Storm Surge coffee shop was such a part of her routine now, that it would feel wrong to not go in at her usual time. Seeing Andrei the morning barista, Marty the supervisor and Jaccob the baker (who occasionally popped his head out) always made her happy – and as Rod said only a couple of days ago, she needed to make sure she actually kept a balance in her life.

So, as always, just after 7am, Ashley walked through the coffee shop door. She’d skipped eating any breakfast this morning, intent on getting one of the shop’s amazing scones fresh out of the oven, and as soon as she spotted her favourite blueberry-lemon scones in the display, something in her chest settled. Yes, this was exactly why she came every week. This feeling of home.

“Good morning Ashley! Your usual latte?”

Ashley smiled at Andrei, nodding. “Yes please. And one of the blueberry-lemon scones!”

Andrei smiled even wider, if that was possible, and immediate set about inputting her order into the cash register. It was then that she noticed something new on Andrei’s nametag. A pink sparkly kitten sticky. Huh. That was new.

“Nice sticker,” she teased.

“Very sparkly, no? Marty gave it to me,” Andre nodded.

“Oh, Marty did huh?” Ashley grinned.

Interestingly, Andrei blushed. She knew she hadn’t been imagining things. The poor Russian guy just blushed harder, spluttering incoherently, until Ashley took pity on him. It wasn’t like she could be mean to Andrei – he was just too adorable.

“I think the sticker is really cute, Andrei. It was sweet of Marty to give it to you,” Ashley said with a fond smile.

“Thank you! I will tell Marty you like it,” Andrei beamed.

Bless him.

Andrei handed her a scone on a plate, allowing her to go to her usual table in the back corner, setting up her laptop while she waited for her coffee to be ready. She heard a door out the back open, and Andrei quickly slipped away, making her smile.

“AHHHHHHHHHH MR SVECHNIKOV!”

Marty. Ashley just giggled, shaking her head before putting her earphones in for her background music. Yeah, this coffee shop definitely felt like home.

She quickly got lost in writing her lecture notes, going off on tangents that she knew she’d have to rein in later when she edited. It was a full hour before she even looked away from her screen, only to see the shop busy and bustling, every single table full. What the hell? She looked over to see both Andrei and Marty working the counter, only confirming her suspicions that they really had gotten busy while she was lost in her thoughts. Wow. Full at 8am was a new one for sure. Maybe a convention of some kind?

And it was then that she saw Tall Cute Guy walk in. Today he was wearing a pretty blue sweater, bring out the beautiful blue in his eyes, making her smile on instinct. So cute. But then she noticed him being given just the one coffee…he was planning on drinking in, and there were no tables? No!

It made her heart clench to watch him looking around the coffee shop, becoming more and more disheartened…until he noticed her. Maybe, could she, yes. Ashley bit her bottom lip but tilted her head towards the empty chair at her table, earning the biggest smile. She actually did it. She actually offered him the chair at her table. Shit. Her heart started beating faster as he walked over, and she took her earphones out as he came to a stop next to her seat, looming over her.

“I, uh…do you mind if I sit with you?” he asked softly.

Huh. Such a gentle voice on such a big man. Yeah she could totally handle this.

“Please, go ahead,” Ashley nodding, smiling as she waved her hand to indicate, “it’s so busy in here today,”

Oh no. Was that too forward, acknowledging that they’re both regulars?

“Definitely busier than usual, eh?” he mused, “I’ll try not to disturb your work, I’ll only be here for about an hour,”

Ashley laughed, but shook her head. She was just glad he hadn’t been weirded-out by her acknowledgement. That would’ve been so awkward. Her stomach was filled with enough butterflies as it was. “You won’t disturb me, I promise. Sit as long as you like,”

He smiled widely at her, pulling out the chair opposite and sitting down, Ashley just quickly shuffling her papers out of the way for him. He nodded his thanks at her, pulling a paperback book out of his satchel. Then he cleared his throat, so she looked up at him curiously.

“I’m Dougie, by the way,” he said, almost a little shy.

Dougie. That was a nice name. Oh, wow, she finally knew his name! Ashley couldn’t help but smile at him. “I’m Ashley,”

He smiled back at her. “It’s nice to meet you properly,” he said happily.

Ashley just laughed, nodding as she blushed lightly. To have him acknowledge their smiling-from-a-distance definitely sparked something inside of her. Nice to finally meet him indeed.

They sat in comfortable silence, Ashley typing up her tangent notes so far for the morning, and she couldn’t help the feeling of contentment that sat in her chest. The cute guy she’d been smiling at for a year was sitting at her table with her…and it wasn’t awkward at all. In fact, it was really quite nice. And he’d introduced himself!

No, cool it, keep calm Ashley. No-one got anywhere by acting like a giddy schoolgirl. Play it cool.

That promised hour flew by far too quickly. Every now and again she would glance up and find his eyes on her. Every now and again she would glance up only for him to look up and catching her looking. Every time she would blush. Every time he would send her a wonderful smile. But all too soon her table companion was standing up and putting his book in his bag.

“Um…”

Ashley looked up from her work at him, a smile naturally spreading across her face at his nervous expression. Why was he nervous?

“Yes, Dougie?” she said softly, smiling at a little more at finally getting to say his name.

Dougie. Dougie. Dougie.

“I’ll see you soon?” he said, almost hopefully.

“I’ll be here,” she nodded.

Oh god. Well that was stupid. Of course she’d be here. Why couldn’t she just act smoothly for once in her life?

But then Dougie smiled, such a happy little smile that it made her breath catch in her throat.

“Until next time then,” Dougie murmured, “Bye, Ashley,”

“Bye,” she breathed, watching him walk way.

Well, that could’ve been worse. What a Sunday.

Things felt different after that fateful Sunday. Dougie (she knew his name!) hadn’t sat down with her again, or even sat in the shop again yet, but now…now he always made a point of waving at her, waiting until she had waved back to smile. Those waves sent her into even more of a tizzy, a light blush always on her cheeks, and she couldn’t help but cherish them. Maybe it was a bit pathetic, but he was so handsome and he noticed her. It didn’t hurt to pretend it was more than friendly acknowledgement, right? A girl could dream at least.

It was only Wednesday today, but that meant only one thing. Her weekly phone call with her mom. Knowing Susan Miller, Ashley could picture exactly what her mom was doing. Her phone would be propped up on speakerphone while she pottered around the kitchen, finishing off making dinner while also planning what desserts to bake at the weekend. Her mom led a simple life, a retired teacher herself (although she’d taught at the local elementary school rather than ever leaving town), but it was a happy life. And it was these phone calls that were the only thing that made Ashley miss home.

Nothing was the same as a hug from her mom with a slice of homemade apple pie. But those were the sacrifices she made for her love of Medieval History. They never stayed on the for more than half an hour, but it was just enough to fill Ashley’s heart, at least for a little while.

“And I swear, if he doesn’t stop leaving those nasty cigar butts on the front porch, I’m going to whoop some sense into him!”

“You’ve been saying this for over 20 years mom – I don’t think dad is going to change at this point,” Ashley mused, rolling her eyes fondly.

Her dad had been set in his ways for as long as she could remember. Nothing was going to change that, not even a little nagging from the love of his life.

“Yes, well, he could at least clean up after himself,”

Her parents really were ridiculous human beings – but they loved each other, and that was all that mattered. Even if her dad didn’t clean up his cigar butts.

“You wouldn’t know what to do with yourself if you weren’t complaining about his cigar butts,” Ashley grinned. “Maybe threaten not to make that corned beef hash he likes. That might help,”

The laughter that flowed down the phone made her smile even more. Fuck she missed hearing her mom’s laugh in person.

“Oh I miss you sweetpea. Are you sure you’re okay down there by yourself?”

“Yes mom, you know I love my work and my life down here,” Ashley said, sighing softly.

Here we go again.

“I just worry about you rattling around in that old house by yourself!”

Rude. It wasn’t that old.

“I promise I’m fine!” Ashley insisted.

Her mom stayed silent, making Ashley bite her lip to stop herself getting frustrated. Her mom would come out with it eventually…

“I worry about you being lonely, that’s all. You’re such an introvert, you always have been,”

And there it was.

“How could I be lonely mom? I have great colleagues that I talk with. And I’m around students all day and I interact all the time with them! And the baristas at my coffee shop know me by name and we chat too,” Ashley listed.

“The baristas don’t count, Ash,”

Poor Andrei. He definitely counted. Ashley couldn’t help but giggle at the sigh in her mom’s voice though. “Okay maybe not, but there is a guy that I’ve talked to,”

“Ooh a guy?”

Oh no. Oh what had she done? She had to nip this in the bud now.

“No, mom, not like that, just a friendly face to wave at,” Ashley insisted.

Dougie’s shy smiles filled her mind, but she shook her head. Now was not the time.

“Oh boo, you should work on changing that,”

Hah. If only.

“You’re impossible, mom,” Ashley sighed fondly.

“I love you too darling,”

Today he was going to do it. Today Dougie was going to get to Storm Surge coffee shop a little early, get his americano to drink in…and hopefully sit with Ashley again. Ever since that amazing Sunday morning where she offered him a seat at her table (she offered him!), he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. He could kick himself for not being able to do more than wave at her the past three Sundays, but even just the few smiles he seen in passing since have blown him away. Especially with that cute little blush she always had when she waved back at him.

But today he was coming in an hour before he had to get to work, just to have that chance to sit with her and talk with her. Was it a little desperate? Sure. But Dougie never claimed to be anything other than desperate to get to know the beautiful woman he’d only ever seen in passing until now. His schedule didn’t usually allow him the chance – every Sunday the North Carolina Museum of Art opened from 10-5, and he usually got there just after 9 with coffee for him and Jordie, but every fourth Sunday Jordie came in a little later, so Dougie took the time to sit in and read a little before heading into work…and it was the fourth Sunday today. He could only hope that all the nerves and butterflies would be worth it.

Oh fuck, what if she wasn’t even there?

No, she would be. She always was. Enough stalling.

Still…

Dougie walked into Storm Surge with a little ball of nervous anxiety in his chest, praying that Ashley wouldn’t stray from her routine, until he looked over into the back corner…and there she was. He waited until Ashley looked up at him to wave at her, earning a sweet smile and a wave back. Wow, her blush really was so sweet.

“Dougie! You must be drinking in today, yes?”

He snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of Andrei’s voice, quickly nodding. “Yeah just the usual americano, thanks,”

“You got it,” Andrei nodded, beaming at him.

Dougie quickly paid and moved to the end of the counter to wait for his coffee. The shop was only half-full at this time in the morning, unlike last month, so he didn’t have the excuse of busy tables. Maybe…he could just walk up to her, right? He could take that chance, right? Yeah, he could do this.

“Here you go!” Andrei said cheerfully.

“Thanks,” Dougie murmured.

The barista gave him a strange look at his distracted tone, and Dougie knew that Andrei was watching as he walked over to Ashley’s table…but here goes nothing. He could totally do this. He was an adult. He paid his taxes on time and everything. He could definitely ask a pretty woman if he could sit with her again.

“Hey, Ashley,”

She looked up from her laptop with a bright smile, making his breath catch in his throat.

“Dougie! Hi!” she said happily.

She remembered his name! Wow. No, focus.

“Do you, um…do you mind if I sit with you again?” Dougie asked.

Oh god, why couldn’t he just sound cool for once in his life? Why did he always have to be the least smooth version of himself that he could possibly be?

Ashley took one look around at all the empty tables and blushed even more, before she bit her lip and nodded. “Sure, go for it,”

That was a good sign, right?

Dougie sat down with a nervous smile, putting his coffee gently on the table.

“So, um, how have you been?”

Ashley looked surprised (oh god, was she only being polite before?) before that melted into a pleased look. Okay, he could work with that.

“I’ve been pretty good thanks, yeah. I’m just revising the list of essay topics that I’m giving my students on Monday, so not too much work to do today thankfully,” she said, “How about you?”

“I’ve been alright yeah. Work has been a little nuts with the new exhibition at the museum but it’s all come together really well!” Dougie said, beaming. What? Could a man not be excited about artwork? “what do you teach?”

Ashley smiled shyly, looking a little hesitant again. Dougie couldn’t help but frown a little. Had people made her feel awkward about her work before? That wasn’t okay! “I’m a Medieval History professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. My general focus is on the power of Medieval queens, but I teach everything from the expansion of medieval Europe to love in the middle ages, as well as on the general medieval and early modern history modules. I did my undergraduate and masters degrees at NYU, but I moved down here for the PhD opportunity. It’s now my second full year teaching and I just…I love it so much,”

A PhD?! Holy shit, that’s impressive. Wow. Just…wow. How could she be any more perfect?

“That’s incredible!” was all that Dougie could say.

“You don’t have to pretend, I know having a PhD isn’t exactly the coolest thing in the world, especially in medieval history,” Ashley mused.

Well it was definitely pretty fucking cool to him, no matter what other people had ever said to her. “I’m definitely not pretending, I promise. Medieval history is fascinating,” he insisted.

Ashley pursed her lips like she didn’t believe him, making Dougie laugh.

“I’m serious! I may not have a PhD but my masters thesis was a specialism in Rembrandt’s work. I’m a total art history nerd – 14th-17th century in particular,” Dougie explained.

Come on, let the nerdiness pay off for once…

Her face immediately lightened, her mouth forming into a surprised ‘o’, making him laugh again. At least, he hoped it was a good surprise?

“One of the classes I’ll be teaching next semester is Italian Renaissance and European History to 1650,” she murmured.

Holy shit. What a match up.

