#no because like I had to ask them again if what I heard come out of their mouth was indeed what I heard.

[theonottsbxtch]

SERVE | MV1

an: im finally posting all my flipping requests - im sorry ive taken so long but expect me to be more active in the next month ish. i was working on this novel and ive finally finished my first draft so ill be able to write more on here ehehe

wc: 2.2k

The air inside Rod Laver Arena buzzed with anticipation. The crowd roared as she raised her arms in victory, another match won with the kind of effortless dominance that had long cemented her as the best in the world. Cameras flashed, reporters murmured, but she barely heard any of it. Her eyes scanned the stands, searching—until she found him.

Max stood near the players’ box, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket, his posture casual but his eyes locked onto hers. He always watched her like that. Like she was the only thing in the world.

She barely remembered handing her racquet to the ball kid or shaking hands with her opponent. One minute she was on the baseline, and the next, she was pushing through the crowd, past the security barriers, straight to him.

"Didn’t think you’d make it," she murmured, her voice just loud enough for him to hear over the noise.

Max smirked, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Miss one of your matches? Not a chance.”

Up close, she saw the exhaustion in the lines around his mouth, the tension in his jaw. The media had been relentless again, and she knew how much he hated it—not for himself, but for the way it always seemed to drag her into the mess, too.

"Yeah?" She arched a brow, fingers sliding into the collar of his jacket, tugging him a fraction closer. "Even with half the press calling you a liability?"

His breath hitched for a second. Only she could do that to him. "Thought you liked liabilities."

"I do," she said, lips curling into the smirk that drove interviewers mad. "You’re my favourite one."

Max let out a breath, the tension in his shoulders loosening just enough for her to notice. He tilted his head slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching up. “Didn’t know I was in a ranking system.”

She hummed, fingertips brushing against the fine fabric of his jacket. “You’re the only one in it.”

The crowd was still buzzing around them, the cameras snapping relentlessly, but none of it mattered. Not when she was looking at him like that—sharp eyes softening, the mask she wore for the world slipping just enough for him to see the girl he’d loved since they were fifteen.

She gave his jacket one last tug before stepping back. “Come with me.”

Max followed without hesitation, slipping through the tunnels of the stadium with practiced ease. He’d done this a hundred times before, dodging reporters and staff, but this time, the weight of the last few weeks clung to him like a second skin.

She led him into the players’ lounge, where the air was thick with the scent of sweat and freshly cut fruit. The moment the door shut behind them, she turned to face him.

“What’s going on?” she asked, arms crossing over her chest. She wasn’t just talking about the press. She never had to spell it out for him—she always just knew.

Max exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Same old shit.”

She frowned. “Your dad again?”

His silence was answer enough.

She muttered something under her breath, a sharp curse that made him smirk despite himself. “How bad?”

Max leaned against the nearest table, arms bracing on the surface. “Bad enough that I had to turn off my phone for a few days.” He scoffed, shaking his head. “He’s got the press eating out of his hand. Telling them I’ll never be good enough, that I’m holding you back, that you—”

“Stop,” she said firmly, stepping between his legs. Her hands rested on his chest, grounding him. “You know none of that is true.”

He swallowed, the heat of her touch chasing away the cold grip of doubt. “Yeah,” he murmured. “I know.”

She studied him for a moment, then—without warning—took his face in her hands and pressed a kiss to his jaw, right at the spot she knew made his breath hitch.

“Good,” she said against his skin. “Because I’m not wasting my time defending you to a bunch of idiots when I could be kissing you instead.”

Max let out a breathless laugh, arms wrapping around her waist, pulling her in. “Now that,” he murmured, “is the best thing I’ve heard all day.”

She grinned, fingers threading through his hair. “Then shut up and let me keep talking.”

And for the first time in weeks, Max let himself forget everything else—because when he was with her, the rest of the world didn’t matter.

He barely had time to smirk before she pulled him down, her lips pressing against his with the kind of urgency that made his head spin.

It was always like this with them—sharp words and sharper minds for the cameras, but when they were alone, none of that mattered. She kissed him like she needed it, like he was the only thing keeping her grounded, and he clung to that feeling like a lifeline.

His hands slid to her waist, fingers curling into the fabric of her tennis kit as he pulled her closer. She sighed against his mouth, tilting her head to deepen the kiss, and he felt it—the tension in his chest finally breaking, giving way to something softer, something that only existed between them.

Her fingers tangled in his hair, nails scratching lightly against his scalp, and Max groaned low in his throat. “You’re going to kill me,” he murmured against her lips.

She smirked. “That’s the plan.”

She kissed him again, slower this time, like she wanted to take her time undoing him completely—

A sharp knock on the door shattered the moment.

“Hey! Media in five minutes,” a voice called through the wood.

Max exhaled heavily, forehead dropping against hers as she let out a quiet groan. “I hate media,” she muttered.

“I hate media more,” he said, brushing his nose against hers.

She pulled back slightly, giving him a look. “Yeah, well, you don’t have to sit in a room for half an hour pretending to care what they think.”

He smirked, thumb tracing slow circles against her hip. “True. But you could just skip it. Tell them you got caught up with something important.”

She arched a brow. “And what would that be?”

Max grinned. “Me.”

She huffed a laugh, pressing one last kiss to the corner of his mouth before stepping back. “Tempting,” she said, smoothing her hair down. “But if I start skipping media obligations for you, they’ll start calling you a bad influence again.”

“They already do.”

She shot him a knowing look as she grabbed a water bottle from the nearby table. “Yeah, but if I do it, it’ll be true.”

Max shook his head, watching her with something caught between admiration and amusement. Even after all these years, she still had him completely wrapped around her finger.

As she reached for the door handle, she turned back to him, her expression softening just slightly. “You’ll be here when I get back?”

Max leaned back against the table, arms crossing over his chest. “Where else would I be?”

She held his gaze for a second longer before nodding. Then she was gone, the door clicking shut behind her.

And just like that, the noise of the world came rushing back in.

The press room was packed, cameras flashing as she took her seat at the table. The moderator gave the usual spiel about keeping questions respectful—not that anyone ever listened.

She took a sip from her water bottle, already anticipating the first round of questions. It was the same every time—something about her form, something about her rivals, and, inevitably, something about Max.

"Rough start to the match today," one reporter said, leaning forward. "Do you think the outside distractions are finally catching up with you?"

She raised a brow. "What distractions?"

The reporter cleared his throat. "Well, there’s been a lot of talk about Max and the negative press surrounding him. Some would argue that having a partner in the spotlight—especially one facing so much criticism—might be… well, holding you back."

The room went quiet. She felt her jaw tighten, fingers curling around the bottle in her hands.

Slowly, she tilted her head. "And how many titles do you have?"

The reporter blinked, caught off guard. "Uh—what?"

She leaned forward slightly, voice smooth as silk. "How many Grand Slam titles do you have?"

The man stammered. "I—I don’t play tennis."

"Right," she said, nodding. "And how many Formula One World Championships do you have?"

He opened his mouth, then shut it.

She smiled. "That’s what I thought."

A few people in the room stifled laughs, and even the moderator looked like he was holding back a smirk.

"Next question," she said easily, taking another sip of water.

And just like that, the subject was closed.

Max was still in the players’ lounge, leaning back on the worn leather sofa, one arm slung over the back as he scrolled through his phone. The live stream of her press conference was playing on the screen, but he already knew where this was going the second some smug reporter brought him up.

The question was barely out of the guy’s mouth before Max’s jaw clenched.

He knew the narrative well—he was the distraction, the liability, the one holding her back. It didn’t matter that she was literally the best in the world, that she had more Grand Slams to her name than most players could dream of. Somehow, the press always found a way to twist things back to him.

But then she hit the guy with that line.

"And how many titles do you have?"

Max sat up a little straighter, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

The poor bastard stammered.

"How many Formula One World Championships do you have?"

Max barked out a laugh, running a hand over his mouth. The entire room went silent, and then the barely contained amusement from some of the other journalists? Yeah, that was the cherry on top.

The guy had nothing. She knew it. The entire press room knew it.

And Max? He definitely knew it.

His phone started blowing up instantly—his teammate, a few other drivers, even his PR manager, all sending messages ranging from laughing emojis to "I owe her a drink for that one."

Max just shook his head, watching as she casually took a sip of her water, completely unbothered.

"That’s my girl," he muttered under his breath, grinning.

Because if the world wanted to come for him? Fine. He could take it. He always had.

But her? She was untouchable.

And she’d just reminded everyone exactly why.

The door swung open with a little too much force, slamming against the wall as she strode into the room. Max barely had a second to react before she was yanking her kit bag from the chair and stuffing things into it with sharp, irritated movements.

He smirked to himself, pushing off the couch. Oh, she was fuming.

"That good, huh?" he teased, leaning against the doorframe.

She shot him a glare before aggressively zipping up her bag. "They’re so annoying, Max. Every bloody time. Do I look like I need a press room full of middle-aged men questioning my priorities?"

Max bit back a laugh. He’d seen her mad before—at bad calls, at opponents, at losing a set she should’ve won—but this? This was entertaining.

He crossed the room in two strides, slipping behind her just as she reached for her jacket. His arms looped around her waist, pulling her back against his chest, right in front of the floor-length mirror.

"Baby, baby," he murmured, pressing his chin to her shoulder, "calm down."

She huffed, but her hands instinctively came to rest over his on her stomach. "Calm down?" she repeated, tilting her head slightly. "Do you know how much I want to throw a racquet at that guy’s face?"

Max grinned, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to the side of her face. "I’d pay to see that."

She exhaled sharply, the tension in her body loosening just slightly. Max knew her too well—knew exactly how to disarm her with just a touch, a whisper, a perfectly timed kiss.

She caught his gaze in the mirror, and that sharp frustration softened into something playful. A wicked little idea flickered across her face.

"Give me your phone," she said suddenly.

Max raised a brow. "Why?"

She turned in his arms, holding out her hand expectantly. "Just give it."

He sighed dramatically but dug it out of his pocket, placing it in her palm. She unlocked it easily—of course she knew his passcode—and tapped into Instagram.

Max watched as she flipped the camera to the mirror, angling it so both of them were in frame. His arms were still around her, his face pressed into the side of hers, a lazy grin tugging at his lips.

She snapped the picture, typed something quickly, then handed the phone back.

Max glanced at the screen. His feed refreshed. And there it was—his screen now showing her latest post:

"7 titles, 4 WDC & 2 WCC."

His brows lifted before a slow, proud smirk spread across his face.

"You little menace," he murmured, kissing the side of her head again.

She grinned. "Let’s see them try to talk shit now."

Max chuckled, slipping his phone back into his pocket before tightening his arms around her. "This is why I love you," he muttered.

She sighed, leaning into him. "Yeah, yeah. Now take me to dinner before I have to cuss someone out again."

Max just laughed, grabbing her bag and slinging an arm around her as they headed out—because that? That was the easiest request he’d had all day.

the end.

taglist: @alexisquinnlee-bc @carlossainzapologist @oikarma @obxstiles @verstappenf1lecccc @hzstry8 @dying-inside-but-its-classy @anamiad00msday @linnygirl09 @mastermindbaby @iamred-iamyellow @isaadore

[rosiecosy]

come back home୨ৎ

(seventeen x reader) — angst, comfort

fights weren’t common between you and the boys, but when they happened, they always felt big.

tonight was no different.

you weren’t even sure how it started—something small, something dumb. maybe you were feeling overwhelmed, maybe they were frustrated too. but words were said, voices were raised, and suddenly, the walls of the dorm felt too tight, their voices too loud, the weight of their concern too heavy.

so you left.

you barely registered the way the door clicked shut behind you, barely noticed the cold bite of the night air against your skin. all you knew was that you needed space.

—

your feet carried you to the nearest park without much thought.

it was mostly empty at this hour, the dim glow of streetlights casting long shadows across the pavement. the only sound was the distant hum of passing cars, the occasional rustling of leaves. it was quiet. peaceful. a stark contrast to the suffocating tension in the dorm.

you wandered over to the swings, hands shoved into your pockets as you let out a slow breath.

maybe you had overreacted. maybe you should’ve just stayed and talked things through. but it was hard—being the youngest, the only girl in a dorm full of overprotective boys. they meant well, you knew that, but sometimes it was exhausting. too many opinions, too many voices telling you what to do, too many people hovering, worrying, questioning.

and you knew they only did it because they cared, but sometimes… sometimes you just needed to breathe.

you sat down on the swing, the chains creaking softly as you pushed off the ground. the rhythmic motion was soothing, the cool air helping to clear your mind. you closed your eyes, letting the weight of the night settle around you.

—

meanwhile, back at the dorm, the boys were spiraling.

"she’s not picking up," minghao muttered, lowering his phone.

"maybe she just needs a minute," vernon offered, though he sounded unsure.

"what if she doesn’t come back?" seokmin blurted out, eyes wide.

"don’t be ridiculous," woozi sighed, though his grip on his phone was tight.

"what if something happens to her?" mingyu asked, looking way too close to panicking.

"okay, enough," seungcheol cut in. "jun, jeonghan, joshua—you check the streets. hoshi, woozi, dino—stay here in case she comes back. the rest of us will check nearby cafés or parks."

"we’re not splitting up like a horror movie," jeonghan muttered, but he was already grabbing his coat.

—

you didn’t know how long you had been swinging when you heard footsteps approaching.

you blinked, slowing your movement, turning your head just in time to see seokmin and mingyu jogging toward you, relief washing over their faces the second they spotted you.

"there you are!" seokmin huffed, hands on his knees as he caught his breath.

"we’ve been looking everywhere," mingyu added, slightly breathless.

you blinked at them, a little guilty but mostly just tired. "i was just getting some air."

your phone buzzed in your pocket—seungcheol’s name flashing across the screen. you hesitated before answering.

"…hi?"

"where are you? are you safe? why didn’t you answer your phone?"

"i’m fine," you sighed. "i just needed to clear my head."

"stay where you are. we’re coming."

you didn’t get a say in it.

—

when you got back to the dorm, thirteen pairs of eyes were on you.

seungcheol looked like he wanted to lecture you. seungkwan looked like he wanted to cry. dino looked like you had personally betrayed him.

"i was literally gone for, like, twenty minutes," you pointed out.

"twenty minutes too long," hoshi muttered.

"don’t do that again," jeonghan sighed, pulling you into a hug.

"we thought you left for good," dino mumbled.

your expression softened. "what? why would i do that?"

they all exchanged awkward glances.

"…because of the fight?" jun said hesitantly.

you blinked. "guys."

"you left without saying anything," joshua pointed out.

"because i knew i’d come back," you said. "i just needed some space, that’s all."

seungcheol exhaled, rubbing his temples. "just—next time, tell someone, okay?"

guilt crept in at the worry in his voice. "okay. i’m sorry."

they all nodded, still looking a little shaken but relieved.

"now, group hug?" seokmin suggested.

before you could protest, you were pulled into a mess of arms, warmth, and way too much body heat.

"okay, okay, i get it!" you laughed. "i’m not going anywhere."

"good," woozi muttered. "because that was awful."

"never again," seungkwan mumbled into your shoulder.

and despite everything—despite the fight, despite the worry—this felt like home.

[yelenasdiary]

Little reader au! Reader is 11 and is being bullied at school because she has two moms. One of the kids calls her mom's a slur and she punches them. The school tries to suspend her and mama bears Nat and Wanda come to the rescue defending reader. Maybe ends with an ice cream reward??

Message Sent

Pairing: Natasha Romanoff x Daughter! Reader, Wanda Maximoff x Daughter! Reader

Summary: You got in trouble at school for standing up for yourself, 

Angst, Comfort

Warnings: Homophobic slur (Fag), Mentions of homophobia, Mentions of Blood | 1.1K

AC: Thank you for sending this, I hope you enjoy! x

A Widow’s Sunshine Masterlist

The playground was buzzing with chatter, laughter and the occasional shout of excitement as you ran around playing ‘tag your it’ with your friends. You raced around the playground just like your late uncle, Pietro, would’ve, you were always the hardest one for your friends to tag. But the laughter and big smile soon turned to fear as you saw the schoolyard bullies approaching. 

“Look!” One shouted, pointing at you. “it’s the girl with two moms!” Snickered Bailey, a boy from your class. He was only a few inches taller than you but somehow it always felt like he towered over you. His friends, Drew and Blake, laughed as they stood behind him, pointing at you. Your cheeks flushed with humiliation; the entire playground was now looking at you. 

Feeling confident within himself, Bailey took a few steps closer to you with a teasing grin on his smug face. “Are you going to grow up and be a fag like them?” He teased once more. The feeling of humiliation quickly turned to a surge of anger that you couldn’t contain and in a moment of raw emotion, you stepped forward closer to Bailey and, with a quick motion, your hand in a strong fist, you punched the boy right in the face. 

The playground fell silent as Bailey tumbled back, landing on his backside. Laughter was replaced with gasps of shock, Bailey began to wail when he noticed the blood streaming from his nose. Your heart was pounding as you towered over the school yard bully, the playground around you turned to a blur as you death stared the boy.

“Y/n Romanoff!” A stern voice called, snapping you back to reality. You turned to see your teacher, Miss Smith, with her arms crossed over her chest. “Principal’s office, now!” She added. You sighed heavily knowing just how much trouble you were in as you began to make your way to the large building. “Bailey, come with me, we’ll get you cleaned up and you can tell me what happened” you heard your teacher’s voice behind you.

Lunch time was over, and you were still sitting outside the principal’s office. Miss Smith had not long taken Bailey in to discuss what had happened. Your heart felt heavy as you thought about how much trouble you were in, what would your moms think? 

Before your mind could begin to go deeper into thought, Mr Thompson opened his door. Miss Smith and Bailey walked out without saying a word, Bailey holding a tissue to his nose as he walked by you, sending you a glare. “Y/n, come in” Mr Tompson said in a rather disappointed tone. You pushed yourself up off the chair and walked into his office. Mr Thompson closed the door behind him before taking a seat behind his desk. 

“Y/n, Miss Smith and Bailey told me what happened today during lunch time” he started in a serious tone. “You know that we do not tolerate bullying in this school” he added.

“But…he was bullying me!” You corrected, trying to defend yourself. “He came up to me and made fun of me for having two moms and called them a slur!” You added. Before Mr Thompson could reply, his door swung open and in walked your moms.

“Honey, are you okay?” Nat said in a worry, giving your face a check over, “Mr Thompson said you got into a fight” she added. 

“I’m fine mom, I promise” you said, looking up at her. 

Your mother frowned in confusion, “what happened?” She asked. 

Wanda, gently placing a hand on your shoulder for comfort.

“It was Bailey again” you sighed, “I was just playing with my friends and he came up to me and made fun of me for having two moms and then he asked me if I was going to grow up and be a –“ you paused, not wanting to say the slur that was wrong at you so you looked up at Wanda, letting her read your mind. Wanda turned to Natasha and quietly whispered the slur so you wouldn’t have to say it. 

“So I punched him” you added. 

