#nomad x mc

[luxthestrange]

HOUSAMO Memes #2

[ronearoundblindly]

Hideout (Interlude)

touch-starved!Nomad Steve Rogers x motel employee!reader (see series)

Written for @whiskeytangofoxtrot555's birthday from her premise ask 💜 but also serves as a wee prezzie for @blogbog710, @targaryenvampireslayer, @navybrat817, and (belatedly) the lovely @ellethespaceunicorn! (What the heck is in the water?? So many bdays I didn't know about!)

Summary: Your birthday ritual is interrupted.

*You do not need to know anything about this series to enjoy this blurb.* Warnings for suggestive eating, a sweet kiss (literally), cuddling in minimal clothing, but otherwise, just fluff and feels! WC 1.2k

Of course, you don’t always do this. Sometimes you’re out with friends. Sometimes your parents make a huge deal out of late dinner. Sometimes you draw the short straw and have to work the front desk, but not tonight.

The searing red of the digital clock counts down for you (or up depending on how you look at it). Soon—very soon—it will be midnight, and you can wish yourself the first ‘happy birthday.’ To some that might seem sad, but it’s become a ritual of you putting yourself first. Birthday parties may be for children but celebrating YOU should never go out of style.

The red flickers. New numbers. New you. Older, wiser, and alive. It’s a beautiful thing.

Your eyelids fall heavy after your long soak in the tub, the lingering scent of the bubblebath still warm on your skin. You’re content and tired. You hum as a smile tugs the corners of your mouth.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Why you aren’t startled is a hope you don't admit aloud, a greedy, gluttonous vice that piles on to a reality you cannot share with a single living soul except…

Steve Rogers, the fugitive Captain America, crouches outside your window, nimble and stealthy, having climbed to the slant of roof without you noticing.

But you wished for him. You always wish for him to come back.

Your smile grows as you slide off the edge of your bed and press your hand to the pane of glass. He mirrors the gesture, unhurried, soft. It’s just a moment more before you lift the latches and invite him in.

Whispers of ‘hey’ are exchanged while Steve crawls through, but he only answers your surprised “what are you doing here?” with a kiss to your forehead and a long hug.

You taught him how to hug like that. He's taken it to another level as anxiety melts out of you faster than it did in the bath.

His warm skin smells of pine and leather, likely from wearing his decrepit Cap suit to sneak around the woods behind your house. It fits his mountain-man vibe these days--full beard, hair curling beneath his ears, desperate loneliness he uses you to brighten.

You're not sure Steve comprehends how much light he brings to your life in return, but you soak up what you can.

He stands tall, still grinning, and drops a small, structured backpack to the floor. From it he pulls a pastry box, a little pack of candles, and a lighter. He goes through the entire process of preparing your cupcake in his palm before stretching out his hand.

The tiny, flickering flame shimmers in his twilight eyes.

“Happy birthday, Tops.”

As you gently take your treat, it occurs to you that you’ve never told Steve Rogers your birthday. 

“How did you know?”

Technically, the question is casual, but you’re still curious.

His eyebrows shoot up, dramatic and comical shadows cast across his handsome features.

“Well, see, in my…position—” Wax drips onto the towering icing while Steve rubs his neck, guilty and avoiding your eyes. “I have to take certain…precautions, and I was just—” 

“Did you look me up? Online? Do some research, huh? Check up on me?” 

You’re teasing him, but it is fun to see the huge man kneeling at your bedside squirm. His blush is crimson in the candlelight.

You poke his burly shoulder. “You were checkin’ me out…”

“It’s not like that,” he whispers. “Anyway, make a wish, birthday girl.” Steve pushes the cupcake higher in your hold, encouraging you with a wry smile.

Your breath is swift and precise, your desire so clear at the forefront of your mind that picking a wish—another wish, since he’s already here—takes no time at all.

Steve maneuvers himself to sit up on your bed, pulling you to into his lap.

“Good surprise?”

“The best,” you whisper.

You remove the candle and hold the bottom to Steve’s lips. “Lick.”

He sucks off the icing slowly, keeping his eyes locked with yours.

You playfully run your finger through the frosting and taste it, too. If you ever told him your favorite cake flavor, you can’t remember that either, but he clearly knows.

“Tasty?” he asks, a swipe of his tongue wetting his lips.

“Uh-huh.”

You take another dollop and offer your finger to him.

He chuckles. “It’s all yours. I’m not fond of super-sweet things.”

“Oh?” You let the whipped, buttery sugar dissolve in your mouth, thinking. “You’re fond of me, so…are you saying I’m not sweet?”

Your concern is overly dramatic, but Steve stares, biting his bottom lip. “No.”

“Then what do I add to the flavor?” You pull down a corner of crimped paper to try the cake itself. He’s still pondering when you clean lingering stickiness off your thumb.

“Clarity,” Steve finally says. “You offer clarity in a very blurry life.”

His hand on your back shifts to cradle your head, bringing you closer until you’re captured in an intense but chaste kiss. He cups your cheek in his other palm and licks across your sweet lips until you open for him. Steve devours you like you are the real treat, uncaring if his offering splats on the floor. It’s not on fire anymore, so who cares?

Something else occurs to you, jolting you to break away.

“How long can you stay?”

Steve pets down his beard, restarting his brain. “Till morning, I guess, but then I should go. I don’t want to ruin any of your other plans.”

Unbidden, you inhale swiftly and are overtaken by a yawn.

He’s wildly amused by that. “Tired, Tops?”

“No,” you lie, feeling another one coming on. “If I eat the rest of this, I’ll have energy.”

“Or—“ Steve plucks the confection away before you can slam it in two bites flat “—you can finish this for breakfast and get some sleep.”

You whine in protest because every minute you sleep is a minute with him wasted. He senses exactly that.

“I promise to stay right here all night. Come on. Get comfy.”

He repackages your cupcake to keep it fresh while you crawl into bed. You’ve never seen Steve have to remove his suit, and to watch, it looks tedious and involved.

“Took a second to master, I tell ya,” he mutters once the top is off.

Another minute and he’s shuffling under the covers beside you, aligning his body to snuggle yours, keeping you facing him.

Again his hand finds your cheek, his thumb brushing across your skin gently. He’s purposefully lulling you, placing the most delicate kisses over your forehead, his beard tickling your nose and making it scrunch up.

“Sorry,” he breathes.

You tilt upwards to steal the apology right from his lips. Usually, your time together is dictated by his needs, even if he doesn’t ask for the attention. It’s uplifting to have no worry of caring for him explicitly. This is just you with him, zero pressure, tons of love, nothing between.

“Hey, Steve?”

You wait for the deep rumble of a hum from his chest

“Thank you. I don’t think I ever said that.”

He smiles against your mouth, breaking away with a swift double peck.

“My pleasure, sweetheart.” He pulls you flush to his chest, sighing happily when you toss your leg over his hip. “Happy birthday,” Steve whispers into your hair. “Thank you for letting me in.”

You fall asleep with him everywhere, in your arms, in your lungs, and in your heart. Your wish is that he never leaves, and for tonight, he’s doing the best he can to make your every wish come true.

[Main Masterlist; Ko-Fi]

@supraveng @1950schick @patzammit @yiiiikesmish @ashesofblackroses

@jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory @brandycranby @buckysprettybaby

@late-to-the-party-81 @bigtreefest @mistressmkay @astheskycries 

@rogersbarber @blogbog710 @bucky-fricking-barnes-reads @fallinallinmendes

@mrsevans90 @lemonadygirl @umadirectioner @mrschandlerbing @as-white-as-snow-love

[sissyisawitch]

Christmas at Home

Part 2 of I'll Be Home For Christmas (link)

Relationship: Sebastian Sallow x f!MC

Summary: Ten years later, MC has a home, a family, and a husband. What does a traditional Christmas look like for her now?

Word Count: ~6.4k

Warnings: Tooth rotting Christmas fluff 🎅🎄

Author's Note: Requested by @mochiglow . Plus I wanted to write one last Christmas story before the end of the year (yes, once again, I had to rush to get the story out in time). As always, I hope you'll enjoy it! And I wish you lots of love for the year ahead💕

The room was shrouded in the soft glow of dawn, and MC found herself caught in the liminal space between sleep and wakefulness. Tossing and turning, her mind danced on the edge of dreams and reality, a swirl of thoughts and anxieties tugging at her subconscious. The weight of the night seemed to lift when, in that vulnerable moment, she inhaled a familiar scent that wrapped around her like a comforting embrace—Sebastian’s scent.

MC's senses gradually anchored to the reassuring fragrance that enveloped her. With a sigh, she opened her eyes to be met with her husband's naked torso. She had been waking up to the same sight for ten years to the day, ever since that memorable Christmas when they had met by sheer happenstance, and ended up confessing their feelings for each other. After leaving Anne and Ominis's house after dinner, MC had gone back to sleep at Sebastian's house in Hogsmeade, and that time, they had slept together in the same bed. From that day on, the two lovebirds had never left each other's side. MC had immediately moved in with Sebastian, having nowhere else to go after leading a nomadic and adventurous life. Sebastian had supported her every step of the way, helping her to find a job and to buy more possessions than what was in her suitcase (because she did in fact travel light).

In short, Sebastian had been the most incredible boyfriend, the most loving and patient partner, as well as the most reliable and unconditional support.

Thank Merlin he had been there to help MC get used to her new life of routine, because it had not been easy every day. Still, she was grateful to have overcome all these trials and tribulations, and especially to have done so alongside Sebastian, because it had brought her to the present moment. For ten years, she had had the privilege of waking up surrounded by the strong arms of the man she cherished more than anything else in the world, and witnessing the marks of time embedding into him: how his beard was fuller than before, how the patch of hair on his chest had widened and darkened, how his shoulders had broadened. But if there was one thing that remained unchanged, it was how madly in love Sebastian was with MC, and how he never failed to prove it to her.

Drawing solace from the gentle rise and fall of his chest, MC shifted closer to him – if that was even possible – seeking even more contact with his warmth, which, as always, miraculously succeeded in making all her nervousness vanish.

As if attuned to her restlessness, Sebastian stirred awake and instinctively tightened his hold around her petite figure.

“You’re up early.” Sebastian said with his husky morning voice, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

“I didn't sleep very well.” MC admitted while bringing her hands up to rest on his chest.

He placed a delicate kiss to her forehead, before looking at her, his gaze tender and filled with a quiet understanding, “I know you. You're stressing about today because you want everything to be perfect.”

“That must be it, yes…” She replied absently, mindlessly tracing the freckles that adorned his collarbones.

MC was not sure how, but the whole family had decided that for the first time, the Christmas festivities would be held at MC and Sebastian's house, instead of at Anne and Ominis' in Feldcroft as in all the other years.

“You don't have to worry, you know. We're not asking you to make a big feast. Besides, whatever you prepare, I know it'll be brilliant.” Sebastian continued to try and reassure her, still flashing his radiant smile.

MC made no response. Instead, she preferred to nestle her head in the crook of his neck and place tender kisses along his skin, moving her lips as slowly as possible to fully appreciate the taste of him. Fortunately, Sebastian did not question why his wife was being particularly cuddly this morning. He simply tightened his grip on her waist, his fingers digging into her flesh through her satin nightdress, while his other hand moved down her thigh to trace invisible shapes and caress her skin.

“I love you, Sebastian.” She declared all too solemnly.

He chuckled at her confession, which came out of nowhere, but which he never tired of hearing, “I love you too, darling.”

After all these years together, Sebastian still marvelled at how the soft contours of their bodies moulded perfectly into one another, as if they had truly been made for each other down to the very last detail. Limbs entwined and hearts beating in unison, they both revelled in each other's quiet, yet soothing presence… That was until Sebastian could no longer resist his ardour.

With two fingers under her chin, he tilted MC's face until their eyes met. Without wasting a second, Sebastian claimed her plump lips, kissing her languorously, all the while taking his time, as if he were discovering her for the first time. The way he sucked and nibbled her lips with fervour made MC realise that he was hungry for more than just breakfast.

MC let out several keen moans, which fuelled Sebastian's passion. He could not stop running his hands over every inch of her body, his electric touch setting her skin on fire. Sebastian's next move would have been to roll on top of his wife to pin her to the mattress... if only he had not been stopped short by the creak of their bedroom door being opened, followed by the patter of little feet.

Sebastian let out a deep growl and fell back onto his side of the bed, while MC giggled at his reaction.

"Mummy! Daddy! Wake up, it's Christmas!" Their son, Theodore, exclaimed with uncontainable excitement, like a burst of energy dispelling the lingering tranquillity. Sebastian and MC, still wrapped in the warmth of each other, exchanged a fond smile.

Oblivious to the interrupted moment, the five-year-old clambered onto the bed with a gleeful grin, and squeezed himself between his parents, joining their intertwined embrace.

“I can't wait for Father Christmas to come! I told him I want a big dragon this year!” Their son's voice bubbled with the magic of the holiday.

MC exchanged a glance with Sebastian, amused by their son's earnest Christmas wish, "A dragon, huh?" She teased. "That's a pretty big request, Theo. Are you sure you have enough space for a dragon in your room?"

Theo’s eyes narrowed as he contemplated the logistics, "Well, maybe a baby dragon? They're smaller, right?"

Sebastian chuckled, "We'll see what Santa can do, buddy.”

“Can we send him a letter to ask him to come sooner?” Theo asked eagerly.

Sebastian ruffled his son's unruly chestnut hair – the same one as him, “Easy there, little elf. You know he only comes once the whole family is together. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair on Aunt Anne and Uncle Ominis. They wanna see him too.”

The child pouted, understanding his father's answer, but clearly dissatisfied with it all the same.

MC took her child in her arms and stood up, "Come on, young man. Let's get out of bed, and eat breakfast first. Then we’ll get ready, and I promise you won’t see time go by."

The family descended the stairs into the living room, which was bathed in Christmas atmosphere, with the tremendous tree shining brightly, the stockings hanging on the mantelpiece, and the dining table adorned with festive decorations, ready to welcome guests for a feast.