“Told you I wasn’t pretending to be interested,” Dougie grinned, “I’d definitely love to learn more about that class when you start it,”

Ashley blushed again, but her nervous smile had shifted into a full beaming smile, and his heart could only just about take it. Then she froze slightly, blinking, as if she’d forgotten something. What?

“Sorry, did you say museum earlier?” Ashley said suddenly, “like, you work at a museum?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m an associate curator at the North Carolina Museum of Art,” Dougie nodded.

He did his best not to puff out his chest in pride. He’d worked damned hard on his career and he was proud of it.

“I just…wow, I wouldn’t have expected it,”

Dougie laughed, raising an eyebrow at her sheepish smile.

“A guy who looks like you, like such an athlete’s build…oh god, sorry, that’s so rude of me,” she groaned, burying her face in her hands.

But Dougie just laughed, shaking his head. “Believe me, it’s far from the first time I’ve heard that,”

And never with such appreciation of his body either…

Look, he knew how the world perceived him on first glance. Tall, muscled guy, blonde hair and blue eyes, probably an all-american jock right? How he loved proving them wrong.

“Still doesn’t make it okay,” Ashley winced, “so I’m sorry,”

“Apology accepted,” Dougie mused, “I love my work, so it’s fun surprising people. Especially people with similar interests,”

Ashley bit her lip again but nodded and smiled, tilting her head to show she was listening. Wow, he could definitely get used to her looking at him with this much interest.

“Like I said, I’m an associate curator at the North Carolina Museum of Art. I’m actually Canadian, but I finished my masters degree in Boston and went straight into working at the MFA, but after working on a brief project in Calgary, I realised I wanted to work more in my specialist interests, y’know? So I applied for a role at the Museum of Art here, and became the associate curator of European Art. It’s…it’s everything I could’ve wished for, when I was studying,”

Dougie took a sip of his coffee while Ashley processed that flood of information, hoping he hadn’t come across too strong. People really did tend to zone out when he talked about his work…but hopefully because she also had an interest in European history and art, she wouldn’t be put off?

“I can definitely relate to following and achieving my passions for a niche subject,” Ashley grinned, “and I love that you love it so much. It’s rare, to find someone who gets such genuine joy out of their work. Even though work can sometimes be super stressful,”

“Stressful, but worth it. Especially when a new exhibition comes together so well,” Dougie agreed.

“Oh?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Dougie licked his bottom lip, trying not to look too nervous. This exhibition is such a big deal, and it had been such a lot of work. He could get a little excited about it now, right?

“Yeah, I’ve been working solidly for the past few months on the new exhibition – it’s opening next weekend. It’s a collection of Italian Renaissance Art,” Dougie said, a little hesitant.

Hesitant…because maybe that was a bit flashy? Did it sound like he was bragging? He really hoped not – not just because he was so proud of his work but he genuinely did want to excite Ashley…

“Oh no way! Really?” Ashley gasped.

Dougie bit his lips to control his grin. Oh thank fuck. Finally, someone he could actually impress with his love of art history. “Yeah, last quarter the museum acquired over 30 paintings from the 14th century from various collectors and this will be the first time they’ve all been together in the same room,”

“I bet they’ll be so beautiful all together after so long,” Ashley said, her voice a little wistful.

Wistful? He could fix that. Maybe. Yes, this was the perfect opportunity…

“Maybe we could…I know this might feel a little soon, but I’m…

Dougie trailed off with a frustrated groan, making Ashley giggle. For once, just once, let him be smooth! He took a deep breath, before trying again.

“Would you like to come to the exhibition opening with me?” he asked softly.

Ashley’s jaw dropped slightly, but she quickly nodded, making Dougie’s heartbeat kick up a notch. “Really?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’ve got a plus one as the associate curator, and there’s no-one else I could imagine going with. I think you’d love it,” Dougie explained, “and I’d love to show you the artwork,”

Was that too desperate?

“I’d…wow, I’d love to go with you,” Ashley said, her expression shy but pleased.

Shy but pleased. He could work with that.

“Great, it’s a date!”

Oh God. Dougie could only freeze…but then Ashley smiled. Huh, maybe not so cringey?

“A date huh? I’d love that too,” Ashley said shyly.

Oh thank fuck. Ashley just giggled at Dougie’s blush.

“Give me your number and I’ll text you the details?” Dougie suggested, trying to salvage at least a little bit of his dignity.

As Ashley took his phone from him and entered her phone number, Dougie could only sit in shocked silence. He’d done it. He’d actually asked her on a date. On a date where he could impress her with a topic they both loved so much. All he had to do now was not fuck it up.

That wouldn’t be so hard, right?

Ashley had been in a little bit of a daze when Dougie had left for work. He’d asked her on a date. On a date! And they’d exchanged numbers, Dougie having sent her a little smiley face so she had his number in return. She was just thankful that there wasn’t much work for her to do that day – there was no way she wouldn’t been able to focus otherwise.

And then throughout the week, they’d started exchanging cute little messages. Just sweet little things, like how was your day? and look how cute this dog is and I had the loudest school tour group come through the museum today and which of these texts is going to give me the worst teacher rating? – it was all silly and sweet and fun, and Ashley couldn’t remember the last time that the potential of a relationship had excited her so much.

There was just something about Dougie that made her heart beat a little faster every time she thought of him. It was bad enough when he would smile at her in passing in Storm Surge…but now, with every little text, she felt herself smiling even more than she could’ve imagined, like a giddy little schoolgirl with a first crush.

Because at the moment, it really was just a crush. They hadn’t gone out on their first date yet – in reality, they’d only sat together twice, with one of those times essentially being the exchange of their names. They’d only had one conversation in person. And the texts were so sweet and lovely…but they were just texts. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself and get her hopes up, you know? God knows that had happened enough times.

She couldn’t help but hope that finally, she had met someone with real potential. Dougie made it easy to hope.

Ashley supposed that their first date would be the real test of whether she’d just built up all the excitement of Tall Cute Guy in that coffee shop fantasy in her head, or whether he was the real deal. Their conversation in person on Sunday had been such a good start, but fuck please make him the real deal.

Was it really that much to ask?

Finally Friday rolled around and she was finished with work for the week. Well, mostly. Ashley had just come out of a bi-monthly faculty meeting and just had to check some emails before she could go home for the weekend (and to shave her legs because she found the cutest dress for her date on Saturday) – but as she got to her office, she noticed that Rod had stopped in the doorway, waving to some of their colleagues as they strolled past. Hmm.

“So…you’re looking incredibly chipper for someone who just got out of a tedious faculty meeting,” Rod teased, leaning against her doorframe.

Ashley just laughed, rolling her eyes fondly as she sat at her desk. “I don’t know why you complain so much – you’re the one who runs them,”

“Not through choice, I promise that,” Rod mused, shaking his head, “But you are looking extra cheerful today. Just feeling a little nosy, I guess,”

Ashley bit her bottom lip, hesitating. Should she tell him about her date? It’s not like Rod was a gossip…and it’s not like she had a whole host of friends to tell…

“I may or may not have a date tomorrow night,” Ashley eventually admitted.

His eyes immediately lit up. Oh God.

“Ooh a date, exciting!” Rod gasped dramatically, fanning himself like a southern belle.

“Oh my god, shut up,” Ashley giggled. That could’ve gone worse – but his excitement definitely lit up the butterflies in her stomach all over again.

Rod just laughed, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m just glad you’re giving someone a chance to sweep you off your feet,” he teased, “Who is he and where is he taking you?”

“He’s a guy I met in that coffee shop I go to on a Sunday, and he’s taking me to the new Italian Renaissance exhibition at the North Carolina Museum of Art,” she explained.

And she couldn’t wait.

“A cultured guy or a try hard?” he smirked.

“A cultured guy,” Ashley giggled, rolling her eyes, “he’s actually the associate curator who worked on setting up the exhibition,”

“Don’t we all love a man who knows his history, even if it is art,” Rod grinned, winking dramatically, earning another giggle, “Let me know how the exhibition is - I know my wife would love to go if it’s any good,”

“I’ll give you a full review on Monday,” Ashley agreed, nodding.

“And a full review of your date,” Rod grinned.

“Okay, out, out. I need to finish these emails before I leave,” Ashley laughed.

“I’m going, I’m going,” Rod mused, “If you need anything, even an escape clause tomorrow night, send me a text, okay?”

Her heart softened a little at his kind gesture, and she found herself nodding. “I don’t think it’ll come to that, but thank you, I appreciate it,”

“Any time,” Rod nodded.

Ashley bit her bottom lip to hide her grin as he shut the door behind him on the way out, and the butterflies in her stomach were still there. Saturday night couldn’t come soon enough.

Tonight was the night. Ashley only had a few minutes left before her uber arrived to pick her up to take her to the museum, and she couldn’t resist having a final glance in the mirror by her front door. She’d had a little panic over what the hell the dress code would be for a gallery opening, but after Dougie confirmed it wasn’t black tie, just formal dress, Ashley had consulted with some of her college friends (who were buzzing about the fact that she was actually going on a date), and decided that a midi cocktail dress was the way to go.

And she’d found the perfect one.

The dress she’d picked out in a local boutique was a beautiful forest green colour, complimenting her dark hair and hazel eyes perfectly. It fell to the middle of her shins, as her friends had recommended, and had thick shoulders straps, no sleeves but a neckline with a deep enough v that it should a little cleavage (classy cleavage of course, very sophisticated in her opinion). Her favourite part though was the Marilyn Monroe-esque twirl to the skirt – something she’d tested out several times already – and she just felt glamorous in it. She’d straightened her usually-messy hair and put on a little make-up too, to match the effort she was making with the dress. To be honest, Ashley felt beautiful, and she honestly couldn’t wait to see Dougie’s reaction. It was a hell of a lot different to her usual Sunday Storm Surge outfits, that’s for sure.

Soon enough, her uber was pulling up outside of the Museum of Art, and she thanked the driver as she got out. Thankfully, Dougie was already waiting at the top of the steps for her, and the smile that he sent her way made her breath catch in her throat. Ashley took the time to check him out as she walked up towards him, and she felt those butterflies start up again. He was wearing a gorgeous navy blue suit with a white shirt and grey tie, bringing out the colour of his eyes beautifully, and the stunned expression on his face as he looked at her made her blush a little. That was a good reaction, right?

“Wow. You look…amazing,” Dougie murmured, looking her up and down with awe.

Definitely a good reaction.

“You look really good too,” she grinned.

Dougie grinned back at her, before offering her his arm. “Shall we?”

Ashley fought not to squeal as she tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. What a smooth move. “Lead the way,”

Dougie walked her inside, picking up a glass of champagne each after they dropped their jackets off. Then they were off. The two of them wandered around through the exhibition, Dougie guiding her and giving her the most indepth information she could’ve possibly hoped for. She’d never had such a personal tour like this, and he was so shy yet so knowledgeable that she couldn’t help but to drink up every word. This was what she had hoped for out of tonight, that passion coming through Dougie, and she was receiving it tenfold.

“This one is one of my favourites. Batoni’s The Triumph of Venice. There’s just so much going on, and I swear I notice something different every time I look at it,”

Ashley looked at the painting, taking in the many figures, the details, the colours, and couldn’t help but smile. It truly was a masterpiece.

“Oil on canvas? Maybe…early 1700s?” she guessed.

“Fuck that’s hot,” Dougie breathed.

He immediately flushed bright red, making Ashley giggle. Good to know that her vague art history knowledge was paying off. And that she could make him react like that…

“I love all the finessed detail in this one. Especially on the carriage – it’s exquisite,” Ashley murmured, looking back at it.

“Isn’t it?” Dougie grinned.

Ashley squeezed his arm gently, smiling up at him, earning a happy smile back. He was so clearly in his element, and she was loving every second. The way his entire face lit up when he talked about art…there was something just so beautiful in that. Those beautiful blue eyes were even more alive than ever, that spark of passion adding such a gorgeous element, and she really wanted to see more of it. That was a good sign, right? That she was already imagining more.

They moved on to the next painting, and Ashley’s breath caught in her throat. Wow.

“And this…this is the star of the collection. Giotto’s Peruzzi Altarpiece, the only complete altarpiece by the artist outside of Italy,”

Her jaw dropped a little. That was a big deal. “The only one?”

“The only one,” Dougie nodded.

“Holy shit,” Ashley mumbled, eyes wide.

Dougie grinned at her. “My sentiments exactly,”

“All of that gold. So much gold. And the details in their faces. Holy shit,” Ashley murmured.

“One of my favourite frescos, and I get to see it every day,” Dougie sighed happily.

“Well count me as jealous,” Ashley teased, nudging him with her shoulder.

Dougie just smiled shyly, rubbing the back of his neck. He was just so cute.

“Would you, um…would you like a new drink?”

“Sure, another couldn’t hurt,” she nodded.

It’s not like she drank champagne that often after all. And it was a special occasion…

They stayed in the museum for another hour, looking over some of the art again as well as mingling with Dougie’s colleagues (including a mostly silent guy Dougie introduced as ‘Foegs’, who gave Dougie a double thumbs up when he thought she wasn’t looking, and a very enthusiastic big blonde man named Jordie, who she learned was Dougie’s boss – which, wow). Their conversation just flowed, and the doubts that she’d had earlier were easily shoved to the back of her mind.

She’d never thought it would feel so natural spending the evening arm-in-arm with a guy, but Dougie had just blown her away.

All too soon, it was time to leave the museum though, and while Dougie got their jackets, Ashley opened her phone to request an uber. 5 minutes away. Perfect.

“I had a really great time tonight,” Dougie murmured, when they were waiting outside.

His own uber was only a couple of minutes behind hers.

