#nothing matters and I surround myself with love and light and I and the smartest person in the world who knows more about my favs than them

[softyoongiionly]

Portraits of a Tiger || 04

Legends of a great and equally terrifying warrior nicknamed the Tiger have been emerging from your fellow villagers for quite sometime. Stories of his skill, his stealth and his supposed wickedness have been passed around to the point where he is more prophecy than person. You have lived your life with a strong sense of conviction, rarely letting gossip influence your opinion. However, you would be lying if you said that his legacy didn’t intrigue you. When the Tiger and his infamous army arrive in your village to refuel, you come face to face with the man behind the myth.

And no amount of marketplace gossip would ever be enough to capture the true complexity of his nature.

Pairing: Merchant! Reader x Warrior! Yoongi

Genre: Adventure, Romance, Smut (later), Fluff, Angst

Word Count: 8k

Warnings: language, depictions of violence both verbal and physical however they are fairly mild, mentions of war and power dynamics, there will be smut in future parts so, (18+ only please).

A/N: ahhh yes romance is in the air lads. I hope you like this new part!!! I’m having so much fun writing this series for you guys :) LOVE YOUUUUU

As always, a HUGE shoutout to my beautiful friend Rachel @bulletproofbirdy​ for her assistance with this fic. I love you sm and I hope you especially like what I’ve done with the place >:)

It’s been a few days.

Nothing of substance has happened since the night you kissed Yoongi by the river other than a clear shift in your relationship with him.  

He doesn’t treat you differently in front of the patrons at the market nor does he spare more than a glance your way when you’re delivering bread.

But every night, without fail: you meet by the river.

You speak about things that seem too heavy for the daylight: war, peace, hope, loss...

He listens to your thoughts and offers many of his own but the night always ends with his lips on yours.  

His hands moving across your body as if he’s trying to learn every inch of you.

Whilst you’d happily have him against a tree or down on the mushy floor of the riverbed, Yoongi always stops things before they go to far.

He whispers promises of a night without boundaries in a place you both can call your own.

He tells you that when the time is right, he will give you everything you deserve and more.  

You agree with him despite the desire that rages in your body.

You know it’s best to wait until things are more concrete between the two of you.  

So you part ways every time and spend the rest of the night longing for one another until sleep finally offers you momentary peace.

Until the dreams begin...

Today however, you are concerned with someone else’s dreams.

Namely, your dear friend, your original confident, the smartest gal in the world: Rachel.

After your first rendezvous with Yoongi, you had rushed over to her home and spent the better half of the night gushing about the kiss.

Of course, she had been over the moon for you and the two of you had jumped around her living room like a bunch of excited schoolgirls.  

However, towards the end of the conversation, particularly when Jungkook’s name was brought up she had grown slightly somber.

Although their interaction had been brief, the chemistry was palpable and as much you had faith in your friend’s abilities, you didn’t foresee her making a move on him.  

So- you have decided to take matters into your own hands.  

With a basket full of fresh bread, you walk down the dirt path towards their camp to begin the initial phase of your plan.  

It was unlike the members to be absent from the fields surrounding their tents but, you presume it’s because training had concluded for the day.

You expected to see Namjoon out on their bench cribbling in his journal but, there is no one to be found.

There is a bit of anxiety that comes over you as thoughts creep in of the day that this area truly is abandoned.

The day Yoongi and his battalion move on.

Deep in your gut, dread begins to grow but you force yourself to take a deep breath and focus on the objective at hand.  

You tug the bell to signal your arrival expecting Seokjin’s boisterous presence to greet you but, instead you hear a bit of shuffling before a hand slips out between the cloth to tug open the entrance.

Immediately, your heart ignites in a fit within your chest at the sight before you.

Yoongi stands there, body completely rid of his normal attire, with only a pair of tight-fitting long johns adorning his figure.

His hair is out of his usual updo and pushed away from his face, long platinum tendrils cascading down his strong chest.

“Oh- hi...” You cough as the tone of your voice is audibly strained.

He smirks, his eyes lighting up as he sees you, “Good evening. Delivery?”

A jagged nod comes from you as you extend the basket towards him, “Yes. Here you go, I added some-”

Yoongi’s lips are on yours then, interrupting your sentence, one of his hands taking the basket whilst his other hand settles on your cheek.

As usual, his lips eliminate any thought in your head unrelated to him, your body going slightly limp beneath his touch.

He lingers for a moment before pulling away, his brown eyes sparkling with satisfaction.  

“This color is beautiful on you.” He murmurs nodding to your dress and pecking your lips once more, “did you make this?”

You smile, licking the taste of him off your lips, “Thank you. My mom made it for me last spring.”

He grins, “She’s very talented.” He lifts the basket, “This is a wonderful thing to wake up to, my men are going to destroy it.”

You giggle, raising your brows, “Late night?”

“Very. We were out until sunrise.” He explains, “Much of our training is nocturnal and the forests around here allowed us to teach the new recruits some important skills; we all slept a little later than I anticipated...” He chuckles sheepishly, glancing behind him before his eyes fall upon you once more, “It’s nice seeing you in the daylight.”

You giggle, “Is it? That’s a relief, I feared that maybe the moonlight and the beauty of the river was what kept you coming back every night...”

Yoongi’s lips twitch as he adjusts the basket on his arm, “I think you know very well what keeps me coming back.”

Before you can offer another flirtatious quip, a ball of fluffy black hair shoves its way through the opening of the tent.  

It’s Jungkook and he looks as though he hasn’t been awake for more than 30 seconds.

“Hyung- is the bread...” He mumbles sleepily before his eyes widen as they spot you, “Oh- I’m sorry...” He bows his head, “I didn’t mean to interrupt. Good uh...” He squints up at the sky, his lips pouted slightly, “Good evening Y/N.”

You bow your head, offering a smile, “Good evening. You didn’t interrupt at all, I was actually looking to speak with you when you have time. I know you’ve just woken up so, I can come back later...”

Jungkook’s cheeks heat up involuntarily as he steps behind Yoongi a little more, “Alone?”

Yoongi eyes you curiously, “What do you want with the boy?”

He chuckles at his younger brother who looks both intrigued and frightened all at once.

“We don't have to be alone.” You assure him, a bit of laughter leaving your lips, “It’s about my friend-”

“Rachel?” He assumes, wide-eyed, “Is she ok?”

You smirk knowingly, “She is. I was actually going to inquire whether or not you were interested in her but, I think I have my answer.”

“Ah- “ Yoongi interjects, looking at you pointedly, “You’re here to play matchmaker for my little brother?” He looks amused, his deep gaze boring into your own as he speaks again, “Don’t you have your hands full with another endeavor?”

The depth in his tone sends a bit of electricity up your spine and, you’re thankful that Jungkook doesn’t pick up on the bit of suggestion in his voice.  

He’s hung up on your reply and aching to know more.

So timidly he says, “Is she- maybe...interested in me?”

Averting your gaze away from Yoongi, you nod towards Jungkook, “I have a feeling she’s more than interested. However, she is incredibly stubborn and refuses to acknowledge the way you look at her. So naturally-” You gesture to yourself fluidly, “I decided to come here and ask you myself.”

“Naturally.” Yoongi agrees, his lips twitching, “Well, I don’t want to intrude on your plan so-”

As he tries to retreat back into the tent, you stop him with a raised hand, “Actually. I need your help after I speak with Jungkook so, don’t go far.”

Yoongi chuckles, shaking his head, “You’re aware that I oversee a battalion of 20,000 men, correct?”

With a shrug, you gesture for Jungkook to come closer before throwing an incredulous look Yoongi’s way, “Romance waits for no one...”

“Neither does war.” He retorts with a smirk.

"In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” You remind him, quoting a famous war strategist, “It won’t take long anyhow, plenty of time to return to your post, General.”

Jungkook, who has been zoning out for the last minute or so raises his brows at your tone, his lips parting in curiosity and glancing towards Yoongi.  

He doesn’t hear people quarrel with Yoongi often, even if they are joking so, hearing you speak so candidly to him causes him to wonder just how close the two of you have gotten.

If Yoongi is impressed by your knowledge, he doesn’t show it. But what he does do is raise his brows whilst his teeth secure themselves to his bottom lip.

“Make it quick.” He insists sharply despite the excitement dancing through his gaze.

Before you have the opportunity to respond, he disappears behind the curtain, leaving you alone with Jungkook.

“Hyung must really like you...” He observes softly, pursing his lips, “He isn’t the type to joke around with new people.”

Stifling a smirk, you shrug and gesture to the bench in front of their tent, “That’s a shame. Your hyung has quite the sense of humor. Now- I know you don’t have a lot of time, so I’ll make this quick.” You begin as the two of you sit, “Normally I’d like to approach a situation like this with a bit more class but to be frank, you won’t be in town long and after the way I saw you looking at Rachel, I don’t think you’ll mind my intervention.”

Jungkook blushes, his fingers coming up to tuck a piece of hair behind his ear, “Ke-Keep your voice down, I don’t want my hyungs to hear about this...” He pleads, “They’ll tease me relentlessly.”

You allow yourself the grin now, admiring how shy he is but you concede not wanting to embarrass him.

“Do you not want them to know you’re courting someone?”

He shakes his head, “No I just don’t want them to know until I speak with her first. I know you say she’s interested but- I'd still like to hear it from her.  My hyungs will pester me about it constantly and if she ends up rejecting me, I don’t really want to be reminded about it.”

“I understand.” You concede, “I don’t think you have anything to worry about. I’m sure I’ve never seen her behave this way around a man before. It’s unlikely she will reject you...”

“Still-” He insists, the color on his cheeks deepening, “it's possible. I never assume people’s opinions of me.”

It’s very odd, you think, here is this fine specimen before you: handsome, experienced, talented, respected and yet- he doesn’t seem to see himself that way.

Sounds a lot like someone else you know...

“That’s probably best.” You smile, warming up to him rather quickly, “You are interested in her though, aren’t you?”

He bites his bottom lip in thought before nodding, a bit of shyness in his eyes, “I am yes. Though I’m not totally sure how you figured it out based on our limited interaction. I’ve only spoken to her once- and I made a fool of myself.”

You giggle, “Yes but, you saw her for the first time in the plaza, didn’t you? She stopped you right in your tracks.”

His toffee orbs widen, “How did you-?"

A smirk comes over your mouth as you once again shrug at his question, “My job requires me to be very observant.” You reply, “People often say more with their movements than their words.”

“Hey!” He grins, showing off his perfect teeth, “I think that too! Well- that's something Yoongi-hyung taught me. I’m trying to get better at it but, I find it harder to observe people I don’t know. Strangers make me nervous...”

His sudden warmth makes you happy as you didn’t really expect him to be this bubbly but, you’re happy he’s comfortable with you given your intentions behind this conversation.  

If he’s courting your friend, he’s courting you too.

“You could have fooled me.” You retort, “I saw the way you handled the clan leader...when I came by your tent, I was anticipating on meeting someone very different.”

Jungkook chuckles, “I get that a lot. I rarely live up to people’s expectations of me- I think that’s one of my strong suits. Aside from my brute strength obviously.”  

“Yes of course, we mustn't forget about that...” You concede, laughing lightly along with him, “So back to Rachel then- you plan on courting her yes?”

He shifts on the bench, his tan fingers coming up to adjust his peasant blouse, shyness returning to his features, “I would love to. She-” He pauses, looking away from you, his eyes deepening in thought, “Aish...she really is something isn't she?”

At his question, you smirk and allow warmth to fill your chest, “Now where have I heard that before.” You muse allowed, “I could facilitate a meeting between the two of you? Although- I will likely have to tell a teensy white lie because, if I warn her that you wish to meet with her- she would probably combust on the spot. Also, I doubt she would believe me...”

He smirks fondly, nibbling on the inside of his cheek before his brows furrow, “Why wouldn’t she believe you? She must know how desirable she is right?”  

“Certainly not. She has no idea. Which is why I finally decided to take matters into my own hands.” You explain, propping your chin on the palm of your hand, “Rachel is a brilliant woman. She could easily run a small country if the opportunity was presented to her but, she has no concept of how wonderful she is.”

Jungkook pouts his lips, “I was certain she knew. How could someone that beautiful not understand their own beauty?”

You raise your brows, “Do you recognize yourself as desirable?”

He snickers, “Don’t be silly. I might be a suitable partner because of my status as a warrior but, I don’t think there is much else I have to offer. That’s what has me so worried...what if you’re wrong about her desire for me?”

With an incredulous look, you shake your head in disbelief, “The two of you amaze me. You’re so brilliant and yet- so foolish at the same time. I assure you; you have plenty to offer. The women in this village nearly faint every time you pass- quite frankly, you are incredibly handsome with an unusual amount of talent and-”

Jungkook is smirking, pleased with your response as he interrupts you, “I thought you were interested in my hyung Y/N-” He teases and snickers as you roll your eyes.

“That is neither here nor there.” You insist, “The point is, the courtship is worth pursuing because I believe it will go well. So I came here to suggest a plan...”

“What is your plan dear matchmaker?” He chuckles, folding his hands and resting them on the table.

“My plannnn is-” You draw out the word before leaning in closely and divulging your ideas.

You are elated when he agrees and feel slightly giddy at the thought of your dear friend meeting up with the potential love of her life.

Romance certainly is in the air.  

The plan is set in motion after a few more moments of talking and the conversation ends with Jungkook eagerly rushing back to his tent to prepare.

Feeling satisfied with your healthy dose of meddling, you brush your dress off and start towards the exit of the camp.  

However, the deep voice of your suitor stops you in your tracks, sending butterflies directly into your stomach.

“Leaving without a goodbye?” Yoongi calls softly, departing from his tent.

You turn with a smile on your face to see him fully dressed in his training attire: fitted black pants and a matching tunic, his sword strapped faithfully to his hip.

“I figured I caused enough havoc amongst your battalion today. Besides, I wasn’t sure if you’d be dressed and I didn’t want to disturb you.” You explain, your hands sliding down to play with the fabric of your dress.

“If havoc is putting a ridiculous smile on my brothers face than please feel free to wreak havoc anytime you wish. I have dreaded the day where I’d have to convince him to go after his potential partner and you’ve gone and lifted that responsibility from me.” He explains, stepping towards you a bit more “He says his meeting with her tomorrow evening?”

“If all goes well.” You reply, your face heating up in light of his presence, “My plans usually play out successfully.”

“I have no doubts about that.” He chuckles, his feline gaze glancing behind you momentarily before returning back to your face, “Will I be seeing you tonight?”

Pretending to toy with the idea, you narrow your eyes and place a finger on your chin, “I suppose its possible, if you aren’t too busy with your duties here...”

“My duties?” He places a hand on his chest, stepping closer to you once again, “If anyone were to be tied up with their duties, I imagine it would be you. Being a full-time apothecary is enough but, now you’ve gone and taken up matchmaking as well.” Yoongi’s eyes glint as he stares at you, “You never have to concern yourself with whether or not I’ll have time for you...”

You resist the urge to throw yourself at him, frustrated by the effect he has on you.

“Then I suppose you will see me then.”

He grins, “Good.”

For a few seconds, the two of you stew in silence before the need to kiss him becomes too much to bear and you take the steps necessary to wrap your arms behind his neck and place your lips against him.

You can hear his sharp intake of breath as you do, his hands securing themselves at the base of your back.  

The movements of the kiss escalate quickly, and you find yourself forgetting that you’re stood in the middle of a military camp, where anyone could walk out and see you both canoodling in the courtyard.

Yoongi seems to realize this too as he pulls away with heavy breath and hesitation all over his face.

“My my my...” He murmurs, shaking his head, “You really have no regard for my well-being do you?”

His light scolding causes you to giggle which in turn breaks the disapproving expression on his face.

“I’m trying to improve your well-being actually.” You insist, your fingers toying with the tendrils of hair at the back of his head, a dreamy smile on your mouth.

He raises his brows, “Oh? How do you figure that?”

Before you can reply, the rustling coming from behind Yoongi pulls you out of your conversation.

The rest of his battalion have seemingly woken up and are beginning to flock to the courtyard in preparation for their training.  

Glancing behind him, Yoongi sighs before turning back to you reluctantly, “Tonight?”

You offer him a smile and step back out of his grip, “Tonight.”

He takes your hand and brings it to his lips, placing a kiss on the back of it before heading off to his men.

Tonight now seemed a century away despite the fact that the sun was already heading off towards the horizon.  

-The next day-

Your night with Yoongi followed the similar structure that it usually does.  

Deeping meaningful conversation, playful banter, difficult questions and well, a healthy dose of unresolved lust.  

He asserts the end to your displays of affection every time, offering the same words of comfort.

You’re fine with this of course.

You’d never want him to do anything he didn’t want to do, and you’d certainly want the first time you were intimate to be special.

However, you’d be lying if you said you weren’t feeling dejected.

It’s not because Yoongi says it’s not the right time or that he doesn’t think the two of you were ready.

You respect him and his choices completely and would never attempt to coerce him beyond his initial responses but...

You are beginning to feel alone in your desire for him.  

For you, there has never been another to ignite such a powerful response within you.

You’ve never wanted anyone so badly.

It makes you feel insane and yet, here he is, so calm in his demeanor and easily able to refuse any opportunity to sate your hunger for one another.  

It’s very silly, you think, he is clearly interested in you.

He makes that very obvious.

And yet, you can’t help but feel confusion.  

He wouldn’t be in your village for much longer and soon enough you’d have to say goodbye for a length of time you’d rather not assign numerical value you to.

You wish you understood his intentions more and at the same time, you wish you were able to quell your desire for him.  

You did feel alone in that way.

Yoongi was an incredible, multi-faceted man with seemingly thousands of years’ worth of knowledge behind his eyes. He was open and yet so secretive all at once and because of that, you couldn’t understand why he behaved this way.

The two of you would intentionally rile each other up only for him to put a stop to things every time.

But it’s almost as if this was part of his plans with you all along.  

And you just couldn’t understand why.

So naturally, you end up running to the person who always keeps you grounded for advice: Rachel.

Although, after your conversation with Jungkook yesterday, you have multiple reasons for paying your friend a visit.

“He stopped things again before they went too far and-“ You sigh, looking down at her hands that secure a warm mug of tea, “I feel a little strange about it. I’m starting to feel like maybe he doesn’t desire me the way I desire him...”

Rachel is sat across from you on her sofa as she usually is, her legs tucked up on the cushion.  

She takes a sip of her tea before her brows furrow in disagreement as she shakes her head, “I sincerely doubt that. He was very, um...excited wasn’t he?”

He was, you think, and he usually is but that only adds to your confusion.

“I don’t know...” You groan, “...he says he is but- he keeps saying it’s not the right time. I’m worried I may be too lustful towards him; I’m wondering if it’s off putting.”

“He does not seem the type to play games. If he says it’s not the right time...he must have a right time in mind?” She suggests before looking at you pointedly, “And I don’t believe you are being lustful. Even if you were, what’s wrong with that”

Nothing.

Nothing is wrong with being lustful as long as you are being respectful which you can honestly say you are but, the insecurity you’re feeling is contributing to a bit of shame within you.

“I’ve never wanted anyone this way, I feel like I’m going mad. He seems so calm and collected and yet- here I am, flustered and confused. I’m used to having a handle on my emotions I guess and I wish I knew how he was able to keep himself so composed.” You ponder the end of her question, “There is nothing wrong with being lustful. I just don’t know if he feels the same if it’s so easy for him to control himself around me...”

Rachel nods along, her bright eyes listening intently before she pauses to think, “You know, you have to remember he is a ten-year veteran and the leader of the most elite military force in our country. He has so much control and discipline applied to himself in all areas, I can’t imagine he would be able to easily relinquish that control. Especially with someone he has so much affection for. I am certain it is not easy, merely well-practiced”

She has a point but then again, she usually does.  

You bite your lip, turning your attention to the fabric of the chair, picking at it, “You’re right. I suppose I’m being a little immature about this...I should just be more patient.”

It’s decided in your mind that you should move on to the other reason you came to visit her this evening: a deceitful conversation with a much happier ending.

“By the way, what are you doing this evening?”

She’s stood up now and striding over to the kitchen, rubbing your arm as she passes you, “You are not immature at all! I’m confident your general is worth the patience.” She assures you with a wink before she thinks to herself once again, “I don’t have anything in particular planned, why do you ask?”

You giggle at her wink and follow her with your eyes as she heads over to make herself another cup of tea, “I have a favor to ask you- that goes beyond our mutual agreement to keep each other sane.”

Rachel snickers and shakes her head, “I don’t know if there is much hope for our sanity but what do you need?”

You smile but it doesn’t totally reach your eyes, your mind annoyingly still occupied elsewhere, “You make a good point.” You concede before brightening your expression intentionally, “I had a customer today that inquired about the type of material the village school covers for children ages 3-5. They are considering enrolling their child this year and wanted to speak with a teacher. I was hoping you would be able to meet with them? I told them to stop by the school and speak with someone but I was hoping that someone could be you because you’re so experienced.”

Rachel brightens at the mention of a new student “Oh really? I would be happy to meet with them! At that it’s primarily playing games, reading stories and singing songs but I have a lovely little bunch of students that age already!” She cheers, clapping in front of her chest, excitedly.

Her joy is infectious, and you can’t help but grin despite your knowledge that she would certainly not be receiving a new student; you almost wish that she was though.  

“Great! Well they should be around right before sundown. I gave them your classroom number and a bit of background on you and the school.”

“Oh my goodness! That’s not far off...well I have to bring in the dried flowers for tomorrow’s art lesson anyway...oh and where did I put the new wax pencils. Did you see where I put them?” Rachel abandons her cup of tea on the counter and begins puttering around in the baskets on her kitchen table, completely distracted.  

You spot what she’s looking for and hold up set of pencils setting on the end table, “They’re right here..” You call, turning in the chair to hand them to her, “I would wear that blue dress of yours too, it’s very complimentary.” With this suggestion, you can’t help the glint in your eyes that shines through the bit of sadness still present there, “Well- thank you for your words of wisdom. I’m probably going to take a break from the river tonight, so I’ll be home if you need me for anything. I have no doubt that tonight will go wonderfully though...”

“Oh there they are!” She chirps, taking them from you before looking down at her current outfit, “I suppose I should change, I certainly look a bit of a mess...” She pauses then to look you, noticing the glimpse of sadness in your eyes. “Don’t hold yourself back from love, Y/N. Your general is certainly just as passionate about you. I would bet all the gold in the kingdom on it!”

The excitement and certainty in her tone is almost enough to pull you out of your funk but, the stubborn naysayer in your head has different plans.  

“No you don’t, you look wonderful! I just love the blue one on you.” You insist, before crossing your arms and slumping back against the chair, “I am not holding back, I’m just- trying to be reasonable I suppose. His passion is clearly controlled, and I guess I should work on controlling mine as well...” You explain matter of factly with a pout on your lips.

Rachel matches your pose as she steps around the chair to look directly at you, unconvinced, “Mmhmm. Perfectly reasonable.” She drawls sarcastically before chuckling when you attempt to kick your foot at her.  

“I am!” You assert, trying to hold back a smile, “I’m just some silly little girl fawning over the man of my dreams while he gets to CALMLY walk away like us canoodling against a tree doesn’t affect him- and I feel foolish for desiring him so much when he’s able to do so.”

Rachel lets out a cackle your display of frustration. “You are NOT a silly little girl. A silly grown woman? Maybe," She giggles, “but I am CERTAIN he wouldn’t have to address this “right time” so often if he didn’t desire you. Do what makes you feel powerful! But don’t play games with the poor Tiger’s heart needlessly...from what you have said he is a much gentler man than we’ve given him credit for. “Though,” She tilts her head, her hand coming up to fuss with her hair,  “you certainly shouldn’t seek advice from me. I spent the day with paste in my hair without realizing.”

Your pout deepens, “I would never play with his heart... I’m going insane with desire over here and he gets to be all collected like ‘when the right time comes- I promise you it will be worth the wait’ and oh look at me, I’m extremely handsome and I can just kiss passionately for minutes on end without going further...” You grumble haphazardly before you hesitate slightly, “Well I’m not sure what him being handsome has to do with it but you get my point.” A smile threatens your features even more when she mentions her hair, “Paste is all the rage darling, you are simply fashion forward. Besides- I have a feeling this uh- new student of yours will look out for you.”  

Rachel hugs herself as she laughs at your little outburst, “It has EVERYTHING to do with it! You know it does-” She accuses playfully, “I do get your point though. I’m certain you will meet again...and say what’s on your mind! You are much better at that than I am anyway.” Rachel’s face is full of hesitation then, shaking her head, “Most of my students “look out for me” by piling dandelions on my desk and leaving goopy handprints on my clothes...I hope this new student is sweet.”

A smirk plays on your lips then, dropping your other topic of conversation, “I’m sure they will be, their parents seemed nice enough...”

”Oh really?!? Do you know anything about them? Should I bring anything along? Are you sure they want to see me? Should I get going?!” She babbles excitedly, glancing towards her front door.