Luckily for MC, Theo was a real glutton like his father, so it was not difficult to convince him to eat. Nevertheless, like his mother this time, he was a real chatterbox. While they were all eating, Theo could not stop talking about the potential presents he was going to get. Overwhelmed with excitement, he kept chattering away, often with his mouth full, and MC had to remind him several times that this was impolite.

After breakfast, the family retreated to their respective corners of the house to get dressed in their festive best for the special occasion. Sebastian, who had quickly put on his outfit, went to help his son put on his Christmas attire which consisted of a green tartan shirt, red trousers with braces and a matching bow tie.

Meanwhile, MC put on a little make-up and slipped on her black velvet dress which had a V-neckline bordered by lace that matched the one decorating the cuffs of its long sleeves. The bust was fitted at the waist, and the skirt was flowing but still close enough to the body to outline the graceful curves of MC's body.

Sebastian appeared suddenly, and hugged MC from behind, making her jump slightly, “You’re gorgeous as always, my love. You never fail to take my breath away.”

MC turned around to take a look at him, clad in black trousers and shirt, with only a forest green tie for a touch of colour. It was rather simple but it always seemed to do the trick to make MC weak in the knees. Especially when he rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, showing off his strong forearms, with freckles scattered among the hair, and veins bulging out of his tanned skin.

She devoured him with her eyes, a smirk plastered on her lips, “Thank you. You’re quite handsome yourself, you know.”

His hands started from between her shoulder blades, then travelled down her body, exploring the small of her back, the curves of her hips, until they landed on the soft pulp of her ass. He let out a throaty growl, “Merlin, I never get tired of this dress. I love the way it shows off your hips. Makes me wanna rip it right off to see the real deal underneath.”

Ashamed that he still managed to make her blush like a shy schoolgirl after so many years of marriage, MC pushed him away and turned her head to hide the scarlet tint in her cheekbones, “Keep your hands to yourself, Mister.”

“Oh, come on, you’re no fun. Let's just carry on with what we started earlier, while we can.” Sebastian whimpered as he tried to catch her.

Any protestations about having a lot on her plate and a meal to prepare, died on the tip of MC's tongue, as Sebastian snaked his hands around her waist, tracing his fingers down to her private parts. Even through her layers of clothing, his experienced touch was enough to ignite a passionate fire that warmed her core.

It would have been fun to keep going... if only they had not been interrupted by a sudden piercing scream coming from the living room.

Fear gripped both MC and Sebastian’s hearts as they raced downstairs, the staircase resounding with the loud thump of their hurried footsteps. The living room came into view, and their eyes immediately sought out their son, dreading that something had happened to him.

To their relief, he stood near the window, his face pressed against the glass, and his excitement turned the initial scream into joyful laughter, "Mummy, Daddy, look! It's snowing! It's really snowing!" He exclaimed, pointing at the delicate flakes dancing in the winter air.

Relief washed over MC and Sebastian when they saw that nothing serious had happened. However, their respite was short-lived, because the next moment, Theo was throwing a tantrum to be allowed to play outside.

Unable to resist his son's demands and desires, Sebastian, bundled up in a warm winter coat, led Theo out into the garden where a pristine blanket of snow awaited. Laughter echoed through the quiet air as father and son dove into the wintry playground, crafting a snowman with gleeful enthusiasm. The garden became a canvas for their snowy adventures, a scene of joyous bonding and shared laughter.

From the cozy warmth of the kitchen, MC observed the heartwarming spectacle unfolding outside. As she chopped vegetables and tended to the simmering pots, her gaze lingered on the snowy tableau framed by the window. The sight of Sebastian and Theo engaged in a spirited snowball fight filled her with gratitude. She marvelled at the twists of fate that had brought them here, realizing that, had they not moved in this house in Marunweem, this idyllic scene might have remained an unfulfilled wish.

MC and Sebastian's Hogsmeade cottage had rapidly become too cramped when ideas of marriage and children began to blossom in their minds. So, two Christmases later, Sebastian surprised MC with the house of her dreams in the hamlet of Marunweem. That evening, after showing her around the first floor with its many bedrooms that would accommodate possible guests or their future children, the vast living room with its welcoming fireplace, and the light-filled kitchen, Sebastian took MC out into the garden to admire the remarkable view over the lake of Marunweem. And when MC turned to thank her boyfriend, he was down on one knee, asking her to have him for the rest of his life, in the middle of the garden where they got married the following summer.

MC had just finished preparing Christmas dinner, a smile playing on her lips as she soaked in the warmth of the kitchen and the beauty of the snowy tableau outside, when an unexpected wave of dizziness swept over her, leaving her momentarily disoriented. The room seemed to sway, and she felt a sudden need to sit down. Lowering herself to the kitchen floor, she steadied her breath, attempting to shake off the unsettling sensation. In the midst of her momentary weakness, the world outside the window transformed into a blurred mosaic.

Sebastian, engaged in snowy merriment with Theo, glanced back toward the house. When he no longer saw MC at the window, a subtle dismay overcame him. Instinctively, he grabbed his son in his arms and rushed back inside, his heart pounding with worry.

Finding MC on the kitchen floor, Sebastian hurried to get their son out of the room, lest he too worry about his mother and start crying.

"Go take off your coat and shoes, and stay in the living room, little lad. I'll join you right after."

"Yes, Daddy."

Once Theo had gone, Sebastian knelt beside his wife, concern etched on his face, "Darling, what happened? Are you okay?"

With a reassuring smile, MC nodded, “I'm fine, just a dizzy spell. But it's gone now.”

Obviously, her words did not get through his thick skull, and failed to reassure him, because Sebastian was still visibly worried, “Come on, hold on to me. I'll take you to rest on the sofa.”

Before she could protest, Sebastian slipped one hand under her knees, and used the other to support her back as he lifted her off the ground and carried her bridal style. In order not to fall, MC had no choice but to lean fully against his chest (not that she was complaining, since she even took the opportunity to rest her head against his shoulder and get a whiff of his strong cologne).

Sebastian then tightened his embrace around her, making sure she was safe and secure in his arms. MC was by no means surprised by how overprotective he was with her. He had always acted that way with her, even when they were mere friends at Hogwarts, so she knew that it was not after so many years that he was going to start changing.

As promised, he carried her into the living room, where their son was settled at the coffee table while drawing, and deposited her on the plush sofa with the utmost delicacy, as if she were the most fragile and valuable treasure in the world, threatening to shatter into a thousand pieces at the slightest breeze, “There you go. And I don't want you to move from here. You'll only be allowed to get up and sit at the table when dinner starts.”

“Seb, I'm not made of glass.” MC tried to argue.

“No, but you're tired. You didn't sleep well last night, you shouldn't have been cooking on your feet all morning.” He replied, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and genuine care. “You should have asked me to help you, I could have prepared the meal.”

An amused scoff escaped MC, “Sure.”

“What? I’m not that bad at cooking.” Sebastian took on a false air of offence.

MC only stared at him with raised eyebrows, waiting for him to face what they both knew to be the truth.

Sebastian sighed, before letting out a light chuckle, “Yeah, you’re right. I’m a bloody menace in the kitchen.”

MC joined in his laughter, when a knock resounded at the front door, signalling the arrival of their guests. MC, instinctively moving to rise and greet them, felt Sebastian's firm hand gently but decisively press on her shoulder, urging her to stay seated.

"What did I tell you? Don’t you even dare think about standing up." He sternly ordered her. Concern etched his features as he looked into her eyes, silently pleading her to prioritise her well-being.

Sebastian then rose to answer the door. Their friends, adorned in festive attire, entered with smiles that instantly brightened the room. MC, who was still seating in the living room, could hear greetings and laughter from afar. After giving them all a hug, Sebastian directed his gaze towards his wife, giving her a knowing look. MC nodded to let him know she understood, then watched him slip away discreetly upstairs, when she was startled by a bundle of vigour hurtling towards her.

"Aunt MC!" Anne and Ominis' daughter shouted. MC had not seen her since the first of September, when she and the rest of the family had accompanied the little girl to Hogwarts for her first year there. With two Slytherin parents, and Salazar Slytherin's blood in her veins, she had been sorted into the green house with no surprises.

“Estelle, Merlin's beard! You look stunning!” MC took the little girl in her arms and kissed her on the cheek before releasing her. “Give me a twirl, so I can see your beautiful dress.”

Estelle did as she was told, showing off her knee-length blue and white windowpane dress, which had a white Claudine collar and ruffles at the bottom of the skirt.

“My, my!” MC exclaimed while admiring her niece. “All the boys at Hogwarts must be pursuing you.”

“I've got a friend. His name is Henry… I think he's cute.” The girl admitted shyly.

“Promise to tell me everything later?” MC asked, extending her pinkie finger towards her.

Estelle nodded eagerly, holding out her own little finger to seal the promise.

With that done, MC turned to her son, who had yet to notice the presence of guests, so engrossed was he in his colouring, “Theo, have you seen who's arrived?”

“Auntie and Unkie!” The boy abruptly dropped his crayons and ran towards them at full speed.

“My favourite nephew!” Anne lifted him up and took him in her arms. “Say, you've grown up again! You'll soon be taller than me!”

As for Ominis, he approached the sofa to lean over his friend, “So, MC, are we not worthy enough for you to get up and say hello to us?”

“Healer Sebastian put me on sofa rest.” She joked to play down the situation. “I had a dizzy spell earlier, and you know what he's like: always worrying about nothing.”

Before Ominis could respond, Theo climbed onto his mother's lap, “Mummy! Mummy! Now that Auntie, and Unkie, and Estelle are here, is Father Christmas coming?”

“Oh well, I reckon he won't be long now.”

On cue, another knock resounded at the door.

“Maybe that's him!”

Her lady-of-the-house reflexes took hold of MC, who was on her feet in an instant to open the door. On the other side, white-haired Father Christmas was waiting on the porch, wearing his red coat and hat trimmed with white fur.

“Theo, look who's here!” MC summoned her son.

Only the young boy’s loud gasp was heard in the room, his face lighting up with delight at the unexpected arrival of Father Christmas himself, carrying a sack full of presents, and displaying a wide smile beneath the snowy white beard.

"Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!" Father Christmas – or rather Sebastian transfigured into an impressively convincing version of him – exclaimed heartily. "Are there any children who are on the nice list in this house?"

Theo, eyes wide with excitement, approached Father Christmas eagerly. "Me! Father Christmas, I've been really good this year! I even ate all my vegetables!" he declared proudly.

Sebastian chuckled with a deep, jolly voice, and handed him two enormous gifts, "That's excellent, Theo! Keep up the good work, my young friend."

Wide-eyed with wonder, Theo opened his presents in record time. Inside the first was a giant stuffed Common Welsh Green dragon, and inside the second was a small broom suitable for a five-year-old, with a note saying 'Since you can't fly on your dragon'.

The cuddly toy had been MC's idea, as dragons were something Theo talked about all year round, while the broomstick had been Sebastian's idea, as he hoped his son would follow in his footsteps and join his future house's Quidditch team once he got to Hogwarts. They all watched as the young boy was thrilled by his two gifts. He smiled and laughed, unable to contain his excitement. Theo's joy was contagious.

This encouraged Sebastian to continue to distribute gifts, "Estelle, sweetie! My elves have told me nothing but good things about you this year! I've heard that your first year at Hogwarts is going wonderfully well, and that you have a particular interest in Potions. I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you, Father Christmas." Estelle played along for her young cousin's sake, even though she knew perfectly well that it was her uncle underneath the red and white suit.

In turn, Estelle received a large gift containing a set of cauldrons of different metals and sizes, as well as two smaller packages containing numerous ingredients, and manuals containing various potion recipes. It was the perfect apprentice potioneer's kit.

"I still don't know where she got her love of potions from. Certainly not from me." Ominis mumbled under his breath, making Anne laugh.

Father Christmas continued the merry gift-giving for the other guests, taking his role to heart and revelling in the joyous atmosphere. But Sebastian being Sebastian, he could not resist a playful aside to his wife, who was watching the festive scene unfold, "I've heard from your husband you've been a naughty girl. You didn’t stay seated like he told you."

MC took great pleasure in playing along with him, "My husband doesn't know what he's talking about. He just worries too much."

Sebastian narrowed his eyes at his wife through his little round Father Christmas glasses, "Now, that's not something a good girl would say about her husband, is it?"

"I'll make it up to him tonight. I promise I'll be a really good girl." She smirked, the hint of mischief in her eyes obvious.

Even through his thick white curly beard, MC could see his Adam's apple bobbing heavily. It took Sebastian a moment to get back into character, "Will you? Well, in that case, I think Father Christmas has a special gift for you too, my dear."

With a theatrical flourish, he presented her a beautifully wrapped box. Curiosity sparkled in MC's eyes as she accepted the gift. She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a delicate necklace with a pendant shaped like a snowflake, each branch encrusted with small diamonds which sparkled brightly in the festive lights.

"I thought it would be a fitting reminder of all the magical Christmas moments we've shared together over the years." Sebastian explained in a whisper.

Touched by the thoughtful gesture, MC smiled warmly at Sebastian, "Thank you, Father Christmas. It’s perfect.”

“There's another surprise underneath to go with it.”

MC realised that the box did indeed have a false bottom. She lifted it and was surprised to find a set of arctic blue lingerie, entirely see-through apart from a lace flake to cover the most intimate areas.

She quickly closed the box to avoid anyone seeing, and shook her head, although she could not wipe the big amused grin off her face, "You're incorrigible. Now go and change yourself back before your son notices you're not here."

“Yes, ma’am.”

After explaining that he had other families to visit, Father Christmas said goodbye to everyone, especially to young Theo, who was the happiest to see him. MC claimed that she was going to see him to the door, but in fact followed him outside.

MC closed the door behind her, and stepped out into the winter cold, “Your transfiguration was extremely impressive. You're getting better at it every year.”

“I'm glad you liked it.” Sebastian smiled.

She took a step towards him and rested her hands on his chest. It was bizarre that he was so much chubbier than usual. Even if she knew it was him, it did not feel like her husband, “I didn't like it as much as my present. Thank you very much, truly.”

“If you wanna thank me, you can wear your present tonight and keep your promise.” He winked at her.