Your mother, Natasha, turned to Mr Thompson, crossing her arms across her chest, “let’s be clear here. Y/n isn’t the problem. She stood up for herself while this kid has been continuously bullying her!” She said sternly. 

Mr Thompson adjusted his glasses, “I understand your concerns Miss Romanoff, but we do not condone violence in this school. I’m sorry but I have no choice but to suspend Y/n” 

“But you condone homophobia?” Wanda looked at him. 

“Of course, not” he replied, looking up at your mother who stood protectively behind you. “Bullying of any kind is not tolerated here” he added. 

“So, let me get this straight” Natasha cleared her throat, “you’re going to suspend our daughter because she stood up for herself when she was the target of a homophobic slur? But because she hit somebody, this kid gets what? Nothing? A few moments of attention because he got some sense knocked into him?” 

Mr Thompson, taken back by Natasha’s words, “I was not aware of the nature of the situation until Y/n came in here. I was simply told that she had been given Bailey a hard time recently and today when Bailey asked her kindly to stop, she hit him” 

“That’s a lie!” You inserted yourself, “he is always making fun of me! He is always making others laugh at me, it’s not fair!” You snapped, holding bad your tears of frustration.

“If you’re going to suspend her for this, I will make sure everybody knows this school likes to give a pass for homophobic behaviour. Do I make myself clear?” Natasha said in a serious tone. Defeated, Mr Thompson finally relented. “Alright, I won’t suspend her, but I will speak to Bailey and his family. I do apologise for all of this. Y/n, you may go back to class” 

“Actually, we’re going to take her home” Wanda replied, sending a proud glance to Natasha. Your moms always taught you to stand up for yourself, others and what you believed in and today proves that you were taught well. 

As you and your mothers left school, Nat took your hand, “you did the right thing today sweetheart, I’m so proud of you” she smiled softly. 

“But you always said violence was bad” you replied. 

“It is, but, in this case, you used it to send a message and it was big one” your mother explained. 

Wanda smiled softly at you, “how about we go get some ice cream? I think you deserve it” 

Your eyes lit up, “yes please!” You beamed, “can I please get two scoops?” You asked, making your mothers chuckle. 

“I’m sure two scoops is perfect for our brave girl!” Wanda replied. 

“You may have as may scoops as you like, my love” Nat said, taking your backpack from you as you all reached the car. 

“You guys are the best!” You beamed, jumping into the car.

Your mothers smiled at one another, “we love you, darling” Wanda said, before helping you buckle your seatbelt. 

“I love you too!” You replied, sweetly.

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If you want to be on the taglist for this series, please see the masterlist. It's linked at the top of this post.

[lologoinsolo]

Cats and Their Men Masterlist, Part 5, Part 6

You can’t seem to think without debating over what you said to Kyle. Needless to say, you feel like you got in your head over it. Maybe he meant it and it wasn’t a pity ask or maybe it was. You don’t know. Kyle doesn’t seem like the type to do that to a lady. He’s sweet, and genuinely funny and handsome and kind an—

“Dude,” Jess comes from the grooming salon as you bang your head against the reception table. You were cold calling but your mind had other ideas. “You look like shit.” Normally you’re more focused on your work but it’s just Kyle, Kyle, Kyle— Remember what you said to Kyle?

Sighing defeatedly, “gee, thanks.” Hitting your head again and again on the firm table. Your forehead throbs when you finally give it rest. “I feel like shit.” You’ve been a zombie at work, you don’t speak much about your home life. You try to keep that separate from the job because you don’t want to drag it in here. It’s not your fault that a stupidly handsome man with an equally stupidly charming smile looked at you the way he did. So why do you feel so hung up about it?

“So…” She asks after a moment of far too much silence. “How’s the calling going?”

“Oh, it’s going.” Groaning softly, “not many people are answering. Some said they wanted to come in but not for today.” Some even started bitching about their previous grooms but you muted them until they finished and still asked if they wanted to come in for an appointment. Funnily enough, they said no.

“Surprised it’s slow for a Saturday.” One of the pains of a grooming salon is that it’ll be filled with clients or it’ll be deader than a western movie scene of a tumbleweed blowing in the wind. “You wanna leave early today?” Nudging you a little as she asks maybe to brighten you up. You’ve been a little cloud of gloom and the other groomers are getting worried.

You think it over, maybe you can ask Connor to let you take a shift on the floor? They still haven’t hired anyone but it would be nice to get home earlier than you usually do. Kyle hasn’t come back… maybe you did fuck yourself over. Wouldn’t be the first time you shot yourself in the foot. His warm brown eyes flashes through your mind's eye and you stand up quickly. Jess quirks a brow and you give a weak nod, “yeah… yeah, I’ll clock out.”

“Alright, clean up and get going.”

She leaves you to your thoughts, cleaning up some kennels and hurriedly clocking out before one of the groomers can even ask you to bathe one of their dogs. Heading straight for the breakroom and shoving your hoodie back on. Rubbing over your face again when you see your reflection. You do look tired. Why does this bother me so much? Walking out and stuffing your wallet and keys into your hoodies pocket. “Oh wait,” you bite your lip slightly, a man’s voice can be heard milling over the different litters the store sell. The Scottish notes to his voice barely heard when you think about those cats around your apartment that you’ve been feeding. “I could to buy another bag.” Blame your grandma for your love of cats, that woman is THE old cat lady and you love that for her.

You waltz down the familiar aisle, looking from the 25 pound bag to the 50 pound bag… It might be best to get the smaller one since you ride the bus but the big one would feed the cats longer. “hmm, alright,” you go for the heavier one after weighing your options. Heaving it onto your shoulders, you wobble a bit when you bend back too far. Shit… Shit! Your world starts to flip and you’re bracing for a hard fall.

“Woah!” A hand settles heavy on your back and steadies you. “Ye need help, lass?” Sparkling blue eyes look down at you. He doesn’t even wait for an answer as he pulls it over his shoulder with ease.

“You— hey!” He doesn’t let you take it from him even when you try to reach for it. In fact, he steps back towards his cart that pokes out from behind him. “I can handle it.” You’re just tired and sluggish, you can lug those things in your sleep.

“Nearly took a tumble,” he winks and you get a better look at him as your lips purse. He’s handsome in a charming, farmer boy way. His hair’s cut into a mohawk and you’d make fun of it if it didn’t actually fit his appearance. There’s a jagged pink scar that’s hard not to notice on his face, your stomach churns at what he must’ve gone through to survive that. The other thing that worries you is that he’s wearing no jacket or hoodie and his face, arms, and hands look like he’s been run through a human sized blender.

“I’m— are you okay?” You point to his arms first and he looks down. He grins something wild and you take the tiniest step back.

“Yeah,” he shrugs, “this one just needed some convincing.” You tilt to the side and nearly squeal when he pulls his cart to his side. A bundled up cat in a thick, dark blue jacket is nestled over some litter bags. Orange fur poking out to the fluffiest extent and what’s something of a coincidence… The cat looks like they got an orange looking mohawk of their own. “Bugger didnae want to be caught.”

You blink once and then twice, “oh… oh?!” He laughs a little when it starts to make sense on those cuts of his. The cat doesn’t look like they’d do that from where you’re standing though. They’re sitting quietly in the jacket save for the tiniest flicker of its orange fluffy tail. Slowly blinking their eyes as if the noises from your conversation has woken them up. “They did that?” Gesturing to him once more, “really?”

He nods, doesn’t seem strained at all with how he still holds your bag of cat food. “He’s been around my house for the longest. Took a lot of convincing to grab him.” And you can see the effects of that convincing. Poor, little guy he must’ve tried so hard escape the Scot’s arms from how beat up the man looks. Wait… Scot?

“Johnny?” You blurt and his shoulders tense. His smile drops, the blue of his eyes switches to something sharp. “I— sorry, are you Johnny?” Stammering a little as he eyes you up and down.

His eyes squint and he stands a little more in front of his cart, blocking your view of his cat. “Aye, that’s me,” his accent thicker and just a bit on edge. “Have we met?” No… no you have not and he knows that.

“No, I— uh, Kyle? Are you friends with Kyle and John?” Stammering out your words.

It starts to click in his head and whatever tense moment that was there is gone immediately. “Bonnie?!” You flinch at his boom, “I ken who ye are,” puzzles all connecting finally in his head now, “boys been yappin’ about ye, was wonderin’ when I’d met this cashier of theirs.” Boys? Plural? Theirs? “Can ye help me, lass? I’ve an idea on how to take care of my boy but m’not against asking for help. Been told ye ken what yer doin’.”

The complete 180 is a whiplash, he acted like you were gonna hurt him. Like you could, all the men you’ve been meeting recently look like they can easily hold themselves alone in a fight. “Yeah,” shuffling around, the boys he mentioned are probably the three you’ve met already. Small world… “I can help you out. I don’t mind.” You smile and he returns it happily, granted you are off the clock but… you have a feeling he’ll need some pointers. Damn your heart of hearts. “I can hold tha—“

“Nonsense,” waving his hand with a shrug of his shoulder when try once more to grab the bag. “I’d never let a bonnie thing like ye lift anything heavy. S’what these are for, yeah?” He flexes his arms and you try to not ogle at the muscles. “Mind pushing the cart though?” You nod and step closer to push. His cat seems to not even care at all about the movement. Just sits and stares, calm as can be despite the terror he must’ve caused Johnny.

“He’s a pretty fluffy cat, I’d recommend a good comb.” Cats can get matted and knotted despite being self-groomers, you’ve seen some get groomed at the salon. Usually longhair cats like this one. His paws are big, ears pointed more, “I think your boys a maine coon cat.” The lion’s mane also helps in your thought process. “At least he could be?”

“I think so too,” Johnny looks positively happy in his capture. He worked hard to catch and chase. “He’s been eating what I’ve been leaving out, I checked for a collar but found none.” Though… you doubt he’d care about that from the way he’s speaking. “Guess he’s all mine, Kyle owes me money.” You perk up at the mention of Kyle.

“Poor lad, seemed sad the other day.”

You deflate a little, looking away and you miss the knowing look that Johnny gives you. “Yeah…” you mutter and leave the cart to pull items for his cat. If you had his number then maybe you could talk to him. Or maybe you wouldn’t… “here,” you come back with a cat bed and some toys. You’ve yet to figure out what to say to Kyle when— if. If he comes back. You hope he comes back.

“Careful, hen,” Johnny says worriedly as you put your hand in the cart. Johnny makes a move to grab your arm but it’s too late, your hands already placing the toys down in the cart. There’s a brief pause before his cat tilts his head and moves to sniff as best as he can despite being burrito’d in the jacket. “Oh?” His eyes widened slightly, “I see how it is, hmm? Ye scratch me up but allow the pretty lass to be near ye.” Turning rather green with jealousy as you laugh at his envious expression. To add insult to injury you pet his boy some more and he purrs. Loudly.

“Well…” you pet away at the purring cat, rubbing from his nose to the top of his head. His ears flickering when you thumb over his head to then scratch at his chin. “You did chase him.” Cooing down at the baby, not an ounce of spiciness in those big eyes of his. “Poor boy, you were just scared? Weren’t you?” Baby talking the cat as if he can understand you. “Big scary man came grabbing at you, poor baby.” You’d probably freak out too if Johnny came after you… the man looks like he can definitely toss you around.

“It was for his own good,” Johnny rolls his eyes with indifference. “I couldnae leave ‘im out in the cold.” You flick through the cat’s tufts of hair on the top of his head. Standing them up so it looks more like a mohawk to match his dad’s hairstyle. “He’s too smart, tried to box’im but he ken what I was doin’.” There’s a growing of a smile on his face as he watches you. Can’t be bothered to stay displeased, not with how sweetly you are eing towards his cat. He’s starting to understand the appeal.

You feel eyes on you and you lock eyes with him once you look up. He doesn’t turn from you even as you pull back. The cat doesn’t seem happy about the loss of pets when he tries yet fails to get out of the jacket. “I,” clearing away at your throat and that makes him blink finally. “Well… how did you get him?” A bit curious but it falters when Johnny grins wolfishly. “Oh no, what did you do?”

“Built him a cat house with one of those nice heaters. Only,” he leans closer like he’s telling you a secret, “I made it to where it would shut once he stepped in.” Rolling his shoulder slightly once he stands straight so the bag sits better. “Hardest part was getting him settled cause once I managed to get’em out of it. He ran all around the house knocking things over.” He chuckles, “had to wrap my jacket ‘round him. Clawed me up good.” — ouch! Aw ye stupid wee man! M’tryna help ye, stop bitin’! No, John, m’fine. Finally got my boy.— “He seems calm,” those blue eyes of his squint, “for now.”

Snorting a laugh, “yeah, he does. Just shaken up.” Pivoting on your heel, “come on, need to get you some more things for him. Hope you don’t mind?” He’s already got the litter and the litter box, even has the cat food.

“Not one bit, lass, not one bit.”

You take him around the store to grab what’s needed. His cat is snoozing the entire time, only waking up when a bump gets hit or you laugh a little too hard from Johnny’s jokes. Turns out, the Scot really is bad at naming things. “Firewatch is not a name, Johnny.”

“Ye sound like John.” He muses, cocking a brow at you.

“It’s the truth.” Saying it like a judge’s final answer on a case.

“An Cheddars any be’ter?” Tilting his head down, he’s long since put your bag of cat food in his cart. He would’ve held it longer had you not pestered him so. He liked how flustered you became when he asked if you’re always so worried or if it’s just for him. “Startin’ to think ye donnae ken how to give names.”

“Hey,” looking highly upset that he’d doubt your superior naming abilities. “I can name a cat, you just don’t like any of the names I’ve mentioned.” You’ve both listed off names. Cheddar, Bomb, Apollo, Firestick, Jackie, Blaze, Riley— now that on one, he seemed vehemently against. You don’t know why and he refused to give his reasonings behind it. “What about… Oliver?” He goes to say something but pauses once he chews on it.

“Hmmm,” he looks from your and then downwards, “Oliver, huh? Better than Riley that’s for sure.” Somewhere a big man in a mask that sneezes, “alright,” Johnny concedes, “I like it.”

“Could call him Ol’ Riley for short?” Wiggling your brows.

“Oh, now ye are pushing yer luck, lass.” Pushing the cart to the front to get to paying for everything you told him he’d need. He doesn’t mind the price, pays for it without doubting your knowledge. Even pays for the cat food that you planned on buying much to your surprise. He simply smiled when you tried to offer him your discounts, “s’fine, hen. Least I could do since yer not workin’.” Your cheeks warm a little, those butterflies start fluttering around once more.

“Okay, but, next time?” God, will there be one? “I’m paying for you.” Not taking a no for an answer on the matter.

“S’bad manners if I let ye pay for me, hen.” shaking his head once he walks with you to the exit. “Do ye need help taking this to yer car?”

“What? Oh,” shaking your head no, “I uh,” thinking of a quick excuse. “I need to talk to my manager, gott speak with him on somethings.”

“Ye want me to stay then?” His arms cross as he offers, “I can load it up for ye once yer done.”

“No, no, it’s fine.” Coming close and petting Oliver one final time, you reach right for the big bag but Johnny’s hand wraps around your wrist gently to stopping you.

“Ye sure?” You take in a quick gasp, he’s nearly at your side. He’s warm, like a furnace, burns hot even when there’s a chill outside. “S’pretty heavy.”

“Y-Yeah,” tugging back from his grasp, “I’m sure,” you pick it up and he helps settle it on your shoulders. Distributing the weight for you so you don’t have to. “You should get home. It’s too cold out to not be wearing a jacket.”

“Donnae worry yer pretty head, lass.” His hand lands on his hip as he watches to make sure there’s not a wobble to your legs. “I’ll see ye?” Though it doesn’t sound like a question, sounds more like he knows he will sooner rather than later.

“Okay,” watching as he finally leaves to load up his car. You hide in the grooming salon till you think he’s gone and then make the trek up to your bus’s stop. Plopping the bag down and you sit to take a deep breath. There’s sweat on your brow despite the cold but your bus should be coming any minute now. Wiping at your brow, you pick up your phone to look on tiktok to pass the time. Once you hear the hiss of the bus stopping you heave the cat bag up and over your shoulders. Trudging along inside and sitting back in your usual spot.

You don’t notice the pair of eyes thats been watching you from a distance. Taking note of your exhaustion from where he observes you, “hm...” He leaves once your bus gets on moving down its route. It takes you straight home as always.

[uluvjay]

Risky Business-K. Guhle

Kaiden Guhle x Fem! Xhekaj reader

In which you calling Kaiden to pick you when your friends ditch you turns into more then you could’ve ever expected..

Warnings?; SMUT, protected sex, pretty much public sex, bar scene, kissing, cursing, reader has shit friends, brothers best friend!, mentions of anxiety and getting caught, sorry if I missed any errors!!

Kaiden wasn’t to surprised to see your name pop up on his screen, you two were friends because of your brother but you didn’t text all that often.

But when he saw what you were asking he truly had no surprise in his body as he read the words that your friends had left you and you were drunk and alone at the bar.

He already had your location from the last time he had to pick you up from the club when your friends abandoned you so he sent a quick ‘Omw’ and was out the door.

Pulling up to the bar fifteen minutes he was lucky to find a close parking spot before hopping out and making his way inside.

His eyes instantly found your body sitting at the bar your hair curled just the way he liked with that little dress hugging your body.

Hearing the stool next to you pull out your head shot up a look of relief filling your face at the sight of Kaiden.

“What happened birthday girl? Where are all your friends.” He asked softly.

You took a moment to look over his appearance, it was clear he’d been lounging around his apartment by the hoodie and joggers he sported, he didn’t have a hat on for once letting his blonde hair fall freely over his forehead.

he looked so pretty

“They left me..again” you mumbled staring down at your drink pitifully.

You heard him order a glass of whiskey before he replied, “Where’d they go this time?”

Sadly this wasn’t the first time your so called friends had left you on a night out only this time it happened to be your birthday celebration.

Typically they’d find hot guys and it wouldn’t take long for them to be dishing you a goodbye and following them out the door and into the back of an Uber.

The first few times it happened you called your older brother to come and get you but after the third time and a scolding you knew it was better not to.

So that’s where Kaiden came in, he was close to Arber so he was close to you. He always seemed to be around and you would be lying if you said you didn’t have a crush on the defenseman.

So when your brother said if he had to rescue you from an abandoned night one more time then he’d take your phone and block your so called friends you started calling Kaiden and he always came.

“Same as always, some guys were flirting with them and they went home with them.” You shrugged finally giving him your eyes.

“But it’s your birthday, they left just like that?” He questioned.

“Their excuse was that my actual birthday isn’t till tomorrow and they’d make sure to make it up to me.” You laughed at their pathetic excuse.

Kaiden shook his head at your words, he hated how they treated you but it wasn’t his place to tell you what to do or who to be friends with.

Only thing he could do was try to make the rest of the night fun for you and that’s what he planned on doing.

Checking his watch he saw it was 11pm on the dot, meaning he had an hour to make sure you started your birthday off right.

“Come on, let’s go play a round of pool” he spoke as he stood up holding a hand out for you.