Her eagerness serves as your cue to head out, your stomach brewing with hunger, nerves and excitement.

You couldn’t wait to hear how tonight will go for her.

“It is almost sundown so I suppose I should get going...” You concedes with a sigh before offering her a genuine smile, patting her shoulder as you head towards the door, “Just bring your lovely self, they are very eager to meet you.”

“Okay, if you’re certain!” Rachel smiles, gathering a collection of dried flowers into a basket before heading for the door with you, “If you change your mind and go to the river after all YOU HAD BETTER TELL ME!”

“You look amazing-” You promise as you step past her through the doorway, “I have a feeling you’ll have more to tell me the next time we meet but I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

Rachel looks confused for a moment before merely shrugging it off, leaning in to press a kiss to your cheek, “Okay then, I’m off! I love you ok? Hang in there...”

You embrace her shortly unable to help the growth in your smile, “I love you too. I wanna hear about the meeting tomorrow ok?”

She agrees happily, already bounding off towards the schoolhouse, a basket of flowers in her hand.

Despite the uncertainty you may feel about your own romantic life, you are filled with joy at the thought of your dear friend starting a fairytale of her own.  

Even though she has absolutely no idea...

---------------------------------------

Rachel arrives at the schoolhouse just before sundown, using her master key to unlock the heavy oak door of the main entrance before heading off to her classroom.  

The windows surrounding the exterior of the schoolyard allow for the different hues of the sunset to stream in thorough the glass, providing a beautiful stroll down the hallway.

Rachel feels optimistic as she opens up the door, immediately setting the basket of flowers on a nearby desk and lighting the various lanterns around the room.  

The sun would be up for another half an hour or so but, Rachel was unsure as to how long this meeting would go so a little extra light wouldn’t hurt.

Since she doesn’t have a concrete time of arrival, she decides to busy herself with a bit of prep work and light cleaning for the next school day. She figures that if a parent were to walk in on her likes this, it might add to their overall impression of the school.  

A teacher’s work is never done.

After roughly 40 minutes or so, Rachel is beginning to worry that this parent potentially changed their mind. That is until, a light knock sounds on the outside of her door.

“Come in!” She calls brightly, standing up from behind her desk.

She has no expectations for what her visitor might look like as she honestly hadn’t even considered it since you asked her this favor. However, the man who walks in through her door most certainly is not who she would have ever expected.

Because the man who just walked in, is Jungkook.

Tall, strong, doe-eyed, shaggy haired, WARRIOR Jungkook...

The terror cub himself has now found his way inside her classroom.  

And she is both terribly confused and terribly excited all at once.

“Good evening,” She chokes out, smoothing her hands down the front of her dress, “Forgive me but- you're not the person I’m meant to meet with are you? Did you see any folks outside, looking a bit lost perhaps?”

Jungkook looks terrified but he steps inside nonetheless, one of his hands positioned awkwardly behind his back.

“Uh- Hi, I mean- Good evening mam...” He bows before her, “Um...” He shuffles forward a bit, his eyes scanning the room for a moment, “Heretheseareforyou.” Jungkook rushes out, shoving a bouquet of fresh daisies onto one of the empty desks, his eyes averting Rachel’s very confused expression, “I am the person you’re meant to meet actually...”

Rachel gasps to herself as she spots the daisies, her heart immediately picking up in her chest, “Oh! Oh goodness thank you, that’s very kind of you...” She smiles, her hands seemingly frozen in place at the front of her dress, “I’m- I’m so confused I apologize. Do you have children?”

He shakes his head, his floppy black hair following the motions. He is dressed in a pair of tan linen pants and a rather tight-fitting white peasant blouse, the golden expanse of his chest on full display, his feet tucked into a pair of leather boots. Rachel does her best to ignore how good he looks but, he makes it very difficult.

“No I don’t.” He answers, cringing slightly at the juvenile nature of this situation, “You know Y/N right?”

Rachel giggles, the sound a little higher pitched than usual, “I do yes. We’ve been friends since we were children...”

“Heh yeah, sorry I knew that but uh- so Y/N...” He begins, his hands coming up to assist in his explanation, “She paid me a visit earlier and suggested that...welll- She suggested that I pay you a visit.”

“Oh well- is everything alright? Are you in need of my assistance?” She inquires softly, her face decorated with concern.

Jungkook’s chest is filled with warmth at the sight of her unease, feeling very lucky to be the object of her concern.

“Everything’s ok I just- I wasn’t sure how to go about speaking with you.” He hesitates, feeling a bit of discomfort as he tries to find a way to explain his presence here, “I know you’re a very busy woman and I wasn’t even sure if you’d even want to speak with me which- by the way, if you’re uncomfortable with my presence, please let me know. I don’t want to be a bother...”

Rachel shakes her head instantly, her hands coming up to stop him from continuing that train of thought, “No- no not all! I mean-” She clears her throat, “You aren't a bother at all, I would love to speak with you. Although, forgive me- I'm a little confused as to what you’d like to speak about. Is it the school? Are you interested in meeting with the students?”

Jungkook grins softly and shakes his head, “No mam. I mean- I wouldn’t be opposed to meeting with them but, I am more interested in meeting with you...”

She gulps, her eyes widening a bit as she places a hand to her chest, “Me?”

He bites his lip and Rachel swears she sees a sparkle in his eyes as he steps closer to her.

“Yes mam. I uh-” His throat bobs with his own uncomfortable swallow as he shoves his hand in the pocket of his pants, pulling out a piece of crumbled parchment, “ I have travelled many miles. I have seen the mountains, the ocean and the forest. I have seen the sun in east and the moon in the west. I have seen the royal palace and all the riches it contains. I have seen all a man would need to see in his lifetime and yet, I have never felt complete until my eyes fell upon your face.”  

Comically, Rachel’s mouth has fallen open, her face colored with shock.  

Her heart seemingly freezes in her chest as Jungkook’s nervous gaze leaves the parchment and gazes up towards her.

“I wrote this when I was 17.” He begins sheepishly, “I promised myself that I would read it for the woman who captured my heart...”

Rachel inhales shakily, a slight sting in her eyes as emotion overcomes her.

“But you just read it to me...”

He chuckles warmly, his hand tucking a bit of hair behind his ear, “I did.”

“Am I-?” She begins but Jungkook cuts her off, stepping towards her a bit more.

“I know it’s a bit much isn’t it? I’ve never been very good with subtly and with my departure looming in the background, I couldn’t help but confess to you while I still had time. You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, and your existence makes me warm. I haven’t felt warmth like this before and I- I guess I just wanted to see if I had a chance at courting you...”

Rachel finally closes her mouth for a moment only to cover it with her hand.  

She’s in complete disbelief that this is happening, but she responds nevertheless as best as she can.

“You- you have more than chance, you have a million chances I- oh wow, I feel a little faint goodness gracious...” She sighs, fanning herself as she leans against her desk, “I don’t understand...”

He rushes over to her then, a look of concern on his face, “Are you alright? Do you need some water or something?”

She shakes her head, letting out a shaky breath at the close proximity between them, immediately noticing the way he smells like amber and rosemary.

It warm, just like he is.

“I’m ok, I just-” She looks up at him, “I honestly cannot believe you feel this way about me. I’m just a schoolteacher, I probably have paste in my hair...and you’re a warrior I- I'm confused.”

Jungkook snickers, tilting his head to the side as he spots the bit of paste still clinging to the end of her hair. With gentle fingers, he reaches out and extracts the bit of dried gunk from her hair, discarding it on the desk, “You are not ‘just’ anything. You are bright and warm. Your duty lies with educating the children and I believe that to be far nobler than what I do. Please don’t sell yourself short, especially not on my account.”

Subconsciously, they seem to lean into one another, Rachel’s nerves dissipating slightly, “So then, you said you wish to court me yes? How- how do you intend we do this?”

He purses his lips, “Well,” He tilts his head to the side, “I would love to have dinner with you. I know that there aren’t many eateries in the village but-”

“I can cook for us!” She chirps happily cause his grin to broaden, “I know a spot we can eat, it’s really beautiful and it’s private for the most part.”

Jungkook is bursting with fondness, nodding eagerly at her suggestion before turning around to grab the flowers, “That sounds wonderful. Are you available tomorrow, same time?”

“Yes! I mean-” She clears her throat as the volume of her voice escapes her, “Yes, yes I’m free. I can meet you at the plaza?”

“Yes, of course. I’ll meet you anywhere you’d like...” He nods and haphazardly pushes the flowers in her direction, “Here, I picked these for you. I’ll pick more tomorrow as well- do you have a favorite? I hope daisies were alright...I’m not familiar with the flora around here.”

She smiles brightly, accepting the flowers graciously, securing them to your chest, “These are perfect! I love wildflowers, really anything that grows along the east part of the river...” She muses thoughtfully, “Daisies are some of my favorites as well. I’m sure Y/N told you that though...” She giggles but Jungkook shakes his head.

“She didn’t actually. I suppose it was just a lucky guess.” He smiles before stepping back slightly, fiddling with his hands now that they are empty, “So tomorrow then?”

With another rapid nod she responds, “Yes, tomorrow.”

“Great! Well uh-” He hesitates, glancing longingly towards her lips before extending his hand, “May I?”

With a harsh swallow and a shaky hand, she obliges, sticking her hand out towards his.

As if she were made of glass, Jungkook carefully raises her hand to his lips before placing a chaste kiss over the ridges of her knuckles, “Until tomorrow...”

“Until tomorrow.” She squeaks, covering her mouth once more.

He bows his head, offering another devastating grin before leaving the classroom.

With a hefty sigh, Rachel stares at the door in disbelief.

“It seems as though my dear friend isn’t an apothecary but a criminal mastermind...” She muses to herself, her cheeks on fire as she giggles to herself, “Huh, you think you know people.”

-------------------------

You decided shortly after your meeting with Rachel that you would in fact be going to the river because, regardless of your uncertainty: you still wanted to see Yoongi.  

“Something is troubling you...” He notes the moment he steps out from behind the trees, dressed down in a pair of black pants and a longer gray linen robe to ward of the slight chill in the air.

“What makes you say that?” You challenge with a grin, your heart fluttering as soon as you see him, “I’m just hoping my plan is playing out as I’d hoped...”

“Ah-” He lifts a finger, “I recall you saying that your plans play out relatively well. Also, you and I both know that my brother and your friend are smitten over one another so- I find it hard to believe your thinking so hard about a clear victory.”

You bite your lip, unsure of what to say next as Yoongi has so clearly seen right through you.  

“We don’t get much time together; it would be a waste to spend it discussing the internal monologue going on inside my head.” You joke, stepping towards him.

He clicks his tongue, “Now see- that is where you’re wrong. It was your internal monologue and your resulting opinions that drew me to visit you in the first place. The other talents your lips have are merely a bonus.” He smirks but his eyes hold some degree of concern, “I want to know what’s on your mind Y/N...no matter how insignificant you may find it.”

Yoongi’s sincerity draws you out of your shell, your heart picking up slightly at the thought of discussing your feelings.

“It’s silly...” You warn him causing him to chuckle.

“Good, I could use a bit of silliness after today.” He promises with a grin but his laughter dissipates as he notices even the slightest bit of distress on your face, “Your thoughts aren’t silly Y/N, at least not to me. I’d really like to hear what you’re thinking.”

Gnawing on your bottom lip, you take a deep breath and muster up the courage to be honest with him, “What are your intentions with me?”

He tilts his head, stepping closer to you after your question, face decorated with curiosity, “Which intentions are you referring to?”

You feel yourself growing nervous under his gaze but, you stay strong anyway and push through, “All of them- I suppose. It’s just that, I’m having difficulty...I’m-”

The hesitation in your features concerns Yoongi and he can’t help but quell the distance between you, taking your hands gently in his own.

“My girl- what's troubling you like this? Have I upset you?”

He’s tilting his head, trying to find your gaze as you look down at where your hands are connected.

His question causes you to look up at him, lips parted as you shake your head.

“No, no of course not.” You assure him, entwining your fingers with his, “I just- oh I promise you it’s going to sound silly...”

Yoongi chuckles incredulously, gently shaking your hands in his grip, “Y/N, darling please tell me what’s on your mind. I promise you I won’t find think it’s silly.”

Your heart sings at the pet name he gives you, taking a momentary break from it’s uneven rhythm, “I’ve just been wondering why you haven’t...well, why we haven’t- why we haven’t been intimate.”

Yoongi’s chest tightens with realization, his grip on your hands tightening ever so slightly before taking a deep breath, “There is nothing silly about that at all.” He assures you with a gentle smile, his eyes shifting from your hands to your face and back again whilst he tries to come up with a response, “It’s a perfectly normal thing to be curious about, especially considering how often we kiss. To be quite honest, my reasoning is probably what will end up sounding silly to you...”

“I don’t think it will, I just want to understand where your head is at because,” You sigh, looking into his eyes, “sometimes I feel alone in how much I desire you and I thought maybe if I got an idea where your head is at, I could understand why you always stop things before they go too far.”

At this, Yoongi raises his brows, “You think you’re alone in the desire to take me to bed?” He confirms, his voice deepening, a ghost of a smirk on his lips, “And here I thought you were clever...”

With a pout to your lips, you playfully tug your hands out of his grip causing him to chuckle before capturing them once again, “I am clever! Clever people get confused all the time, besides you just said this was a perfectly normal thing to be curious about.”

He laughs still and nods, guiding your hands up to his shoulders, “Yes I did. However, I was referring to you wondering why we haven’t gone to bed together yet, not you wondering whether or not I wanted to take you to bed. That IS silly...”

“It’s not though...” You insist, a shiver running down your spine as he slides his freed hands around your waist, “You always seem so composed. We’ll have been kissing for what feels like forever and then- you stop us. Which is ok of course but, I just don’t fully understand why.”

He hums thoughtfully with a smirk still on his lips as he pulls you closer to him, “My composure is an illusion Y/N. My job requires me to have complete control all of the time, especially in the face of an enemy...”

Scoffing, your pout deepens at the end of his sentence, “Oh so I'm your enemy now? Gee Yoongi, I’m so glad I decided to share this with you- I feel much better now.”

Yoongi laughs heartily at your sarcasm before leaning in and pressing a kiss to your forehead, “You are an enemy to my composure darling- you are just refusing to realize that.”

His kiss causes your heart to sing with satisfaction, despite the fact that you are trying very hard to focus on pouting.

“Even if that were true...I still feel silly for how much I desire you.”

He quells the playfulness between the two of you then, one of his hands coming up to cup your cheek, “You are not silly, and you are not alone. My entire world has shifted because of you. I think you’d be shocked if you knew how much you occupied my thoughts.” He assures you, placing another kiss on your forehead, “However, that isn’t the answer to your question is it? You’re wondering why we haven’t gone to bed together despite how much we desire each other.”  

“Yes.” You murmur, leaning against his hand, “If you have any insight on this general, please provide a briefing...”

He smirks fondly, brushing his thumb over your cheek, “You really have no idea how much I want you. I don’t think I could possibly explain it. Because of that, I want to wait until I can give you everything I have. Right now I- I simply can’t.” He admits, a bit of sadness now in his tone, “I want to wait until I have a proper villa, until I don’t have to worry about leaving at dawn to continue training, until I can stay underneath the sheets with you, until I can spend hours pleasing you- without the threat of war in the back of my mind. You deserve a man with no distractions, right now- I'm just not that man yet.”

His explanation makes perfect sense and you feel a bit of guilt for ever wondering how he felt about you in the first place but before you’re able to comment on his words, he speaks again.

“But please- please don’t think that means I don’t desire you.” He whispers, smiling softly whilst he places yet another kiss to your forehead. Letting his lips linger there, he sighs hopelessly, “One day, when I am finally free of my duties- I will spend days memorizing your skin with my lips...” He begins kissing his way down the bridge of your nose, puckering his lips gently as he does. He bypasses your lips however and uses his hand to tilt your head to the side, give him access to your neck, “I will memorize every bump,” He kisses your skin, “every curve,” Kiss “every line,” Kiss “every scar,” Kiss “every spot that gives you pleasure.” He inhales softly through his nose when he hears you gasp, your hands tightening on his shoulders, “Will you wait for me darling? Will you wait until I can give you my soul? My heart is already yours, I just need a little bit longer....”

You’re already nodding, certain with your response despite how much his presence is currently affecting you, “I’d wait for you forever, General Min.”

You can feel him grin against your neck, “I only need six months...” He chuckles, his laughter increasing as you playfully smack his back. “Then I’m yours forever.”

At his amendment, you smile and kiss the side of his head, “Forever sounds nice.”

Yoongi sighs, sliding his hands across your back to pull you into his embrace, “Forever it is then.”  

[physicalturian]

Victory Fuck - Kuroo x F!Reader [NSFW]

TW: slight choking during the sex. (The breathing is ok, it's in the heat of the moment and it's consensual)

Summary : You playfully turn down Kuroo's offer to have sex right after his match. He takes it personally and makes it a competition to see who asks the other to fuck first. It's a horny battle if you will.

[She/her pronouns used for the reader, no physical description; Everyone +18]

Kuroo had won another game. Or at least his team, but some credits went to him. If the victorious grin on his face was anything to go by, he was pretty happy about this victory. Even more so knowing that after most of his wins we’d have a party. I was joining him on the court, as everyone started leaving the bleachers to join the hall; There were a few journalists already there, asking questions to the players, mainly the captain, and I could see he was being polite and answering like he knew he should. But when his eyes met mine, he grinned widely, excusing himself to the interviewer before starting marching towards me. “Babe! We won!” he exclaimed as he undid his jacket and draped it over my shoulders before bringing me closer, his hands on my hips. “I see that, good job.” I told him with a smile.

 He stared back at me a moment before pecking my lips softly, “What do I get for winning?” he breathed against my lips, his usual smirk back on his features. From the look he was giving me, I knew full well what he wanted, adding to that the after-game rush of winning. He was feeling something, strongly. “You get to shower, and you get to go get changed, because we have a party after this, and you stink.” I told him with a teasing smile. He only sighed in response, resting his forehead against mine. It was not a sigh of desperation, no, it was more of a resigned one. “Are we playing this game, babe? You really don’t want-“ “Nope, I’ll wait until we’re home. Even though you’re very hot right now,” I emphasized my words by letting my hands wander to his ass, however he quickly grabbed them, a sly grin on his lips. “Now, now, I have to get changed, remember? These cakes will have to wait, and so will you.” I quickly understood what he meant, and I regretted telling him off, the moment I understood. “Come on, I was kidding- you’re not going to be like that, are you? C’mon, after your shower we can-“ “You missed your chance babe, this will be fun.”

He then kissed me before rushing off to the changing room, his stupid laugh echoing in the huge room. I couldn’t believe this. He was going to be petty just for that? I sighed and put on his jacket before leaving the court and waiting in the hall for his pretty face to show.

 When I saw him, a smile formed on my lips. I’ve always liked seeing his face right after he showered, his cheeks would always flush from the heat of the water and I loved seeing it. It was hard to make the man blush in the first place, which is why I relished in the after-shower sight. “Alright babe, are we ready to go?” He asked, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “Not the shoulders, I’ll look like a trophy wife.” I scoffed jokingly, moving his hand to my hips, but it was not the smartest decision considering the situation. He quickly gripped my hips tight then he moved his hand to my lower back as we walked to my car. “Don’t you like it when I show you off?” he whispered in my ear as his hand slid to my ass. I was not going to pay it any mind, he said we were playing this game, and I was going to win. I didn’t care if his beautiful large hand was touching me, no, no… So I huffed a laugh, “You’d like it too much, I wouldn’t want to give you the satisfaction to flaunt this,” I then gesture to myself with both my hands before smirking back at him.

 His eyes seemed to darken for a moment before his face returned to his usual carefree expression. “You’re being cocky babe. I like it, don’t get me wrong, but you’re not going to win. Continue though, you’ll lose anyway.” His voice was soft, and there was not an ounce of anger behind it. He was genuinely entertained by this, and while his voice did not reflect the weight of his words, I knew. I rolled my eyes at his words and pulled back from him to reach the driver’s side of the car, but right when I pushed away, he slapped my ass, saying that giving him attitude was pointless. I laughed and entered the car as he did. “Hey you started this Tetsurou, I’ll play along. We’ll see how long you’ll last.” I shrugged before fastening my seatbelt and starting the car. We then drove off to his friend’s house as if nothing was happening right now. As if we were not competing to see who’d cave in first. As if there was no competition on who’d crave the other’s touch so much, they’d beg to be touched. And yet, we both knew it was going on, and both of us were dead set on winning. The winning price? Seeing the other beg first.

 Funny enough, the moment we reached his friend’s house, he left the car and happily joined his friend, not paying me any mind. It felt off, but I put it on the count of the excitement of seeing his old friends again. Shaking my head, I left the car and trailed a little bit behind, but not losing sight of him; I knew him well enough that he’d mingle so well, he could disappear the minute I’d look away. Hearing my name being called, I looked at the source and saw Bokuto with his arm around Kuroo, while he was waving his other arm in case, I did not see him. “What’s up Bokuto-“ I was cut off by the energetic man who let go of my boyfriend and was now gesticulating. “I can’t believe you’re still with this guy! You still haven’t gotten enough of his provokes? Ouch- oi don’t hit me Kuroo, you know I’m right!” As Bokuto checked where Kuroo had punched him, the black-haired man laughed, “Of course she’s staying, it’s exactly why she’s staying,” he started. I gave him a warning look, feeling like he was going to be spilling too much personal info. When he started talking, our friend looked up from his stomach and looked at us curiously, listening. I was already feeling warmer, he did not need to expose me like this, that bastard.

 “She likes it, the taunts, the teasing,” he came up closer, grabbing my chin between his index finger and thumb, “The competition…” his breath was tickling my lips, he was so close to kissing me, to losing too. But as if he read my mind, he pulled back, grinning mischievously, “She’ll definitely be a sore loser by the end of this, because I know exactly what buttons to press.” Our moment was cut short when we heard someone clearing their throat, it was Bokuto who was still standing there awkwardly. “That’s between you guys, really. But uh, do you wanna go inside and play some games? I mean, that’s if you’re like… not too horny and you’re not going to be all over each other- because the tension here,” he pointed at the both of us, “It’s super, super, sexual and I feel like you are going to bang at my house- and you know what, if you do, do it in the guest room- yeah don’t use my room or somewhere else,” Then, after a sharp intake of air, he sighed, “Anyway! Games? Anyone?” I laughed at what he said and gave him a curt nod, ignoring Kuroo’s spilling of info, “Sure, yeah, let’s.” He seemed to light up at that and turned around rapidly to make his way back inside, with Kuroo calling out from behind, “I can’t promise that though- we might just fuck in the toilets if that’s cool with you, bro?”

 I couldn’t help but cackle, maybe nervously, at his words. Bokuto, however, seemed unfazed, “I mean, that’s cool bro- just don’t take too long, you know?” Fortunately for me, most people around the house were probably deafened by the loud music, but the few who heard almost hooted. This was the closest thing to a frat party, the only thing saving this was that I could see a few sane people like Tsukishima. Him and a few other friends of Kuroo and I that had a little bit of decency. They were all sitting around the low table in the living-room, ready to do whatever to get drunk. My boyfriend was already there, sitting down surrounded by all types of people, some drunk, some tipsy and some way too sober for that shit. I could see the latter, being Akaashi, with his phone in hand. Hearing my name being called once more, I resumed my walk and joined the couch only to see there wasn’t any more space. Chuckling I stood behind the couch, and placed my hands on Kuroo’s shoulders, tightening my grip as I talked. “Looks like it’ll be without me, unless,” I leaned over and let my hands trail to his neck, grabbing it ever so lightly, “Unless you want me to sit on your lap?” I whispered seductively in his ear.

 “I’m good babe, bring in a chair so we can start.” He said off-handedly. I was surprised by his coldness, but saw the weakest smirk on his lips as he tried to keep his facial expression natural. Huffing, I straightened my back and agreed, ignoring the burning in my cheek at the lack of teasing I got in return. Was he playing the ignoring card while I tried to make him cave? That’s no fun, that’s too easy. It did not matter, “Sure, be back in a sec’ guys.” After bringing the chair to the table, we were able to begin the game which is where everything began.

 The torture. I believe the entire thing was done on purpose but many things happened. No matter how much I tried to tease him, he wouldn’t return anything. He would almost ignore what I said and change the topic. With that, was the constant show off of everything. The way he’d put his finger between his teeth, not biting, just put it there as he made a thinking face before answering the question. The unbuttoned shirt that showed off his collarbone just, the most sinful way, was also torture. He would also throw himself back against the couch as he laughed, his hand slapping his thighs, they were showed in all their glory in his tight suit pants. And fuck, how he’d run his tongue over his lips then his chin as he licked the beer that spilled from his cup. If it wasn’t enough, he’d use the back of his hand, and fuck was I a sucker for his hands. And him. His beautiful face when he talked excitedly to everyone around him, he was giving them his attention and not me. No, no, I’m not losing, get your thoughts back.

