#ok i remembered how to blink we're all good now

[selfloverrrrrr]

Request:

Yandere Sukuna noncon's the reincarnation of his late unwilling wife.

Reborn..?

Warnings : smut , heavy smut, unprotected sex, Noncon, Kidnapping, physically and emotional abuse, biting, torture, size difference....

( All characters are aged up/18+)

Minors Do Not Interact

Read the warnings carefully....if you don't like my stories block me not report

I'm a student of jujutsu high Tokyo. I'm a first year.... Gojo satoru is the one who took the responsibility to make us understand our cursed energy and how to use. And us means me and my friends. Actually We're best friends... Me, Yuji, Megumi and Nobara.

IT was a normal day. I was gossiping with my friends. Yuji and Nobara. Megumi just left the room because he got a call from someone. He just left. So we three were gossiping when Yuji mentioned how much disgusting Sukuna's fingers tastes. Sukuna, about whom I heard that he's possessing over Yuji's body. But I haven't seen him yet.

"Hey...it can't be that much disgusting taste!" I said. "No y/n believe me!!! It's taste is so disgusting!" Yuji replied. "How can I say? I haven't tasted it...lol" I said. "But you can..." Yuji said. "What?!" I asked. " I have a finger... you wanna taste it???" Yuji replied. "Do you think it's safe?" Nobara asked Yuji. " Yes I do... cause I haven't eat so many fingers... I have just eat two fingers...so I don't think three fingers will do anything " Yuji replied. "Sounds interesting... give me the finger " I said.

Yuji handed me a Sukuna's finger. I unwrapped it and put it inside my mouth. And ewwww....it does taste disgusting!!! I closed my eyes tightly and swallowed it anyway. "How was it???" Nobara asked. "What did my expression said??!!! Ewwwwwww" I replied. "Hahaha told you" Yuji said. "Ok ok but don't tell it to anyone else...or else you gonna be in trouble!" I said. Nobara and Yuji nodded.

After a while Megumi returned. "Who's call was it?" Yuji asked. " It was Gojo sensei...he told us to return to droom" Megumi said. "Ah okay then... let's go...bye, see y'all tomorrow" I said. And give me a good bye back. After that we all went back to our room. And I was too tired so I changed my clothes and went to sleep.

I fell asleep. But all of a sudden I saw a dark place. Then I saw a red light. When I went close to that light I saw skulls everywhere! I got scared why is so many skulls here?! Then I saw a throne on all of those skulls. And a guy was sitting on the throne wearing white kimono.

"Who the hell do you think you are to come here without my permi-" he paused his sentence when he looked at me. "Y/n?" He spoke again. Who is he? And how did he know my name? Within a blink of eye he was standing infront of me. I screamed and almost fell on my back but he grabbed my hand.

He pulled me towards him and grabbed my waist. "Y/n....?....how?!" He said. "Who the hell are you??? Let me go!!!!" I screamed. "You don't know me?" He asked. "No I don't!! I'm asking you who are you???" I asked. "Y/n...clam down. Try to remember! I'm Ryomen Sukuna.... your husband!!!" He replied.

My eyes widened. So he is Ryomen Sukuna??? But why is he saying that he's my husband?! "No I don't know you and I'm not your wife" I replied. He stared at me for a second. "What's your name?" He asked. "Y/n l/n" I replied. "Rebirth... I see" he said.

"What are you talking about" I asked. He looked at me and smirked. "You died...in your past life. You were my wife. Someone poisoned your food. I don't know who or how....but let's not talk about that time... I don't wanna remember it. Now look... I got you again" he said still smirking at me. I tried to push him away. "Let go off me!! I'm not your wife....let me go!" I said. "You know what? First time I liked something which is done by that brat" he said. He was holding me too tightly with his body.

"I don't want to know anything just let me go!!!!" I said and tried to push him away. But his grip was too strong. "Tsk tsk... I found you after fucking 1000 years! And you think I would let you go" he said. I started crying in fear. "Yuji!!!! Nobara!!!!!! Megumi!!!!!! Gojo Sensei!!!!! Please someone help me!!!!" I screamed with all of my power. Sukuna smirked. "Noone hear you darling.... Noone is gonna help you!" He said and cackled. "W-what.... w-what do y-you want?" I sobbed. "What I want?" He spoke. I stared at him with teary eyes. "Are you a virgin, y/n?" He asked with a smirk. I could feel where it's going. He grabbed my face and dig his nails in my cheeks "I asked you a fucking question" he said with grinded teeth. I just nodded. "You waited for me to take your virginity again?" He said. I still tried to push him away but he was laughing at my weak attempts.

He threw me on the floor. Took off his kimono and threw it on the floor then knelt on the floor infront of me and started crawling towards me on the bed."please stop" I said and tried to push myself backwards but he grabbed my leg and pulled me towards him. I gasped. He was still smirking."stop?... You should be great full that it's your husband who's taking your virginity! The fun part is about to began ~" he whispered and crashed his lips on mine.

I tried to push him away but his grip was too strong. I can't even move myself. He was kissing me too roughly. I couldn't breathe. He grabbed the hem of my top and pulled it over my head. My boobs bounced out. He looked at those with lust in his eyes. He didn't waste any time, crashed his mouth on my breast licking, sucking and teasing the nipple and squeezing the other one with his hand. I moaned in the sensetion. I grabbed his hair and tried to stop him by pulling it but it didn't even effect on him. "S-stop ...... Oh god please stopppp" I scremed but he didn't stop.

Then he took off my pant and then took off my pantie."spread those legs wider, slut " he whispered and then looked at my pussy. He rubbed his finger on my clit and whispered " filthy whore is fucking wet". Then he licked my pussy. I couldn't help but moan loudly. He smirked at my reaction and undo his pant.

His dick sprang out. It was big and thick. Fear grabbed me by my neck. " P-please no... s-stop" I begged but didn't even listen to me and slammed his whole dick inside me in one slide. I scremed. " You whores will never learn how to behave " He said and slapped me. He didn't even give me time to adjust his size and started thursting in and out roughly. I was throughig my legs with pain and begging him to stop. And he was licking it so much. His thurst became harder and harder. I clenched around him tightly and he moaned loudly "you're still fucking tight " he started rubbing my clit with his thumb and I bite his shoulder scratched his back to control myself. With a few more thurst I came. He was still thursting roughly. I felt his cock pulsing inside me. I tried to push him away with all of my strength. I moaned. He grabbed my throat and chocked me down to the bed. " Stop struggling slut...!!!" He screamed. Within a minute he came inside me I could feel his seed inside me. He pulled out. My vision blurred out. All of sudden I woke up taking deep breath and saw everyone sitting infront of me.

Megumi's POV

I was laying on my bed and scrolling through my phone. Suddenly I heard a scream. "Yuji!!!! Nobara!!!!!! Megumi!!!!!! Gojo Sensei!!!!! Please someone help me!!!!" I heard that scream and get off my phone. I knew it was y/n's voice. I run out of my room. I saw Yuji and Nobara also run out of their rooms. "Did you all heard that scream too?" I asked. " Yes we did" Yuji and Nobara said together. We all rush towards y/n's room.

"y/n!!!! Open the door!!!! What happened??? We're here... open the door!!" We all screamed. But not a single answer came. "We have to call Gojo Sensei" I said and called Gojo. "Hmm Megumi" Gojo pickup the call. "Sensei whatever you are doing right now stop that there and just run infront of y/n's room" I said. "What happened?" He asked. "We even don't know what happened! She was screaming for our help...she was screaming for your help too!" I said. "Hold on" Gojo replied and he teleported himself infornt of us. "Is she inside?" Gojo asked. "Yes" we replied.

Gojo teleported himself inside y/n's room and opened the door. We all went inside. We saw y/n on her bed. She was shaking in her sleep as if she was struggling with something and she was groaning too. We all rushed towards her bed and tried to wake her up. "Y/n wake up! What happened?" I asked. "What the-... why can I feel Sukuna's energy inside her?" Gojo asked seriously. He was too serious. I was shocked. Sukuna's energy inside of y/n??? How's that possible?! Gojo was glaring at us. "Sukuna's energy? But how's that possible?" I asked.

"I'm asking the same question to you all!!!" Gojo said angryly. "A-actually sensei...." Yuji began to speak "we all were playing... and we feed her one of Sukuna's fingers " Yuji said. "What!!!" I and gojo exclaimed together. "Yuji that's a special grade curse spirit! Not a play thing!!!" Gojo screamed. Yuji and Nobara were silent. "Megumi quickly go to the office room at the ground floor and there's a Sukuna's finger... quickly bring it here" Gojo said and I run to bring the finger.

Gojo's POV

After a while Megumi returned with the finger. "Yuji...eat it" I said. "W-what...oh ok ok" Yuji replied. Megumi sit on the bed and gave Yuji the finger. Yuji unsealed it and put it in his mouth. He swallowed it. Immediately y/n woke up taking deep breath. She took some breath then looked at Megumi. She grabbed Megumi's hand "M-Megumi please... P-Please call Gojo Sensei" she sobbed. "I'm here" I said putting a hand on her back. She looked at me and hugged me. "S-sensei please.... please I don't want that again... I hate him.... I hate Sukuna" she sobbed. "I know y/n...now clam down and tell us what happened?" I asked. Y/n took a deep breath. "Idk.... Idk what he was saying... believe me I've never seen him in my entire life! Sukuna was shocked when he saw me first. Then he told me that I was his wife 1000 years ago then someone poisoned my food and I died... and he said I reborn again " she said. She's reincarnation of Sukuna's dead wife?! "But sensei I don't know if I was his wife or not but I don't want him" y/n sobbed. "Hey it's okey.... Can you tell us what he did? Why were you screaming for our help?" I asked. "H-he took my...." She began to speak. "Took your what y/n? " Nobara and Megumi asked. "M-my virginity " she whispered. Our eyes widened. I glared at Yuji. "Look what your play have done Yuji!....do not let Sukuna take over you inform of her!" I said. "I'm sorry y/n I didn't know he's gonna do that kind of anything!!!...and Sensei don't worry I won't let him out infront of her" Yuji replied and I nodded. "Nobara you're gonna sleep with y/n... I'm gonna talk with the principal tomorrow and make you two roommates... and y/n, don't worry I won't let him touch you ever again... just sleep okey and call me if you need me " I said and we all left the room.

Sukuna's POV

"this brat!!! He has to eat the finger again?! .... Doesn't matter... she's mine... I'm gonna have her again and nobody's gonna stop me" I said with a smirk.

Give me your requests guys....

I love when you give me your requests 💕

Tagging: @nanamiiiiiiiswife

[jellieland]

(Spoilers for. Real life?? I guess???)

---

Five figures stand, solemn, at the celestial summit of nowhere. They discuss matters of great import, and observe the fragile gossamer thread that is all that surrounds them, and-

Oh. No, nope, nevermind. They're just arguing again, aren't they.

"-don't know what you expect ME to do about it!" snaps the Red One.

"I don't know, Grian, how about literally anything?" asks the Scarlet Moon, raising an eyebrow.

"I mean, you could at least tell us what's going on out there," says the Ruby Star. "I don't think that's too much to ask, Grian."

"Riiight, like that'll help," says the Bloody Victor, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, for goodness sake, Martyn, do you have to make this difficult every single time?" snaps the Red One. "Anyway, we've got loads of time to work this out. It's only just started, even if it was a bit earlier than I thought it would be," he grumbles, irritated.

"Oh! Look!" calls the Coquelicot Loner, from where he is peering away from their circle at something that would look, to anyone but the five present, entirely indistinguishable from any other patch of the universe. "They must be done! Someone's coming!"

"What?" The Red One frowns. "Don't be ridiculous, Scar, there's no way-"

A brilliant beam of starlight shoots down from the heavens, and tears through their little circle like a formula one car cutting through the middle of a picnic.

It leaves behind...

Huh.

What. What is that.

There is... a. Person? But the proportions are all wrong, nothing this world has ever seen before. The limbs are mismatched, twisted, not quite connected. The movement is... disturbingly smooth, except when it jerks and jumps at seemingly random moments.

Whatever they are, they regain their balance, look around, and... laugh. "Oh, hey guys!" they say. "You know, I really didn't think this counted. But here we are, I guess!"

"Mom?" says the Coquelicot Loner, squinting at her. "Why are you short?"

"Oh my god, Scar, you can't just ask people why they're short," says the Ruby Star, apparently on autopilot.

"Yeah, and, uh, not to be rude, but more like why are you an eldrich horror? But, like, more so than usual?" says the Bloody Victor, backing up and looking rather alarmed.

They raise an eyebrow. "Oh, we're doing this now, are we?" They shake their head. "You know what this is perfectly well. We did another game, and I won. Deeply surprising, I know, but here we are!"

The Scarlet Moon tilts her head. "I mean, not that it's not nice to have you here, I guess, but that seemed real quick for a whole game, Cleo."

"Yes, thank you Pearl," says the Red One, narrowing his eyes. "I quite agree. Just how violent WAS this one that it's already finished? And WHY was I not informed?"

Cleo laughs. "To be honest I don't think anyone expected it to matter. And, I mean, sure it was violent, they always are, but it was all pretty light-hearted to be honest! Not a lot of drama, you know." She looks around, and seems to remember something. "Oh, Scott, I let a zombie kill you at the end! Sorry about that, I didn't realise quite how low you were. It was pretty funny, though."

The Ruby Star blinks, and shrugs. "I mean, fair enough. Hey, that means Divorce Quartet is all here, now!"

The Coquelicot Loner squints. "...Does that make you my stepdad, Scott?"

"No," says Cleo.

"God no," says the Ruby Star. "For, just, so many reasons."

"Yeah, I am not doing that again," says Cleo.

"So... So, hang on," says the Red One. "You're saying, in your game, it was all just. Cool and fine and calm. No pain or blood or sacrifice. No agonising entangled web of alliances. No cold-blooded, cold-hearted backstabbing?"

("Hey!" says the Bloody Victor.)

"I mean there was plenty of blood, technically. And Martyn did sort of try to stab everyone in the back and then run away."

("...Yeah, ok, fine," says the Bloody Victor.)

"But no, not much emotional turmoil, all in all! It was pretty chill, really!" They glance around the circle. "It was nice to see Ren again, too! I think he was off roleplaying with Martyn most of the time, though."

"I'm going to kill you," says the Bloody Victor, despairingly. "How is that fair?!"

"Life isn't fair," says the Scarlet Moon.

"Oh, you-"

"Can you shut up for five minutes," snaps the Red One.

As the bickering continues, the Coquelicot Loner and Ruby Star sidle up to Cleo, avoiding her wavering, eldritch outline.

"So!" says the Coquelicot Loner. "How's dad?"

Cleo gives him a look. "Scar," they say.

He holds up his hands. "Ok, ok! Just asking!"

She shakes her head, not without affection. "Is this really all you do here? Just stand around and irritate each other?"

"No!" says the Coquelicot Loner, seemingly deeply offended.

"Yeah, pretty much," says the Ruby Star.

"Ok well that's stupid," says Cleo.

"Yes," says the Red One, having extricated himself from the continuing altercation between the other two. "This is extremely stupid." He claps his hands, drawing everyone's attention and finally ending the argument, for now. "All in favour of erasing the past few minutes from existence and pretending none this ever happened?"

"Aye," says everyone but Cleo.

"What," says Cleo.

"It means you get to go home and you don't have to stands around in a circle with us lot for the rest of eternity," says the Scarlet Moon.

"Oh. Yeah, definitely do that," says Cleo.

"Wonderful," says the Red One, and clicks his fingers.

...

Five figures stand, solemn, at the celestial summit of nowhere. They discuss matters of great import, and observe the fragile gossamer thread that is all that surrounds them, and-

The Coquelicot Loner speaks. "Well, that was fun, wasn't it! Do you-"

"I thought we just agreed that didn't happen, Scar," snaps the Red One.

Oh, ok. Alright, they're arguing again.

Yeah, we probably don't have to stick around and listen to this any longer, either. I don't expect it's going to change anytime soon.

[thenyoumightaswellwrestleangels]

I don't know you anymore (maybe I never really did)

let me wrap my teeth around the world - series masterlist here

pairing: poly marauders x reader (gender neutral)

length: 1.7k

genre: fluff, angst (happy ending to come)

warnings: slytherin reader, some serious emotional dodging and avoidance but you know me it all ends up ok, peter is your bestie and that's just the way it is sorry, no happy ending YET but I promise it's coming this is not a tragedy

a/n: happy ending next week I love y'all too much to leave you with heartache

"Sorry, love," Remus begins to bend down, hand reaching to pick up the book you'd dropped when the two of you collided in the library, but you quickly shoot your own hand out to snatch it up first. "What are you doing here this late?"

"Getting a book," you say plainly. Remus's brows furrow slightly, his eyes drifting over your figure as if to somehow see why you're acting so strangely.

"Alright, dove. We're all planning on studying pretty late tonight - you're welcome to join us. We can always sneak you back down to the dungeons whenever you're ready to call it a night." Remus is quiet when he talks, that soothing, soft air he has about him making your shoulders drop as you lean against the bookshelf next to you.

"As if I can't sneak myself around the castle without your help," you bite back playfully. A smile twitches across Remus's lips as he thinks, just for a moment, that you're back, that you'll follow him up to his common room and spend the night laying on a couch with him, your legs slung over James's lap while you throw wads of paper at Sirius's head. His heart thumps a little painfully when he realizes that he can't remember the last time you've done that with them - he can't remember the last time you've hung out with them at all. 

It's as if you remember that fact at the same time he does, as the faint smile slips off your face and you straighten. "I can't tonight," you say kindly. "But thank you." Remus blinks as you begin to move past him, your polite voice ringing through his head. Like we're strangers, he thinks weakly. Except you're not even that nice to strangers.

Remus is busy slouching against the nearest bookshelf and wondering what they possibly could have done to make you avoid them so desperately but so kindly when he hears you let out another sigh from where you've walked past him.

"Wow," Sirius drawls as Remus turns to see him and James standing in front of you and you pointedly looking past them, like you're a trapped animal searching for the nearest escape route. "I'd almost forgotten you go here still." Your gaze snaps to Sirius and you narrow your eyes at him.

"It's good to see you," James interjects, seeing the two of you size each other up and eager to avoid a showdown between you and Sirius. "How have you been, love?"

"You see me in class almost every day," you snipe back at Sirius before turning to James. "I've been busy, and I still am now so - if you'll excuse me." With that, you slip between the two of them, exiting the library swiftly. Remus sighs and Sirius scowls at the now empty doorway, James opting to look down at the floor, staring dejectedly like a kicked puppy. No doubt you're holing up down in the Slytherin dorms all night now - as far away as you can get from them. Sirius smoothes a hand over James's unruly curls as Remus squeezes his shoulder comfortingly.

"We'll figure this out," he says gently, and as Sirius looks at him, he begs himself to believe it.

"You lost, Pete?" You don't look up from your book as Peter plants himself in the seat opposite you, frowning at you.

"Like we've never had breakfast together before," he huffs back, and you can't stop the smile that flits across your lips at the confidence that he's so clearly been nurturing. You close your book with a thump and place your chin in your hand, staring at him and waiting for him to continue. "Half the time, you're at the Gryffindor table. It can't be so different for me to come over here."

"Hm, maybe it's not," you shrug, picking your book back up to toss it across the table at him. "Read the back of that. You can borrow it when I'm done - I think you'll like it." Peter picks it up tentatively and gets about halfway through the synopsis before he's dropping it back on the table and crossing his arms.