MC stood on her tiptoes and planted a tender kiss on her husband's lips, still transfigured as Father Christmas. Even though she was used to feeling his usual beard against her skin when she kissed him daily, she was still tickled by his new thick, greying moustache. But that did not make the kiss unpleasant, on the contrary. Proof of this was that they continued kissing until they were interrupted by someone clearing their throat in the doorway.

“You're lucky it was me who saw you, and not Theo. He would have been traumatised. Anyway, I came to tell you to hurry back. If you take too long, Theo will suspect something, even if he's ecstatic about his dragon.” Estelle admonished them before returning to the living room as quickly as she had come.

Sebastian was rendered speechless for a moment, “���Did you also feel like it was Ominis talking?”

“Yup, this kid's really becoming too much like her father... but she's right though.” MC took out her wand and tapped Sebastian on the shoulder with the tip. In the blink of an eye, he was back to his normal appearance and attire. “You're more handsome this way. Come on, let's get back inside.”

No sooner had they returned to the living room than Theo ran to his father and wrapped his arms around his leg.

“Daddy! Have you seen Father Christmas? He was so nice!”

“Of course, he was.” Sebastian replied with amusement at how oblivious his son was. He had been so enthralled by Father Christmas and his presents, that he had not even noticed that his father had been absent for several long minutes.

“Honey.” MC called out to him, instantly drawing his attention. “I also have a gift for you.”

She handed him a carefully wrapped package, adorned with a ribbon that matched the holiday décor, to which was attached a label with 'For the man who makes every Christmas magical' beautifully handwritten on it.

His curiosity piqued, Sebastian eagerly unwrapped the present. Revealed within a long black Auror uniform robe. He already had plenty, so he could not really understand why his wife was gifting him with another one.

“I've upgraded it with Kneazle fur and Diricawl feathers so that it has multiple Protection Charms. It also enhances the power of your spells to increase the damage you inflict on your opponents. Normally, nothing can happen to you with this!” MC announced cheerfully.

Sebastian's eyes met hers, and in that shared gaze, he recognised the depth of the sentiment behind the thoughtful gift, “Someone's worrying about me.”

“Of course I worry about you! You’re the most competent Auror there is, so they put you on all the most dangerous cases, and it's going to be even worse now that you've been promoted to Head of the Auror Office.” MC grumbled, seeming somewhat offended by Sebastian's reaction to her gift.

He hurried to take her in his arms and place a kiss on the top of her head, which seemed to be sufficient to calm her down, “I’m only teasing you, love. I love it, and I'll wear it every time I go on a mission. It’s perfect, just like you.”

The festive glow lingered as MC, Sebastian, and the rest of the family continued to revel in the warmth of the holiday spirit. The exchange of gifts had created an atmosphere of shared joy, and as the afternoon unfolded, they transitioned to the dining table, where an array of delectable dishes prepared by MC awaited. Laughter and conversation intertwined with the clinking of glasses and the clatter of cutlery against plate.

As the clock ticked on, Anne, Ominis and Estelle, reluctant to bid farewell to the enchanting family gathering, did not leave until late in the night, well after the usual bedtime for little Theo, who was by no means tired. Fuelled by the excitement of the festivities, he gave his parents an unexpectedly difficult challenge about agreeing to go to bed.

“Alright, I've finally got him to sleep.” Sebastian announced triumphantly as he descended the stairs to the living room.

“How did you do it?” MC asked from the sofa where she was sitting, drinking pumpkin juice.

He laughed, “I told him that the quicker he fell asleep, the quicker he'd wake up and be able to fly on his broomstick.”

MC joined in his laughter, albeit ruefully. Her smile seemed forced because it did not reach her eyes, which were shifty and preferred to remain fixed on the glass in her hands.

"What's the matter, darling? You're acting different." Sebastian asked with genuine concern as he sat down beside her and placed a comforting hand on her knee.

MC jumped up from the sofa at the touch, as if his contact had burnt her, "I – uhm... I have another present for you. I'm kind of nervous to give it to you. That's why I wanted to wait until we were alone."

As she stood in front of Sebastian, she consequently took out her wand and pointed it at one of the cabinets in the living room to open one of the drawers and take out a small rectangular box – about the size of a paperback book – which she made float towards her. Once the object was in her hands, she stared at it hesitantly, then took a deep breath before shoving the package into Sebastian's hands, who was still sitting on the sofa.

"But I only got you one present." Sebastian says, inspecting the present wrapped in red wrapping paper and adorned with a thick, glittery gold ribbon.

"No, you gave me two. Just because they were in the same box doesn't mean it counts as one gift. So we're even." She tried as best she could to reassure him, despite her own nerves, which had been frayed for several days now. "Now, open it."

Sebastian untied the ribbon and removed the lid. Inside he found a pair of white woollen knitted bootees. Under his wife's apprehensive gaze, he froze in silence for a long moment, trying to make sense of this original gift.

"I knitted them myself.” MC said in a small voice to break the agonising silence.

“They're very well made, but… You know, I think Theo already doesn't fit into these anymore." Sebastian joked in an attempt to ease the awkwardness between them.

MC choked back a strained laugh, "That's probably because they're not for Theo."

"Who're they for, then?" He asked with an uncomprehending frown, holding the bootees in his hands.

MC did not say a word. She simply looked at him with a nervous smile, patiently waiting for the realisation to hit him. When it eventually did, it was like he had been struck by lightning. He, who had always been cool-headed and knew how to remain composed even in the worst circumstances – even more so now that he had all his years as an Auror behind him – was currently speechless, and his eyes widened to such an extent that MC feared they would burst out of their sockets.

"You're pregnant?" Sebastian questioned, bewildered.

MC only nodded in response, as she had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop the tears welling up. Ever since she had seen a Healer to confirm her suspicions, she had dreaded the moment when she would break the news in turn, letting all sorts of doubts go to her head.

Now that the cat was out of the bag, and she could see her husband looking at her with wide, amazed eyes, she could no longer fathom how she had ever doubted him. How could she have ever thought that he would be anything but supportive to her?

"You're pregnant." He repeated again with a beaming smile, but this time it was not a question. It was a statement to himself, while he was still trying to process the information that had knocked him for six by how unexpected it was.

It seemed to do the trick to snap him out of his daze, as he jumped to his feet, his exuberance evident in the way he pulled MC into his arms. He lifted her off the ground and swirled her around in the air, a whirlwind of happiness and love. MC giggled, caught up in the infectious joy radiating from him. Laughter echoed through the room as they shared a dance of sheer delight, celebrating the beautiful journey that lay ahead of them.

"Oh, MC! That's... I don’t even have the words to describe how fabulous this is!" He exclaimed excitedly as he put her down on the ground and rested a gentle hand on her stomach. "We're gonna have another little one of our own."

"We are." MC confirmed, wrapping her fingers around his wrist and giving it a little squeeze, as if to assure him that it was all real.

"So that's why you got dizzy this morning!" Sebastian's eyes lit up with pride at having put the pieces together. However, that did not last long, because his realisation erased any trace of eagerness and replaced it with worry that made his face fall. "Bloody hell, MC! You cooked all morning while being pregnant. You should’ve let me do it. I'm your husband, you can– no, you must rely on me. I promise I'll be more present from now on, so that you can rest more."

Without further ado, he gently forced MC to sit back down on the sofa with him, so that she would not be even more tired after such a long day. She had to take it easy now that she was carrying their child, the proof of their unconditional love.

Sebastian was committed to being as doting as he could, to pampering his wife even more than he already was. So when MC suddenly burst into tears for no apparent reason, it was only natural for Sebastian to panic and try to work out what was wrong.

"What is it? Did I say something wrong?" He asked worriedly, immediately grabbing her hands.

"No. No, you’re perfect as always... But I was so scared to tell you." She replied in between sobs. "We've been so busy since we had Theo that we've never discussed whether we wanted a second child, plus you've just been promoted so you're going to have a lot of work coming up... I just didn't think it was the right time. I was scared you wouldn't be pleased with the news.”

Still holding her hands, Sebastian brought them to his mouth to place sweet kisses to her knuckles, “MC, I'll have as many children as you're willing to give me, whatever the circumstances.”

“So you're happy?” She asked him in a trembling voice, her big doe eyes full of tears.

It broke Sebastian's heart to see her like this, but he knew he had to get used to it, because this was just the beginning of the hormonal mood swings, "Very much so. You couldn't make me happier for Christmas."

He lovingly kissed away the tears on her cheeks, until none trickled down any more, and MC flung herself at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers tangling into his soft hair, and he gladly hugged her back, holding her (and his future child) close to him.

Their embrace conveyed the depth of their joy, and all the unshakable love that bound them together. In that magical moment, as their hearts beat in harmony with the joyous news, the room seemed to overflow with the warmth of their connection. The hug lingered, a silent celebration of the love that had brought them to this beautiful chapter in their lives, while Sebastian whispered sweet words in MC's ear.

"We're gonna be one big happy family." He murmured while caressing her hair soothingly.

"I know."

Feeling a surge of emotions that mere words could not capture, MC gently pulled away from the hug. Her eyes, filled with a profound love, locked onto Sebastian's chocolate ones. In those perfect eyes, the ones she never wanted to look away from, she saw the promise of many more beautiful memories and wonderful Christmases to come.

A simple 'I love you' was nowhere near enough to convey how unconditionally enamoured she was with him. Words seemed insufficient to express the depth of her feelings. Instead, she chose a language that transcended the limitations of speech. She leant in, closing the distance between them, and pressed a tender, lingering kiss upon his lips.

The kiss spoke volumes—of gratitude, of connection, and of a love that could overcome any ordeal. It was a tender yet fervent gesture, a silent proclamation of the emotions that resonated within their hearts. As they shared the soft, meaningful kiss, the room seemed to hold its breath, enveloping them in the timeless language of love.

Sebastian, understanding the unspoken sentiments, responded with a warmth that mirrored her profound affection, even though he was the first to break the kiss and choose this moment of vulnerability to lay bare his heart.

“I adore you, Mrs. Sallow. Truly and desperately. Thank you for always making the happiest man alive.”

MC could not help but dive back in to kiss the lips that, for ten years now and until her last breath, she called home.

[justlarkin]

Say Lark, which relationships and ships featuring MC do you like the most?

Oo, some people can probably already guess who I'm going to mention here because I've talked about it before. In general, I really like the relationships where there's somewhat a unique understanding or dynamic between them.

1. Shennong x MC: they're both cut from the same stubborn, self sacrificial cloth, but MC is more of a representation of who Shennong once was before he gave up hope. I've mentioned it here since Chapter 10 set up their dynamic wonderfully. There's also just the banter, the blatant favoritism towards MC, the teasing and flirting, the reckless delinquent x nagging healer dynamic. This one feels canon after the MC x Summoners ships tbh since LWs obviously favors this one.

2. Nomad x MC: grumpy middle-aged man who can't catch a break x rowdy dumbass dog. Okay, MC traveling back in time during an overworld lap and interacting with Nomad in the past is one thing since they've done it before, but it becoming an integral and consistent part of his backstory is another. MC was the one who saw him at his lowest, who saved him when he had nobody else, who pulls him back when he's gone too far. While everyone else in Utopia has no faith in the future, MC has given Nomad something to continue striving for. Even after having their memories wiped in Nightglows, Nomad still returned to the battlefield he dreaded because he wanted to be with MC. That's how much he cares about them. They're hard programmed ride-or-die, I fear.

3. Tetsuya x MC: maybe it's the hatefuck, friends with benefits vibes I'm getting from them or maybe its the Romeo and Juliet dynamic. Okay, it's definitely those two things, but I also appreciate that Tetsuya doesn't go crazy about MC like most of the characters. To him, that's just some annoying prick who he's cool with sometimes and can relax around since he doesn't have to be on guard like he is with his actual friends. It isn't that romantic sounding, but there's comfort in the distance of their relationship and that's enough.

More examples: I love Hermes desperately craving companionship, but masquerading as the untrustworthy villain the world painted him as while MC can see through all of his deception and still accepts him for who he is. I love that Shinya can find someone to relate to with MC and that he doesn't have to worry about his power with them because they're immune to it. I love that Andvari only seems to care about riches, but sometimes MC is able to rival that love and Andvari also makes sure to exploit MC include them in his business deals first. These kinds of relationships are so cute and special to me.

Wait, the Summoner ships are also really good as they all have their own unique dynamics with MC and motivations inspired by them.

[alj4890]

Hi There! Silly question. If your characters were to receive this mug from an LI or a friend, what would it say? Answer for as many of characters/pairings as you like!

CUTE BUT (What??)

LOL! When I first saw that mug I thought of my pairings of Thomas Hunt and my OC. She overthinks all the time 😂 But I know who you really want to see 😉 So just for you, here's Tobias and Chris ♥️ This is when they were still keeping their relationship a secret.

(Tobias Carrick x F!MC*Chris Valentine) in a Choices Open Heart Drabble

Masterlist

@kyra75 @coffeeheartaddict2 @hopelessromantic1352 @jerzwriter @peonierose @trappedinfanfiction @nomadics-stuff

Whose Is It?

"Hmm?"

Ethan stood in front of the diagnostic office's coffee maker. After months of trying to dodge doctors and nurses in the break room to simply enjoy a needed cup of coffee, he decreed that the diagnostic office needed their own. He knew it was the only way to keep his sanity in Edenbrook.

What gave him pause though were the various mugs that stood in front of it.

"I should have never offered to share." He grumbled while picking through the cups for his own simple mug.

He stopped when he picked up one that he didn't recall seeing before.

"Cute but trouble?" He mumbled.

"Good morning!" Chris greeted with a warm smile.

Ethan grunted in response.

"I see someone is in their normal mood." She teased while setting her stuff down.

"Look at these." He pointed at the mugs.

"What?" She made her way over, searching for something out of the ordinary.

"What are all these cups doing here?" He snapped.

"Looks like they are in their natural habitat." She playfully nudged him with her shoulder. "One would suspect that since this is a coffee machine that cups would surround it."

Ethan rolled his eyes.

"Whose mugs are these?" He demanded. "There are only four of us that use this office! Why are there six?"

Chris began to blush as she examined the mugs more closely. "Um...I did tell Sienna that she could use our machine."