 My reverie was interrupted when Yaku called my name, “What do you say? You haven’t said much, are you good?” I looked up and met Kuroo’s face first, he was so self-satisfied at that very moment, I wanted to tear that smirk apart. “Yeah babe, are you good?” He asked in a fake-caring tone, that bastard knew what he was doing. He even rolled up his sleeves, how was I supposed to resist to that? No, get back on track. “I’m good, sorry I was a bit lost in thoughts. Sorry what was the question?” I asked as I tear my gaze away from Kuroo’s, it needed a lot of efforts but I did manage. “Actually, are you really ok? You seem to be hot, maybe you should get some fresh air?” Someone else said, I chuckled nervously and put my cup down on the table before standing up. “Yeah, maybe I’ll do that,” I stated, giving my boyfriend an insistent look before turning around and leaving the room to go on the terrace outside where, strangely, no one was. The moment I felt the cold night breeze hit my face, a shiver ran down my spine and I sighed in relief. That shithead. Running both my hands on my scalp, I left the terrace and made my way to the rattan couch in the garden. While staring at the sky, my heart almost stopped when I heard someone’s steps on the terrace floor, another sigh of relief escaped my lips when I realized it was none other than my boyfriend that was joining me.

 I was the first one to talk when he was in front of me, his arms crossed. “First, you’re not playing fair. Second,-“ I couldn’t finish talking when I heard his loud laugh as he crouched in front of me, grinning. “Not fair? Babe, I’m playing to my strength. Didn’t you like the show?” He asked playfully, I only scoffed in response before really answering him. “You know I did- but you deadass rejected me sitting on your lap…” I mumbled, I was not mad, I was even smiling a bit but I wanted to know why he did that. “I had to kitten, you’d have a too strong advantage if you were that close to my dick you know?” he replied as if it all made sense, as if it was all about strategy. There was a short silence, then we both laughed at that. “You’re not wrong I guess, but now I am clearly at disadvantage-“ “Do you mean you’re losing? Of course, you are! I can see how hot and bothered you are babe. You just have to say the words and I’ll fuck you right now.” He said off-handedly, his elbows on his knees since he was still crouching. If I pushed him right now, he’d clearly lose his balance from the stupid position he’s sitting and yet it was so hot. His thighs filling his pants so nicely, and his pretty face so close I could kiss him right now- but no I had to win, right? Unless…

 “The words being, let’s make a truce. I’m willing to make a truce, for you-“ another bark laugh echoed while he stood up and towered my sitting form, a prideful smile on his face. “No truce, just ask nicely. I can go on a lot longer than this, you’re already all flushed babe.” He whispered seductively, his hands now on each side of my face to make me look up at him. I hated how hot he looked right now, and fuck he was finally touching me after his petty game. I wanted him to touch me more, I wanted to touch him. Raising my hand, I wanted to touch his chest but he grabbed my hand before I could even graze it. “Are you not listening, brat? Concede first, then I’ll fuck you how you like.” This time I couldn’t ignore the throbbing that was happening between my legs, but I didn’t want to lose. He’d have too much pride in making me cave first. Fuck, fuck, fuck- I mean yeah, fuck that’s what I wanted but…

 “Kuroo, come on, please-“ I covered my mouth at the words that escaped it without me even thinking about it, my body was reacting on his own. “Mmh? I didn’t hear anything, I think you need to be clearer- even better, you need to say: I lost, give me your victory fuck Tetsu.” He suggested, as he leaned in closer. I rolled my eyes and said it was stupid, making him continue, “You’re making this a lot more difficult than it is kitten, just say the words and you’ll be screaming in pleasure soon. Just say it, ‘I lost, give me your victory fuck Tetsu’” This time he drawled the words, to make me understand to sentence even more. I did not respond. It made him sigh as he sat down next to me. “Maybe you need a little push babe, come here.” He patted his thighs as he leaned back on the rattan couch, his smirk ever as present. It was tempting, and fuck maybe he’d let it go if I joined him right now? Shuffling on my seat, I followed his suggestion and straddled his lap, placing my hands on his shoulders. “It wasn’t that hard, now was it?” he breathed right next to my ear as he brought me right against his crotch, his hands gripping my ass. I was finally getting some friction and it felt divine, for the littlest quantity I got at least. “Don’t get off already, you’re not getting anything until you say the words.” I scoffed, gripping the back of his hair tightly as I pulled him back. “We’re at a party…” I whispered, as if it was the only thing that’d stop me from going further with this.

 With a devilish grin, he huffed, “And that would stop you? I know you want me. I know all of your tells, love. You’re this close to giving in, because I’m winning.” This time his mouth was grazing the skin of my neck as he spoke, the feeling of his breath on my skin making the hair on the nap of my neck, raise. I cocked my head to the side to touch the side of his head with mine, but he moved before I could, making me groan in frustration. “You can be discrete, right?” he asked rhetorically as his hands trailed from my ass to my thighs. I gasped at the feather-like brush of his fingers on my inner thighs, only inches away from my crotch. But at my reaction he stopped once more, humming as he leaned back once more, giving me a once over. “You’re in a pretty bad position for a winner. I wonder how long you can stay like that, like a stubborn, horny slut.” My eyes widened at his words but it sent jolts coursing through my body, I rolled my hips against him in need. He grinned broadly, grabbing my jaw, puckering my lips in his grip. “Say the fucking words babe, and your needy little self will get what she wants.” He was getting impatient. I could see it and feel it, he wanted this as much as I wanted it, maybe I could still win, if I played my cards right.

 I chuckled and put my hands on his pants zipper, “I think you’re also fucking needy, isn’t it tight in there?” His hands were quick to grab mine, a breathless laugh escaping his mouth. “There, there, you’re getting ahead of yourself. Let me remind you who’s the needy one,” holding my hips, he rolled them onto his bulge, making both of us scoff breathlessly. Then I was the one to gasp when his hand slid under my shirt, his nails ever so lightly scraping my back making me arch it in surprise. “Alright- stop that it’s cheating.” “Oh, is it? My bad. No touching you, is that right?” I hated the tone he was using, it was mocking, it had an underlying meaning to it, but I nodded, feeling a slight disappointment when he moved his hand from my back. “But I can do this, right?” he asked, unzipping his pants and sliding his hand inside his boxer as he looked at me with a smirk. I stood there, mouth agape. Was he really planning on getting off right there, without fucking me? “Tetsu.” I said in a warning tone, letting my eyes trail from his lower parts to his face.

 “It’s not cheating, babe. You’ll have to say the words soon, or I’ll just finish this off first-“ I grabbed his hand to stop him from moving, and he reacted just as fast with his other hand to my throat. It wasn’t too tight, but it was just enough to make me understand to stop fucking around, and at the same time it made my throbbing a lot stronger. “No fucking touching. I knew you were a slut, needy for my cock but you give in first.” He breathed seductively, his hold on my neck tightening just slightly. Looking at me dead in the eyes, he smiled, almost reassuringly, uttering my name under his breath, “Say it for me.” I frowned, looking at his lips as he mouthed the words and I followed, “I lost,” I almost spat, looking at his glimmering eyes, “Give me your victory fuck,” I finished, looking off to the side. I heard him tsk as he made me face him, “Who? Whose victory fuck is this? Mm? Again babe,” he made a gesture with his hand as if he was rewinding. He then let go of my neck and grabbed my jaw once more, I sighed, my face heating up by the second. “I lost. Give me your victory fuck, Tetsu.” I could barely hear myself, but it was enough for him.

 With a heavy sigh he smiled, “See! It wasn’t that bad, right? Come on, remove what’s in the way babe.” He pulled at the hem of my pants, before letting me stand up. I took off my pants, underwear and shoes, before carefully wrapping his jacket around my waist and sitting back on his lap. There was a pout on his face when he saw the jacket on my ass, “Aww, you don’t want to let everyone enjoy the view of your ass?” Rolling my eyes, I grabbed his hair and angled his face so that he was looking up at me as I straddled his lap. “I didn’t peg you as someone who’d share-“ “And you’re fucking right,” he grabbed my chin roughly then kissed me with just as much passion, “Because you’re mine, and I get to do what I please with you.” He explained, breathless. When he started placing open mouth kisses on my neck, nipping my skin here and there, I grinded against him to get myself going, to get any kind of friction. In the heat of the moment, I slide one finger inside myself but got stopped the moment it brushed my sensitive spot.

��Opening my eyes suddenly, I gave my boyfriend a look of disbelief. “What-“ “No touching unless you beg for it, ask nicely.” He said as he pressed gentle kisses on my neck, then down to my collarbone, his tongue brushing slowly against my skin before he started sucking it; One of his hand was still holding mine, while the other was gripping my waist tight. “Kuroo- are you kidding me?” Stopping his activities, he looked up at me lustfully, his surprised face turning into a more serious one. “Do I look like I’m kidding?” “I hate it when you do that, just let me-“ I couldn’t help the gasp that escaped my lips when his finger entered me, “I said beg, you can do that for me right? I know you want more of this, because you’re my needy slut, right?” His unoccupied hand was now grabbing his cock as he started stroking himself to the view while I rocked my hips against his finger, trying to feel more. I begged him for more, I begged him to add fingers, to fuck me right but he did not move. Instead he slowed down, his smirk widening. “Fuck’s sake- don’t fuck around, I did what you wanted-“ “I won’t fuck around, I’ll fuck you babe but I want you tight for me.”

 He removed his finger to pull out his wallet and grab a condom, while he opened the packed and rolled it on his cock, I slid two fingers inside my throbbing core; Curling them how I liked it while brushing my thumb over my sensitive nub, my head was resting against his shoulder as I kept moving, working hard to get closer to relief. It made him huff to see me pleasuring myself so he grabbed my wrist to stop me, he slowly brought my fingers to his mouth as he ran his tongue over it, getting them clean. “Did I not say to beg? Come on-“ Wanting to feel him, I did not need to be told twice, so I leaned in and whispered in his ear, “Fuck me, please,” he groaned at the sensation of my breath against his skin but only laughed shortly, a strained laugh, but he managed to say, “I’m sure you can do better kitten, beg like I know you can.” I hated it, but I loved it. It was embarrassing, humiliating, but hot. He was an asshole, but the best. I continue to whisper what he wanted to hear, throwing my pride aside even though it hurt to do so. I started peppering his jaw with kisses, then his neck, and it’s when I started attacking his neck that he let out another strained chuckled and he told me that he needed me.

 Lifting me up slightly with his hands under my thighs, he helped me onto his cock, my knees supporting me on each side of him as I slowly eased myself on his erected member. We were both breathing erratically at the feeling of one another, my hands were gripping his shirt as I focused on the stinging pain but it slowly faded away once he was fully sheathed and not moving. We waited like that a moment, our breaths mixing as our forehead were touching. The tenderness was interrupted when someone called out our names from the terrace, and I was about to get off of him when he put his hands on my back and kept me there. “Put your head on my shoulder, trust me.” He whispered hurriedly; I followed his direction as he called back asking what they wanted. The person asked if everything was okay, and as the good liar he was, Tetsurou said, “We’re coming soon, she’s just a bit on edge. Give us like 20 minutes, we’ll come back!” The person seemed to be satisfied with that answer and left without any more question, leaving us on our own once more

 “They’re gone, you can fuck yourself on my cock now.” He said cockily. I looked up at him in half-shock, but rolled my hips once, twice, and stopped, giving him a smirk. He was watching intently my actions and looked up in frustration when I stopped. “Oh, no. If you’re going to act like that, I have no choice but fuck the brattiness out of you, babe. You don’t fucking tease me, I tease you.” Then without a warning he grabbed me by the waist and started lifting me up to meet his thrusts, he was hitting the bottom each time, lifting me high enough so that only the tip of his cock was inside me before thrusting it back in without ever stopping. He wasn’t slowing down either, just fucking me, and the only balance I had was my hands on his shoulders but at some point, I followed his instructions and actually started fucking myself on his cock. We were both panting, grunting and moaning wordlessly, mouths open and heat surrounding the both of us.

 When he let go of my waist, I kept riding him, hoping to reach an orgasm, and while I was close it was not enough. I needed more stimulation, so with all I could muster I uttered, “More, touch.” He seemed to understand where I was coming from and nodded eagerly, his smile ever so present as he paid extra attention to my clit. I let my head fall back, arching my back at the added stimulation. I quickly covered my mouth when a louder moan escaped my mouth. “There it is, that’s it babe scream for me. I’m close too- here let me,” Without a warning he helped me onto my back and started fucking me roughly, grunting at each thrust. He liked it better when he could just put my leg over his shoulder and fuck me senseless, and so did I. I desperately gripped his biceps while my free hand was playing with my clit, bringing me closer and closer to release. Opening my eyes, I had not realized I had closed, I smiled although I believe it did not look like much with the elation I was feeling, my mouth opening every time he’d thrust back inside me.

 “You’re so hot right now-“ my voice went in a higher pitch when I felt him hit the right spot and a loud moan ripped my throat. Realizing what he was going, he smirked before repeating exactly the same action, “If you could see yourself right now, so pretty for me. You feel so good, doesn’t it feel good to lose, babe?” He was out of breath as he said so, but it made me feel so hot suddenly. Maybe it was the reminder of having lost his stupid game but I did not have time to overthink that I saw white, my head lolling back as I arched my back into him once more, a throaty moan escaping me one final time. With a few more thrusts, he found his release too before pulling out of me with a slick noise. I felt my back a bit sore from the sudden change when he slammed me back on the bench, and my thighs too from the position he fucked me in but other than that, I felt great. So fucking great. Lifting my arm, I heard my boyfriend chuckled as he helped me sit up, a proud grin on his face. “That good, uh?”

 I rolled my eyes, asking him to hand me my clothes back, which he did without hesitation. “We should probably hurry up, we took more than 20 minutes.” He said softly as he zipped his pants back, asking me to give him a tissue from his jacket pocket. Once I finished putting on my shoes, I patted the pockets and handed it to him, only to see him dropped the closed used condom in it. I couldn’t help but laugh at the though of him, having that condom in a tissue, probably in his pocket, until he found the trash inside. “Hey, don’t laugh babe, I do what I can. I respect my bro enough to not just throw that like that you know?” He said in a joking tone as he stood up, I followed and took his hand in mine, smiling. “So, do we still get to have another victory fuck when we get home or...” I pondered out loud, wanting more of him but willing to wait until we got home. “Baaabe,” he drawled, looking at me with fake shock, “Did you read my mind?” chuckling, he leaned in and kissed me longingly, “Of course there will be another round, this was like- an amuse-bouche, you know? I’ll fuck you right once we’re home, promised.” I loved how he could say things like that so lightly, it made me smile like an idiot for some reason.

 Walking back to the house, he whispered right before we got in, “And if you’re good, I’ll edge you just right babe.” I almost choked on my saliva as Kuroo walked to the kitchen to throw his tissue before coming back. When Bokuto saw us enter the living room he rushed to our side, “Guys! What happened? Is everything alright-“ he stopped himself and gave us a look. A long look. A knowing look. Then he looked at my boyfriend. “Bro, I said ok for the toilets. It better-“ Interrupting him, Kuroo scoffed, smiling, “It’s clean bro, I’m not sloppy don’t worry. And I’m not guilty, not really, I said I couldn’t promise shit. And she was impatient for me to fuck her pretty little-“ “Alriiight, games? Anyone? Bit of fun? Party people, let’s get some drinks.” I said before leaving the two friends and joining the other at the table.

 I couldn’t handle him talking so freely about our sex life, but I couldn’t blame him considering they were best friends. And that’s why I had to leave them on their own when those time came. This was the cons of dating a man that was ready to expose your deepest kinks just to tease.

 But fuck was it a good teasing though. And was the fuck good too.

[anotherhamiltonblog]

Foreign Touch ch 7

Warnings:  Angst. Panic Attack. Talk of Character Death. Cursing. the boys being cute friends. Thomas being a Cute boyfriend.

Word Count: 2.638

Previously    Masterlist

A/N: I’m so sorry for the delay guys. I posted a few days ago that I was going through something and just needed to leave and take some time for myself. BUT I’m back and working on the stories! SO here you go! Chapter 7!!! 

Enjoy!

Two weeks after waking up and finding out about her parents, Y/N was starting to feel a little better. New Year’s came and gone; her grandparents almost never left her side. Sadly, Thomas, Alexander and her friends had to go back to school. Bringing cards, gifts and flowers each time they were allowed to visit. Mostly from her classmates, her cheer squad and her teachers. Something that brought a smile to her face, what didn’t make Y/N happy was the homework.

Late one afternoon, with notebooks, pens, textbooks and her iPad around her. Y/N felt like her head was going to explode. Her leg was itching and aching. Her head always felt heavy, her chest and ribs hurt. Yet, Y/N never asked for more pain medication. She knew what could happen if she had too much, being addicted was not a good sign for her. So instead she dealt through the pain.

“Hi sweety…” a female voice came from the doorway, Y/N looking up and grinning at the sight of Jane Jefferson and Martha Washington standing there.

“We came to bring you some homemade food… the boys should be here soon. I was visiting Jane here and came along to see how you’re doing.” Martha spoke and walked over, only to frown at the amount of homework Y/N had spread around the hospital bed.

“Now, I know that all this can wait…” but Y/N cut Martha off.

“It can’t… not if I want to get into a good college!” she frowned and looked down. “Julliard and the other Art Schools won’t accept me now that I can’t dance anymore.” She rolled her eyes and flopped back on the pillows behind her.

“Hey, none of that now.” Jane came over and both Martha and her started to clean up the schoolwork. “Thomas tells me you are one of the smartest students in that school. I’m sure no one will blame you for not putting your schoolwork as a priority right now.”

Once everything was cleaned up, Y/N felt like she could breathe again. “I just…” but she trailed off and closed her eyes. “I couldn’t attend the funeral… I get out tomorrow. I have this thing on my leg and stitches and I’m ugly and I just miss them so much!” she cried as tears started to slip down her cheeks.

Both women looked at each other and frowned before sitting on either side of Y/N, both trying to comfort the crying girl. Jane even mentioning for Thomas to get back out when he arrived at the door.

“You aren’t alone. OK?” Martha said softly, “I know for a fact that Jane here will allow you to go over to her home whenever you feel like it. My home is always opened for you as well, sweetie.” She whispered. “I knew your parents; they would have preferred it this way than having to bury their child. There is no greater pain for a parent than to have to say goodbye to their child. You will have so much support. George and I, Jane and her husband. You have your soulmate, Alexander and all your friends…”

“We almost lost you as well, Y/N.” Jane added now. “We only know this because your mark appeared on Thomas… both he and Alexander almost broke down.” She kissed the girls head softly. “You will never be alone. OK? We will all help you whenever you need. We’re all here for you.”

As she cried softly, Y/N nodded at their words and knew it would take some time, but she would be surrounded by people to help her.

By the time Y/N had calmed down a good amount, the two women left, and Thomas walked in with a small smile on his face. Y/N fixed herself on the bed and made space for her boyfriend to join her. Once he got on the bed, Y/N found herself cuddling with the man and closed her eyes.

“Your friends said they’ll give us about ten minutes before they barge in here…” Thomas said against her hair and smiled. The words causing Y/N to smile sadly.

She didn’t speak, feeling like she would cry if she even tried to speak. Instead she closed her eyes and let out a small sigh. Eyes closed and Y/N took in the silence and the cologne Thomas was wearing.

The scent being one that could always comfort her.

“I don’t wanna go home…” she finally managed to speak, her voice betraying her and cracking in the middle of the short sentence.

“I can’t go back there; I can’t be in the house without them… or with my grandparents… they’re old! They need to rest and look after themselves. I’m about to be eighteen! I can figure things out on my own…” her voice got softer at the end and she sighed.

“If you don’t want to go back home, no one can make you. Alexander has been staying with John ever since the accident.” Y/N felt his lips brush against her forehead as he spoke. “You can come stay with me and my parents. They won’t mind. They love you. There’s Mr. and Mrs. Washington. You know how much they love all of us over…” but Y/N cut him off.

“The last thing I want to do, is be a burden for anyone.” She snorted. “Fucking look at me, Thomas! I’m black, blue and stitched! I died for like a whole minute! I’m going to be walking funny, I can’t dance anymore! I can’t practice violin until my hand stops aching.” She almost snapped at her boyfriend. The two now sitting up on the bed. “I can’t even study, cause I don’t have a fucking clue what’s going on in class and no one to explain this shit to me. Alex and I have to bury our parents!

“I… I can’t… I don’t want to get in a car anymore! Or look at any bright lights!” she blinked a few times. Trying to stop the tears. “The doctor came in a few days ago… early in the morning to check me out. Flashed a damn light in my eye to test whatever the fuck they were testing, and I panicked! I saw the car coming and I heard the screams!”

Little did Y/N know, her brother and friends were outside the room listening in. Once things were quiet, they entered slowly.

The distraction helped. Alex saw Thomas standing beside the bed, Y/N sitting up looking stressed.

“Someone needs a sponge bath.” Hercules said with a sad smile, thankfully his words made a small smile appear on the girls face.

“God no…” she huffed. “What’s under this gown… not pretty” Y/N added a bit softer and looked down at her hands. A needle still stuck in her hand, tape and a bandage over it. Her other hand was bandaged up as well. Her body was still healing, her ribs mostly.

The cast she wore on her leg went an inch above her knee and down to her feet. Only her toes peeking out.

“I spoke to the nurse… we can wheel you around today…” Alexander spoke and that’s how the group spent the rest of the visitation time. Wheeling Y/N around the hospital, finding a garden and talking nonsense.

In the end, Y/N took up Thomas’ offer in going home with him. Her grandparents had been present at the time, having come around to visit her. They understood and allowed it.

That night, being the last night in the hospital. Y/N fell asleep somewhat easily, of course with some help of the antidepressants that had an extra kick to help with the anxiety she felt and the sleeplessness.

By the next morning, with the help from a nurse -much to her slight embarrassment- Y/N got changed into very loose sweatpants, sock and shoe on her bare foot and a long sleeve, loose shirt. Foregoing the bra, Y/N didn’t want to wear the thing and have it irritating her aching chest and back.

Messaging Thomas, she grinned at their little interaction. Y/N’s grandparents had signed her out and all she had to do was wait for her boyfriend to come. The room she had been staying in was bare once again, the decorations her friends had put up was taken down now, presents safely in her bag. 

The ring, the purple two hearted Dimond with a silver band. It was safely on her right-hand ring finger. Reminding her of the promise Thomas had made her when he presented the ring to Y/N.

Y/N sat there looking at the tiny ring inside the box in shock. “Thomas… this isn’t some kind of proposal….” But he chuckled and cut her off.

“No princess, nothing like that. We aren’t close to being ready for marriage.” He teased softly and took her hands in his. “This is just… a promise. That I’ll stick by your side. Thick and thin, I’ll always be here for you. OK? No matter what happens, and not just because we’re soulmates. I liked you even before we found out… finding out you were my other half, the girl I’m destined to be with? That’s fate.”

His words brough tears to her eyes, Y/N feeling like she spent a lot of her time crying. Only this time, the tears were ones of happiness.

“You know I’ve always been some kind of asshole. To Alex, to the other kids at school and the girls. When I got back from Paris, and the mark appeared on me. I doubted I would ever find the girl who was supposed to be with me. Then there you were, always running from me.” He laughed slightly. “I fell for you instantly, the first time you called me out on my bullshit and defended your brother. I thought god was punishing me, making me fall for someone as amazing as you and you not being my soulmate... but I must have done something right to be able to spend my life with you.”

Pulling Thomas in and pressing their lips together, the kiss was soft and sweet.

“Thank you… god I love you Thomas Jefferson.” Y/N spoke against his lips and held him close to her. The couple spending that night holding the other while the nurses allowed Thomas to spend the night. Having seen the interaction between the two.

Snapping back to the present, Y/N smiled and brushed her messy, dirty hair away from her face. Other than the horrible time trying to shower in the bathroom she had access to. Y/N was ready to head home…

It was than that she remembered she wouldn’t be going home. She was going to live with Thomas and his family. With a sigh, eyes closed. Y/N never noticed someone entering her room.

“Hey sweetheart…”

Looking over towards the door, Y/N smiled at Thomas standing there before rolling her eyes at the wheelchair brought in. Of course, Y/N already knew she would have to be pushed out in the wheelchair. Doesn’t mean she was happy about it.

“Ready to go?” he asked and stepped closer, grabbing her things so Y/N wouldn’t have to worry about anything.

With a nod, Y/N tried to hide how anxious she was feeling about getting in a car again. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Using the crutches, she was given, Y/N was able to sit down on the wheelchair and allowed Thomas to place a knitted hat on the top of her head before wrapping his scarf around her. Ignoring the unamused look Y/N was giving him.

“Just wanna make sure you don’t catch a cold.” He grinned cheekily at her and Y/N couldn’t help but smile at him.

Soon enough, she was being pushed out of the hospital building and after blinking a few times, trying to get used to the brightness of the sun hitting the snow. Y/N looked at the car and tried to calm herself down.