"You're making them miserable," he says bluntly. You pout in a mocking sort of manner, but Peter's frown tells you that he doesn't believe you're as heartless as you typically let on.

"I thought you just came here to have breakfast with me," you switch tactics. 

"Tell me what's going on with you," he pushes. You straighten up in your seat.

"Why don't you just ask them?"

"I have - they don't know. Every time they try to talk to you about it, you find some reason to run away."

"Would you like to see that first hand?" 

"You can't run away from me. I'll cry," Peter insists. You sniff indignantly, mostly because you know he's right. The two of you stare at each other for a long time, and it's to your surprise that he doesn't waver. Your heart does something strange in your chest when you realize that his determination may be because this is more serious than you'd thought - you're hurting them more than you thought.

"They need to get over me, Pete," you say quietly.

"Why?" He presses.

"Because if they don't then this gets messy. None of us want that," you insist. Peter softens a bit, looking sympathetic.

"It's already messy." The bite has left Peter's voice as he reaches to pat your arm across the table. You look at his hand pointedly and he's reminded swiftly that anyone else who reached out to console you like that would get a smack from you. He smiles as he thinks of the kindness that lives in you that you seem to be blind to.

"I'll talk to them," you sigh, leaning forward to let your head thump down onto the table. Peter pats the top of your head gently and, for that, he does get a smack.

"James," your voice makes him stumble to a stop, whipping around to look at you so fast that you nearly run into him, sidestepping him at the last minute as he looks at you, bewildered.

"Are you talking to me?" He asks, confusion and surprise making his voice thick. Something painful twinges in your chest at his shock. Of course I am, you want to say. Who else would I ever want to talk to?

"Yes," is all you end up saying. James shifts on his feet and looks at you a little wearily.

"Are you ok?" He asks and a breath leaves your lungs quickly. 

"I'd like to talk to you… if you have a moment?" James looks at you strangely, but he just nods and leads you out of the hall to the quiet courtyard. There's no, of course I have time for you, pretty thing. I always have time for you. It's just James, stiff and silent and hurting… because of you.

"Peter says I'm making you all miserable," you say bluntly, regret immediately seeping into you at the way James flinches, sitting on the bench in front of you slowly. You stay standing in front of him, looking down at the way he runs a hand through his curls.

"It's just," he begins, looking around as if to find the answer somewhere, or maybe just to find some way of getting away from you. "If we knew what we'd done to upset you then maybe we could make it better. You're just freezing us out, lovely, and that means we can't fix… whatever it is that's happened."

"It's not…" Now it's your turn to look around vaguely, wishing you could get out from under his sharp gaze. "It's not anything you've done. It's just - it's the way things go sometimes. It's ok, James, you just have to move on." But James's face hardens at that, a sternness you're not used to overtaking his features as he stands so that he can look you eye to eye. You have to tilt your head back to look up at him.

"That's what you want us to do? Just… move on? Forget about you? Pretend we were never friends?" The sombre tone in his voice doesn't suit him, and neither does the timid hurt in yours.

"Are we friends, James? Is that what we all are?" James blinks at that, taking a step back and sitting back down onto the bench rather abruptly. When he looks up at you this time, there's something akin to remorse swimming in his eyes.

"Is that what it is, lo-" the pet name dies on his tongue as he presses his lips together firmly. "I'm sorry. I thought - we all thought that you felt the same way about us that we do about you. We thought… we thought we were all more than friends with you and that you… I'm sorry. We never dreamt of making you uncomfortable." You scoff at his words, shaking your head fondly and toeing at the dirt by his feet with your shoe.

"Uncomfortable?" You say disbelievingly. "Please - you three are the biggest gentlemen I've ever met. I don't think you could make me uncomfortable if you tried." James's shoulders sag in relief, but the look he gives you is still that of a lost, confused puppy. You look past him to see a group of students hurrying to their next class and open your mouth to remind James that the two of you also are officially late, but he speaks before you can.

"Then what is it? Please, just… what did we do?"

"It's like I said, James… it's just a bad idea. It's wrong and I can't do this. I… we have to get to class."

But James doesn't go to class that day. He sits on that bench, staring at the place you'd been standing in, until Remus and Sirius find him that evening. And as the two of them tug him up and inside, all he can think of is how they really have lost you.

[archangeldyke-all]

ok lemme try again 🧍🏾‍♀️🧍🏾‍♀️

okay but this (https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTNVa6BpE/) with bouncer!Sevika & reader who’s celebrating a birthday at the dyke bar Sevi works at 👁️👁️

(& maybe plus size reader so she can be really shocked when Sevi picks her up 👀)

EEEEEEK this is so cute omg

men and minors dni

you groan against your pillow as you blink awake. you're hungover, you feel disgusting, and you just want to go back to sleep.

you pull the covers back over your eyes, almost able to drift off before a ping rings through your room. you huff and reach a hand out, fumbling for your phone.

it's an unknown number: how are you feeling this morning princess? -s

you blink down at your phone in complete confusion, before the memories of last night hit you with full force.

you groan, burying your face into your pillow as you start to recall your drunken shenanigans.

what was supposed to be a quiet dinner catch up with your best friends turned into a night of partying when your best friend got invited to a new dyke club opening last minute.

it was a lot of fun. maybe a little too much fun. there are parts of the night you can't quite remember-- always a sign that you drank a little more than you should've-- but you remember the important bits.

like sevika.

the bouncer you'd been oogling since you and your friends stepped foot in the club-- the bouncer you were confident enough to start flirting with after two drinks.

the bouncer you ended up talking to on her smoke break-- laughing together in the back alley.

the bouncer that laughed and easily dodged your attempted kiss, telling you she wanted you sober for that.

the bouncer who's texting you now.

you take a deep breath, and type back a response.

disgusting, sick, humiliated... the usual after a night out.

poor baby

shut up.

where the hell is this playful banter coming from? you barely know the woman you're texting, but your feet have started subconsciously kicking behind you and your smile's pressed against your pillow in bashfulness.

you should make me ;)

shut up!!!

you have to bury your face against your pillow to muffle your squeal. your phone rings again, and you pick your head up, expecting a response from sevika.

but it's not sevika-- it's your friend from last night.

how's the bouncer 👀

you giggle as you type out your response. apparently, your friends were aware of your magical meeting last night.

good. we're texting now.

texting? she's not with u?

?????? what do u mean??

lmaooooo

the next message that comes through is a video link.

you gulp and press play.

you watch in amusement as your friends have the camera focused on themselves, all three of them singing some song from the club, you in the background chatting to sevika drunkenly.

and then, about thirty seconds into the video, sevika raises an eyebrow at you in disbelief, and then hitches you up into her arms.

you squeal, and all your friends look over their shoulders, bursting into laughter as they watch you squirm in sevika's grip.

you haven't been picked up like that since you were a kid. you're a big girl, nobody's ever even tried to pick you up.

and you just watched video footage of sevika effortlessly tossing you into her arms.

you're humiliated.

you've never wanted to remember a moment in your life more.

and... you're soaking fucking wet.

the video continues for a few minutes, sevika whistling over her shoulder to get your drunk friends to follow her like a bunch of intoxicated ducklings as she escorts all safely home. you remain in her arms the entire time, giggling like a kid and whispering jokes in her ear, kissing her cheek, and then, inevitably, passing out in her arms.

the video ends as your friends discuss getting ubers back to their places from your apartment.

you blink in shock at the black screen.

did u die of humilation?? your friend asks after a minute.

you groan and text her a middle finger emoji, before flipping over to your conversation with sevika.

so... i don't really remember much from last night.

oh? need me to re-introduce myself?

no no! i remember you, sevika. i just...

a minute passes and then sevika sends a message.

you just??

you huff, and try to channel some of the drunken confidence you so easily possessed last night.

i was just shown video footage of you picking me up like i weigh nothing, and i'm really fucking upset that i can't remember how nice that must've felt.

you watch in horror as sevika's typing bubble pops up, then down, then up, and down again. your stomach turns, and you swallow against the nausea bubbling up in your stomach.

but... before you can panic, your phone pings again.

it's an address. and a message.

this is my place. come over later today when you're feeling less 'disgusting, sick, and humiliated' and i'll show u how it feels when you're sobered up... we can do other stuff once you sober up too ;)

you squeal so loud you make your own headache turn into a migraine.

taglist!

@fyeahnix @lavendersgirl @half-of-a-gay @thesevi0lentdelights @sexysapphicshopowner

@shimtarofstupidity @chuucanchuucan @badbye666 @femme-historian @lia-winther

@ellsss @sevikaspillowprincess @emiliabby @sevikasbeloved @hellorai

@glass-apothecary @macaroni676 @artinvain @k3n-dyll @sevsdollette

@ellieslob @xayn-xd @keikuahh @maneskinwh0re @raphaellearp

@iamastar @sevikitty @claude999 @nhaaauyen

[echantedtoon]

A Lovers' Circle (Poly Haishira x Reader) Ch13 Party Invitation

Taglist: @shadyd3ar @jcrml

@tengensangel @miniverse-zen @mysteri0uz @jjamsbangtan

@the-unknown-fandom

@lavenderdropp @mimisweetz. @purplesoulsapphire

@kksmush @denkpanda18 @whomisi @lessthanimperfect @silver-rin

@rotting-alone @namis-noodlebox

@k1ttyluverz @akiramente

@rascalraccoon @ravenclawkae1

Remember if you want to be added to the taglist lemme know

You wondered how many times you'd have to tell people that you were alright?

You had to insist to the three of them that you were indeed ok and just needed a shower and change of clothes. No you didn't need a ride home, but Giyuu insisted on driving you back until you just agreed and found yourself being driven home by them. Mitsuri practically trying to wash you herself with the amount of wet wipes she used on your face and neck all the way there. When you were FINALLY able to get them to go even with Mitsuri's repeated offers to stay.

You felt super better after taking a shower, slipping into extra fuzzy pajamas, and just falling into the soft bed. However what you weren't expecting was for your phone to start buzzing along the table and ringing non-stop. You groaned muffled by the pillow before reaching out making about four grabs before actually grabbing the phone and pulling your deadpanned face up, annoyed slightly as you answered it.

"Yes?"

"Y/n. Darling, are you alright?," Gyomei's concerned voice called through the phone.

"Mei?" You blinked.

"Mitsuri called me."..Ah. That explained it. "She told me you and Shinobu were attacked by a senile woman. Are you alright? You aren't harmed are you?"

You sighed. Flipping onto your stomach and reaching up to rub your temples. "I'm fine, Hun. I promise. They're just blowing it out of proportion."

"So you WERE attacked?!"

"No. Some karen just threw some root beer on me. Nothing else really happened so you don't have to worry."

"Are you sure? Maybe I should come over and spend the night."

"You're supposed to be spending the night with Obanai. *sigh* Look. I'm perfectly fine. If I wasn't you'd be the first person I'd call. We'll see each other tomorrow at work so we'll talk then. Ok?"

He didn't say anything but you slowly hung up the phone and laid back down. Today was certainly a ride but hopefully tomorrow would be a lot better. Whelp you were half right. Because as soon as you woke up, got ready, and skipped out the door you saw Gyomei already waiting for you on the sidewalk. Immediately his head turned hearing the sound of your footsteps. You couldn't even get a 'good morning' out of your mouth before he was practically dropping to his knees and grabbing your shoulders with a concerned look.

"Are you alright?" It was only three little words but they were serious with the tone of his voice.

It caught you off guard but you nodded after a few seconds. "Yes. I told you I'm fine. I'm not even hurt." He hummed but you gently grabbed his face. "Mei, if I was hurt you'd know. But I promise you that I'm ok. Alright?"

White eyes stared at you before a sigh left his mouth. Large hands grabbed the smaller ones on his cheeks. "I know. I'm just a bit paranoid considering what happened the last two times. This just makes the third time I was unable to protect you."

"Don't go blaming yourself. It's no one's fault but Jake's and Karen's. They're just jerks. If it makes you feel better, I got amazing friends who helped me so we're good."

"...Heh. I suppose you're right."

"Good. And don't you forget that." Then he froze as suddenly your lips met his in a quick kiss. "Mwah! Now let's get to work."

His face lit up a pink but he smiled with a deep chuckle. "I might never get used to that."

"Well maybe I'll have to kiss you more often so you do get used to it."

He hummed. "Really?~"

"But not right now. We have a job to do." 

You really didn't expect anything else out of the ordinary for the day. Of course Mitsuri would let your boyfriend know about what had happened. If not then Giyuu or Shinobu would've or you would've just told him yourself. What you didn't expect was to arrive to work and start checking in the usual kids when you spotted a familiar face. Except..he wasn't alone. 

So you were surprised when both Sanemi AND Kanae came walking in with concerned faces..Well Kanae looked concerned. Sanemi looked like he was straining to hold back unrelenting rage because of the tired looking two year old in his arms. It caught you off guard for a moment but you plastered on that customer smile as usual and greeted them. 

"Hi, Sanemi! Kanae! Good morning! Dropping off Koto again?"

Well imagine your further surprise when Sanemi stiffly sat his brother on the front desk veins popping up on his face and arms as he growled."Where the hell is that bitch who did this to you?"

The dangerous tone and aggressive body language took you majorly off guard blinking at him for a few seconds before you spoke. "SANEMI!" Quickly you scooped up Koto who was still sleepily rubbing his eyes but quickly accepted being picked up again by someone. Hopefully he was too tired to hear his big brother. "This is a DAYCARE! You can't just walk in here and talk like that! Secondly what on earth are you talking about?"

Surprisingly your answer only seemed to make him more upset as his eyelid twitched. But it was Kanae who spoke being the more calm of the two. "We heard about what happened yesterday from my sister," she explained. Ah. Shinobu. "We wanted to be sure you were alright."

"You guys too? *sigh* I'm fine. Really. It was just some soda that got on me. I wasn't hurt or anything. Everyone really needs to chill out."

Still pink eyes looked you up and down. "Oh..That doesn't sound as bad as we thought. Are you sure you're alright?"

"Of COURSE I am. If I wasn't I wouldn't be working today. I wouldn't want to put the kids or myself at risk if I couldn't care for them properly." 

"Hmm. Fair enough point."

"It's not just a point. It's the truth." You pointed at Sanemi. "Now this is the second time I told you off for cussing in the daycare. You make sure you don't do that again, Mister!"

"I'll be sure to talk to him." Kanae gently grabbed her boyfriend's stiff form and began tugging him out of the way for another dad to drop off his baby. 

Well at least that's been taken cared of. You weren't sure exactly how much more fuss over you could handle. ... Although the sudden protective behavior from everyone other than your boyfriend WAS strange. Hmm. You didn't have time to dwell further on that thought when a baby was presented for you to take into your care along with Koto falling asleep on your shoulder. So you quickly forgot about everything being quickly swept up into the duties of diaper changes and walking on eggshells during nap time. 

So really you didn't think twice when you were finally got off work and saw Sanemi and Kanae again. The white haired man seemed a lot calmer now so you guessed Kanae must've talked him down from whatever future murder he wanted to commit. Instead he just calmly stood there arms crossed as you carried out the boy.

"NEMI!!," Koto cheered excitedly throwing out his arms and leaning towards his big brother. "We had chocwette chip cookies for snack time today!"

"Oh did ya?" Even he couldn't keep frowning at his little brother's innocent bright face and reached out to pick him up into his arms, setting him on a hip as he nodded.

"Uh huh! N' I played hide n seek n' I drew Mama a bbiiiiigggg picture n' we watched a movie n'-"

"Whoa. Slow down there, Squirt. Save some story tellin' for Ma too." He still smiled fondly at the toddler and transitioned that smile to you. "Hey. You hurt anywhere?"

Here we go again. You decided to suppress the sigh wanting to come out and just calmly nodded. "I'm ok." You blinked as a piece of paper was slid over to you. 

"Take it."

What was this? Curious, you picked it up and unfolded half of it seeing a series of ten numbers. A..phone number? "Is this-..Are you giving me your number?" You looked back to him.

He nodded. "You can reach me at anytime."

"But for what?" Your brows rose.

"If anyone gives you trouble just call me." His smile turned sadistic almost."I'll fuckin' kill them for ya."

The statement took you back certainly blinking in shock that you couldn't scold him again for cussing around the daycare again but Kanae sure gave him a scowl before lightly kicking him in the leg. Before turning back to you with a smile.

"Everyone else's numbers are written there too." She pointed to the paper. Immediately you unfurled it to most everyone of Gyomei's partners names listed and a number underneath them. "If you can't reach one of us try one of the other numbers. As Mei's girlfriend and partners we ought to try and help support each other, so if you ever need anything or just wanna talk just call us."

"Oh...Uh. Thank you."

You had no idea how to feel about this. You already had Shinobu's and Giyuu's numbers because you three were doing a project together but you didn't think you would need everyone else's numbers. It was a strange feeling and you wouldn't be able to talk to Mei about it until AFTER your hour long walking session around the park again with Giyuu and Shinobu. But there was something different about them today.

Giyuu's usually somber and stoic expression was replaced by a small smile and his usual eyes were lit up lightly. Shinobu's expression usually came off as a monotone neutral smile but today her smile was rather large as she stood there all happy. Did something happen to make the usual stoic couple so happy? 

"Gyomei. Y/n." Giyuu greeted which also caught you off guard. He usually never spoke first unless it was important. "Are you ready to get today's part of the project done today?"

"Will you be just walking around the park again?," Gyomei asked him. 

"Yes. That's the plan. We're going to be very busy tonight."

"Then I'll wait for Y/n here. You all go ahead."

You really couldn't put your finger on it but something was definitely going on here...But ultimately you put those thoughts aside. Sanemi being aggressive wasn't something uncommon for him from the times you hung out with them and these two being in a good mood wasn't really a crime..So you dropped any strange thoughts. The entire walk was silently and pleasant other than Shinobu announcing the time stamps.

You were just glad to finally get some alone time with your boyfriend after Everything quickly dragging him towards your home. Something bad been on your mind lately and you wanted to talk to him about it alone without anyone else around. The quietness of the less crowded streets were certainly a blessing as you breathed in and sighed out. 

Immediately white eyes turned to you. "Is everything alright, Dear?" His head tilted at you in question. "You sound tired."

You have a dry chuckle. "You noticed?"

In response the larger hand holding yours squeezed gently. "If there's anything bothering you, you can always talk to me about it. You know that?"

"Yeah. I know.. I'm just sorta nervous about what you'd have to say about what I want to say."

"Y/n." He stopped forcing you to stop too by your connecting hands. The expression on his face turning to a serious expression fully as he silently gave you a few seconds of silence. "Has something happened again?"

"Huh? Oh! No. Nothing  like that." His eyes softened lightly but otherwise his expression didn't change. Instead his head turned to the sounds of your feet shuffling nervously. "I'm-...Well I thought maybe you'd like to- ..Well what I mean to ask is.." you swallowed thickly in nerves. "Mei. W-Would you like to meet my family?"

Surprise completely lit up his face as he blinked. A gentle smile crossed his face as a sigh escaped his lips. "Is that what this is about?" A laugh escaped his throat as your face turned a pink. "You don't have to be scared to ask me that."

You pointed. "Well you've never seen them and I thought-.."

"Y/n, I would love to meet them."

"Her," you corrected. His head tilted again. "It's just my aunt. I'm not really close to anyone else."