“Me too,” Ashley admitted, smiling up at him, “Thank you for inviting me,”

“There’s no-one else I would’ve wanted to take. I just glad you enjoyed it,” Dougie smiled back.

“I enjoyed spending time with you. The exhibition was just a bonus,” she said softly, looking up at him through her lashes.

Holy shit she just flirted. Blatantly flirted. Too much?

But then Dougie blushed a little, before a small smirk spread across his lips. “Yeah?”

Ashley just bit her lip, nodding. Dougie’s blue eyes flashed a little darker, sending a hot jolt running through her body. Oh wow. Just like that huh. But then her phone buzzed, the uber car pulling up to the curb, breaking her out of her thoughts just before they started to spiral.

Calm down Ashley, it’s only the first date!

She waved at the uber driver to signal that she’d seen him before turning back to Dougie. “See you tomorrow?” Ashley asked hopefully.

“Yeah, I’ll be starting work a little later on the one off, as it was the exhibition opening tonight,” Dougie nodded, “I’ll be there,”

Ashley grinned at him, before leaning up and pressing a kiss to his cheek, laughing softly as his jaw dropped.

“Bye, Dougie,” she said softly, walking over to the car.

“Bye,” she heard him murmur, just as she closed the door.

“Hot date?” the uber driver teased.

“The hottest,” she grinned back.

That earned her a laugh, and she couldn’t help but smile as the driver pulled away from the curb. Ashley glanced out of the window, only to see that Dougie hadn’t moved at all – other than his fingers brushing over where she’d kissed his cheek, a hopeless smile on his face.

What a first date indeed.

To: Ashley

From: Rod

So how did the date go?

To: Rod

From: Ashley

The exhibition was incredible. You need to take your wife, for real.

To: Ashley

From: Rod

I actually meant the guy but sure…

To: Rod

From: Ashley

He was a perfect gentleman and…amazing.

You’ll get your full gossip on Monday.

To: Ashley

From: Rod

Boo fine.

I’m glad you had a good time though!

See you on Monday

“I had a really great time tonight,”

“Me too,”

“I had a really great time tonight,”

“Me too,”

“I had a really great time tonight,”

“Me too,”

Wasn’t the saying that if things seemed too good to be true, then they probably were not?

Ashley had gone to bed feeling over the moon, elated, bubbling with excitement. But when she’d woken up, it was like a dark cloud had settled over her, a heavy rock of anxiety sitting on her chest. Everything had gone so well last night. So well. Too well? This wasn’t the first time that she’d gotten her hopes up only to have things fall apart around her – and her hopes had skyrocketed last night. All she felt was like she was waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it made her feel sick.

That niggling negativity had swum around her brain over and over again, and she hadn’t been able to shut it off – not when she showered, not when she got dressed, and not when she sat on the sofa debating whether or not to actually turn up at the coffee shop.

Was this really what things had come down to? Tempted to break her solid routine, the exact routine she’d had every week, just because a guy made her nervous? Was he really that important? Was she really that much of a coward?

She sat on the sofa so long that she passed the time she would normally leave. Hell, she passed the time she would normally be sitting down at her usual table. Oh god she couldn’t take this. It was too much. Her legs bounced nervously as she pulled up the message thread she had with him, typing out a message to cancel…

…and then she deleted it.

Fuck that shit. No matter how anxious this whole dating thing made her feel, nothing was worth this. She couldn’t just not show up, that wasn’t right. That wasn’t her. Fuck this. As quickly as she could, Ashley grabbed her laptop and her handbag, driving as fast as she could to Storm Surge.

When she parked her car, she noticed that she had a few texts from Dougie. Oh god.

To: Ashley

From: Dougie

Hey, I’m coming a little earlier than usual today!

To: Ashley

From: Dougie

Are you running late?

To: Ashley

From: Dougie

Are you coming?

Oh god. Ashley winced, practically running to the shop, immediately spotting Dougie at her usual table in the back. The sheer relief on his face made her wince again. Fuck. His expression dimmed at little, but she quickly ordered her usual latte from Andrei, who looked an interesting mix of confused and concerned, but she headed over to Dougie without hesitating.

“Hey, um, sorry I’m late,” she murmured, setting her coffee and her laptop down on the table.

Dougie frowned at her briefly, clearly taking in whatever the hell her face was showing.

“Is everything okay?” he asked softly.

Ashley bit her bottom lip, hesitating. Might as well tell him the truth, right?

“I, uh, I was second-guessing everything?”

“Second-guessing?” Dougie asked, frowning harder.

Ashley just sighed. “Yeah, um, it’s dumb. I just…it all seems too good to be true? I woke up feeling like I’d gotten my hopes up and…fuck, I’m sorry. I just feel stupid now,”

Looking up at Dougie’s sad face immediately made her regret telling the truth, but it was too late now. Fuck. Why did she have to ruin everything? The fact that he was staying silent just made everything worse. Should she just go?

“What do you want to do now then?” Dougie eventually asked “or do you not know?”

Ashley swallowed heavily, looking down at her hands briefly. Hah. The million dollar question. “I know that I like you?” she offered.

Dougie huffed a laugh. “Hey, it’s okay. I’m not going to get mad if you don’t want to go on another date,” Dougie said with a sad smile.

Oh god that was worse. He should never sound that disheartened – it wasn’t right. And it was all her fault.

“Would you even want to go on a date with me again when I’m this much of an anxious mess?” Ashley sighed.

After last night, this really wasn’t where she’d seen her day going. Self-sabotage was a bitch. But it was her own damn fault. It always was. But then Dougie reached his hand forward, fingers brushing over hers lightly to get her attention, making her blush as he smiled a bit more genuinely.

“Yeah, I would like to,” he nodded, “I had a really great time yesterday night, and I still want more,”

Oh, so maybe she hadn’t ruined everything then. What? Well shit, she was grabbing this second chance with both hands.

“I had a great time too,” Ashley admitted, blushing a little bit more, “even with this stupid anxiety,”

“Good. That’s…that’s really good,” Dougie laughed, “well, not the anxiety part, but I’m going to prove to you that this isn’t just getting your hopes up,”

“I’d like that,” she murmured.

Dougie smiled at her, a truly genuine happiness, making her breath catch in her throat. Fuck she didn’t deserve this. But there was no way she was going to let herself ruin this, not now.

“Maybe we could just talk for a couple of hours before I have to go into work? Have some coffee, a couple of those delicious blueberry-lemon scones, and just see where things go?” Dougie suggested.

Ashley nodded, the tight ball in her chest immediately loosening. God, he was such a nice guy. “I’d definitely like to get to know you more,” she agreed.

“Scones are on me then,” Dougie grinned.

Hope. A second chance. Bring it on.

When Dougie eventually walked into work, his shared office had more people in it that he cared for. Well, okay, that was a little mean. But right now was not the best time for the combination of Jordie and Foegs as well as Sebastian and Teuvo, especially not when all four of them had met Ashley last night. Not when they were all so intense. Not while things were still so tentative.

“So, how did it go?” Jordie asked excitedly, “it looked like the two of you were having fun!”

And here we go.

“Well last night, at the exhibition, went really well, but…”

Jordie and Foegs frowned as he trailed off, Sebastian and Teuvo just looked confused. Dougie sighed and sat down heavily at his desk.

“She was really hesitant this morning. Like, so full of anxiety that she almost didn’t show up for coffee,” he admitted, rubbing a hand over the back of his neck awkwardly.

“What do you mean?” Jordie asked, tilting his head to the side in confusion.

“She thinks it’s too good to be true?” Dougie winced.

Foegs looked a little stunned, Jordie’s jaw dropping. But then Sebastian jumped to his feet from where he was sitting on Jordie’s desk.

“Well then you’ll just have to sweep her off her feet!” Sebastian said firmly.

Really? Dougie sent him an unimpressed look, but Sebastian’s pout stayed serious as Teuvo giggled.

“As much as I hate to say it, Sepe has a point,” Foegs shrugged, making Sebastian stick out his tongue at him, “the two of you looked like you’d really hit it off when we were all talking, and the fact that Ashley did meet you this morning means a little anxiety shouldn’t stand in the way,”

“Take her on another date. Wine and dine, man. It’s a classic for a reason,” Jordie added, nodding seriously.

Well shit, if Jordie was being serious then maybe it would work.

“Thanks guys,” Dougie murmured, smiling softly.

“Anything to land you the woman of your many dreams,” Jordie beamed.

Dougie just blushed. Sebastian wriggled his eyebrows, Teuvo just punching him on the arm. It was almost a nice moment.

He waited until Foegs, Sebastian and Teuvo had left to start working before he pulled his phone out, biting his bottom lip as he thought of what to say.

To: Ashley

From: Dougie

Hey, I’m glad I saw you today.

I hope you’re still doing okay.

How do you feel about getting dinner with me?

Dougie jiggled his leg nervously as he logged into his computer, waiting with baited breath for any reply.

And then eventually, his phone buzzed. Ashley. Thank god.

To: Dougie

From: Ashley

I’m alright thanks. That scone definitely helped ;)

I would love to get dinner with you.

Dougie couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. Good. This was good. They exchanged a few more messages, eventually figuring out that because of his next few late nights with the exhibition and her essays she had to mark, neither of them were really free until next Saturday. A whole week away again. Fuck. No, this was going to work. Dougie knew it was worth it – and if she needed him to text a lot over the next few days to remind her that he was all in, that he wasn’t just going to disappoint her like those other guys, then he absolutely would.

Wine and dine next Saturday. He could absolutely do this.

“Hey, what was the name of that place you took your wife out for date night a couple of weeks back?” Dougie asked, looking up at his boss.

Jordie’s face lit up. “Oh man, it was so good…”

As Dougie promised himself, they kept texting throughout the week. He told her fun stories from visitors to the exhibition. She told him silly comments her students made that she couldn’t respond to without laughing in class. He told her all about his time in Boston. She told him all about her time in New York. He sent her a picture of the cutest trio of dogs his neighbours adopted. She sent him a picture of a sunset that took her breath away. Things were…good. He was just glad that Ashley seemed as enthusiastic as she was before their first date.

All he could hope was that he was proving to her that he was different. That he was serious about giving their budding relationship a shot. He hadn’t bonded with someone as quickly as this, as deeply as this, ever – so he wanted to see where it went. The unknown with Ashley genuinely excited him, and he wanted her to feel the same excitement.

He could only try to be good enough to deserve her.

By the time Saturday rolled around, Dougie was a nervous wreck. He’d left work exactly on time for once, Jordie giving him a thump on the shoulder and Foegs a thumbs up (he mostly ignored Sebastian and Teuvo’s shimmies), racing home to change into a nice sweater and his favourite pair of smart jeans. Casual but like he cared about making an impression. That was what he was aiming for.

And then Ashley arrived 10 minutes early, just after he’d arrived himself, looking nervous but happy in the prettiest baby blue tea-dress he’d ever seen, with her hair curled and wearing a pretty pink lipstick. Wow.

“You look beautiful,” he blurted.

Oh god. Mr Smooth, again.

Ashley just blushed, smiling up at him. “Thank you. I love your sweater,”

Dougie blushed in return. What a pair they made.

“After you,” he said, opening the restaurant door for her.

As much as her anxiety had worried him, he was so glad he didn’t give up – she was absolutely worth it. They were lead to their table, Dougie being a bit extra and pulling out Ashley’s chair for her, but the giggle he got in return was what he was aiming for. Wine and dine. Sweep her off her feet. That’s all that he wanted to do, and if it was working then he wasn’t going to stop now.

“I was thinking we could split a bottle of wine tonight, if you want?” Dougie offered.

“Yeah that sounds good to me,” Ashley nodded, “Maybe a white wine?”

That was more than okay with him. Red wine made him a little…over the top? He definitely talked too much when he had red wine, he knew that much, and he wanted to save at least a little dignity tonight. Hopefully, at least.

The wine was ordered, and by the time they each had a cold glass of sauvignon blanc, Ashley looked as relaxed as Dougie felt. He could only hope the rest of this night turned out the same way.

“So did I tell you what one of Rod’s students said to him yesterday?”

Dougie grinned, shaking his head. “No you didn’t!”

Ashley grinned back. “Well…”

They talked for hours, sharing stories about their jobs, their interests, their families, not stopping when any of their three courses came, not hesitating even once. Nothing was awkward in the slightest – their conversation just flowed like they’d known each other for years, and Dougie’s heart was just so happy. This was everything he’d wanted for so long, someone he could truly been 100% himself with, and he couldn’t believe that she seemed as into him as he was into her.

How was this possible, after only two dates?

Time flew by so fast, too fast, and they did eventually have to leave their table, even as much as Dougie didn’t want the night to end. He just felt utterly consumed by her, completely and utterly lost in her very being, and he didn’t want this feeling to stop for anything.

It probably didn’t help that they’d split three bottles of wine though.

It wasn’t enough to make either of them sloppy drunk, not with the delicious food they’d eaten, but Ashley was definitely a bit more giggly than usual, and he was definitely smiling like an idiot.

“I wish your uber wasn’t on its way,” Dougie sighed, when they were outside.

“I’m actually not a far walk from here, so I was just going to walk home?”

At this time of night? Absolutely not! Ashley saw the look of indignation of his face and burst into laughter, making him blush (again). What? He wasn’t wrong for being worried about her getting home safely.

“You could always walk me home?” she suggested.

Oh. Oh. Oh yeah okay, he could do that.

“Yeah, definitely,” Dougie nodded quickly.

Dougie’s heart started beating a little faster as she looped her arm through his, and it was all he could do not to smile at her too helplessly. How did she manage to affect him like this? He’d never fallen so head over heels so quickly. And she seemed completely oblivious to how gone he was for her – in the most innocent of ways.