“I don’t know how to play.” You laughed.

“I’ll teach you.” He shrugged before downing the rest of his drink and ordering a beer for himself and a Shirley temple for you.

Twenty minutes later Kaiden found out you weren’t lying when you said you were bad, the table was scratched from your endless misses and he could see the frustration growing on your face.

No matter how many tips or tricks he offered they weren’t helping, you still couldn’t get a good grip on the pool stick and your aim was awful.

“Here, let me show you.” He laughed setting his drink down and moving behind you.

His hand stilled as he reached for the stick, should he get this close? Were you okay with him getting this close?

“If you don’t mind.” He added nervously.

“I don’t mind, I need all the help I get. I’m embarrassing myself here.” You huffed in reply looking around the somewhat filled bar.

Kaiden took a step closer, chest pressed up against your back as he instructed you to grab the pool stick.

“Okay you need to bend yourself at an angle, wanna be able to see the ball and where you’re aiming.” He spoke softly.

You did as he said bending over so you were closer to the table but from the soft laugh behind you something told you that you were still wrong.

“No, like this.”

Kaiden didn’t think about it when his hands pulled at your hips, pulling you back slightly before pressing your lower back so you weren’t as stiff.

Your breath hitched at the touch, this felt very intimate and you hated how your body tingled from his touch.

What you weren’t ready for was his body to bend with yours, his face inches from your ear as his hand moved up to cup yours on the pool stick.

“Still okay?” He questioned.

“Mhm”

Your brain was jumping at the contact of his calloused hands, his warm body pressed against yours in a way that would send your brother into shock.

“And then you wanna pull ba-Are you even listening?” He chuckled, the sound sending a wave of heat through your body.

He could see the apples of your cheeks tint red at his words, he wasn’t dumb he felt the way your body reacted to his, the little sounds that left your mouth when he pressed up against you.

“Yeah, of course I am” you scoffed but he could hear the nerves in your voice.

“You sure?”

He was closer this time, much closer. Your eyes meeting his as he moved his body up more this time positioning himself next to you.

You couldn’t help the way your eyes traveled from his eyes to his lips, they were temping, light pink and plump begging to be tinted red from your lipstick.

Kaiden caught your eyes and he’d be lying if he said the same thoughts weren’t running through his mind. He was itching to see how you looked with swollen lips and blown out eyes, his hand around your throat as he kissed you like there was no tomorrow.

“Fuck it” he mumbled.

You didn’t get a chance to reply before his lips were on yours, his hands pulling you up and pressing your chest to his. The kiss was filthy, you wasted no time to respond to his desperate movements.

He groaned softly as your fingers tangled into his hair at the nape of his neck, his large hands tight against your waist as your lips moved in tandem.

He finally pulled away when he needed air, both of you panting as your eyes locked and you thought about your actions.

“My brother-“

“Doesn’t have to know.” He finished for you.

Arber not know you just kissed his best friend? Not know that you had feelings for the blonde? The man you lived with who happened to live the floor below Kaiden.

“But-“

“No buts, you always put everyone before yourself and I’m tired of standing back and watching it. Let me show you how important you are, how much you deserve to be loved and taken care of..please.” He cut you off, blue eyes pleading with you to give him a chance.

“Okay..but if he finds out you’re the one that’s dealing with him.” You spoke.

“Deal.” He laughed bringing you in for another kiss this one much hotter then the first, his hands roaming this time running under the hem of your dress cupping your ass.

“We can’t do this here” you shuddered the feeling of his hands had the throb between your thighs growing.

Kaiden knew he wasn’t going to make it home, and while he wasn’t one for public sex he knew he had to have you now.

“Come with me.” He pulled you behind him.

You followed him silently as he walked you two towards the restaurant part of the bar which was now closed at the late hour.

He looked around not seeing a soul in sight he was quick to pull you behind a tall wall, pinning you against the host stand you stood at only a few hours earlier.

“Kaiden! What if someone sees.” You panicked looking around for anyone that could see.

“Baby the restaurant has been closed for hours, nobody is over here anymore we’re okay.” He reassured you, his lips moving to your neck.

“You sure?”

“Positive.” He nodded lips working over your sensitive skin kissing down to the top of your breasts that showed through the top.

You whimpered when he found your sweet spot his mouth sucking on the skin as one of his skilled hands trailed down your body and under your dress.

Your body shuddered at the feeling of his touch, his middle finger running over the lace of your panties before pulling them down.

You stepped out of the material whimpering as he stuffed them into his back pocket, he shot you a cocky wink before he was rolling your dress up giving him a view of your dripping cunt.

“So wet for me baby.” He cooed, fingers running through your folds as he prepped you to take his cock.

“Kaiden” you panted, hands gripping his hoodie for stability as pleasure spread through your body. A hot fire began burning your skin as his continued to work you open.

His lips swallowed yours when he slipped one inside of you, careful to mask your noises so nobody caught on to what was happening if they did happen to overhear.

You shook against him as he pumped his finger in and out, adding a second when he felt you were ready for more of him.

“Please..” you weren’t sure what exactly you were even begging for, you just knew you needed more-more of him.

“Please what baby?”

“Fuck me, please Kaiden. I need it.” You begged him hands reaching for the drawstring of his joggers.

“It is my birthday after all.” You added with a pleading look.

Kaiden picked up his free hand to look at his wrist, the heavy metal read 11:35 meaning you had 25 more minutes before it was really your birthday.

“Still got 25 minutes baby, but you’ve had a bad night so I’ll be nice.” He smirked.

You hated how empty and cold you felt when he removed his fingers and stepped back to grab his wallet from his pocket.

You watched as he pulled out the little gold packet before pulling his pants and boxers down just enough for his cock to spring free.

Your mouth watered at the sight of him, his mushroom head cock red and glistening with precum, you couldn’t help yourself as you reached out to stroke him softly spreading the cum down his shaft.

“Oh fuck” he gulped at the feeling your soft hand wrapping around him.

You took the condom from him stretching the latex over his thick cock watching with need as it hugged him perfectly.

“Turn around pretty girl.” He said, his tone commanding.

You did as he said bracing yourself against the wooden stand waiting for him as he spread your legs and positioned himself.

He didn’t waste anytime, his hips pressing forward as he slid his cock inside you. His strong hands gripping your hips as he got his pace steady.

Fuck he was big

Your hand shot up to cover your mouth as he pulled back and pushed himself into you again, this time bottoming out as his cock hit that sweet spot inside you.

He couldn’t help letting out a quiet moan himself when your body locked up around him, his grip on your hips tightening as he gave both of you a second.

That didn’t last very long before he pulled out again this time setting a fast pace his cock splitting you open as you hung onto the stand for dear life.

You did your absolute best to remain quiet, eyes clenched shut as you put all your focus on not letting the entire place hear how good he was making you feel.

“That’s it baby.” He muttered to himself, “taking it so fucking good.”

Your pussy fluttered at his words, each stroke of his cock was hitting you just right never failing to miss your sweet spot. Every nerve in your body on fire from the way he was fucking you, it was addictive, you were desperate for anything he was willing to give you.

You gasped when one of his arms hooked around you middle, pulling you flush against his chest as his thrusts somehow went even faster.

“Feel good baby?” He hummed in your ear, lips moving down your body in hot wet kisses, teeth nipping your skin in all the right places.

Feel good? It felt fucking amazing, your whole body felt like it was going to explode by the way he fucked you.

“Yes!, god yes. Feels so fucking good.” You whimpered voice barely there your nails dug into the cotton covering his arm as you held on for support.

Kaiden could feel your walls hugging him with each thrust, your orgasm no doubt closing in but he never let up. His thrusts were strong, each stroke more precise than the last.

His pace was punishing as he held you pinned to him, one of his large hands gripping your throat as he turned your face to pull you into a hot kiss.

It was all teeth and tongue, hot and sloppy as he fought you for dominance that you quickly gave up.

Your body was clenching him so tight as the pressure in your lower stomach built, it was all consuming, clouding your brain to the point it was all you could think about.

Him, it was all Kaiden, the way he touched you, kissed you, held you, fucked you.

This was an addiction you’d never come back from and you didn’t mind, not one bit.

“Go ahead baby, come for me. Show me what the birthday girl has been keeping from me.”

And with that your whole body tensed, the band in your lower stomach bursting as you came all over the condom. His hand shot from your throat to cover your mouth as you moaned into the skin at the overwhelming feeling.

His arm around your body tightening to help keep you standing as your legs shook, almost to the point of giving out as he continued to pound into you.

It wasn’t to long after your climax that Kaiden came himself, a deep guttural groan coming from him as he fucked you through his high.

You both panted breathlessly as you came back down to earth, both of your minds clouded with a post sex haze.

He rested you against the host stand as he pulled out of your dripping cunt, pulling the condom off and tying it he was quick to pull his pants up and your dress back down.

He couldn’t help himself when he smirked at your dazed expression when you turned to face him, eyes glossy, cheeks rosy, mascara slightly smeared from the tear tracks that stained your face.

He pulled you in for a kiss, this one much sweeter then any of the other ones you shared so far tonight, his hand cupping your cheek softly.

“Happy birthday pretty girl.” He smiled when he pulled back.

“Best birthday ever.” You cheesed back.

“Yeah?”

“Definitely.” You nodded in confirmation.

Kaiden was happy that he could end your awful night on a good note, happy that you were giving him a chance to show you a love you deserved.

“Wanna go back to mine?” He asked.

“Yes, I need out of these heels.” You groaned.

“Come on, let’s go get you into bed.” He smiled picking you up off your feet and carrying you to his car.

You knew you’d have to tell Arber eventually but right now that wasn’t on your mind, right now the only thing you were thinking about was how lucky you were to have Kaiden in your life.

-

[averillaratargaryen]

‘The Bitter Bond.’

Chapter XXVI

The winter season had dawned upon, after many months, Rhaenyra, Daemon and their children continuing to live on in Dragonstone, as they planned ahead for the future.

Daemon had spent much more time, helping Daerlyssa discover the real world, as the two would ride their dragons beside one another, and soon after, began in sword training her.

Whilst this was going on, Daerlyssa had seemed to be getting much better, the process of healing becoming efficient.

Her ravens to Aemond seemed to have gotten lighter and happier by the days, as did his, as the two wrote to one another back and fourth, without Daemon’s knowledge.

Whilst she agreed to be truthful to her father, it seemed she kept some secrets. However, it was no longer needed to be kept a secret, when Daerlyssa had noticed Aemond’s ravens becoming less and less.

And soon enough, none at all.

Whilst she thought herself to be a little hurt, it seemed her mind began to occupy elsewhere, in an engagement party planning, for her brother Jacerys and his bethroed, Baela.

And now, that time had come, as they stepped foot in Driftmark, amongst the house of Velaryon.

-

“I must say, Baela has never been this happy until now, seeing Jacerys once again” Corlys chuckled.

“As it is with Jace” Rhaenyra responds, “I think it was made a fine choice to have them bethroed.”

“And what of your daughter, Daerlyssa?” Rhaneys asks, “is she coping well?”

Daemon nods, “she has healed, within time, and gratefully so, as we get closer to the wedding preparations.”

…

“She is adorable!” Daerlyssa squealed at the grey furred cat, that sat in Rhaena’s lap.

“Her name is Baena” Rhaena responded with a light laugh.

“Baena? As in..?” She pointed to the two sisters, who nodded in response.

“We thought to have both of our names combined to one, to name her. That way, we both share our responsibilities to her” Baela explains.

“I see” Daerlyssa responds, “quite clever, actually.”

“Daerlyssa has only ever had an imaginary pet she named Robert” Luke gave his sister a teasing side smirk, before he had no choice in rubbing his arm, due to the stinging pain on the slap Daerlyssa had forced on him.

Baela and Rhaena both chuckle at the bickering siblings, Luke pointing his tongue out at Daerlyssa teasingly, as she did the same.

“It is nice, to see you this way” Baela then grabbed Daerlyssa’s attention, “when you first arrived to Dragonstone, it was.. hard to grasp what had happened to you, but understandably you needed time to heal. Which I am sure you have.”

“I have” Daerlyssa nodded with a smile in response, greatful for Baela’s genuine happiness, “in fact, Father has been teaching me how to fight with a sword.”

“He has?” Rhaena asks, before sucking her teeth out in annoyance, “I have always asked him to teach me and he never does!”

“Your mother prohibited me from doing so” Daemon was heard making his way towards the kids, who were sat at the balcony, crowded and in comfortable conversation.

And it seemed Daemon had overheard some of it.

“Yet mother is not here” Rhaena rolled her eyes away in response.

“I continue to accept her wishes. She meant well for you both, and wished me to keep you safe” Daemon held Rhaena from her shoulders, leaning down to kiss her against her cheek.

He then stood straight, walking towards Daerlyssa, “so, have you showed them some of your moves?”

“Father, I can not in a dress” Daerlyssa responds.

“Hmm” Daemon nods in amusement, “or perhaps it is because you know, no matter how much you train, you could never beat me.”

“I think I can” Daerlyssa stood up to her father’s challenge as she faced him.

“Perhaps you’d like to bet?” Daemon let out a soft chuckle, Rhaena and Baela watching, entertained by the actions that were to come.

“I do” Daerlyssa responded, attacking Daemon from the waist down with a quick kick to the leg.

Tripping back, Daemon still managed to stay stood up, walking back towards her, as the two fight it out playfully, Daemon to give the last pat against Daerlyssa’s shoulder.

“And that would be a cut to the shoulder” Daemon chuckled, holding his hand out to high five his other two daughters, “and that is Daemon for the win!”

His celebration, however, was put to an end, as Daerlyssa had lifted her foot, between his legs, kicking him within his inner thigh.

“Argh!” He groaned.

“You forgot one important rule father” Daerlyssa chuckled, before the two the reveal it at the same time, Daemon’s voice slighly weaker as he held his thigh, “never turn your back on an enemy.”

“I have to take that high five back” Baela gritted her teeth in embarrassment by her father, “it seems he is easily defeated.”

As the girls chuckle, Daemon smiled, before he shook his head, walking ahead to the end of the balcony.

“What the hell?” Daemon spoke in a low voice.

“What is it?” Daerlyssa asks, turning around to notice what had her father so agitated.

Her eyes lingered down below, as the family of five had arrived, all dressed in the colours of house Velaryon. All but one; Aemond Targaryen.

Viserys, Alicent, and their three children had arrived to Driftmark, sailing from ship.

“Father, do not make such a big deal” Daerlyssa responds, “our grandfather is the King. Of course he would have an invite.”

Yet Daemon ignored all reason, turning away as he rushed off to get himself face to face with his brother yet again.

Daerlyssa stayed looking down, her eyes catching Aemond as he stood further away from the others, and his outfit choice clearly standing out.

“How long has it been, that the two of you have spoken?” Baela asks.

“A while” Daerlyssa nods in response, her eyes widening when Aemond had looked up, his eye now meeting her.

Unsolved feelings and conversations lingered between the two, as they forget the company around them, as they continue to stare at one another.

It was more so that he hadn’t responded to her in a long time, that Daerlyssa continued to stare down at him, questioning whether or not he truly wished to be with her.

Yet Aemond could not stop staring, his feeling from within being clear that he had missed her very much. And to see her again, staring down at her with those soft eyes, and the colour of sea blue she wore that matched perfectly to her silver curls.

But he knew his reasons for not responding to her, and heard the sound of Alicent clearing her throat, having him turn his eye away from her, looking back down.

“He does not seem happy” Baela states, “i thought he’d be happy to see you, to say the least.”

“Well, I guess distance has caused us to drift” Daerlyssa looks down at her hands, slightly hurt, “but it does not matter. Nothing can ever progress. Father will kill me.”

“He would not, if he knew how much you love him” Baela responds, turning to face her, “all those ravens you have not yet sent, as you plead him to speak with you?”

“You read those!” Daerlyssa squealed in embarrassment as Baela chuckled.

…

Aemond took a glance up again, hearing the two girls chuckle amongst themselves, wondering what might have her so happy, before looking back forward, as Lord Corlys and Rhaenys had come to greet them.

But their greeting would not be gentle, with Daemon following behind them.

“What are you doing here?” He called out.

“Brother” Viserys let out a weak smile.

Daemon looks to Lord Corlys, the two then walking to the side to have a conversation amongst one another.

“Your brother, is our King” Corlys explains his reasons.

“The King who manipulated my daughter into a marriage that caused her to be sold away” Daemon responded in an aggressive whisper.

“I know” Lord Corlys nods, “but you can not say that he is not the grandfather to your children, Daemon. Your wife had also insisted it to be fine, to invite him.”

Daemon took a glance at Viserys, before letting out a frustrated sigh, “as long as he is away from my daughter.”

He turned away, walking off back inside, Lord Corlys then turning back to the King before walking back to stand beside his wife, welcoming them in.

-

“You must be nervous” Daerlyssa smiled at her brother, Jacerys, who stood adjusting his jacket.

“Nervous? Why would I be nervous?” Jacerys asks.

“Because your fingers are trembling” Daerlyssa responded.

“It is cold” Jacerys responds, looking at his sisters facial expression and let out a frustrated sigh, “I am not nervous!”

“Alright alright” Daerlyssa held her hands up in defence, “I believe you.”

…

It seemed Jace was ready, as everyone waited amongst the hall of the Velaryon house, everyone chatting amongst themselves but soon fall silent to the call of his name.

“Prince Jacerys Velaryon, Heir to the Iron Throne, Prince of Dragonstone, and Lord of the Tides.”

He seemed to have walked in on his own, Daemon and Rhaenyra walking behind and a couple of steps away.

Jace smiled nervously, but soon, his trembling had come to a calm, when his eyes met with his bethroed, Baela.

She gave him a smile, as did he, admiring her beauty, as did many.

“She looks just like her mother” Daemon whispered with a smile.

Jacerys had reached to face Baela, only a step away from her, before placing his hand out to her, and Baela accepting, as he led her back to middle of the floor, everyone sitting at their table or stood to the side.

They had started off with a dance, flowing with the tune to the violin that was played amongst the back.

Baela’s dress flowing in the direction she walked, both their eyes glued amongst each other.

Daerlyssa smiled, finding great joy in her brother and Baela, knowing the two were very happy amongst one another.

But it seemed her heart could not forget certain events.

…

"Skori dögri?" Daerlyssa asks him.

"What are you doing?"

Aemond responded, not with words, but by actions, as he began to circle her.

A motion dragons made, in order to claim their rider.

"Istan ao vesstãs bē?" Aemond whispered back, his eye dawning down upon her.

"Were you enjoying it?"

"Ao gevives mazigon issa rytsas" Daerlyssa defended her actions.

"You have been ignoring me all evening."

Aemond let out a soft smile, knowing he had been watching her the entire time, smitten by her presence, the moment she walked through those doors, wearing that dress.

"I wish to see you tonight" he whispered, "wear your cape and meet me outside."

"Where will you take me?" Daerlyssa asks.

"You will find out, if you make it to me tonight" Aemond responds.

He leaned his head toward her, as he took a deep breath in, noticing the smell of lavender that lingered on her soft skin.