"I see. Then I would love to meet her. When did you have in mind?"

"This Saturday?"

"Done. I'm sure I'll like her."

You laughed nervously. "It's not you I'm working about."

*********""""""""""""""

You were not prepared for the meeting with your aunt that weekend. It's not that you were worried about her liking Gyomei. It's just that she might like him a little too much- 

"Remember she's pretty.. eccentric," your voice cautiously warned the taller man next to you. Each step against the sidewalk in the chilly October air twisted your guts ever nervously. "It's not that she's weird-...Ok. She's weird but n-not in a bad way. She might do something really embarrassing so if she makes you uncomfortable don't be afraid to say so."

Gyomei was nothing but calm keeping an arm slung around your shoulders. These last few days leading up to the weekend had been nerve wracking. Thank gods Giyuu agreed to do the project by himself today. However when you mentioned that you were bringing a boyfriend over to your aunt over the phone-

"She is aware of the fact that I have other relationships with other people as well yes?"

"Yeah. She knows. She's used to it. She's a matchmaker after all s-s-so she's seen all kinds of relationships but...Ugh." You facepalmed as you sighed. "She's going to be so embarrassing about it I know it."

"Do not threat. If she's anything like Mitsuri or Suma then I wouldn't be too worried. In fact I'm rather excited about meeting this famous matchmaker I've been hearing so much about. If she's as good as you say she is then it might be a good chance to meet a local celebrity."

"Just don't agg her on."

Autumn leaves crunched under both your feet as you both walked along the suburban neighborhood. A few cars went down the road and other people in sweaters and turtlenecks walked down the sidewalks. You lead him closer and closer and closer to where your Aunt's house resided and you were extra nervous when you turned the corner and saw the familiar two story house right there. The blood drained from your face as you slowly stopped and Gyomei stopped with you.

"Oh. We must be here!," he quickly deducted with a bright smile. "Shall we go see if she's home?"

"Is it too late to back out?"

"Yes." He easily was able to pull you along with him turning to walk down the driveway up to the home. "Besides this was your idea."

"Don't remind me."

Gyomei chuckled only further embarrassing you as he walked you up all the way to the front door. Your face fell in anxious wait as he reached out and delivered some rather loud knocks on the door. There was silence for a little while longer as you all waited before a quickly approaching pair of footsteps came rushing up to the door. In only a few seconds the door was flung open and a middle aged woman with your same complexion and features was smiling like she just won a million dollars was standing before you. 

"There's my niece!"

"Hi, Aunty Dakita- GAH?!"

You were cut off as she pulled you in a too tight hug squeezing you a little more with a hum before she placed you back down. "Look at you! See? I told you you'd eventually meet someone thanks to me."

"You? You haven't even met him yet."

"Yes. But if I hadn't sent you on that date then you never would've met that nice man through the bad experience." You regretted explaining the entire situation of your relationship over the phone. ESPECIALLY when she snapped to Gyomei. "And THIS must be the man that I heard so much about!"

"It is an honor to meet the woman who my girlfriend speaks so fondly off." He bowed respectfully closing his eyes. "She has told me so much about you."

Immediately you ain't lit up and you felt that knot in your stomach grow ever bigger. Gyomei slowly stood back up but blinked when she suddenly grabbed his arm lifting it up and examining him up and down with her eyes.

"Strong muscles, broad shoulders, and by the looks of it tall, strong, and with a rather dashing complexion. Not to mention I can tell you're a well mannered man!" She chuckled nodding to herself and lowering his arm. "Yes, yes! You'll give me excellent grandchildren!"

"AUNTY!!"

Gyomei certainly was taken off guard as well. Face going surprised and brows raising as the older woman just laughed it off. "Oh don't look so embarrassed, Honey!" You hid your blushing face in your hands as your aunt proudly puffed out her chest. "After all I am an EXCELLENT judge of character. Never once have I gotten a dissatisfied customer!~"

Unfortunately that last statement was true. She even got Jake a girlfriend somehow from what she told you over the phone. 

"Yes! Just looking at you both, I can tell you're meant to be together. Oh. I'm m sorry. I forgot to ask for your name."

Gyomei blinked again as you still stood there mortified by your aunt. But eventually he gained enough sense to answer. "Gyomei Himejima. I work with Y/n at the daycare."

"So you're good with kids too!?" She winked pointing at him as you contemplated just running into the wall to knock yourself out just to avoid this entire thing. "Oh. I like you. Why don't you kids come in and have some tea? Then you can tell me all about yourself."

"I-" Gyomei blinked again tilting his head at you before turning his blind gaze back to your aunt. "*ahem* Tea would be very lovely. Thank you, Mrs. L/n."

"Mrs. L/n sounds so old. Call me Aunty D. Everyone else does," she said while stepping inside again. 

"Oh. Very well. *ahem* So I heard you were a matchmaker?"

"That's right! I also do tarot card, palm, and tea leaf readings! But that's more of a side hobby. If you'd like, I can do a palm reading for the both of you free of charge!," she said completely disappearing back inside. 

After a second he turned to your red faced form. "Well...You weren't exaggerating about the eccentric part."

"I'm so sorry." You didn't remove your face from your hands, glad Gyomei wasn't able to see how embarrassed you were but he could probably tell you were by your voice. "I should've had you guys meet over sky call or something.

"Well it would be rude to not take up her offer for tea."

"You seriously want to go in?!"

"But of course! I did agree to meet her...and I love how cute you sound when flustered.~"

You squeaked red faced as a large hand of his suddenly pulled you against his side as a deep rumble of a laugh shook his large frame against yours. This was NOT helping your blushing face at all. So logically the best thing to do was to bury your face within his side and let out a muffled yell that hopefully your aunt couldn't hear. Only comforted by the hand rubbing your back as he chuckled.

"Come. Let's not keep her waiting."

*************************************

The day was beautiful.

With the sunlight sinking into the room through the window. The birds singing outside. Beautiful fresh smelling air. Beautiful visions of nature right outside of you looked. A bright blue sky. Fluffy white clouds. Yellow sun. Flowers of every color. Green plants everywhere. Trees providing shade as the wind rolled by. A little blue pond in the distance full of fish.

Yes.

An absolute picture perfect scene for what could very much be a good day. Nothing in the world to worry about. Nothing to do. Just peaceful quiet and nature- A shriek loud enough to make him wince from the high volume pierced the peaceful silence and made him give a sigh. Here we go again. He was used to this by now. That's why he wasn't phased when a tiny waddling and wailing mess all but latched onto his leg and he turned to stare down in the general direction at the sobbing girl clinging to himself. She wasn't older than two maybe three years old. Koto's age range.

"TOOK TEDDY!!," was all she wailed as she broke down into incoherent sobs and shrieks again.

A hand pointing at the culprit revealed him to be a boy around the same age as the shrieking girl and pouting at her. In his arms was the for mentioned 'Teddy'. A cute stuffed brown bear with a blue ribbon tied around his neck. Even though he couldn't really 'see' the image, he's been through this enough to know exactly what had happened.

Oh no. Not again. By now other workers in their signature pink aprons stopped what they were doing to look over. Little kids of all kinds stopped playing with blocks and coloring on paper to also look at the sight.

With a sigh he turned and walked over with the sobbing girl still still on his leg. "Akira, this is the fourth time this week you took someone's toy. You know taking things that don't belong to you is bad." He calmly held out his hands towards the child's general direction. "Give me Teddy and apologize."

It went about as well as he expected. Instead of just giving him the bear Akira pouted hard and held the bear up and away from him. "NO! MINE!" He didn't even get any time to pause when the bear was joined from his hands and up into an adult's arms. Akira blinked before looking up and screaming. "NO!! MIIIINE!!" He jumped up against the worker's legs holding up his hands. "IT'S MINE!! IT'S MINE!! GIVE BACK!!"

"No, Akira. You can't just take other kids stuff. You aren't getting the teddy bear," the worker spoke her face firm. "What you ARE getting is a time out for an hour and I'm telling your parents when they get here."

"NNNNNOOOOO!!!" THUD- Both listened as the toddler proceeded to throw himself onto the ground in a tantrum and proceeded to cry. "AAAAHHHH!!"

...She sighed before smiling at him and offering up the teddy bear. "Tough day, Mei?"

"No tougher than yours." The teddy was taken and handed over back to the little girl who had stopped crying by now. She clutched her bear in her arms as Akira proceeded his tantrum fit on the floor. "How are things in the infant nursery with Lacey?"

"Lacey's still mad at the whole debate with Sanemi but it's fine," she confirmed with a smile. She reached down and in one swoop scooped up the still crying child in her arms. "I'll just drop him off in time out corner and get back to the nursery before they wake up again."

"Alright, Y/n. Oh by the way, I wanted to ask something of you." She hummed as Akira continued to hiccup pathetically. "Rengoku is hosting a giant Halloween party with all our families. Would you like to join us? He's already informed me that I have permission to bring you."

You lit up excitedly. "Of course! I'd love to come! "

[angeljeonjk97]

BodyWork || Bell #3

Jungkook x reader

friends to lovers

18+ (fluff, smut)

warnings: mentions and descriptions of violence, mentions and use of drugs and alcohol

Jeon Jungkook isn't the same 19-year-old boy you used to know. Fame has really matured him, in more ways that one.

"You already know how I like it baby"

The light shines through your closed eyes, causing your pitch-black vision to turn a shade of orange. Your eyelids slowly separate as you blink to adjust to the bright sunshine emitting through your opened curtains.

'Open curtains?' Your tired face scrunches up in confusion as you think to yourself, eyes still flickering, 'I swear I closed them before I left last night?'

You brush it off, assuming that you just didn't close them after all. Blurry memories corrupt your thoughts when a painstaking throbbing pain arises in your skull. You did what you said you weren't going to do, get drunk.

You huff, sitting up straight in your bed, glancing at the time. It was...

'3 PM?!' you exclaim in your head, your eyes widening. I mean it's a Saturday so you have no classes all day today and tomorrow. Still, you were surprised you slept in this late.

Cutting off your train of thought, your white wooden bedroom door creaks open, revealing a tall, dark-haired man, entering the room cautiously.

You snap your head towards the sound as you live alone and always react to the slightest of noises.

"You're awake!" He exclaims in a hushed tone, knowing not to be too loud as he assumes you have a raging hangover. The tall man, wearing a white oversized t-shirt and black basketball shorts walks towards your propped-up body, carrying a packet of what you guess is painkillers and a bottle of water.

You rub your eyes, not sure if you're seeing this right.

"Why are you here?" You ask, visible confusion plastered on your face as Jungkook chuckles, flashing his bunny-like smile, and crinkling up his eyes and nose.

"You don't remember last night at all do you?" He places himself down on the bed, sitting by your outstretched legs under the sheets.

When you start drinking, it rarely ever stops at just one drink. Most of the time you end up blacked out and wake up in your room, not remembering how you got there until a lot later into the day when it all starts to come back to you.

Jungkook's words make you recall most of the events from the previous night.

You and Kiri were dancing with each other, rejecting every weird dude who tried to get involved the whole night, going back and forth from the bar, back to the dance floor, to the bar, dance floor, bar, dance floor, the same cycle until it hit about 2 am. You and Kiri had been in the club for a good four hours now, all the good effects of the alcohol began wearing off and you were then in the club bathrooms trying not to throw up on your new, red satin dress.

Kiri doesn't get drunk as fast as you do, so she was a little bit more sober than you at the time, even though she was struggling to hold herself up.

"Yeah no we're ok babe, just not feeling amazing" Kiri giggled nervously, her words slightly slurred as she spoke to her boyfriend over the phone, who was on his way to pick the both of you up.

She looked at you and sat up against the toilet cubicle wall, knees up and your head buried into them as you focused on not being sick or passing out.

"Kiriiiiii" You whined, swinging your head back, making it hit the thin barrier behind you, with your eyes closed and eyebrows pinched.

"Girl I know you're fucked up, so am I. Hoseoks on his way" Kiri strokes the back of your head, trying to comfort you.

"I wanna see JKaaaayy" Your muffled, sloppy words made Kiri laugh as she got off the phone with her boyfriend, singing off with an "I love you" before tapping the red hang-up button. She reached for your purse, which rested on your feet in front of you, to pull your phone out.

The next thing you could hear is your phone dialling, causing your head to shoot up and look down at your phone, lying in Kiri's palm.

Jungkook shifted in his sleep, his ringtone bellowed in his lonesome apartment. He reached his arm out lazily, dragging his bright phone screen in front of him. With squinting eyes, your name glowed at the top of his screen.

"Y/n?"

Your eyes widened at the familiar voice that bounced off the wine-red tiled walls, leaning down at your phone, to take it from Kiri.

"Jungkooooook, I miss you" You pouted, as you spoke into your phone microphone.

He lazily chuckled, already knowing that you were drunk from your voice.

"I miss you too, are you okay?"

You whined again, "No, I wanna go home"

He sighed in defeat, already getting up out of bed.

"What club are you at? Do you want me to pick you up?" Concern laced in his croaky voice.

Jungkook is usually the person you call when you get like this. He doesn't mind it at all though, he likes making sure you get home safe after a night out. He doesn't trust other people, especially knowing how disgusting some men can be.

"Hoseok's coming it's alright Jungkook" Kiri almost shouted so she was heard over the phone.

Jungkook's face frowned, not recognising the sudden voice that was certainly not yours.

"Kiri?"

"Yeah?"

"Oh, just checking it was you, I wasn't sure then. You okay as well?" His face relaxed, still plastered with concern for both of them.

"I'm okay, drunk but not as bad as y/n" She nervously chuckled whilst looking up at your squished-up face rested on your left knee, your right hand holding your phone, floating mid-air between the two of you.

Jungkook scoffed, a smirk growing on his face, knowing how you are when you're drunk and what he is about to face.

After a few more words were passed between each other and a mutual agreement (he insisted) that he'd come and pick you up instead, that you were too drunk to focus on, Kiri patted your back telling you to say goodbye to Jungkook, to which you responded with a pouty groan and a small "hurry up please".

"Alright I'm on my way now, I'll see you two in a bit" Jungkook let out a loud sigh once he had hung up the phone and slid it into the pocket of his lazy grey joggers he threw on as they were the first thing he had seen, lying on the floor. After he had tucked his laces into his shoes, in too much of a rush to tie them, he had one last good look at himself in the mirror above his shoe rack. He can't leave the house without looking in the mirror to check if he looks presentable, doesn't matter the situation. After a few seconds of fluffing his hair in the mirror and adjusting his shirt, he set off out the door, jogging to his drive that contained a sleek, black Mercedes Benz parked up and a 2020 Harley Davidson Streetfighter. Unlocking his Mercedes he revved the car, reversing his way out on his way to you.

"Is Hoseok not coming anymore?" You lazily asked, still not lifting your head from its current position.

"He's still coming, but Jungkooks coming to look after you. I'm going home with Hobi."

You sighed in response, trying not to fall asleep.

Jungkook eventually made his way into the club, pulling his mask back over his face and adjusting his cap, making sure he was not recognisable. As he walked towards the bathrooms, he saw Hoseok's colourful hair tips emerge from around the corner, with you being held up by him as Kiri trailed behind you both, making sure you didn't fall backwards or fall on top of Hoseok. He gently guides you to the sofa that sits around the corner from the bathrooms. Jungkook picked up his speed at the scene in front of him.

"I'm here" Jungkook exclaimed, out of breath slightly, from the rush he had just been in to get to you as quickly as possible.

"Kooook" You whined at the familiar, warm voice. You extended your arms out in front of you, as Jungkook leaned down to embrace you in a hug.

You melted into the hug, allowing JK to get a hold of you properly to stand you up.

"You guys gonna be okay?" Hoseok chuckled at the sight as Kiri wrapped herself around his bicep.

" Yeah yeah, she'll be okay once she's home" He answered back, still holding you up by the waist as your arms remained around his neck. That didn't last long though before you removed one arm and swung around next to him, his left arm still around your waist.

"Alright I'll see you around then, drive safe" Hoseok smiled at you both before he and Kiri set off.

"Text me when she's home" Kiri reminds Jungkook before being too far away to hear him, to which he responded with a small "will do."

You close your eyes and sigh in annoyance after the memories all come flooding back.

Jungkook laughs at your current expression before basically shoving the pills and bottle of water in your face, causing the box to make a rattling noise. Your eyes open in reaction to the sudden sound, finding their way to Jungkook's, his face painted with a small smile full of care and adoration. You lazily retrieve the items out of Jungkook's hands, basically clawing your way into the box as your headache begins throbbing even harder than earlier.

You realise for a moment that you're not in the clothes that you left the house in. With scrunched brows, you look up from the box, in Jungkook's direction, and your fingers stop fidgeting, as you see him already with his wide back to you walking out of the room.

"You changed yourself, don't worry" as if he read your mind with his faded response as he was already out of the room by the time the words left his mouth, "I'm making breakfast so get your ass out of bed soon"

<-prev-index-next->

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a/n: Apologies for this chapter taking a while. I've been caught up in a lot of work recently and haven't really had that much time to write, hope you all enjoy though &lt;;33

Taglist- @yunki-yunki-yunki @hellbornsworld @tatamicc @idkjustlovingbts @00frenchfries00 @yoonbicoolest

[thebearer]

when teddys like two or three months you and carl are in a patch of him not being around and he comes home one day and she gives him no reaction or loves, and someone she sees frequently she is gummy smiling at them

oh this would wreck him. like the freezer scene has nothing on what this would do to him.

so the bear is doing really well. like really, really well, but they've got some competition. this new restaurant is moving closer and a little too close. they already tried to take marcus and syd, and carmen is stressed, falling back into his old ways. he feels like in a way he got himself here bc he had a baby and got lazy in a way- distracted, is more like it. as awful as that sounds, that's how he felt.

teddy's about six months and carmen's been at work non-stop. comes home late, if you go to the restaurant he barely has time for you, he's tightly wound and hateful- loses his temper quickly. richie tried to talk to him, tina, too; and he told them the same thing- to mind their own business.

you miss carmen, you do. but when you tell him that, he tells you he's here now- now being when he's practically collapsed in bed beside you.

it's the roughest patch the two of you had ever been through, and carmen doesn't even seem to realize it. until one day. the other restaurant got moved to the other side of the city- something about the building being mysteriously shut down for shoddy wiring (uncle jimmy had nothing to do with it!!)

carmen's feeling good. feeling like he can breathe again.

comes home early and you're surprised. he's happy and excited, but when he goes to teddy, she cries.

that tiny baby cry for you, just a little whine of sorts that she does when a stranger tries to hold her.

a stranger.

"teddy," carmen coos, trying again. "it's daddy, teddy bear."

teddy just turns into your shirt, whimpering and clinging to you. you watch carmen's heart break- the fall of his face, eyes widening into horrified realization.

"i think she's cranky, carm. it's her nap time-"

"she doesn't even know who i am." carmen's tone is hard- hurt.

"no, she's just a little sleepy, carmen. look, teddy, look," you coo, bouncing her lightly to coax her out of your chest. "look, baby, it's daddy."

teddy seemed to recognize the word, eyes lighting but she didn't relate carmen to that. blinking and looking around like she was looking for her dad. carmen's face crumbled, running his hands over his face to keep himself from sobbing in front of you.

you didn't know what to do, how to make it better. "i'm going to smoke." carmen rasped, voice tight with emotion, snatching his cigarettes off the table and going outside.

he called the only person he knew to. richie. breaking down, raw and emotional, begging him for any sort of advice on how to make it better.