They walked slowly, leaning on each perhaps a little more than they would without the wine, but it just meant that they had more time for talking. Dougie was blissfully happy to let Ashley rant about the indignity of the black myth surrounding Eleanor of Aquitaine, taking in everything that she was trying to teach him. He loved how much she loved her medieval history, just like he loved his art. It was quirky and different and so unique to her. And honestly, he could picture them doing this together for years, discussing their passions and their love for their careers and…

“Okay this is me,” Ashley announced, breaking him out of his thoughts.

Dougie looked up at the old two-storey home with a smile. So this was her home. Pretty.

“That wasn’t so bad a walk,” Dougie grinned.

“I feel bad now though, making you get further away for your own journey,” Ashley frowned.

But Dougie shook his head. “It’s fine really. I’m sure there are plenty of ubers still running around here,”

“Well…”

Ashley trailed off, biting her lip, making Dougie smile. What was on her mind?

“You can stay, if you want?” Ashley said, a shy smile on her face.

Oh fuck. Stay? Ashley saw the shock on his face, before she blushed furiously, quickly shaking her head.

“I have a spare bedroom! I swear I didn’t mean it like that,” she groaned, covering her face with her hands.

Dougie couldn’t help but laugh, tugging her hands away gently. Not that he was opposed to…sharing a bed with her, but that wasn’t the vibe of tonight. Tonight was for building them up, getting them to a more comfortable level. And fuck did it feel good tonight.

Waking up to see her first thing in the morning would only be icing on the cake.

“I would love to stay, as long as you don’t mind,” he said softly, brushing his hand against hers.

Ashley inhaled sharply but nodded, wordlessly reaching in her handbag for her keys. They stayed silent as they walked into the house, Dougie barely moving a foot away from her as she showed him the kitchen, the bathroom and then the spare bedroom. He could do a proper tour in the morning, he knew that. He was just a little stunned that he was even still with her, to be honest.

“So here’s some basketball shorts that my cousin left last time he visited. I don’t have a shirt big enough for you though,” she apologised, handing him a soft bundle.

Dougie just shook his head, smiling. “This is more than enough. I usually sleep shirtless anyway,”

Ashley’s lips parted a little in surprise, her eyes glazing over slightly, making Dougie grin as she shook her head as if to clear it. Good to know he had that effect on her.

“There are spare toothbrushes under the sink from when I last when to the dentist’s office, so help yourself to whatever one?” she offered.

Dougie just nodded, squeezing her hand as he walked into the bathroom. He willed himself to retain at least a little bit of chill as he got changed, quickly washing his face and cleaning his teeth with one of the toothbrushes she’d offered. This was all still a little bit surreal, being honest. But he was going to seize this with both hands – this was a chance he was never going to get again if he fucked up.

Ashley couldn’t seem to keep her eyes off him as they swapped places in the bathroom, and Dougie tried not to grin as he flexed his abs a little, making her blush. He could have a little fun, right? Especially since he knew the boundaries he needed to stay behind, he wasn’t dumb.

By the time he’d put his phone on charge and folded his clothes onto a chair for tomorrow, and then headed back out into the corridor, Ashley was back, dressed in a cute little pair of shorts and a giant t-shirt. Oh wow, he could definitely imagine her wearing his t-shirt to bed one day. No, not the time!

“Hey,”

Ashley’s voice brought him out of his thoughts, and he couldn’t help but smile down at her.

“Hey,” he murmured.

“See you in the morning?” she said hopefully.

Like fuck he was going to leave. “Bright and early,” he nodded.

But when she didn’t go anywhere, her hand moving to rest on his bare arm, Dougie couldn’t stop himself from stepping towards her. Fuck. She inhaled sharply, but didn’t push him away, and that was all he needed.

“Can I kiss you?” he asked lowly.

Ashley’s lips parted in a soft gasp, but she nodded. “Yeah, please,”

Dougie raised a hand to cup her face, giving her one last out, but as she raised up on her tiptoes he didn’t hesitate any further. He leant his head down, and pressed his lips to hers softly, barely able to stop the moan that wanted to tear from his throat. Holy shit. Ashley clutched at his biceps, leaning up into the kiss even more, making Dougie’s head spin as he kissed her softly, slowly, over and over again. This was so not what he expected from tonight, or even hoped for, but fuck did it fill his body with butterflies. Holy shit, kissing her was everything. Eventually, he brushed his tongue against hers gently, before pulling away, knowing there was a stupid smile on his face.

“Wow,” he breathed.

“Wow,” she nodded, laughing softly, “That’s one hell of a goodnight,”

Dougie laughed softly too, pecking her lips in a soft kiss one last time before stepping away. She leaned against the wall, looking a little stunned, making him grin as he walked into her spare bedroom. If he didn’t walk away, he knew he would do something stupid to break them out of this perfect little sweet bubble, and that wasn’t what he wanted. Not tonight.

Tonight had been perfect.

Ashley woke up slowly, a little groggy, feeling like she was forgetting something. Then she heard the bathroom door opening, and everything came flooding back to her. Dougie was here. He’d stayed over after their date last night. They’d kissed. Holy shit. Holy shit. She took a deep breath to calm herself, fingers rising to her lips without a second thought, and it was all she could do to smile.

Dougie had kissed her. And it was everything.

She squealed softly into her pillow, feeling stupidly giddy, before quickly picking out a cute jumper and her comfiest skinny jeans to wear. She could hear him moving in the spare bedroom, so she quickly darted into the bathroom, washing and then brushing her teeth, unable to stop the smile that spread across her face at the sight of the toothbrush that Dougie used resting in the holder. There was just something about it that felt right.

She took a deep breath, running her hands down her sweater to smooth it, before she headed out of the bathroom and into the kitchen. It didn’t take long for Dougie to join her, and he accepted the glass of juice that she passed him with a smile.

“Good morning,” he murmured.

“Good morning,” she said softly back.

Dougie seemed to hesitate slightly, before his face became determined. She didn’t have time to ask him what was wrong before he leant down and pressed his lips to hers in a firm kiss. Ashley whimpered softly into his mouth, earning a soft noise back, and it was all she could do to clutch at his sweater. Holy shit. This was just as incredible and sweet as she remembered from last night. Wow. Dougie cupped her face with his free hand, thumb brushing over her cheekbone as he slowed the kiss down to a few gentle pecks, before he pulled away with a smile. Ashley just smiled back up at him, a little overwhelmed in the best way. Wow.

“Coffee shop?” he said.

“Yeah, if that’s alright,” she nodded.

He understood her routines. And he didn’t care that she wanted to stick to them. How could she not appreciate that?

Dougie just nodded in response, smiling as he sat down at her kitchen table, taking a sip of the juice she’d given him. “I wouldn’t mind changing out of last night’s clothes though. Not really my vibe,” he teased.

Ashley giggled, understanding perfectly. It wasn’t her vibe either.

“I could drive you over to yours, to get a change of clothes, and then we could head to Storm Surge together?” she suggested.

“Yeah? You want to walk in together like that?” Dougie asked, a little hopeful.

Holy shit, that would be one hell of a declaration. But…

“Yeah, I want that,” she nodded.

The grin that spread across Dougie’s face made the butterflies in her stomach worth it.

“Let me just put on some mascara and lipstick, and we can go?”

“Sure, whatever you want,” Dougie smiled.

Now that was a dangerous thought.

All too soon, Ashley was parked down the street from the coffee shop. She took a deep breath, Dougie sending her an encouraging smile, before she steeled herself and got out of the car. This was nervewracking. Storm Surge was her home away from home, her safe space, her comfort, and now she was completely changing the status quo. But as Dougie walked to her side, smiling down at her with such hope in his eyes, she knew it was worth it. He was worth it.

“Ready?” Dougie asked, holding out his hand.

Holy shit. Bring it on.

Ashley smiled up at him, taking his hand in hers, embracing the butterflies that came with the warmth of his grasp. They walked to the coffee shop together, Dougie squeezing her hand gently as she opened the door and walked through.

“Ashley! And…Dougie?”

Andrei’s gasp made her blush, Dougie just laughing. Then Andrei’s face broke into a huge grin, and he spun around.

“Marty! It’s happened! It’s finally happened!” Andrei yelled into the back of the shop.

What the hell?

A door slammed open in the back, and then Marty came barrelling out. He took one look at them holding hands before punching his fist in the air.

“LET’S GOOOO!”

Ashley flinched at Marty’s loud voice, but couldn’t help but giggle when he bounded over to Andrei, swinging an arm over his shoulders.

“Finally! Do you know how long we’ve been rooting for you two?” Marty beamed.

Oh god. Ashley blushed furiously, as did Dougie, and she couldn’t help but laugh. “Was I that obvious?” Ashley asked shyly.

“Both of you were. It was so frustrating but so sweet,” Marty shrugged, Andrei nodding enthusiastically in agreement. “We just hoped you guys would take a chance,”

Take a chance. Hah. That’s definitely a good way to describe it. And he was so worth taking a chance on. Dougie smiled fondly down at her, before pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.

“Well I’d say our second date went pretty well,” Dougie said softly, squeezing her hand.

Ashley smiled back, nudging him with her shoulder, earning coos from Marty and Andrei.

“Okay, you two are giving me cavities,” Marty said cheerfully, not even slightly annoyed, “Coffee and anything you want to eat, on the house. I need to tell Slavs – he’s going to be thrilled!”

Ashley just giggled, leaning into Dougie’s body as she looked over the cakes and pastries on display. Being with Dougie, this fledgling relationship, was scary – but it was also so exciting. She couldn’t wait to see what happened next. This was the start of something amazing, she just knew it.

#my writing #winter gift exchange #hockeynetwork #dougie hamilton #dougie hamilton fic #coffee shop au #yes i do have a medieval history masters how can you tell?#mildly self indulgent and super fluffy & cute #the research holes i fell down were unbelievable - and yes all the courses and all the job titles are all real things #dougie hamilton x oc #dougie hamilton imagine #dougie hamilton fanfiction #hockey writing #hockey fic #hockey fanfiction #nhl writing #nhl fic #nhl fanfiction

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brandywine-tomatoes · 3 years ago

Text

Kyu Sakamoto - an excerpt

Literally just procrastination writing from yesterday. I created 2 badass lesbian ocs for the MCU (mainly Rogers, Barnes, and Wilson's stories) and now I have a 7-page outline...... been in the fandom for 3 days..... ANYWAYS

Masterlist

@icedcoffee101 and @dragon-pups pushed me to write this sad excerpt, so here you go everyone!

TW: sad/depressing thoughts, questioning existence for a hot second, honestly it's just really fucking depressing, but I love it nonetheless.

Word count: 1519

Prompt/Inso: my 7-page outline of badass lesbians that keep an eye on bucky when he's the winter soldier (this excerpt isn't about that tho)

QUICK NOTE: this is during the events of TFATWS, episode 5 I believe? And Grace is mute, so she uses sign language (tho she's only in the flashback). So yeah. Enjoy some sad angst!

“Well,” she picked up the leather bag from the chair, holding it up with a smirk. “I brought records.”

Bucky’s resting bitch face turned up into a small smile. The only person with a decent music taste thankfully brought records to Sam’s ‘let’s finally work on this fucking boat’ party with most of the neighbours and people owing favours. Everyone was milling around, fixing whatever they were assigned to fix and laughing in the cool bay breeze.

“I sure hope you have 60s stuff in that huge bag of yours,” he chuckled, walking past her up the dock to bring the record player from the shore. She held the heavy bag with one arm as she unzipped the zipper, an old and dusty smell escaping the inside and showing the spines of dozens of records.

“You pack all those just for us, Ash?” Sarah came up beside her, admiring all the casings.

“I found them stuffed in a closet back in Africa. I thought I’d revisit some old favourites,” she smiled at her.

Bucky and Sam came back down the dock with the record player in tow and an amp, talking with each other about god knows what. They set the gear down on a bench, plugging in the amp. The four of them dug into the bag, each of them taking out 2 or 3 records each to examine.

“Damn, you really like your slow songs, huh?” Sam spoke up, showing her the record covers in his hands were indeed black and white photos and words she didn’t understand.

She smiled brightly. “Yup! The 60s were the times of slow songs, the best ones.”

“I full-heartedly agree,” Bucky laughed. He slid a perfect disk out its paper cover and carefully placed it on the spindle, sliding over the needle to the first song ridge.

“I hope you picked something upbeat,” Sarah said.

The music flooded through the amp, the old-sounding and staticy bass vibrating through the deck and resonated in everyone’s hearts. People started taking their wives and husbands and kids to dance to the seemingly upbeat song.

Sasha just stared wide-eyed at the spinning disk, a long shoved down lump of unshed sobs pushing up her throat.

‘We don’t have anywhere else to go, we have the papers, and we have the rings,’ Grace signed quickly, pulling Sasha through the doorway gently and resting her hands on her waist, Sasha’s hands instinctively moving to behind her neck.

“All we need is a song, Graceless,” she smiled softly, mesmerized by her new wife’s radiating happiness and her beautiful smile that could seemingly never be darkened. The white curtains blew gently in front of the open window by their records, the moon's soft glow flooding the hardwood floors the only light they needed.

She nodded in return. Grace pulled away and walked to their stack of brand-new records, picking the one off the top and putting the needle of the travel-sized player on the first song.

‘We better thank him for his demos,’ Grace signed, then extended a hand to her wife. Sasha smiled so brightly as she took it.

“The neighbours will have a fit, it’s 3 o’clock in the morning,” Sasha whispered, putting her chin on Grace’s shoulder and started swaying slowly with one hand lightly holding Grace’s and another around her arm.