Daerlyssa felt her cheeks burning, as she blushed, before looking toward Aemond as she watched him walk away from the crowd, and head out, leaving her in her own thoughts.

…

She smiled to herself as she recalled, as it felt the circumstances where just as much the same once again.

He had ignored her all evening, despite his looks from a distance, with Daerlyssa hadn’t caught.

“Why not speak to her?” Helena asks.

“Hm?” Aemond turns his head drastically, to face Helena, his nerves suddenly calming, “you know mother would not allow it.”

“She will be busy tonight, engaging in conversations with others. And besides, when have you ever cared of what she has to say?” Helena asks.

“She is our mother, and religion is very important to her. I disobeyed her religion by having Daerlyssa abed without marriage. I don’t plan to disappoint her and especially not tonight” Aemond responds.

“A conversation will not disappoint her. That is dramatic” Helena rolled her eyes, as she took a sip from her cup.

“Mother made her thoughts very clear, I-?”

“Look!” Helena turned to face him, stopping him from speaking, “love is a one time opportunity. Am I upset that I was oblivious to it? Yes. Was Aegon? Also yes. But we have gotten over it. And so will mother. But you can not let that stop you from speaking to her. In the end, you will lose a woman as good as her and will sit moping, and regretting.”

She placed her cup down as she looked at her brother in plea, “I am tired of seeing you with a pout as you mope around. I have seen that face for far too long and I wish it to lighten up.”

Helena then turned to walk away, when she noticed Baela and Jace’s dance had come to an end, and wished to congratulate them.

Daerlyssa, on the other hand, seemed to be engaging in conversations with the guests; male guests, to be specific.

“You look beautiful tonight, Princess” Royce Baratheon, a young Lord himself at the age of just twenty and two.

“Thank you, my Lord” Daerlyssa responded politely, despite not wishing to speak to him.

“Would you be interested in sharing a dance with me tonight?” He asks.

“Me?” Daerlyssa asks, looking around to see if her father could possibly pull her out of this situation, but it was obvious he had other matters to attend.

“You are a beautiful young woman, Princess. I would only be asking you” Royce responds.

“Well, I-?” Daerlyssa gives one last glance around, before her eyes met with Aemond’s, herself becoming nervous as she knew, he was witnessing what was going on.

Despite the two not speaking to one another, Daerlyssa held him with high respect, and in the end, had declined Royce’s offer.

“Unfortunately I can not, my Lord” Daerlyssa turns back to face him, “my father, he would not allow it. He does not allow me to be remotely this close to another man.”

“I see” He nods in response with a chuckle, “he is not wrong in keeping you away. Many men are monsters. And a Princess like you, it is best to keep you protected.”

Aemond continued to watch from afar, as the two smiled at one another.

Seeing her smile at him that way had caused him to turn his head away, out of frustration, not knowing that Lord Royce had headed off in one direction, and Daerlyssa in another.

He continued to stand alone, and had now drowned himself in two ups, despite only ever drinking one, every time, at a gathering.

“Prince Aemond” A woman had then called out to him.

Turning around to face her, he had come to a lady, pale as the snow that fell to the ground, amongst these walls.

Her eyes green as the hidden forests and her hair dark like the night sky.

There was only one woman to fit this description, and so he had gave her a smile back, “Alys Rivers.”

“I had just met with your sister. The Princess spoke quite fondly of you” Alys responded, “but she was right about one thing.”

“And what is that?” Aemond asks.

“Your face is glum” she spoke in truth.

Aemond let out a grin, “very straightforward.”

“Is there any reason for you to feel this way?” Alys asks.

“I am not glum” Aemond rolled his eyes, “my sister just speaks as though she knows me well.”

“My eyes tell me otherwise” Alys tilts her head, Aemond noticing her wish to flirt.

“Your eyes betray you” Aemond responds, a side smirk forming as he hints his acceptance with his eyes.

“My eyes tell me you are a young, handsome Prince who wouldn’t mind to take me for a dance. Do you say my eyes a deceiving me now?” Alys asks in a whisper, taking a step closer.

Aemond gives one last glance around, to find Daerlyssa nowhere in sight, and with the thought that she had gone off with Lord Royce Baratheon, had decided to accept Alys’ offer, “very well.”

The two made their way, arm in arm, whispers from some, who knew Alys Rivers to be a wet nurse, others knowing her to be a bastard to House Strong, and soon enough, whispers began to flow.

Aemond didn’t seem to care for the whispers, given that he was there to have a good time, whether it be a bastard he danced with, or a flock of sheep.

It was anything to get his mind of Daerlyssa, knowing she was in the crowd dancing beside Lord Royce Baratheon, but he was soon defeated in his own thoughts, when he has passed the young man dancing with another.

His smug smile had come to a frown, as he suddenly turned to look around, wondering where Daerlyssa was, and hoping she would not have caught him.

“It seems their opinions on bastards have changed” Luke whispered to his sister, as she looked at him confused.

Luke pointed his eyes out to the crowd, Daerlyssa turning her head to then see Aemond dancing with another.

Her heart dropped, as she noticed the two dancing with intimacy, their bodies close to one another, their fingers intertwined.

To think she had declined the offer of a Lord, for holding respect to the man who shamelessly danced with another woman before her.

“Sister-?”

“I need some air” Daerlyssa cleared her throat, looking away from him, to Baela, “if anyone asks, I am in my chamber.”

“Will you be alright? Do you need Rhaena, I can-?”

“No, no. It is alright” Daerlyssa responded, “I will be back soon.”

She rushed away, past the crowd, Aemond following her as his dancing had become a fail, stepping against Alys’ foot, when his concentration was elsewhere.

“You are not good at dancing” Alys complained.

Looking back down at their feet, Aemond then looked to her, a sudden realisation had hit him, “excuse me. Sorry, I have to go.”

Before Alys could ask where, Aemond had ran away, as he made his way past the crowd, of dancing people.

He broke up many, to try and get past, and did not care to apologise as he called out her name, “Daerlyssa!”

But she had continued to ignore him, as she found herself at the step of the door.

Aemond held his arm out to her, yet it seemed the distance was far too wide as he could not reach her and she had escaped out.

…

It was soon after that he had continue to run after her, reaching the gardens as he called out to her, “wait!”

But she continued to ignore him, running through the paths hidden within the trees.

He continued to follow along, until they had come to a stop, Daerlyssa stopping in her tracks and Aemond stopping behind her.

She kept her back facing him, not wishing for Aemond to see her, but he didn’t need to see her to know that she was upset, with the tone of her voice.

“Why did you follow me?” She asked.

“Daerlyssa?” He called out her name in question, his tone low but never threatening. No, he could never be threatening. Not towards a woman like Daerlyssa.

“You should leave” Daerlyssa sniffled, Aemond watching the movement of her hands as she lifts them up to wipe her tears, “I just needed some fresh air.”

“Daerlyssa I’m sorry, I should have never-?”

Before Aemond could apologise with an explanation, it seemed Daerlyssa didn’t wish to hear him, cutting off his words.

She believed he did not truly mean his apology, and it seemed he had come to move on from her. His apology, to her, only came from the scare of being caught.

“Do not apologise” Daerlyssa scoffed, “you are allowed to dance with whomever you please.”

The two fall silent, after Aemond had heard the disappointment in her voice, before making a bold request.

“Can you.. look at me?” He pursed his lips in grimace, waiting and yet she did not turn, “please, look at me.”

With a soft motion, Daerlyssa had turned to face him, yet her eyes stayed looking away, as he watched her hold her tears in.

“I know what you are thinking. And believe me-! Believe me, you have every right to be upset with me. Just let me explain” Aemond pleaded.

“You do not need to explain, nor am I a child to not understand” Daerlyssa responded, “it is fine. I am fine.”

“You are not” Aemond responds.

“I am” she sighed with a smile, fluttering her eyes as she turned to face him, “it is my brother’s engagement. I am happy for him, and completely fine.”

“Daerlyssa, please” Aemond begs for her truth.

“You may go back, to dancing with that.. woman” Daerlyssa responds, “and I will stay out here for the fresh air I had come for.”

She turns around to walk away, but Aemond had other plans in mind, holding her from her arm, as he twirled her back around.

“What of you and Lord Royce?” Aemond asks.

“The man I had denied a dance with, because I did not find the satisfaction in disrespecting you, after we have not spoken for so long?” Daerlyssa asks.

“If I had known you declined that offer-?” Aemond found himself rolling his eyes as Daerlyssa did not let him speak yet again.

“If you had known? The only reason you would stop yourself in dancing with her is to make yourself not look like a jerk. Either way, you are one!” She shouts back.

“I am not!” Aemond responds.

“Are too!” Daerlyssa points at him, Aemond letting out a sigh as he places her hand down.

“It is no wonder you have not responded to my raven. Whilst I believed you were busy with duties, it seemed your eyes were set elsewhere!” Daerlyssa scoffed.

“Do you truly believe me to be so bad?” Aemond asks, “because that is simply not true. I had only just met her today!”

“It would have not stopped you from speaking to other women within the city” Daerlyssa’s nose let out a little scrunch of annoyance.

And whilst Aemond loved her expression, he had kept his smile contained, “I am not a whore.”

“No?” Daerlyssa asks.

“No!” Aemond exclaims.

“Then why? Why ignore me, for the past few months. I have waited with no response from you. And then today? Not once did you look my way. Not until now!” Daerlyssa found her tears spilling out of annoyance on Aemond’s behaviour.

“My mother” Aemond responded, embarrassed that it was his reason.

“Oh to hell with it” Daerlyssa turns around to storm off.

“Daerlyssa!” Aemond called out in dissapointment.

“I hate you!” Daerlyssa turns back around.

“Oh you are insufferable” Aemond shook his head.

“Oh I am insufferable? You ignore me, you do not speak to me, then you flirt with another woman and dance with her. The only person insufferable is you, Aemond Targaryen!” She had felt herself shout ontop of her lungs, as Aemond stood back quietly.

Listening to it all.

A low smile on his lips, as he truly missed Daerlyssa; all of her. Including her outburst, such as this one here.

“What?” Daerlyssa asks.

The two stare at one another deeply, their eyes lingering down at each others lips and back into each others eyes, before Aemond had pulled her closer to him.

His hand pressed against her waist line, as he held her closely, her chest against his, and his lips against hers.

Aemond’s hand had lingered to get a firm hold of her face, as he deepens their kiss, with Daerlyssa then sliding her hands above his shoulders.

The touch of it was tender. Much softer.

Her hands continued to stay around his shoulders, before placing them above his chest, Aemond’s hand that cradled her cheek then held her jaw upward.

They stayed like that for a while, before Daerlyssa grew tired and frustrated, having being kept apart from him for so long.

Her hands had reached to the back of his neck, Aemond’s lips lingering down to her jaw shortly afterwards.

Daerlyssa let out a soft moan, as he continued down to her neck, her eyes fluttering.

But with all sudden, she had placed her hands back against his chest, as she began to force him back, and away from her.

“Aemond” Daerlyssa had whispered with so little voice, that he could not hear, “Aemond, stop!”

“What?” Aemond pulled himself back from her, looking with worry, “what is it? What happened?”

What worried him more with the terror in her eyes, as she looked over his shoulder having him turn around to meet the figure of one he did not wish to.

He was ready to confront what she had become terrified of, but had stopped himself in the jist to find Jacerys Velaryon staring back him.

And whilst he had managed to hold himself back, Jace did not, as a punch had landed on Aemond’s face, having him fall to the ground.

He laid on the floor, his ears ringing and himself slight dissociated from the alcohol he had consumed along with the harsh punches that began landing on his face, one by one, as Jace was sat above him, punching him from each side of his face.

With all the chaos, he could only recognise one thing; the sound of Daerlyssa’s screams as she cried out in terror, having him stop Jace from punching him, as he pushed him back.

Coughing out the blood of the harsh punches landed on him, he groaned in pain, looking towards Jacerys, “stop. You- You’re scaring her.”

His voice was strained from the immense pain, as he let his head fall back to the ground, dizzy from it all.

“Jace stop” Daerlyssa let out a sob, “please.”

But consumed with so much anger, Jace found himself back on top, a dagger in his hand as he held it up, holding Aemond from his collar.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t have your other eye out!” Jace shouts.

“Jace?” Daerlyssa looked towards the dagger as she whimpered, “Jace no! Please!”

“What is going on?” Rhaenyra’s voice was heard from the distance, before she made her way, noticing Jace’s stance, and immediately pulling him away.

Baela had followed after, noticing Jace, Aemond, and then Daerlyssa, who was stood to the side, frightened and in tears.

“Daerlyssa!” Baela approached her quickly.

“What is the meaning of this!” Rhaenyra raised her voice to her son, as she helped Aemond up.

But it seemed he did not want her help when he pushed her away, spitting out bloody once again, wiping his lips.

“Get her inside” Aemond spoke, his eyes directing to Daerlyssa.

Despite it all, it seemed the only care he had, was of Daerlyssa, who watched him leave, before looking at Jace with widened eyes.

With disappointment, she turned away, walking off.

“Daerlyssa” Baela called out, before turning to Jace as she looked at him disappointed, “what have you done?”

════ ⋆★⋆ ════

[universefcb]

Hellooo!! Could you write something with Pau Cubarsí? Where he meets Y/N's family, and is terrified of her father and older brothers? But in the end everything turns out okay. Something fluffy and funny please hehe 🤭💓

↬❥ Mission impossible

Pau Cubarsí x Fem!Reader

sy: He meets his family for the first time, but his brothers are protectors.

a/n: Sorry if there are mistakes, English is not my language.I hope this is what you asked for!

warnings: No warning.

Today was a big day. Pau Cubarsí would finally meet his family. You were excited, but he... not so much.

“Baby, you’re freezing!” you said, holding his hands as you walked to your front door.

“I’m fine... just a little nervous,” Pau admitted, trying to hide it.

He had heard a lot about his family. His mother was a sweetheart, but his father and older brothers... well, they had a slight history of being overprotective. And Pau, despite being a fearless defender on the field, felt like this would be his toughest defense yet.

When they entered, their mother welcomed them with a warm hug.

“Dude! I finally meet you, darling! Y/N talks about you so much!” she said, smiling.

He smiled in relief. At least one positive point.

But then… they arrived.

His father and two older brothers walked into the room. Three tall men, arms crossed, with sharp gazes straight at Pau. The aura of intimidation was almost palpable.

“So you’re our sister’s boyfriend?” one of her brothers asked, narrowing his eyes.

“Yes, it’s me,” Pau replied, swallowing hard.

“You play for Barcelona, right?” his father asked, without looking away.

“That’s right, sir.”

“Good to know. Because if you do anything wrong with my daughter, we’ll mark you like a defender in a Champions League final.”

Pau almost choked on his own air. You had to hold back your laughter.

“Dad!” you complained, giving him a light shove.

But his brothers laughed, amused by the evident terror in their boyfriend's eyes.

“Relax, Cubarsí,” the other brother said, giving him a none-too-gentle pat on the back. “We just need to make sure you’re the right guy for our sister.”

Pau nodded quickly, trying to hide his panic.

“I promise I am. I like her a lot. I would never do anything to hurt her.”

His father and brothers looked at each other, as if they were considering his answer. You could have sworn they were holding back laughter.

After a few tense minutes, his father finally broke the silence.

“Well, then come eat with us. Let’s see if you can handle the family dinner.”

If Pau thought the worst was over, he was wrong.

During dinner, his brothers began a real interrogation.

“What is your intention with our sister?”

“Do you have any exes that still talk to you?”

“If my sister asked for your card, would you give it to her without hesitation?”

“Guys!!” you interjected, rolling your eyes. “You guys look like those annoying barbecue uncles!”

Pau smiled nervously and, with each successful answer, he received looks of approval. In the end, he was more relaxed and even laughing at some stories about his family.

When the night ended and you were leaving, your father finally gave a small smile and gave Pau a firm handshake.

“You passed the test, kid. But keep your eyes open.”

His brothers crossed their arms and nodded in sync.

Pau let out a sigh of relief and smiled.

“Thank you, sir. I promise to take good care of her.”

On the way back, you looked at him and laughed.

“See? It was peaceful.”

He stared at you in disbelief.

“Easy?! I thought I wasn’t going to get out of there alive!”

You laughed and grabbed his hand.

“Well, now they like you. Next time will be much better.”

Pau took a deep breath and smiled, finally relaxing.

“I hope so. Because honestly, I'd rather mark Real Madrid strikers than face your father again.”

You laughed and kissed him on the cheek.

“My hero.”

[taelophone]

Surfer Boy! Luigi headcanons

trigger warnings ─ himbo . mentions of blood . fwb . nothing else I don’t think …

Surfer Boy! Luigi . playlist (spotify) . moodboard

You know when the weather starts to get warmer and the seagulls at your pastel-colored beach house begin to increase in volume, a certain man is gearing up to pop up inside your house at ungodly hours of the morning.

Squeej: how did he stumble upon your companionship?

When you first met Luigi, you probably found him outside wayyyyyy past twelve in the morning. He looked cold, his jaw was literally clattering, but he had the biggest grin on his face as he ran after the ride with his blue marbled surfboard.

You stopped him to ask if he was okay and if he’d like to come inside and settle down for a bit, as you had never seen him in your life. At first he refused, explaining through cold chatters that the tide was the highest it’s ever been and he was really having fun, but after pointing out that he had no shirt and would have to stay in his swim trunks until the morning if he didn’t at least get in his car— he decided coming inside wouldn’t be so bad.

You learned very quickly that he was from Maryland and liked to visit this particular beach because it was quiet and rather clean compared to other beaches. Plus, the coastal line featured some pretty big rocks, so it was kind of his favorite spot to come during the summer.

Keys: how did he become your “roommate”

Do not get it twisted this man is not paying rent. After around two summers of Luigi staying at your house during the summer, you gave him a spare key to use in case of emergencies as he loved staying out on the shore until long after dark. You were INCREDIBLY tired of him waking you up with a loud knock at your door.

He’d be standing there all cold and shivery, a little hermit crab in his comically large hand as he struggles to fit the board through the door a little. That’s when you told him then and there you’d have a key made for him so he didn’t have to wake you up every night.

And he uses that key for anything BUT emergencies my god😭 if the tide is low or he’s sore from over surfing, he’s sprawled on your couch like he owns the place while twirling the keys around his pointer finger.

“OH—! My god, Luigi, where did you come from?” ”Oh good morning! Yeah the tide is way too low today so I’m just gonna wait until it picks back up again.”

Sometimes you threaten to take his keys whenever you catch him outside In the FREEZING COLD sitting on his board in the middle of the ocean lmfao

Surfers Salt: What’s he like?

Despite the fact that every time you talk to him it seems like he’s just saying random bullshit, he is extremely smart! When you walk the shore with him, he’ll point out the washed-up jellyfish and tell you exactly what kind it is and how to properly get it off of the coast.