‘You’ll be alright… Thomas knows what he’s doing. He won’t let anything happen to you…’ Y/N thought as the wheelchair stopped next to the car and there was her boyfriend helping her into the passenger seat.

Bidding the nurse goodbye, the door was closed, and the seatbelt was on. Suddenly it all felt too real. Closing her eyes and taking deep breaths, Y/N softly spoke to herself. “In through the nose……. Out through the mouth.”

“You ready?”  Y/N heard Thomas ask and she just nodded her head. Refusing to open her eyes, though she didn’t need to look at Thomas to know he was staring at her.

As the car started to move, Y/N felt herself get choked up, her throat and chest starting to ache. She felt like she was starting to drown, she could barely hear the radio that had been on. Only when she felt a hand grasp hers, did she open her eyes and glance over at Thomas. Not noticing the tears that were slowly making its way down her cheeks.

“I got you princess…  I’ll go slow if that makes you more comfortable. OK?” Y/N heard Thomas say and she just nodded. Focusing on her boyfriend in the drivers seat.

Taking in his features, seeing the dark circles under his eyes, the beard that was growing and obviously hasn’t been taken care of in a while. His hair was tied up in a bun, reminding me of Lafayette. Chuckling softly at the thought, Y/N wiped at her eyes before lifting his hand up and softly brushing her lips over his knuckles. Giving it a soft squeeze.

“You doing ok, princess?” she heard him ask and Y/N didn’t speak, just gave a hum in response.

It felt like she was in the car for hours, her anchor for not falling into a panic attack being was holding Thomas’ hand. Hearing him softly talk to her and knowing that he never took his eyes off the road. Not once.

By the time they finally made it to the Jefferson’s home. Y/N allowed Thomas to carry her inside, not wanting her to end up slipping on the ice on the ground with her crutches. Being placed on the couch, Y/N couldn’t help but smile at her boyfriend. Watching as he rushed back outside to grab all her bags. By the time he returned, yelling that he was going to place her things in the room she would be staying in. Y/N shook her head and chuckled before lifting her leg up onto the couch and got comfortable.

Eyeing the ring on her finger, Y/N couldn’t help but take a picture of it and post it on Instagram. Giggling at the comment John put, she wanted to mess with Alex, so Y/N quickly got a hashtag going and laughed when comments started rolling in.

“Did you really make the same comment twice?” Y/N softly spoke when she saw Thomas come back down the stairs with his phone in his hand. A large smile on his face he nodded.

“Wanted to irritate your brother, and it worked.” Was his response, making Y/N softly laugh.

Fixing herself, letting Thomas sit behind her so her back was to his chest. The two watched some baking show on the TV before Y/N started to laugh and showed Thomas that Mr. Washington and Aaron also commented.

The rest of the day, with take out on the coffee table the couple spent watching TV and enjoying the silence. Y/N ended up falling asleep with a blanket over her body and Thomas with his arm around his girl as his head was tipped back against the couch cushions. That was how Thomas’ parents found the two teenagers when they got home that night. Making the two adults smile and let them sleep, seeing as they both looked comfortable enough.

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[darkdevasofdestruction]

Save Me From Myself - Leone Abbacchio

The best thing that could ever happen in my life is to become a part of the gang Passione - Or, to be more specific, a part of Buccellati’s team, filled with people with so many past issues that somehow manage to work together and support each other with everything they’ve got, despite their huge differences.

We have, from youngest to oldest, we have:

Giorno, a super cute and pure angel of a kid who is super smart and ambitious. Fugo, a super smart and caring yet hella violent kid who can’t control his temper. Narancia, ADD kiddo who behaves like a 10 year old, but is funny and has nice dance moves. Mista, hella funny guy and easy going, but can get distracted by weird things. Bruno, the mum of the group, everyone loves and looks up to him. And we have Abbacchio, who’s the oldest, acts somehow like the responsible dad of the group, yet he’s more of a very gloomy wine dad.

Of course, being a part of Bruno’s team, we already know each other’s backstories and we know how to support and protect each other when we need it, both morally and emotionally, since, after all, nobody is made of ice or stone.

But that is something that perhaps neither Abbacchio nor I chose to admit...Or maybe we already know that, but we don’t want to say it out loud, because if we do, it will make it real, and we don’t want the bad parts to be real.

When we have pair up missions, I’d usually be paired with Abbacchio, since apparently, we make quite a good team, and can’t say that I complain - He knows when to stay silent, when to make a witty or sarcastic comment, has very nice dark jokes and can be a great conversation partner, especially when it comes to music and bands.

What I realised, however, that I’m not sure everyone knows, is that Abbacchio has a dose of self-hatred so large that it would include the dose of everyone from the team...No, rather said, of all Italy.

Unfortunately, when you’re someone like me, you can easily realise when someone isn’t doing mentally and emotionally too well, and what’s worse, as an empath, you can feel it just like an arrow impaling your heart.

It’s already been about a year since Giorno joined our team and for some reason, things started taking a turn for the unexpected whenever we’d have our weekly restaurant gatherings.

It all started when Mista got himself a girlfriend, and honestly, everyone was shocked because so far, nobody actually had any kind of love life, but we were all super proud and happy for him. He has always been a fun and easy going guy, very adventurous and this charm of his unexpectedly drew interesting girls to him, and managed to get completely head over heels with one.

Three weeks later, Mista couldn’t come to the hang out because he was taking his girlfriend on a date out of the city, but we found out that Giorno, with his really cute tricks and natural innocent charm, found himself in a relationship with a flower girl, very kind and sweet. They met when she was walking her puppy and he pulled on the leash so hard that she fell, but Giorno caught her and helped her out with the puppy, and it was love at first sight.

Of course, we were all very happy for them, because obviously, Giorno deserves the best in life...

And yet, it was weird when we were so few at the table at weekend hang outs.

It didn’t take long for Bruno to fall for a beautiful singer at a jazz bar, who, he found out, always bought meals for children of the streets and bought them clothes and tried to take care of them the best she could.

And now that our Mum friend was busy with his beloved, we are told by Fugo that he also managed to find a girl who is extremely calm, patient and intelligent, just his type, and they are planning a few museum and bookshop dates, as well of some very chill hang outs in the park.

Not even a week later, it was only me, Abbacchio and Narancia at the table, but the little duck was overly enthusiastic today, and told us that he found a girl who doesn’t mind his energetic and airhead personality and wants to take HIM out on an arcade date, and he needs some dating advice so he wouldn’t screw up.

“These kids are so pure and adorable, don’t you think, Leone?” I let out an amused breath, realising that, by now, it was only I and him at the table. “Yeah...They are. they deserve it.” he nodded simply, yet he seemed to not be over with his thoughts. “You seem like you want to say something else. Do you have anything on your mind that you’d like to share?...Hold up, is that lipstick on your neck?” I ask in a gentle voice, that turned into a gasp, which made him hum as he closed his eyes and think over, trying to wipe away the lipstick from his skin. “Well, I suppose I should say it after all. I asked a girl out and we’re going on a date next weekend, so I won’t be present for our weekly hang out...Not that it would make much of a difference, considering we’re the only ones left.” hearing him say that so nonchalantly, broke my heart in very little pieces, but at the same time, I was happy for him. “Woaw, that’s great, I’m so happy for you, Abba! I hope she’s everything you wish for and that you’ll both be happy together!” I congratulated him, but he only let out an amused breath, looking away slightly. “Yeah...Thanks, I guess.” he spoke in a low voice, seemingly absent minded. “You still have something on your mind -... No, rather said, on your heart. Is it something you’d rather keep to yourself?” I ask in a softer voice, leaning a bit on the table. “I’m not sure...” he trailed on, before glancing at him, blinking but not saying anything for a while. “Well, doesn’t matter, I’m not really a talker anyway. I have to go. See you around, Kat.” he nodded at me before leaving the restaurant, leaving me alone. “Bye...” I mutter to myself, staring at the empty seat in front of me.

It was then that I was reminded just how alone I really was, even when surrounded by people that I hold dear, and in turn, hold me dear... Well, not that it really mattered now anyway, since I was truly alone now, both spiritually and physically.

I got up from my seat and started walking around the city aimlessly, not really knowing what to do. When everyone else wasn’t so busy, I’d cling on one of them, depending on the mood I had at the moment...But now?  Now I feel like nothing more than a wingless bird, or a paper plane in the wind, just trying to stay in the air.

Everywhere I looked, everyone was happy, everyone had someone that made them happy, and in turn, would make said person happy... And then I’d think at myself, and I’d find nothing more than an endless void of nothingness.

It’s true, I used to date someone too, before Giorno joined us, but...I never, even once, missed one of our hang outs.  I suppose the team, my family, for me, was always more important than a relationship that may or may not be fleeting. And...I suppose that’s why my ex kept speaking like that to me, and seeing me in such a bad light. A difference in ideals and mind views that is so radical is never going to work out.

I already miss my Family, despite of how dysfunctional we all are.

How odd.

The next weekend, I went to the restaurant at the regular time, hoping that I would see at least one of the guys... But I was merely lying to myself, or my heart, that is. My brain already knew I was going to be alone.

One week, two weeks, three weeks...

The only time I’d meet them is when we’d have to go on missions or stuff like that.

I can’t believe how fast happiness can disappear...It’s almost like it never existed in the first place. How is that fair?

Why am I the only one left alone? Am I really that much of a bad person? Am I really that bad? Or ugly? Or annoying? Or what the hell is wrong with me? And more, what the hell is wrong with my heart? Why does it hurt so much? Why do I keep feeling the need to break down and cry every night with no exception? But I’m not sure what’s worse, the fact that I feel the need to cry my emotions out and scream my frustrations out at the sky... Or the fact that I can’t?

For the love of God, I can’t express my emotions, I can’t feel them, or maybe I feel too many at once and they threaten to explode, hell, I don’t even understand anything anymore.

This...Is really not fair at all...

About two months into this whole mess, I found myself going out by the sea every night, drinking some red wine that Abbacchio always drank and surprisingly, wasn’t too bad for my tastes, and I would just stare at the sky and let my emotions pour out, but not without cursing myself for looking like an alcoholic.

What was different that night, however, was a very familiar voice that seemed rather irked, continued by a very pitched and nagging female voice.

It sounded like Abbacchio...But I could always be mistaken. After all, drinking a whole bottle of red wine by myself wasn’t the smartest thing to do.

They seemed to be arguing...I don’t know...I wouldn’t want to intervene in their couple affairs. Or at least, that’s what I said, until I heard a loud slapping sound, followed by a deathly silence, which is when I realised that the woman he was with slapped him.

I may not be his girlfriend, but godamn it, nobody treats my family like that...

I marched to where the sound of the woman yelling at him came from, and despite possibly being a bit wobbly, I wasn’t even sure, I glared at her, catching her wrist before she could slap him once again.

“Who the hell are you?! Who do you think you are, getting between me and my boyfriend like that?! You look like some drunk slut from the highway, we have no money for your cheap ass!” she shrieked in my face, trashing violently, but I made no hostile move, except for glaring blankly at her. “He’s my family...And I’ll be dead before I allow anyone to treat my family with such disrespect.” I spoke in a low and threatening voice, gripping her wrist tighter. “It’s fine, Katrina, I deserved it.” Abbacchio tried to defend his girlfriend, but I was having none of it. “No, it’s not fine. And you didn’t deserve it. Nobody deserves to be treated like that by the person they love.” I reply simply, but that seemed to make hell break loose. “Oh my GOD! Leone, this is all your fault! Who the hell made you know such a fucking annoying chick like her who doesn’t mind her own damn business?! Screw it, I’m going home! You owe me a nice fucking date next time!” she screamed at the top of her lungs, before pushing me away and stomping in the opposite direction. “God damn it...” Abbacchio’s low voice was barely audible. “Are you okay, Abba...? Does it hurt where she slapped you? Can I heal it with my Stand?” I tried to reach out instinctively with my hands, but he slapped them away harshly, glaring at me, which made me widen my eyes in shock. “Abba...?” I was barely able to speak out. “What the fuck is your problem?! Why do you have to put your nose everywhere that doesn’t concern you? That was MY girlfriend! My date, my problem, my responsibility! ALL mine! You never stop trying to pry into others’ business, under the pretext that we’re family and you want the best for us, but have you ever thought that maybe we DON’T need OR want that?!” it was the first time he spoke so harshly and aggressive toward me, that I had to take a few steps back, away from him, then turn around to hide the tears streaming down my face. “Okay. I won’t bother you ever again. I’m sorry I’m such a bother for everyone around me. Goodbye.” I manage to speak in a shaky voice, as I started walking back towards the place where I stood previously, but I was stopped by a hand on my shoulder. “W-Wait...Are you crying...?” Leone spoke in an unsure voice, as if he was somehow taken back to reality. “That shouldn’t concern you, should it? It’s none of your business and you shouldn’t pry so much into it. That IS what you said, right, Abbacchio? Who cares about poor little, annoying Katrina, after all? Nobody. Let it remain that way. Who knows, maybe you’ll have the look to completely get rid of me very soon.” I slapped his hand away, before disappearing into the night, not even bothering to hear him out anymore.

From then on, I wasn’t even able to fake my happiness, my face remaining blank and emotionless for most of the time, and I’d only stay around the team for as long the mission needed me, and then I’d just leave back home, to my little safe heaven where I could be myself... But honestly, I couldn’t even be myself there, for I wouldn’t even be able to cry out my feelings or anything of the sort, and for the most time, I’d just watch a movie or listen to music, without feeling anything at all, just wasting my time blankly.

The other guys would voice their concerns quite often and loud, since I wasn’t my usual calming, gentle and happy go lucky self anymore, and it was clear that something was wrong...Especially when I refused to stay anywhere near the silver haired man.

It wasn’t until Bruno paired me up with said man that hell broke loose in a way, and the whole drive to the assigned place was filled with awkward silence, with Abbacchio trying to make conversation by asking if I like the song that’s on or I want to change it, but I didn’t bother giving him any answer, merely looking in front of me as I drove.

By the time we got to the docks to investigate the place, I walked away from him to do my job, but he just stood there, staring into the horizon, trying to say something, but something was keeping him - Most likely his own walls he created.

“We should talk.” he finally spoke up after excruciating minutes. “Really?” I asked sarcastically, now even bothering to look at him. “What were you doing at the beach that night?” he asked after a long pause. “Strictly confidential.” I replied blankly, looking at the little dock house. “What...?!” my response seemed to shock him since I was never so harsh and direct with him, always preferring to speak with a gentler and softer way. “It’s none of your business, is it? Your words, not mine.” I explained as I got inside and looked around the place. “I didn’t mean that. Not a word I said.” he tried to say, but I cut him off fast. “Activate your Stand already, stop wasting time.” I got out, looking at him with a bored expression. “Besides, words spoken always have a meaning and consequences. Action-Reaction, like in Physics, y’know?” I pointed out, as I took a seat on one of the logs around. “Look, I know I fucked up. I lashed out at you for no reason, and I’m sorry about that. I want to make it up to you. You were right to worry about me. Anyone from the team would have done the same. I was an asshole with you, I know that. I let my feelings go out of control... I'm just that kinda guy... a worthless guy who can't see anything through to the end. I always screw it up halfway through.” he spoke now more than I’ve ever heard him before, but the way he described himself made me cringe. “Don’t...Speak like that about yourself...” I muttered, shifting my gaze from him to Moody Blues. “Huh? Even now, after I was such an asshole with you, you try to protect me? Aren’t you an angel?” he chuckled lightly, which only made me sneer. “Shut up. I’m sorry for caring about you and for not wanting you to go through what I’ve been through. But I should’ve known better. You’re 21, you already have enough experience to know what you get yourself into. I won’t say a word next time, don’t worry. I promised not to bother anyone again.” I rolled my eyes, crossing my legs to get more comfortable in my seat. “That guy really was a bastard, wasn’t he...?” he muttered with a somehow softened expression. “Don’t try to turn this around. This conversation isn’t about me and nor should you be concerned about me or my feelings in any way.” I reminded him once again, but he was always a stubborn guy. “Lately, I’ve been feeling worse and worse...I guess I just needed a distraction. I never held any feelings for that woman, nor did she for me.” he tried to justify himself, but I merely shrugged. “I don’t see how that concerns me in any way.” I scoffed in annoyance. “You’re the only one I’d trust with my feelings.” he spoke after a brief silence, but I could only laugh sardonically. “Oh, really? Really, now? Are you sure you want to say that after that night? Because, as far as I’m concerned, you want me out of your life! Why would you even bother trying to justify your actions to someone like me anyway?!” I got up, glaring at him dead on. “Look, I give you every right to be mad at me! You can go ahead and punch me or kick me or slap me or whatever, it doesn’t matter, I won’t feel anything so if it will make you feel better, lash out your anger on me, I’d deserve it anyway.” he spoke a bit louder, yet he wore his raw feelings on his sleeve. “Why...Would I do that? You, of all people, should know that I would never, in a million years, do something like that, no matter how angry I am. Are you trying to mock me...?” I narrowed my eyes at him, but he merely shook his head. “I’m trying to get you to forgive me. I’m just very bad at this whole feel-thing...Or people-thing. You already know my past and I’m pretty sure you figured by now why I act the way I act. It’s not rocket science. So just...Tell me what to do to get you to forgive me and be the way we were before. I can’t stand the idea of you hating me.” his voice became much softer and more emotional by the end of it, something uncharacteristic of him. “I don’t hate you.” I looked down, crossing my arms. “You don’t...?” he stepped forward, his face shocked. “I can’t. No matter how much I want to hate you for what you did...I can’t.” I mutter, biting my lip, averting my eyes away from him, until...”Hey...Doesn’t that look oddly enough like your girlfriend...?” I ask breathlessly as Moody Blues took the shape of the girl at the beach. “Oh, great...My hookup is a villain Stand user. Great news.” he facepalmed in anger, before he ran full speed towards me, pushing me away. “Look out!” “Wh-What...?! Leone...?!” I gasped in shock, seeing him on the ground, a really ugly wound on his torso. “Guess we have to kill her.” he chuckled weakly, as I could feel a drop of sweat run down my back. “Damn it, you idiot! You shouldn’t have done that! Why the hell would you do something like that?!” I freaked out, looking at his bleeding wound. “I’ll tell you if I make it through this.” he wore the ghost of a smile that almost challenged me. “...You always know how to irk me the wrong way, don’t you?” I grit my teeth, before I got up, activating my Stand. “I’m not a violent person, chickadee, but now you’ve done it. You really got me mad.” I growled, creating blasting shots of water and throwing them at the woman in front of me. “Awww, what is it? Were you jealous, after all? Were you after my man all this time~?” she giggled, throwing her own blasts of whatever kind of energy that was. “I have no reason to be jealous. Especially not on someone like you.” I smirk as I made molecules of water depart from the actual blast, that would glue themselves on her skin and would get absorbed into her organism. “Oh, really? Can you really afford to say that, even now, knowing that he fucked me?” she laughed condescendingly, but she had no idea what a gruesome demise she’d have. “I almost pity you, you know? You seem like the kind of person who never knew what love is...Not that I’m sympathetic to you in any way. But sure, use that as an excuse to pretend you’re not just an empty shell of yourself.” I chuckled, before snapping my fingers together, which made her explode. “Au revoir.” I flipped my hair, looking at the place she was at just a few seconds ago, before rushing to the fallen ally. “That was pretty cool.” Abbacchio smirked breathlessly. “Guess my plan worked. I tried to look cool in front of you.” I let out an amused breath, before I took off his top, focusing the water to regenerate the cells on his wound so he would heal. “It worked damn well.” he said in a lower voice, watching me heal his wound. “Next time, don’t do that. I almost had a heart attack.” I bit my lip, not daring to meet his gaze. “It’s fine...I don’t feel anything. I haven’t in a long while.” he tried to make light of the situation, but I knew. I knew the truth, but I couldn’t say anything.

I didn’t even realise that I stopped healing him until tears started falling down my cheeks without any means to stop.

“H-Hey, why are you crying? I was joking, don’t take me so seriously-” he tried to take that back, but I knew better. “Don’t do that...Don’t. Just don’t. I already know...I know that so much that it hurts...” I manage to speak, hiding my face with my hands, not wanting him to see me crying. “Hey, come on...No need to cry over someone like me. Your pretty face should shine with a smile all the time, not cry.” he put his arms around me, pulling me to his chest. “Don’t act so brave in front of me, it’s annoying. Not when I already know how much you’re hurting...I understand you so well...I’m just too scared to say it out loud...But lately, I couldn’t even pretend that it’s not true. That’s why...I wanted to protect you from everything bad that would make you feel even worse...” I tried to explain myself, until I felt a kiss on the top of my head. “Look, I’ll be frank. I love you. I’m done hiding. I didn’t want to say anything ‘cause you deserve better, not a depressed guy who’s stuck in the past. You deserve someone bright and caring like Buccellati who’d treat you like a princess and all that. I’m not worthy of your feelings.” he stroked my hair gently, pouring all his feelings out. “Don’t...Say that...Ever again. Look at me...You think I’m any better? Do you have any idea how lonely I’ve felt all this time since you all got too busy for your family? Do you have any idea how bad I felt without you guys around? As if before that wasn’t bad enough...Now I’ve become an even greater mess. I either cry randomly, or feel nothing at all. I don’t even know what I am or what I feel anymore...And you say you’re no good for me? Did you hit your head too or what?” I spoke out everything I had to say, not even feeling embarrassed or scared anymore. “Don’t say that...You will regret it later on. I can’t even help myself, how could I possibly support you emotionally in any way?” he asks in a self-deprecating tone. “You’re impossible...” I sigh dramatically, as I raise my head and cupping his face, I capture his purple-painted lips in a tender kiss, with enough passion to show him that I mean it, but gentle enough, almost as if afraid that either of us would break from the pent up emotions that kept overwhelming us. “Are you sure...?” he mutters, his eyes wide in surprise. “If you want another one, you can just say so.” I smirk softly, before he put one arm around me, while his other hand was on the back of my head, and he pulled me into another kiss, just as full of love. “Do I really have to ask?” he let out an amused breath. “No. I’ll just let you steal them.” I could feel the ghost of a side-smile creeping on my face as I helped him get up from the ground. “Well, mission complete. Let’s go back home now. We gotta report to our dear Capo, after all.” I intertwined my fingers with his. “There’s gonna be a lot of explaining to do. How bothersome.” he said, yes the chuckle betrayed his words. “Hey, I’ll just look at the bright side. I won’t have to sit at the restaurant table by myself anymore.” I shrugged with an innocent smile on my face. “Low blow, tesoro. Low blow.” he shook his head, yet he was smiling, just as much.

[hufflepuffhollander]

Okay SO I've been sitting on this concept for SO LONG 😭😭 Could you write a planetarium date with Tom? Possibly a college au where reader is studying astrophysics (if that's too specific that's cool lol) and Tom takes a liking to her? So even tho he knows nothing about space he takes her to the planetarium, but she doesn't realize it's a date until he like compliments her during one of her space rants or when she's just super excited to be there? And she's like oh 😳 and fluff?? Thank you!

as a big college nerd myself I am so here for this! also space is amazing but college physics has kicked my ass so this clearly would never apply to me lol

college!tom x fem reader | just fluff here | word count: 1k| enjoy!

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“In this class, I will be challenging you to apply the laws of physics and chemistry to explain the birth, life and death of our stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae and other objects in the universe. I hope you are up for the challenge.” 

With those words, your dignified professor ended class, and you packed up your books, starry eyed. It was only syllabus week, but you were already insanely excited to jump into astrophysics and learn everything you could to make sense of this big blue world.

Tom sat a few seats away, barely able to pay attention to the lecture because he couldn’t stop staring at the gorgeous girl next to him. Hell, he didn’t care about space. This was one of the only electives available when he registered for classes late, and now he was stuck learning about gravitational pull and supernovas. But that didn’t seem to matter now, because there was suddenly a new star to focus on.

You spent the next few weeks taking all the notes you could, absorbing everything you were learning like it was a matter of life or death. The only thing that could distract you was the boy sitting a few seats away who would ask you for a pencil or the answer to a lecture question every now and then. But honestly, you didn’t mind. He was kinda cute, albeit terrible at physics. One day, he came into class and sat down right next to you, handing you a pencil from his bag.

“I believe I owe you this,” he said, smiling. You took the pencil and smiled back. “Thanks.” He continued to look at you even though the conversation had clearly ended.

“Uh, I’m Tom, by the way,” he said.

“Y/N,” you said back, intrigued by the way his cheeks were flushing while talking to you.

You made light conversation throughout the lecture, and couldn’t help but spend more time thinking about him than the class material. After an hour that only felt like minutes passed, the professor stood up at the end of the period.

“I see a lot of you are struggling after this first exam, so I am offering a rare extra credit assignment for those who are interested,” he started. Tom turns to you and says, “I think he just looked directly at me. Ouch.” It made you laugh louder than you expected. The professor continued on.