‘Doesn’t matter,’ Grace tapped on her shoulder in a familiar rhythm.

She sighed in contentment. Why couldn’t every day be like this, nothing to worry about other than what song to choose, no people to run after, no running from Hydra. Just the soft blowing of curtains and Kyu Sakamoto on their travel record player.

“If you say so, Ana.”

“Ash, you alright? You look like you’re about to cry,” Sarah laughed awkwardly and put a hand on Sasha’s shoulder, bringing her back from her wedding night. The others started to notice the reddening of her eyes and the shaking of her hands.

She walked away from the 3 of them, vaguely registering someone's failed attempt at reaching out to grab her wrist.

She couldn’t cry here, not in front of people she didn’t know and wouldn’t understand. She picked up the pace, the dammed river behind her eyes becoming unbearable to keep holding up. Soon enough she was running up the green hill leading to Sam’s house with no intention of stopping until she was with the love of her life again. Running might get her there, it might get her back in her arms, swaying softly to Kyu Sakamoto back in Africa.

She ran across the street of the empty house, bursting through the green forest and didn’t stop. The stray tears escaping her eyes were pushed past her face from the wind, clouding her eyesight.

“What was that?” Sarah asking, concern evident on her face.

Bucky sighed in realization of what he did. He dropped his face into his hands groaning. “Shit.”

“What-”

He started walking up the dock to make up for lost time. He shouted back to his friends, “It’s her god damn wedding song.”

“Oh shit,” Sam whispered. He didn’t know much about Sasha or her history, but he remembers her and her deceased wife, how much they loved each other. He couldn’t even begin to imagine what force would be able to pull them apart. They were both super-soldiers, they lived longer than Bucky or Steve had, they had more than half a century of camaraderie. She was off the grid for 7 years after her death. “Oh shit.”

“I didn’t know Sasha’s married,” Sarah tried to lighten the mood.

“It’s a long story.”

When Sasha finally collapsed in the dense forest, the light shining through the trees dimmed and turned the colour of the orange clouds above. Little streaks of light escaped the canopy and left little spots of highlighted roots or fallen leaves. Grace would try to step in every streak of light, sign that Sasha should help her find all the new tree sprouts and clear the leaves from around it to give it a fighting chance at survival.

She kneeled in the dirt beside an old and tall tree, the fabric of her jeans digging into the soft earth and the moisture seeping across her knees. The first sob she let go made her feel so weak and helpless, like a wounded puppy trying to fight its way off the streets. After that, she only thought of Grace coming up behind and hugging the life out of her, trying to make her feel as safe as possible. But she’d never feel the bone-crushing safety again, only the hollow and emptiness of her evaporated shadow.

She cried and sobbed and spread her tears around her face well into the darkness of night with only the moon to watch in pity. The sleeves of her white crew neck were dried with snot and dirt and pieces of bark from the tree she was leaning on. It was only a dent, a chip off the sorrow she felt, and it didn’t make her feel any better. Nothing would make her feel better.

Her legs were numb under her body, prickling like hundreds of needles were puncturing her skin. Her hands were rested in the dirt, fiddling with dried chucks as she stared out an open spot in the canopy. It was a clear night, a couple stars blinked back at her tired and puffy red eyes.

She was in the middle of thinking that sinking into the old tree supporting her side would solve her problems when the sound of leaves crunching beneath footsteps came closer and closer and eventually stopped just off to the side of her.

“I’m sorry, Sasha,” Bucky’s words were genuine. She stayed silent, grimacing at the change of sound. “I wasn’t thinking.”

She turned her head to look at him, a frown etched in his face as he took in the sight of how small she looked, how the whites of her eyes were clearly bloodshot, even visibly in the silver light.

“I hope you never find someone that makes you feel this way,” her voice was beyond strained and wavered at every word.

“Sasha-”

“Her real name was Anastasia, like the Grand Duchess. After Hydra tried to burn the warehouse down, we assumed other names,” she looked back to the canopy. “It meant resurrection.”

“Look-”

“I’m not coming back, James. This country has her blood smeared on its soil and I’ll never be able to forgive it.”

Bucky was surprised, to say the least. “We need you here, Sasha.”

She turned a cold and raging glare at him. “We helped you enough. We spent decades helping you. I’m done.”

She had a hard time using her numb legs to get up and the tree's roots around her didn’t help either. Bucky held out a hand for her to take. A last helping move before she left. He knew he wouldn't be able to talk her out of it.

She gripped his flesh hand tightly and hoisted herself up, steadying herself and shaking the blood back into her limbs. She nodded at his darkened face.

“Goodbye, James Barnes.”

A/N: WAS THAT SAD OR WHAT?! I teared up a couple times writing this, ngl. If y'all find this interesting, let me know! I need the motivation to write the real fic with Grace and Sasha alive, Sasha isn't always deep in a depressive state with Grace dead.

ANYWAYS! Go drink some water, go have a snack, take a break, you deserve it so much, I'm so proud of you for getting this far!! ❤️❤️

(The nickname 'Graceless' came from my friend Shae and her friend on Insta 💕💕)

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i-did-not-mean-to · 3 years ago

Text

Hike-Story

So...I’ve been on a hike today with friends and I’ve been told a lovely local legend of my country and region. I’ve decided to put it into a short story with Thorin.

It’s a sort of prequel to all the amazing stories some authors write about Thorin and OCs while already under the Mountain... Please feel free to reblog and further the local saga of Oberschlinden 😊

So...here goes...

Black

Prologue

In a valley hidden within a dark forest, there were once two villages, very different from one another and yet doomed to suffer the same fate.

The first village was prosperous and industrious and its inhabitants knew much success in their bountiful endeavours, whereas the second village was merry and joyous, filled with music and celebrations all year round.

One day, a weary gleeman came this way and asked to be lodged and fed in exchange for a tune, but the upstanding villagers turned him away for they were much afeared that he had come to rob them of their wealth and goods. “We have no need for your futile, frivolous shenanigans.” They claimed and forbade him to set foot into their town.

Understanding what they were really afraid of, the man replied: “So be it, I should not have taken a single coin that had not been given to me freely. For your callous ignominy, I shall leave you something instead.”

And with these words, he turned around and headed to the other village across the valley.

Here, he was welcomed with open arms. He was fed and housed and after having regained his strength, he went on his merry way again to entertain and amuse other villages. The villagers were much aggrieved about his departure as they had greatly enjoyed his contribution to their daily merriment. They let him leave with their best wishes, nonetheless, for they were an indolent people, unable and unwilling to defend their interests with any kind of forcefulness.

A shadow fell over the valley. A dark sickness befell the first village and rapidly spread across the valley to the other one that had taken no precautions to keep the grim reaper out. Too busy had they been celebrating life and the sinking sun to pay any heed to the pestilence creeping their way.

This is how the first village learned that one who is too afraid to lose what he cannot keep, might well be given what he cannot get rid of, and the second village understood that evil spread faster than fell the night and crept, insidious, into every crack if not actively opposed. Like moss covering the immobile stone, the plague washed over the villages and left none but two women standing.

One of those women would rail and wail all day long, lamenting the loss of her glorious life and of her dear family, until madness took her and she returned to her empty house to wait for death to be her last visitor.

The other one, however, took it upon herself to do penance for the sins of her valley and all its ghostly inhabitants that were heard in the moaning of the wind and the gurgling of the brook.

This is her story.

The sun was low in the sky already when she was startled by the sound of footsteps behind her, making her look up in amazement.

“Good day, good woman, I am a blacksmith and I am looking for the prosperous village hidden in this valley. I am on my way back to my people and I am willing to work in exchange for food and lodging. May you point out the way to me, please?” A gruff voice resounded and a man stepped out of the shadow of the dense foliage.

He was short and stout, unlike any other man she had ever seen in her life, and she was so surprised by his appearance that it took a moment for her to react to his words.

“Good day, Master Dwarf,” she replied courteously, for she now saw that this was what he was, “I am sorry to confess that this village no longer exists. Neither does its sister. I am the last living soul in these parts.”

He looked much alarmed at her words.

“Moreover, there is a sickness lying over the valley. It is not advisable to traverse it.” She went on, getting up from her kneeling position at the foot of the little chapel. “Master Dwarf, I live at the other side of this cursed valley, it is a two-hour walk and the light is failing. I offer you my guidance around the affected area and my hospitality.” She spoke, bowing her head deferentially.

The dwarf seemed to ponder her words for a moment, then nodded.

“Step where I step; the path is treacherous and night shall be upon us soon.” She warned and set out.

Every day, she made her way along the rocky outcrops and the stony ledges, through the dense foliage of the underbrush and the silent desert of trees, to circle the whole valley and pray for hours at the foot of the small chapel for the souls of those who had fallen prey to sickness, stubbornness and wicked ignorance.

Along the way, she collected herbs and mushrooms to sustain herself and produce ointments and potions she sold once a month in the next village, just beyond the valley.

She led a lonely life, but she was unerring in her penance. Those two villages that had been mother and father to her for most of her adult life had done wrong and had been smitten for it by the hand of God. There was nobody left to ask for forgiveness, but her.

“Dwarves have steady steps and exceptional eyesight, even in the darkness. Worry not for me.” The man, for she could not call him anything else than that, answered.

He was well-grown, like an oak, strong and sturdy; he seemed tired though and she vowed that she would not commit the same mistake her forefathers and elders had made; she would be a gracious host. Indeed, she would salve the burns on his bare arms and give him the best parts of whatever she would find in her traps along her daily trek.

“Have you no kin, woman?” He asked after they had mounted a steep rocky ledge leading them through dense undergrowth from which she would extract berries and healing herbs to stow away in the satchels she carried on her back.

“I have no kin, Master Dwarf.” She shrugged, extending her hand to him when they came to a brook. The stones were slippery and wont to shift beneath the unfamiliar foot.

He just chuckled, a sound reminiscent of the big rockslide that had occurred a few months ago, and leapt easily enough across the narrow expanse of wet pebbles.

For a creature looking this heavy, he was surprisingly agile, she thought. She knew nothing about dwarves of course. In her nan’s tales, there had been mentions of those mysterious man-like beings who lived under mountains and in golden halls, but she had imagined them smaller and less…beautiful than what she saw in front of her.

As a matter of fact, she could not remember ever having seen a man quite as enchanting as the one following her swift steps effortlessly. There were beads in his hair that shimmered in the dying light and his eyes were the colour of the great river rushing through the valley; indeed, he was the closest she had ever come to a genuine fairy tale.

“What happened here?” He inquired, as they reached the highest ledge and looked down on the villages, already plunged in deep shadows and obviously deserted.

“A plague broke out and took every living soul. It is said that it was the refusal of hospitality by this village,” she pointed to one cluster of houses, “and the lack of zeal or backbone of that one,” she pointed to the opposite side of the valley, “that led to their doom.”

She had been there, she had seen the people who had been her friends and family die a miserable, painful death and she had waited for the blight to fall upon her as well. It had never come and now, she was the watcher of the dead valley; in a world of ghosts, there was none who felt less alive than her, walking along the deserted ruins of her existence day after day.

“Thank you for warning me.” He had a good voice, she thought, low and kind. It was a miracle to stumble upon another living being, but his voice and the empathy in his eyes felt like a caress upon her bruised soul.

“It is my duty, Master Dwarf. I shall stand in harm’s way as long as I can.”

“My name is Thorin.” He declared in an almost questioning voice. He had been reticent to divulge his name, she realised and turned around to bow deeply.

“Come along, Master Thorin. The light is fading fast now.” She urged him on, almost running along the rocky paths, her feet sending up sprays of pebbles in her wake.

They walked on tirelessly for a long time, until they reached a fallen tree stump that had not been there when she had come this way earlier in the day.

Clambering over the dead wood swiftly, Thorin extended his arms, in turn, to her. She stepped closer and uttered a small cry of astonishment when he simply lifted her over the obstacle as if she weighed nothing at all. “Thank you, Master Thorin.” She bowed again.

He smelled like the pines that grew beyond the valley, she noticed, and like life. Everything about him was painfully alive: the vivid intelligence of his eyes, the small smirk he gave her on account of her breathless incredulity, and the warmth of his hands on her ribs that left a palpable impression.

As she walked on, nearing the point where the path would dip drastically and the danger doubled, she came to accept that she would cherish this encounter until the end of her days.

Maybe God had heard her prayers and granted her the small solace of seeing another soul, of speaking to someone who actually answered and of feeling living flesh upon her own once more.

She extricated a small rabbit from the trap she had laid on the highest crest and pushed it down into her satchel as well, gesturing to the silent valley with a sense of pride.

“This is home. And there’s my hut.” She pointed to a small wooden house at the far end of the valley, nestled between two tiny hills and reflecting the last rays of sun.

The light was growing dimmer now and the way down was treacherous even in broad daylight. “Permit me, Mistress.” He gave her a mocking smile and took her hand.

It felt huge and calloused, but its roughness comforted her. She had lived in this rocky wilderness for years now and the feeling of warm stones would always be synonymous with home to her.

To her shame and despair, she tottered several times on their way down and when Thorin slung his arm around her waist and steadied her, she did not object.

Finally, they reached the little plateau she called her own.

“Give me your boots.” She asked and when he did, she set them aside to be cleaned afterwards.

Stoking the fire, she started taking the small rabbit apart and tossing the various leaves and mushrooms she had collected into the pot filled with fresh water. She would deplete her stocks for him; she would not be a bad host like the first villagers. Also, she would mend his socks, tend to his injuries and clean his boots; she would not be a slovenly scallywag like the second villagers either.

“Make yourself at home.” She invited him, giving him the best chair and a blanket she had woven herself in her youth.