She held up a mug covered with hearts. "This is hers."

Ethan grit his teeth over hearing that others were aware of the source of his life sustaining elixir. "Who else did you offer our coffee to?"

"No one!" Chris quickly reassured him. "I swore Sienna to secrecy."

He grunted once more. "That explains the fifth mug." He lifted the one that truly baffled him. "But whom does this belong to?"

Chris's face flamed with color to see the mug labeled, cute but trouble.

"Err...that um...is...mine?"

Ethan's blue eyes narrowed upon her.

"Yours? But this is your mug." He picked up one that said, keep the heid.

"Ah. Yes." Chris snatched it out of his hand. "My stay calm mug."

"Why do you have two mugs now?" He prodded.

"Umm. I..." She struggled to find a legitimate reason. "I must have brought this one with me the other morning not thinking about the one I already had here."

The office door popped open before Ethan could question her more. Their attention snapped to it the moment Tobias stuck his head in.

"Good. You're both here." He greeted with a brief nod. "I have a patient that was admitted to Edenbrook late last night that I could use your opinion on."

Ethan set the mystery mug down. His mind immediately switched to the new, more urgent conundrum presented before him.

The three sat down and reviewed the patient's chart.

After debating possible illnesses to explain the odd conglomeration of symptoms, Chris volunteered to begin lab work.

"I'll introduce you to him." Tobias offered while checking his watch. "Then I need to hurry back to Mass Kenmore."

The two left Ethan absorbed in reviewing a journal article discussing the advanced stages of Gaucher disease.

Once the pair were alone in an elevator, Tobias's serious demeanor changed. He propped his arm above Chris's head and leaned towards her.

"Hi." He pressed a kiss to her lips.

"Hello to you too." Her lips curved when he gave her a deeper kiss.

"You left my place in such a hurry this morning, I didn't have a chance to give you a proper goodbye." He murmured, grinning at her.

"Sorry about that." She looped her arms around his neck. "I knew if I allowed you to give a proper goodbye, I'd never leave your bed."

He chuckled, pulling her close. "Is that so bad?"

She shook her head. "No, but I did need to eventually go to work today."

"Such a dutiful doctor" He complimented, pressing his lips against her neck. "Are you coming over tonight?"

"I could be talked into it." She snuggled closer to him. "You can be very persuasive when you want to be."

"One of my many charms." His hands drifted down her hips, pulling her closer. "I insist you come over tonight so that I can --"

The doors opening caused the two to jerk apart.

A small group of surgeons eyed them curiously as they stepped inside.

Tobias couldn't help but smile as Chris buried her red face in her hands.

Once the group got off on the next floor, he nudged her.

"You okay over there?"

"No!" Chris burst out laughing. "That was close."

Tobias slipped his hands in his pockets and stepped closer to her. "But worth it."

She shook her head, smiling at him. "You, doctor, are nothing but trouble."

"But cute." He winked at her. "That mug you got me makes it a requirement that you add that each time you call me trouble."

"True." She pressed another kiss to his lips while taking the file folder tucked under his arm.

Chris smacked him on the backside with it as she stepped out on their patient's floor.

"Good thing I love trouble that's also irresistibly cute."

[larryssunflower]

Mushy Thank You 🫶

It’s been a WHILE since I’ve been on here, idk if anyone is gonna see this or even remembers me but i just wanted to express my gratitude for you all!! My writing on here was a bit rough BUT because of my wonderful mutuals, i kept writing and improving! it was my first experience in a community that supported my writing and genuinely was a wonderful time in my life 🥹

I’m currently a writer in a different fandom and my fanfic is now one of the most popular in its niche on ao3 and wattpad (don’t worry- my writing has gotten better I swear haha)

And I honestly don’t think I would’ve continued writing if it wasn’t for the time I spent in this community!! i’ve just finished my fanfic that hundreds of thousands of people (somehow) genuinely love. It’s something i’m extremely proud of and it’s all due to you!! Thank you so much to those who supported me and if anyone does see this, i hope you are doing well! I’ll always remember how sweet and supportive this community was, ily 🥹🫶

tagging old mutuals, miss you lovely people!! - @ravenpuff02 @simplyaiden-blog @msjr0119 @butindeed @mfackenthal @choices-lurker @american-duchess @drakelover78 @monosodiumglutamateme @crookedslimecreatorpasta @mrsdrakewalkerblog @traeumerinwitzhelden @gardeningourmet​ @speedyoperarascalparty​ @agent-zephyrkah​ @liam-rhys-x-mc-x-constantine​ @snyggflicka​ @texaskitten30​ @annekebbphotography​ @irishwhiskys-blog​ @nomadics-stuff​ @catlady0911​ @twinkle-320​ @i-bloody-love-drake-walker​ @drakewalker04​ @bigmemesplz​ @jovialyouthmusic​ @sleepwalkingelite​ @pintobom​ @moneyfordiamonds​ @mskaneko​ @lauzales​ @princessleac1​ @kingliam2019​ @queen-arabella-of-cordonia​ @drake-colt-lover-99

[bonny-kookoo]

But in Twilight State the relationships will be different! There won't be a spoiled rotten by Jimin MC, a jealous Jimin who sees her distancing herself a bit from him and going to Kook, a Yoongi who wants to connect with MC despite how bad their first impression was and a JK who's getting softer and softer for MC looking past her spoiled behaviour and seeing her fragility and fear and loving her caring for him. Right?

Can't we have Twilight State a classic JKxMC and the Sweet Tooth YoonMinKook instead? Come on, there are so many amazing JKxMC only fics currently being updated here, why are you so opposed to changing this one?

And it's not about being horny, if it was that there is so much content here we could choose to re-read anything and that'd be more than enough. Plus can't wait for Seven and Slut to lovers

If you wanna go that route, I would have to agree with the people saying that Sweet Tooth should stay JK x MC only. Because if we go by the same arguments it would actually make more sense for Twilight State Jungkook and MC to be poly due to his way of life (they live in tiny communities and are nomadic), instead of Sweet Tooth changing.

Maybe people are so against Twilight State alien kook becoming poly because I only really talked more in depth about it on my patreon, I'm not sure. And in the end, I will always just write what you guys want/like, or atbleast I try to. But in MY head, Idk, I'd leave Sweet Tooth as it is and make Twilight State poly.

Might just be me though, I'll let you guys decide at the end of it all haha

[atroniascreamsube]

MASTERLIST (FICS):

Hello everyone. This is probably what I have written and will be written as of now. Enjoy!

Samurai Love Ballad PARTY:

1. Living Circuits: 

Nine men were kidnapped in across different spans of time and forcibly remodelled into cybernetic soldiers to do the evil organization, Black Ghost's, bidding on becoming weapons of waging war for profit. With the latest addition, Saizo wakes up with new abilities and lost memories befitting the organization's ideals of being the pinnacle of cybernetic warfare. He now finds himself rallying with, a fatherly scientist, an idealistic young one and the other obsolete models on this kind of evil before it reaches their families they left behind and the world at large.

Who is the monster and who is the man?

link:  https://at.tumblr.com/atroniascreamsube/living-circuits-chapter-1-atroniascreamsube/gnbc6ggzsqxm

2. Coraline Inuchiyo AU

Where a preteen Toshiie is facing a difficult transition of moving into a strange place filled with even stranger people aside from his workaholic brother, Toshihisa, and his weirdo son, Keiji. Weirder things happen as a black button-eyed-doll in his image appears in his footsteps. Link:

3. Ghost Bride AU! Tokugawa Ieyasu x MC

Clandestine. That was the best way to describe this secret union between a dead zaibatsu heir and an impoverished young woman whose restaurant is facing multiple challenges of eviction and a slimy debt collector. From uncovering Ieyasu’s painful pasts to supernatural pressures around them, what else can go wrong for this young Tokugawa ghost bride? Link:

-----

Haikyuu

Headcanons:

Fics:

 Blood Moon Tide (IwaOi) -   Kageyama & Sugawara may be the last living waterbenders in South Pole but their predecessors fought hard against the  Fire Nation raids 30 years prior. Will IwaOi shine through? Take a peek on the darkest moments of Southern Water Tribe:  https://archiveofourown.org/works/27769768

Four Whispers of the Wind (Airbenders! Karasuno)-  Wanna know how Nishinoya trained, Yamaguchi's latent abilities activated, Ennoshita's surprise or Yachi's survival? Tune in to their origin story in this ATLA AU on the link below! https://archiveofourown.org/works/27770224

Into The Soaring Waves (ATLA AU! Haikyuu)- It's been one hundred years since the Fire Nation has plunged the world into total darkness along with the Air Nomads in its fiery wake. With Fire Nation's conquest laying the world into ruins, people abandoned all hope that the Air Nomad Avatar didn't perish along with his people.Until three hopeful Water Tribe Villagers, Sugawara, Daichi and Kageyama, rowing on the icy waters of South Pole and a freak incident shook the sea's secret in its icy cage- the long lost Avatar Shouyou. Fire Nation is more determined than ever to not let the key to their defeat soar.

BOOK 1: WATER https://archiveofourown.org/works/32261050

Binding (Sincerely Yours) (SakuAtsu/Virgin CEO Omega! Sakusa Kiyoomi x Employee Alpha! Atsumu)- https://archiveofourown.org/works/35227714

A well-known Under-40 executives in Japan, 31-year-old Sakusa Kiyoomi is nearing advanced maternal age and yearns to have pup but being a secretly unmated male omega in the cutthroat business world threatens his familial legacy as the only living heir of the company.

Deep within smiles, 26-year-old corporate slave Miya Atsumu is crumbling financially as his father has cancer and onigiri miya was in bad spot. Career-ending injury in his volleyball career siphoned most of his money to surgeries, physical and mental therapy from the aftermath.

Then, Atsumu finds himself in between an irresistible offer in a secret meeting with the CEO: He will be rewarded with five hundred million yen in exchange for siring his pups with the assurance of no commitments towards raising the pups afterwards. After getting tangled in sheets, nothing else is suppose to happen until something... Something happens.

Written in Sakura Blossoms (SakuAtsu/Virgin CEO Omega! Sakusa Kiyoomi x Heat Partner Alpha! Atsumu)-https://archiveofourown.org/works/39977364

Seemingly a prickly distant Alpha, 31-year-old Sakusa Kiyoomi is well-known for his cold and iron-clad image which earned the moniker "cactus" and the ranks of one of the under 40 CEOs among his peers. But inside closed doors and away from public eye, he's just as pliant as any Omega especially when their instincts long for pups or a mate. Despite his moniker, people forget that even the giant saguaro cacti blooms flowers on hot desert nights as he seeks an agency to help him bloom once and for all.

or

Sakusa hires Alpha Atsumu to breed him and gets more than what he bargained for.

Enveloped in Your Tenderness (SakuAtsu, Omega Kiyoomi x Alpha Atsumu)- https://archiveofourown.org/works/43850262

In which Sakusa Kiyoomi wants a perfect Christmas with his mate Atsumu but things went downhill. Yet a Christmas miracle somehow made it even better.

Into the Crimson Peak (Crimson Peak! AU OsaAka)- https://archiveofourown.org/works/35267107

In Victorian Era, Akaashi Keiji, a budding writer and heir of a vast fortune, finds himself swept on the arms of the charming Lord Miya Osamu's to his dilapidated ancestral manor in England after series of familial tragedies. As time goes by, the secrets leech like the red clay mines beneath in its decaying walls and holds on to more things that shouldn't be.

Akaashi finds himself fighting for his life from the whirlwind of horrors inside the Allerdale Hall's ghosts of past-- a house that breathes and remembers.

Fiesta! Fiesta! (Shiratorizawa and Seijoh Christmasing in the Philippines)-https://archiveofourown.org/works/28385931

Day 2: Festivals and Fiestas

In which the Seijoh and Shirtorizawa realize how Filipinos always love fiestas-- an understatement especially to the party loving and merry making Ibanag with all the overflowing shenanigans awaiting. Celebrate fiesta in Tuguegarao fashion!

Wagi  (Shiratorizawa and Seijoh Christmasing in the Philippines pt.2)-https://archiveofourown.org/works/28453833

(n.): Sibling.

Christmas season and weddings are one of the best ways for a family that was once broken in discord. How will the bonds of the cousins and power of friendship repair what was left? In midst of brokenness, a newfound hope, love and family is found over touching one's roots.

[licuadora-nasir]

There's not much people haven't said about Errant Kingdom on steam, but I've been following them since they first launched WTNC as it was my first visual novel, and I was greatly looking forward to EK's finale, so I might as well give a piece of my mind.

First of all, maybe I didn't catch on, but who attempted on the monarchs' lives? Who were the creepy cultists in the forest? The ending seems rushed. It's like they had a lot of loose ends and they did a poor job tying them. Lazy writing.

Until chapter 4/5 we didn't know what was going on, and then, in the last release, we've been presented with the problematic of the story and the poorly crafted ending with barely no epilogue.

I'm also annoyed that most of the romance with the MC and some LIs have been barely developed while Maja and Erik's seems more important than ours. I get this is a VN and not an otome game, but sometimes our MC didn't feel like the protagonist.

For instance, the Livia x Nomad route hasn't been half as developed as Maja and Erik's. They barely see each other and they fall in love? I get that given their roles in the story it's complicated, but if you're not sure you can deliver good work, why deliver it at all?

My impression is that they developed the story and the plot AND THEN tried to stuff the main character in there, offering us crumbs of romance after they started to officially date.

I'm not gonna talk about the communication of this team, the constant changes on the release of the chapters or the lack of organization and formality cause we all players are familiar with it, and the usual broken promises and delays are not easy to forget.

I checked the last review I gave them in itchio and it was 4 years ago. This doesn't feel like a game that has been worked on 4 years.

Although I have to say that not everything is bad, as the characters truly are what bear the entire burden of this project. The characterisation is splendid, and the reason why I've waited all these years for the game to release and actually play it is due to my emotional attachment to them.

With much more reason, I kinda feel played by this team cause I suspect that knowing of the love and affection that their clients have for these characters and the fact that many of us would play the game regardless of how long it took, they've relaxed.