“You have the option to go to the planetarium and write a 500-word essay on a physical phenomenon of your choosing, whether it be the climactic conditions on mars or the theory of relativity.”

You took a chance and leaned closer to Tom. “Who would choose theory of relativity over space tornadoes?”

To anyone else, it would’ve been a flop of a joke. To Tom, it was the cutest thing he’d heard all week. He looked back at you, taking a chance of his own.

“Actually, uh, would you want to go to the planetarium with me? We could write about space weather together.”

“Yeah, sounds good.” you replied.

Cute dummy, you thought, he really doesn’t know anything about space.

Later that week, you met up with Tom at the planetarium just off campus, ready to take some pictures of the displays and come up with an idea of what to write about. He seemed less relaxed than normal and kept anxiously running his fingers through his hair, but you took no mind to it. You were too wrapped up in the beauty of the panoramic galaxy viewing room to care.

“Wow, look at all of this! It’s so incredible,” you stared up at the ceiling and all around, taking in the colorful sights of the milky way above you. “Isn’t it crazy that we’re just a speck of dust, floating around in that giant cloud of billions of stars, that there could be planets just like us existing out there?”

Truthfully, Tom had no idea what you were talking about, especially when you started on the scientific research into parallel universes and black holes, but he just nodded and smiled and stared at you. He couldn’t help but be enthralled by how your bright eyes were full of wonder, so detached from the mundaneness of life on the ground, and he loved how something so seemingly intangible could make you so happy. Admittedly, he’d already thought on the surface that you were so beautiful it hurt, but now, he felt it inside him, too.

You came back down to earth for a moment, looking at him staring at you. You felt that familiar heat creep up into your cheeks and tried to break the silence, even though you were both enjoying just looking at each other.

“Isn’t it all so beautiful?” you asked.

“Yeah,” he stammered. “You really are.”

Your breath caught in your throat and you turned again to face him, taken aback by what he said.

“So you really wanted that extra credit, huh?” you smirked at him.

“I’ll be honest, I may have had an ulterior motive.” he laughed back, moving a few inches closer to where you were sitting, previously staring up into the abysmal simulated sky. You realized you’d been oblivious, star-struck by stars, barely paying attention to the cute boy who sat next to you that was only pretending to be interested in class so he could talk to you.

You looked down, embarrassed and not sure what to say, when his hand floated to rest on yours. You sat there like that, slowly lacing your fingers together, content to be surrounded by the things that made you most happy- planets, space dust, and Tom Holland.

“Would you wanna study together sometime? I could really use some help before this next exam, and studying with the smartest and sweetest physicist there is couldn’t hurt.”

You turned to smile at him, embracing the tingles you were feeling between your intertwined fingers.

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

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woooo that was fluffier than my australian shepherd! hope it’s everything you wanted! xoxo

[sifanjewel]

The Gelfling Clans Listed Most to Least Generic

Basically I’ve ranked the Seven Clans on how “basic” they are when it comes to how they’re portrayed in their fantasy world.

1. Stonewood

While I love the Stonewood clan (it gave us Rian, Maudra Fara, Ordon, Kylan and Jen how could anyone not just for the sake of those characters?), the way they look and what they’re known for are your garden variety characteristics in most fantasy civilizations; woodland warriors, dress in everyday forest tones like brown... just different shades of brown, live in little stone cottages, some are farmers, and they love their alcohol. This is something a lot of fantasy narratives have in common when it comes to portraying certain villages/clans. The Stonewood do have their highlights, like the greenish-blue streaks in their dark hair, but they’re the most vanilla of all the clans, based off appearance and behavior.

2. Spriton

They’re pretty basic for the same reasons as the Stonewood, they’re warriors and farmers and they dress the part very well, they live in the forest/plains in little cottages, they almost look exactly like the Stonewood if not for the red/orange tones in their clothes. The biggest reason they’re only second to the Stonewood is because they have their own magic; their vliyaya revolves around dream-stitching, dream-etching, and weaving.

3. Vapra

I’ll give the Vapra points for having style, but the way they act and look (based on physical features) is just such a highly comprehensive portrayal of high-class subjects in a fantasy world; snooty, prejudiced, boot-licking white merchants and courtiers who take pride in their positions and proudly look down on others. And of course they’re deemed the “most cultured” and smartest of all the clans, given they can read and write. If you ask me, they’re really just the most privileged. The only other factors besides their hair and clothing styles that make them somewhat unique is again, their vliyaya, which apparently allows them to turn themselves almost invisible, and their hair colors; pure white with lilac highlights or jet black. There’s even a background Gelfling with straight up blue hair.

4. Grottan

The Grottan are totally different from all surface Gelfling, with their green skin, large black eyes and white hair (except for that background Gelfling who seems to have more brown and pink than white), plus the creatures they herd and tend to are giant multi-eyed worms with butts that apparently make comfortable clothing. The fact that they live underground and haven’t come out for centuries is a pretty interesting concept, but they’re still kind of your average farmers and, dare I say it, peasants. What’s a fantasy world without poor subjects who are the most frowned-upon civilians when they have literally done nothing wrong? They serve as the sharpest contrast to the Vapra.

5. Drenchen

I find the Drenchen to be freaking awesome in general, they're one of my top favorite clans. The designs of these Gelfling are incredible; they're the only clan who style their hair in dreadlocks, and they can breathe underwater which has a lot to do with the fact that they live in a swamp of all places. Their skin tone is also unique, like the Grottan they have more of a greenish tint to their complexions, but it's tinted brown and more like a clay shade compared to the light tones of the Grottan. They also live in treehouses (definitely more convenient for a swampy terrain), domesticate flying eels, and have vliyaya that can heal, I mean how cool is all that?! The generic side to them is, again, the whole forest warrior concept, but other than that, the Drenchen are this low on the list because of all the reasons above. Not to mention they give us characters like Naia, Gurjin, and Maudra Laesid, who are the epitome of badass.

6. Sifa

The Sifa are the closest thing to your average shady pirates obsessed with jewels and other shiny trinkets, but they’re also Soothsayers, Far-Dreamers and they really dress to impress (trust me just read Tides of the Dark Crystal and you’ll know what I’m talking about). They’re also very nomadic, and take to sailing the Silver Sea looking for adventure if they’re not in Cera-Na. The thing that makes them stand out most from the rest of the clans is how diverse they are, which is ironic given the xenophobia surrounding the other clans (maybe minus the Grottan, though they have their nicknames for above-ground Gelfling). The Sifa are essentially the melting pot of Gelfling society, taking in anyone who can handle their lifestyle, no matter who they are. The Sifa are the most welcoming and accepting Gelfling in all of Thra, even with stereotypes of their own.

7. Dousan

The Dousan are by far the most extraordinary Gelfling. I don’t think there is anything generic about them, there’s nothing like them in any fantasy story I’ve ever known, or at least not that I can remember. First note is their appearances: intricate face paint/tattoos, heavy, bold blue robes that conceal pretty much their entire bodies, bones and colorful beads in their hair and clothes... we haven’t seen very many Dousan characters with their hair showing but it seems they definitely have plenty of diversity when it comes to hair in terms of style and color, that is if most of them have much hair to begin with (reminder that according to the books some Dousan shave parts of their head, and I stand by my theory that Maudra Seethi is bald). Second, their culture could not be more different from the other clans; there are many real-world cultures/religions that associate with the cycle of life and death, I’m sure, but the Dousan approach to it is just beautiful. They are accused of solely worshipping death but we can tell based on Rek’yr’s intro alone that they have an even greater respect for life. Third, their homeland is just mind-blowing in it of itself; a desert with shifting sands that can’t be crossed on foot covered in crystal architecture as well as a Wellspring, which is the only place with actual plant life and a lake with trees (not very common in deserts at all). That is also the place where the Dousan socialize the most, basically the Cera-Na of the Crystal Desert; it’s where the Dousan gather when called to, otherwise being completely nomadic much like the Sifa. Their domesticated creatures are also absolutely amazing; the Crystal Skimmers are by far one of the best creatures in the entire show, even if they do  really just look like giant manta-rays. They can fly though, apparently able to ride the heat waves of the desert climate. Lastly, the Dousan also seem to be one of the friendlier and welcoming clans next to the Grottan and Sifa. I mean, Rek’yr willingly approached a random group on the edge of the Crystal Desert including two Drenchen, a Spriton, Stonewood, Grottan, Vapra, and a Podling, and didn’t say a single damn thing about it, simply offering condolences, and help to the ones who wished to travel further. I’m sure he acknowledged that Rian and Hup didn’t exactly trust him, but he paid it no mind, and still took them to where they needed to go without much question.

I’m going to stop myself there. I think I wrote more than intended but I’ve come to accept that’s just how I am. So there you have it! The Seven Clans listed from the most conventional to the most outstanding.

[mischiefapprentice]

2: Birth of the Goblin’s Bride

March 1, 2004

Christine Wayland

It has been seven months since I have been saved by a mysterious man from death. The prospect of me dying along with my unborn child gives me chills; it will be my eternal regret. I have prayed to the Divinity for such gift, and it has been granted. What strikes me the most is that he have predicted that my baby will be a girl. How would he know it? How can he foresee what my baby's gender would be? Is he a wizard? A goblin? An astrologer?

No matter. I am forever grateful to him. How should I repay him for saving me and my child from sudden death? He deserves to be thanked. My husband and I are forever indebted to him. Where can we find him? How can we express our gratitude to him?

"Love, is she still bothering you?" My husband chuckles as he wraps his arms around us. Michael is really a sweet man; he never ceased to make me laugh. "No, she's sleeping inside. Don't bother her, you might make her angry." I joked. Suddenly, I feel my water breaking. Oh no. "Love, are you okay?" Michael suddenly comes to my rescue. He sees water streaming down my legs. She's going out! "MICHAEL! MY WATER BROKE!"

He prepares everything we need to bring to the hospital as he calms men. He calls his brother to drive us to the hospital.

"One last push!"

It has been 5 straight hours since the start of my delivery. My husband was always at my side, soothing me as I kept pushing. She's arriving, I thought to myself. She'll be the most loved baby in the world!

"I can see the head now!" The doctor tells us. I kept pushing, motivated with thoughts of seeing my child grow with love and happiness. Michael held my hand, whispering sweet nothings to me. "She's nearing, love. You can do this!"

After giving few more pushes, hearing my baby's cries made me cry with joy. Michael beams at me, smiling his widest I have seen.

"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Wayland! You have a beautiful and healthy bouncing baby girl!" Our OB-Gyne says to us.

The midwife brings our beautiful daughter to us, swaddled in pink cloth. Her brown eyes are staring back at me, as if she were memorizing my face. Michael smiles at us, and kisses my forehead as he caressed our daughter. "She's got your beauty, love." He remarked. I chuckle as I share the smile he has. "She got your eyes, love." I tell him.

Silence envelopes us as we stare at the window. We see the moon shining its brightest, with weak streams of pink light surrounding it. A pink moon meant prosperity for the spring seasons to come; harvests increase tenfold, many farmers prosper as their crops and grains are on demand. How coincidental; our girl was born during its peak. She's a blessing, indeed.

"What would our daughter's name be?" He asks me. I haven't thought of it yet, though we made a list of all possible names for her. A small memory flashed through my mind.

"Hey Chrissy! How're you today?" My friend Abigail smiles at me as I come closer to our special area.

Abigail Lauren is one of my closest friends back in college. We are one of the top students in the class, and we were known around the school. She is also the girl who set me up with Michael.

"Here, just doing fine. Gosh, I can't believe we are about to graduate in two weeks!" I sigh in exhaustion. Just in time, Michael comes with four water bottles, and he has brought a friend with him. Michael and I are in a relationship already. Don't worry, nothing happened between us yet. Our promises are not to do frisky things while we are still studying.

"Hey, Chis, how are you?" Michael wiggles his eyes at me, much to my annoyance. Well, I love him so much but his face really annoys me. And the nickname? What am I? A cheese? Bah! But don't worry, I have a rebuttal to make. "I'm great, Microphone." I roll my eyes at my boo. I laugh as he pouts at my nickname for him.

Since then, Abigail really is one of our greatest friends. There was this one event that really changed our lives: my first near-death experience. I was looking for a donor for my heart when she donated hers for me to live.

I remember Michael telling me his final words when my doctor found me a donor. They never mentioned who did, until I heard the news Abby died. She sacrificed her life for my sake, and we are forever indebted to her.

"Abigail." "What?" "I'm naming her Abigail, after our friend." I tell my husband. He smiled and nodded in agreement. Our bestie deserves to be recognised, and naming our daughter after her would be dedication.

"She'll be like her. She'll learn the values of love, friendship, and sacrifice. She'll be the smartest woman in the world." He tells me, tears streaming down his eyes.

"From now on, we name you... Abigail." I whisper.

       Loki

Seven months have passed, but still my mind lingers on her and the child she bears. Has she given birth? Is the child doing fine? I know it is a grave mistake to meddle with the cycle of life, but I cannot bear to see a woman cry because of her loss. I also knew the feeling of loosing someone you love.

"Uncle Loki, you seem to be in deep thought." I turn to see Arnie Jason by my door. He clearly hasn't slept yet. "Arnie? Why are you still up? Isn't it past your bedtime already?" I ask as he settles by my side. He lets out a small yawn. "I cannot sleep, Uncle. Can you tell me your story again?"

I smile at his adorableness. Arnie likes the story of how I met the Avengers, though it is quite not a good one. I must admit, I missed them. If I didn't fall into Thanos's hands, maybe I am working with them now. Maybe I didn't stumble onto this quest.

       "Sir, what are you thinking about?" I turn to see William with two cups of Earl Grey tea. He knows when I am stressed with different things. "Oh, it's nothing. Thank you for the tea."

Even I already have my tea with me, I still cannot get my mind off her. Something really tells me that the child she carries is my bride! But, how can I know if she really is the one? What signs do I have to look for? "Are you thinking about your bride?" William asks me. I chuckle and nod. He really knows when I think about her.

"You see, Will, I cannot help but think about the pink moon last night. It was stated that she will be born during its peak. Tell me: would I meet her soon?" I ask him as he lays his cup on the table.

"That, sir, is one question I cannot answer. Let destiny meet you; let her cross your way. She's nearby, I assure you."

       Anonymous

"What do you mean the bride is born already?"

The woman clad in her red robes stared at the window. She was aware of the Goblin and his Bride, and the chance when they meet. However, she wants it not to happen; she'd want to see him suffer than be in peace.

"Today's the peak of the pink moon on Earth, sire. It was stated in the prophecy that she will be born during its peak." Her enchanter tells her as he casts multiple events that showed the Goblin's bride being alive.

She sighs.

"Find a way to make her disappear from earth. Assassinate the bride and her family."

[tetrakys]

Falling - part 5

Lance/Guardienne route following the events of episode 26.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

I was a mess.

I’d spent the last weeks trying to figure out what to do with my life. Who to trust and, at the same time, how to save Eldarya.

Things were getting worse every day, earthquakes were getting stronger and more frequent, high tides and storms. Even the volcanic region was acting up, with new eruptions every week.

It seemed like the world was about to end soon.

I was pacing around my room trying to think about my next steps. Once Leiftan had been outed for the lying traitor he was, he’d been captured and was now held in the cell, strictly monitored. My heart still hurt at the thought, and I swallowed hard trying to keep my cool. I’d taken possession of some of his books before Ykhar could put her hands on them, and I found some very interesting rituals that only aengels (or deamons) could perform.

One of these was about accessing the deepest, innermost thoughts of whoever you most desired, something that would have been extremely useful when we had to deal with Naytili. But… alas, it had been his plan all along, hadn’t it? Let us run in circles and waste time so he could accomplish whatever he had devised.

Well, now I was going to use it on him. Poetic justice indeed.

I only had a tiny doubt about whose thoughts my heart most desired to access, his or Miiko’s. These past weeks I’d kept an eye on her, and I knew, without a doubt, she was keeping secrets from me.

Again.

Everyone in my life kept lying to me, but now I was strong enough now to take matters into my own hands, I was sick and tired of everyone making a fool of me.

Leiftan had lied to me since day one.

Miiko and the Light guard had tricked me in more ways than I could count, using me as a bait multiple times and destroying any chance of going back to my world and reunite with a family who would remember and love me. Apparently, they were still plotting something behind my back.

And… him.

I felt like punching the wall at the mere thought of him.

But he is the only one who has never lied to you, isn’t he? A little voice whispered in my head.

I didn’t care, he had kidnapped me, threatened me, almost killed me multiple times and, despite all that, when I’d been stupid enough to offer myself to him on a silver plate, he had rejected me.

I didn’t want to see him ever again.

Someone knocked on my door. It was an over-excited Aleja who’d run to tell me that the whole HQ was on high alert because Lance had been spotted in the Alchemy lab. I snorted in my mind, it hadn’t been the first time he’d stolen something from the guard lately, and they’d never managed to capture him.

I hadn’t even tried, at this point I just wanted to stay away from him and didn’t want to take part in this battle they had going on, they were both wrong anyway.

However, today he had perfect timing. If everyone was running around HQ trying to capture him, security around Leiftan would be looser, giving me the perfect chance to proceed with the ritual.

Having made up my mind, I gathered all the ingredients I needed, ingredients I had “borrowed” here and there in preparation for this day. There was already a thief running around pilfering HQ, no one suspected me in the least.

I paused for a moment thinking about how the old me, not even a couple of months ago, would have never conceived stealing, tricking the people around her and preparing illegal rituals.

The new me, however, was pissed.

I run through the chaotic corridors, people were busy inspecting every room and hole, it was perfect. I took the stairs that lead to the cave and, in a few seconds, I was in front of the prison door, no guard in sight.

I stepped in the room and my eyes immediately found Leiftan in his cage, a physical and magical prison much stronger than the one from before. This one was enough to hold a grown deamon, allowing for daily (but fruitless) interrogations. The sheer power required had been taking its toll on Miiko and everyone involved.

“Erika…” he said, immediately standing up, coming as close to me as the cell allowed. “What’s going on?”

“Apparently your business partner has showed up again for one of his nightly shopping expeditions in the Alchemy lab, everyone is trying to catch him to say hi.”

He scowled and was about to reply when he noticed I was setting up the place for the ritual.

“What are you doing?” he asked, “wait… I know what you are doing. You can’t Erika, it’s too dangerous, it requires lots of power and ability.”

“Stop cuddling me and treating me like a dumb, powerless fool,” I cried out.

“I don’t… Erika, I love you. You’re my soulmate. I’ll tell you anything you want to know, you don’t need to do this.”

“Because you’ve always been so forthcoming so far, right?!” I asked arching an eyebrow, sitting in the middle of the circle I’d drawn on the floor.

I started chanting the words of the spell, but as I was about to complete the incantation something happened.

The door burst open and Lance, followed by Miiko, Jamon and the whole Light guard, entered the cave. Damn… how could I’ve forgotten about the escape route I’d helped create not so long ago? Was I going to enter Leiftan’s mind, now? Or Miiko’s? Anyway, I was going to get some answers out of this.

The moment the last word came out of my mouth, time stopped and everyone got stuck frozen mid-movement. A blue light surrounded me and then quickly spread in the whole area, as if searching the right target, the one my heart most desired to connect with.

I watched it reach the person physically closest to me, Leiftan, and move on. It touched Nevra, Ezarel, Miiko, and still expanded and searched, until it reached the person I least suspected.

And then, it was only darkness.

........................

What a waste of time, I thought as we reached the top of the cliff. Memoria was supposed to hold the answers to all my questions, I’d done anything these past years, stolen, betrayed, murdered to be here and meet my people. To understand and free them from their suffering. And now that I was one step away from getting everything I wanted, I was stuck on this island with the girl.

I looked at her, she appeared so carefree, so innocent, while dancing with those worthless creatures. She had no idea, did she? About how rotten this world really was.

I almost envied her.

She kept dancing at the melody, surrounded by their lights, and I couldn’t help but stare, almost captivated by her movements, by her light-hearted smile, her aura.

I realised I’d taken a few steps forward as if to join her, only when she stopped and turned around, bumping into me.

“It’s only me…” I replied at her startled face, trying to reassure her.

Reassure her? Why would I? She was supposed to fear me.

Our eyes met and something twisted inside me, as if something long time dead had just awakened.

......................

What was that?

I thought when I was back in the darkness, bodyless but my conscious again my own.

I’d recognised that moment, that night on top of Memoria’s cliff. I’d seen myself, but with someone else’s eyes.

I was in Lance’s memories, I could experience his thoughts and feelings.

Before I could understand the meaning of all that, I lost myself again.

....................

Chanting the last words of the spell, I felt the barrier between our bodies disappear and my hand touch her own.

She felt… soft and warm. Even though I could tell she was feeling slightly cold in that cavern, her body wet, her white underwear leaving nothing to the imagination.

Suddenly, I was feeling warm too.

Looking into her violet eyes, I tried to discern what she was thinking. She was usually an open book, displaying all her emotions on her face for everyone to read and take advantage of, but in that moment, she was looking back at me as surprised and as captivated as I was. Before I could make up my mind and take a step back, she intertwined her fingers with mine. What…

“We’re out of options, Jamon…”

The ogre and the damn kitsune! How distracted could I have been to not hear them coming?!

I hid us behind a rock, threatening the girl not to make a sound. This looked like a secret meeting of some kind and I wanted to hear what they were discussing.

“I don’t like it either,” the uptight kitsune said, “but the Oracle is dead, and Eldarya is starting to give first signs of imminent destruction. I don’t know how long we have left.”

“Jamon knows Miiko, but…”

The girl tried to speak, I head to shut her up, but threats could only do so much. The feeling of her soft, warm body gave me a few ideas, so I lowered my lips to her skin and started kissing and biting on her neck and ear.

This was… more pleasing than I thought it would be. And I’d thought about doing things to her many times. How could I not? I was sure she would be shivering and blushing in barely concealed pleasure as she was doing right now, but I had no idea how this would affect me. I had to keep my thoughts straight.

“We have to complete the sacrifice, there’s no other choice.”

Ah… that was it, then. I knew it was coming. I knew these selfish, disgusting people would not hesitate to sacrifice us as soon as they got the chance. I’d been correct all along, taking my brother away had been the smartest choice.

“There are two dragons left, the deamon and… an aengel.”

I tightened my hold on the girl, they knew about her then, a wave of possessiveness I was unable to explain rushed through me.

“I don’t want to, but it’s the only choice we have…”

They wanted to sacrifice her. The sweet, little thing shivering in my arms. She was so innocent but at the same time so strong and brave. Taking on the man who had kidnapped and threatened her with such confidence. Helping the useless people who had taken everything away from her the same way they’d taken away everything from me and my brother.

They had no right to touch her, she was mine.

MINE.

Again, I lowered my lips to her neck and staked my claim.

..................

I was back into my own mind, in the same intangible nothingness as before.

Confused and surprised, but now I knew what Miiko was keeping from me. She wanted to sacrifice me to save Eldarya, and not just me, Valkyon, Leiftan and Lance too.

I felt betrayed all over again. A part of me knew she might see no other choice to save Eldarya and its people, that same part even agreed with her, maybe that was my destiny, maybe that was my purpose in this story, to die in order to save the world.

But… it wasn’t just me. I couldn’t even begin to accept the fact that three men who I cared about… yes, I cared about all three of them, had to die with me. I could die for the world, but could I take them with me?

No.

As soon as I realised that, I lost myself again.

.....................

The girl was looking at me with challenge in her eyes. How could she be here, so confidently facing the man who’d been about to kill her just a few days ago? I’d been seriously ready to do it, it was my intention and the best possible solution to all my problems, if she couldn’t be sacrificed there was no chance Eldarya could be saved. And there would’ve been no reason for them to try to sacrifice my brother too.

I’d been so stupid, trying to find thousands possible ways to avoid that, one crazier than the other, but when I’d seen her in the garden, under the Hundred Years Cherry Tree with that filthy deamon’s hands all over her, I’d lost my mind.

I was ready to put an end to everything, ready to be done with this.

And in the end… I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.

She’d laughed at me, mocked me for my ineptitude, the same way she was doing now.

She knew I couldn’t kill her, even if a part of me wanted to.

She’d finally found out that her sweet, nice boyfriend wasn’t so sweet and nice after all, and she’d run straight to me out of spite and hurt. She wanted to use me to forget and punish.

For once, our intentions aligned.

I quickly undressed her and lied her on the altar on top of Memoria’s cliff. Looking at her from above, half naked and willing… ready for me… she was a sight for sore eyes.

The moment I touched her, I knew she was exactly what I needed. I’d never seen anything so beautiful and perfect in my life and I was ready to lose myself in her.

For one brief moment I thought that even my twisted, sinful self could deserve something so pure and strong.

But then I saw her face, looking at the night sky. Her words, so far and distant, and I knew she wasn’t really here. And I realised, without a doubt, that I wanted everything from her, not just her body.

I wanted her heart, her mind and her soul.

................

“Are you having fun?” a voice said when I was back in the void. It wasn’t really a voice, there was no mouth to pronounce words and sounds, but the message was clear anyway.