“Are you really all alone?” He asked her, as she sat on the floor, grinding herbs into a paste with devoted focus. “Yes, Master Dwarf.” She smiled, taking his hand and spreading the ointment gingerly on the burns dotting his strong forearms.

“Do you like being alone?” He pressed on, wincing as the wet unguent made his wounds smart.

“It is my punishment and my expiation.” She replied while stirring the stew she was preparing.

His eyes settled heavily on her face and she could read sympathy and sadness in those dark, blue lakes shot through with silver. He looked rather like a gem hewn from precious stone himself, she had to admit, feeling drawn to the solidity of his frame and the living warmth of his gaze.

“Eat, Master Thorin.” She handed him a deep bowl, containing most of the mushrooms and all of the meat she had managed to scrape off the scrawny rabbit.

“What about you?” He asked, suspicious, when she filled a goblet with the fragrant broth.

“Eat.” She encouraged him again. He had obviously known a long and tiresome road and she wanted him to feel safe and cared for; she was thankful for the chance to do right by him.

It was a small redemption of her blood to be a good host after the opposite reaction had plunged her people into extinction.

He looked relaxed now, sitting by the fire, listening to her hum to herself while she cleaned his boots and mended his clothing. “Your gifts are wasted on the dead.” He suddenly said.

“Beg your pardon?” She looked up from polishing his boots, a questioning expression in her eyes.

“You have been a good host to me, you’re a steady cook and a knowledgeable reader of nature. Come with me.”

She blinked. She knew not what he was talking about.

“I am, as I said, on my way to rejoin my kin. Come with me, there is nothing here for you but desolation and loneliness. There are people yet alive beyond this valley and they could greatly benefit from your knowledge…and your sweet nature. Come with me! Be my travel companion!” He reiterated when she didn’t reply.

“I cannot…I am here to…” - “You are here to wait for the next weary traveller and right the wrong inflicted by and upon your people. Consider it done, Mahal has heard you child, I am Thorin, and I shall be King under the Mountain one day. I might be here to deliver you and take you away from this place.” He interrupted her harshly.

A king, she thought, a future king. What prevented him from being king now?

“It is a hard life amongst my people; there will be deprivation and long, cold nights.” He warned her, but she simply motioned to the small hut they sat in while the wind howled with furious intensity outside.

“But…it is a life. I offer you a life, not an easy one, not a pretty one necessarily, but a life. Be the watcher of the living, be the minder of the sick, be the guide of the hale-bodied; leave behind your dead and let them find their peace. Come with me!”

She thought about it for a moment, then nodded. He was right; he might have been the sign she had been waiting for all these years.

Epilogue:

The last survivor of the great plague that had ravaged the valley and left it inhabited forevermore was never seen again. People say, she just vanished at some point. Some hold the belief that she has been carried away by fairies and others claim that on windy nights, one could see her walk along the stony ledges on her eternal way to the abandoned chapel.

We shall never know for sure what really happened to that sole survivor, but her name disappeared from the ledgers, never to be mentioned again in the books of men.

#thorin oakenshield #FanFiction #folklore #imagine #writing #hike #oberschlinder #blacksmith thorin #cursed village #thorin thursday #richard armitage #prologue #go on if you can

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liujinhee · 3 years ago

Text

[ Kyuhyun/Reader ]

plotting an us (working title)

Word Count: 2,622

Summary: Art student y/n, theatre student Kyuhyun one shot

Uh, so this was supposed to be a y/n fic, but I think I gave the character so much personality that they qualify better as an OC? Haha... im sorry guys :')

There was little use in trying to reason with yourself why you travel two hours every weekend to the Penguin Ice cafe. Cafe menus were unreasonably expensive, and Penguin Ice was located in the heart of the city, where the population was far too saturated for your liking.

Then you hear the familiar voice saying the words Welcome to Penguin Ice cafe, and you know you'll be coming back next weekend regardless.

You walk straight up to the counter—even if you had a crush on one of the part timers, it didn't mean your judgement was clouded enough that you'd drop by during rush hour just to see him. At 4pm, the cafe was quiet, a few patrons scattered in different corners.

When Kyuhyun's gaze falls on you, his professional smile softens into one you now recognize as warm. “Single scoop of matcha and vanilla with sprinkled topping, having here?”

“Got it in one.” You return the smile, hoping it isn't too wide. The way your feelings tend to write themselves on your facial features has never done more good than harm thus far. Digging into your pocket, you hand him the bill; never the exact amount, if only for the selfish reason of wanting him to drop the change onto your open palm.

And he does. “Here's your change,” Kyuhyun sings in that merry tune you know by heart.

“Someone's in a good mood.”

He makes a show of scanning the bar, which currently only has him manning it, before leaning forward. He's not close enough that you feel his breath, but still close enough that your heart rate picks up as he tells you in a hushed whisper that fails to contain his glee, “It's payday.”

You snort at that, even though you already had your suspicions. Kyuhyun simply gives you a cheeky grin and wags his brows, seemingly pleased to have shared that little tidbit. Your hand twitches with the instinct to reach out and ruffle his hair, something you're not quite able to do to someone you can barely call an acquaintance. So you settle for a Congratulations, to which he bows dramatically, My heartfelt thanks, before twirling away to prepare your order.

He may be majoring in theatre, you think. Or at the very least, hold an interest in it. It's not the first time the two of you have exchanged words in such a manner, nor do you believe it'd be the last. As you watch him drop a generous scoop of ice cream into a cup, you wonder if you should ask him today. Something like, What school are you from? What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Do you want to catch the next musical that comes?

But they all feel like questions that'd make your existing dynamic awkward. In a way, you already consider Kyuhyun a friend, despite not knowing anything about him other than his name, which you got from his name tag, and that he only works on weekends, which is written on their blackboard under the Shifts section.

Once again, you spend too much time overthinking, and your order is ready before you come to a decision, Kyuhyun extending the cup to you with a gentle hum. Your mumble of thanks matches the tone of his hum, and your feet bring you to your usual seat, empty as it always is. Customers aren't the biggest fans of seats by the entrance, after all; the constant opening and closing of the door can get annoying. It doesn't bother you, however. As much as you dislike crowds, you find comfort in the buzzing of human activity.

And, well, if the seat provides you a good view of the bar where Kyuhyun busies himself with cleaning up, that's just a really big bonus. Once you're satisfied with the angle of your chair, you bring out your pencil and sketchbook, flip to a fresh page, and begin sketching.

It's not always Kyuhyun. Scenery fascinates you, and you've long since lost count of the cityscape, the parks, the rivers that you've drawn from memory and imagination. But it's always when the imagination starts that Kyuhyun joins, somehow making his way into the scenery.

This time, you’ve sketched him barefoot by the beach, laughing as he splashes seawater up a silhouette with his foot. It’s an imagery that comes easily to you; Kyuhyun with his friends out having fun together. He seems like the type of person who is able to get along with everyone, and you're near certain he is.

You scribble down the date and your signature like you do on every piece of art, leaving out your name. The ripping of the page is quiet, barely audible over the music; the edges of the paper imperfect, but they always are.

As you rest the paper under the now empty cup, you can't help but imagine how Kyuhyun would react to the sketch this week. He hasn't shared his thoughts on your sketches since that first time nearly three months ago, when you'd come to Penguin Ice with your friends for a birthday celebration.

I like the way you sketch, Kyuhyun had told you as he served the tray of sundaes ordered by your table. Art student?

Yeah, you'd answered after a moment of shock, watching how the man's eye was trained on the lines of your sketch. Understanding that it was genuine praise. Your eyes had fallen to his askewed name tag, committing his name to memory. And, um, thanks. He'd tipped his head in acknowledgement, set down your orders, and returned to his post.

Looking back, it might've seemed like nothing. But to the you back then who had been dealing with self doubt, the words of a stranger had been everything you needed to hear and more. While your friends chit chatted and ate, you'd done up a quick sketch of the cafe, and left it on the table with a short thank you note addressed to Cho Kyuhyun.

The next time you'd come, it had been because another friend was curious after seeing your post about the cafe before. Even then it had been Kyuhyun who took one look at you and went, Ah, the art student! Right? The memory of that moment still makes you chuckle now. It's in his recognition that Kyuhyun started becoming more than a part timer at a cafe in the city for you.

Now, as you wait for Kyuhyun to turn away and busy himself with cleaning before sneaking out of the cafe like a protagonist in a cliche romance drama, you wonder if this plot will ever advance, or if this is but a draft that will not live to see a happy ending.

It doesn't really serve as a surprise when you come across Kyuhyun at a local arts festival you are a participant of. You've thought about it, the what if. What does surprise you, is how you come across him.

There's an event pamphlet, of course, but you're also not the type of person who focuses on details like the musical cast names. It's not like any of them would ring a bell, since they're students. Except one of them does. You don't connect the dots at first, too tired from hours of live sketch after live sketch for customers. Then you hear it, his My heartfelt thanks, and the thought is formed.

Can it be? You reach into your back pocket for the pamphlet and flip to the musical lineup for today. Sure enough, printed in bold is the name Cho Kyuhyun along with a photo of him. Gods, does he look cute in casual wear. You're staring hard at his photo when he rips your attention back to him with his vocals.

While you wouldn't go as far as to call yourself a theatre enthusiast, it's not like you haven't been to musicals. You have, and you enjoy them when you do. Paid hundreds of bucks for a good three straight hour sitting of a show that'd live in your memories for decades to come. And when Kyuhyun sings, goosebumps rising along your arm midway through the first line, you know that's the kind of level he'd belong on in the near future. That's how good he is.

You're in awe, then you're in wonder, and then maybe, just maybe, you're falling in love with the theatre student and part time ice cream man Cho Kyuhyun. The sudden realisation startles you, but you accept it just as quickly. Little as you may know, it's enough for you to have developed feelings for him, and you feel it growing stronger every passing second in your mind. Your fingers itch with the need to capture this moment forever in the form of a painting.

Then the musical comes to an end, the cast coming together, hands joined as they bow their thanks while the audience reciprocates with thundering applause. Your eyes are still on Kyuhyun as the curtain falls, but you're certain he hasn't seen you in the dark. Nor would he know or have reason to be looking out for you.

You're out the moment you're able, zigzagging through the night crowd back to your post in a rush. It's not that you're late to return, nor will your neighbor mind even if you were. You simply need to pick up a pencil right now and bring to life the visuals buzzing in your head. It's been a while since you've felt this adrenaline rush under your skin.

This is going to be a masterpiece.

You drown yourself in the canvas, skipping your weekly visit to the Penguin Ice cafe for the first time. There's only one reason for it: you don't want to override the memory of seeing Kyuhyun on the stage. A side you've never seen before, a temporary skin he wears so well one may be fooled into thinking it is his own.

There's a moment when you wonder if you'll ever finish the painting—each time you think you're quite about done, the paint setting for the last time, there's something new to add or to revise. You want to make it perfect, but in art, nothing ever is. Still, it is through willpower that you drop the brush for good, stepping back to take a good look at your painting.

It's… well, there’s no other way to say it: it's the man you saw on stage that night. It’s as close to what you wanted to express as you think it can get. The desire, the urge to convey your admiration for Kyuhyun grows overwhelming, and you rush to hold down on the power button of your phone. It’s 7:12pm on a Sunday. Which means there’s a good chance Kyuhyun will be there. They close at 10pm on weekends… can you make it?

It's worth the risk, you decide. You've got to be stupid at least once in your life (or many, but that's not how the saying goes, see). You wrap up the canvas carefully, yelling to your parents that they don't need to buy your share for dinner later, and rush out the second you feel presentable enough for public appearances.

Kyuhyun stares at you unblinking, and you do the same. It's easy to get lost in the reflection you see in them—and he blinks, light returning to his eyes.

“Hey,” he greets, but behind it you sense the question.

“Hey,” you return between pants.

“We're closing,” he says slowly, as if you can't tell from the flipped chairs and cluttering of washed utensils, “But if you're okay with on the go, I can bring out the tubs.”

You shake your head wildly before Kyuhyun can go grab said tubs. “That's not why I'm here.”

When you don't elaborate, he nods once and prompts, “Okay… So you're here to…”

“Pass you something. I can wait till you're off work. If you don't mind, I mean.” You're babbling, and you just know your face is a deep shade of red from nerves and embarrassment. To his credit, Kyuhyun doesn't judge despite his wrinkled brows, and gestures in the direction of your usual seat. So that's where you head. And you wait, your mind too crowded and thoughts so jumbled that you blank out until someone taps you on the shoulder.

“I'm done here,” he says, but now your brain short-circuits for a different reason. Kyuhyun in a plain t-shirt and shorts with a bag slinging across one shoulder shouldn't be anything worth ogling over, but it is. Even more so than the photo you'd seen on the pamphlet. You struggle to remember how to string words together and give him an answer, digging into your backpack for the thing you're here to hand him but can't quite remember what.

Then your fingers brush against the cloth holding your canvas, and you're reminded of your purpose. Right. With your heart slamming against your chest, you carefully pull out the painting you spent a week on, all while watching for any changes in Kyuhyun's expression. He has that cute frown that suggests he's confused, and you bite back a smile as you extend the canvas in an offering.

“For me?”

The laugh breaks free from you as he accepts it with a cautiousness you've never seen. “

“Is there… something here?” He wonders aloud, gesturing between the two of you. His question is innocent enough, but then you see the way he's nibbling on his lower lip, the way he's peeking at you from under his long lashes—why are they so long anyway, you briefly wonder.

“An empty space,” you quirk, still somewhat afraid to take the leap, but unwilling to leave his question hanging in the air.

Kyuhyun is instantly right by your side, the sleeves of your t-shirts brushing against each other, his body heat radiating off him this close. You feel yourself stiffen before you relax, easily growing used to this new lack of distance.