I don't wish any ill to Lunaris Games, but I do hope they learn from this and improve the communication of their company as well as the way they develop their games.

[pastelpoison88]

Fic ideas I got in my google docs

I started writing when i was in middle school and now that I’m out of high school I got the first parts of so many fics planned out in my head or posted on other accounts but none of them are finished and I want to at least finish 1 before I turn 25

Italics = nope; Bold = maybe; Heading+Bold = Main Focus 

“Spoils”

Fuck no, but it’s there and beyond this, never seeing the light of day

Spider Queen Reader Fic

Posted on my Quotev and I think also on my Wattpad

Drider reader in a Modded Minecraft World

definitely not done but I know what I wanna do in it

Twelve Forever Butt Witch X Reader Fic

on my Quotev and Wattpad

slime reader

OPM Various X Mysterious Being! Reader

discontinued on Quotev, was gonna be about a reader that was half alien half human

but not completely scrapped, thinking of changing it into a ex-bf!Garou X Monster Reader fic and reader is not gonna be an alien but something else

KND: Perfection

discontinued or hiatus on my Quotev, idk what I’m gonna end up doing with it

based off of an entry on the KND fan wiki that’s not there anymore so it was probably fake but it was compelling

Nomad of Nowhere Various X Reader

Quotev, hiatus for now

starts off as Don Paragon X Reader & reader has a twin brother

Demon’s Life

Quotev, Wattpad?

Fantasy Life 3DS X Reader

Consequences

We Bare Bears Agent Trout X Police Officer Reader

I got ideas for this one so maybe

Genderbend Donna Beneviento X Reader

I have this one all planned out I just didn’t post it anywhere yet and I’ve got the notes all typed out on a draft here so I’ll be posting that after I’m done with the fic just to show my thought process

reader is a muscular woman btw but with like himbo mentality, you’ll see

Journey (Pokemon x Reader OC Fic)

just an excuse for me to show my love of Alolan Grimer and the only pokemon game I ever completed

Got the basics down and it might turn into an OC fic rather than a reader fic (scratch that, it WILL be an OC fic)

non-linear bc i got snippets in my head like a compilation of podcast clips

Royals Fic

Not planned out yet mainly due to potentially offensive content and I don’t want it to be problematic especially when I don’t have the themes worked out at this point

Like, I know what I wanna do with the plot but some of it is really like “why?” and I feel why I just don’t have the words lined up

Lord Shen x Peahen Reader

one-shot

Another fic w/ nobles in it

MC is a bitch, based off of Stella from Helluva Boss as my expectations for her character were too high when I initially saw her in the pilot

The Knight’s Grave (Hollow Knight)

based off of the “Dream No More” ending of the game

just how I’d imagine characters in the game to react to finding the knight’s grave

Fae & human chick

like writing a romance but it’s about a friendship between a fae woman and a human one

[vroomian]

I just read everything in your desert comic tag and am enthralled. Is there any piece of world building it that you like but haven't gotten a chance to share yet?

Oh! Nomads! Nomads are a clan of traders who travel outside of the rainy season, going from clan to clan, basically acting as a news network. They usually bunk down with various clans on a rotating basis. There are many small caravans, but there’s a ruler they answer too as well. None of the clans ever know who it is.

A harem isn’t called a harem, it’s called a household! So someone from a clan would introduce themself as clan-household-position-personal name. If they’re really religious they’ll add their god they worship after. So, “clan x, 1st wife of household blah, called Name, secant of God.” This only for first meetings and formal events though. Normal occasions just name and husband, or father if they’re unwed. Clan is usually obvious from their marks. Chiefs introduce themsleves name first always because they effectively are the entire clan basically.

1st wife clan has a tradition that a good wife is submissive to their husband in all things, and it’s kinda gross! They also cover the wife’s forehead because it’s solely for their husbands eyes.

Mc isn’t the first person from her family to fall into this new world. Her uncle went missing when she was a kid, and it turned out he also got portald! Unlike mc, uncle didn’t become a husband though — he became a wife, because he just didn’t have control cover his magic. He’s the only wife though because his magic is a lot, and his nomad husband (who’s a (female???)widower btw, and survived the loss of three wives in a particularly terrible swarm) gave up being a caravan leader just to focus on helping uncle not kill himself. They’re one of those old couples who radiated comfort when they’re together.

There are great festivals in the fall, just before rainy season where the clans who the eligible young adults would fest together, looking for compatible spouses. It’s generally a big party for singles or people looking to expand.

No one really has to care about relations outside of your immediate relatives (same father siblings, parent-child), because magic isn’t really genetic. If you’re too closely related, no spark will take no matter what you try. Genealogy isn’t really tracked.

Some clans treat wives as mere objects for the husband to use, but in most cases wives are extremely involved in the selection of new wives. It’s important for the people Ives to be able to hold the line if the worst happens to everyone in front of them.

It’s taboo for wives to sleep with anyone besides their husband, including their fellow wives. There are more than a few tragedy’s written about wives who fall in love with each other and forget their duty to their husband lol. Husbands can sleep with anyone they want though. The double standards are very real!

Because it’s a harem system, the kids have different names for the mothers! 1st wife is called Ama, 2nd is Shima, Eoma, Shuma, Dama, etc. A child would call their own direct mother Mama sometimes though. So thr child of the first wife may refer to their fathers second wife as Sima, and their own mother as either ama or mama. fathers are always Ada.

[luxthestrange]

HOUSAMO Incorrect quotes#35 Kitty got catnip

Nomad: My wife will be upset if you keep touching me like that on my chest...

Mc*Smilling at him in the hospital bed*I am your "Wife"~

Nomad:*Looks at you in his anesthesia brain, his heartbeat speeding up seeing you and doing a smolder*...S'up~

Mc*Chuckles seeing his mood change and trying to flirt with you*

[ahundredtimesover]

February - April 2022 Reads

Heyy, it’s been awhile and I’m sort of back to my reading groove. Here are my February - April reblogs of JK (and a few other member) fics (x f. reader/OC). Please note the angst, fluff, and smut descriptions.

And a little note: please, please reblog and comment on stories you like, and interact with authors if you can! A nice little message goes a long way for anybody and it’s deeply appreciated. 💜💜

*’read for’ are guides for anyone!

JJK

Muse by @satnin-darling (s) - strangers au (read for something enigmatic and captivating with great smut and storytelling)

One-step forward, two-steps back by @oureuphoria pt.1 + pt.2 (a, f) - friends au, college au (read for something that hurts good and fun, lovable characters)

Wherever you will go by @ve1vetyoongi (a, f, s) - childhood friends au, small town au (read for a YA novel/movie feel with lovely storytelling, moving themes, precious characters, and something to make you cry and smile)

Parallel by @satnin-darling (a) - childhood friends au (read for something intriguing with k-drama vibe and something a little sad but hopeful)

In which you’re Jungkook’s lip balm fairy by @onlyswan - boyfriend au (read for something short and soft to give you a giddy feeling about babie and whipped jk)

So it goes by @kookdbean (f) - workmates au, teachers au (read for wholesome flirting, adorable characters, something lighthearted, and if you just want to smile and feel happy; an absolute gem)

The event crasher by @artaefact (f) - boyfriend au, kingsman jk (read for something short but interesting, with fun and teasing/flirty MCs so whipped for each other)

Violet by @bts-bay-bee (a, f, s) - roommates au, fwb au, smau (read for something fun with rly good smut, emotionally constipated but adorable characters) 

Hot ones by @yoon-kooks (f) - idol jk, workmates au, fwb au (read for some hot sauce on chicken challenge shenanigans but something lighthearted, wholesome, flirty, and unproblematic)

Over the horizon by @bangtansmauyeondan (a) - exes au (read for that classic exes au angst with intriguing set-up and background)

Nomads of the dark by @yoondoze (a) - childhood friends au, sci-fi au (read for an interesting albeit heartbreaking and hopeless storyline + a friendship that stopped)

Plastic yellow eggs by @bubmyg (f) - best friends au (read for jk & a claw machine but something so soft and happy, a wholesome and playful friendship, and something to make you smile)

Damsel in shining armor by @jimilter (humor) - workmates au, rich jk (read for something funny, all the sexual tension, and jk’s annoying but lovable ass and a very relatable but kickass OC)

A still day or a hurricane by me (a, f, s) - friends au, single mom OC, pastry chef jk

Please stay by my side pt.1, pt.2, pt.3 by @withlovemilk (a, f) - best friends au, childhood friends au (read for something that hurts good about a special and intimate friendship)

In which you’ve found comfort by @onlyswan (f) - boyfriend au (read for something soft and wholesome)

Re: stacks by @scribbles-rambles (f) - friends au (read for that sitting on jk’s lap scenario that’s tense and sexy)

Call me back by @whatifyoulivelikethat (s) - strangers au (read for something tense but so well-written, captivating, and immersive, GQ jk and rly hot smut)

I gasp once and in that breath, I accept you in pt.1, pt.2, epilogue by @inkofyoonkoo (a, f, s) - neighbors au, small town au (read for that small town novel you won’t be able to put down, with beautifully heartbreaking themes, written so well with such good imagery and dialogues, tension- and emotion-filled and painful and vivid scenes, amazing smut, and perfect storytelling)

Poster boy (ft. Yoongi) by @hamsterclaw (s) - boyfriend au, hospital au (read the Foundation couple for their chaotic and horny energy but still so whipped for each other and for rly fun and hot smut scenes)

Strings by @minsuxga (a, f) - soulmates au (read for something that hurts so good but heals you, and vivid and metaphoric and flawless writing)

Many moons by @onlyswan (f) - royalty au, bodyguard au (read for a fairytale-like story that’s pure and wholesome and would make you smile and giddy, with charming characters)

Blink and you’ll miss it by @satnin-darling (s) - strangers au, lawyer jk (read for the slow build up, fun banter, tiny soft moments, and rly hot smut)

Paint me naked by @gimmethatagustd (a, f, s) - college au, badboy jk (read for badboy but soft and sensitive jk, with tense and steamy but soft moments) 

Wanderers by @kidguk (a, f) - strangers au, memory loss au (read for something that will hurt you but make you smile after, something painful yet soft) 

KSJ

Kiss me by @sunshinerainbowsbts (f, s) - best friends au (read for something heartwarming and comfortable to make you feel giddy & the loveliest accompanying song)

MYG

Brown piano by @yoongiseesawmp3 (f) - friends au (read for that exciting ‘there’s only one bed’ trope with feelings and something lighthearted and soft, and a little awkward but comfortable and caring MCs)

Summer of our youth by @seokth (a, f) - childhood friends au (read for something painful about friendship and youth and love, that will hit you in ways you wouldn’t expect, that would make you cry and feel hopeful at the same time)

Souvenir by @jiminrings (f) - husband au (read for the cutest most adorable and relatable relationship dynamic and the softest cutest yoongi, something to make you laugh and feel good)

KNJ

Yellow by @hobipost (f) - boyfriend au (*reader is blind* read for the softest fic told like a love letter that will make you all soft and teary-eyed and giddy)

How I Love You by me (a, f, s) - husband nj

(Un)predictable by @yoonjinkooked (s) - arranged marriage au (read for minimal drama but sweet and sexy and entertaining smut)

Landing by @joyfulhopelox (s) - strangers au (read for something super duper sexy with pilot NJ)

Red mercedes by @bubblebeom (s) - strangers au (read for dorky, sexy joon with wholesome flirting and hot smut, something to make you smile)

Number 45 by @btsmosphere (f) - strangers au (read for something quick but a shy and sweet joon to make you smile)

Livin’, leavin’ by @outroshooky (f) - strangers au (read for a mono-inspired story of loneliness and clarity but something that’s comforting)

Seoul redemption by @sahmfanficbts (a, s) - criminal au, single mom OC (read for a romance drama with tension-filled and emotional scenes and well-written characters and rly good storytelling)

PJM

Flirt buddies by @jimilter (f) - friends au (read for something quick of a flirty but soft jimin)

KTH

Crush by @bubblebeom (f) - neighbors au (read for something short with cowboy hat tae who’s cheeky and whipped)

(monthly reads masterpost)    

[likeahorribledream]

ʙᴀᴅ ʀᴇᴘᴜᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ

» CHAPTER EIGHT: BRUISES

SUMMARY: Bucky finds your bruises and sees red while a certain police officer realizes that you are more than just Bucky's latest conquest.

PAIRING: Biker!Bucky x Female!Reader

WORD COUNT: 4.7k

Warnings: Mentions of cheating and sex. All I know about MCs is what I saw in SoA and Mayans M.C. so please take this with a grain of salt.

Note: In this story, Biker!Bucky looks like Chris from the movie Destroyer (with better tattoos). Bucky also has two flesh arms and never had to get the left one amputated. Biker!Steve looks like Nomad!Steve with lots of tattoos and rings.

Due to the nature of this AU, this series will be 18+. Minors DNI. If you chose to read this, you are responsible for your own media consumption. You have been warned.

ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀʟɪꜱᴛ

» CHAPTER SEVEN: BREATHLESS

𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂 𝙼𝙰𝚂𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙻𝙸𝚂𝚃

Bucky keeps looking between your eyes and the bruise on your arm. Thankfully he hasn't noticed that you have a matching one on your other arm. You contemplate lying to him, because you're scared of how he's going to react. Jace is very good at pushing buttons and the last thing you want is for Bucky to get in trouble because of you.

Except you don't want to lie to Bucky. Not now, not ever. You love that you can both be open and vulnerable with one another, you don't want to risk losing all of it for a stupid lie. Especially a lie about Jace, of all people.

"You have to stay calm." You warn him.

You should have known that telling him that would have the absolute opposite effect.

Bucky sits up and pushes away the covers. "Up."

"James…"

"Toots." He says in a very serious tone, letting you know he's not playing around.

You sigh and sit up, your heart is racing in your chest from how nervous you are.

Bucky sees the bruise on your other arm right away. He reaches over with both hands to touch your bruises but stops before making contact with your skin.

He looks down at his hands, then your arms, then his hands again and you see the exact moment he realizes where they come from.

"I'm gonna kill that asshole."

His eyes are filled with anger, you've never seen him like this and you don't like it.