“I’m sorry,” I projected, feeling like I needed to apologise for sneaking into his mind uninvited and… for other things.

“At least you know the truth about those sick, selfish bastards.”

“I know the truth about many things now…” I replied.

Silence fell for a few seconds, and I thought about everything I’d witnessed. The spell was supposed to show me his deepest feelings and most inner thoughts.

And, I’d seen me, just me. His mind was full of me.

“As soon as the spell is broken, we have exactly ten seconds to escape through the passage through sea. You can’t stay here, it’s too dangerous now.”

He hesitated, then added, almost pleadingly, “come with me.”

I could tell his tone was unsure, but it didn’t need to be, my mind was made up.

“Yes,” I simply replied. “Take me away, Lance.”

[questioningyourfate]

A Happy Escape

Fate here to celebrate what some of you think is the luckiest number ever in my thirteenth response to one of your questions by answering one from a real fan:

Fate,

Seven years ago, I met the funniest, smartest, most charming and attentive man. Problem is, a lot of other women also thought he was funny, smart, charming, and all that, and I guess he felt the same about them. 

I found out I was pregnant just before I found out about the cheating. I went to break up with him and told him, after he asked, that I had no intention of keeping the pregnancy. He got down on one knee and pleaded with me not to end our relationship or the life of our child. I told him the abortion had nothing to do with him and that I never wanted to be a mother anyway. He swore he would change his ways, commit to me and our baby, and be the primary caretaker when it was born. 

I told him I’d need to think about it and went to my parents’ for the weekend. I am my parents’ only chance to have grandchildren, however, so of course they convinced me to go back to my boyfriend. 

I did. He did not keep up his commitments. I tried to push for him to have full or at least primary custody of the child I was never able to bond with or love, but the judge deemed it would be in the kid’s best interest to have equal time with his parents, never mind that my ex always has some excuse as to why he can’t take the kid when it’s his week. Oh, and the once-proud grandparents have kind of cooled on spending time with their grandchild as soon as he got bigger and more headstrong. 

I did find the time to date. My taste in men hadn’t improved significantly. My first semi-serious boyfriend after my ex turned out to be a controlling jerk, and after I dumped him, he would not stop calling, texting, hounding me online, coming to my job, and showing up at my house. It was so bad that I had to get a restraining order.

Then he kidnapped me. I try my hardest not to think about those days I spent trapped in his basement with the padlocked door and the barred windows while he alternately professed his undying love and then proved how diseased that love was. I’m not sure how it took the police so long to figure out where I was, but both my kidnapper and I could see the lights and hear the sirens when they pulled up to his house. That was when he grabbed his shotgun and forced me to run with him into the woods behind his house. 

I gave up when I twisted my ankle and fell to the ground, refusing to move no matter how many times he yelled and thrust the gun at me. I guess the first K-9 to come running and growling at him forced him to give up, because he ran off farther into the woods. The dog ran after him. So did its handler. I suppose it was dark enough that everyone else who followed also stayed hot on his trail instead of noticing me, which meant there was no one surrounding me when the gunshot rang out. 

It must have been you, Fate, who gave me the willpower to pick myself up onto my hands and knees and crawl out of those woods when I heard that blast. I can’t think of how else I would have snuck back into my own house, tended to my bleeding palms and shins, then taken all the cash I had saved along with my passport and bought the first plane ticket out of the country. 

I could have done without the nightmares. I also could’ve done without the guilt. I’ve glanced at my ex’s social media every few months or so, though, and it looks he has finally stepped up to be the parent our kid needed all along. To judge by the smiling family photos he’s posted with my parents, it looks like they’ve also stepped up as grandparents. 

I’m happy to have stepped down as a people-pleaser in private and am only one for pay only now in my role bartending at a beach resort, ignoring the male customers when they get too flirtatious and limping home to a bungalow that might be a little rundown but is mine and mine alone. It’s been a hell of a journey, but I can’t help but thank you for the destination, Fate.

It was my absolute pleasure, dear. Nothing gives - gave - me greater job satisfaction than to press, press, press on the lump of coal that was an individual’s life until it had no choice but to become a diamond. Such a shame that all the plaintiffs in that class-action lawsuit couldn’t find the same beauty that you did!

[the1989repmysoul]

24 Questions to get to know me!

QUESTION 1: What is your earliest memory from childhood, and how does that memory make you feel? My earliest memory from childhood was playing hide and go seek with my brother, and grandfather before he passed. Honestly, I’m happy I got the 4 years I did with him; I miss him everyday, but he's always with me. 

QUESTION 2: When do you remember feeling the happiest in your childhood? Was there an event that led to you experiencing this joy? I know it’s cliche, but as a child, nothing made me happier than being surrounded by family. 

QUESTION 3: What three words would other people use to describe you? Timid, shy, funny. 

QUESTION 4: What three words would you use to describe yourself? Optimistic, smart, and beautiful. 

QUESTION 5: What do you take a stand for? Mental Health. If I see anyone in need of resources, I'll get them to you. If you’re struggling, I want to help; I refuse to let someone’s voice go unheard!

QUESTION 6: What do you take a stand against?  Injustice. Wether it be against women, men, a person’s color, being discriminated etc. I’m a pretty opinionated and brutally honest person.

QUESTION 7: What is your biggest fear? Loosing my mom, heights, spiders, clowns etc. 

QUESTION 8: What is the most significant challenge you’ve overcome, and what did you learn from it? The biggest challenge that I had to overcome is, learning to be okay with who I am, and be okay with the fact that I can’t change who I am as a person. I can only change so much. I wasn’t always the smartest kid, and felt like college would never be an option, but here I am, proving everyone wrong. I learned that no matter what others think of me, it does not define me as a person, it only defines who they are. 

QUESTION 9: What accomplishment are you most proud of in your life? The accomplishment that I am most proud of is, getting an A in a class that was extremely difficult. 

QUESTION 10: What makes you feel happiness or joy with the friendships you have? Being able to be myself around them. I love that I can vent, and cuss and they’re understanding of it. We all have bad days, but my friends make it all better. Nothing like them! 

QUESTION 11: What makes you feel happiness or joy in your romantic relationship? I don’t currently have one, but if I did, it would just be to feel heard and loved, regardless of who I am or what I have been through. 

QUESTION 12: What makes you feel happiness or joy in your career? One day, I hope to see others become happy and healthy, and that is all I could ever ask for. Working in the psych field will be tough, but I can’t wait to change the lives of others, and see that they are finally in a good place!! 

QUESTION 13: What makes you feel sad or unfulfilled with the friendships you have? When someone tries to discredit my past, and make it seem like I made it up. The only thing I can do is educate my friend on mental health, and how I feel. I know it’s not always an easy topic to talk about, but the more you know, the better it’ll be. I could always use some support. 

QUESTION 14: What makes you feel sad or unfulfilled with your romantic relationship? I don’t, that’s the best part about not being in one. No one can take advantage of me, and make me feel worthless.

QUESTION 15: What makes you feel sad or unfulfilled with your career? Literally nothing, I love what I'm studying, and I can’t wait to make a difference. 

QUESTION 16: What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail? Try even harder. Just because I can’t fail, doesn’t mean I have to give up the mentality of doing my best. 

QUESTION 17: If you could do only one thing for yourself—not anyone else—for the rest of your life, what would it be? Too go on vacation without others, and just take some time for myself! 

QUESTION 18: What have you done in the past that is the most meaningful for you? Making an impact on others lives. 

QUESTION 19: How do you feel about your parents? um, that’s often debatable as I don’t always get along with them. 

QUESTION 20: What was the defining/pivotal moment in your life that forever changed you? When I hit rock bottom in high school, and just didn’t care about myself or anyone else around me anymore. I got tired of fighting, and decided to pray as hard as I could, and God saw me through it. I woke up feeling like I really could get somewhere in life, and decided that my life and health were the most important. 

QUESTION 21: What do you believe is possible in your life? I’ve always believed that anything was possible, as long as I put forth the effort to make it happen. 

QUESTION 22: What is the number one belief that keeps you stuck in your life and holds you back from getting what you want out of life? Listening to everything people have told me. Like, no I'm not perfect, but I'm trying. I feel like as long as I'm stuck with this mentality, I'll never get anywhere in life. Can’t never got nowhere. 

QUESTION 23: If a magic genie granted you one wish, what would that wish be and why? To spend the day with @taylorswift.  I would tell her how much she means to me, and thank her for saving my life, as she has had a tremendous impact on my life. I will forever be grateful for her!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3

QUESTION 24: What legacy do you want to leave behind? In other words, what do you want people to say about you when you’re gone? I want people to say, wow that girl really impacted my life, or she saved my life. I want to leave behind a legacy that tells people that, you can do whatever you put your heart and mind to, and never give up on your dreams. I want to be able to change someone’s life so much, that they talk about me in a positive light! 

[starrbomb]

For your langst prompt thing, maybe Lance actually having major depressive disorder and starting to crumble under it. The team starts to notice and confront him. Then as a group they try to help him through it. It's not very original, I know...

honey, it doesnt matter if it’s not very original, its something that you want to see and that is all the reason i ever need to write for you. and as for this prompt, this actually hits quite close to home ( since i myself also have clinical depression and went years without proper treatment) so if you yourself are dealing with this, you aren’t alone darlings.

__________________________________________If anyone ever asked lance when all of it started he could never really pin point it to an exact cause or time in his life.

it’s just always been there.

thinking back on it now, he would say that the excessive amount of anxiety has been with him since first grade. a knot that formed in his stomach and wouldn’t go away, a knot that just seemed to weigh him down and make every movement forward feel like the wrong thing. something in his head telling him that going to school was a bad thing; that something bad was going to happen if he went to school. but when he tried to explain it to his parents, they just told him that it was probbly just a stomachache, that everything was fine.

but that unnamable knot came back every time he got ready to go out somewhere, or whenever he had to do something that he didn’t believe he would succeed in. it always came back and made things seem impossible to do alone; that if he tried something wrong would happen and it would be all his fault.

but he learned how to deal with it; albiet not in the best way, but it was better than being trapped in his own heartrate and short breaths. sometimes he could ignore the feeling, push through it to do mundane things like homework and chores. other times, all he could do to stop an anxiety attack was to just avoid the subject all together.

the depression came into play around high school; making friends was hard and the bullying for his accent and where he came from was even harder, it didnt help that he was pretty much the baby of the family; all of his siblings had already graduated back in cuba so there was no one to keep an eye out for him at school and struggling with both understanding the lessons he was given and the complex language barrier that he still had between himself and everyone else at the school, it all took its toll on him. whenever he came back from school, he woould go straight to his room and collapse on his bed, wishing for sleep to just take him away from all the hateful words and mocking he got from his ‘classmates’ day in and day out. he barely ate, even when it was his mother’s cooking that wafted into his room. he just couldn’t gather the motivation to go out of his room and be apart of the world. not while his bed was so safe and warm and judgement free.

it was after Lance had missed three school days in a row like this that his mother and father had realized just how bad things were for lance. they took him to a psychiatrist to see what was wrong and what they needed to do to get their old Lance back.

and thats when he was diagnosed with major clinical depressive disorder.

his doctors immediately had him start taking anti depressents and anti anxiety medication; switching between this one and that one before they finally found one that worked with him and his body. it was slow going at first, and many times it felt like it wasn’t doing anything at all, but then one day lance was doing his usual chores and realized that it didnt take as much energy as before to do it, he wasn’t wrestling with himself to get things done as much as he used to. he actually felt somewhat…..normal. he felt light.

Lance always made sure to keep some of his AD and AA on him at all times, just in case he had to rush to his classes or accidentally forgot to take them. he didn’t expect to be thrown out into space with just a handful of his medication on him and no one actually knowing about his mental problems. he didn’t expect to be blown up, destroying what little remained of his medications, protecting the one man who could have made him more of them if he had known about them.

but now, here he was in the middle of space with nothing left of his medication, and all he could do was hope that now that he knew what it was like to actually feel happy and carefree and……normal, he wouldn’t be as effected by the sudden stop of his meds. he knew it would take a few days for the medication to completely work out of his system so he took the short amount of time left that he had of feeling normal to make ways for hijm to try and find that normalcy again without the help of his meds.

but soon enough, the dark feelings came back. it was slow at first; taking longer to get ready for training, loosing the energy to go all out during sparring sessions. Lance could tell that the others were picking up on his weird behavior, how he didn’t really contribute to conversations anymore and that he even stopped flirting with the princess. it was as if they were watching their blue paladin slowly die right in front of their eyes; and they had no idea as to why. they all became so worried about their friend that they all met together during one of Lance’s now usual naps.

“ I’m sao worried, what if he’s planning on leaving? what if he just disappears in the middle of the night? what if- what if-” Hunk stammers out, tears threatening to spill as he works himself farther and farther into an anxiety attack. thankfully Pidge takes a hold of his hand and makes him sit down on the sunken couch and does her best to calm him down, “ Hunk, its okay. Lance would never just up and leave us. you know that he still loves us and even if he is acting like this, he cares about us too much to ever just leave……right?” Hunk isnt sure if she was trying to goad him into agreeing or if she was trying to find the answer to calm down her own worries about their friend, but he nods anyways, taking a look back up to his friends as a way of saying that he’s okay.

“maybe it is a bug that has number three acting so out of sorts; like the stomach one that number five got just a few weeks ago!” Coran suggested, getting a few spare chuckles out of Hunk and Shiro. “ while that is a good theory Coran, im not sure that’s what going on with Lance. it doesn’t seem like he’s sick with anything; it’s like the life is being sucked right out of him.” Shiro states, getting a gasp from Allura. all eyes turn to her as she whispers “ What if this is Haggard’s and Zarkon’s doing? what if they are actually draining the life right out of him.” everyone seem to pale at the thought of it, Shiro unconciously gripping the forearm of his artifical limb.

the tense moment is quickly intrupted as Lance runs into the room, sweat staining his undershirt and a terrified look of desperation painting his face.

“Lance?!”

many of the occupants in the room standing as Lance seems to heave a sigh of relief and almost collapses in the doorway, heaving in breath after breath as if he has been running for hours. Thankfully, Coran was close by and caught him from completely falling and helped him slwoly down to the floor, the others immediately rushing to his side.“Lance?”“are you okay?”“what’s wrong?”“are you hurt?”

everyone asking question on top of question at once, not sure what to do to help and yet wanting to do anything to try. once it seemed like lance somewhat caught his breath, he chokes out “sorry- sorry I-” Shiro takes hold of Lance’s hands, getting him to look at him. and Shiro was surprised to see such a sad and scared look in his eyes. “ Lance, you did nothing wrong. you just scared us a little. can you tell us what got you so panicked?” Lance doesn’t seem eager to share, but he manages to squick out “ it’s just me being stupid.” Pidge is the one to speak up this time, squirming her way to being face to face with Lance “ Lance, you aren’t stupid. trust me, I’m the smartest one around and i’m telling you the truth: you. are. not. stupid.” Lance can’t help but let out a breathy chuckle. “ but this part of me is.” Pidge puffs up with irriation and is obviously ready to speak up again, when Lance beats her to it “ i know, i know im not stupid, but this part of my brain makes me think stupid things” lance starts out strong, trying calm down the others, but the more he talks the quieter and timid he becomes, baiting everyone to barely breath so that they can hear every word, “ I thought that it was really quiet and then my anxiety kinda took over and made me start thinking that you all had just left me and that you didn’t care about me and i know that’s stupid; i know that you guys would never do that to me but i couldn’t stop thinking like that and i was getting scared that the stupid voice inside my head was right so i started looking for you guys and i didn’t find you guys anywhere and that just kept feeding my anxiety more and more and that just fueled the depression and i started running everywhere looking for you guys and i’m sorry, I know i’m ranting and stuff but it was just like before back home and i thought i had better control of it but I-” Lance is immediately cut off by Pidge throwing herself into his lap, knocking him out of his spiralling thoughts and back to his surroundings and noticed that all of his friends were on the brink or already crying, he can feel the small wet patch on his undershirt from where Pidge has buried her head into his stomach, clinging to him as if that would be enough to hold him together. man, he really was falling apart at the seams, huh? he thought he had it under control, but instead it caused him to go back into that dark and negative head space all over again.

“lance? do- do you honestly believe that we would-” keith whispers out, not even having enough strength to finish the sentence

“no! no, i know you guys would never abandon me! its just my anxiety and depression making me think stupid things that i know aren’t true and yet it makes things feel like they are. that’s why i said that that part of me is stupid.” Lance stammers out, clutching to Shiro’s hand and Pidge as he explains. “ it’s just been so hard to keep my anxiety and depression under control since i lost my meds.”

“then why didn’t you tell us that you were struggling and needed medinical help? you know we wouldn’t have judged you for needing help.” Keith counters, his sadness and betrayal leeching into his words.

Lance looked down at the ground at the words, knowing that they were true, even if Shiro was getting on Keith for being angery at him because of something that Lance couldn’t control. “i-” he whispers, catching everyone’s attention once again, “ i thought that you guys wouldn’t understand, or that you wouldn’t care. i know that it was just those dark thoughts spreading lies in my head, but they can be really persuasive when they want to be.”

Shiro looks back towards Lance’s hunched over form, unconciously protecting him from the outside world and the ominious what ifs that seem more like mountains to him than the mole hills they truly are.

“Lance….” shiro waits until Lance finally looks up, a look on his face as though he’s bracing for the worst. “ I’m glad that you shared this with us, it must have been really hard to talk about this. im proud of you.”

it was with those words that Lance felt like he was able to take a full breath again. they didn’t hate him for hiding this from them; they weren’t going to leave him. and for the first time in weeks, Lance felt like everything was going to be okay, even if its just for a little bit. and that’s all he could ask for in that moment. everything was going to work itself out.

[milleniumhan]

When love and hate collide.//Personalized Fic.

Notes: Hey guys! This is the first of many personalized fics, it was requested by the beautiful babe @heckin-harrington. Hope it doesn’t disappoint! <3 I hope y’all enjoy it and if you do please let me know! Feedback + reblogs are always very appreciated. <3 Thank you!

Summary: Hawkins is full of strangers, luckily for you Steve is one of them...but then again, so is Billy. 

Pairing: Steve Harrington + Female reader (Jenna) 

“Where do you think you are going?” your mum said in a menacing tone, it was yet another stressful shout-filled morning at your household.

“I’m taking the fucking bus to school, no way I’m going with you.”

“You watch your language young lady”

“Whatever” you half shouted as you slammed the front door. 

You started walking down the neighbourhood, towards the bus stop. Moving to Hawkins had proven to be harder for you than you expected. The absence of your friends, of the familiar, it was all replaced by empty faces and unfamiliar places. It always sucked to be the new kid in town, but you were used to that, Hawkins was just another state of the many states you had lived in and constantly moved to. Still, this was different. Everyone here seemed to be very distant and cold, just like the place.

You shook your head, trying to somehow get rid of these vile thoughts that kept creeping into your mind. Today marked the third week since you had started school here, you thought to yourself, maybe people would finally give you something more than pleasantries and fake smiles.

You were so caught up on the memories from your previous hometown that time passed you by and you didn’t realize you were walking slower than a tortoise. As soon as you looked up you saw the bus had already parted, leaving you behind and no one caring that you were calling at them to stop so you could get in.

“Oh, come on! For god’s sake! Could this day get any freaking worse?” You let out the longest sigh in history and as you went to furiously run your hands through your curly hair you noticed it was wet. Stretching out your hand in front of you, you suddenly there were light drops of water falling from the sky. “Jesus, please no” you grunted at yourself before deciding to make a run for it. Just as you were turning the corner the loud honk of a car stopped you right on your tracks.

“Hey!” Steve shouted from his car as he rolled down the window “Need a lift?”

You looked at him, then up at the sky, and then at him once more, giving him a desperate nod. He let out a chuckle and leaned to open the door.

“Thank you” you whispered shyly as you gently shut the door. You had seen him around in school, but you didn’t really know who he was.

“No problem” he said giving you a confident smile and driving off.

The first thing you noticed was the music coming from his radio.

“Is that...is that Foreigner?” your tone coming out more patronizing than you intended.

“Um…yeah” Steve hesitated to answer. “I, uh, I can turn it off if you want.”

“Oh, no! I didn’t mean it like that, I love Foreigner!” You said, stopping him from ending the music.

“You do? You don’t think it’s lame?” he said unable to hide his eagerness.

“No, not at all. What other bands do you like?” you inquired, not knowing this would unravel a long conversation about music and bands. Steve told you about his favourite bands and you did the same, which then led to you talking about movies and tv series. After a while of laughing and sharing interests, the car fell silent, but not in an uncomfortable way. The sound of the rain tapping on the surface of the car somehow soothed the air that surrounded you both. Once you got to the school parking lot Steve got out of the car and darted over to your door, putting his jacket over your head so the rain wouldn’t hit you.

As you were walking towards the entrance of the school you bumped into Billy. His stare was as stern as always, especially when he looked at Steve.

“Harrington.” He let out in an annoyed tone, “Jenna” he said, turning to look at you.

“Hey, Billy” you said in a soft spoken manner before he left, brushing past Steve’s shoulder.

“So, I guess that’s your name, huh?” Steve said looking at you.

“Oh, yeah, sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. You can just call me Jen, though.”

“Hello, Jen. I’m Steve.”

“It’s nice to meet you Steve.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Jenna.” You both stood at the entrance momentarily, not saying anything, just looking at each other. “Well,uhm” Steve said, clearing his throat “I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah” you whispered “I guess so”

And with that, he was gone. And so were you, your heart and mind now satisfied, you had finally had a real interaction with someone in this forsaken town.

-

“Hey Jenna”

You searched the hallway to see where the words had come from. A part of you was anticipating to find Steve in hopes your previous conversation could continue, but instead you found Billy.

“Hey Billy, you headed to english?”

“Nope, I’m skipping. Carol, Tina and Tommy managed to get a bunch of booze and we are going to go get shit faced, Wanna come with? We’ll have fun, I promise.” Billy leaned on your locker and gave you a sly smirk.

“No thanks, I’ll pass.” you responded with a half smile.

“Fine then, suit yourself.” He said as he started to walk away towards the entrance. “You sure? Last chance.” He shouted back, only gaining a polite nod from you before you headed to class.

-

“Jenna, is that you?” Your mum called out when she heard you entering the house.

“Yup. I’m home.” your voice was tired, almost as tired as you were. You flung your backpack across the living room and sat down on one of the couches. Your mum entered the room and stared at you in a condescending manner.

“So, how was school?” she started, like she always did.

“Meh” you replied “the usual”

“Jen” your mum said, giving you a knowing glare.

“I just, I don’t like it okay? I don’t understand why we had to move to this stupid place, we were fine in Texas for christ’s sake.” You knew you shouldn’t poke at the subject again, but you couldn’t help yourself, you hated this place.

“We’ve talked about this. Your sister’s gymnastics team moved here because the training center here is better. We did all of this so that Claire can live out her dreams.” You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms as you heard the same old argument.

“Well, what about my dreams, my  friends, my happiness. Does that mean anything to you? Doesn’t that matter too?”

“We need to support Claire, why can’t you understand that?”

“I do understand it! And I love and support her, but I’m just tired of having to give my life up because of it” the tension in the room rose as both of your voices started to become louder and louder. It was the morning all over again. “You know what? I can’t do this right now.” In a swift move you grabbed your coat and stormed out of the house.

At first you weren’t sure where you were going, so you  started walking down the street towards the park, maybe you could go there to clear your mind. You passed what seemed to be an endless line of identical looking houses, not knowing who lived in each one even though this was your neighbourhood. When you reached the end of the road you noticed a familiar face, it was Billy again. He was smoking a cigarette out on the front porch next to Tina and Carol. The moment his eyes noticed you his face completely lit up along with his signature grin.

“You stalking me, Jenna?” he said in his usual snobbish voice.

“Are you stalking me, Billy?” you mocked back.

“So, did you finally come to your senses and changed your mind?” he inquired, making reference to the encounter you had had earlier at school.

You stopped for a moment, wondering if this was the right thing to do. You knew it wasn’t. They were not exactly the smartest or nicest crowd to hang out with, but at this point you didn’t care anymore, it would just be for one night anyway. You just wanted to rebel against the world, even if it was just for a moment. You wanted to feel something, to have people around you, people to talk to, even if they were assholes. You took a deep breath and turned to look at him.

“Well, you did promise booze and fun.”

“That I did” he said giving you a wink “Come on in then, darling” he extended his arm and put it over your shoulder as you both entered the house.

After that night you constantly hung out with Billy and all of his friends, gaining a lot of talk from other people at school. Everyone seemed to think you and Billy were dating, which wasn’t exactly the case, but there was definitely something going on there.

Friday’s were always the day in which you would go to someone’s house and get wasted alongside Billy. You waited for him patiently at the usual spot, but he was taking longer than usual. Something felt weird, Billy could be anything you want except unpunctual, he hated when people were late. You looked around, searching for any signs of life, but nothing. You decided to go back inside, maybe he had gotten stuck at gym class or something like that. The school was almost empty by now. You roamed the deserted hallways, you weren’t  sure if you were even allowed to be there.