“So that's fixed,” Kyuhyun says after four beats of silence. “Anything else?”

“Hmm,” you hum to stall time as you think of other quirky answers to give, but it seems that isn't something Kyuhyun is willing to take a second time. His steps grow wider as he makes to stand in your way, forcing you to look up at him. He isn't exactly tall per say, perhaps a 1.8, but you're simply leaning toward the other end of the spectrum.

“Hey.”

He smiles, small and shy and hopeful. “It'd be really embarrassing if I'm reading this wrong, but are you interested in me the same way I'm interested in you?”

And now it's you who's worrying your lower lip, question after question clogging up your mind about all the things you can say that will ruin any possibility of the two of you—Then you look at Kyuhyun again, and realise the man’s likely feeling the same, to some extent.

Licking your dry lips, you decide to go for it. “If by that you mean—” you swallow before you're sent into a coughing fit because of your salivary glands, “—The I want to hold your hand on a date kind of interested… then yes.”

“Who said anything about dating?” he teases, and before your brain even registers the words for you to feel disappointed, he continues, “I think we should start with self introductions first, shouldn't we? After all, I still don't know your name.”

“Okay then.” Kyuhyun clears his throat, his posture tall and grand before he gives a graceful bow, hand extended. “Would you do me the honor of exploring the potentials in this budding relationship?”

It seems like the plot is moving forward, after all.

#sj #sjlong #kyuder #sjau

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higuchimon · 3 years ago

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[fanfic] Desired Disobedience: Chapter 3 [end]

"Did you find anything interesting?" Lucifer asked as his image appeared in Desire's sphere. Ryou kept himself quiet; he wasn't sure yet of what Desire had in mind. Better to observe until he knew more and possibly could do more - if he ever could.

"Oh, I did indeed. And you're going to love this," Desire chuckled. He grabbed Ryou by the back of his neck and dragged him to where he could be seen. "First, I've located the vampire."

Lucifer regarded Ryou for a few seconds before he looked back at Desire. "Someone used sigil magic? Haou isn't going to like this.”

"It gets even better. It's Vail. He thinks he can use Hell Kaiser to drain Haou dry."

The two Fallen Angels regarded one another in silence for a few moments, then both laughed uproariously. Desire shook his head, dropping Ryou back onto the bed and returning his full attention to his brother. "If I'm reading the sigils right, though, it's going to be difficult to get the collar off him. It's designed so only someone of the blood of Light can do it."

Lucifer frowned. "That's not even possible. I made sure of that. The Blood of Creation has been extinct for over twenty years."

"I know." Desire shrugged. "There might be someone around with enough of Hope in them to be useful? Does anyone even know what happened to that family line?"

"Not that I know of. Hope likes to stay out of sight and pop up when one least expects it." Lucifer considered. "I'll pass this along to Haou-sama. How long are you going to stay there?"

"I think until he releases Hell Kaiser to go feed on Haou. Someone should keep an eye on him. Vail thinks I don't like having to serve you and Haou." Desire snickered. "How little he knows."

Ryou shifted position quietly. He knew exactly why Desire wanted to stay here and it had nothing to do with keeping an eye on Vail. Or at least, it wasn't just because of him. Desire lived his name, after all.

"I'll see you next week, then. Do amuse yourself. I know how you can be when you get bored." Lucifer smirked before the sphere's magic faded, and Desire tucked it back to wherever it had come from. He turned his full attention to Ryou.

"Have you missed me?" Desire murmured, sliding his helmet off and his armor fading away. "I've certainly been looking forward to seeing you again."

Ryou turned his head away. The sigils had been slightly altered so that they didn't drag him down as much so if he'd wanted to, he could have answered. But he doubted Desire actually wanted to hear him speak. At least not in words.

Desire tucked one hand under Ryou's chin and turned him so that their eyes met. Desire's eyes were nothing like Yuusuke's - not a sweet violet, filled with shadows and mystery. They were a brilliant scarlet, matching his wings, just like his hair, and shone with a rich form of life that made Ryou shudder. He knew this look so very well.

"Did you know Haou promised you to me for an entire month if I brought back interesting word about your whereabouts? I think this qualifies. I look forward to that month - and to the rest of this week. You really were born to be someone else's property, weren't you?"

Ryou's eyes sharpened as he tried to pull himself back and found that he couldn't - bound by both the sigils and Haou's standing command to allow Desire to do as he willed that didn't interfere with any other commands. "No!" He could at least say that. Regardless of how it seemed true sometimes. He might not have been meant to be a tool, but plenty of people treated him like that.

Desire only chuckled and pulled him closer. "You were born to be used - and reborn to make it easier. You should stop fighting it."

And after that, Desire lived up to his name.

Vail had too much to do to spy on whatever it was Desire and Hell Kaiser were doing. He knew exactly what it was, after all. Desire made no bones about what he enjoyed doing. So instead of doing what he might have if it had been anyone else taking their pleasure with the vampire, he researched exactly what he would do after he'd had his pet vampire kill Haou.

It wouldn't be easy to do that, he knew. That was why he'd had the sigil-crafted collar made, to override Camula's control. Camula herself could override it if she stood there, but he'd seen to her. As tempting as it was to have her killed, doing so would release Hell Kaiser from her control, and he wanted nothing of that. A vampire needed to be controlled and used. They were undead beasts who pretended to life. Not at all like him. His pulse had never stopped. He'd never stopped drawing breath. He didn't need human blood - he just needed their souls.

I should have a good meal or two before I go to sleep. He needed normal food as much as anyone else did; his dining upon human souls merely kept him from dying. He considered his options, then had his guards bring him one of the captives he kept for just this purpose. Really, he would have to imprison more people for whatever crimes he could, if both he and Hell Kaiser were to feed off of them. He didn't need a good soul-meal as often as a vampire needed blood but unfortunately, it wasn't possible to share kills. Otherwise, the meals would have gone on farther.

Though he'd never actually tried to take someone's soul as they were being drained by his vampire. It might be worth testing out. He knew the perfect test subject as well - Haou himself. Just what would it be like to take the soul of the incarnate form of Dark Destruction? Vail licked his lips just at the thought of it.

He prodded his shock collars and pondered exactly who he should have Hell Kaiser duel. He had more than one option; it would all depend on who he thought was the most interesting. He had so many plans that pruning them down to the ones that had the best chance of success could take most of the coming week.

What matters most is finishing Haou off. After all this time, he doubted that Haou even remembered what he'd done to earn Vail's ire. Would he even remember how he'd come to be Brron's chief gladiator? Or did it remain on the dustheap of memory alongside everyone else that he'd murdered over the years.

Vail cheerfully admitted to himself that he didn't remember how many people he'd ended up killing himself. It all blended together after a while. He didn't think it mattered that much. Not when he would always need to kill more. The count would keep rising. Why keep track of it?

Lucifer put away the sphere and considered his options before he shook his head. As much as he would like to, now wasn't the time to inform Haou. By this time of evening, Haou would be in his bed, savoring the sweetness of his consort.

Something strange about that one, Lucifer mused, as he so often had since he'd first seen Johan Andersen in person. He couldn't quite put a finger on what made him strange, only that he was, and it felt oddly familiar, in a way that he'd not encountered in quite some time. It confused him and Lucifer didn't like to be confused.

But he would figure it out another time. It wasn't as if he could do anything to hurt Haou. Haou - Juudai - had gone out of his way to ensure that Johan had been broken quite thoroughly. He knew that his purpose wasn't to lead a rebellion or fight against Haou. He served to kill those whom Haou wished dead and to provide intimate pleasure for his master.

Truly, Juudai quite took after him. Lucifer approved thoroughly. He'd done much the same thing to Zerato so many years earlier. He remained a good, obedient servant as well, currently taking care of Lucifer's home castle.

When morning rolled around, Lucifer made a point to arrive in front of Haou as soon as he settled himself on his throne. He would have delivered the news at breakfast, but Haou never enjoyed doing business while he ate. So he'd kept himself confined to simply pleasantries during the meal.

"Lucifer?" Haou asked, eyebrow quirked up. "You have information?"

"Oh, I do. I heard from Desire last night. I didn't think it wise to interfere with your night, though." Lucifer chuckled softly, his wings twitching in pleasure. "It seems that Vail thinks he can use your vampire to take you out."

Haou remained where he was for a few moments, head tilted very lightly to one side. Finally he spoke. "Are you serous?"

"Very. Even better, so is he. He currently has collared Hell Kaiser and used sigil magic to keep him under control. Desire is going to stay there and keep an eye on him until next week, when Vail will send him back with orders to kill you."

Haou's lips twitched, eyes glittering golden. "Really."

"This is the most interesting part." Lucifer gestured briefly. "It seems he's crafted both collar and sigils so that only someone from a very specific family can break the collar. One that he believes no longer exists - and one that doesn't exist. I should know, I made sure to wipe it out myself."

He wasn't surprised to see acknowledgment dawning in Haou's eyes. He'd always been a bright one. "The Light of Creation."

"Exactly. Though Hope could do so as well. No one knows where that family line is right now." Lucifer shrugged. "Though knowing them, I'd not be surprised to find them in the rebellion."

Haous' fingers tightened on his throne for a few seconds before he turned to where Johan knelt, head down, awaiting for when his master needed him. He started to open his mouth, then shook his head.

"You wouldn't remember, would you?" He murmured, fingers going through Johan's hair for a few seconds. "You don't remember anything about the rebellion.”

"They're your enemies, and your enemies are my enemies," Johan replied at once, tilting his head a little, but not enough to move Haou's hand from his hair. "Is there anything else that I should know, Haou-sama?"

Haou smiled down at him, hand caressing the side of Johan's face. "Not at all. Don't worry yourself about it. I'll deal with it."

Lucifer didn't take his eyes off of Johan the entire time. The more he regarded Haou's consort, the more that strange sensation crept over him. The longer he looked, the more something began to look familiar. He'd never noticed it before, but now he began to suspect that was because he'd never truly looked at Johan with this in mind.

It had been a long time since he'd seen the features of someone who carried the Blood of the Light of Creation. He'd certainly not expected to see them kneeling at Haou's feet.

Slowly, he began to smile. "Haou-sama. I think I have some interesting news."

Awareness crept back over Ryou. He opened his eyes and saw Desire's wing remained tucked over him. He closed his eyes again and wondered if he would be allowed to feed today or not. Vail at least made sure that he didn't get too hungry, but it was getting so very close to the "celebration" when he'd be sent back to kill Haou. That meant food would be withheld so he'd be completely dry.

Desire's hand crept up his chest. "Awake, are we?" He murmured, sounding quite sated and pleased. He usually sounded like that after their activities earlier.

"Yes." Ryou knew if he didn't answer, Desire and Vail both would take pleasure in dragging the words out of him. He would at least not give them that satisfaction.

He wasn't surprised that Desire chuckled at that. His fingers sank into Ryou's hair and he tugged the vampire closer to him. "We'll be going back to Haou-sama soon. Won't that be amusing." That wasn't a question, so Ryou didn't have to answer it.

But he had been thinking about it regardless. He considered before he said anything. "Killing Haou isn't going to be that easy. He has Lucifer-sama and Johan - at the least. There's also the Death Duelists to consider." He chose his next words carefully. "Vail-sama thinks I can just be pointed at him, released, and no one will defend Haou-sama."

"I know he does. And that's what's going to make it even more amusing." Desire made himself quite comfortable, wing still folded around Ryou. "I've heard from Lucifer and Haou-sama. They're well aware of what's going on."

Ryou didn't find any comfort in that. He suspected that Haou's manner of dealing with this might well just be to bind him out in the sunlight or slam a wooden stake between his ribs. Or perhaps he could find a way to destroy the collar regardless of not being of the line of Light. He was Destruction, after all.

Desire nudged at him. "But they don't want me to tell you what they're planning. You'll find out when we return."

Of course. Not only were both of them overly dramatic, but it wouldn't be safe to let him know, since he would pass it on to Vail if he were asked. He did wonder if Vail would ever ask, but that might mean the dark sorcerer considered him capable of giving useful information. He doubted that would happen any time soon.

When they joined Vail in his favored chamber, Vail gestured towards Ryou. "Tomorrow night you're going to start back so you can kill Haou. Make it as painful as you can. I want to hear him scream - and I will be there to hear him scream."

Ryou made no gestures of acknowledgment but Vail continued as if he had. "Swallow every drop of his blood. Don't stop until he's dead. I'm going to take his soul at the same time."

Where Ryou knelt, he could see Desire. The Fallen Angel had restored his helmet and armor and when Vail said that, Ryou could see him twitch. Someone else would be laughing hysterically. Ryou thought he would have done the same thing.

He didn't want to trust Haou. He didn't have any reason to trust Haou. But he didn't have any choice. Haou knew he was coming and knew that Vail wanted to kill him. Haou wasn't the type to just die. Ryou's life wasn't that good. Or his undeath. Whatever.

By the time Vail looked up again, Desire composed himself perfectly. Ryou wouldn't have been surprised if he had a smirk on under the helmet, but it wasn't possible to tell.

"Would you join me?" Vail wanted to know. "I'm certain I can find a use for you once I've claimed Haou's realm for my own."

"I don't doubt it for a moment," Desire replied, voice absolutely calm. "And I would be quite honored to see this."

Ryou closed his eyes. He hadn't been looking forward to this 'celebration' at all. This wasn't making it any better.