He always smells like light sea salt and some sort of nautical conditioner, but he wears a light and “clean” scented cologne like Dolce and Gabana Light Blue. When the boardwalk gets too crowded, he’ll lead you around by your wrist or waist and you notice how calloused his hands are. They’re rough, glazed over with years of scraping wax on and off of his board, but somehow manage to feel like delicate little angel kisses when they hold onto yours.

Is so unseriously serious. Like is deadpan with all of his jokes, dry, sarcastic, corny, lame ass humor that occasionally gets interrupted by the most jaw dropping filthy double entendres and sex jokes you’ve ever heard in your life. He says them, then will gasp and look at YOU like YOU said it!

“So wait, when you ride your board, how do you keep-“ “You can ride my board.”

And suddenly he’s shouting ew and pointing at you in BROADDD DAYLIGHT.

But other than being a quiet menace, he actually brings you back something every time he goes surfing or visits the board walk by himself. He’s found you an actual pearl, several full seashells, a sand dollar, some lost insignificant jewelry, a couple hermit crabs, a baby turtle, and much much more.

At random times, he’ll suddenly talk in the most corny surfer accent and go “woah, GNARLY!” In your ear when you’re doing something. He thinks it’s so fucking funny

Relationship: What’s going on?

I feel like with Surfer Boy Luigi SPECIFICALLY, you’ve known him for a little bit. Like 4-5 years. After literally housing him for the summer, staying in contact the whole year to make sure his spot is still tendered for his arrival, you’ve grown relatively close.

How close is close? This close. After around a year or so, he’s randomly started laying on you after coming in from surfing. He’s literally SCORCHING, he’s laying ALL his body weight on you, and he’s talking about a cute little baby seagull he took a picture of on his disposable camera because he’s a sustainable man.

He DOESN’T WEAR SUNSCREEN, which is such a problem because when he sprawls around and accidentally lays on it, he bitches about the pain. Will only wear it if you put it on for him— he claims it’s because he “can’t reach” but it’s really because he doesn’t want to nor does he like the feeling of it lol. It’ll stay on if you do it tho!

Your relationship with Luigi is kind of ambiguous…? Transactional..? Idk I haven’t decided yet. BUT, I can say in full confidence that you’ve hooked up with him a couple of times. You still can’t even answer that. all you know is one day he came inside earlier than ever (like 4PM) panting and giggling, tossing himself on top of you like usual and SOMEHOW things escalated.

anyway, besides that, he has actually bought you a fair bit of jewelry! I did say he doesn’t pay rent, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t tried/doesn’t pull his weight around the crib lol. He gets you a lot of things and does a LOT of housework, you just never see him do it because he’s just extremely active at 3-4 in the morning.

Like you won’t see him do the dishes, but you’ll wake up to the dishwasher all unloaded and everything neatly put away with a little box of earrings on the coffee table with a little note.

“Waves. Got u this :) - Pep”

If he ever gets an injury, like scraping his knee or bloodying his nose, he’ll bolt through your front door whining like a child for you to help him. He’s PERFECTLY able to do it himself, he just doesn’t want to.

That’s it, you can stop reading now <3

Taglist ; @lorelaisg1lmore @flaca335 @7luvrs @fancyyanci @f4b111 @born444u @4ngelv4l

[multific]

More Than a Gamble

Mattheo Riddle x Reader

Summary: You and Mattheo have been secretly dating, and though you love him, you hate hiding.

The Slytherin common room was dimly lit, the glow of emerald flames flickering against the stone walls.

You moved quietly through the space, your heart fluttering with excitement.

It had been weeks since you and Mattheo started sneaking around together, stealing kisses in empty corridors, meeting in secret corners of the castle. Every touch, every whispered word had convinced you that what you had was real.

You loved him.

And even though you hated keeping your relationship a secret, you held onto the hope that soon, things would change. That one day, he would hold your hand in front of everyone.

But as you neared the hallway leading to the boys’ dormitories, voices carried through the air.

You froze.

“Alright, mate, just admit it,” Theodore’s voice was laced with amusement. “We all knew about the bet. We knew you were dating her.”

Your stomach twisted.

“What’s your point, Nott?” Mattheo’s voice came next, steady, unreadable.

“The point is,” Theo continued, “you lost.” He chuckled. “You were supposed to take her out once. One date. But what’s it been now? Over a month? Don’t tell me you actually caught feelings.”

A cold weight settled in your chest.

Mattheo had to ask you out on a date… as a bet?

Your world blurred as silence stretched between them, each second suffocating you.

Then, finally, Mattheo spoke.

His voice was quiet, but the words were clear.

“I don’t regret it.”

The weight in your chest cracked open into something sharp.

You turned and ran.

You barely registered the sound of your own sobs as you ran through the corridors. You didn’t care if anyone saw you. Didn’t care if they heard. You just needed to be alone.

You threw yourself onto your bed, curling in on yourself as the tears kept coming.

It had been a lie. All of it.

The touches, the kisses, the promises and the late-night whispers.

Had he ever truly wanted you? Or were you just a game to him?

The door to your dorm burst open.

“Y/N.”

You shivered at the sound of his voice.

Mattheo stood in the doorway, his chest rising and falling as he had run straight from the common room. His dark curls were a mess, his lips parted, his eyes filled with something close to desperation.

“Please,” he breathed, stepping inside. “Just-just listen.”

You swallowed, forcing yourself to sit up. Your voice trembled. “So it’s true?”

Mattheo flinched. “No.” Then he exhaled sharply. “I mean-yes, but not the way you think.”

A bitter laugh escaped you. “Not the way I think? You made a bet, Mattheo. A bet to take me on a date. Was anything real?”

He took a step closer, his hands clenched at his sides. “You. You were real.”

Tears stung your eyes again. “Then why didn’t you tell me?”

His jaw tightened. “Because I was a coward.” His voice cracked, and he ran a hand through his hair. “I never thought I’d fall for you. I asked you out for a stupid, stupid reason. But that first night, when you laughed at something I said when you looked at me like I wasn’t just some reckless bastard, that made it real. And every moment after that was never a joke to me. I never told you because I was afraid you’d walk away.” He let out a shaky breath. “And I couldn’t lose you.”

You stared at him, heart pounding.

Mattheo Riddle, proud and untouchable, stood before you completely unravelled.

And despite everything, despite the pain, you still loved him.

“I hate what you did to me,” you whispered.

“I hate myself for it,” he admitted. “But I swear to you, I would never hurt you like that again.” He stepped closer, reaching out hesitantly. “I love you, Y/N. And if you tell me it’s over, I’ll walk away. But if there’s any part of you that still believes in us-” He swallowed hard. “I’ll spend the rest of my life proving that I never needed a bet to want you.”

You closed your eyes, your heart waging war against your mind.

But when his fingers brushed yours you realized the truth.

You still wanted him.

But you were no fool.

"I want to believe, I really do. But... I was hiding my love for you, and you played me. I cannot look past that. You lied to me."

"Y/N, please I really meant what I said, I want you. I don't want to hide anymore."

"Would you have said the same if I didn't overhear you? Would you have said that you love me?"

"I don't want to lose you."

"You lost me the moment you played me. Please, leave. I need to be alone." you turned away from him, you only heard as he closed the door behind himself.

You wanted to believe him. But this truly hurt. Knowing he only started dating you because of a bet. Now, all of his words seemed like a lie.

---

Days passed and although Mattheo followed you almost like a lost puppy, you tried your best to ignore him.

He tried to find opportunities to speak to you, but you didn't allow it. You ran away. You figured he would give up.

He will move on.

He will find a new girl to play with.

You just had to hold out until then.

But then days turned into a week, a week turned into a month.

Now the entire school was whispering about you and Mattheo.

He didn't give up.

It got to a point where you had to hide from him, hiding in the school grounds. You finally managed to find a tree that hid you from the others.

But of course, Mattheo found you.

"Can I sit?" he asked but you didn't look up from your book. He sat down next to you on the ground, he kept his distance.

Everything in you told you to leave, except for your heart.

Your heart, as if it had its own way of life, begged for you to go to him so he could hold you as if your heart was missing its other half.

And what your heart desired, made your mind daydream. You were reminded of the way everything used to be.

How you two were hiding behind trees and bushes, how he looked at you. How he still looks at you.

You looked up from your book just as he got ready to light his cigarette.

You groaned and reached out, snatching it from his lips, you broke the thing in half.

"I told you to quit," you said before moving back to your place and trying your best to read your book.

But you were only pretending. You could see him watching you from the corner of your eye.

"I want you back. I need you. I don't think you truly understand just how much." you looked up at him from your book, his eyes were intense, and they held meaning and purpose.

You closed your eyes for a moment, you needed to think. Your next move will decide everything, the weight of that almost crushed you.

So you opened your eyes and whispered, “Then prove it.”

And he did, he moved so fast, your mind didn't even register it.

You only realised that he was right in front of you when his lips met yours, it wasn’t just a kiss.

It was a promise.

~Masterlist~

ˇAO3ˇ

Wattpad

/DO NOT TRANSLATE, STEAL OR REPOST ANY OF MY WORKS TO THIS OR OTHER PLATFORMS/

[enlyume]

Not so secret

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Word count: 1.8k

Summary: Steve accidentally finds out why Bucky insisted on him taking a day off.

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: None

Notes: This is Bucky x female reader, but with Steve's POV. AU with no superpowers. Also, English is not my first language :)

Being the owner of your own gym comes with a few pros and a lot of cons. The pros? You knew a lot of people - and women - you could make your own schedule and choose your own staff and as a personal trainer you could stay fit. Cons: You had to put up with clients complaining about the self-defence classes being too difficult, your colleagues flirting with their wives, and you being on call 24/7 with no holidays. But, so far, Steve was enjoying his gym life.

Two and a half years of surviving in Brooklyn seemed like a success, so he could choose how to spend his first free day in a long time. Clean his apartment, go to his mother's house to help her with some water-related problems, go for a run and do some shopping. He could already hear Bucky, Natasha and Sam saying that this was far from a free day, but he didn't care.

He knew Bucky would scoff and swear he would never give him another day off, but looking at his now full fridge, he felt happy. So happy that he thought he could at least give his friends the satisfaction of a night off drinking. Maybe not until he got really drunk, because the next day was Friday and he had to open the gym, but still.

So he called Bucky, and when he didn't pick up the phone, he tried Natasha.

"I can't believe you wasted your first day off in months running errands. We are not friends anymore," she said, and Steve could picture her sitting on her couch, the TV on a murder mystery, her eyes narrowed. "That's not what Buck and I work our asses off for, Rogers!" she complained.

"Hey, I can do whatever I want with my free time. And, how do you know that?!" he asked, looking around for a hidden camera. His friends wouldn't spy on him, would they?

"I know everything," she whispered and Steve felt the urge to hang up and go and read. "OK, what's up? Are you taking off again tomorrow to help your neighbour redecorate?"

"I was thinking about going out for a drink with my friends, seeing as it's not that late, but I'm rethinking my life choices right now and I'm not so sure anymore."

"Don't be a drama queen, Stevie. Give me five, the bar next to my place".

"It'll take me more than five minutes to get there, Nat".

"Yeah, OK, you've got eight. Call the boys, I call the girls?" She asked and didn't need to elaborate. Natasha, Buck, Sam and himself were a team in and out of the gym. And since she finished college, and came back to Brooklyn, Becca usually joined them with her roommate Y/n.

"I already called Buck, but he didn't pick up. I'll try again," he replied, grabbing the keys and leaving his apartment. It wasn't that big, but living alone was more than enough and it was only a block away from the gym. That saved him the daily traffic jam.

He shrugged under his jacket, wishing it was summer, and walked down the street.

"Let me know if he doesn't pick up. I'll try," Natasha said, and Steve could hear her moving around her flat, getting ready.

"What makes you think he'll answer your call but not mine?" he sneered, smirking. Bucky had been pretty insistent about hiring Natasha, and although they flirted sometimes, it had never become anything serious. Or so he thought.

"He will," was her brief reply. Steve rolled his eyes and turned the corner. His eyes automatically drifted to the gym and he paused, frowning. The lights were on, but it was past closing time. "Hey, gotta go. See you in ten".

"Eight!" was the last thing he heard Natasha say before he hung up.

Steve crossed the street and tried the front door, breathing a sigh of relief when he found it locked. So Bucky wasn't there and hadn't left the gym open, he'd just forgotten to turn off the lights. He used the keys to get inside and went to his office to turn off all the lights from there, but stopped in the doorway when he saw Bucky's jacket and helmet on the table. His friend was still there? Past closing time? The blond left the office and went to the stairs, climbing them two at a time and heading for the only room where the lights were still on. Maybe Bucky had fallen and hurt himself, or maybe he had fainted, or maybe…

"That's not the way to use it, doll."

Doll. Doll. Steve narrowed his eyes, already angry with Bucky. When he'd offered to do the afternoon shift that Thursday too, on the pretext that he'd worked a lot and deserved a day off to rest, Steve hadn't been suspicious. It wasn't the first time Bucky had suggested it, and he'd had to get his house in order and run a few errands, so he'd accepted without question. And Bucky had smirked. He hadn't thought about it at the time, but now the smile had taken on a new meaning.

Emma, the student who had started Natasha's self-defence classes a month ago, immediately came to mind. Or it could be April, the recently divorced woman. She always laughed at his jokes, even when they weren't that funny, and stroked his arm openly. Steve opened his eyes wide. It could also be Peggy, making good on his threat.

"If you don't ask her out soon, I will, punk," he had told him a few times when Steve's eyes lingered on the door of the classroom Peggy had just entered. He took a deep breath, gripped the door handle and looked at the ceiling. Please don't let it be Peggy, he prayed. "Then tell me how it works."

Steve let go of the handle as if it were on fire. He knew that voice. It wasn't Peggy, but maybe it would have been better if it had been.

"Yeah, I'll pass. It's funnier to watch you try." Steve did not need to see his friend's face to know that he was smirking.

"Is that why you wanted me to come, to laugh at me?" She didn't mean it maliciously, because if there was one thing she knew about Y/N, it was that she wouldn't say anything to offend.

Steve tried to remember if he had seen her at the gym before. She was at the opening, sure, and she visited from time to time, but had she tried a class? He remembered Bucky telling her to leave because she was against the dress code. Y/N always gave the same answer: her gym clothes were just for posting photos on her social media.

"I wanted you to come so I could be alone with you. I missed you."

"We saw each other at Nat's last Sunday," she chuckled.

"Yes, but I couldn't…"

Steve knew he shouldn't, but curiosity took the best of him and he pushed the door just a little, so he could see them. Y/N was standing next to the treadmill and Bucky was holding her cheeks while he kissed her. He couldn't help but be surprised, because even though he knew what he was about to see, he didn't expect to see exactly that. His friend getting into trouble, kissing his younger sister's best friend? Yes. Bucky pulling away from her just enough to reach down and wrap his arms around her waist, filling her face with kisses, both of them laughing and whispering words in each other's ears? No. Because this didn't look like an affair. The smile on his friend's face as he listened intently to what she was telling him gave away that this was anything but a simple affair.

The sound of a mobile phone interrupted them and for a few seconds Steve thought it was his and he was going to get caught, but Bucky let go of Y/N and picked up his phone from the floor. "Hey Nat, what's up?"

Bucky turned, his back to the door, and Steve looked at Y/N. She had sat down on the workbench again and was trying to lift the weights without success. Bucky immediately gestured for her to let go and she obeyed, still smiling.

"I'd love to, but I've worked my ass off today and I'm dead. I'm going to bed," Bucky said to Natasha, declining her offer to join them for a drink.

Y/N held out her hand and Bucky took it, intertwining his fingers with hers and letting her pull on it, trying not to laugh. "Hmm, tempting, but I'll pass," Bucky said again. "Night, Nat."

He hung up and dropped the phone on the floor before standing over T/N. Steve took that as his cue and stepped back, not wanting to see any more. A low moan made him rush downstairs and out of the gym, closing the door carefully behind him. Bucky and Y/N. Y/N and Bucky. They were… what were they? Should he ask? He wanted to know and at the same time he didn't.

He walked on until he reached the bar and forced a smile when Sam held up his hand and waved at him. Natasha was next to him and Becca in front of them, a beer in her hand and laughing at something the redhead was telling her. And a new fear hit him: did Becca know?

"Took you longer than ten minutes, Rogers! You're paying next!" Natasha joked with her trademark smile. Steve nodded slowly as he sat down next to the younger Barnes.

"You all right? You look like you've seen a ghost," Sam chuckled, taking a sip of his beer. Steve ignored him and turned to Becca.

"Where's Y/N? Is she coming?"

He wondered if he was being too direct. He could have made some small talk before asking about her, or maybe he should have asked about his brother first. But he needed to know if Becca knew about her best friend and Bucky. The brunette rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"She already had plans with her colleagues."

"Why? They're not as fun as us," Sam complained.

"And your brother?" Steve asked again and Becca tilted her head. "I called him, but he didn't pick up."

"He said he was tired," Natasha said, a smirk on her lips. "But from his tone, I bet he's with a girl."

"What?! He ditched us for a girl?" Sam complained again. "He deserves to work all weekend, Steve."

"I don't know, Sam," Steve murmured, looking down at his hands. He remembered Bucky's smile, Y/N's laugh and them holding hands. His best friend saying how much he missed them. And then he remembered that Y/N didn't work weekends. "He's been working a lot lately. I think he deserves a weekend off."

"Whaaaat?"

Their friends started talking at the same time. Sam was whining again, while Natasha and Becca were plotting how to ruin Bucky's weekend. Steve stood up, smiling.

"OK, next round's on me!"

[cosmowgyral]

"Lover's Contract: A night of immoral deeds"

▪︎ Nica Schwartz

This is a fan translation, not 100% accurate. Creative liberties have been taken. Expect grammatical inconsistencies.

Since Nica is not yet out in the EN server, there might be terms that will turn out different than what I have used here when he is finally released. All content belongs to Cybird. Reblogs are appreciated. Hope you enjoy!

Bitter End

Prince was shocked on seeing the divorce papers, but Queen remained unfazed.

Queen: What’s the problem?

But then, her faced changed colour as if she realised something.

Nica: Did you just notice? Your husband has already signed these.

Unable to keep up with the conversation, I tugged on Nica’s sleeve.

He looked at me, gave a small laugh and then began to speak.

Nica: Actually, your husband asked me for advice.

Nica: His business partners have found out that his wife has been making advances on young men at his company.

Nica: The company’s reputation had fallen, and not only that but you were also trying to escape abroad after stealing money from the safe.

(Could it be….)

I realised that our setting of a president’s wife and his company employee was taken from these two.

Nica: So since you didn’t come home, I was tasked with catching you and making you sign these divorce papers.

Nica, who was wearing a sly smile, stared at the dazed Queen.

Nica: By the way, you are not allowed to refuse.

He approached her and shoved the divorce papers in her face.

Nica: If you don’t sign it, you’ll be arrested for theft and end up getting divorced anyway. You both will then be asked for compensation and damages.

Nica: However, if you sign them, you might only be asked for the money and then be left alone.

Nica: Either way, it’ll cost you quite a bit of money.