"I'm fine." You remind him, speaking in a soothing voice with the hopes it'll help calm him down.

"That-" He gestures to your bruises. "That's not being fine. You don't put your hands on a woman, ever. You don't cheat on them either. He wants to be a violent asshole, I'll show him."

Bucky gets out of his bed and grabs his jeans, pulling them on as he looks around for his shirt.

"What are you doing?" Your brows furrow with confusion as you watch him.

"I'm going to find him and I'm going to make sure he never comes near you again."

"What? Bucky, no." You shake your head and rush out of bed to stand between him and the door. "You're going to get back into bed and you're going to avoid him as much as humanly possible."

"Why would I do that?" He stops moving, a few feet in front of you.

"Because I don't want you anywhere near him."

You can see his jaw clench and unclench.

"Are you serious right now?"

"Dead serious." You cross your arms in front of you.

"I can't believe you. You're protecting him? Taking his side? After what he did to you?"

What he says hits you like a slap in the face. You drop both arms on your sides and you look at him with wide eyes.

"I am not trying to protect him or take his side. I am trying to protect you because that's exactly what Jace wants. At the first thing you'll do he's going to have you arrested. I was trying to protect you."

The sad and hurt look on your face is enough to calm Bucky down. It feels like a bucket of ice cold water has been dropped on him.

"Toots." He takes a step toward you but you raise your hand in front of you to stop him.

"I think we're both very tired right now and it's best if we stop talking." You walk past him to grab your bag and put on your shoes.

"Wait, don't go. Please." He turns around to look at you.

"I'm gonna go sleep at my house. I'll see you tomorrow."

You walk around him and walk out of his room, silently closing the door behind you. You walk down the stairs and across the clubhouse to get to the front door, the whole time you have a pit in your stomach. This day officially sucks.

"Fuck!" Bucky almost yells, frustrated with himself.

No matter how hard he tries not to, he keeps messing everything up.

Panic starts to settle and he breathes heavily, feeling nauseous. His mind is racing, not knowing what to do. He wants to respect you and give you your space but at the same time he's scared that if he lets you go now, it'll mean more than you just spending the night at your house.

"Fuck it." He huffs.

Either way he risks losing you, he might as well try to fix things at least.

Bucky opens his bedroom door so forcefully that it slams on the wall behind it, the knob leaving a small dent but at the moment he couldn't care less. He runs down the stairs, all the way outside.

"Wait." He calls out right as you're reaching your car. "Please wait." He pleads as he catches up to you.

You know you should probably keep walking and just ask him to give you some time alone but you stop and turn around, waiting for him as he asked.

"I'm sorry. I really am." He says as he stops in front of you, out of breath from both running and his nerves getting to him. "I got carried away when I saw you were hurt and I let it get out of control. It's no excuse but when it comes to you logic and rationality just go straight out the window. Be mad at me here, please. I don't want you to go. It feels like if you go, I'll lose you and I don't want to lose you. Not now, not ever." He stays at a distance, not wanting to intimidate you by being too close, and holds out his hand hoping with all his might that you're going to take it.

You hesitate until you see that the hand he's holding out for you to take is slightly shaking, then you realize he really is scared. Truth be told you probably overreacted a little but it really did hurt that Bucky thought you'd ever choose Jace over him.

You put your hand in his, not missing the shaky breath of relief that comes out of his mouth. His hand closes around you instantly, scared that you might change your mind.

"I'm sorry too."

He shakes his head and pulls you close to him. "You have nothing to apologize for. I know I hurt you, it was a shitty thing to say. I know you wouldn't choose him."

You wrap your arms around him as he hugs you to his chest.

"Not over you." You look up at him.

As Bucky looks down into your eyes, he almost tells you he loves you right then and there. He stops himself but he really does love you, he's sure of it. He's never felt this way before and it's driving him crazy.

"Are you sleeping here? Please stay." He cups both of your cheeks in his hands and tilts your head back, just slightly, to kiss your forehead. "Please." He whispers before kissing the tip of your nose.

Bucky looks down at your lips, really wanting to kiss you but he knows he's on thin ice right now and he doesn't want to cross any line.

You lean into his touch and give a small nod. "I'll stay."

"Thank you." He sighs with relief and quickly pecks your lips. As he moves to pull away, you put your hand on the back of his neck.

It's not difficult for him to understand what you want and he presses his lips against yours again, this time lingering longer than before.

His left hand leaves your cheek and settles at the small of your back, pressing you closer to him while his right hand that is still on your cheek helps tilt your head back just a little bit more. Enough to allow him to deepen the kiss without having to ask you to.

Your bag hitting the pavement echoes in the lot once you've dropped it to wrap both your arms around his shoulders to keep him close.

Bucky guides you a few steps backwards until he's able to cage you in between his body and the side of your car as he feels the need to be as close to you as humanly possible. He pulls away from your lips when he needs to breathe but moves down to your neck to leave open-mouthed kisses on your skin as he catches his breath.

"Let's go back upstairs. I don't want anybody seeing you in that cute little PJ."

You chuckle and let him take your hand while he steals a few more small kisses from you, not making any effort to move a muscle that isn't his lips.

"Baby you got to move if you want to go back upstairs." You smile at him and it makes his heart swell in his chest, more than usual because of the almost/kinda fight you just had.

"Alright, beautiful." He pouts a little just for good measure but takes several steps back, bringing you with him as he's still holding your hand. He bends down to pick up your bag and pulls you into his side. He lets go of your hand instead wrapping his arm around your shoulders to keep you close. He kisses your temple as he guides you back inside, closing every door he had left open in his hurry to catch up to you. He takes a few more seconds to lock the door of the clubhouse and you then both go back to his room, closing and locking that door too just to have a little heads up if someone is trying to come in. Like Natasha.

He puts your bag back down on the chair where it was earlier and sits at the foot of his bed to take off his boots and his shirt, followed by his pants.

Bucky stays seated, watching you as you walk around his room and wishing it's something that could happen every day.

Once you're ready to get back into bed, you walk over to Bucky and take the hand that he's holding out for you. He pulls gently until you're close enough for him to put his free hand on your hip and guide you to straddle his lap.

He takes some time to admire your face, letting his eyes wander around and smiling to himself because he's lucky enough for you to want him back. He brings your hand that he's holding to his lips and kisses your knuckles with a lot of attention and adoration.

"I don't want us to fight anymore." He says quietly, looking up from your hand and into your eyes. "I hate it."

He truly does hate it. He wants to be the one to make you feel loved, adored, cherished, appreciated and like a queen, because that's what you are to him. He doesn't want to be the cause of your pain or worry or any other negative feelings he might have caused you more than once tonight.

"I don't like it either but it happens. It doesn't mean we don't lo- like each other." You quickly correct yourself, hoping he didn't have time to catch on your little slip up. "I don't want to fight all the time but sometimes fights just remind us that we care enough about each other to have intense feelings about our relationship. As long as we talk it through and apologize if we feel like we should, we'll be ok." You promise him, a small smile tugging at your lips.

His eyes are round and filled with concern and fear. This is uncharted territory for him and he's just always so terrified to mess it up and ruin everything. He would never forgive himself if he ends up being just another reason as to why you don't want to trust men ever again.

As you talked you had clasped your hands together at the back of his neck and it brought his attention back to your arms.

"I'd never hurt you, you know that right?" He says, as serious as you've ever seen him be. "No matter how bad it gets, no matter how mad I get for whatever reason related to you or not I would never put my hands on you."

You smile at your tough looking biker boyfriend that's actually the biggest teddy bear when it comes to you and you love it.

"I know. The thought never even crossed my mind, I trust you."

Three simple words that mean everything to him, not the three he wishes to hear from you more than anything but they are definitely a close second. It might even be a tie knowing how much it means for you to be trusting him.

He holds you strongly to him as he stands up and brings you with him. He laughs quietly at the little yelp of surprise you let out as he does so and moves around his bed to get you to lie down on top of his mattress. Bucky quickly joins you and covers your lower halves with the blankets as he hovers above you. He holds himself up and keeps his weight off of you with a hand on each side of your head while he looks down at you.

Bucky then proceeds to bring both of your hands above your head, intertwining his fingers with yours and lowering himself enough to be able to press loving kisses on the bruises your ex left on you. He goes from one arm to the other, then once more again. His silent vow that he will always keep you safe.

You have goosebumps appearing all over your skin, your eyes half shut. You can't remember the last time someone had ever been this loving toward you in your life.

Bucky kisses your lips softly and then flips on his back next to you, gesturing to you to come sleep against his side with your head on his chest like you've done so many times before.

He circles you with his big arms and holds you like this all through the night.

Brock Rumlow has known Bucky his whole life and they have hated each other for just as long. He's been looking for ways to get to him, he's always been kind of untouchable and that's extremely frustrating for Brock as he just wants to take Bucky down. Hopefully for good.

Then the most perfect thing fell right onto his lap as he patrols through the streets of Nightfall at the beginning of his night shift: you.

He's met you once when you were coming back from Sam's pool party and he had pulled over Bucky. It wasn't the first time that Brock had stopped Bucky with a girl on the back of his bike so he didn't really pay you any mind, just enough to piss off Bucky. He didn't think you were anything special, just another notch in his belt but that was before he caught the two of you fighting and making up. He had been watching the whole time from across the street. You crossing the lot in your pajama shorts is what caught his attention in the first place, then Bucky joined in and he needed to see what was going to happen.

Never in a million years did he think he'd ever see Bucky Barnes literally chase after a girl looking so apologetic. You both seemed hurt in some ways, meaning the two of you more than likely had some kind of relationship, any type.

Then, Brock saw how Bucky was holding you so carefully. Kissing you so lovingly and holding you so intimately between his body and your car. He's known Bucky long enough to know that this was huge. He doesn't think he's ever seen him with a serious girlfriend before, because whatever it was between you two it was most definitely serious.

Brock had spent so many years trying to find a way to hurt Bucky, to get him to bend to his will and recognize Brock as the true fearless leader of this town but not once did Bucky ever come close to even bending in the slightest.

Now that he knows about you, knows about your relationship to Bucky, he can finally start working on his plan on how to take down the stupid MC. They are all so tight together, he's sure that going after the VP will be enough to startle the entire club. It's time to go to war and Brock knows he has the best trick up his sleeve. There's clearly not much that Bucky wouldn't do for you and he intends on playing with that to his advantage.

Now all he needs is to come up with a plan.

Bucky's alarm wakes them up earlier than usual, you don't want to get caught so you need to get up and be ready before anyone comes in.

He reaches over to his phone with his eyes still closed and his other arm still around you and blindly looks for it, turning the alarm off as quickly as possible. He turns on his side to be closer to you and settles back down on his pillow.

Thankfully the alarm had woken you up too because Bucky is clearly falling back asleep. Now you understand how he manages to be late when he leaves 5 seconds away from the garage.

You try to move to get out of bed but Bucky tightens his hold around you.

"No." He huffs.

"You can stay in bed, but I gotta get up and get dressed." You chuckle.

"Keeping it a secret is beginningg to suck."

"Do you want to tell Nat? Because I certainly don't."

He shakes his head. "Fuck no. She's going to kill me."

"Exactly. Steve's already pissed."

"My friends suck." He groans, finally letting you go.

"Yeah, sometimes they do." You admit.

You sit up and stretch your arms over your head, dropping one of your hands in front of your mouth to cover it as you yawn. You then rub your eyes carefully, trying to wake yourself up completely.

"Still tired?" Bucky turns to lie on his back and sneaks his hand underneath your shirt to rub your back.

You nod and instinctively lean into his touch.

As he watches you an idea forms in his mind.

"Are you busy this weekend?"

You turn to look at him. "No, why?"

"You'll see." He grins. "Now, go. Up." He tickles you just enough to motivate you to get away from him and out of bed.

"So evil." You stick out your tongue at him as you grab your bag before walking in the bathroom and closing the door.

While you're getting ready Bucky sits up against the headboard and grabs his phone to do some research to see if his idea is realistic and achievable.

Before he knows it you're coming back out, looking beautiful as always. His heart beats a little faster when he looks at you and he can't help but smile, thinking about how lucky he is that you are giving him a chance.

"Beautiful." He says, tilting his head slightly to the side to get a good look at you.

You start feeling shy under his intense gaze and your cheeks heat up. "Thank you." You put on your shoes and take your bag to put it in your trunk. "I'll see you downstairs." You smile at him and walk over to the door.

"Toots, where are you going?" You turn back around to find him frowning.

"To work." You chuckle.

"No, you're not. I think you forgot something."

You start looking around his room doing a mental inventory of the things you had brought with you.

"I didn't- oh!" You laugh quietly when you see his pout.

You walk over to him and lean down to give him a small kiss.

"Now you may go." He grins, his adorable goofy grin that always makes your heart melt.

"Oh, may I now?" You tease him.

He rolls his eyes. "Go before Nat gets here."

"Later." You smile and leave his room.

Once you're out of the clubhouse you make a very small detour to drop your bag in your trunk, away from prying eyes, then you walk over to your office and start opening everything like you do every morning.

About 15 minutes later Nat arrives, quickly followed by Steve and the rest of the club minus Bucky.

You say hi to everybody and go sit down behind your desk, leaving the door to your office open. You watch as Bucky crosses the lot from the clubhouse to the garage, only slowing down to send a small wink your way and then he disappears.

Nat is suddenly standing in front of you with a frown on her face. "We need to talk."

Your eyes snap up to her face as you start to feel nervous. Did she see Bucky wink at you? Maybe she came early and saw your car?

"We do? About what?" You mentally high five yourself for managing to sound so calm when you're freaking out inside.

"What happened yesterday."

Fuck. She saw Bucky kissing you.

"Look I'm sorry I should have told you but-"

"It's fine." She says, sitting down in the chair on the other side of your desk. "Peter told me all about it, I don't blame you for wanting to leave early and go home, for not wanting to talk about it. Are you ok?" She looks down at your arms, the bruises clearly visible with the t-shirt you are wearing. When you picked your clothes for today, you didn't know you had marks on you.

Nat points at your arms. "Jace did that?"