"cousin, she's a baby. you got time to fix this. she won't even remember this-"

"-she doesn't even remember me." carmen sniffed hard, knee bouncing as his chest bubbled over with that familiar painful panic. "my own kid doesn't know who the fuck i am. what the fuck richie? what's fuckin' wrong with me. all i ever do is fuck everything up-"

"-hey, cousin, i'm stoppin' you right there, ok? let me be honest with you. this ain't about you, ok?" richie huffed. it was mean and cutting but it was true. "this isn't the time to be feelin' all sorry for yourself and shit, ok? you left your wife alone with that baby and you've been a real jagoff- like i said."

carmen hated it, hated that he was right, hated how he felt.

richie continued. "instead of sittin' in there like an asshole, why don't you go inside, take a few fuckin' days off, and get your shit together."

"cosuin, i-i can't do that-"

"- holy fuck, carmen. ok, let's try it again, alright? go inside. quit being a self loathing jagoff piece of shit, and take a few days off to be with your wife and kid, ok? i got the place for a few days." richie snapped.

"richie, we're booked for the next-"

"-look, do you trust me or not?" richie snapped.

"yeah, yeah, i trust you, c'mon." carmen muttered.

"then i got it, alright? if i need you, i'll call you, but for right now- your family needs you. if this was tiff or eva, i wouldn't even think twice about it. go be with your family, and fix this shit, you dumbass." richie huffed.

carmen took richie's advice. finding you in the bedroom, folding teddy's teeny tiny baby clothes. it made carmen sob. heavy heaving cries and mumbled apologies while he clung to you.

the next four days, carmen wouldn't leave the house. wouldn't leave your side or teddy's. he'd gotten her hesitantly out of the crib, eyes red rimmed when he cooed at her and changed her. she didn't cry this time, even giving him a tiny gummy smile that had him emotional all over again.

[rainee-da]

Hello <3

Is it ok to request the "What they said when you're sleeping" but with the Divine Visionaries? Tysm!

🍀 The Talk When You Sleep [2]

CHARACTER ❥ Orter Mádl �� / Sophina Biblia 📕 / Tsurara Halestone ❄️

W A R N I N G ⚠️ R13 for general fluff w/ slight angst as spice / Relationship HCS / BIG SPOILER!!!! / might be a bit too OOC for you.

O R T E R M Á D L ⏳

he opened the door to your bedroom and sighed loudly "Seriously? We're supposed to be at the office at 9 o'clock, and you're still sleeping in your bed? Your laziness is absolutely revolt-" he shook his head in annoyance and marched closer, but stopped abruptly as his hand hovers in the air "That eyebags... you must be staying up late again," he sighed and sit at the edge of your bed, thinking for a while "There's no urgency... I suppose it's fine to let you be for some more," his face is annoyed as he loosened the tie in his neck he looked up the window, his expression remained unchanged "Yesterday was quite frivolous, I didn't remember there was anything in particular happening... what made you stay up late?" he mumbled as he turned his head to watch your face "Are you overthinking again? Or is there something that I missed?" he frowned as he is thinking to himself, before sighing again "No matter... we'll just sleep together later at night so I can fix your sleep habit, should've done so for a long time anyway." he brushes your hair to the side with his finger, his frown softens slightly "Your expression is good, and your temperature is normal. At least you're not sick physically," his hand moves to stroke your cheek as he enjoys the silence for a while, his expression grows solemn as the deep thought overwhelms his mind "Every time I see you as innocent as this, I always wonder... Why do you want to be with someone like me?" his finger rubs your eyelids gently "I rarely said this to you, and I know I should, but... You're a smart person. You're strong, able to defend yourself when danger strikes. You also had good friends that cherish you," he tilted his head as he got immersed by your face "You're... a beauty, so beautiful that it made me wonder how many people felt envious when we made us official... And, most important of all," he paused as the word got caught up in his throat, he blinks rapidly to clear some of his senses "You're so altruistic, so kind... unlike me." he chuckled lowly "I don't even know how many people have died by my wands, for the sake of order," he sighed as he turned his eyes away to stare at the view outside the window "Order is made for a reason. I believe that as long as the order is properly maintained, there will be no more Alex in the world. No people would get hurt anymore... But," he paused "The whole incident with Innocent Zero made me reconsider those beliefs... But, if my actions all this time were wrong, " he paused, his face darkened "Wouldn't that make me.. a. criminal?" he sighed, rubbing his face wearily "No use thinking about that now. It only brings unnecessary questions that will hinder my rationality," his gaze shifted to you and his mouth formed into a thin smile "It's a new dawn, and the citizen will need to get used to the new order. A riot would be inevitable, and bringing the previous sense of normalcy would be a grueling task ahead for the Divine Visionaries. But," he leans in and gives your lips a chaste kiss "With you, I believe I'll do well—maybe even better than before." "𝘼𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙡, 𝙄'𝙢 𝙣𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙬."

S O P H I N A B I B L I A 📕

"Oh my, the way you sleep is so vulgar! This won't do," she hurriedly move to fix your sleeping position and remove her coat to put it over you "There, all better," she smiles in satisfaction as she move your head to put it over her lap "You really had no grace, sleeping during work hours like this... you're lucky I'm more pliable than Mr. Madl." she sighed and shake her head as she opened the book in her hand to starts reading "Well, I'm only this pliable towards you if I'm being honest. If Mr. Revol's the one who's doing this, I would've already cursed him so he would dance bare-naked in the courtyard," she coughed softly and hums to stop herself from laughing "That's... such a tasteless threats coming from me, I can't believe I just said that." she tried to focus on reading but her mind is wandering "Let's see... Didn't you promises me that you would never napped at work anymore? So I think a punisment should be in order, no?" the thoughts in her head brings subtle-yet mischievous smile in her stoic face "What if, you have to cook dinner for a week? Or maybe I'll make you read one of my books? That's not really a punishment though," she tapped her chin as she's thinking "Or, I could also punish you," she leaned closer and blow into your ear "Like this? Fufu, you're so cute when you're wincing like that." she sighed and close the book to put it on the side, and her hand moves to brush your hair gently "You bring out sides of me that I never thought I have..." a soft smile formed on her face "For example... I never thought that feeling your hair against my fingertips like this could be so addicting," she lightly pinched the tip of your nose, and giggles at your reaction "Or that teasing you would be so much fun? Your reaction is so lively, it's never boring to be around you," she sighed and close her eyes as she lost in her own thoughts "Being with you has become one of my hobbies... Fresh scent of new book will never compare to the scent of your fragnance, and reading become a chores if you're not by my side," she smiles dreamily, slowly getting sleepy "Your influence is kaleidoscope of color in my life, I never thought that something as abstract as you would be so enjoyable... Really, I would trade everything in the world, if it means we could always be together like this," her hand lied in your chest as she slowly dozed off "𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙝 𝙬𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 '𝙤𝙪𝙧' 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮, 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧"

T S U R A R A H A L E S T O N E ❄️

"Brrrr…. oh, you're asleep?" she lowered her hand from her mouth, her body shakes slightly "I guess you've been waiting for long… I'm sorry," she walked towards you, her face expresses remorse "I should woke you up, don't I? But… brrrr…. let me use your body to warm up first… You don't mind, right?" she lied beside your sleeping figure, and snuggle closer to your side "Hehe�� your body is so warm," she smiles dreamily as she hugs your body "I'm sorry that it took me so long to finish my work… I was getting in the zone with my research, and finally made some progress… But then," her gloved hand move towards your neck to rub it gently "The heater suddenly broke down… I have to waited for the mechanic to arrive, and I didn't realize that it was already this late" she sighed and closed her eyes, looking exhausted "I should've told you to go home early... I'm sorry that you have to wait for me." her body shakes again, and she lay her head on your chest "Brrrr... Why is it so cold," she lost in her own thought as she listen to your heartbeat, a soft smile formed in her face "Your heartbeat is steady, that's good... I always used your body as my warmer, and I know you said that you didn't mind that one bit... " she blushes and shyly buried her face to your neck "... But I hope you're not forcing yourself... My magic made my body cold, I didn't want you to get sick because of me." she stumbles as she risen up, her smile is warm and her hand is stroking your cheek "I think soon enough I can make some potion that will help keep my body warm temporarily! Tomorrow I'll show it to you! I don't know how long the effects would last... But," she leans in to kiss your cheek, accidentally biting her inner cheek out of nervousness "Ouch! Eh, what I'm saying is, with those potions we, hopefully, can starts hanging out outside! Do some dinner date, movie night at cinema, stuff that I know you want to do but you never asked out of consideration for me. " she hums happily as she snuggle closer to your cheek "You're warm," her eyes is full of adoration as she stares at your sleeping face "I love that the most about you... You're such a warm person. You're patient with me, even though sometimes my magic combined with my clumsiness causes you trouble. But you're always being so kind with me... It made me so happy," she turns to look at the clock "Ah, It's already this late! I should wake you up now." "𝙊𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩."

Long time no see! I've been busy with my irl stuff and just finally got the time to write again. I kinda projecting on some of the characters lol I hope you don't mind... I originally planned to write for all of them, but I decided to split it into different parts since when I'm writing this I have a severe case of writer's block lolol. I promises that the rest of them will be uploaded in due time!

I've made similar prompt before w/ Devil's Quintuplet+Cell War so check it out! And I tried to make it as less OOC as I possibly could, but I don't know if it will suits your interpretation. I hope you like it all the same though! Thank you anon for your request 🍀 and thank you for reading!

[abbygirly]

I wrote this short story a while ago and thought I'd share. I hope you like it!

Daddy Sherlock - Imagine having a child with Sherlock

As you run to the bathroom for the second time, Sherlock becomes concerned for your well-being.

"Y/N, are you OK?"

"Yes. Just a bit nauseous. Must be something I ate."

He makes you some tea and tells you to rest for the rest of the day. But his mind keeps trying to work out what you have, and he asks Dr Watson to examine you.

John, always so perceptive, asks how long you have been feeling ill.

"Oh, about a month or so."

"I see. Have you considered taking a pregnancy test, Y/N?"

"I'm not pregnant, John."

"We can't rule it out until you've taken the test and we can confirm it."

You are worried, but agree and ask John not to mention this to Sherlock.

After you return home, you take the test and, as you wait, your heart races and your imagination runs wild at the prospect of having Sherlock's baby. You look at the test, confirming the pregnancy and your legs turn to jelly. Tears stream down your cheeks as the news settles in.

'I'm having a baby. With Sherlock Holmes!

Oh, how am I going to tell him?'

Sherlock came home to find you pacing nervously in the living room.

"Has something happened?"

"Yes, Sherlock. We need to talk."

He sits down on the sofa beside you, a worried look in his eyes.

"Y/N, you're making me nervous. Tell me what is going on."

Slowly you take the test out of your pocket and show it to him.

"A... Pregnancy test?"

You sigh.

"A positive pregnancy test, Sherlock."

"Yes, I can see that. And?"

"I took the test today."

He blinks, stares at it as if it can speak to him.

"Sherlock, you're going to be a father." You say, letting the news sink in.

Sherlock sits quietly on the couch, his mind in a whirl of emotions as he tries to process the news. His eyes flick from the positive test to your worried face, unsure of what to say or do.

Finally, he manages to speak.

"I never expected this, Y/N. I don't know how to be a father."

He looks down at his hands, feeling overwhelmed.

You take his hands gently, your eyes meet.

"You don't have to be perfect, Sherlock. No parent is. We'll work this out together, one step at a time." You say, your voice calm and reassuring.

"But... What if I mess it up? What if I can't be the father our child needs?" He asks, a hint of fear in his voice.

You stroke his cheek with a gentle smile.

"You're going to be a wonderful father, Sherlock. I can feel it. And I'll be here every step of the way to support you, to help you navigate this new journey." You pause for a moment and look into his eyes.

"And remember, our love for this baby will see us through any challenges that come our way."

Sherlock looks at you, his heart filled with love for you and the child you have created together. He nods, determined to do his best.

"I can do this, Y/N. For you, for our child." He says, a new determination in his voice. He puts his arms around you and kisses your lips, grateful for your support and love.

"We're in this together, Sherlock. Through the ups and downs, the good times and the hard times, we'll face it all as a family." You hold him close.

Sherlock leans his forehead against yours, a sense of peace settling over him. He knows there will be challenges ahead, but with you by his side, he feels ready to face whatever comes their way.

"I love you, Y/N. And I love our baby more than I can say." He says, his voice full of love and warmth.

You smile, your eyes shining with happiness.

"I love you too, Sherlock. And I love our little family. Together we will create a future full of love and hope.

Sherlock slowly realises he's about to embark on the greatest adventure of his life, facing the biggest challenge yet. It's not just about being a detective now. It's about being a father. About taking care of a vulnerable, innocent life. A responsibility that terrifies him, but also makes him feel deeply alive. This baby will change everything. It will force him to confront his fears, his flaws, his deepest emotions. And he's not sure he's ready. But then he looks at you, and he knows he has to be.

For you, for your baby, he must rise to the challenge. He must be the man you two deserve: strong, compassionate, and brave. And he knows that you will be there by his side, supporting him every step of the way. And as he looks into you eyes, he sees in them the promise of a beautiful future filled with hope, love, and endless possibilities.

With a deep breath, he takes your hand and says,

"Let's do this. Together, we can be the parents this baby deserves."

You smile at him, your eyes brimming with joy and anticipation. You wrap your arms around him in a loving embrace, whispering softly,

"I have faith in us, Sherlock. And I believe in you. Together, we're going to create a loving, nurturing environment for our child. One that will guide him through life's ups and downs, and make him into the best version of himself."

Sherlock holds you close, his heart swelling with love and gratitude.

"We'll have a little detective running around in no time." You laugh.

The idea of your child following in his footsteps makes Sherlock smile.

"A detective in the making, huh?" He replies, stroking your belly. "I can't wait to teach this baby about everything."

Months later...

As the evening wears on, Sherlock finds himself standing in the nursery, the soft glow of the nightlight illuminating the room. He looks around, taking in the sight of the crib, the changing table, the rocking chair, and the shelves filled with baby toys and supplies.

It's a surreal feeling, knowing that this room will soon be filled with the sound of your child's laughter and the warmth of your family.

Despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead, Sherlock knows that you will face it together, creating a loving and nurturing environment for your child.

With a contented sigh, he walks out of the nursery and finds you resting on the couch with your feet up.

"The nursery is all set," he says softly, joining her by the side.

You take his hand and smiles, your eyes shining with love and warmth.

"Thanks, Sherlock. It looks beautiful."

He gently strokes your hair, your eyes meeting in a tender moment.

"I can't believe we're about to embark on this journey together. I'm grateful for every moment we share, and I can't wait to meet our child."

You lean into Sherlock, resting your head on his shoulder.

"Me too, Sherlock. I'm excited and a bit nervous, but I know we'll be great together. Just like we always have been."

Sherlock wraps his arm around you, pulling you closer.

"I can see it now," he says softly, his voice filled with wonder. "Our child running around, laughing, curious about the world. It's a beautiful picture."

He places his hand on your abdomen, feeling the gentle warmth of your pregnant belly.

You gently strokes his hand, your heart filled with love.

"It'll be a joy to watch them grow up, to see their first words, their first steps. They'll be the luckiest child in the world, because they'll have you as their father."

Sherlock smiles, feeling humbled by your words.

"I'll do my best to be the father they deserve, Y/N. I promise you that."

He caresses your belly, filled with anticipation.

"Just a few more months, and we'll meet our little one."

You lean in, your lips meeting his in a loving kiss.

"I can't wait," you says softly, as you pull apart.

Sherlock smiles contentedly, the love and connection between you palpable in the quiet intimacy of the room.

As the two of you sit together, basking in the warmth of your excitement and anticipation, you know that this journey into parenthood will be one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences of your lives. Together, you will embark on a new chapter, filled with love, laughter, and the joy of raising a child of your own.

[mybiasisexo]

Entangled - Part 10

Pairing: Chanyeol x f.Reader Chapter Warnings: Language Word Count: 3.5k Author Notes: hi 🙂 . okay so has it been almost a year since my last update??? perhaps.... Have I lost a chunk of readers cause they dont even go on this site anymore??? maybe. but aye, better late than never amirite? *looks around* anyways this is the last day in jejuuuu 😫. tbh i think the main reason for the delay is that im a lil bitch and i dont want this story to end lol. but we have to end it eventually *sigh*. anyways this is not the last chapter ok? and the next chap will be up way sooner than yall think, Enjoy the aftermath of the beach and lmk how we're feeling. In other words, did yall cry like i did while I wrote this??? lol maybe just me cause im a SAP 😭

Waking up the next morning is difficult. Your stomach feels funny, and your head throbs as you roll over with a groan, bumping into something in the process.

Your eyes spring open to see Seulgi’s angelic face buried into the comforter, and you exhale. She wakes under your scrutiny, blinking the sleep away as she smiles at you.

“Good morning, Starshine,” she greets with a yawn. “How are you feeling?”

You grunt.

“Yeah, I’m about the same.”

“What happened last night?” You ask, not remembering much after returning to your friends.

Seulgi sighs. Wrapping an arm around your waist, she cuddles your side, resting her head in the crook of your neck.

“You came back without him,” she replies softly. You’re mystified by how she knows exactly where your memory faded. “You ran right up to me and started bawling.”

You wince, embarrassed at breaking down in front of everyone.

“I was going to bring you back, but you insisted on staying. So, we all hung out for a couple more hours, and the boys made sure to feed you all the alcohol present.”

You rub your head. “I can feel that.”

She chuckles. “Baekhyun did end up leaving early to track down Chanyeol, but I’m not sure how that ended up.”

It’s quiet for a moment as you absorb the knowledge of the night.

Until Seulgi finally gives in to ask, “what happened, girl?”

“I didn’t tell you?”

“You tried.” She shrugged. “But, you were crying so hard I couldn’t really understand anything.”

You curl more into her. “I fucked up.”

“How?”

“I got so caught up in Chanyeol and the wedding, that I forgot how badly he hurt me… But then I remembered.”

She remains silent, but you can sense the curiosity radiating off of her. It dawns on you that Seulgi doesn’t have any real clue to the turmoil you endured at the hands of the man you love.

“And now we’re kind of in a stalemate.”

She hums thoughtfully. “So, you’re not going to give him a second chance?”

“I don’t know if that’s possible anymore,” you reveal. “I haven’t forgiven him for what he did, and because of that, I’ve been leading him on to the point I don’t even know if he wants to get back together.”

“Oh, Honey.” She drags you tighter into her embrace. “I’m so sorry.”

You wrap your arms around her, holding her as though she’s your lifeline and fight the urge to cry. The severity of the night before settles in, and you swear you can feel the cracks forming in your heart. All you can think about is the fact you really ended things with Chanyeol on a boardwalk. The image of his defeated face haunts your mind.

Inquisitive knocking at your room door draws your attention, and Seulgi is the one to reluctantly detach from you to go answer it. While she’s gone, the tears you’d been holding back sneak out of your ducts. You quickly wipe them away before her return. 

She’s reentering the room not long after she left with Sehun in tow.

He takes on look at you and pouts sympathetically. “Aigoo, you poor thing.”

“Shut up,” you whine, hearing the tears in your throat. Your best friends topple over you, holding you from different sides. 

Sehun kisses your cheek. “I was checking to see if you guys were up. Van gets here in an hour.”