As you made your way to the gym, a loud bang coming from a classroom startled you. You went back a couple of steps to try and find the place of origin, worried that someone might’ve gotten hurt. As you went to open the classroom door, you heard two voices whispering.

“Shhh! Someone’s going to hear us stupid” Tina?

“No one’s here, even stupid nerds go home after 3:00” Billy?

“What the fuck is going on?” you thought to yourself. You opened the door slowly, trying not to make noise, only to find Billy and Tina hidden in the corner all over each other. They were so focused on what they were doing that they didn’t even notice you were there.

You ran out of the school, tears threatening to leave your eyes. It was there where you encountered Steve, he was standing beside his car with his keys on his hands, ready to go home. You started walking towards him without thinking, almost as if your legs were acting alone. He was surprised when you approached the vehicle, you two hadn’t spoken in a long time after all, but like he could read your mind still he held you in tightly between his arms, somehow knowing that was what you needed. Something stirred inside of you and you completely broke down, your tears soaking the shiny material of his jacket. He slowly ran his fingers through your curls as you continued to sob. After a while you finally pulled back from the embrace, wiping your tears with your sleeves.

“I’m sorry” you managed to mutter out

“It’s okay, Jen, don’t be.” Steve said, giving you a reassuring smile and running his thumb over your cheek, wiping any remaining tears. “Come on, get in.”

You drove off to Steve’s house, he took the long road as you beside him, telling him everything that you had just witnessed.

Steve’s heart swelled up with both anger and sadness. Whenever he saw you with Billy, out in the parking lot with him smoking cigarettes, or doing something reckless, he just wanted to run and and take you away from him. Months went by like this, killing Steve slowly, and now you were here, hurt by the same guy that had hurt him. He wanted to run back to school and punch him, but we all know how that would turn out.

You arrived at his house, which was empty. No sign of his parents as usual.

You went up to his room where you sat down on his bed, tears still slipping out of your eyes. Steve stood by the door, analyzing the situation. He wasn’t sure what he should do. After a moment he decided to sit down next to you, to offer you some words of comfort.

“Come on, Jen” he broke the silence in a soft voice, gently placing his hand over yours, he was barely making contact but it somehow felt more intimate than any other instance. “I’m sure you’ve left better behind...I mean, you...you are you.”

“What do you mean?” you replied just as softly

“Well, you know...Billy...Billy, he’s and ass.” Steve said, not really knowing where he was going with this. He was trying really hard not to fuck and say something wrong. You gave him a sad smile before letting out a sigh, shaking your head and placing both your hands over your face. You knew deep down inside you weren’t just crying because of Billy.

“I’m just” you sighed through your hands “It’s not just because of him”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s everything, Steve. I hate this place. I’m so sick and tired of moving, of never being able to stay in one place, make lasting friendships, create real ties with people. I’m sick of having everyone tell me what to do, what’s best for me, but never really listening to what I have to say, to what I want.”

Steve sat next to you, not a single word escaping his mouth. He just sat there, listening to you say all the things no one else cared to listen to. Taking the time to try to understand everything that was happening with you, and boy did he understand. You reminded him of himself, before Nancy. He knew the empty feeling that came with being like that, the fake friendship and toxic relationships you were surrounded by. He understood everything like no one else ever could.  

“I just want to be surrounded by people who love me, who care about me. I want to pursue my dreams, do the things I want to do, not the things I have to do because of my sister’s dream. I just want to be free to be me.” The more time went by the more you felt yourself unravel. You couldn’t stop, you had been holding it all in for so long. “I just, I don’t know what to do. I hated hanging out with Billy and Tina, don’t even get me started on Carol and Tommy, but they somehow filled the void. They were there, even if it was bad company, they were there.”

“I get it” Steve started, finally breaking his silence. “I felt that same way, not too long ago I was the one hanging out with those assholes, but now I have other people. I found better friends, I have Dustin, you know? And for what it’s worth, you have me. I might not be the best dude in the world but I’m always here if you need me. I’m sorry about the things that happen with your family, mine is a broken mess, so I also get that. Look, maybe this will cheer you up” he said with a smile before reaching out to get something from the drawer in this night stand “Def Leppard, your favourite. I got it after you told me how much you liked them.”

You smiled at the thought of him remembering what you had talked about the first time you ever met. This was the exact moment where you realized how much you really liked Steve. You had buried any and all feelings that you had for him in the back of your mind, thinking you were only being dumb, but this was it, this was the reassurance that you needed. All this time, you were in love with Steve.

He handed the small cassette tape over to you and signaled to the stereo across from you.  You took the hint and got up to place the cassette inside. The music started blasting, filling your body instantly with joy. Steve got up and started to sing along, imitating Joe Elliott...a dorkier version of Joe Elliott, anyway. His exaggerated facial expressions making you laugh out loud, this was the first time you had laughed like this in a long time. Your giggles filled the air as you were both dancing badly to your favourite rock band.

“Remember this moment” Steve whispered, he too realizing that he was in love with you.

Tag-list babes! <3 : @ambeazyyy @ayatimascd @missnena2194 @ditchthesticks @javapeach @lilo-1398 @catnissprior-blog @justrunawayoftheshit @steveharringtonofficial @tobarblog @hishoodies @theroyalbrownbarbie (If I forgot anyone please let me know <3)

[5hfanfiction]

A Light in the Dark (Chapter 83)

A/N: Hi guys! I’m so sorry it took me this ridiculously long to post this chapter. After this awful 5H divorce, I lost my inspiration to write Camren fics, it was brutal. When things slowly started to settle, I tried to write again, because this story became too important to me to not finish it. I had, like, over six versions of this chapter, but nothing seemed right until I finally decided on this one. I doubt anyone of you even remember what this story is even about after this long hiatus, but yeah. Sorry, guys!

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The annual Christmas Eve party of her parents had not changed a bit since the last time she had been forced to attend. It was as dreadful as ever. Camila let her eyes wander over the crowd of men in black tuxedos and women in various elegant dresses. It were always the same kind of people. They came from church, law enforcement or the hospital. It was the most boring evening of the year – by far.

Camila took a sip from the flute glass in her hand and fought the urge to scream out her frustrations. Not only were her shoes slowly but surely killing her, but constantly having to fake a smile was starting to strain her facial muscles. It was a Christmas miracle that her smile did not look like a grimace. She really should have pretended to have fallen ill instead of coming.

But as her gaze settled on her little sister next to some other unfortunate children a few feet away, that thought disappeared as fast as it had come. No, nothing would have made her leave Sofi again. Especially not with those people. It was bad enough that Sofi had had to endure one of those parties on her own last year.

These annual parties were not a normal Christmas get-together with colleagues and friends. Tonight was all about making connections and passing judgment upon others. The conversation topics usually varied between crime rates, upcoming cases, complicated surgeries, politics, sports, the judicial system, and – of course – gossip.

And as luck would have it, tonight the majority of guests thought that she was the most interesting topic of the evening. Where had she been last year? What was she doing? Were those awful rumors true? And weren’t her parents wonderful with their unwavering support despite her controversial lifestyle? How loved she must be feeling! They were truly remarkable human beings! Saints even!

Accustomed to play the perfect daughter, Camila had answered every question as politely and patiently as possible. Even the most ridiculous and offensive ones. Would it wonder anyone that her alcohol-free champagne was in fact not free of alcohol at all? Or that she was already on her fourth glass? Probably not. Was it stupid to drink alcohol in a room full of law enforcement people? Not to mention to mix it with her medication? Camila glanced towards the chief of police on the other side of the room and took another sip. Probably yes. Did she care? Not really.

Not that her girlfriend knew this little detail, of course. Lauren was already nervous enough as it was.

“You were right,” Lauren muttered beside her and sighed. “I can’t believe the amount of weird comments and looks we have been receiving about our relationship. What is wrong with these people?”

“They’re bored. The last time they saw a lesbian couple was probably Ellen and Portia on TV or something.”

“That’s no excuse. Do you see that guy over there? Near the buffet? White hair, neatly trimmed beard, a blonde woman on his arm that I hope is only his granddaughter? He’s been glaring at us since we got here!” Lauren frowned. “How rude can someone be?! Mind your own damn business, you bigoted moron. I’m not judging you either.”

Following Lauren’s directions, Camila immediately spotted the man. It was not difficult to do so. He was one of the few people who openly showed their utmost contempt towards them. Most other homophobic guests had either kept their opinions to themselves or only talked about them behind their backs. Or gave them some backhanded compliments. As if they would not understand the true meaning behind them or notice the whispers and quickly averted eyes whenever they caught them staring. And these people were supposed to be intelligent? Camila honestly doubted that.

“You mean Judge Anderson?” she asked.

Lauren drew in a sharp breath. “Judge?! He’s a judge?”

“He’s one of the most conservative judges here in Miami, so it’s not a wonder he’s been glaring at us. He’s a homophobic asshole,” Camila replied rather loudly, not seeing the need to lower her voice for the other guests. It was not like it was a secret anyway. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw a few people stiffening slightly and smirked. Maybe this party had the potential to become better after all. Even though her girlfriend kept giving her those suspicious looks as if she tried to figure out why she was more blunt than usual. But she would deal with that later. “Or a devoted Christian, as he likes to call it. And that woman next to him is his third… no, I think his fourth wife. They get younger each time.”

The scandalized looks the closest guests were throwing her way only contributed in lifting Camila’s mood. This was fun! Although it was maybe not that great for the perfect daughter image she had been trying to portray for the last three hours. Oh well, people couldn’t have everything.

“A devoted –? Him? Yeah, right,” Lauren muttered darkly. “What a fucking joke. Please tell me he’s got nothing to do with the trial. If he’s the judge –”

“He’s not. My father wouldn’t have invited them, if that was the case. It wouldn’t look good, if you know what I mean.”

“Why did he even invite him in the first place?”

Camila shrugged disinterested. She had given up on understanding the world her father lived in. It had brought her too many headaches. “Politics. And he used to be his mentor – before he became a judge, of course.”

Lauren reeled back. “Wait.That…that person used to be the state’s attorney?! He’s openly homophobic! How can he even be a judge? He’s probably biased as hell!”

She couldn’t stop herself from chuckling at her girlfriend and shook her head in amusement. No matter how intelligent Lauren was, times like these truly showed the idealism and naivety she still possessed. It was kind of cute, if she was being honest. Lauren wanted to become a lawyer to fight injustice, but somehow she overlooked quite a few things. “You act as if the system is free of racism, sexism, homophobia and the like.”

“He swore an oath!”

Camila sighed. It would be amazing if everything was as simple as Lauren tried to make it out to be. “It’s been years since he was the state’s attorney – almost two decades, if I remember correctly. For the most part of Judge Anderson’s life homophobia was okay. He was doing his job when he prosecuted people like us, Lauren. The Supreme Court only ruled in 2003 that sodomy laws for same-sex couples were unconstitutional and yet Florida still has them on the books. Granted, officially they’re against unnatural and lascivious acts, but it’s up for interpretation whether it concerns same-sex couples and they definitely used it legally against us. It was legal to discriminate others. Hell, it still is, if we’re honest about it. It’s still legal to send minors to those awful conversion therapies. My own father would have sent me to that if I had come out sooner and even as an adult he still asked me to do it.”

“But…” Lauren frowned and looked from her to the judge. “It’s not fair.”

“Unfortunately life is rarely fair. I thought you wanted to become a lawyer to fight things like that?” Seeing Lauren’s frustration plain on her face, Camila looked at her glass. Maybe she should have offered Lauren some too. It made everything seem less bad. When she had arrived, her stomach had churned, she had tensed up at the thought of even setting foot in this place where it had happened. After a few glasses, however – well, who cared what any of those idiots thought anyway? “Not many things are okay in this country or in the world, you know that. Him having a position like that is only a minor one.”

“I would be careful with your words, Ms Cabello, considering your surroundings,” a deep voice behind them suddenly spoke up, causing Camila to whirl around to face the man that had sneaked up on them. “Publicly insulting judges – no matter how true your words might be – is not the smartest thing to do.”

Behind them stood a dark-skinned man in his mid-forties, dark brown almost black eyes were shining with a warmth that Camila had neither anticipated nor seen in any of the other guests tonight. As he regarded them, the genuine smile on his lips never wavered – not even when his eyes landed on their intertwined hands.

“My name is Michael Sanchez. I had the overall pleasure to work with your father on some cases,” he introduced himself after a short awkward pause. “I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation with the lovely lady to your left. Your girlfriend, I assume?”

“I…” Camila trailed off, unsure how to proceed. He obviously seemed to know her, but she was convinced she had never seen him in her entire life. “Nice to meet you, sir. And, uh, yes. This is Lauren Jauregui.”

“My pleasure,” he said charmingly and bowed his head. “Your mother wanted to introduce us, but it seems I have lost her somewhere between the cocktail bar and the buffet. So when I saw you standing over here, I couldn’t help but take the opportunity to do it myself.”

He knew her mother as well? And her mother wanted to introduce him to her? This was getting more mysterious by the second. If he was only a colleague of her father, he would have been the one to handle the introductions. Not her mother. “How exactly –”

Another man’s voice interrupted her before she was able to kill her curiosity. “Mike, there you are! Why do you always disappear just like that?! You’re worse than Waldo!”

Camila furrowed her brow as a very familiar man walked up to Mr Sanchez, her mother not far behind him. It was certainly not that surprising that hewas here. She almost expected to run into him this evening. But – Camila threw a puzzled look from him to Mr Sanchez – what a weird coincidence.

Or maybe it was no coincidence at all.

Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened as Mr Sanchez suddenly leaned in and gave the newcomer a peck on the lips.

Maybe four glasses of champagne had been too much. That was the only reasonable explanation for all of this. She was clearly drunk and hallucinating. Was it her medication that did not mix well with alcohol? There was just no other way that her doctor was kissing a man who worked with her father, right in front of her mother.

Camila numbly shook her head and pinched herself, desperately trying to become sober, but it was no use. There they were, holding hands, smiling at each other like only couples in love could, and her mother was still standing next to them, acting as if this was the most normal thing in the world.

Her mind raced as her eyes darted between the three people in front of her that were now chatting like old friends. There was no way that her mother had been friends with an openly gay person, a gay man, while acting the way she did after her own daughter’s coming out. No, that was just impossible. She was losing her sanity. Maybe she was having a mental breakdown. Or she was asleep and everything was a dream. But wasn’t it impossible to feel pain in dreams? And had she not just pinched herself? The stinging ache in her arm had definitely been real. No, they probably only had grown closer when her mother started to change her view on homosexuality. That had to be it. Maybe she hadn’t even known about his sexual orientation for a long time. She doubted that many people were telling others at their workplace about delicate things like that.

“Dr Sanchez, it’s so nice to see you again,” Lauren said, successfully snapping Camila out of her thoughts. She was stunned to see that her girlfriend was not as shocked as her over the latest crazy development. “Thank you so much for everything you did –”

He stopped her with a wave of his hand. “You don’t have to thank me. Seeing Ms Cabello happy and healthy is more than enough. I see my husband introduced himself already?”

Husband?! Camila knew she shouldn’t be that surprised considering they carried the same last name, but… this was her mother’s friend. Someone she had worked with for years. With whom she apparently got along very well. And he was married to another man. How crazy was that?

She took a deep breath. “You’re…?”

“Married?” Michael joked. “Yes, I know, hard to believe. But I took pity on him.”

“You’re lucky to have me!”

“Of course, honey. Luckiest man alive, four years in a row.”

Camila swallowed and tore her eyes away from the couple to stare at her mother who watched them with a smile. Four. Years. Those two words alone felt like a slap in the face. She somehow doubted that her mother could not have known about that. “How… how long have you been friends?”

“How long has it been, Sinuhe, three years?” Dr Sanchez gave her mother a warm smile as she nodded. “It was a tough start, but in the end she couldn’t resist my charm. Sadly our busy schedules never allowed us to come to this lovely party before this evening.”

So it was true. There was no way of her not knowing about his marriage. He wouldn’t have treated it like a dirty little secret, if he proudly brought his husband to a party like this. Her mother had no problem to be friends with an openly gay man for three years? But when it came to her own flesh and blood…

She blinked rapidly, trying to ignore the lump that formed in her throat. Throughout all this heartache, all this talk about her sexuality being a phase, about how it was something abnormal, some kind of mental disease that had to be treated – during all this nonsense her mother had been friends with a gay man. An openly gay man. A married gay man. For three years. And it had not bothered her mother one bit. She had never seen anything wrong with it.

Camila was only vaguely aware that Lauren had started a conversation with the Sanchez couple. Her mother had no problems being friends with a man living in a homosexual marriage, but when her own daughter had come out, she could only sit there and urge her to go to conversion therapy? How fucked up was that?

Taking another deep breath, she tried to calm down and blinked the tears away that were slowly welling up. This was definitely not the time to create a scene. It was not the time to think about her mother’s hypocrisy. She could not change the past. Her mother accepted her and the relationship with Lauren now. Couldn’t this be enough? Was it important with whom she was friends?

“Shut up,” Lauren’s gasp brought her out of the unpleasant thoughts. “You’re an attorney for the ACLU? The ACLU?”

“I wasn’t aware that there was a different one.” Michael grinned. “I work for the one in Florida, yes.”

The look on Lauren’s face could only be described as completely awestruck. It was as if a child had just been introduced to the real Santa Claus, but Camila could barely find joy in seeing her girlfriend like this. Not only was her mother good friends with a gay man, his husband was also involved with the ACLU. Of course. It just had to get better.

“You guys are my heroes!”

Raising an eyebrow, Camila took another sip of champagne, trying to ignore the anger that was slowly bubbling up in her. Of course Lauren would be the one to fangirl over a civil rights organization. Although Michael didn’t seem to mind. He chuckled and threw his husband and her mother an amused look.

“Word is, you might be interested in becoming an attorney yourself?” Michael asked knowingly. Was her father telling everyone at the party about her girlfriend’s plans? This topic could not have come up in a normal conversation between her mother and… her friends. Camila frowned. Her friends, indeed. “You know, the ACLU in New York City offers a few internships for grad students each year, Ms Jauregui. You can always apply for one in the future, if this is something you’re interested in.”

Did they know how her mother had reacted to her coming out? Probably not. Her parents had probably kept it as quiet as possible. After all, wasn’t it shameful to have a disgrace like her in the family?

“Interested?!” Lauren’s eyes widened. “I-I’m – yes, I think I’ll look into it. Thank you, sir. I never thought about that option!”

Why had her mother reacted like that anyway? Yes, she had stopped her father from immediately disowning her – but she had given her the pamphlets of those horrifying facilities, asking her to go to those because they would help her to become normal. She had said they could cure her.

Camila’s grip on her glass tightened as she glanced between her mother and the Sanchez couple. Her own mother had turned her head away when her father had thrown her out of the house. She had not lifted a finger to protect her. Not uttered a single word. All the while being friends with a gay man.

But it was in the past, wasn’t it? Her mother had apologized. Since then she had been supportive. She had worked to understand it, to accept it. Although it had taken the disappearance of her daughter for her to change in the first place. Just like she almost had to die for her father to see her as a human being and not as an inconvinience.

“Ms Cabello?” She blinked a few times and focused back on Dr Sanchez who gave her a tiny smile. She really needed to get a grip. This was neither the time nor the place to lose control. “I asked whether you’re excited about getting cleared next week?”

“Um, yes. Yes, I am, I can’t wait. The last weeks were a nightmare.”

“I can imagine.” Dr Sanchez chuckled. “But I’m sure Ms Jauregui took great care of you, if my first impression was right.”

“Oh, your first impression was spot on,” her mother answered before she could say anything. “Lauren is a true angel. Karla could not have found a better partner.”

“I think I need some fresh air,” Camila blurted out, unable to take it any longer. The champagne was not going to help her in keeping her emotions in check, it was the opposite. She needed to get out of here before she said anything bad. Before she ruined her parents’ precious Christmas Eve party and gave them another reason to hate her. “It’s a bit hot in here. Excuse me.”

Without waiting for a reply, she let go of Lauren’s hand and hurried towards the open glass doors that led to the backyard. She didn’t care that she would receive a lecture later about how rude she had been acting in front of the guests or that she had probably confused Lauren quite a bit with her sudden exit.

It was too much. Everything was too much. The party, the guests, her parents, the part she was forced to portray for the sake of her father’s reputation – even that stupid playlist of the string quartet playing Christmas songs in the background.

Without looking back, she reached the terrace and followed the small path that led through the garden. It looked beautiful, illuminated by various lanterns and torches, but she didn’t have the mind to admire it.

It was likely that her reaction was overly dramatic. But it hurt. All she had ever wanted in life was to be accepted and loved by her parents. And while her mother seemed to have reached that stage of acceptance – was it wrong of her to feel hurt that her mother had accepted complete strangers for the same thing she had resented about her own daughter?

She took in a shaky breath and tried to ignore the tightness in her chest. She was not going to cry. Not tonight. It was in the past. Wasn’t it normal that parents felt more strongly about what their children were doing with their lives than what non-relatives did?

“Karla? What are you doing here?”

Startled, her head snapped up and her wide eyes met her father’s. Trees and bushes had obstructed her view of him until she had walked around a corner. It was just her luck that she was not going to get a break tonight.

She hesitantly glanced into the direction of the house and back to him. She was so not in the mood for his criticism. “I… I needed some air. Shouldn’t you be with your guests?”

“Is everything okay?” Ignoring her question, he gave her a quick once-over. “Are you feeling ill? Do we need to call Dr Sanchez out here?”

“No,” Camila drawled. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

He nodded and let his gaze wander over the bushes and trees around them. “Thank you for coming to the party this year. I know you don’t particularly enjoy these functions and I appreciate your attendance.”

Surprised, she raised her eyebrows. “Wasn’t it mandatory?”

“Karla, you’re an adult – you can do as you please. It’s not like you ever had a problem with that.”

“Seriously?” Camila glared at him, unable to hold herself back. She heard the hidden meaning loud and clear and she was done. “How many jabs at my sexual orientation do you want to throw at me before it gets boring?”

He sighed and shook his head. “This is neither the time nor the place –”

“No, I’m done with this bullshit!”

“Karla –”

There was a warning in his voice, but she didn’t care anymore. Perhaps it was the mixture of her medication and alcohol that loosened her tongue, maybe it were the last three hours full of bigotry or the latest revelation about her mother’s friend.

“I like women – big fucking deal, Papá! So do more than fifty percent of the world population! You like women too. Women are awesome, why can’t we just agree on that and call it a freaking day?!”

“Language.” Her father’s eyes turned cold as they bored into her own. “Don’t play dumb, Karla. Despite your less than intelligent decisions in the past, I know that you are not actually an idiot.”

“Why do you care so much with whom I hold hands with or who I kiss anyway? Why is gender so damn important to you? It’s my life, not yours.” Camila noticed that he clenched his jaw. It was probably unwise to provoke him any further, but she was past the point of caring. The alcohol in her system didn’t help either. “I love Lauren. I don’t tell you to stay away from Mamá either, do I?”

“Do not – I repeat, do not compare our marriage to your sinful lifestyle, Karla.”

“Sinful?” Camila couldn’t help it, she snorted. He wanted to use the religion card? “If God had anything against me being a lesbian or our relationship, he would not have made me gay or brought us together. God is about love, not hate. Jesus preached about love. But if I really should go to hell for loving Lauren, then I gladly will. None of this, however, is in any shape or form your problem, Papá. Don’t use religion as an excuse to hate me or as a reason why seeing two women or two men holding hands makes you uncomfortable or disgusted. You know that there are many things the bible tells us to not do and yet no one cares about them. If you can’t handle it even though it is none of your business, you should look for the answer in your own behavior – not in mine.”

Her father took a deep breath, trying to stay as collected as possible. “I am not going to have this – this discussion on Christmas Eve mere feet away from a house full of guests. However, I will tolerate your choices in public. We will present a united front, especially with the upcoming trial.”

Camila stared at him in pure disbelief. “Is your reputation all you ever care about?”

“It’s my career, Karla!” he suddenly snapped. “Of course I care! Do you think I want to stay the state’s attorney for all eternity? The last election was already a close call because people kept wondering where the heck you were!”

Unbelievable. Camila opened her mouth only to close it again. She had no words. What could she even say after that? Her father had just told her that he would only pretend to tolerate her sexual orientation for the sake of his future career. He basically said that he only cared about her disappearance because it made him look like a fool.

“As I already said in the hospital,” he continued much calmer than before, “maybe it was my fault that you turned out like this. That you somehow felt so repelled by men due to my actions that you sought love in women. Or maybe it was Mr Forster who turned you –”

“No one turned me into a lesbian,” Camila muttered, turning her head away from him. The crushing disappointment she was feeling surprised her. Had a small part of her actually dared to hope that he was coming around?