You bring your hands up to cover your biceps, embarrassed. "Yeah, but I'm fine."

"Are you really?" She narrows her eyes, looking for anything that would let her know you're lying.

"Yeah. It was scary but Peter got Steve before anything bad could happen. Him and Bucky followed him out of town, I don't think he's going to come back."

"I'm glad the guys were there. If I had been there, I probably would be in jail right now and he'd be dead. As if cheating on you wasn't disgusting enough now this? He needs help."

You nod, agreeing with her. "Can we not talk about him anymore? I'm tired of hearing his name."

"Of course, sweets. I'm sorry. I'll let you get back to work but come talk to me if there's anything, ok?"

"Thank you." You smile and make sure she really left before leaning back in your chair, relieved. You really thought you were caught.

Right after the garage closes, Bucky walks into your office and closes both doors, coming to sit in the same chair Nat had been sitting in earlier this morning.

"How are you feeling?"

You can tell that Bucky is still worried about you but he's trying to play it cool, he doesn't want you to feel smothered.

"I'm ok. Tired." You smile, closing your laptop.

"I have the perfect remedy for that." He leans in closer. "Get a bag ready for the weekend, I'll pick you up at 6 Friday night ok?"

"Where are we going?"

"You'll have to show up to find out." He smirks and stands up.

He locks both doors and closes the blind, walking back over to you and getting you to stand up. He steps in closer to kiss you, his arm circling your waist as he does to pull you as close as possible to him.

"Are you coming over tonight?" You ask right after he pulls away.

"No. I think we've taken enough risks for the week." He chuckles and lifts his hand to come rub your cheek softly. "Tonight and tomorrow we'll have to sleep separately but it'll be worth it for Friday ok? I promise."

He hates how disappointed you look but he feels the same so he completely understands. If it was just up to him, he'd spend every hour of every day with you without having to worry about who might see the two of you.

"Ok." You nod.

Normally you'd feel embarrassed about how clingy you've become with Bucky. You used to be very independent even when dating Jace but there's something about Bucky that just makes you want to spend all of your time with him so badly. Awake or asleep. It doesn't matter, you just need him to be there.

The next few days are hard because you never have a moment to be alone with him. He comes into your office every once in a while under false pretense, rubs your back or kisses the back of your hands but that's as far as it goes.

You miss him, it's stupid because you see him every day and you can even watch him work if you wanted, you talk to him and eat lunch with him but it's still not enough so when it's finally Friday at 5 you're quick to leave the garage and rush home to go get your things ready.

You have absolutely no idea where Bucky is taking you. All he has said is that you will be gone for the entire weekend and that makes you very excited and so happy to be able to spend that much alone time with him.

At 5:50 there's a knock at your front door and you don't even need to see him to know that it's Bucky, he has his own little knock that he does every time.

Bucky grins at you when you finally open the door and he's quick to push his way inside, shutting the door with his foot as he grabs your face and crashes his lips on yours.

The kiss is a lot more needy and desperate than usual but it is also the first time since this all started that you had to go this long without being alone.

Your hands cling to his kutte on both sides of his body as you try to keep up with him.

When Bucky pulls aways, his grin is even wider than before and he presses his forehead to yours.

"Hi."

You laugh quietly. "Hi."

"Missed you, toots." He sighs.

"I missed you too."

"Are you ready to go?" He takes a step back.

"Yes, my bag's right behind you."

"Great, let's go."

He kisses you once more, this time a lot more chaste, turns around while holding one of your hands and with the other he picks up your bag from the floor. He squeezes your hand once before letting go so that you can open the door and the both of you step outside.

Bucky waits behind you as you lock up and when you turn to follow him you're surprised to see an old pick-up truck where you expected to see his bike.

"Whose is this?"

"Steve, he let me borrow it."

You smile, slightly reassured as Steve seems to be warming up at your relationship. Hopefully Nat will be as easy to convince as him.

You move to the passenger side but Bucky stops you. "Driver's side."

He opens the door and puts your bag inside then he helps you up, quickly getting in after you.

The pick-up has a single bench instead of multiple seats and Bucky has piled up a few bags on the passenger's side leaving you no choice but to sit in the middle close to him.

"Ready?" He asks you with a smile after starting the truck.

"Yes." You can't even hide the excitement from your voice and it makes Bucky's heart swell up knowing that you're just as eager to spend time together as he is.

Bucky backs out of your driveway and drives away, putting his right arm around you to get you to sit closer.

You both stay silent as he drives, not because you have nothing to say but because you are taking the time to enjoy being finally together after the shitty week you've had.

You haven't realized how long Bucky has been driving until you see the "now leaving Nightfall" sign on the side of the road.

"Where are we going?" You turn to look at him just in time to see him smirk.

"Ha, surprise." He squeezes your shoulder just as you cross the town line.

You have now officially left Nightfall and you have no idea where you're headed.

» CHAPTER NINE: AWAY

I'm almost done writing the series. I have a chapter and a half left. Originally I said it would be 17 chapters but since I don't know what short stories are, I had to add two chapters so as to not have 10k+ words per chapters!

@spaaceprincessss | @buckyxplumsss | @yeoldedumbslut | @valhalla-kristin | @rosalynshields | @chloe-skywalker | @marvel-3407 | @rachellovesloki | @bucky-hues | @n3ssm0nique | @lover-of-bucky | @beingagodsucks | @bahama-mama-llama | @simplybombshell | @broadwaybabe18 | @blackwidownat2814 | @itsdawnashlie | @dancer3205 | @kamaray89 | @mrs-mischief1917 | @littlemissthistle | @ali-r3n | @boofy1998 | @lovesammikinzz | @awaywithtime | @thecraziestcrayon | @satanstolemypersonality | @bee-buttss | @jackiehollanderr | @marie1115 | @idle-neverland | @amberritonicole | @thatblondebrownie | @rainbowkisses31 | @benbarnesbussy

[larryssunflower]

The Non-Royal Romance -season 2, part 3

tagging old mutuals! - @ravenpuff02 @simplyaiden-blog @msjr0119 @butindeed @mfackenthal @choices-lurker @american-duchess @drakelover78 @monosodiumglutamateme @crookedslimecreatorpasta @mrsdrakewalkerblog @traeumerinwitzhelden @gardeningourmet​ @speedyoperarascalparty​ @agent-zephyrkah​ @liam-rhys-x-mc-x-constantine​ @snyggflicka​ @texaskitten30​ @annekebbphotography​ @irishwhiskys-blog​ @nomadics-stuff​ @catlady0911​ @twinkle-320​ @i-bloody-love-drake-walker​ @drakewalker04​ @bigmemesplz​ @jovialyouthmusic​ @sleepwalkingelite​ @pintobom​ @moneyfordiamonds​ @mskaneko​ @lauzales​ @princessleac1​ @kingliam2019​ @queen-arabella-of-cordonia​ @drake-colt-lover-99

Oh funny seeing you guys here! Heh... So it's been like 2 years (yikes sorry) But hey I'm a college sophomore now! So I randomly thought about this fic today and found this finished draft, and figured I would publish it for anyone who still exists in this fandom! Anyway, here it is :) Also I may or may not go back to edit all the old parts bc damn is the writing cringy in the early ones lol

- The night of the barn-raising -

Kai sits next to me on my couch at the end of my bed, curled up on herself, cradling her cup of tea to her chest. “So, are you ready for the start of the engagement tour tomorrow?” Kai questions me, taking a sip of her tea. A tight knot of anxiety forms in my stomach, and I nod absentmindedly. “Y-yeah, as ready as I can be,” I chuckle lightly, watching my fingers trace the lip of my mug. Kai doesn’t say anything for a moment, and I look up to see her studying me.

“...what?” I ask, the sides of my lips quirking up in nervousness. Kai sighs slightly before speaking. “You just seem- off. I thought you would be ecstatic about this, I mean, you actually found a guy you really love,” Kai explains, and I have to look away again, studying the detail in my curtains. Not the guy you think, a voice mutters within me sourly. She has no idea what she’s talking about. I jump at a sudden hand on my arm. My eyes flit up to meet Kai’s concerned eyes. “Just talk to me,” Kai implores quietly. I gulp.

She tilts her head to the side, raising her eyebrows at me. I can’t lie to her. I sigh, placing my mug down, before bringing both my hands into my lap, twiddling my fingers. “Well, it’s sort of a long story... but the truth is, I’m not in love with Liam,” I say carefully, wincing at Kai’s taken aback expression.

I take a beat to build any last courage, not being able to look at her as I continue. “I’m in love with... Drake. My bodyguard.” I blurt out. I brave a glance up at her as she physically reels back in shock, making a shocked-scoff sound. She shakes her head. “You’re... oh god, Alana!” Kai swears, shaking her head. I look away, my heart falling. I was hoping she could help me through this, not turn on me.

“Alana. You are the Queen of Cordonia. You can’t keep sleeping around like this! You're engaged! I cannot believe you." Kai huffs, slamming her mug down and standing up. “Why are you so upset? You don’t know the half of it! How can you judge me when you don’t even know what you’re talking about?!” I exclaim, frustration starting to build in me, making her roll her eyes.

“I don’t need some lame excuse from you Alana. Of course, you could never actually have your life together for once. Honestly, I was surprised when I first came home and your life wasn’t a mess! I guess deep down I just waiting for the ball to drop. Liam is an amazing guy! How could you do that to him?” She asks me, making tears well in my eyes. Like I didn't feel guilty enough about that.

“Good to know that you think I’m a failure as well as everyone else in this family. Thanks for enlightening me.” I snap sarcastically, my voice cracking. Kai just shakes her head at me, looking over at me with distaste. “God. I thought you were better than this,” she says, stinging my skin. Kai turns and storms out, and I collapse onto the couch, the tears falling freely.

- the next day, in the train, en route to Italy -

Watching the Cordonian countryside fly by outside the train window, I still feel stung from last night. Next to me, Liam reads the news, and Max and Kai sit across from us. Kai still refuses to look at me, and I catch her glancing over at Drake and then at Liam a couple times. I just wish she would let me explain fully.

We all sit in peaceful quiet, Max chuckling a couple times at his phone. Of course, our peaceful atmosphere doesn’t last. The door to our dining compartment slides open, and Leo strolls in. “Ah, good morning all,” He grins, making us all look up.

“It’s twelve,” Liam says amusedly, still looking down at his newspaper. “And?” Leo asks, before sitting at a chair across from our booth, stretching fully on his seat. “So are we excited to be starting this tour?” Leo quirks, watching all of us in his characteristic fox-like manner. It’s... unsettling. “Yeah, why wouldn’t we be?” Maxwell asks, putting his phone down.

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you were all targeted at a ball by terrorists just a couple months ago?” Leo says sarcastically, making my stomach flip. I close my eyes for a moment, composing myself. A pang of pain shoots through my shoulder. I ignore it, knowing it's just psychological. It’s not fun to be reminded of the worst night of my life.

“Kai and I excluded of course,” Leo adds, sending her a quick wink, eliciting a roll of her eyes, visible annoyance flashing across her features. “Well, thanks for the reminder, but there isn’t much we can do.” Liam sighs, tossing his newspaper on the table in front of us. He must have realized he won’t be able to read it in peace.

Smart.

“What do you mean, 'there isn’t much you can do'? Alana is the Queen isn’t she?” Leo asks, his eyes settling on me. I grit my teeth. “Yes Leo, I am the queen. But Cordonia has always been peaceful. We don’t have any enemies, at least that we know of, and the palace’s task force is investigating it. There isn’t anything else we can do,” I explain, making Leo pull a face.

“God, a task force? No wonder nothing is getting done. What you need to do is take it into your own hands. Hell, we’ll help you,” Leo says, taking me aback. “I don’t know-“ I start, but get cut off by Maxwell’s gasp.

I glance over in concern to see him looking down at his phone in shock.

“What?” Liam asks, and Max looks up at me hesitantly. “Uhm. Something happened.” Max whispers, his voice quivering nervously.

My heart leaps in my chest. “It’s not another attack?” Drake asks from beside us, his sudden deep voice making me jump. Max shakes his head, turning the phone screen for me to see, his face crinkled with discomfort. I grab his phone my stomach falling. It’s a tabloid article, with a picture of Tariq and me in my room at Applewood manor, a black rectangle edited in where my underwear-clad body should be. The way the photo is taken makes it seem like I wanted him there, making bile rise up my throat at the thought.

Liam leans over to take a look, his eyes widening. “Son of a bitch,” Drake curses from behind us. “Liam, I promise, that’s not what happened,” I blurt out, my heart hammering loudly in my chest.

“‘Thou shall not commit adultery, something Queen Alana clearly doesn’t believe. Affair with Tariq revealed the day Queen Alana’s engagement tour starts.’” Kai reads out, her eyes flicking up to meet mine. I gulp, knowing she probably believes it.

“Alana is right, Liam, I was there. Tariq broke into her room and tried to take advantage of her while she was changing. Luckily I was walking by and took care of him before he could touch her,” Drake explains, and I glance at Liam, my chest heaving with panic. Liam looks at me, and nods, relief flooding through my body.

“I believe you, don’t worry babe. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” Liam reassures me, holding my hand. I smile appreciatively. “I’m sorry too Al,” Maxwell says, and I nod my heart hammering.

God, this is just what I needed in my life. Another thing to go wrong.

“Look! Another example! Someone is after you Alana, and your ‘task force’ is not going to help you. We should all work together and find the motherfuckers doing this to you!” Leo exclaims, and Maxwell nods. “I agree, you don’t deserve this,” Max chimes in, making me smile slightly.

I sigh, mulling over my options in my mind. Leo is partly right, our palace investigation has found close to nothing, it couldn't hurt to have more help, right?

"Oh okay, we may as well," I concede, to Leo and Max’s happiness. My mind starts running a million miles a minute. While Leo and Maxwell start to discuss plans, Kai still looks over at me warily, making my heart sink. I haven’t always been the stable and responsible one like her, but it breaks my heart that she turned her back on me so quickly before knowing all the information.