You sigh. You don’t know if you have it in you to leave these four walls, but it’s your last day on the island. The last day you’ll be able to spend time with your friends like this for a while, and you don’t want to miss it.

“How’s my baby doing?” Sehun asks, brushing away some tears that fell without your knowledge. 

“My head and heart hurt.”

“You don’t have to come today. Everyone will understand.” 

“No,” you adamantly refuse. “It’s our last day. I’m spending it with you all.”

He grins and kisses your cheek again. “Good. I don’t want you cooped up in here hating yourself all day.”

“Yeah,” Seulgi adds. “And we’d probably all be too worried about you to enjoy the festivities.”

“We’ll start getting ready,” you tell Sehun, patting his arm.

“Bet. One hour.”

An hour later, you find yourself standing outside the hotel with the others, waiting for Baekhyun and Chanyeol.

“It’s not going to wait for us,” Sehun mutters, checking his phone.

You rest your head on Seulgi’s shoulder, still nursing a hangover.

“We’re here! Sorry for the delay!” You make out Baekhyun’s voice. Cracking open an eye, you see the two last members of your party run over.

“Perfect timing!” Sehun says with a clap of his hands. “Let’s go!”

You can’t stop yourself from checking on Chanyeol. Sleep still clings to his features, the faintest of shadows under his eyes, and his hair appears flatter. A bout of guilt hits you, knowing you’re the reason for his visible exhaustion. 

Suddenly, he’s returning your stare. He either felt it, or is just as pulled to you as ever. Either way, he’s looking back at you, gaze shifting between your eyes before he bows his head in greeting. It’s hesitant, almost shy. You can’t take him playing nice after the fight you had last night, so you return his bow stiffly and rush towards the van. You crawl into the back seats, squishing between Sehun and Seulgi. Once the car takes off, you’re the one to ask Sehun what’s on the agenda for the day.

“Today is all about healing,” he explains. “We’ll be going to an aquarium and then something a bit more exciting before having dinner.”

“More exciting, you say?” Baekhyun says. “Like the sex museum?”

You all protest in disgust.

“We will not be making a stop there,” Sehun assures, quieting your complaints.

“You’re all no fun,” Baekhyun sulks. Jongdae rubs his back sympathetically.

You are going to the other side of the island, so you settle in for a long drive. You enjoy the beautiful scenery of the shore before dozing off for most of the ride.

You’re not sure how long you’re out for, but when you’re shaken awake, you’re at the destination.

Climbing out of the van, you take in your surroundings. There’s a volcano in the distance, with a sparkling blue sea in the background.

“When are we going to eat?” Jongin asks rather impatiently. Your stomach growls in agreement.

“RIght now,” Sehun says, leading you all to a cute cafe.

Your party has to split between two tables since there isn’t one big enough for the group. You end up sitting with Seulgi, Sehun, and Jongin. It’s not intentional, at least you don’t think it is, but you’re hyper aware that Chanyeol and you are sitting at separate tables.

Food is ordered, and conversation flows naturally as you all eat, eager to get to the main event. Once everyone is full, you make your way over to the aquarium. Aquaplanet is one of the largest aquariums this side of the world, and you’re going to be spending the bulk of the day there. You adore aquariums and think sea animals are pretty neat, so you’re pumped. You latch onto Sehun’s arm as you enter.

“This was a good idea,” you tell him as you’re greeted by tanks and dim lighting.

“I thought you might enjoy it. Let’s see some sharks!”

“Oh, hell yeah!”

In the beginning, the group sticks together. Everyone points out cool looking fish and exotic plants, daring one another to stick their hands in open tanks. But, slowly you all break off into groups and begin to separate. It’s not long before you find yourself alone, wandering the halls aimlessly as you observe the undersea wildlife in wonder. You don’t mind the solitude. If anything, it’s relieving, a small break from pretenses. You’re at peace, finding the aquatic life calming the turbulent thoughts raging within your mind. 

You enter an alcove of sorts and find Baekhyun there. His face is practically pressed to the glass as he blows kisses to a beluga whale that appears to have taken an interest in him. You swear you see the whale kiss him back and gasp. He hears you and jumps, jerking away from the glass in embarrassment. 

“Don’t let me interrupt,” you say with a sly grin. It falls when you spot Chanyeol on the opposite side of the small room. You forget all about Baekhyun and his whale partner as you focus solely on Chanyeol. Like clockwork, your body reacts to his presence. You swallow back the want flooding your mouth, especially when you recall the harshness of his tone from the night before. The flashbacks of his pain, his anger, his doubt keeps your feet planted where you stand. You want to hit him for all the sorrow you’ve felt because of him. You want to kiss all of your shared pain away. You want to scream all of your frustrations in his face. You want to hold and forgive him. You want to make love to him. You want to never see him again.

You catch the way his shoulders stiffen at the sound of your voice, and it’s the slap you need to remember yourself. He doesn’t want to speak to you, and you don’t blame him at all. It hurts all the same. The slight rejection is a much needed reality check, and you find the strength to move on–entering a hallway that’s dark and filled with jellyfish.

Now, being alone isn’t as peaceful as it was a moment ago. Your eyes burn as you stare unseeingly at the creatures floating around aimlessly, jealous of their complete lack of emotions. RIght now being a jellyfish doesn’t seem so bad. You’d take it over the agony of seeing your ex, the man you’re starting to think you’ll never be able to get over, even after what he did to you. It’s conflicting with a part of you that takes responsibility for Chanyeol’s betrayal. You’ve demolished his heart and yet he still claimed to want you. If he can forgive you for all your past transgressions, then you should find it in yourself to forgive him for the only one he’s ever committed against you. Bringing Yerim may have been painful, but you don’t hold it against him. You understand what he was doing.

“What are you doing here alone?” A gentle voice asks.

For the umpteenth time today, you surreptitiously wipe at your eyes before turning your head to Jongin. You give him a watery grin and he takes a step towards you, always the comforter. He hesitates though, glancing behind him where you know Chanyeol stands.

You cough a laugh and he giggles conspiringly before sauntering over to you, pulling you into his healing arms.

“It’s okay,” he whispers. “He apologized.”

“That’s good,” you say. “Last thing I want is for any of you to get caught in our mess.”

“We kind of already have been,” he points out.

“And that’s not right. I’m sorry for putting you in this situation.”

He hushes you. “Don’t be. You’re not in charge of his actions. I understand why he did it. It’s in the past now.”

You lean more into him and sigh. “You should sell your hugs. I’m starting to think they can cure depression.”

He chuckles at that and rubs your back. You both watch the jellyfish pulsate around their tank.

“I want to be a jellyfish,” you voice.

“Why?” he hums.

“Because they have no brain.”

You feel him shake his head. “You’re so dramatic.”

More uplifted, you lead Jongin into the next room.

The rest of your friends are there. It’s a huge room with massive tanks filled with sharks. You spot Sehun and rush over to him.

“Sharks!” You cheer. Sharing your joy, Sehun breaks out into a weird dance where he slices the air with his arms. You waste no time replicating his silly choreography. 

You all spend a lengthy amount of time with the sharks before wandering the rest of the aquarium, reaching the end a few hours later.

You squint against the brightness of the sun when you exit. After buying souvenirs and snacks, you all file back into the van and head to your next destination that’s about forty minutes away.

You’re dropped off in what seems like the middle of nowhere.

“Um….” Jongdae laughs awkwardly. “Are you going to kill us?”

Sehun rolls his eyes. “Follow me.”

There’s a path that he takes you down and you spot a sign that reveals your next adventure.

“Ziplining?” Chanyeol asks, excitement bubbles into his voice at the idea.

Sehun smiles broadly. “We have to do something other than lounge around and get drunk.”

Nerves rack your frame as you get suit up. You aren’t the biggest fan of heights, although the excitement from everyone else rubs off on you. While waiting in the long line, you take pictures and tease each other over how ridiculous the helmets you’re required to wear look. 

When your group makes it up the long flight of stairs to the first line, you watch as Sehun, Chanyeol, Jongdae, and Seulgi head out before you. Once it’s your turn, you take a deep calming breath as the instructor attaches you to the line, going over the rules that you mindlessly nod along too. Unfortunately, it’s in one ear and out the other because you’re too focused on the ground forty feet below.

And you’re off. A scream rips out of your throat. You’re too preoccupied by the fear to really enjoy what’s going on. Tightly, you hold onto the belt connecting you to the line, the only thing keeping you from falling, and you have little faith in the thing. Towards the end though, you work the courage to peel your eyes open and take in your surroundings. It’s not really that bad. 

You hit the end and the instructor on this tower unzips you before motioning you to go up another flight of steps. There isn’t anybody else there, but when you make it to the top, you see Seulgi taking off. She locks eyes with you and waves as she soars, screaming all the while, but they’re filled with joy. You can’t help but smile affectionately, wishing you captured the moment for her.

Then it’s your turn yet again. This time around, you’re a lot less scared, so you're able to appreciate the scenery from such a high view. Catch the beauty of the early stages of the sun setting over a small lake beneath you. You thank Sehun for coming up with this, it’s nice.

Too quickly it’s over. Your cheeks are flushed from the cold wind and the adrenaline racing in your veins.

“That was awesome!” You say as a greeting to your friends huddled off to the side.

“It was too short.” Jongdae frowns. “We should go again!”

“One more time! One more time!” Him and Chanyeol start chanting. You shake your head, struggling to get out of the harness. Seulgi helps you.

“Adrenaline junkies,” Sehun mutters.

It’s another five minutes until everyone finishes the zipline and then you’re off to have dinner.

The first thing you notice is how expensive the place appears. It’s on the sea, and the setting sun against the water is stunning.

“We are not dressed for this place,” Seulgi points out as Sehun brings you all in. He says something to the host who vanishes for a moment before coming back with an older gentleman that greets Sehun fondly. Intrigued, you watch them chat and begin to think it’s the owner of the establishment. Must be those restaurant owning perks. Sehun turns to you all and lifts his eyebrows teasingly before gesturing for you to follow. 

He brings you to a private room in the back of the building, all the walls are made up of windows, giving you a lovely view of the water. It’s so close, it feels like you’re floating on top of it. The room is dimly lit and very intimate. You all get seated, and you end up between Sehun and Baekhyun.

“We won't be ordering,” Sehun says with a cocky grin. “We’ll be getting the best this place has to offer.”

The table ‘ohs’. Jongdae, who’s on Sehun’s other side, rubs up against him.

It takes a while for the food to arrive. As you all wait, you watch the sunset and drink expensive rice wine.

“I’d like to make a toast,” Jongdae says. Straightening his shoulders, he lifts up his glass and you all follow suit. “First, I want to congratulate Junmyeon on taking the plunge. It was a beautiful wedding, and it was an honor to be a part of it. Thanks to him, we were finally able to be together again. I can’t even remember the last time all of us were able to hang out like this.”

His smile takes on a sentimental tilt. “This trip has put into perspective just how quickly time passes, and how much things change. If I’ve learned anything the past couple days, it’s that I don’t ever want us to drift apart. No matter the distance,” at that he looks at Sehun. “No matter how hectic the schedule,” he turns to Jongin. “Let’s always make a point to come together.”

“We definitely need to do this more often,” Jongin agrees. “I love you guys and this trip has been so fun–”

“Minus the whole Yerim thing,” Seulgi chimes in. Both you and Baekhyun wince at the reminder of the stressful aspect of the past few days.

Jongin continues as if he hadn’t heard her. “I’m not ready to leave.”

“I don’t want to leave either,” Jongdae continues. “There’s not much I cherish more than our friendship. Let’s make this a tradition. It doesn’t have to be Jeju, but let’s start taking annual trips together.”

You all agree with the clinking of your glasses. “To more memories!”

You swallow the tangy wine and capture Chanyeol’s gaze over the rim. He sits directly across from you, and it’s the first time he truly acknowledges your presence. Jongdae’s words take on a different meaning under Chanyeol’s scrutiny. Time passes and people change. Both Chanyeol and yourself are different people than you were four/five years ago, but should that keep you both from being in each other’s lives? You aren’t sure anymore. But, you know that you miss him. This trip has shown just how important he is to you, and you don’t know if you can live without him in your life anymore. His steady gaze seems to agree, an unspoken message you think you can decipher.

The food comes out soon after. It’s mostly seafood and it’s so damn good your eyes roll to the back of your head at your first bite.

Dinner consists of reminiscing on your college days and informing each other on future plans you haven’t yet disclosed. It’s nice. A sweet and perfect way to end your last day in Jeju. This trip has been both the quickest and longest weekend of your life. So much happened in only a few days, and the drama has been all consuming. But, between the moments of stress, your friends have been there to make you laugh and provide comfort. They are your found family who you cherish more than anything. The only thing this last night is missing is Junmyeon. He’d probably be killing you all with terrible dad jokes that only you and Jongin ever truly find funny. If he’d been privy on the whole Chanyeol situation, he would’ve probably been able to push you in a direction that wouldn’t have led to you both rebreaking your hearts on a boardwalk. He’s the father figure in the group, and his absence has been greatly felt, despite him being the main attraction.

“I’d like to give another toast,” you interrupt the conversation to say, refilling your glass. “I want to take a moment to shout out Sehun. It was your idea to make this a reunion, and you’ve really gone out of your way to plan every little thing. So, thank you. You’ve worked hard, and we wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.”

“Yes, our man with the connections,” Baekhyun says, gesturing to the meal you all are devouring.

Sehun dips his head shyly, waving your toast away with a hand. “As Jongdae said, I cherish your friendship more than anything. Thank you for staying a little longer to hang out with little ol’ me. I love you.”

“We love you too,” Seulgi says, reaching over to clink her glass with his.

He clears his throat. “Hurry and eat this food. I didn’t get the best of the best for it all to go to waste.”

You all jump back into your meal, basking in the love you all hold for each other. 

And thus concludes your last day in Jeju.

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[phantomdoofer]

Tower Town, Chapter 20 - Leftovers

Paolo sat down on a bench in one of the college's many courtyards. He leaned back, staring at the sky, and sighed. 

The others were calling people, exchanging information, making plans. I can barely remember who I am. Fat lot of good I would be.

He felt more than heard someone sit down next to him. He said nothing. He didn't particularly want company.

“Come on big guy, what's eating you?” A perky voice said next to him.

He looked down - the strange woman with the pink bunny hood sat next to him. She was grinning happily.

He growled and leaned back again. “What do you want? I'm not really in the mood to humor you, you know."

He felt something shake the bench, and he heard a bonk that told him the woman had hit the bench with her shoes. Swinging her feet.

“Come on big guy, I know you're bothered by something. You wanna talk?”

He looked back down, fighting the urge to get up and walk away.

Then he paused. She's the first one who's really been nice to me since… whatever the hell this is happened. He nodded. “You're… the yellow guy's girlfriend, aren't you? Noisette, I think someone said?”

She grinned toothily. “That's me! I'm not his girlfriend though - we're actually married.” She leaned over and whispered, “my name's actually Hazel. I prefer Noisette, though.” She leaned back and smiled. “Ok, I told you a secret, now you tell me something about you!”

Paolo blinked. What is this woman? “I… still don't know. My past is… fuzzy. Not just the last few years, but everything. Who was I? What did I do for a living? How do I know all this stuff bouncing around in my head?” He shook his head ruefully. “I don't think I even have a home.” 

Noisette smiled up at him. “Well, that's OK! You could stay with one of us til you get back on your feet!”

Paolo thought about the open hostility the others had shown. “I doubt that.”

Noisette made a “pshaw” motion with her hand. “Noisey has all kinds of places we don't use much. You can stay in one’a them!” Her grin took on a slightly malicious edge. “I'll just talk to him.”

Paolo didn't know how to respond. He wasn't used to people being nice to him without being paid first. How do I know that? “That's, uh, very generous of you.”

Noisette's face fell just  a little. “Well… I don't blame the others for havin’ hard feelins, after all. What you did as Pizzahead was… pretty bad.” She brightened up again. “But that was this Pizzamancer guy, right? It wasn't you!”

Paolo found himself being completely truthful. “I think… part of it was me. I don't always… feel emotions right, I think.”

Noisette’s mouth made an O of surprise. “Oh. Are you one of those, what do they call them… sociopaths? Don't ya ever feel sad about anybody? Or happy?”

Paolo thought back. When have I ever had a chance to, really? I always had to put on a mask… I think?  “I… honestly don't know. It never really, er… came up.”

Suddenly a splitting headache lanced through his head. He grabbed his head with both hands.

He heard Noisette's voice, but it was echoing weirdly, distorting…

“Y-y-ou OhohooOK biiiig GuYyyY..?”

Then he was looking at a young Ninda's face, pale. Feminine.

Paolo felt a flood of warmth and safety pour through him at her face.

Look at him, for once in your life, Giorgio!

A round, greasy face hove into view. Instantly the feeling changed to fear and loathing.

He's weak an’ pathetic, is what he is! He ain't gonna amount t’ nothin’!

Don't say stuff like that in front of him! You'll twist his mind! 

Then he snapped back to reality.

Noisette was staring up at him, a look of mild horror on her face.

He felt something warm on his face… he reached up and wiped it away. Tears? And pizza sauce? “I… I remembered something. I think it was… my mother?” His head felt like it was splitting open. “Aagh.”

Noisette gently touched his arm. “You remembered somethin’? Your nose started bleeding.”

Paolo shook his head. “It felt… warm, for a second. Happy. Then my father showed up.” His brow furrowed. “Then it was hatred.”

Noisette nodded. “Maybe you repressed some stuff? An’ now that you're out from under the Pizzamancer, it's comin’ back!”

Paolo gripped his head in both hands. “I hope the rest of it isn't so painful.”

Noisette clapped her hands. “But that proves you've got emotions! Maybe you just… need to find ‘em again!” She hopped off the bench, waving for him to do the same. “Come on, come on! Let's go walk!”

Paolo hesitated. I barely know what's going on. These people hate me, and from what they're saying, it's not exactly unfounded. Then he paused again. Then again, I have no home, no life, and barely know who I am. What have I got to lose, really? 

He nodded. “All right. Not like I can be much help here.”

Noisette hopped up and down, clapping and looking ecstatic. “Yay!” She grabbed his arm and dragged him along. “Ok, first things first! Let's get you some fresh clothes! People are gonna be uneasy enough til they get used to ya without ya walkin’ around in that old clown outfit!”

Paolo looked down - he was still wearing the overalls and white shirt he'd woken up in, but they were ripped, stained, and, in a few places, burned. “Can't argue with you there.”

Noisette let go and started walking briskly. “I know just the place! Come on!”

~~~~

Paolo walked out of the clothing store, turning to examine himself. It was a simple outfit - slacks, a white cotton shirt, and a light coat. But the material was quality. “Gotta say, it's nice having fresh clothes.”

Noisette emerged behind him, festooned with bags. “I picked up some other outfits, too! We'll just drop them at the apartment I called ahead to, get you a key, and then,” she giggled, “I wanna show you the town!”

Paolo was still uneasy. Everyone was staring at him. What did I do to these people? “Uh, Noisette,” he said, “what… exactly… did Pizzahead do? I feel like I'm gonna be lynched.”

Noisette’s expression fell. “I… You'll have to talk to people to find that out, Paolo. I only know… a few things.” She squirmed. “He was always nice to me… but Noisey told me Pizzahead used to use me as leverage to get Noise to do what he wanted. And I heard… other things. Horrible things.” She looked pale. “Almost everyone here is from the Tower… and almost everyone here has a story. About Pizzahead.”

Paolo stared into the distance. Sweet pizza father, what did I do to these people? 