Seeing the Queen go pale and tremble, Prince stood up in a panic.

Prince: I don’t know anything. I was only with her because she offered me money.

He attempted to attack me as I stood in front of the door, wanting to get away.

Kate: ..gh!

I reflexively closed my eyes, bracing for the impact--.

Prince: Gah!

All I heard was something being slammed to the ground and a groan.

I anxiously opened my eyes and saw Prince lying face down on the floor, with Nica clutching him around the chest.

Nica: Too bad, you’ll also wind up in debt hell either way.

I realised that after I had closed my eyes, he grabbed Prince and slammed him to the ground.

Nica: I think it would be better to just sign it than mess around like this.

Nica: Because there seems quite the chance that you might just run off with the money before the divorce is settled.

Nica wiped his hands as if he had touched something dirty, and then picked up the divorce papers and pen lying around.

Nica: Here, sign it.

He approached the two of them with a big grin on his face.

Realizing there was no escape, Queen signed the divorce papers.

Nica: Okay now, sit on the bed.

After giving directions, Nica started securing the two of them with the shackles that were fastened to the bed's legs.

Queen: Wait, what are you doing?

Nica: Robin, help me.

Kate: Ye-yes!

I began to help Nica to restrain the two of them using handcuffs that were likely there for bedroom play.

After taking away their freedom, he took my arm and headed towards the exit.

Nica: Well then, the Yard City Police will be coming soon.

I'm not very sure what he meant by Yard City Police here but I think he means the Scotland Yard Police. I might be wrong.

Prince: You tricked us!

Nica waved the divorce papers at the two of them who were yelling.

Nica: I told you, you guys are a sucker for a runaway.

Queen: No way!

He opened the door with the meanest of the smiles.

Nica: Well see you, but I guess we probably won’t be seeing each other again.

Nica: Ah, I feel refreshed.

Kate: …I didn’t know that her husband had asked you to do this.

(It would have been better if he had told me everything from the beginning.)

I felt a bit annoyed that I had been forced to go along with this without being informed of anything, but then he stopped walking.

Nica: I wasn’t asked to do it, you know?

Kate: Huh?

That instantly threw me off.

Nica: This is my handwriting.

Kate: Whaat?!

He pointed to the signature on the divorce papers.

Nica: He said he wanted to get a divorce but couldn’t, so I copied his handwriting and prepared this.

He folded the paper neatly and put it in his pocket.

I was very surprised by the unexpected turn of events.

Kate:…You didn’t act solely with good intentions, did you?

There’s no way he would’ve done this out of goodwill alone.

As expected, Nica’s lips turned up in a smile.

Nica: Did you think I’d work for people for free?

He started walking while humming and I hurriedly followed after him.

Kate: What if they find out it’s a fake signature?

Nica: Don’t worry, I’ll give this to her husband later.

Nica: I’ll then let him take the decision; even I just can’t go ahead and do whatever I want.

Kate: But..

Nica: Do you remember the three promises of the Lover’s Club?

Before I knew it, I had been pushed against the wall---.

Nica: Even if the proposal for an affair is abnormal, it should be actively considered.

The knee between my legs made it impossible for me to move.

Nica: If either of you gets a new lover, end the relationship.

His long fingers smoothly crawled up my skirt.

Nica: What was the last one?

Kate: Never reveal each other’s secrets.

I reach out to stop the fingers from stroking my thighs, but he easily grabs my hand.

Nica: The fact that I provided the divorce papers bearing a fake signature in her husband's handwriting is a total secret.

Nica: But since we’re lovers now, what do you think will happen if you break any of the three rules?

Kate: What?

Nica: You will belong to the other person for the rest of your life.

Kate: Huh? Nn!

At that moment, I let out a cry as he suddenly licked my neck.

Nica: I have left a love bite. It’s to be left again and again so that it doesn’t disappear, until the other person gets tired of it.

Nica: The deal between us isn’t over until the mark fades.

His lips make a little sound that echoes with his breathing.

When I looked at him, he poked my neck with his tongue and laughed seductively.

Nica: I’d be happy to make you mine right now, but what would you want to do?

A mild pain raced down my neck, until the red mark formed—.

[Chapter 2] [Masterlist]

[legendarycherryblossomlove]

Perceptor has really grown a root in me...

Monster!AU Perceptor x Cybertronian reader 🔞

WARNING: Wild smut, bondage.

.

You have been warned.

.

.

.

Lately, you've been hearing weird noises coming from the bottom pit of the ship. You could have sworn you've heard some growling and screaming down there. But you were not alone, even the crewmembers suspect there is a sparkeater on board or worse, a new creature that could destroy or kill them.

Everyday and every night, the same noise is still present.

Because of this, you volunteered to investigate the bottom part of the ship. To finally end this creature once and for all. Not to mention, the lack of recharge you had for almost a week!

Before going down, you double checked if you have everything on you. Flashlight, a weapon and a walkie takie which is connected to Ultra Magnus' audio receptors. This way, he can know and hear your latest information about the creature.

.

.

.

As you walked through the creepy corridors, you saw..mutant eggs around the next hall.

All of them were hatched. This is not good you thought to yourself. But what made the situation even worse was that you found a black-wired tentacle that was laying on the ground, moving out of nothing.

Before you could react, the tentacle snacked your waist, bringing you to the creature itself.

.

.

.

You sworn to yourself that you were only here for a reason. And that reason was to investigate the uncomfortable noises going on this ship.

But you didn't expect the creature to be...Perceptor.

You gasped at the sight of him. And for the record, you can possibly tell Brainstorm did this.

"Let me guess, Brainstorm did this?" You try to crack a joke with Perceptor. But he squeezed you a bit as an answer that your joke was not amusing.

.

.

.

You could have sworn yet again you were here to investigate but it turned into something....pleasurable.

You didn't expect Perceptor's tentacles to pry open your interface panel as one smoothly slid in your valve, thrusting and tasting those juices.

"Delicious." He said as his tentacle continued to explore in you. He can feel your walls clenching around it like it's begging more of him. More of his tentacles roam around your frame, taking note of your sensitive spots that makes you moan even louder. You felt another one coming towards your mouthplate and before you could ask, he slid that tentacle in like it's a piece of clothing.

"Oh, my dear. I can only wonder what would the others think that their precious little thing being penetrated by a creature like me." Perceptor cooed as his thrusts became faster and harder than ever.

You prayed to Primus that no one will find out about this dirty little secret. Tears swelling up your optics as you feel both tentacles thrusting in your valve and mouth at the same pace. Perceptor could even fit two tentacles in your valve if he wanted to but he knows not to overwhelm you much.

And you know, you will be begging for more.

[tulip-room]

lemongrass - s. kiyoomi || wc: 960 || genre: fluff || masterlist || tags: 16+ because of slight suggestive nature, soft sakusa, showers together, washing hair, sakusa smells nice, sleepy talk

syn. after a hard week of being apart sakusa offers a suggestion to spend time together while also relaxing

it was by no stretch to say that it had been a truly dreadful week. the only thing that kept the both of them going was the fact that it was sakusa’s last day being away, she couldn’t wait to be in his arms again. the quiet sounds of motion from the kitchen are the first thing he hears after he unlocks the door. then he hears a pause and footsteps growing more rapid and louder as they get closer. “you’re home,” she says almost breathlessly.

“i’m home.” his suitcase is on the floor and long forgotten as his arms open and she finds herself in the space between them. he smells like lemons and home. his hands find her hair and he leans down so his face is pressed to the crown of her head. “you need a shower.” 

she lets out a small laugh before hitting him lightly on the chest. “if anything you’re the one that needs a shower.”

“fair, come on.” he lets go off her but only for a moment. his hand grabs hold of hers and they walk towards the bathroom. 

“how very forward of you.”

“shut up, idiot.” he opens the door before stepping into their bedroom across the hall and grabbing clothes. he sets them on the counter and before she can react his hands rest on her waist and he leans in to kiss her. 

“maybe you need to leave more often if this is how i’m greeted,” she teases between kisses with a smirk. he pulls away with a sigh and lets go of her. “wait, no, come back.” she grabs his shirt and pulls him towards her again. she stumbles back a bit and his arms cage her in as he holds onto the sink counter. a breath passes her lips, no matter how often this happens she’ll never be used to it. 

they stay like that for longer than they probably should; lips pressing together and hands resting just slightly under bits of fabric. the counter is cool and makes her jump when it briefly touches her back before a warm hand is moved to the spot and he pulls away slightly. his lips are red and glossy as he pulls away and there’s a light flush on his cheeks. “we should probably start the shower now,” although he tries to act unaffected; the slight hitch in his breath and the rise and fall of his chest give it away. 

“yeah—“ her voice cracks and she clears her throat “yeah. yeah definitely.” he slides open the glass door of the shower and turns the knob before closing it again. the patter of the water on the floor makes small echoes. 

her back is still to the counter as he steps back over to her. his hands inch under her shirt and lift it over her head. he pulls her closer again and kisses her shoulders. “i missed you.”

“you’re so soft today. what’s gotten into you?” she asks as she rakes her fingers through his curls gently working out some of the knots. 

“i just missed you.” his lips fall to her collarbone and leave another kiss before they help each other out of the rest of their clothes and into the warm stream of the shower. she’s about to reach for her shampoo but his own hand stops her. “please, can i do it for you.”

“okay,” their voices can barely be heard over the patter of the water. his hands reach for his soap and he gently works it into her scalp for a few minutes and gently places a hand on her forehead as he leans her head back to rinse out the shampoo. “i can smell it you know.” he hums in response. “the lemongrass, i know you’re using your soap.” he brushes a hair mask through the ends of her hair.

“and what about it?” he challenges lightly as his lips kiss the back of her shoulder where it dips lightly. she jumps a little bit at the feeling and he does the same for the other shoulder. he takes care and time into making sure all the product is gone from her hair before putting conditioner in. 

“you never let me use your products.”

“don’t read too much into it.” he scoffs lightly although despite his seemingly annoyed tone his hands have been caressing her skin while the conditioner sits in her hair. 

“whatever you say kiyo,” she leans back towards him so his chest is pressed to her back and sighs. “i miss you, i missed feeling you with me.”

“i missed you too,” his arms wrap around her waist and his chin rests on her shoulder. she can feel his cold and damp hair against her skin and it makes goosebumps rise. he turns his head, his nose presses to the juncture of her neck and he presses a gentle kiss. 

as they continue with their shower she makes sure to return the favor to him and wash his hair. her hands gently rubbing and rinsing and carding through the dark tresses. “i love you,” she had whispered as she kissed his chest and washed his body. “i wish you didn’t have to go so often.” another gentle kiss.

“i wish i didn’t either, but that just means the season is almost over and i can be at home waiting for you all the time.” she smiles and presses another kiss to his skin. 

“i’ll try not to make you wait too long then.”

“no, you better not.” the gentle smiles on their faces only lift the comfort around them. the steamy, but cooling, shower, the bits of laughter, kisses on wet skin, and the smell of lemongrass. 

“i promise.” 

lale!!! hi my love <33 Ihope you're doing well and i know that this is really late but i hope you had a good valentine's day!! have some soft sakusa and showers together <3 thank you for being my friend and always listening to me talk even about things you have no clue about <3

find my other valentine’s here

taglist (gen fil out this form to be added) @hiraethwa @hatsukeii @cherrysurf @cheriisae @darthferbert @localgaytrainwreck @lale-txt @szyvrue @wyrcan

[snowball-doie]

✮⋆˙ 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒 ˙⋆✮

| pairing: johnny x manager!oc

| warnings: 18+ MDNI. Tooth-aching fluff.

Aurora wondered if it was too late to jump ship.

After waking up hungover in Yuta's bed with no recollection of how she got there, she wondered how she could’ve possibly said yes to going on a date with Johnny Suh. And how was that the only thing she could remember? Granted, she wasn’t drunk at the time, though she wished she was so she had an excuse to not go… But everyone and their grandmother was talking about how Johnny finally asked out Aurora and she actually said yes to it! Her headache was killing her, but that was not the problem. The problem was Johnny already texting her, asking if she wanted to go out not that night but the following night… for dinner…

“Ah, fuck me,” Aurora groaned, throwing herself back down against the mattress.

Yuta walked into the room, shirtless, a smoothie in one hand while the other was tucked into the waistband of his pajama shorts to keep it warm. Men. Aurora rolled her eyes— She was surrounded by men. Disgusting, run-of-the-mill men.

“Ohaiyo,” he said.

She glared at him. “I blame you.”

“What did I do?”

“I don’t know, but I blame you.”

“Okay, well, while you do that, do you want breakfast?”

“No. I have to figure out what I’m gonna do about this.” She turned her phone to show him her screen, but without his glasses on he couldn’t see anything from such a distance, so while squinting and leaning forward, he approached the bed then took her phone to read Johnny's texts. “I’m going back to sleep and never waking up.”

Yuta scoffed. “I love that you can tell Ten helped him write these.” He handed her phone back. She raised a confused brow. “They went home together last night.” She shrugged. “He was way too drunk to text you a coherent sentence like that.”

“Yuta-kun, please convince me this is all a bad idea.”

“He’s a good guy, and he’s down bad for you, I don’t see the harm in giving him a chance, oneesan.”

She groaned and kicked her feet around like a kid throwing a tantrum. “You’re not helpful!”

Sipping his smoothie, Yuta started walking out of the bedroom again with a final comment about how he was going to cook something for her to eat because they needed to go shopping. Shopping? Why shopping? “Because you’re not going on your first-ever date looking like that,” he replied all the way from the kitchen. What was that supposed to mean!

Yet there they were, at Hyundai mall, Yuta hiding under a million layers of clothes to keep himself warm but also to protect himself from anyone that would recognize him as he chauffeured Aurora around the place. He was a man on a mission, searching for the best stores with the cutest clothes that he thought Johnny would like to see on her. She couldn’t imagine that. She knew Johnny, but not well enough to assume what he’d like on her… But Yuta had known Johnny for nearly a decade, he’d seen various girls come and go out of Johnny's life, and he heard all the praises and complaints Johnny had to give about each of them. He liked neutral tones, apparently. While Aurora was more inclined to wear pink, she wasn’t opposed to the thought of wearing the cream colored sweater and brown sweatpants Yuta made her try on.

“No,” he immediately said once she stepped out of the dressing room.

“Why!”

“It doesn’t fit you right.”

“It fits me just fine.”

“Sure, it fits you, but it doesn’t fit you right.”

Aurora stared at him. “Nihongo.” She crossed her arms and stared at him flatly, almost glaring at him if it weren’t for the fact that he immediately grabbed her wrists to push her hands back down to her sides.

In Japanese, he explained perfectly that Aurora looked best while wearing things that fit her slimly on the top with high waisted pants that were tight around her waist yet bell-bottomed. “You’ve got tits for a reason, show them off. And you’ve got big hips and ass, you don’t want all of that to hide you like a tent in the shirts you wear.”

“It’s too cold outside to wear a crop top,” Aurora argued after she put on the next outfit for him to see. A black crop top with the same brown sweatpants. “I’ll freeze to death before I even make it to his place.”

“Yeah, but you look sexy.”

Aurora rolled her eyes.

Yuta bought the outfit for her as an apology for secretly betting against her and Johnny. After seeing the total at the cash register, Aurora really had no complaints when it came to Yuta tapping his black card against the scanner, because she couldn’t wrap her brain around how a black crop top sweater and brown sweatpants could cost nearly $300 USD. That was why she didn’t shop at Hyundai mall or Lotte World mall, though. Her income didn’t give her many opportunities to even go window shopping at the various luxury stores around Seoul which all of the boys at work always raved over. If she were back in America, she knew that she would have found the same outfit at Walmart or Target for approximately $50 USD— And even then she would’ve considered putting it all back on the racks.

Yuta wanted to spend the day at the mall even after settling on an outfit. Aurora was too worried about being seen, so she convinced him to at least leave the touristy area surrounding the mall so they could instead get lunch somewhere together where they weren’t as likely to run into fans. She was right, of course. No one said a thing as they entered the dak-galbi restaurant and were seated at a table against the wall. No one bothered them as they ordered and ate. The only time anything happened was when the owner came over to deliver their receipt, she asked if Yuta would sign something for her daughter who was a big fan of NCT. With a smile, Yuta nodded before taking a clean paper napkin where he wrote a note and signed his name on it before handing it over to the owner— along with his credit card for the meal. She bowed deeply at the hip while thanking him profusely. “My daughter loves you. Thank you so much.” Yuta shrugged it off with a laugh, “It’s really no problem.”

At a nearby cafe, no one bothered them at all, not even for a signature or to snap a photo from across the room. For a couple of hours, Aurora and Yuta sat across from each other, drinking matcha, talking about work, missing Japan, the new album, when and where they would go on their next vacation, and Aurora’s date with Johnny.

“Do you think you’ll kiss him?” Yuta asked with a smirk.

Aurora rolled her eyes. “No.”

“Not even if he’s a perfect gentleman who walks you all the way to your door after dinner?”

“Nope.”

“You sure?”

“Why? You have another bet on that or something?”

Yuta rolled his eyes too. “Fair enough… Are you at least nervous?”

Of course she was fucking nervous! How could he ask such a stupid question when he’d caught her regretting her entire life after waking up hungover in his bed, asking if she could find any way to get out of the whole thing. Aurora had never been out on a proper, official date with anyone, and it was Johnny Suh whom had asked her out, so those two factors mixed together made Aurora’s stomach queasy, and the matcha wasn’t helping, so she got up to order a croissant to help settle herself.

“It’s cute to see the two of you like this,” Yuta admitted after she sat back down.

“Like what?”

“I don’t know… Not ‘in love’, but something like that.”

“Yeah, maybe let’s hold off on the L word ‘til after the first date.”

Yuta reached over to pick a bite off of Aurora’s croissant until she smacked his hand away and muttered something about his diet and not wanting to get yelled at by his trainer. Aurora picked the bite off for him then, out of pity, fed it to him.

“So when are you going to ‘not in love, but something like that’ with someone, Yuta-kun? You can’t just always bully me. I need an excuse to tease you too.”

“Maybe if our schedules weren’t so busy I’d be able to go out and meet someone.”

“Ha ha. I’m being serious.”

Yuta shrugged and stretched his arms over his head with a slight groan. Once he settled again, he slumped in his chair. “I promise, oneesan, when I find someone, you’ll be the first to know, then you can get back at me for all of this.”

“Deal.”

Aurora didn’t sleep that night because of her upset stomach. She really had half a mind about texting Johnny to tell him that she didn’t feel well and would have to cancel their date, yet every time she picked up her phone and saw Johnny's excited message that read: “I can’t wait” in response to her confirming their date, she couldn’t bear the thought of flaking on him after all the effort he’d put into catching her attention just to ask her out after getting a little bit of that liquid courage in him. So she remained restless in her bed while counting down the hours until the sun would come up and she’d at least have an excuse to sit at her desk and play video games with Haechan or something until she would have to leave to see Johnny.