“I did research, Karla. There are scientific studies that show that this… this thing is not genetic. You were not born like this, no matter how much the mainstream media is trying to convince you. If you just gave men a chance, I’m sure you would find a suitable husband one day! Don’t you want a normal family? A relationship that is not frowned upon? You could have it! What about Mr Vanderbilt? You seem to be fond of him. Yesterday evening I noticed the relief on your face when Ms Jauregui told you he would not spend Christmas alone. You care about him.”

“Because he is my friend! And what part of me saying that I’m in love with Lauren did you not understand?” she asked, frustrated beyond belief.

“I am sure Ms Jauregui is a lovely girl, but this is your life we’re talking about! Karla, wake up. You almost died because of this silly thing! If you had not been so stubborn and lived a normal life, nothing like that would have happened in the first place!”

Camila took a step back, staring at him in complete shock. This evening was becoming a real nightmare. “You’re – you’re saying it was my own fault?”

He paused and raised an eyebrow. “Pardon?”

“You… you just said…” Shaking her head, she took another step back. “You’re blaming me for everything Gabriel wanted to do to me?”

“That’s ludicrous. I was merely stating that this – this lifestyle of yours is dangerous. Why do you insist on living this way when you could so easily find a boy and live a carefree life?” He sighed in frustration. “Your mother said I should give you a chance. She says that this is more than just some sort of rebellion or choice. I love you, Karla, and I want what is best for you. But I don’t want someone to hurt you because of something as ridiculous and as easily fixed as this.”

Camila watched him, taking in the worried frown, his clenched fists and the desperate look in his eyes. With a start, she realized that he actually meant those words. He was not lying. He was not trying to deliberately hurt her. He was trying to protect her in the best way he knew how. A wave of sadness overcame her when the truth set in. Would he ever understand that her loving other women was not a choice she made?

“Maybe Lauren and I should leave now,” she mumbled and turned back to the house. Staying overnight for Christmas suddenly didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore. She could very well just visit Sofi during the day and take her out for a few hours. “Thanks for the invitation.”

“Karla, please –”

Pausing, she looked over her shoulder. “If you really loved me, you would try to understand that being gay is not something I can change. You wouldn’t look for excuses and studies that tell you how you’re right and that I’m wrong instead of looking at all the facts. You wouldn’t tell me that I should try to date a boy I have no romantic feelings for just because it would be more convenient. You wouldn’t have tried to send me to conversion therapy multiple times. You wouldn’t say that it’s me who has to change in order to be safe in this country instead of those lunatics who want to hurt me or even kill me just because I’m attracted to women. And you certainly wouldn’t have said that you wished I was never born when you stopped by my apartment after a year of no contact. Not even in anger, Papá.”

Her father visibly winced, but not a second later his posture changed. Camila watched with fascination as every emotion left his face and he became the cold man she had always known growing up. He didn’t make the impression as if he wanted to say anything else. His eyes were rooted to a spot just above her head, but when she turned back around, nothing was there.

“Maybe you’re right,” he said quietly. “Maybe you and Ms Jauregui should leave. Thank you for attending the party.”

Swallowing thickly, she cast a last glance over her shoulder and nodded. She hadn’t meant for the evening to turn out like this, but she felt a little better after getting it off her chest. She knew it was likely that she had erased any kind of progress she had achieved with her father in the last few weeks. But what kind of relationship would they have had, if she had held her tongue and let him think she could still be saved?

“She is not going anywhere.”

Camila’s head snapped back to the path in front of her. Wide-eyed, she stared at her mother who had suddenly stepped away from the bushes that had hidden them from the house. The icy glare that had been directed at her father, immediately softened when she made brief eye-contact with her. How long had she been standing there? Had she followed her outside after she fled the room? It was likely that she had wanted to check on her, seeing how concerned her mom was about her injury.

Unsure, she glanced between her parents as an awkward and tense silence filled the air. She really didn’t need to be the reason why Christmas would suck again for her sister. Not when Sofi had told her how different the last Christmas had been from their usual ones. “Mamá, I don’t mind –”

“No. You will not go anywhere, if you don’t really want to. Christmas is about family and I’m not going to let you spend it by yourself instead of celebrating it with Sofia. You should not feel as if you’re not welcome in your own home and by your family.” She narrowed her eyes at her husband. “Your father needs to act like the adult he is. Now go inside, mija. You don’t want to get sick.”

Gnawing on her lip, Camila hesitated for a few more seconds before she listened to her mom’s order and walked past her, back towards the house. She really did not want to be in the middle of her parents’ argument – especially not if her mom had heard everything she had said. Including the bit about her father telling her he wished she was never born. Wincing, she quickened her steps. She really didn’t want to be here for that.

But her mother coming to her defense – she didn’t quite know what to make of that. It was obvious that her mom was not the same woman she used to be. She was in her corner, Camila was almost sure of that now. Maybe she even had a valid reason why she was okay with befriending gay people and not liking the idea of having a lesbian as a daughter. Perhaps it had only been an overreaction of her to assume things. She only needed to ask.

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A/N: Okay, I hope this wasn’t too bad. I can promise that the next update will not take another year, haha. If you liked the chapter and are not too mad at me for the hiatus…

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Just keep your ebook resource stored on your hard-drive or burn to a CD for later use. Then print out only the section you need to construct each garden. You’ll have a paper manual at your side as you build. Simple Simon!

   Hydroponic plans:    Secrets of the Pros

The secrets experienced hydroponic gardeners use to Turbo-charge plant growth. Use any of these secrets and your plants will grow faster than your neighbors. Use them all and you’ll be bringing home ribbons from the fair.

Why setting up a hydroponics garden in a bedroom can backfire horribly (all that work for nothing.) The book will show you how an adjustment that only takes 20 seconds to perform will transform a certain failure into breathtaking success.  

How to whip the problem of “hard water”.

The two requirements for hydroponic success. Just do these two things and you are almost assured a bountiful harvest. HINT: Keep the plants in their comfort zone.  

Why plants grown in a hydroponics system out-grow, out-taste, and out-perform ordinary gardens.  

Discover the ordinary household appliance that makes bugs cringe every time it is turned on. Some of the safest ways to control pests are also the most effective… and cheapest.                

How to turn a coconut into a tomato. Hydroponics is a different world; ordinary soil is not used and one of the best soil substitutes is coconut coir, which is the husk that surrounds the coconut. The book will explain why mixing it with perlite will give you the best results.

The better way to add spice to your cooking. Herbs are one of the crops that do great in hydroponics.

The e-book will show you an easy way to the freshest herbs instantly available- right in your kitchen. (Just like a gourmet restaurant!)  

Do this one simple thing on a regular basis and your garden will flourish. Neglect to perform this easy test and your plants will enter a downward spiral they may not recover from. Adjusting the pH sounds like chemistry class, but the book shows a way so easy a five-year-old can do it.

   Hey, wanna see what this baby looks like?

Below are actual screenshots of pages from the e-book:

WAIT! I know you’re anxious to get started, so go on and order below if you must. But… you might just prefer our Giant Hydroponics e-book instead. Why?

Not only do you get this entire Systems e-book, the Giant book also includes complete plans for a super-charged Hydroponics Growbox and Bubbler system. But there’s more…

Also provided… the entire original Hydroponics-Simplified website in PDF form! That’s 320 pages crammed full of hydroponic plans, tips, charts, diagrams, everything you need to get started in this rewarding gardening method.

Read all about this unique guide “Getting Started in Hydroponics” here:    Giant Hydroponics Guide

Not interested? Then order “Simon’s Simple Hydroponic Plans” below.

“Grab Your Copy Now”

Regular Price $19.95

Today and always $19.95 [No Fake inflated price, no limited time offer here]

ORDER NOW:

   OOPS! We forgot to tell you about Bonuses

BONUS #1- GROWING TIPS ‘N TECHNIQUES GUIDE  

A complete but compact and concise guide you can print out and keep right there in your grow room. You’ll find yourself referring to this clever guide every day! It boils down the whole growing cycle and reminds you of steps you need to take at each stage of growth.

This bonus guide includes:

Nutrients: Quick mixing chart, proper ph and EC ranges, the super-simple 50% method, how to top up your reservoir, and when to mix a new batch of grow juice

Lighting: Which lamps for which gardens, how high to hang, when to switch bulbs, how long they last, and a concise lighting chart  

Planting Media: How and when to use the most popular hydroponics growing media: LECA, perlite, CocoCoir and Rockwool  

Seeds: The best way to start plants for from seed; plus a secret way to kick-start your garden and shave weeks off the growing time  

Vines: How to tie up your vining crops for maximum production

BONUS #2- SIMON’S WISDOM-

THE BEST OFs… GARDENING CHECKLIST… AND RESOURCES

Simon’s list of the best trays, best lights, best nutrients, all his best ofs… and where to get them.

A list of helpful hydro supplies for your new hobby… “must have”, “nice to have”, and “luxury items”.  

Gardening checklist… when to do what; daily, weekly and monthly.

Hydroponics resources guide. Useful books and magazines for your hydroponics library.

BONUS #3- AUTOPOT® FARM PLANS

Build the ultimate lazy man’s  hydroponics garden! With AutoPots®, you truly can “set it and forget it”. We tell you how to create a big automated Autopot® farm with this bonus guide, which comes with the hydroponic plans.

   Hydroponic plans:    Ready to Start Growing?

Well that’s about it… what else do you need to know about our EBook offering? Email us if you need more info.

We feel that “Simon’s Simple Hydroponic Plans” ebook is simply the best way to get you started in hydroponics for the least amount of money (except for the Giant Hydroponics e-book).

Hydroponic plans:

Order your ebook today; a pdf file for instant download and use. You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the book, but we supply that for free if you don’t already have it on your computer.

WAIT! I know you’re anxious to get started, so go on and order below if you must. But… you might just prefer our Giant Hydroponics e-book instead. Why?

Not only do you get this entire Systems e-book, the Giant book also includes complete plans for a super-charged Hydroponics Growbox and Bubbler system. But there’s more…

Also provided… the entire original Hydroponics-Simplified website in PDF form! That’s 320 pages crammed full of hydroponic plans, tips, charts, diagrams, everything you need to get started in this rewarding gardening method.

Read all about this unique guide “Getting Started in Hydroponics” here:    Giant Hydroponics Guide

Not interested? Then order “Simon’s Simple Hydroponic Plans” below.

“Grab Your Copy Now”

Regular Price $19.95

Today and always $19.95 [No Fake inflated price, no limited time offer here]

ORDER NOW:

(Yes, I am repeating myself… Just didn’t want you to miss out on the best deal of all).

           Enjoy!                ~Simon & Stella

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[embracingthemoon-blog-blog]

My Seven Best Friends

Since the last time that I posted on here, I only had six best friends. I know what you are thinking... wow you already had six how the heck are you just gonna add in a seventh like that. It is simple really, when you know you know. Just like loves of your life, you can know when someone is meant to be in your life and when you find another soulmate. This time, instead of writing to each of my best friends, I am going to write why I am thankful for them and what they have each taught me.

Hillary, 

Thank you for being my oldest friend and truly my sister. I did not know that I needed someone who would evolve with me and go through so many dark times with me. You have been there through every major life event since the day you were born and it is so comforting know that I will always have you to love and support me. I am grateful to have a best friend who is so passionate and is so hard working and deserving of the best in life. You continuously show me that no matter what you are going through, you can keep going. You are so strong and I admire that about you so much. I love you so much. Thank you for showing me that I can have a best friend who I may not everything in common with but our souls are just so similar. Thank you for letting me connect with you on such a deeper level that I did know was ever possible.

Shianne,

Thank you for showing me what it means to be able to connect with someone and chose them to be your best friend. It is so refreshing to be so emotionally connected to another person. The depth of our friendship is something I can never fully express into words and I think that is what makes it so special. Thank you for being my best friend and for grounding me in times of distress. You always know how to make me put things into perspective. You are one of the smartest humans I have ever met. I appreciate and value the ways in which you open my eyes to concepts that I normally do not allow my brain to wander into. You are such a smart, funny, independent person and I will always be grateful for you coming into my life when you did. I had gotten out of some shitty best friendships and thank you for showing me what it means to surround myself with such a good soul.

Kat,

Thank you for being someone who I just get along with so easily. Thank you for being my first best friend who was so similar to me. Our essence is so similar in the ways that we express and feels things emotionally. I always used to joke that if you were a guy I would date you and I still stand by that statement. You and I just click in the easiest and purest ways. Thank you for being one of the easiest best friends that I could ever have. I love that we can be goofy, adventurous, emotional, logical, and chill all in the same day together. You are a person that I could not imagine not being in my life because you also showed me what it is like to surround myself with best friends who love me for me who I am and who I admire so much. Thank you for also showing me that someone can be beautiful and kind, I needed that after living such a superficial and fake life. 

Victoria,

Thank you for being my independent and self aware best friend. You are the only person who I know who is fully capable of expressing their emotions and analyze yourself as a way to fuel yourself and your passions. I love how passionate and dedicated you are to anything that you set your mind to. Thank you for showing me what a boss woman looks like and deserves. I appreciate every single one of our heart to hearts because they truly make me a better person. You always seem to know exactly how I am feeling and at times we are literally in sync emotionally. Thank you for showing me a best friend who I can meet and instantaneously know is meant to be in my life forever. Within a month of really know each other, we were calling each other our best friend and that still holds true to this day. Thank you for teaching me so much about myself and for constantly encouraging me to be self-aware and embrace my emotions.

Clara,

Thank you for being such a joy in my life. You were my first best friend who also added a mentorship role into it. Thank you for teaching me as much as i hope I’ve taught you. Your energy and spirit are so energizing to me. I know that I can call you at any time about anything and you will always be there for me. Thank you for being such a reliable source of happiness for me these past few years. I love you so much and I had no idea when I took you to be my little that I would be leaving Sigma Kappa with a best friend also.

Allison,

Thank you for being the best friend that has continued to evolve with me through everything. You have been my rock through some of my darkest moments and I cherish your presence in my life. Thank you for being my best friend who has shown me that no matter the test or obstacle, a friendship can only grow deeper. Our friendship is so special to me because of the amount of things we have gone through together and nothing has ever made us skip a beat. Thank you for being such a bright light in my life and thank you for giving me faith in the world. You have inspired me in so many ways and impacted my future. Thank you for being my best friend who I call about everyday things and major life things. Thank you for being the person that I ask for professional and personal advice from. Thank you for believing in me when I do not believe in myself. I love you so much and I want you know that you have no idea that depth in which I care about and cherish you and our friendship.

Claudia,

Thank you for being my best friend and coming into my life when you did. God knew putting you in my life would impact me in the most positive of ways. You are the first best friend where I am able to see myself. We discuss this frequently but thank you for being someone who understands me so innately. I feel as though I have known you my entire life but we have only known each other for a year and a half. Thank you for showing me how others view me through your support as well as your being. The way I am in awe with you and your optimism, energy, kindness, and depth is how others view me. I was never able to understand or see myself as being that valuable of a person until I met you. Thank you for opening my eyes and being able to see myself as a beautiful, kind, positive, and impactful person. Thank you for truly being your very own version of me in a friend and I am so excited to be able to have you by my side for the rest of my life. 

Each of these beautiful people, were placed into my life when I needed them most. Each of them brought me an insight into myself that I never knew I was even capable of. Before I even was aware of manifesting and surrounding yourself with kind hearted people and souls, these people changed my life. I always was in awe that I had such amazing friends and I never understood how. I understand that your friends are a reflection of yourself and although I did not see that about myself, they did. Thank you all for allowing me to realize my worth over time and the value of my friendship. I am crying in the club now and I gotta go but I am eternally grateful for these seven people who made me a better person and I plan on being the best friend I can be to them each and every day.

[kpopinionated]

Of gates and moons

♦️ fluff

♦️ member: Jung Hoseok

♦️warnings: none

~~~

Birthmarks. What strange occurrences. Light or dark, big or small, they appear on anyone, anywhere. Each and every one has a meaning, tells a story. Whether it be that you were born early, or that you would become the worlds greatest entrepreneur anyone has ever seen. It didn’t matter because each was unique. Most people had the same kind on their bodies except for one particular birthmark everyone got that was mended into the skin of their wrist. Only two of each special mark would appear and that only meant one thing - soulmates.

Soulmates were essentially the very thing that made a person feel complete. It was the happiness, the love, the complete feeling each person would get when you met the other person who had the matching mark. There’s just one catch.

Humans in particular are the wild card. They could get them or they couldn’t. But if one did get one it meant that their soulmate was indeed supernatural. It was normal for the supernatural to get one, since they always had one person meant for them, but humans didn’t have that feeling of having to be with one specific person. Sometimes humans met their significant others by just playing the field and yes that sucked, but it was the way the world meant for it to be.

Here’s where the wild card comes in - if a human had a special mark then they automatically knew their soulmate wasn’t like them. Now you are probably thinking what’s the big deal then? Well humans feared the supernatural. Supernatural creatures like vampires and werewolves were significantly stronger and more dominant - the top of the food chain in this society. And because of that they feared them as well as stories spread. The fear was high and you never wanted to be caught out late at night with one that wasn’t your soulmate. Sure their was friendly supernatural like fairies, nymphs, dryads, elves, and witches, but humans wouldn’t take the risk of being out late or in a isolated area. If anything they avoided it at all costs if they could.

~~~

Reader pov

~~~

It was around midday and the sun was high in the sky and yet here I was rushing through crowds of people darting in and out of open spaces. My heart rate sped up and my eyes widened at the time. I needed to get to the craft store before it closed and I needed to get some more fabric and not to mention art supplies.

My eyes darted left and right before I successfully spotted the craft store and all but sprinted inside. It was like I was the flash, the way I zipped through the aisles, throwing items into my cart as I went. In record time I had gotten all the items on my list except for one, fabric.

A sigh escaped my lips as I mentally prepared to spend my precious time looking for the perfect fabric for my massive project. And so my journey begun as I passed the blue’s and green’s, headed directly toward the warm tones of red and orange. My gentle fingers whisked over the materials until I felt the fluffy and soft fabrics.

My irises scanned the shelf as I placed my basket on my arm. My cool fingertips brushed my mark on my wrist - a sun. It was a small sun, not bigger than my pointer finger nail, but it had the most meaning to me. A sun meant ultimate warmth and love. It meant light, happiness, and protection. A small smile slipped onto my lips at the thought of my soulmate.

‘I wonder who it is? Do I know him? What kind of mythical creature is he?’ And most importantly, ‘how will I meet him?’ These questions circled my head like vultures. I was undoubtedly curious. 'Maybe he’s a blonde? No, no, brunette maybe? Is he tall? What ranking is he?’ The curiously was getting stronger as I rubbed my mark and without knowing I had dropped a fabric of gold, red, and orange into my basket along with miniature sun buttons and headed to check out.

After I had paid and grabbed my bag I made my way outside to the now dark atmosphere. The warm sun was replaced with the cool moon. The comforting breeze was nice like icy grips upon my legs. Goosebumps formed up my arms and my heart began to beat faster. It was late - that I knew. It would be a long walk home the normal way.

'Is it really worth it? To take the short cut?’ My thoughts countered one another. 'It’s freezing of course it’s worth it and not to mention its hella dark out here!’ I weighed my options and the more I thought the more cold I became so I decided to go with the short cut option, even if it wasn’t the smartest option.

~~~ The trail was rich with vegetation - both on the ground and in the sky. The only Source of light was the moon and even that didn’t help much. The trees seemed to grow taller and adopt the menacing aura. The wind began to blow again, ruffling hair and carrying my perfume through the woods.

Even though I felt fear run through my veins, I pushed onward, attempting to block out all other noises in the world. Key word attempting. As silent as it had been, a loud noise arose above the wind, cutting through it. I froze, my heart beating wildly, eyes scanning my surroundings. The tense minute passed and I relaxed and forced my feet to continue onward. Then it was louder, closer, angrier. The more I walked the noise only got louder and it was then I realized it resembled a growl.

I knew I should’ve kept walking, but my curious eyes scanned the forest to my left and I stepped closer, off the trail. It was then my eyes caught the golden rimmed eyes with a deep brown in the middle. A small gasp escaped me at how….human they looked.

My heart dropped to my stomach at my realization. My body seemed to know what to do and I found myself stepping further and further away back onto the trail. Each step the eyes followed and its paws followed until a large wolf was in front of me on the trail. Midnight brown fur complimented the muscular build of the shifter. The eyes locked onto mine with dominance flashing in them. I could feel his strong aura - I’ve felt them before.

I’ve had the misfortune of running into a less than friendly pack a while back. The alpha was absolutely massive and held the most authoritative aura of all. The beta was equally as massive and strong. Threat of the pack had circled me with not as threatening aura’s but the look in their eyes suggested I should be scared. If it wasn’t for five witches showing up I may as well had been dead.

The large wolf in front of me was definitely dominant, but not like an alpha would be. This wolf had to be the beta of the pack and if he was pursuing me it must mean I was on their territory.

I felt the rush of adrenaline flow through every muscle in my body and it all happened so quickly. My hair whipped around me and my feet pounded into the earth, running as fast as possible. My lungs began to burn, gasping no begging for me to stop. My heartbeat pounded wildly as I spotted the fork in the road - I was getting closer to safety. I could’ve cried with relief, but when a lithe silver wolf stepped up onto the trail I needed, dread filled me.

My body shifted to the right automatically. My legs began to burn with exhaustion and my lungs were crying out, but I couldn’t stop. Especially with the pounding of not one but two sets of paws pounding into the earth behind me. If I stopped now I’d become a moonlight snack - and I wasn’t about to be that.

My eyes darted wildly before they stopped upon the iron gate just ten meters away. Through exhaustion and pain I pushed myself. Five meters, four, three, two, jump! With the last of my strength I pushed off the earth and latched onto the gate and quickly pulled myself over the top and dropped to my feet, leaning back against the gate. My hand slipped over my mouth, muffling my breathing as my ears strained for any movements - nothing but silence met my ears and I sighed in relief, eyes slipping shit as I slid the rest of the way down the gate, legs giving in to the exhaustion.

It wasn’t even two minutes until I heard footsteps approach and my eyes snapped open immediately. 'Just where did I ended up?’ I thought and when I shakily stood up and my eyes caught the words private property on the gate, my heart positively stopped.

Not only was this private property, but it was werewolf territory. I was royally screwed if I was caught and this time I’d have nobody to save me. I knew I couldn’t climb the fence again and there was no time to go under so I had two options. To either get caught or hide. I chose option two and darted behind the tree nearest to me. The footsteps approached and then they stopped abruptly. My hands trembled as I covered my mouth and tried to calm my heartbeat down.

I heard the footsteps wander around for a second before the disappeared into the distance and I released the breath I was holding. Big. Mistake.

Before I could process what just happened I was pulled from my hiding spot and was facing a a boy. He had a green jacket on top of a plain black tee and black ripped jeans. He was taller than I was and he was toned. He had a pair of pink full lips that were formed into a smirk. His hair was a dark brown that was messily styled and he had the most gorgeous brown eyes with a gold rim around the outside of his irises and I couldn’t look away. It was like his eyes were hypnotizing mine, not allowing mine to stray elsewhere.

He seemed oddly familiar, but I would know if I knew him. Especially since he was this good looking. My hand subconsciously gripped my wrist and my thumb rubbed over my mark slowly and his smirk widened. Once he took a step it was like the spell broke and I matched his pace stepping away as he stepped closer.

“Who are you?” I whispered. The male in front of me stopped walking and closed his eyes, as if my voice physically effected him.

I stood still watching him before I took a step back and his eyes flashed open. I gasped at the dark emotions swirled within. Possessiveness, love, protection all greeted me, daring me to take another step and I took the bait. Without warning I was suddenly flushed up against him, chest to chest, noses inches apart, hypnotizing gaze capturing mine.

I gasped at the warmth emitting from the boy in front of me. He had one hand gripping my left wrist and the other wrapped around my waist. His palm was warm and comforting as he gently turned my wrist over to reveal my mark. His thumb caressed it softly before he brought it up to his lips to kiss gently. Sparks tingled through my wrist and my heartbeat sped up. He slowly lowered my wrist and led my hand to his own arm and a mark identical to me was on his own wrist. I awe my fingertips brushed his mark. It was identical to mine as I held my wrist up to his and a small smile crawled onto my face and my eyes caught his.

His smirk was now a smile of adoration and he lifted his palm to cup my cheek. I leaned my head into it and nuzzled the palm. His thumb caressed my cheek softly making me sigh in content.

“What’s your name?” I whispered.

His smile grew wider. He removed his palm from my cheek and instead gripped my wrist gently in his palm and kissed the back of my hand. “You can call me Hoseok, my love. And yourself?”

“Hoseok.” I whispered to myself before grinning back up at Hoseok. “I’m y/n.” And he whispered my name lovingly making me blush. “Well my love I guess we are soulmates.” He grinned before leaning forward to nuzzle his nose against mine. I shyly grinned back. “I guess we are.” My eyes slipped closed with content as Hoseok’s warmth wrapped around my body, shielding me from the wind.

~Allie