~~~~

Noisette opened the door, and gestured broadly. “Ta-da! Welcome to your new digs!”

Paolo stepped inside. It was a standard apartment at first glance… but he noticed the plush couch, the giant TV, the dishes in the cabinet. He put down a bag. “And you're OK with just… letting me use this?”

Noisette nodded. “We've got a few places around for guests to use. But with the Tower floatin’ around, we're not gettin’ any visitors. “She smiled up at him. “So don't worry about it! It's all paid for!”

He hung his head. “Th… thank you. You're being… so nice to me. And if what you said is true… I don't deserve it.” 

Noisette sat down, and gestured for him to do the same. “Aw, Paolo, don't be like that! It wasn't really you!”

Paolo slumped into a recliner. “That's the thing, Mrs…"

Noisette waggled a finger. “Just Noisette, Paolo.”

He nodded. “Noisette, the thing is… I don't think the Pizzamancer was totally controlling me, not until later. He was influencing me. Some of that…” he shuddered, “some of that was me. I'm not… really a good person. I…” he clutched this head. “Aagh, I can't remember who I was! It just feels like I was a bad guy!”

Noisette nodded, her smile gone. “Maybe ya were, big guy.” She hopped up, walked over, and put a hand on his knee. “Don't mean ya can't start over. Think of this as a chance to be someone else!” The toothy smile returned.

Paolo smiled back, hesitantly, then more confidently. “That's… that's a good point. Thank you.” He was silent a few moments. “I feel like you're the first person who's ever really been nice to me.”

Noisette poked him. “Maybe ya just needed a friend!”

Paolo nodded.

She grabbed his arm and dragged him to a standing position. “Come on, let me show you the Town!”

~~~~

As Paolo sat down, Noisette brought a plate of pastries over, a long with two cups of coffee. “Here ya go! My own recipes!”

He held up the pastry - he'd never seen one look so… lurid before. “Are you sure this is OK?”

She was already chewing on one. “Oh yeah,” she muttered around crumbs, “they're some of my best sellers!”

Hesitantly, he bit into one. A burst of flavors assaulted his mouth, and he stopped. He was picking up at least three different flavors of fruit - strawberry, blueberry, and… what is that? 

As he swallowed, she grinned. “You like it?”

“I… think so,” he said. “What's that third flavor?”

“Something the gnomes cooked up. Said it was a cross-breed of a bunch of different fruits. They call them flashberries, because they really make other stuff pop!” Noisette kicked her feet. “Really gives food some bite, don't it?”

“It does.” He looked around as he sipped his coffee - everyone other than Noisette in the cafe was either glaring or looked extremely uncomfortable. He hunched his shoulders. 

Noisette noticed the motion, and stood up. “Hey, everybody!” she said, “I just wanna let everybody know - I know this guy looks like Pizzahead, an’ he used to be, but he ain't Pizzahead no more! He was bein’ mind-controlled! His name's Paolo, an’ he's lost his memory! So be nice to him, OK?”

Several of the patrons’ faces shifted then, looking more sympathetic. 

“He's still trying to figure out what's goin’ on, and he's gonna be livin’ here for a while!” Suddenly the smile took on a dangerous edge. “If I hear about anyone causin’ him trouble, there'll be problems, an’ I don't want that, OK? Everybody spread the word!”

Suddenly every smile was bright and shining, and everyone nodded vigorously. Paolo was bemused. 

Someone came and whispered in the bunny woman's ear, and she waved. “Sorry, hun, got something I need to check on. Be right back!”

As she went into the back, a young Pig lady approached him. “So, you're not… not Pizzahead?”

Paolo shook his head. “No. Pizzahead was… partially me, but mostly the Pizzamancer. I think he took my dark side and made it… a lot worse.”

She nodded, sitting down. “And you can't remember any of it?”

As if on cue, his eye twitched as a shard of glassy pain shot through his head. He vaguely remembered seeing the woman's face… twisted in fear. “I…” he clutched this head. “I get… flashes. I saw… your face just now.” He shook his head. “Whatever I did to you, I'm sorry. But, could you tell me?”

The young Pig went pale. “You, you came to Pig City. You came to our cafe… you told us if we didn't clean it up you'd turn us into bacon.”

Paolo’s eyes went wide. “Oh Gods.”

The young woman quickly waved her hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Oh, you didn't hurt us. And… your face is different now.” She stared into his eyes, and nodded. “You're different. I don't think I'm afraid of you.”

He nodded, and gave a weak smile. “Well, that's a good start, I guess.”

Suddenly the entire cafe seemed to be wanting to ask him questions, to tell him about his past. Words flew past faster than he could respond.

He couldn't take it. His head started aching. “Stop, please stop,” he whispered.

“Hey hey HEY! Everybody, back up!” he heard Noisette's voice say over the cacophony. Everyone backed up, and she gently touched his shoulder. “Paolo? You OK?”

He slowly took his hands off his head. “I'm… OK,” he said. “I'm sorry, it was just too much at once… AGH!” He grabbed this head again as more stabbing pain lanced through it, a series of jumbled images and feelings flashing before his mind's eye.

“Oof, overloaded, huh?” Noisette said. “Everybody, please, give him some space.”

A chorus of quiet apologies sounded around him, and everyone returned to their seats. Everyone spoke in hushed voices, occasionally glancing at him.

At least they're glances of concern, not fear.

His head slowly stopped throbbing as Noisette sat across from him. “Sorry,” he said.

Noisette reached across and grabbed his hand. “They never got to get this close to Pizzahead without risking their lives before. Now… they're curious. The real Pizzahead would've gone on a rampage if that had happened to him.”

He considered. “I just wanted them to stop.”

She nodded. “If that ain't proof yer not Pizzahead, I don't know what is.”

~~~~

Paolo flopped down in a chair in the apartment Noisette had loaned him. His head throbbed. He leaned back, covering his eyes. Impulsively he jumped up, flipping the lights off.

Immediately he felt better. 

The whole world felt like it was too bright, too loud, too sharp. Every sensation is like a knife in my head! As he sat in the quiet dark, the throbbing slowly eased, and he found himself able to think again.

Migraines, he thought, they're called migraines.

Amazing that he could forget something even that basic.

Another memory floated to the surface, a newer one: a doctor at the hospital…

~~~~

“Mr. Pizzahead…”

“Please, don't call me that,” Paolo had said. “My name is… is… Paolo. Ach.” He'd clutched his head again.

The doctor had looked nonplussed. “Well, Mr. Paolo, I've never seen a pattern quite like this before, but it's plain you've got some noticeable brain damage, mainly to your memory regions. Please, take it easy. You may experience episodes of sensory overload. Try to stay somewhere quiet for a few days.” He'd huffed. “I'd prefer to keep you here for observation…”

Paolo had gently shaken his head. “I probably can't afford it.”

The doctor had shaken his head, as well. “Well, aside from massive memory loss, I'd say you're in good health. What will you do?”

Paolo had brushed his pocket - in it was the mysterious letter, addresses to him:

Please come to the History Department of La Crosta University immediately. It’s vital to your future. You will be cared for.

“I've got somewhere to be.”

~~~~

He'd gone to the meeting, memories floating to the surface of his mind as he walked. He couldn't even begin to guess how much he'd lost, but he'd known one thing: the Pizzamancer had ruined his life.

I'll kill him.

He looked around at the darkened room. At least he was right: I got taken care of. He considered his good fortune, that he'd taken the little rabbit’s word. He had a home… for now… he had - well, maybe not friends, but allies - to be with.

Now I just have to find out who I was as a person.

He leaned back in the chair. The seat was comfortable enough he could just… nod off…

~~~~

Paolo stood patiently as the man waited on other customers. He was nervous. Hate the man as he did, the last words of the dying were not easily ignored.

“Don't let it out of your sight. I mean it, boy! If you listen to one thing I've ever said, don't let it go…”

He shivered. It was only the second time his father had sounded scared.

“Can I help you, young man?”

Paolo squared his shoulders. My turn. He walked up to the counter. he old human across from him smiled in a friendly way. “I have something I wanted to get appraised, and possibly sell.”

The man nodded. “Very well, then. Let's see it.”

Paolo carefully took the ring out of his pocket and laid it on the counter. Just as carefully, the man picked it up, carefully fitting a jeweler's loupe to his eye. He looked the ring over. “Ohh, this is quite the treasure, young man! The workmanship is…” he paused; Paolo knew he was choosing his words carefully - the more lavish the praise, the higher a price Paolo could ask. Finally he spoke again… “passable. The ruby is… is…”

The ruby, the size of a pepperoni, glistened like old blood in the light of the shop. It had never needed polishing. It seemed to beckon to him, even now.

Paolo cleared his throat, and the man jumped. “Sorry, my boy, don't know what came over me, there. It's quite an impressive piece, but I'm not sure if I could find a buyer. I'm afraid I could only give you $5000 for it.”

Paolo kept his face blank. It's worth far more than that. He shook his head. “Now now, sir, while that's quite a generous sum, I couldn't possibly part with it for that much.”

Paolo could practically smell the man's avarice. “I… I could perhaps give you 10- no, 15,000?”

Paolo tried not to smile. He wants it, but I can get more. He reached out and gently plucked it out of the man's hands. “I appreciate your time, sir, but a man offered me $50,000 at another store. I thought perhaps you would be more honest, but I see you aren't interested.”

The man was practically salivating now. He reached out and grasped Paolo’s clenched hand. “No, no! Sorry, sorry, young man, I misspoke! Not sure what I was thinking. I'll give you $100,000 for it!”

Paolo’s heart leapt. $100,000! That would be more than enough to invest and grow in the time I have! He nodded. “Deal.”

The pawnbroker nodded, smiling widely. “Come, come, let's set up the details. I assume you don't want it in cash.”

Not if I don't want to be robbed before I get to the bank. “No, sir. A direct deposit will do nicely.”

As they worked out the details, Paolo found a strange dread gnawing at his happiness. He shook his head, looking down at the ring. Can't wait to be rid of you.

And yet the idea seemed to fill him with dread.

Finally the old man hung up his phone. “Very well, young man. Simply hand over the ring, and I'll send you the money immediately.” The old man held out his hand, expectantly.

Paolo held the ring out… and hesitated. His hand seemed to want to lock up. He swore he heard his father screaming at him.

In fact, he swore he heard a cacophony of voices screaming defiance and denial at him. 

Paolo shook his head, and dropped the ring in the man's hand.

As the man smiled and cradled the ring, Paolo felt a tiny twinge of… something… in the back of his mind. As for the voices… they had gone silent.

The man reached over and tapped a few keys. “There you go, young man. $100,000. Here's your paperwork.”

Paolo took the paperwork, stood, and shook hands. “Glad to be rid of it.”

The man held the ring up to the light. “Can't imagine why! It's quite the striking piece!”

“It holds… bad memories for me.” Paolo bowed, feeling wooden and strange. “Good day, sir.”

As he walked out, Paolo felt a strange hollowness in the back of his mind. The world seemed to change and fade, growing fuzzy and distorted.

Suddenly the ground erupted, a huge, clawed hand bursting up from beneath the street.

Paolo fell backwards, screaming in terror. But the people around him said nothing, not reacting. He saw one turn…

They had no face. None of them have faces!

The hand slammed down, pulling a monstrous being up from the earth - a round, greasy body, a face picked out in pizza toppings. The strips of green pepper opened, and a roar like the furnaces of hell itself burst out. 

Paolo realized that, despite being deafening and many octaves deeper, it was his father's voice.

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, BOOOOOY?” It roared. 

Paolo scrambled backwards on his hands and feet. “I - I don't know what-’

A huge hand snatched him up, holding him to the huge face. Below, the faceless masses continued about their days. The monster smashed several of them, but there was no reaction.

“I TOLD YOOOOU! DON'T LOSE THE RINNNNG!”

Paolo squirmed. “I didn't lose it! I sold it! I just- just want a life to live!”

The creatures roared in rage. “DOOMED! THE WORRRRLD IS DOOOMED BECAUSE OF YOOOOOU! HE IS IN YOU NOW! HAVE TO STOP YOOOU!”

The beast opened its maw, and flames crackled in its mouth. Paolo writhed. “NO! NO, PLEASE! I'M SORRY!”

The creature dropped him into its mouth.

As he fell for what felt like an eternity, Paolo screamed. 

“I'M SORRYYYY…!”

~~~~

Paolo rocketed up from his reclined position, gasping. Frantically he patted over his body - no burns, no scrapes. He rubbed his face - it was covered in sweat and tears. His head was pounding in time with his heart. What was that? A nightmare? A memory? 

Both?

He stood, stumbling over to the bathroom. He looked into the mirror - he looked haggard, tired. Behind his eyes, it felt like dull needles were being stabbed into his head.

And yet… he found memories there, too.

A pizzeria, full of joy and laughter.

Mechanical figures, dancing and singing, as he watched from the shadows, proud that the mechanical aptitude he'd hated had been useful, after all.

A growing unease, an inability to let go of the memory of the ring…

His employees, finally abandoning him after all his abuse…

Paolo grabbed his head as the throbbing got worse. Too much at once. The dream seemed to have been a catalyst, though. He was catching bits and pieces of his time as Pizzahead.

The blood, the pain, the enjoyment he'd taken in it…

All with a smile. That same damn smile.

Paolo fought not to vomit.

He glanced over at the shower. Shower would do me good.

~~~~

Paolo wandered into Noisette's cafe. A few customers cautiously waved and smiled, and he waved back, though his smile was probably a little sickly.

The memories were still surfacing, and none of them were pleasant.

Noisette herself bounced over. “Hello, Paolo! How're you…” she paused, noticing his pallor. She sat down, concerned. “Actually, maybe I should take you to the doctor or somethin’. You OK, big guy?”

Paolo grimaced. “I had… a nightmare. Last night. I remembered… selling that ring. And then my father appeared as a monster, telling me I'd doomed us all… and he ate me, dropping me in a pit of fire.”

Noisette looked horrified. “That's terrible! Let me get you some coffee and something to eat!”

He reached out and grabbed her arm. “Nothing too sweet, please. I don't think my stomach could take it.”

She nodded, and jogged off. Shortly she arrived with the aforementioned coffee, and a pair of bagels. He sipped the coffee - it had cream, but little sugar. He nodded. “Perfect.” He held up the bagels - there were small dark spots. He looked more closely. “Raisins?”

Noisette nodded, looking down. “One of the only times Pizzahead was actually nice to me was one time he came into my place inn the Tower, asking for raisins. He seemed so happy…”

Paolo felt a twinge, and he remembered - he had loved raisins as a kid. He took a huge bite of a bagel, and immediately smiled. “Guess a bit of me was coming through there. Good call, Hazel.”

Noisette immediately perked up. “So, you're remembering more about yourself?”

He nodded. “Bits and fragments. Most of it is… nauseating.” He stared at the bagel. “It's, it's giving me an idea of what the Pizzamancer is like.”

“Oh?” Noisette leaned forward.

“I thought I had trouble feeling emotions, but…” he paused. “He's… he's a complete monster. The worst kind. He's a narcissist, a sociopath, a murderer more times than I want to think about.” His stomach roiled, and he took a shot of coffee. “Honestly, it really doesn't matter how it happens, but… we can't let him stay around. We can't let him live.”

Noisette made an “O” of surprise. “That bad?”

Paolo shuddered. “Hazel, whatever you thinking is the worst that can happen… he's capable of so much worse. I was thinking he brought out my dark side, and he did, but… I think I was holding him back.” He paused, practically inhaling the other bagel in his nervousness. “Please tell me the others have found a way to find this guy.”

Noisette twiddled her thumbs. “I don't think they're havin' much luck. Giuseppe and Anita's government and criminal connections, Vigi’s old bounty hunter buddies… even Noisey’s been talking to other media people.” She shook her head. “It's like findin’ a ghost.”

Paolo slapped his hands down on the table, angry. “We have to find him! I don't- AGH!” His head felt like it was being stabbed again. Noisette jumped up, running to his side, but he held up his hand. “We can't give him time! He'll… he'll…” Paolo sat back down.

Noisette sat back down. “But, what can we do that ain't being done? We-”

A huge shadow fell over the two of them, and Noisette gasped. Paolo looked up…

A giant stood in front of him. He was enormous, a good nine feet tall, made of purple stone. He was wearing patched pants, and oddly, a small flat hat. He was looking down at Paolo with a stern expression.

Noisette gasped. “Huh? John? Pillar John? What are you doing here?”

John bent slowly, looking Paolo in the eyes. He'd heard of Litha before, but he'd never met one. They were even more rare than his own kind - it was thought there were less than a thousand left in the world. He cringed back. “Can… can I help you, Mr… John?”

John stared into his eyes, saying nothing. It felt like the giant stone man was digging into the deepest parts of his soul. Finally, he nodded. “There's a lotta damage there, but yer you again. Looks like th’ bastard really truly ditched ya.” The Litha gently sat down next to the table, gesturing for them to sit down. “I'm here fer you, pizza man. Or rather, you and yer friends.”

“My… friends?” Paolo repeated. He was so off-balance all he could do was parrot.

John nodded. “We tol’ Peppino we'd be there when he needed us, an’ he needs us. But firs’, I gotta let ya in on a lil’ secret.” He leaned closer. “Sorry, but this is gonna hurt. A lot.”

John reached out and gently grasped Paolo's head.

Paolo felt something snap inside his head, and he stood, then fell to his knees, clutching his head. Tears boiled out of his eyes. The pain was indescribable.

Noisette crouched beside him. “Oh, no! Paolo? Paolo!” She turned to a bystander. “Someone call an ambulance, quick!”

His hand shot out and gripped her arm. “N-no! No! Wa… wait…”

The pain was lessening, and a memory surfaced….

~~~~

Pillar John stood next to him, grinning.

“Now watch this, buddy.” John gently grabbed Pizzahead's arm… there was a feeling of the world bending…

And then they were standing beside Gerome.

Pizzahead was impressed. “Well, well, how'd you do that?”

Pillar John laughed. “Ah, we can do stuff like that. I can move us here ‘cause I always know where Gerome is. I can move ‘im around, too!”