The trip back to Haou's castle was indeed different from the trip out. Ryou couldn't travel as quickly as he did on his own, nor did Desire. Vail loaded them both into his personal carriage and they all rattled along ill-kept roads. The carriage had been enchanted to not only have all the necessary room, but to keep the sunlight out during the day. This allowed them to travel when normally they would have to rest. No horses or oxen pulled the carriage, but it rumbled along all on its own. There was a coachman at the front who guided them along the road with gestures of his hands but nothing more.

Ryou appreciated one thing about this trip - it meant Desire wasn't going to have the chance to bed him again. He suspected if Vail wanted to, they could have stopped somewhere, taken rooms at an inn, and matters would proceed as they normally did when Desire was around. Thankfully Vail didn't do that. They did take short breaks for Desire and Vail to spread out a blanket in a sunny area, feasting on the supplies Vail brought along, while Ryou remained in the carriage by himself. That didn't bother him. He enjoyed the time by himself.

Being in the carriage alone also allowed for Cyber Dragon to be there with him. Now that they'd begun to speak again, the spirit stayed close by no matter what. Ryou couldn't say much; he didn't want Vail or Desire to figure out what he was doing and prevent him from having that tiny connection. He didn't want to think about what Haou might do when - not if - he ever found out. But he took the time to enjoy it while he could.

Great silver scales snuggled close to him, Cyber Dragon's head resting next to his. He didn't close his eyes, not wanting to miss a moment of this. He didn't think he'd been this comfortable in years - three of them, in fact. Probably more. He'd certainly never been comfortable during his living torment by Haou.

We will be there for you, Cyber Dragon reassured him. Do you trust us?

Ryou tilted his head. He kept most of his responses to gestures when he could; much better than to risk being heard. Cyber Dragon pressed harder against him.

Good. Cyber Dragon sounded extremely satisfied before fading out of sight. Moments later the door to the carriage swung open and Desire entered, followed by Vail. Desire glanced at Ryou, and while his expression couldn't be seen, Ryou wondered if he'd somehow become aware of Cyber Dragon's presence. If he was, he said nothing about it as he settled beside Ryou, tucking one scarlet wing around him.

Ryou fell back into total silence, wondering what the Cyber Dragons and Cyberdarks had in mind. He couldn't do much else. The sigils on the collar made that impossible. The sigils that had first bound him weren't in effect now. Vail apparently didn't think them worth the effort, not with Desire there to keep Ryou in check as well.

None of Haou's guards seemed to think there was anything to worry about when Vail's carriage arrived at the palace. The celebration already seemed to be in full swing as they entered, with music and feasting filling the air. Ryou could feel the nervous tension in the air regardless - something wasn't right somewhere and he didn't know what it was.

Desire pressed his fingers onto his shoulder, hard enough that it would have left bruises in mortal flesh. "Let's go. The show is about to begin."

Unable to stop himself, Ryou moved forward, just slightly behind Vail as the other strutted his way to where Haou sat on his throne. Johan knelt in his usual place beside him and Lucifer stood to one side. Ryou noticed a fading bruise on Johan's cheek and wondered if Haou had been more enthusiastic than usual. He didn't usually bruise Johan these days, though Ryou had heard that during Johan's initial training, he'd been covered with them.

"Haou," Vail addressed the name with mockery edging his voice. "It has been a very long time since I saw you last. You've come up quite far in the word since then."

"Vail." Haou uttered the word calmly. "Or I suppose I could call you Saruyama." He said it in a way that shaped the word as a weapon. Vail hissed ever so softly.

"I would prefer if you didn't." Vail waved one hand. "But we can discuss names some other time. I've quite enjoyed having the vampire with me the last few days. So did Fallen Angel Desire, in fact."

Haou snorted. "I don't doubt that at all. Now if you intend to attend, then step aside, remove that rather admittedly attractive collar from my vampire, and go get something to eat. You have five seconds to comply before I lose my patience."

Vail stared until he started to laugh, shaking his head. "You don't even understand. You're still the same foolish boy that you were all those years ago. Let me demonstrate what I can do. Hell Kaiser Marufuji Ryou, fulfill the orders that I have given you." He stepped aside with a flourish of his black cape, and Ryou started to take a step forward. He hadn't fed in a day and a half by now and while he still had some control over his mind, he remained aware that there was blood not that far away and he only needed to reach it to have it.

He shifted the weight off of his feet and flitted forward as quick as he could, despite the inner scream that told him his target was Haou-sama, that he couldn't do this, his body wasn't allowed to hurt his master, and at the same time he couldn't stop himself.

The roar came from his deck. Cyber End Dragon and Cyberdark Dragon flashed out, Cyber End coiling all around Ryou and holding him into place, so that he couldn't take another step towards Haou. Cyberdark Dragon lashed their tail at Vail, knocking him down and then coiling their dark-scaled tail around him, wings spread and fangs snapping threateningly.

Cyber End raised all three heads towards Haou. "Even we cannot hold him forever, so long as the collar binds him. Find a way to remove it!"

"I already have." Haou replied, far more pleasure in his voice than Ryou would have wanted to hear under any other circumstances. He tapped Johan on the shoulder. "Do it."

Ryou had no idea of what Haou had in mind, until Johan stood up and walked over to him. He barely even seemed to notice the spirits holding Ryou into place. He did step around Cyber End Dragon's tail carefully but he didn't look the metallic dragon in the faces. All of his attention was on Ryou. He reached up and laid the tips of his fingers on the collar, then slid them under the lock and tugged a little. The lock came open at once, and Johan pulled the collar away, going back over to Haou.

Slowly Cyber End Dragon released Ryou, taking a position up by him. Cyberdark didn't move from where they held Vail, and no matter how he struggled, with Cyber Phoenix hovering overhead, there wasn't anything that he could do to stop them. Ryou didn't need to breathe but he took a deep one regardless. He'd never thought he would be so grateful to Haou, let alone to Johan as he was now.

Haou took the collar and examined it as Johan sank back down to his knees, clearly pleased that he'd satisfied his master's orders. Haou rewarded him with a hand on his head for a few moments, then tightened his other hand around the collar. A column of thick darkness rose up from his hand around it, and with a tiny snap only dust and ashes remained.

"An amusing trick, but did you really think that I couldn’t counter this?" Haou turned his attention to Vail, who looked fit to explode from rage. "I could have told you - my vampire belongs to me. He cannot harm me, even if he wanted to."

Ryou hated to think of how true that was. He also hated the thought of the Cyber Dragons having to live under Haou's rule as he did now. But he could feel all of them not caring.

"Now, what to do with you," Haou mused. Vail thrashed in Cyberdark Dragon's grip and snapped towards Desire.

"You would serve me!? Then destroy them! Destroy all of them! Now! I command it!"

Desire didn't so much as twitch a wing. Instead, he turned to Haou. "Lucifer informed me that if I provided interesting information as to Hell Kaiser's whereabouts, I'd have him in my bed for a month. Is this true?"

"Of course." Haou waved one hand. "Starting after the celebration, you may do with him as you please."

That didn't surprise Ryou. At this point in his undeath, not much would have. He didn't care that much. He had the spirits of his deck back. That mattered a great deal more than anything that might happen to his body.

But now Haou regarded Vail carefully. Ryou noticed his attention also slipped around to Cyber End Dragon and Cyberdark Dragon. But most of his focus remained on Vail. Finally he spoke.

"Hell Kaiser."

At once Ryou straightened up. He knew that tone - he was about to feed. He knew who he'd feed on; he knew far too much about Haou thought.

"Haou-sama." After the last week, he uttered the title with just a trifle more pleasure than he ever had any time he'd addressed Vail.

"How often did Vail allow you to feed this past week?" Haou raised one hand before Ryou spoke. "In fact, tell me everything that happened this entire week."

Ryou at once started to talk. He related about how he'd gone there to kill Vail in the first place and had intended to bring some of Vail's treasure to Haou as the gift he'd wanted. He told about the sigils binding him and exactly what Vail did until Desire showed up, and afterward. He left nothing at all out.

"Desire?" Haou asked, one eyebrow quirked upward. "Is this all true?"

"Yes, it is," Desire agreed, admiring the spread of his own wings. "Though I could go into more detail on exactly what we did. If you'd like, of course." Ryou suspected one of those insufferably smug grins existed under his helmet.

"I'll consider that for another time," Haou decided before looking back to Ryou. "Drain him dry. Make it as painful as you possibly can for him. I want to hear his screams. I want everyone to hear his screams. That is the treasure I desire."

Ryou didn't hesitate for a moment. Cyberdark Dragon dragged Vail over to him and held him in place as Ryou grabbed onto the dark sorcerer's shoulders. The other babbled, but none of it made any sense. It seldom did when Ryou fed. He sank his fangs deep into Vail's neck, the sweet taste of the blood coursing down his throat. His grip tightened on the shoulders and Cyberdark Dragon slowly released Vail as Ryou fed and Vail's strength failed him. The sorcerer batted at Ryou's hands feebly, but no matter how hard he tried, he could do nothing. The screams that echoed off of the walls soon faded away, and Ryou continued to feed, fulfilling the command - not a single drop of blood to be left.

He didn't normally feed that much off of one person. Feeding smaller amounts off of many different people kept deaths to a minimum. So when he bled someone dry, it was usually because Haou wanted him to do so. He kept on sucking, finally stopping and letting the body drop to the floor.

"I had intended for you to feed off of the captives that my Death Duelists brought back," Haou said, once Ryou had recovered enough from his feeding to focus on what was being said. He gestured to a corner where five people huddled, wrapped in chains, terrified expressions plain. Ryou glanced from one of them to another, checking.

Not his brother. Not Shou.

Not his friend. Not Fubuki.

Not his lover. Not Yuusuke.

Not Edo or Saiou or Asuka or anyone else that he knew from the rebellion. If these were rebels - and he couldn't even be sure that they were - then they weren't ones that he'd known. The way they existed in small cells of ten or twenty in each enclave helped with that. But he returned his attention to Haou, who smiled a devil's smile.

"A little much for you right now, though. So you'll feed off of them once a night until they've given you all that they can - and until I have no further use for them."

Ryou nodded. A small flicker of gratitude existed that no one he cared for was in this bunch. He would have preferred it if it consisted of people more like Vail than innocents, but when he couldn't choose his own prey, then he had to deal with what he was allowed.

Haou glanced at Lucifer. "Is the army ready to move in?"

"Of course." Lucifer nodded. "Would you like me to deal with it?"

"Yes. Let me know when you've taken it all." Haou dismissed him with a wave of one hand and Lucifer headed out quickly. He smiled in satisfaction, leaning back on his throne, before he looked at Ryou again. "Vail's realm will now belong to me. Lucifer is taking in my army to deal with any resistance.

That made horrible sense. Ryou suspected there would be people who fled there and went on to join the rebellion. It happened like that everywhere. Haou moved in and those who didn't want him as their lord fled to join those who fought against him. Some of them ended up as his dinner or as Haou's slaves or who knew what else.

None of that seemed to matter to Haou right now. He watched as other servants carried the body away, and Cyberdark Dragon joined Cyber End Dragon beside Ryou.

"How pleasant to see you all again," Haou said, this time addressing the spirits directly. "I thought you would have abandoned Hell Kaiser when he died."

"We would never do that." Cyberdark Dragon hissed, dark scales gleaming in the enchanted light, tail twitching. "He did not call for us. We must be called."

Haou's lips quirked. "Of course. I should have known." He rested one hand under his chin, the other playing with Johan's hair. "I might allow him to duel again. And I believe Vail had something interesting in those shock collars - I might have to check into those."

Ryou didn't look forward to that. Something else had his attention regardless. He shifted briefly and Haou glanced at him, one eyebrow cocking.

"You have something to say, Hell Kaiser?" Haou wanted to know.

"How did Johan get the collar off me?" Ryou wanted to know. "Only the blood of the Light could do it." The sigils had been very clear. Even worse, Vail had been very smug about that fact. It shouldn't have been possible.

Haou's hand didn't leave Johan's head. "Because it seems that my precious toy here is of the Blood of the Creation's Light. He never knew himself. But it seems when Lucifer destroyed Norbu all those years ago, he and his siblings were taken away to be kept safe." Haou chuckled a little. "How fascinating that he ended up with me. And his siblings are still out there somewhere."

He kept on stroking slowly. Johan closed his eyes and keened, a low pleasure-filled sound. "That is going to be one of your tasks - to find Yubel and Rune Andersen, and bring them here to me. Unharmed."

Ryou nodded. He wondered how he was going to do that. Before he could ask for any further information, Haou waved a hand towards Desire, who'd patiently waited all this time.

"Feel free to retire and enjoy yourself," he told the Fallen Angel. "He won't be on duty until the month is over with, except for feeding."

Desire had one arm around Ryou's shoulders a breath later. Cyber End Dragon and Cyberdark Dragon both faded from view, though Ryou could feel them watching. He wanted them to know that it didn't matter; he'd dealt with this before. Cyberdark didn't seem very happy about it regardless. But they said nothing else. It seemed Haou would allow them to remain.

"Thank you, Haou-sama." Desire guided Ryou away, and Ryou wondered if his spirits could take a message to Yuusuke, or bring one back. No, probably not. He wasn't allowed to communicate in any way with the rebellion. At least not deliberately. Accidents could happen. But sending his spirits out deliberately wasn't allowed.

But thinking about Yuusuke made what came over the next month, and what came after, much more bearable.

The End

Notes: There are other scenes I could have put in here but they didn’t quite fit with everything. Remember, Johan will only be bruised if Haou decides that he will be. So why is Johan bruised? Exactly what happened between Lucifer, Juudai, and Johan? I know. And one day, I’ll tell you.

#fanfic #higuchimon writes #ygo gx #marufuji ryou #yuuki juudai #chapters: desired disobedience #au: reversal

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