In the early hours of the morning, around the time Aurora elected to get ready for a long day of gaming, Johnny texted her while she was showering to ask if she was alright with having the date at his house. Her stomach did another uncomfortable somersault while reading that. Who did he think she was? There was no way he thought that it would be that freaking easy to coax her into his bed! After all that time of Ten and Yuta reassuring her that Johnny wasn’t the playboy guy anymore and was indeed really down bad for Aurora, he was just proving to be a little bit of a fuck boy.

Aurora immediately made it clear that she wasn’t looking to fuck, so if he was inviting her over with that in mind, then he could just forget about it and pretend that the whole thing never happened. However, Johnny insisted that he was only doing it because he had a fun at-home-activity they could do together since it would be hard to go out and be comfortable. If they went somewhere, he would have had to cover up completely, they would’ve had to stay separated from each other so as to not stir rumors if the media saw them, and they would’ve always had to be on their guard about who was around and who was looking at them. It wouldn’t have been fun. He wanted it to be perfect, and by being at home, they could actually hang out and talk honestly. So she decided to give it a shot and go over. Typically she wouldn't have taken someone up on an at-home first date because of all the horror stories she heard— But Aurora had known Johnny long enough, and they had far too many mutual friends for anything bad to happen. She trusted that it would be okay.

It was the first time she had ever been over to his place. When they became close, it was during lockdown, so they never visited each other, and after the pandemic’s peak passed and they returned to work, there just wasn’t any time for Aurora to invite him over to her place or think about stopping by his. Besides, she thought they were friends, but not like that. So when she arrived at his apartment building after taking a train and then a bus, she stopped. There was a gate surrounding the entire property of luxury apartment buildings which prevented just anyone from coming and going, so she had to buzz in using Johnny's apartment number and a code that he gave her via text an hour before she left her own apartment; and once she was inside the building, she felt sick. Did he really make that much money? She knew how much the boys made off of NCT work, but it was never enough to sustain having a place that nice, so it must have been all those side hustles of his, modeling and whatnot.

Aurora checked the apartment’s floor number when she got in the elevator. That couldn’t be right… Right? She pressed the button, but she doubted herself as the doors closed and she began ascending floor by floor, higher up into the air until it stopped and the doors opened. The hallway was nice. Not gross, moldy, decrepit. White and clean, almost like it had been freshly painted even though it hadn’t— But that just went to show the difference between the type of lifestyle Johnny could afford versus Aurora who warily walked down the hallway until she reached Johnny's door.

Was it really, really too late to jump ship?

Before she knew it, Aurora had rang the doorbell and moments later the door opened to reveal Johnny who seemed a bit flustered and out of breath when he saw her. He relaxed and smiled, like his body was telling her, “Oh, it’s just you.” In fact, he practically said it himself when he welcomed her in and said, “I thought you were the caterers. You’re a bit early.”

Aurora blushed as she stood awkwardly in his entryway, unsure of what to do with herself, meanwhile Johnny walked further into his apartment to set up some stuff. “Sorry, I just… I like to be early rather than late. People being late’s a pet peeve of mine.”

He peeked his head around the corner. “I know.”

He flashed a cheeky smile before disappearing again, prompting Aurora to take off her shoes so that she could follow him, but after taking a step forward, she remembered that she should find a place for her jacket and purse to be polite, so she awkwardly settled back in the entryway and stared at the wall of hooks next to her. Johnny had a lot of jackets. Various colors, weights, lengths, and purposes for occasions like going somewhere fancy versus just walking to the office. There was one empty hook in the middle of it all, so Aurora dared herself to just go for it. She peeled off her jacket then hung it up before securing it with her purse hung over top.

“You fine with waiting a few more minutes ‘til the caterers show?” he asked.

Aurora turned the corner to find Johnny in his kitchen, cleaning up the counter space so that there would be room for whatever food he was having brought directly to them. She nodded and shrugged. “Sure.”

After seeing him in his element, which was his home, Aurora found herself relaxing a bit upon realizing that she wasn’t underdressed at all. She worried that Yuta might have accidentally set her up to fail with such a casual outfit for a first date, however Johnny was just as comfortable as she was. He was wearing just a black t-shirt and grey pants— Nothing fancy at all. Yuta made the right call, Aurora would have to remember to thank him later.

But then of course, timing was seemingly on their side as the doorbell rang again, prompting Johnny to jog around Aurora in order to answer it. She continued to linger awkwardly. Wasn’t he supposed to be the lingerer? What was she doing? She felt stupid.

As the caterers entered, Johnny directed them towards the kitchen using Korean before quickly telling Aurora in English that she should make herself comfortable— Which really meant that she was in the way and needed to sit down so that they could work in peace. So she listened, shyly making her way to his couch which she sat on just barely… Lounging entirely felt weird. She would've been even more uncomfortable if she ended up reclining, so she called it good by sitting with just her butt and a bit of her thighs on the cushions, and that was it. Johnny made sure the staff of three people knew what they were doing before he stilled in the middle of the kitchen and glanced in Aurora’s direction with a bright smile that said: “Okay, we’re good.” When he was ready, he joined her on the couch.

“Do I want to ask, or…” Aurora gestured with her eyes in the direction of the kitchen.

Johnny peeked over his shoulder to watch the staff who were platting some finger foods and pouring wine in glasses Johnny had on hand. “You know those, like, mug painting places in the States?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s not as popular here, but this company provides private catering and mug painting dates, if that makes sense.”

Well, she was witnessing the set up first hand, so it did indeed make sense. While they sat and ate some snacks that were catered for them, the company set up Johnny's dining room table with all of the paints, brushes, and mugs so that they didn’t have to lift a finger outside of just sitting and painting together. Watching the whole thing, Aurora knew it was an expensive date. Far more than if it had just been the two of them at a restaurant or at a movie theater— Even if he had rented it out completely. But she also understood that he wanted something at home to maintain their privacy, and that doing something like watching a Netflix movie while eating a delivered pizza wasn’t exactly special. Hell, Johnny never really gave her the vibe of “casual dates”. He always came off as the type of guy that would go all in to impress his partner, which she undeniably found appealing…

“Did you find my apartment alright?”

Aurora nodded. “I figured I was in the right place when I was shell shocked by how expensive the building looks.”

Johnny chuckled at her. “Yuta lives in a nice place, too. Same with Taeyong.”

“Yeah, but not like this…” She glanced around his living room one more time to catch a glimpse of the book titles he had on his shelf. “Do you read a lot? Besides manga, I mean.”

“Depends… I’m usually too busy to get invested, and when I do have time to read something, I’d rather spend it on manga you recommend.”

Aurora blushed while still looking away from him, so she spent another minute collecting herself before she settled back in her seat to look at him. “You should get hobbies besides what I think.”

“That’s no fun.”

“Sillyehamnida” one of the employees shyly called from the empty walkway between the kitchen and the living room. Johnny turned to face them. “Everything’s ready.”

Johnny stood and bowed gratefully. “Gamsahabnida.”

They bowed in return, not saying a word, until they scurried to the exit with the other staff members, at which point they all bowed again and told Johnny and Aurora to enjoy themselves. They left as quickly as they had initially appeared. Once the door was shut and locked, Johnny inspected the state of his dining table and kitchen. The dining table had plates for dinner, silverware, and wine glasses set at place settings across from each other, meanwhile the mugs, paintbrushes, and paints with caps screwed on were set to the side for whenever they wanted to paint. As for the kitchen, they’d set up a catering pan across two of the stovetops which were set to low to keep the food warm, and there was a pot of sauce beside it.

“I requested pesto tortellini since I know you like it,” he told her as he sniffed the pesto sauce. Smiling contently, he asked, “Are you hungry?”

She could eat, yeah. She was more concerned with the idea of how he knew he liked pesto tortellini when it was such a niche meal she didn’t have too often because it wasn’t a popular thing in Korea. Actually, she couldn’t remember the last time she had it. Maybe when they were in France a couple of years ago and she wandered into a touristy place with Yuta and Taeyong in search of Italian food… in France…

So while Aurora sat at the dining table, Johnny grabbed their plates to spoon the pasta onto. From her spot at the table, she could see that there was fresh garlic bread and a salad too on the other countertop, so Johnny made sure to get plenty of that for her as well.

“Wine?” she offered.

“Please.”

She opened the bottle of red wine on the table in front of her before pouring half a glass for Johnny first then a little less than half for herself. Curious, she lifted her glass up to her nose to swirl and smell the wine. Expensive. That was her first thought, that it smelled expensive because of the hints of chocolate and cherry aromas which countered the fact that the wine had been aged a long time. Between the smell of pesto, garlic, and wine, Aurora couldn’t help but feel oddly flattered— Or perhaps wooed, if people even used that word anymore.

Johnny served Aurora first to make sure that he’d done everything to her liking before he sat down across from her, at which point he fidgeted with his own plate, wine glass, and all of the paints on the table in order to make sure everything was perfect, just the way he wanted in order to impress her properly. Aurora tried to hide her grin. It really was funny seeing the usually confident and nonchalant Johnny Suh struggle with trying to go above and beyond for silly old Aurora.

They spent the next two hours talking. Honestly, it didn’t even feel like two hours to Aurora, but it had indeed been that long from the moment she entered the apartment. The meal passed quickly because it tasted good and also because the company was enjoyable. Johnny was funny as per usual. He made Aurora laugh with the stupidest jokes imaginable, and he always smiled when he managed to get a laugh out of her even when she tried so hard to keep a straight face in order to not let him think that he was actually funny otherwise it would get to his head. Too late. It was like every other time they had chatted on Discord while playing video games or at work when he was trying to linger, the only difference was that there was a hint of flirting in the way they spoke to each other while under the pretense of being there for a date. Aurora wasn’t quite sure how first dates were supposed to go, but she decided to treat it like she was testing the waters. Did she actually like Johnny like… that? Yes. Did they have chemistry? Absolutely. Could she bear the thought of going on a second date with someone who had the same humor as the ahjussis? If that was part of the package deal that came with Johnny Suh, then alright.

In the two hours that they talked, Johnny moved their dinner plates to the counter top to make space for them to paint their mugs. Aurora was honestly the worst when it came to things like that. All of her creativity flew out the window any time she had a paintbrush in front of her, so she spent the first few minutes sipping her wine while waiting to see what Johnny would do. Much to her surprise, he went for the pink first. Knowing him and reflecting on what Yuta said about Johnny's favorite colors, pink was the last thing she expected him to do to paint his mug. He didn’t say anything to tease the look on her face as he painted. He just continued on with the conversation like nothing was amiss… So she took a paintbrush and dipped into the green to draw some drop vines from the lip of the mug.

“One of these days I want to take my mom to South America or something. She doesn’t get many opportunities to travel the world like we do, but I really think she would enjoy it, you know? She likes food, and she likes to sight see. It’s not really my thing… But I like doing those things with her because it makes me appreciate the little things in life.”

“Like what?” Aurora asked as she washed her brush.

“Going to random restaurants in the middle of a new city and sitting there, people-watching. No matter where you are in the world, people are always going to be people. Adults running to meetings that they’re late for. Families playing with their kids who are discovering things for the first time. Couples falling in love. Old people feeding birds.” Johnny laughed to himself. “I get to see all of that while getting to appreciate the fact that I’m privileged enough to take my mom to see those things in different corners of the world.”

“Is this your way of telling me to put Brazil on the next tour?”

“Chile, too.”

“Oh, yes, can’t forget Chile.” Aurora also chuckled quietly before putting all of her focus into painting a black cat beside the handle of the mug.

Johnny looked up briefly to ask her, “Is there anywhere in the world you’re dying to go to?”

Aurora took a moment to consider while still silently painting. She’d been to plenty of places ever since she started working with NCT 127. They’d been all over the United States— As if she hadn’t already done that while growing up— They went to Central America, a city or two in Argentina, and they bounced around Europe so much that Aurora could never remember which city they were in every morning when she woke up during press tours.

“The Maldives… If I win the lottery some day…”

Johnny cleaned his brush then set it to the side to indicate that he was finished. “I don’t know if you could convince the execs to put on a show there.”

“No, I don’t think so.”

They both laughed.

“If you win the lottery, would you take Yuta with you?” he questioned.

Aurora put her paintbrush down too and spun her mug slowly to make sure there wasn’t anything she needed to fix or add. “Depends.”

“On?”

“If there’s someone who also likes to people watch who’d want to go with me.”

To that, Johnny didn’t say anything, but he bit his lip to stop himself from grinning as Aurora peeked up at him through her lashes.

“Alright, let’s see the Mona Lisa’s competition,” Aurora said. Johnny immediately scooped his mug up and hid it under the table. “What—” She leaned down to look, but Johnny lifted it back up over the table. She sat up again. “John—” He hid it under the table a second time. Aurora squinted at him, “Why?”

“It’s a surprise.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s for you.”

“That’s not fair!” she protested.

He whined back at her, “Why not?”

“‘Cause I made mine for you too, but I was gonna show you.”

Johnny laughed. “It’s cute,” he said, gesturing to her mug. “I like it.”

She’d painted a mug which she figured fit his minimalist aesthetic yet had details of how she viewed him. The green vines were pretty on brand for Johnny, but the small sunflowers that hung from them were just her way of reminding him how nice his tattoo was, and the black cat trying to climb onto the handle was playful and cute like he was. She liked the idea of him being the black cat because he really wasn’t anything like that— Sure, he could be quiet and mischievous. Sure, he could get grumpy like that. However, Aurora thought he was just cute like those cats that tried to act tough until they inevitably gave in and cuddled up with their owner. The hope was to design something cute enough that Johnny wouldn’t want to hide it in the back of his cabinet, which was why she wanted to show it off to him with the intent to get a live-reaction so that she could change something last second if he didn’t like it, yet he was being that mischievous black cat again by refusing to let her see the mug he’d secretly made for her. No wonder he went for the pink first!

“So then show me the one you made for me—” She tried to sneak a peek under the table again, but Johnny continued to elude her. She huffed. “If it’s for me, I’ll see it eventually.”

“Yeah, when it’s glazed and everything.”

“You’re difficult.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say.”

When they were done painting their mugs and drinking their wine, the caterers returned to take them so that they could be put into the kiln at their office; and once they were glazed and fired, they would be delivered back to Johnny directly so that he didn’t have to be inconvenienced by picking them up from their office. It was a good business plan. Aurora could tell why they charged so much and why the celebrities were jumping at every chance they could get to hire them.

Against expectations, Johnny invited Aurora to stay a little longer by joining him on the couch to talk some more while drinking the little bit of wine he had left in his fridge. Just talking! That was what he insisted. So she decided to stay until she at least felt tipsy enough that maybe the thought of kissing him was overwhelming.

“You did not!” he exclaimed through a loud laugh.

“Shut up! It’s embarrassing as it is without you making fun of me!”

Johnny held his stomach as he laughed so hard it hurt. “After all… After all this time… I thought you’d never done anything embarrassing in your entire life—” He nearly toppled off the couch.

“Says the one who does some stupid shit on live TV every week.”

“Yeah, but I never threw a tantrum at five years old and hit my head against the floor on purpose to make a point!”

Aurora rolled her eyes and leaned back against the arm of the couch. “I never should’ve told you that story.”

“I’ll make it up to you by telling you something embarrassing about me, you just gotta prompt me.”

“Prompt you?”

“Yeah, like what do you want to know about me?”

Without an ounce of hesitancy, she finally decided to bite the bullet by asking him what had been on her mind for months.

“So how come you’ve been so adamant about keeping your hair long and blonde these days? I thought you liked it short so you fit in more.”

Johnny picked up his glass of wine. “‘Cause you like it.”

So there it was, the answer Aurora and her friends had anticipated for months yet were too scared to poke at. Honestly, she was surprised that Johnny would even admit to it in the first place. Didn’t he have any shame? Surely it was somewhat embarrassing to tell her that he spent months and months growing his hair out and dying it just so that he could get her attention because he was really just waiting for the perfect moment to ask her out… But no. Johnny wore it like a badge of pride, which was also understandable considering his plan worked.

“But do you like it?”

He smiled. “I do. It’s not what I’m used to, but the compliments are nice, and it’s something for me to take care of rather than just waking up and mindlessly running a comb through it before racing to work.” He drank. “I think this has been my favorite era so far, just between the group I’m with, the song, the dance, and actually getting to participate more— Thank you for that, by the way—”

Aurora blushed.

“The hair just makes it perfect, in my opinion.” He finished his glass then set it down without bothering to refill it. “That’s not embarrassing, though.”

She didn’t find humor in embarrassing him, however, regardless of the fact that he was being a good sport about it in order to ease her mind about oversharing stories from her childhood. When she didn’t give into his lead-on, Johnny decided to just go for it himself.

“I got one. When I was ten, and I was still in America, I was sleeping over at my friend’s house for a weekend so we could go to this Star Wars marathon at the local movie theater, and in the middle of the night, I woke up because I felt, like, oddly wet, you know? So when I sat up, I saw that my friend’s cat had been on my chest, peeing all over me—”

Aurora stifled a laugh.

“He dug his claws into my shirt when I tried to push him off! And he just kept going! Like, come on, man, take me to dinner first or something!”

Aurora couldn’t hold back any more. Through her laughter, she told him, “That’s way worse than my story.”

“Maybe,” he replied with a satisfied grin, “but it made you laugh.”

Without really thinking anything of it in the moment, Aurora reached out to push his shoulder to say, Shut up, but she quickly remembered in the moments following that she wasn’t with Yuta or Taeyong, and she wasn’t sitting on Johnny's couch as his friend but as his date. Suddenly she was embarrassed all over again. However, Johnny didn’t make note of it or even tease her further, he just navigated the topic easily onto the next question in order to see what else he could learn about Aurora. She said he hardly knew her, right? Well, what was a date if not the opportunity to learn everything about her?

Johnny was the first to say something when he noticed that Aurora was getting tired yet was too shy to interrupt the flow of their conversation. He checked the clock on his living room mantle, then double checked his watch, and once he’d concluded it was late enough, he asked Aurora how she was planning on getting home. She shrugged and said the same way she arrived: public transportation. When he laughed at that and pulled out his phone, Aurora was mildly confused all the way up until the point where he admitted he called a taxi for her and that it would be outside of his building in the next seven minutes, giving them plenty of time to wrap up their evening properly.

“You didn’t have to do that,” she insisted, feeling guilty.

“There’s no way I can let you go home on the bus in this weather and this late at night. I invited you over, I should be responsible for seeing you home safely, even if I can’t go with you.”

Aurora knew there was no argument she could make against that, so she simply smiled and thanked him with a slight bow of her head.

“I’ll see you out.”

They stood in unison, Aurora heading to the coat hangers to retrieve her winter coat and purse. Johnny didn’t grab anything to keep himself warm. However, he made sure to step around her to open the door wide enough for both of them to step out, his arm above her head while his grip didn’t waver. It was perhaps the first time she ever truly noticed how tall he was, at least in comparison to her and within the context of being on a date with him. On their walk to the elevator, Aurora realized why Johnny didn’t bundle up. She had to go down alone because they couldn’t be seen together, so he at least saw her to the elevator like a gentleman.