Pizzahead grinned inside. He already knew it, but he'd wanted to be sure the two Litha had that level of power before he continued. It had been so long since his ‘death,’ the Litha making up the tower had all gone moribund. They were slowly falling apart. But with a fresh Litha, split up amongst the different parts of the Tower… he could have his invincible, unfindable fortress again. “Well, that's good, old rock! I've got a good job for you, then…

~~~~

Suddenly his vision snapped back to a circle of concerned bystanders… and John, who looked more solemn than he'd ever been.

Paolo reached towards him. “John… I'm so sorry. Where is Gerome?”

John nodded. “Inside the Tower.”

Paolo grabbed Noisette's arm. “Noisette, call the others. I know how to get to the Tower.”

Noisette gaped for a moment, then nodded, and quickly dialed a number. The crowd around them backed up, murmuring.

John stared at him, saying nothing.

Paolo was shaking. “John. John. The Tower. It's made out of… out of Litha, isn't it? Thousands of Litha…!”

The giant nodded. “Yeah. I talked to ‘em while I was stuck there. That's why there's so few of us now. The Pizzamancer turned ‘em all into that thing. That's why it can do some o’ the things it can do.”

Paolo felt like vomiting again. “That's… that's sick.”

John nodded again. “Now ya know why we been keepin’ an eye on th’ Tower. An’ you.”

Noisette clicked off her phone. “All right, they're in their way.”

John stood up. “I'll wait for ya where the Tower used t’ be. Lemme know when you're all ready.”

As the Litha ambled off, Noisette grabbed Paolo's arm. “You really know how to get us there?”

Paolo nodded. “I do.” He clapped his hands together. “I just hope we can finish this when we get there.”

[maithefluffychicken]

NEXT CHAPTER

Whatever you want, birthday boy.

Steve is 33, Eddie is twenty something. Age gap Steddie fic I wrote for my birthday. Very explicit, semi public sex.

"Thirty three," Steve sighs, melancholic. "I can't believe it."

"Well, think about it this way," Dustin opens his mouth and Steve knows whatever he's going to say it's not going to comfort him at all. "If you were a hobbit, you'd be an adult at last!"

"How's that supposed to be a good thing?" Steve groans, looking at the kid (ok, not a kid anymore since he's now twenty, but still a kid in Steve's eyes). "You basically told me I'm old even in that fantasy world of yours!"

Robin, bless her, punches Dustin's shoulder as punishment, getting a satisfying grunt of pain from him.

"I told you that that bit was unnecessary, Henderson," Robin chastises him and before Dustin can open his nosy mouth, adds, "what Steve needs is to go out and have fun tonight, what do you say, Harrington? Party night?"

"We already have plans, remember?" Dustin mumbles between gritted teeth, opening his eyes comically and pointing at Steve with his head.

"It's ok, I know about the surprise party, kid, you can talk about it freely," Steve shrugs and Dustin blinks several times, flabbergasted and offended.

"How…"

"Baby Wheeler," Robin says as an explanation, and that is, in fact, enough to get Dusting to ramble for a whole hour about how he can't trust anybody.

The party with the kids is, well, pretty nice. Sure, they're the kids he used to babysit when they all were… actually kids, but Steve loves all of them more than he loves his own family.

Robin is there, being the funny, eccentric aunt, pulling silly pranks for all of them and dancing horribly, dragging the girls with her and making them laugh.

Dustin has chastised Mike for hours, making Steve laugh at his antics, but now, the curly haired boy is enraptured watching Erica Sinclair dancing with El and Max.

Meanwhile, Lucas is crumpling a disposable cup, frowning at Dustin and his lovesick, bright eyes. Oh well, that's going to be fun. Steve, with a fond smile on his lips, wonders how this all will end.

Mike is talking quietly to sweet Baby Byers, who is blushing and hiding his smile behind his cup. These two should talk sooner or later, too, even if privately Steve thinks Will could find someone better.

That's what Mike thought about him when Steve was dating Nancy, and he can understand it now.

Jonathan and Argyle are already stoned and laughing about god knows what, sprawled on the coach. Steve is grateful this is not his house, he'd hate to clean up all this mess the next morning.

"Well, well, birthday boy," Nancy greets him, pouring herself a drink. "A little bird has told me that you're feeling down about your birthday."

Steve grunts.

"My birthday is ok," Steve shrugs. "It's the number that makes me sad. I'm old."

Nancy huffaws. "We are the same age."

"You're younger and prettier," Steve pouts, making Nancy laugh.

"God, she's right, you're moping, you need to get laid," his ex-girlfriend sighs with a sad smile.

"I don't-"

"Yes! Shut up," Robin interrupts them, how she has heard them, Steve doesn't know. She wraps her lanky arm around Steve's neck. "Steve needs to go out and find a nice someone. If you know what I mean. I'm taking him out now that we're done here."

"You're not-"

"Shut up, Steve, this is not about you," Robin cuts him, putting her dainty index finger in his lips.

"It's my birthday and you're talking about me and my sex life."

"What sex life, Steve?" Nancy asks with a grin. Robin, of course, snorts inelegantly.

"Auch, that was unnecessary, Wheeler."

"No more talking, baby," Robin says and starts tugging at Steve's arm. "You have your tight jeans, your shirt is ok, and your hair is amazing as always. Let's go!"

"But I want another piece of cake!" Steve tries, and loses.

He wasn't expecting a cake at all, and it was very nice when El and Max appeared holding a three chocolates cake, candles lit atop of it and everything.

"You'll have more cake later, say bye to everyone," Robin orders him, not unkindly.

Steve obliges with a tired sigh.

"Bye, everyone."

-

The club is fucking crowded when they arrive. Robin announces to the security man at the door that it's his best friend's birthday, and to Steve's dismay, she starts telling everyone who's listening that it's actually Steve's twentieth five birthday.

Fuck. Steve wishes to have twenty five years again.

He was in better form at that age, still playing basketball regularly and enjoying swimming, back when his lungs were in top form.

Steve knows objectively that being thirty three doesn't make him old, holy fuck, he knows that.

But it's sad how his life turned out.

He dropped uni because his parents lost all their money in their poorly chosen investment and his shitty minimum wage salary job wasn't enough to pay his studies and rent.

His high school sweetheart, his Nancy, broke up with him after that. Sure, they're friends now, but it was, in Nancy's words, bullshit. All that happened between them was bullshit until they managed to be civilized in front of each other again.

Then…, well, shitty job after shitty job, trying hard for nothing. He ended up working at Hopper's mechanic workshop - man, that's a story to tell some day. He's grateful that Hopper didn't give up with him.

But then again, no love, not too much money. At least Steve kept his friends and his health.

"This year is going to be your lucky year, Steve!" Robin yells at him when they manage to reach the bar, digging elbows here and there to make themselves a place. "Thirty three is a master number, baby, this is your year!"

"If you say so…"

"But today you're twenty five again!" His best friend keeps yelling to make herself be heard over the music.

It's not the kind of club Steve would choose. It's not the club neither of them would choose to spend the night, now that Steve stops and looks around. Why Robin even knows this place unsettles him.

First, the music is all wrong. Rock and roll blasting through the massive speakers, the riff of an electric guitar thrilling Steve's eardrums.

Second, the place itself. Dark and grimy as usual, yes, but the walls are covered in posters of bands Steve doesn't even recognize. Well, most of them. He knows Led Zeppelin because of Hopper, and AC/DC, but that's all.

Third, the people around them: metalheads, all of them. Bare skin covered in black ink tattoos, tight black jeans, well worn band t-shirts and ripped black lace everywhere. Fuck, is that guy wearing eyeliner?

Steve perches on the bar to call to any of the bartender's attention and then he sees it: the blonde girl that is, possibly, the reason they're in this metalhead club.

He looks at Robin before even doing a once over to the girl. His best friend smiles sheepishly at him.

"Really, Robin?" Steve mouths, arching a brow.

Robin shrugs with her beatific smile still on her lips. "Sorry," she mouths back at him.

The blonde girl, wearing a black crop top and revealing some tattoos, is talking with another waiter, a guy. Tall, with long, curly hair. He’s wearing a long sleeve shirt with black sheer material that clings to his toned arms and chest.

"You don't even respect my birthday now," Steve yells at her. The loud music and the fact that he's smiling at her makes the whole accusation fall flat.

"I still want you to have fun and get laid, try something new!" Robin says, tugging at his sleeve, and ok, she's right, Steve can have fun tonight and enjoy himself.

-

“I’m gonna do it,” Eddie says, a wolfish smile tugging at his lips.

“No, no, no, I forbid it,” Chrissy puts herself between Eddie and his target.

“But, look at him!” Eddie pouts. They’re yelling at each other so they can hear what they’re saying, even if Eddie is sure Chrissy can read his mind by now. “Or, don’t know, look at the girl that is with him and let me go, whatever.”

“Exactly, Eddie,” Chrissy has that exasperated look when she speaks. “He’s with a girl, you don’t know if…”

“Excuse me, madam,” Eddie cuts her, “but my gay-radar never, ever, fails.”

“Yes, yes, I know, but…”

“Then what’s the problem?” Eddie asks, looking at the guy that has him enraptured over her shoulder.

“The problem is that we don’t serve free drinks just because, Eddie!”

“I’ll find an excuse, darling,” Eddie promises, and shoves her to get to his target.

The target is the cutest preppy guy he has ever seen in his whole life. A white t-shirt that stretches over his pecs, of course, and a white and red windbreaker that makes him look broader than he probably is, Eddie wants to discover it. He’s sure that the guy is also wearing tight jeans, he looks just like the type, a jock. Tall, pretty face, great hair, like a white, bright beacon in a sea of metalheads wearing all-black outfits: the guy seems lost here, at the Horned Demon, with his looks and his styled hair. Eddie wants to ruin him. He can’t stop thinking about the unnamed things he wants to do to him while he approaches him and the girl that is talking to him.

“Hello, handsome!” Eddie greets him with a wink when he reaches their spot, leaning across the sticky bar so the preppy guy can hear him. “What can I do for you?”

It’s so difficult to be sultry while Judas Priest is blasting at full volume, but Eddie fucking tries, wearing his most charming smile and looking at the guy with interest.

The guy doesn’t have the chance to speak, though. The girl who accompanies him - Eddie is 90% sure she’s not his girlfriend - jumps over him, wrapping an arm over the guy’s shoulder, and yells at Eddie.

“He likes cranberry vodka!” She exclaims happily. “Can you put a little umbrella or something on it? We’re celebrating!”

“Really? What are you two celebrating?” Eddie asks, elbow propped on the bar, eyes raking over the preppy guy, grinning at him openly.

“It’s his birthday!” She yells again. “He’s twenty five today!”

Eddie’s grin widens. There it is, the excuse he was looking for.

“You got it, handsome birthday boy who likes cranberry vodka,” Eddie winks again at him. He’s good with his eyes, he knows it, Chrissy has told him, and Gareth hates when he puppy-eyes him, so Eddie knows he can weaponize them easily. “What about you?”

“Oh no, it’s not my birthday, thanks!” The blonde girls answers, and fuck, Eddie has to laugh. He immediately likes her, even if he’d hate if she’s actually the guy’s girlfriend.

“Good to know!” Eddie snorts. “Want something to drink?”

“She’ll have jack and coke, thanks!” The guy answers now, and, ok, it’s weird that they order for each other, but still, Eddie’s hope is strong.

-

Steve is stunned, there’s no other word for it. The bartender is hot, and undeniably young. This close and even in the dim light, Steve can appreciate his toned arms and chest and abs. God bless his stupid sheer lycra shirt. His torso is spattered with tattoos that Steve can't recognize but it doesn't matter, suddenly, a flash of himself worshiping and lapping these tattoos floods his mind.

The bartender flashes a grin to Steve, who returns it back the best he can, and by the smug look on Robin's face, Steve knows that she knows.

"What?!" He asks loudly.

"Nothing!" Robin grins knowingly. It's going to be a long night.

Just a few minutes later, the hot bartender is back with Robin's jack and coke and his own cranberry vodka.

"There you are, birthday boy!" He announces with a pretty smile that makes Steve go hot all over. Maybe he should take off his jacket.

Steve looks at his drink, the glass decorated with a silly pink umbrella, and smiles, reaching for his wallet and opening over the bar to pay.

“This one it’s on the house, handsome!” The bartender yells at him, putting his hand over Steve’s, stopping him. Steve looks at him quizzically, the other guy shrugs, his smile still in those plush lips, showing his teeths. “Happy birthday!”

Robin elbows him in the ribs, shouting at him that she’s gonna pay her drink to the pretty blonde girl that is still at the other corner of the bar, and Steve starts panicking almost immediately.

He used to be suave, when flirting. He used to be able to stay calm and smooth in front of someone pretty. Maybe with age he lost his ability, or maybe it’s the lack of alcohol in his system, or the loud heavy metal music that is deafening him.

“T-thanks!” He stutters, feeling deeply stupid.

He wants to say something flirty to this guy, he wants to know his name. He’s having ideas, everything he’d be already doing if he were twenty five again and not thirty three. Oh, Steve used to have the best ideas, he had so much fun when he was younger.

Now it seems that a pretty boy with dark eyes looking at him it’s enough to render him speechless.

“My break is in fifteen minutes!” The guy tells him, leaning into the bar to get close to Steve. By instinct, Steve leans on too, his eyes fixed on this man’s lips. “If you want to have some fresh air!”

Oh well, not subtle, not in the least with the way the long haired bartender is looking at him, biting his lower lip, and fuck. Steve wasn’t subtle when he was younger, either.

“I’d love to!” Steve manages to shout in the guy’s ear, earning a wide grin from him. Dimples, for fuck’s sake, the man has dimples when he smiles like this, and Steve feels himself sweating already.

Sadly, the bartender vanishes from his side to attend the other customers, and Robin appears by his side just a moment later. When she tilts her head, Steve notices that Robin’s face is tainted with lipstick in the shape of a kiss.

“How?!” Steve asks her, amazed.

Robin shrugs, sips her drink. “Jealous?”

“Yes, obviously, since when are you good at flirting?” Steve demands to know, faking being offended. There was a time when Robin tripped all over herself the moment a pretty girl passed by her side. Those were the times, my friend.

“Since you taught me!” Robin yells at him, laughing. “Come on, King Steve, where’s your charm lately?”

-

“What do you mean you’re taking your break?” Chrissy asks him once they’re at the storage room.

“I mean that…”

“You already took your break, Eddie!” Chrissy reminds him, and he bites his lower lip, puts his best puppy eyes to her, pouts.

“But he’s interested in me, Chris!” Eddie sobs like a child. His best friend sighs. “Gareth and Jeff are here already, and Freak will be here in like, two hours, the club is not going to be unattended, it’s not so crowded tonight.”

Eddie knows he’s pushing his luck: first the free drink, now asking for a second break. His shift will be over when Freak arrives, as he said, in two hours. But he knows that a lot of things could change in two hours and he really is into this preppy birthday boy with droopy eyes and kissable lips and broad shoulders.

He simply wants to see if they’re compatible before asking him to wait for him so he can walk him home, and a second break it’s perfect for that. A little bit of flirting, maybe a kiss, see if this guy and the butterflies in his belly are something he wants to take home with him at the end of his shift.

“Come on, Chris, I’ve been in this dry spell for months,” Eddie pouts again. “Also, I saw you kissing that blonde girl.”

Chrissy’s eyes widen and she looks at him with murder rage, nostrils flaring, and Eddie knows he just won.

“It’s his friend, you know…” Eddie shrugs nonchalantly. “I can get her number for you, if you didn’t ask her for it, if you just…”

“Ok, ok, fine! Whatever!” Chrissy exclaims, wiggling her arms in the air. Eddie grins and fist pumps in victory, mouthing a yes between his teeth. “I want her number before you leave tonight.” Chrissy adds primly, leaving him alone at the storage room.

-

With his jacket draped on his arm, Steve tells Robin about the bartender, asks her if she thinks it’s a bad idea, but his best friend howls an awful sound at Steve’s words, making him shake his head, even if he’s smiling.

“Tell me you told him yes, Steve, or so help me…”

“I told him that I’d love to, yes, gosh!” Steve answers, but he’s now feeling a bit lighter, a bit… high. Cran vodka it’s not so strong to him, he’s sure this feeling is related to the hot, young bartender that wants his attention tonight.

“Good!” Robin exclaims and clinks her drink with Steve’s. “You’re both adults, go have some fun!”

“What about you?” Steve asks, suddenly worried about leaving Robin behind.

“I’ll be good, I texted Jonathan and Argyle, they’re already on their way!” She grins at Steve. “But I plan to take someone home later, too, honestly.”

“The blonde girl?” Steve asks her now, wiggling his brows to make Robin laugh.

“D-uh!” Robin looks for the blonde girl who is serving drinks at the bar. “She’s so pretty it hurts me, Steve, and she’s so nice!”

“She already kissed you, didn’t she?”

They banter like this for a while, laughing at themselves. It’s good, fuck, is good to be able to laugh at the little silly things while having a drink. They never stopped doing it, so Steve doesn’t know why all this melancholy is coming from.

Someone taps him on his shoulder and Steve turns to see him. This close they’re almost the same age, Steve finds himself looking at the biggest dark eyes he has ever seen.

“Sorry to interrupt,” the guy says with that blinding smile that is making Steve feel so weak tonight. “I just, my break just started…”

“You don’t interrupt anything!” Steve rushes to say, to Robin’s amusement.

“Yeah, it’s ok, I’m his lesbian soulmate, Robin!” She introduces herself even before Steve can say something else. Worst wingwoman ever.

“Robin! My friend Chrissy, at the bar, wants your number, maybe you could..,”

“Well, gentlemen, see you later, have fun!” Robin exclaims, stepping between them holding her drink over their heads and rushing towards the bar like something is chasing her. Steve shouts a loud good luck to you! at her back, just to find that the guy is looking at him intently.

Steve clears his throat, awkwardly.

“You wanted some fresh air?” He asks.

The bartender nods and without wasting a single second, he grabs Steve by his wrist and leads him through the crowded place to the barely hidden back door.

Steve’s heart is thumping in his chest, following this guy he doesn’t know at all until they get out of the club, the cold night breeze welcoming them in the alley. It’s dark, dimly illuminated by the streetlights of the adjacent street. Steve can still hear the faint drumming and bass of the music blasting inside.

“Ah, this is better," the cute bartender exhales, tossing his head back, letting Steve ogle at his long neck, dampened curls sticking to it. Steve swallows dry at the sight in front of him.

Steve can't believe this guy wants to spend his time with him.

"I never saw you here before," the bartender says, opening his eyes and looking at Steve. Flustered at being caught, Steve avoids his eyes. The cute guy is smiling, though.

His voice is deep, calm, and washes over Steve easily. Even with his eardrums still pumping with the ghost of the loud music, Steve falls a bit more now that he has heard his voice.

"Not really my scene," Steve admits. "Robin was the one who dragged me here."

The cute bartender's smile widens. "Then I guess I should thank her," he adds, closing the distance with Steve.

Oh fuck, shit, it's happening. Steve feels his blood boiling under his skin, just because of the proximity.

Steve didn't even ask for this guy's name. Maybe it's how the cute guy likes to do it, no names, not complications. What if Steve's heart hurts a little at that thought. He's the one actually lying to him, not saying his real age to him.

"Well, well, birthday boy," he says with his rumbling voice, stepping into Steve's space. Steve smiles at him, feeling butterflies in his tummy. "I have twenty minutes and I’m all yours.”

Fuck. Yes.

Steve smirks when the cutie wraps his arms around his neck and he feels bold enough to span his hands around the guy’s thin waist and pulls him closer, their bodies crashing together. This is Steve’s area of expertise. Maybe he has forgotten how to flirt, but he’ll be damned if he doesn’t remember how to pull his moves.

The reason why he was called the King of Hawkins’ High.