“You in Kai?” Leo asks her, making her turn her head to look at him with a strange expression. “Yes I suppose,” She agrees after a moment of thought, making me smile slightly in appreciation. “Okay, we need to figure out who took these photos. There’s no way they were legally allowed to be at the manor that time of night. They either formed the story themselves or were paid to do so,” Leo explains, surprising me slightly with his knowledge and seemingly instant readiness of the situation.

Maxwell scrolls down his phone, looking for the photographer’s name at the bottom of the article. “Uh just hold on a sec... okay it looks like the photographer is named Minnie Godard. Can we find a way to track her on social media or something?” Maxwell asks, making us mumble in thought.

“No need,” Leo says smoothly, causing us to turn to him in confusion. After a moment- “Of course.” Kai groans.

“What?” Maxwell asks. Leo grins wider as Kai sighs with exasperation.

“He slept with her,” She groans in a disgusted tone. Leo nods. “Darling, you know me so well,” he grins. “Don’t you dare call me darling, you pig.” she snaps back to him heatedly.

“Can we not fight please?” Liam asks, “Leo, can you contact her?”He asks, turning to Leo, who nods, scrolling through his phone.

“Who knew? Having a man-whore on our team actually has its benefits,” Kai mutters, making Maxwell snicker.

—-

Drake’s POV

Later that night I stand outside Alana’s door on the train, waiting for her to finish getting dressed for the party tonight. I guess this makeshift 'team' be a good idea, but having all these civilians, noble civilians at that, trying to solve a national conspiracy seems very dangerous. But I don’t think it’s possible to change their minds and the palace task force isn’t getting anywhere. I just hope no one gets hurt again, especially Alana. I don’t know what I would do if she was hurt.

“Hey Drake, can you come in here?” Alana’s muffled voice calls through her door. I slide it open to see her standing in front of her floor-length mirror, wearing a deep red gown, the beads on the plunging neckline sparkling in the low light. Soft vintage music plays in the background and I have to catch my breath for a moment. It’s not an unusual habit of mine when I’m around her. She is so undeniably gorgeous. As I take her in, I can’t help but think about the last time we were alone in the spa. And the ways that I touched her, the sounds she made.

She has her back to me, her dress only partly zipped up, showing her bare back. “Do you mind?” She asks, looking back over her shoulder at me. I close the door behind me and silently nod before gently brushing her hair to the side which she holds in place. Vivid pictures of her underneath me last night flashes through my mind as I grasp the metal zipper and start to pull upwards.

I finish the zipper at the back of her neck, and she shudders as my fingers brush across her sensitive skin. She turns around and I notice we are suddenly very close as she gazes up at me. As I look down at her, I suddenly feel an overwhelming feeling of adoration. God, I love her. The dark specks in her eyes, her lightly freckled cheeks, and perfect lips. Her kind and ambitious soul, her incredible habit of making everyone around her fall in love, just...everything. She is everything. I bring my hand up to brush against her cheek as I take a moment to admire her. “everything okay?” she whispers softly, her eyes searching mine, seemingly sparkling in the low light. I smile and nod. “I just- love you,” I respond honestly, making her smile, her eyes crinkling at the edges.

I suddenly feel very lucky that of all the people for her to love, she chose me. I can barely believe it. She wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me into an embrace and my arms fall instinctively around her waist, pulling her body to mine. “I love you too,” Alana whispers to my ear, and I hug her tighter, a warmth spreading through my chest just from being close to her. A new song starts to play, Put Your Head on My Shoulder. I smile and pull away slightly before starting to dance slowly with her. She giggles softly, swaying along with me.

We dance slowly with each other. No fancy dance moves, no waltz. Just two people slowly swaying together, enjoying the few minutes alone.

“This was one of my dad’s favorite songs,” I say after a while. I feel vulnerable opening up about my past, but I know it’s what Alana wants. She deserves to know me better. I feel her smile against my neck. “He has very good taste,” She mumbles. I blink. “Had,” I correct her quietly. She stops. Then she pulls away to look at me. “You lost your dad too?” She asks softly. I nod. Her eyes soften. And not in an ‘Aw you poor pitiful thing’ way but in a ‘I understand your pain’ way.

“Losing a parent is one of the hardest things that you can go through. I’m glad we have each other,” Alana softly says, bringing her hand up to brush a strand of hair away from my face. “Always,” I nod. She smiles wider, before pulling me back towards her and into our precious swaying. I tell her about how my parents used to dance in the kitchen late at night, often to this song. She laughs and tells me that they must have been much better than us, which may or may not be true. As the song start to wind down I spin her gently and then dip her down, making her giggle.

I hear a noise and look up, still holding Alana in the dip, to see Kai standing in the doorway staring at us. My stomach drops and I quickly bring Alana back up. Kai blinks at me with a shocked, surprised expression. I gape at her, not knowing what to say. She just looks at Alana for a second, a thoughtful look on her face. “The cars are here to take us to the party,” Kai finally says flatly with a glance at me before leaving. I turn to Alana, my eyes wide.

She grimaces. “Don’t worry, she already knows. Doesn’t approve, but she knows” Alana exhales. I sigh. “This isn’t going to mess things up for you will it?” I question, worry eating at me. Her eyes soften. “I appreciate the concern Drake, but it’s okay.” she pauses, her eyes going slightly downcast. “But, if only right?” she quietly asks. My heart twists in my chest. To hear her voice my deepest desire I have had since I met her, is hard. I tilt my head to the side, quietly looking down at her. I don’t even know what to say.

“ALANA!” Maxwell screams from down the hall, making both of us jump. “I guess we should get going,” Alana mumbles with a smile that doesn’t seem to reach her eyes. I don’t have the heart to respond, just wordlessly offering my arm for her to take. She takes a deep breath before slipping her arm into mine and walking out with me.

——

I follow Liam and Alana around the party as they greet all the foreign politicians, ambassadors, and occasionally, the press. The party is in an Italian hotel with massive windows. Through which the party-goers admire the old architecture of the city lit up as they discuss the politics of whatever country they lead. My heart steadily gets heavier the longer I endure their rehearsed conversations urging these nobles to attend the wedding and excusing the scandal as tabloid fake news that will soon be sorted out. The other nobles can relate, the tabloids constantly try to ruin their reputations. Eventually, they take a break by sitting down at a table with the rest of the group, Max, Kai, and Leo.

“Okay so Minnie is the one in that blue dress over there,” Leo says with a low voice, pointing to a redhead in the group of photographers permitted inside. “Just as hot as I remember,” Leo adds with a wink, making Kai scrunch her face in disgust. “You’re a gross man, have I ever told you that?” She asks, and Leo’s grin grows wider as he leans in closer to her. “Yes and I love it every time,” He says lowly, making her lean away from him in disdain, her eyes shooting daggers.

“How about we figure out a plan?” Maxwell says, suddenly cutting in, clearly uncomfortable with the hostility. Leo finally looks away from Kai and looks at Maxwell. “Well, we need a way to get her separate from the photographers. I tried to message her, but she left me on read,” Leo says, ending in a quiet tone. Kai snorts. “Serves you right,” She mutters under her breath.

“Okay well, how do we do that?” Liam asks Leo expectantly. Leo chews on his bottom lips for a second, deep in thought. As a new song starts to play and a new group of people starts to dance in the middle. Leo suddenly looks up with a mischievous smirk. “I know what to do. Kai, I’m going to need your hand with this. Literally,” Leo says standing up and offering her his hand.

Kai scoffs. “No! why would I do that?” She exclaims, clearly shocked that he would even consider her help. “Kai. Seriously we need to do this, no matter how much you hate me. And I need a single yet eligible woman,” Leo adds, raising his eyebrows expectantly. Kai glances at Alana then looks back at Liam. “Fine,” She mutters reluctantly, taking his hand.

Leo takes Kai to the dance floor and begins to waltz with her, eyeing the photographer all the while. The two of them seem to have a conversation, Kai only talking through her gritted teeth, clearly uncomfortable. I glance to my side and observe Alana watching Leo like a hawk, staring at his hands unflinchingly. I smile. It’s interesting to see her role as a protective big sister.

I haven’t seen that side of her. I want to see all of her, to know all the intricacies of her personality, her life, her emotions. I worry I will never be able to let myself get as close as I desperately hope. My eyes find Alana once again, a multitude of conflicting emotions flashing through me. I want her. God, I want her so badly I can barely tolerate it. But there are so many forces going against us. It’s not fair, but if I’m being honest, it’s just my luck that the woman I’m in love with is the most unavailable person in the country.

When I look at her and think about us, I also feel overwhelming fear. Fear that the assassins will find a way to find her, that we won’t be able to figure out who is doing this soon enough, that I will lose Alana forever. I can live without being hers. But I cannot live with myself if she was hurt, especially if I could have stopped it.

No matter the situation, as her bodyguard I will always be responsible. A sudden realization settles in, making my mouth go dry and my heart stop. If I really want to be the best bodyguard I can possibly be for Alana, to truly be able to protect her, I have to let her go.

I can’t continue this. No matter how strong these feelings are, the only way for me to be the best bodyguard for her is to be as emotionless and detached as possible. If I’m too invested I can get distracted or sloppy and possibly allow something horrible to happen. I won’t allow it.

My eyes glance over her profile and I feel a sense of dread. How will I ever explain this to her? Every time I try to push her away, to keep her safe, she always fights back. I should have been stronger. I was so closed off in the beginning, why do I find that so hard now? Now that I got the taste of us, I don't know if I'm strong enough to let it go.

But I have to. For her.

----

Oooooo Drake is back on his bullshit...But what else is new? lol

Anyways, hi again! idk if any of my old mutuals are active anymore but I missed you all! :) <3

[drewschermickblindone]

New mixtape:

blindone- the acidic hasidic 11- The Old Test a ment Extended Vers Dax Pierson- snap Radioinactive- personnality theft Elucid- Burnt Sugar feat. Psychic Twin doseone- Big Bank Basik MC-One Verse Hearse v 1.2 DJ Signify- Costume Kids Mestizo & Controller 7- Lay Your Life Down Danny Brown- 3 Tearz (feat. Run the Jewels) Birdapres- Different Insignificant Elzhi- 1-14 Misright Dope KNife- The Message Feat. Dana Coppafeel De La Soul- The Magic Number Fatt Matt, Ira Lee, Chadio- Downtown mykill miers and pawz one- cult classic (feat. edo.g and dj romes) Factor Chandelier feat. Onry Ozzborn- black nasa Neek the Exotic- One Speed All Out (Feat. Satchel Page) living legends- communion Reks- Animal Kingdom (Prod. By Apollo Brown) Rocwell feat. Swamburger- Memories The Gumshoe Strut- # Stairaway Saukrates- Innovations Feat. Pharoahe Monch dj moves- morris day feat. tachichi rob sonic- gums john jiggs feat crimeapple- teflon manteca 2Mex- Can't Get With Us (feat. Riddlore) Sacred Hoop- Quiet, Im Dying Defcee & Messiah Musik- Shell Game feat. Alaska sixtoo- garbage rain shrapknel- acid vignette(feat. donovan days and the binary marketing show) Mad Kap- Escuse Me Brutha!-Jeff-Self Feat. Jeff Broadway El-P- Oh Hail No (Feat. Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire & Danny Brown) Bag Appeal- Knife Rips (Rich Jones, Jesse The Tree & MJC) Raw Produce- Up All Night Darko The Super- Boomerang (Prod. Steel Tipped Dove) Dr. Octagon- Flying Waterbed The Koreatown Oddity- Meditative Thought Esoteric & Stu Bangas- Blood On the Flowers (feat. Spit Gemz) CURTA- Sky High feat. Kenny Dennis (Serengeti) Farm Fresh- tylers in the coal room (weeping) Diamond D- K.I.S.S. (Keep it Simple Stupid) Defari- Deepest Regards (feat. B Real & J Ro) (prod. by Mike City) Deeskee- Motel Six sadistik- november aj suede and televangel- elysium DJ Muggs x Roc Marciano- Wormhole freestyle fellowship- hillcrest fatboi sharif and roper williams- prescription ODD NOSDAM- horse face anglo- Nine to Five Maximus Da Mantis - KALI-MA - TapeDeck Wizardry Ft Dangerous Dane main flow- dealing with the archives (ft dj greyboy) Controller 7- swallow (feat. Hemlock Ernst) The Nonce- Mix Tapes (1926 Sunday Night Remix) sign one- 2020 Hosannas (TGS Remix) ft. The Gumshoe Strut ddamage- insects are human Mr. Lif- Low Key (Feat. Murs, El-P, BMS & 3 Melancholy Gypsies) Demigodz- The Summer of Sam feat. Apathy, Blacastan, Esoteric, Motive, Ryu & Celph Titled AWOL ONE- REALLY MATTERS FEAT D-STYLES OLD SELF- Golden Rule (Radio Edit) feat. Lt Headtrip & BIG BREAKFAST One Be Lo- Phoenix Sons-HHB open mike eagle- ill fight you (prod. diamond d) Nolto & Factor- Making Out MF Grimm- earth prince po- bump bump (ft raekwon - prod by madlib) existereo- boyz in the hoodwinked DJ Quik- Speed jean grae & quelle chris- breakfast of champions OneWerd- What Living is For (variex. Remix) Moor Mother & Billy Woods- Portrait ft. Navy Blue alxndrbrwn- a boy nostalgic for the future (feat. cas one) Emad Saad Drastic Measures Hip Hop- Shatterd Light (feat. 2Mex & Negro Scoe) Short Fuze & Nasa- Master Peace Eric Bobo & Stu Bangas- Street Smarts feat. Ill Bill & O.C Five Deez- The Rock Rehab The Doppelgangaz- Taking Them Pills sandpeople- sapient and ethic- crown control kay the aquanaut and maki- the day the gods came back The Walrus (Interlude) Degiheugi- Keeping Memory Alive W Nolto, Andrre, Astronautalis & Nomad blue sky black death and ceschi- miracles Das EFX- real hip hop (pete rock remix) dj seinfeld- song for the lonely ERDA- SIGIL (prod. leftfordead) zoviet france- FICKLE WHISTLE, HAND OVER YOUR EARS Oldominion- Same Ol Same Ol (Feat. Barfly, Candidt & Peegee 13) Bike for Three!- First Embrace Eyedress- My Girl The Finest