“Listen, I, uh…” He grinned to hide his shyness. “Thanks for coming over… For, uh, giving me a chance.”

“Well, all-rounder, it was impossible to not give you a chance after you spent so long drooling over me.”

“I wouldn’t call it drooling.”

“Whatever helps you sleep at night.”

They laughed together. He looked really happy that night, more so than she’d ever seen him, which made her smile never waver. That smile of his only wavered when the elevator dinged and Aurora stepped in, signaling the end of their night together.

“Next time, you should come visit my place,” she told him.

Johnny's face brightened up at the fact that she proposed there would be a next time. He nodded eagerly. “I’d like that.”

The elevator doors began closing. “See you tomorrow, all-arounder.” Before he could think to reply, Aurora was on her way down.

taglist: @tiredlittlevirgo , @henderysposts , @trash-number-one , @mystverse , @strawberryax0lotl , @hisunflower , @alili-milidoy , @junrenjun , @slayhaechan

[cokoladasljesnjakom]

tag you're it

summary: shes a ruthless killer. she does not care if someone dies on her watch. her moves are like shadow. she is a shadow. once you see her, its too late. its not her problem. she cant complain, but what she can do is to complie. thats what is she made for. thats what they made her do. but once she escapes from their grasp, she searches for him. for her brother. but of course what goes around, comes around. and thats is when she meets him. the winter solider. and oh yeah the rest of the avengers.

bucky barnes x female! reader

word count: around 7.2k (sorry)

a/n: so sorry it took me long to update you guys. i was bussy and so tired during this week. plus work is killing me. so yeah there she is. hope u will enjoy it :) btw the translation is on the end.

prologue part i part ii

flashback

"mommy what is that?" said the little boy. his name started with a letter m. or was it?

"that is a moon sweetie." said the mom. "but why is it so shiny and round?" asked the brother.

"because we need it for uh- light and so we can see clearly in the night max." ah so his name was max. its familiar but she cant remember from where.

"that is right yn! even though there is more reasons why is moon so round and shiny." the mom said with a big smile on her face, making it impossible for the little girl and the boy not to laugh at her.

the boy turned to his sister, wrapping his hand around hers and asked her "can we go to the moon? i heard its made of cheese. and plus we can bring a piece for mummy too! so she can try it too!"

the girl laughed at him and whispered back at him with the same joy as he did " yes, of course. once we land on the moon we can put our little flag we made and stic it so people can see that we were on the moon!"

the mom and the brother laughed at her and they contined to walk on the beach.

end of the flashback

jolting out of a bed with a cold sweat running down her face and her thoughts running all over the place she took deep breaths.

all those memories, she hated them. she hated them because she couldnt remember them later when she wanted to. the feeling of emptiness and lonelyness. oh how much she hated that.

she wanted to remember that womans face once again. the feeling of her hand on her face bringed some comfort to it. she loved that feeling.

and the little boy. oh that little boy. his little cheeks that made them so squishy and adorable. she swore that she saw him from somewhere. they were something to her, but se couldnt figure out what.

too bussy to hear the footsteps, a voice called over to her making it to step out from her thoughts.

"тень?" fear. horror. dissmay. she felt like earth was swallowing her alive. god that voice - it made her weak in the knees and making her wanting to rip her own skin.

when the man noticed that she haven't moved, he grabbed her by pulling her hair and dragging her across the room to the chair.

the siencetists who were working on something stopped in their tracks as soon they saw her.

"подготовь ее и пристегни."

she could hear the clock ticking. water droplets falling down from the ceiling. her heartbeat was thumping aganist her chest do hard, that she thought its going to fall out.

the siencetists grabbed her by her hands and strapped her down on the black chair. suprisingly the chair was soft and not heavy to sit on, like the previous ones.

"where is she?" a german voice called out. she could recognize that voice anywhere. arnim zola. the man who ruined her piece by piece. he did anything to make her feel vulnerable. and he did that.

"shes here sir." a man in a white lab coat called out.

"good, for once in your life time you've done something right." zola had said. she could hear the discust in his voice every time he spoke. not towards them. no. but to her. and honestly? she did not care, she hated him anyway.

not fully woken up yet, she thought of the woman and the boy she had dreamed of.

"the woman in the house... who was she?" she knew that the woman was something to her, because the voice she had was too soft to be spoke with her.

the look on his face was priceless. 'no... there's no way... how can she remember her? we did everything in our power so she could not recognize her.' his hands started to shake incredibly fast, so he put his hands in his coat lab.

never in a life time did a person that he had experimented on, had remembered their past. their family, friends or anything that was a part of them before. every time when there was a mission, the soldier was supposed to complete the mission without any traces.

over the years, H.Y.D.R.A. was the only one who abused her power by practically speaking, experimenting on people who were kidnapped by force, abusing them day after day out just to get the important thing done. to kill their "enemies". that is, people who wanted their secret to be proven true. people who wanted justice for those who were prevented from being free and more importantly for people to see how H.Y.D.R.A. actually cruel.

"no one important to you." he took a deep breath and said "what I need from you is more important." looking at him carefully, expecting an answer to her question, he just came to her with papers in his hands and threw them on her lap.

"that boy is your mission." he said with hatred in his voice. the boy looked very familiar. as if she had seen him somewhere. she felt as if she could hear his voice.

the boy in the picture must have been 19-20 years old, if not younger. pointing her finger at the picture she said "and that boy? who is he? and why should I kill him?" she knew that she was asking too many questions and that it would cost her life, but she needed an answer to her question.

the next thing that happened was unespected, but it didnt shock her. a slap to her face with a punch in her nose and then gut. it hurted yes but not as much it hurt when she couldn't remember the people in her dream.

"i said no questions. and do your job how its supposted to be done you filthy visious little bitch!" another slap to her face. so she nod her head yes.

"пристегните ее и начните процедуру." the man had said.

zola moved to the side and let him pass. Vasily Karpov. with a black book in his hand that had the shadow of a girl on it.

stepping in the front of her, he starts opens the book and starts to say the words.

"сумерки." signals the loss of her free will, the beginning of her assassin state.

"тишина." a command to suppress all emotions, making her cold and calculating.

"бегать." a word connected to her past, reinforcing her role as a relentless hunter.

"черная вода." time when she saw the dark times, making her remember all the people she had killed, forcing her to become what she hates the most.

"пустота." an endless abyss where nothing exists—not her thoughts, not her emotions, not even time.

"Забвение." no matter how fierce her battle or her intentions, everything will eventually fade into nothingness. the last word.

after a minute passed Vasily shuts the book and steps closer to her.

"тень?"

taking a deep breath and looking at him with nothing but emptiness and a desire for the mission to be fulfilled.

"готов подчиниться"

"Назначение: Тень. Миссия: Прекратить. Неудача – это не вариант." when he finished the sentence, he turned around and said one more time with a russian accent.

"she is ready."

meanwhile -

just woken up he streched out and went to the kitchen and started making coffee and breakfast. at that time he put the bread to toast and took out the cheese spread along with the apple juice.

he picked up his phone to check for any messages or news.

while he was scrolling through his mobile phone, a new message caught his eye. clicking on it, he was left in shock.

and during that time his toast was burnt.

without waiting a second, he immediately changed his clothes, drank some juice and left the apartment.

but he returned to the apartment again and turned off the toaster and ate burnt toast on the way, and this time he went out of the apartment again and locked it.

oh and the message. yes my bad.

"i found out where is she. meet me at the caffee and uh dont forget to bring me crossaint please."

the translation:

тень - shadow

по��готовь ее и пристегни - prepeare her and strap her

пристегните ее и начните процедуру - strap her in and start the procedure

сумерки - nightfall

тишина - silence

бегать - run

черная вода - black water

пустота - the void

Забвение - oblivion

готов подчиниться - ready to comlpy

Назначение: Тень. Миссия: Прекратить. Неудача – это не вариант - purpose: shadow. mission: execute. failure is not an option

[skyheld]

cw: tranquility, mild self-harm

It comes upon him gradually. Prayers upon prayers, whispered through cracking lips into the darkness of the cell: Fen’harel, Mythal enaste, O Maker hear my call, again and again until he doesn’t know where one begins and the other ends. With the prayers constantly in his mind he pushes down and down on the fear that this won’t work, the anger that he’s been doing this for so long with no result, the hysterical laughter bubbling up, the disgust, the grief, the frustration—pushes down and down until at last his mind is still like the surface of an underground lake touched by no wind, no current, no living thing.

Tranquil.

He remains on his knees in the cell for many breaths, the prayers a murmur in the back of his mind, waiting to see if the trance will break on its own or if it holds for now. His knees hurt, his joints and knuckles all locked up and aching. Hunger claws at his stomach. None of it really bothers him. He would prefer to not experience pain or hunger, but it doesn’t give him any particular grief. It just is. He just is. Tranquil.

His eyes peel open one lash at a time and he reaches out to tug at the thin rope hanging on the inside of the cell door. The sound of the bell ringing outside is the first sound he has heard beside his own breathing and the ragged sound of his prayers when he still had a voice to speak them with. It doesn’t break the trance. He still feels nothing, not even relief, when the sound breaks the silence. He feels nothing when feet approach the outside of the door and nothing when it’s pushed inwards. Lady-Seeker Threnaera’s face is familiar but he feels no warmth looking upon it.

“I am ready.” He mouths the words, he has no voice left.

She kneels in front of him, studies him. He’s not sure what she is looking for, but whatever it is, she finds it. With a curt nod she says, “Yes. You are ready for the Rite.”

-------

The water is cold and soothing to his throat but he feels no relief. He makes an involuntary noise when Knight-Commander helps him stand, muscles screaming as they leave the pose they’ve been in near constantly for the past month, but the pain causes no distress, it is just pain. When the Knight-Commander says Haron has asked to be present for the rite and that he has allowed it, despite it being against protocol, because of the unusual circumstances, he nods his understanding without feeling any gratitude or joy. He knows that he cares about Haron, but love is at the very bottom of the lake inside his mind, and the surface doesn’t stir because a stone shifts in the sand.

A month is nothing compared to the year most Seeker initiates go through before the Rite of Tranquility is attempted, but he doesn’t have time to be gone for a year. Mages equal to him in mental fortitude and skill have done the Vigil and not succeeded. They can reach this state of half tranquility—a trance, really, not easily broken but breakable—but they’ll never be entirely shut off from the Fade and thus they can never be free of it. None of them have come so far as to take the next step, the brand that makes tranquility permanent until broken by a spirit, the point that makes them immune to possession. Ameridan sees no reason to believe he will succeed where they failed. The difference is that he will take the next step anyway.

If the Vigil cannot work for a mage, do only the bare minimum for the Vigil, a month to enter that trance—then proceed with the Rite.

--------

The ritual chamber dug into the bedrock under the castle is small and poorly made, an uneven circle with moisture dripping down the walls and roots crawling through cracks in the ceiling. The rugs on the floor and walls do little do make it homelier and less to keep it warm. Ameridan shudders as he steps through the low door, but only from the cold. The trance holds.

As Haron and the Knight-Commander helps him into the center of the room, he looks at the table by the far wall. At the brand, glowing a faint blue.

If it succeeds, he will be immune to possession. He will be safe, in such a way as even the Chantry will have to accept. It is important enough to try, and dangerous enough that he would never allow anyone to try it but himself.

Lady-Seeker Threanera’s face is unreadable. “You are certain about this?”

“I am.”

“It will be no stain on your honour if you back out now.”

“I will not.”

She nods. “Knight-Commander, the brand, if you please.”

------

An instant of pain worse than any he has felt before. The brand burns into his forehead and sears through his skull and the blinding light of the Chantry sun is all he can see, all he can feel until something reaches into the jagged hole and seizes at his very being. Anger, fear, joy, grief— surprise and annoyance and curiosity and boredom—wants and wishes and hopes and dreams—he feels them all again, feels them so strongly it tears a ragged scream from his throat and his body seizes up like its trying to claw out of itself—he is arching his back, head pressing into the palms holding it still while the brand hisses at this forehead—another scream, ending on a pained gasp, and with it all of it is pulled out of him. That avalanche of emotions burned away with the sizzling of lyrium against his skin.

Silence. The blank surface of an underground lake.

------

He does not remember falling, but he is lying down now, face forward, head tilted to the side. There is a taste of blood in his mouth. He must have bit his tongue as his knees hit the stone floor. Haron is beside him, speaking, but Ameridan is too dazed to hear what he says. His voice is unnecessarily loud. He takes Ameridan’s face in his hands, feeling for injuries, then carefully turns him over so he lies on his back, and still he’s speaking.

“—can you hear me? Say something—Threnn, is this normal? What’s happening?”

Threnaera kneels beside him. Unlike Haron, she sounds calm. “Ameridan? Can you hear me? I want you to speak.”

“I can hear you”, Ameridan replies. His voice is a little stronger now, though still a whisper.

“Do you know your name?”

“Yes.”

“Say it.”

“Ameridan.”

“And mine?”

“Your name is Threnaera. You prefer to be called Threnn.”

“His voice”, Haron says, not looking at Ameridan; his eyes are wide. “It worked, didn’t it? He sounds…”

“Tranquil”, Threnn says. “We shall see. The brand certainly had some effect. Ameridan, do you think you can sit up? Haron and I will give you a hand, if it wouldn’t make you uncomfortable.”

Ameridan thinks he’d be able to sit up. He’s no longer very dizzy, and he’s not comfortable on the floor. Haron takes his shoulders and half lifts him off the floor until he’s sitting, feeling the pain in his knees and elbows and chin and nothing more. Everything is clear and calm. He can see with such clarity.

The Knight-Commander is at his side now, too, smiling as he puts a hand on Ameridan’s shoulder, looking at his face without looking.

“Praise the Maker”, he says. “I think it worked. This is tranquility.”

“We will perform the usual checks”, Threanera says.

“Naturally. Inquisitor, you are bleeding. Did you bite your tongue?”

“Probably.”

“You may heal it.”

The Knight-Commander pauses after saying that as though waiting for a response, so Ameridan nods his understanding. A glance passes between Roderick and Threanera. The Knight-Commander turns back to him. “Heal it, Ameridan.”

He reaches up. It should be the work of a moment. His hands are at his chin, but there is no magic at his fingertips. He doesn’t feel surprise. “I cannot.”

“What do you mean you cannot?”

“I have no access to my magic.”

--------

The checks confirm the same thing. The state of tranquility is perfect, without gaps for spirits to find foothold. Then, they want to run other test, on what they call Ameridan’s theory, that he no longer has magic in this state. Ameridan knows he doesn’t, and tells them so. They want to run the test anyway. He does not refuse.

They apologize. He sees no reason why. One of the most effective gauges of magical activity is to check the pain and flinch responses.

Haron pleads with them. It is enough, they have done enough tests. They should proceed. “I don’t like to look at him this way, Knight-Commander.”

“He can hear you, you know”, the Knight-Commander says.

-------

The final part of the rite is the calling of the spirit of Faith to break the state of tranquility. The summoning takes a long time and he’s feeling the hunger in his belly, the lack of water, the aches new and old in his body. Pray, the Lady-Seeker urges, keep praying, your faith will draw it even in this state. He prays with his ragged whisper-voice, prayers upon prayers, Fen’harel, Dirthamen, Mythal enaste, O Maker here me call until a presence starts building at the front of his mind, where the brand was burnt into his skull, a pressure like a blinding light like heat through cracks in the bone. Vaguely he recognizes it—like an old friend half forgotten. It reaches out and the pressure mounts until he wants to scream from the pain.

It falls into the stillness of the underwater lake and shatters the surface into a thousand sharp splinters.

They breach it like the hands of the drowned finally reaching the surface. Fear, reaching up to claw at the first thing it can find. Anger, coming up next like a closing fist. Grief, howling its way into despair. Injustice, insult, betrayal, guilt. He throws his head back, gasping, reaching out for Faith but it is already leaving, its presence fading.

------

“Ameridan. Ameridan, please say something.”

He is lying on the floor again, on his back, staring into the cracked ceiling. His head is in Haron’s lap and when he tilts it back a little he can see Haron’s face, upside-down, and the love that he feels for him—the relief that he is there, the gratitude that he spoke up, the shame that he saw Ameridan like this—it wells up like a sob from his chest and he has to turn away. His chest is heaving, heart pounding and there is so much building on the edge of his consciousness. He tries to make his mind calm, but it roars like a stormy sea.

“Threnn”, Haron says, “tell me this is how it’s supposed to go.”

“Some initiates have strong reactions”, Threnaera says, kneeling beside them both. Her voice strikes a spark of anger. She could have listened to him when he told her his magic was gone. His magic— in a panic, a flash of sudden fear he seeks for the connection in his mind and this time he finds it, the Fade singing at the edge of his mind.

Relief, again. He wants to laugh. All is well. He did it—he did it.

Did he?

The Fade is still singing. Faith is gone. The spirit will fill you and become one with you, and there will be no room for another, Threnaera said. But he cannot feel its presence.

The shock—the disappointment—the fear rises and the falls, he falls, he falls in Haron’s lap into a pit so deep and dark he can’t see the edge. It did not work—it did not work—all that pain and—

“Ameridan—“

It did not work.

“Ameridan, please…”

His hands are pried away from his face, blood under the nails, half-moons stinging on his cheeks. He looks at the blood and wonders why he did that, and how could the pain inside him be so strong he didn’t feel the one on his body?

“Something is wrong”, he whispers. His voice is hoarser than ever from screaming and no one has given him water and it makes him so angry, it is so unjust, unfair, that no one has given him water and he wrenches his hands out of Haron’s grip and Threnaera pushes him back when he tries to sit up and she can’t do that, he’s done with her, he reaches for the Fade and lashes out with his mind, sending a blast for force that hits her square in the chest and throws her backwards into a wall with such force dust falls from the ceiling.

Then he, too, is knocked back, magic drawn out of him in a painful surge that leaves him gasping on the floor next to Haron. The Knight-Commander’s sword is out, but he isn’t pointing it at Ameridan. He’s staring down at him, confused and angry. “What in the world is the matter with you?”

“I do not know.” He draws himself up into a sitting position, shaking, holding his hands up in front of his face as if somehow the blood under his fingernails will start to make sense, as if there is some way to understand why he has lashed out in anger at his friend, as if his emotions will calm down if he just breathes. Threnaera sits up, rubbing the back of her head, and the Knight-Commander sheathes his sword and kneels at her side.

“Ameridan.” Haron is at his side again. “Tell me what happened.”

“Something is wrong with me.” He can still taste blood in his mouth. He can feel it running down his cheeks from the half-moon cuts his nails left. “I do not know, Haron. Something is broken.”

“It is just shock”, Haron says, taking him into his arms, but even as he falls against his chest Ameridan knows it is not shock. His mind is still intact. He can see the senselessness of these emotions. But he is no longer in control.

Fear rises in him. He balls his hands into fist to quench it, bites his bottom lip until it bursts between his teeth. He is the Inquisitor, he is needed. Drakon needs him, the Wardens need him, the Dales need him, the mages need him.

If he isn't in control of himself, then he can be of no help to them.