It lites every nerve on his body when he cradles the guy’s pretty face on his hand, cupping his jaw and cheek softly, drinking the way he looks at Steve, dark eyes widening and breath hitching. Steve smiles and leans in slowly, just in case the bartender would want to take a step back, just in case he’s having second thoughts. But that’s not the case. They both find each other in the middle, lips brushing slowly.

Steve can make those twenty minutes pretty amazing for the guy that is now buzzing with nervous energy in his arms.

He feels high.

-

Eddie is used to one night stands and summer night flings. He’s a hot bartender with a strong sexual energy - he likes to tell himself that while he’s working at the club, when he’s at home reading with his glasses on and his sweatpants there’s zero sexual energy, but that’s another story.

The thing is, he flirts a lot, it’s part of the job, really. He has luck more often than not. He’s used to people lusting after him, and sometimes Eddie indulges - he indulges a lot. Sure, lately he’s been suffering this dry spell, but it was his choice. No one has picked his interest lately.

Tattooed, metalhead hot guys. Pretty girls with red, plush lips and soft curves. Eddie has never been picky, but his circle is limited, so he’s used to the same types again and again.

He’s also accustomed to quick affairs, he doesn’t even remember the last time he cared to ask someone’s name. Sometimes it’s just about a rushed handjob on the alley. He has only to be careful that Gareth hasn’t had the same idea at the same time. That was a nightmare of a night. Now both of them double check.

Rarely, Eddie invites whoever he has his interest on to stay the night with him. This doesn’t happen a lot, Eddie is… bored, if you ask him. Anonymous sex and one night affairs are great to an extent.

Eddie is not used to gentle hands caressing his face with no rush, though. He’s not used to the slow slide of this birthday boy’s tongue against his, tasting like cranberry vodka, kissing him as if they had two hours and not twenty minutes to enjoy themselves in a dark alley. Instead of rushing things, he simply presses their bodies together, rocking against the wall and pulling Eddie with him. His body is warm and solid against Eddie, his fingers digging in his waist. That all is more than enough to have Eddie hard and ready in his ripped, black jeans.

Birthday boy puts himself comfortably, his back against the wall. Opens his legs and lets Eddie settle between them, hands roaming up and down Eddie’s back, his warm sips through Eddie’s almost nonexistent shirt: yes, black translucent lycra looks good on him but now the cold of the night mixing with the heat that this guy radiates is making him lose his mind.

Fuck, this guy knows how to kiss. Eddie lets him set the pace, since he knows what he’s doing, and focuses on the pleasure that is kissing someone this leisurely. The moment Eddie breaks the kiss to breathe, the other boy mouths his jaw and neck, teeth brushing sensitive skin, and fuck. Eddie can’t help the involuntary twitch of his hips.

“Ah, fuck, you’re good at this,” Eddie whimpers. Birthday boy simply hums against his pulse point, sending vibrations down Eddie’s spine. Fuck, his cock twitches and they’re still doing nothing. The guy’s hands - why does he have these stupidly broad, warm hands? - press Eddie against him a bit tighter. Oh, the flex of his biceps when he does it, Eddie feels his muscles working underneath him, and somehow that drives him crazy.

Eddie needs more than twenty minutes with his guy. He has the urge to strip him naked and worship his body, he wants to see what’s hiding under these ridiculous tight white t-shirt and jeans that cling to his thighs. Sorry, James Dean, but birthday boy wears this outfit better. Fuck, he barely had time to admire his arms now that he’s not wearing the jacket, hanging from the crook of his arm.

With a particularly well aimed thrust of his bucking hips, Eddie feels the hard on that this guy is sporting himself. A hard line straining his jeans and twitching under Eddie’s constant squirming. They’re wearing too much clothes, Eddie wants to see, wants to know.

He sneaks a hand between their bodies and cups the guy’s obvious erection, making him gasp, hips bucking, so fucking satisfying, knowing that is Eddie making him react like this. Through the jeans, this guy’s dick is scorching hot and it seems to be massive.

It is this guy’s birthday, but Eddie is the one receiving the best gifts.

Or so he hopes.

“Ah, shit,” birthday boy pants when Eddie tries to stroke him, following the tenting of his jeans. “You don’t have to…”

Huh, Eddie thinks, this is why they’re here, is kind of the deal, right? No one ever told him something like that. Eddie cranes his neck to look at the preppy guy, his droopy eyes half lidded, lips parted, breathing heavily.

Eddie is doing this to him.

Oh fuck.

“You don’t want me to?” Eddie asks, aroused, confused.

“Fuck, I want to, just,” the guy laughs awkwardly, cock pulsing visibly through his jeans. “I’m nervous, I think, it’s been a while.”

Eddie smiles at him, pecks him softly in his lips, almost chastly. This guy is precious. And Eddie is enjoying far too much just being here, feeling him breathing and just having him underneath his body. It’d be cozy if it weren’t for the dark alley, the trash bins, the noise of the street and the music of the club.

This is new for Eddie. He gnaws at his lower lip for a moment.

“Look, I-” Eddie starts saying, his mouth betraying him. “I was thinking about getting you off here and now-”

“Jesus Christ,” birthday boy interrupts him, hips bucking, rutting his hard cock against Eddie’s.

“But if you’re not ok with that, that’s ok,” Eddie adds in a rush. “If you want to, we can wait. My shift ends in two hours or so, we can go to my place later, if that sounds better?”

The guy groans, arches his back. Laughs.

“That’s it, if you can wait two hours to taste this,” Eddie teases, ruts against the guy, hips rolling seductively.

“Fuck, you should come with a warning label around your neck,” he says, and tugs at Eddie’s nape, pulling him in for another kiss, melting Eddie in his spot. “Fuck it, let’s do both, let me touch you now and I’ll give you whatever you want at your home.”

Eddie is thrilled, trembling with anticipation, cock leaking at the guy’s words.

Before Eddie can think about it, birthday boy has both his hands on him, touching him through the sheer material of his stupid lycra shirt, and Eddie moans throatily.

-

Having this cute boy so close is driving him insane. Steve thumbs at his nipples just to find them pierced, and a wave of renewed arousal threats to overwhelm him. He wants to put his mouth on it, feel it on his tongue, tug at it with his tongue.

Steve has never been with someone like him, tattooed and pierced and with that blustery energy buzzing out of him, this aura of danger surrounding him. It’s doing things to Steve. Robin was right, he really needed to try something different. Plus the added risk of being caught in public.

Fuck. Fuck.

Steve wants to feel the warm bud of steel with his tongue, see if that gets some reaction from the boy, if he’s sensitive. So Steve tangles his fingers at the root of the bartender’s dampened curls, tugs at him, making him break the kiss and bare his throat. Steve tugs his hair a bit more, forcing Eddie to arch his back, chest heaving, and lunges to suck his left nipple into his mouth.

“Fuck me,” he whimpers, arching into it, hips thrashing. Steve pulls at him by the waist with his other hand, pressing his thinner frame against him, holding him there.

“When we get to your home, I promise,” Steve teases, and resumes to lick at the boy’s nipple through his shirt, dampening it with his spit.

The metal buds in his tongue are something else. The nipple hardens under his tongue, Steve wants to rip the stupid shirt off, even if the coarse material is an added texture to this all. He laps and licks it the best he can, tugs at it carefully with his teeth, and the cute guy in his arms whines at it.

So stupidly hot. Steve’s cock is leaking like a fountain, ruining his boxers, and it hurts when it throbs. Steve groans, nipple in mouth.

He doesn’t remember feeling this feverish for someone, this horny and needy. He feels like a teenager again, on the edge already just by this silly thing.

“Ah fuck, fuck, birthday boy,” the boy moans, body arched beautifully for Steve, his long fingers digging in Steve’s biceps.

It feels so good. So fucking good.

“Steve,” he murmurs at last, stopping in his mission to abuse the left nipple.

“W-wha?”

“I’m Steve,” he smiles, looking at the sight in his arms.

“E-Eddie,” says the bartender, voice raw and wrecked.

They stay like that for a second, panting, drinking in the other’s arousal. Steve’s head feels dizzy, full of cotton, static noise drilling his ears. Eddie, the name echoes in his mind.

“Nice to meet you, Eddie,” Steve smirks, feeling confident again. He lets go of Eddie’s hair, satisfied when he leans into his body, hands roaming over Steve’s pecs, and kisses him with all that young enthusiasm.

While Steve kisses him trying to set a pace, Eddie fumbles with their jeans until he has the flies open and unzips them. Eddie moans a few curses against his lips when he finally grabs Steve’s cock and frees it from his cotton boxers. Steve keeps him pressed tight against him, peppering kisses and nibbles whenever he can reach.

“Is this ok?” Eddie asks nervously. Whatever reticence that was holding Steve back is now forgotten.

Steve didn’t plan any of this. It never occurred to him that he’d be spending the night of his thirtieth three birthday jerking off in an alley with someone as pretty and interesting as Eddie. Thankfully, life still keeps some good surprises for him.

“More than ok, Eddie, fuck,” he moans, hips twitching, feeling electricity where Eddie has wrapped his fingers around his shaft. It’s like Steve can feel everything at once, overwhelming him.

The maddening beating of his heart, Eddie’s hot breath in his lips, his long fingers around him, the warm metal of his rings in his tender skin. Eddie’s weight and heat. The cold air of the night.

“Kiss me,” Eddie demands, taking himself in hand and lining his hips so both their cocks are pressed together. Steve obliges, his whole body on fire. He thinks he could never deny Eddie a thing.

He’s the desperate and uncoordinated one in this kiss. Eddie strokes them both, mixing their precum and making everything sloppier and messy and fucking amazing.

“Fuck, yes,” Eddie groans, his voice low and deep. “You feel so good, Steve, can’t wait to have you inside me…”

Steve gasps, digs his fingers in Eddie’s soft flesh.

“You want that, birthday boy?” Eddie asks, his fist tightening around their dicks, fucking into it with abandon, hips pistoning as if he needs it bad. Steve dares to look where they’re joined and see how more pearly beads of precum bleed off his cock. “I want it too, baby, I want to have this so deep in me I can feel it in my throat.”

“Holy fuck, Eddie!” Steve whines, imagining it. Eddie sprawled for him, open wide so Steve could take him, legs on his shoulders, spine arched while Steve pounds into him fiercely.

It’s the first time in years he’s this turned on, rushing towards the edge shamefully soon. Well, it’s not like they have more than Eddie’s break to finish this, thankfully.

Steve’s hand joins Eddie’s, clenching around them both, helping Eddie to go faster.

“Ah, shit, I’m close,” Eddie warns, and is all Steve needs.

Claiming the swollen lips of the bartender, Steve’s strokes grow frantic, feels Eddie squirming where they’re joined together, legs trembling. Steve swallows every one of his moans and pants.

Eddie goes first, breaking the kiss to growl, resting his head on Steve's shoulders, shivering with the force of his orgasm. That, and feeling Eddie’s come all over the head of his cock is what pushes Steve towards the edge, groaning between his teeth and holding to Eddie for dear life, his whole body twitching.

Neither of them say a word, too occupied panting and coming down from their orgasms, Eddie’s weight on Steve, and the wall behind Steve supporting them both. Knees shaking and chests heaving, spent cocks twitching with the aftershocks.

Steve feels… alive. On fire. He doesn’t think if it’s appropriate or not, he simply holds Eddie, keeping him from falling to the ground, and kisses the crown of his head.

Oh, he’ll overthink about it later. Right now it feels good, it feels right.

“Fuck,” he hears Eddie whisper, and the rumbling of his laugh. Steve smiles, deeply satisfied.

“I know,” Steve says, laughing too.

“I’m wasted, man,” Eddie laughs. “I need water, and a nap, fuck, I don’t know if I’m going to survive the next two hours.”

Steve laughs with him, feeling just the same.

“I’m sorry?” Steve asks, laughing, and Eddie shoves at his shoulder without strength.

“Shut up, you know it was amazing,” Eddie smiles at him, that blinding smile that is becoming a problem, since Steve can only think about kissing it.

He does that, though, now that he still can. Just in case.

-

Eddie is- what’s the opposite of freaking out? He’s at peace with the world, and himself, and everything is pure and bright and perfect.

Man, the power of a mind blowing orgasm. Eddie can’t wait for the next one, hopefully thinking that Steve will wait for him and walking him home later.

“I ruined our shirts, that I’m really sorry for,” birthday boy, Steve, says, wincing.

“I have spare clothes in the storage room, maybe something you can wear too,” Eddie offers. He takes a glance at his wristwatch. “We still have a few minutes, if you don’t mind waiting a bit, though I’m getting cold.”

“Oh, here,” Steve says. He shifts and produces his white jacket from nowhere, Eddie doesn’t even remember him putting it aside or whatever. Magic.

Steve wraps his jacket around Eddie, and after all that happened during the last fifteen minutes, this is what makes Eddie blush like a maiden.

“There you are, don’t freeze yourself,” Steve smiles at him, his back still against the wall and supporting Eddie’s body, ignoring his own trembling knees.

Oh, no. Eddie thinks, smiling dopily at Steve.

Chapter 1 / Chapter 2 / Chapter 3

[emmetverse]

Em knocked carefully on the door before peering in. There was Rex, snoring softly on the too-big bed. He'd rolled on to his side at some point. A good sign, at least. And it didn't seem like there was any more blood.

But the chair he'd left Threes in was empty.

He slowly closed the door, careful to set it into place so it wouldn't swing back open.

"Spark?" He called as he leant into the main room. "Have you seen Threes at all?"

He was met with a bleary-eyed stare and messy hair peering over the back of an old armchair. Em smiled.

"Nevermind, buddy. Go back to sleep."

"Three? Bud?" Em shoved open the shed door. He swore softly. He then apologised to nobody in particular. It was a bad habit he'd picked up from the other guys here.

Spark just blinked slowly.

-

With his hands on his hips, he scanned the rest of their little commune area, trying to think of anywhere else he could have gone. There's no way he was bugging out to the point of wandering off, right? He said himself that his internal compass didn't work here.

He should be around, still. He wouldn't just wander off.

He found himself looking everywhere he could think of. Around the back of the house, up into the thicker-leaved trees...

Em pushed open the door to Roach's workshop. He'd never realised how dark it was with the curtains drawn. He spotted a figure tucked under one of the worktables, half hidden by the junk and materials piled up around the place.

"Hey." He knelt on the floor and shoved a box out of the way. "You alright?"

Threes lifted his face out of his knees. Eyes red and puffy, face wet. He glanced at Em before looking away.

"What's wrong?"

"... I-I wanna go home."

The stammer was a little better, at least. It sounded more like normal words than the complete mess it had been.

"I know." Em sighed. "Me too. But we're going to get out of here."

"I-I-I d-do-don't k-know-"

Em held his hands out. "Woah, hey, breathe. We are gonna get out, ok?" He offered a smile. "We've got friends outside helping too, now."

But Threes shook his head. He sniffled. He looked scared.

To see that on his of all faces was bone-chilling.

"I don't- I don't- I-I-" His hands slowly came up, grabbing his hair in fists. "I can't forget. I c-can't forget."

"... Forget home? I'm sure you won't. I know I could never forget Bricksberg or-"

"SHUT UP!"

Em jerked back. The man was shaking from head to toe. His breathing quick, his eyes tight shut.

"I-I can't- can't forget. The- I don't- The door."

Em glanced over his shoulder. "The door? I, uh.. I can close it, if you want?"

"No. N-no, the door. He-he-" Threes grabbed Em by the arms, pulling him close. His breath smelled like sweat. "I d-don't know if I c-can open it."

"... I'm sorry, I don't understand."

And he shook his head. And he looked like he was going to burst out crying again.

"M-my brain forgot but my other b-brain remembers and I-I go-gotta do it before I forget and- and I don't think I- I don't-"

"Breathe." Em held him back. Half to comfort him, half to pull the other's hands away before they left bruises. "You can't do anything if you panic, right?" He smiled as genuinely as he could. "If you tell me, I can help."

Threes took a deep breath. He looked... Despairing, was the only word.

And then he shook his head.

"I'm trying."

Em sighed gently, biting the inside of his cheek as he thought.

"Just take your time. Can you write it?"

Threes nodded. "M-m-maybe."

He straightened himself up, peering on to the desk. He grabbed a random paper and a pencil that Roach had left there. Seemed like it was the plans for something, but it was fine. They could use the back. He shuffled closer, pushing the pencil into Threes' hand.

His hand shook as he took it. His fingers struggled to hold it properly. Whether it was sweat or the shaking was unclear. Somehow that was worse than if he could tell.

But he didn't write anything. The nib of the pencil hovered just over the paper.

And he sat like that for too long. Long enough for Em's knees to start to hurt. Long enough for the pencil to begin to splinter under his grip.

"Hello?" A call came from outside.

Threes gasped softly, both pencil and paper dropping from his hands.

The door creaked and Spark's face appeared. Eyes still tired, hair still messy. He smiled. "Ah! You find him."

"Yeah." Em pushed a smile. "He was just.. Uh.."

He trailed off as Threes caught the corner of his eye. He was shaking his head quickly, pulling his knees closer to his chest. Em's smile faded back into concern. And Spark definitely noticed it, too. It wasn't exactly subtle.

"Three?"

Spark slipped inside. He crouched next to Em. He reached out to rest on Three's knee.

The cyborg jolted like he'd been electrocuted.

"G-G-GE-GET-T AWA-A–AY-AY F-FROM M-M-ME-" Threes scrambled back from Spark's hand. His body twitched like it was having a seizure.

"Woah!" Em held his hands out. "It's fine! It's just Spark!"

"I-I-I-I c-c-can't-" He shook his head quickly. "I ca-can't-"

"It's Spark! Aren't you guys best friends or something?!"

"D-d-don't-don't f-f-f-f-ing t-t-to-touch-ch m-me-"

Threes closed his eyes tight, grabbing his head with his hands so tightly that Em feared he'd crush it. He quickly gestured for Spark to leave.

[messinwitheddie]

Nny "This is a NICE house... I'm going to haunt the SHIT out of this house."

Dib "Oh, goddamnit; it's just you."

Nny "Hey, Nny! Nice to see you! We missed you, man! What have YOU been up to? How's Hell treating you? Guess no one here is going to bother to ask."

Dib "That came out wrong. It's good to see you. It's just-- I... I spent SO much energy and resources on this ghost hunting project and it fell apart the second I set up my equipment."

Nny "It's fine. Everyone is on edge, I've noticed."

Dib "My dad was right YET again. Buying this house was a bad investment. At least Todd and Pep seem happy here."

Nny "Except the marital drama. Is that an ongoing thing with them lately or-?"

Dib "They've been at it for over a week. There's no drowning it out, just to warn you."

Nny "Am I to understand, you scrapped the whole project and sold this house to Squee?"

Dib "Yeah, if you're the only ghost that's going to show up, may as well scrap the whole fucking project. Make yourself at home. By the end of the month, we'll be gone and Pep and Todd will be out of town."

Nny "I mean, I'm on board with Squee buying this place off you, for selfish reasons obviously, but that's a huge loss on your end, isn't it? Wouldn't you rather stick it out at least another year?"

Dib "Not really worried about the money. I can blink twice at the lab and make up the hit to my savings."

Nny "Rich kid problems."

Dib "This was supposed to be a father and son project. This was a dream of mine, but if Reg doesn't want to live here and ghost hunt with me then what's the point? I just don't get it. A year and a half ago, that kid would have been so excited about working on something like this. What the Hell is happening?"

Nny "Reg is...?"

Dib "My son."

Nny "YOU have a kid?"

Dib "You met him at Todd's wedding."

Nny "The fuck?"

Dib "You do remember we're all in our 30's now, right?"

Nny "Sorry, my short term and long term memory is still screwed. That and in my head you guys are perpetually children-- Wait, if Squee's in his 30's that would make me almost..." *gags* "Oh g-*gag*; let's move on."

Dib "You have missed a lot. It's been a while since the last big Summerween get-together. Things get screwed up more and more each year. Maybe this was just my last ditch effort to keep us all together. I don't know. Who cares? I'm calling it. The investigation is off."

Nny "I'm still learning how to fit into this whole family dynamics thing, so I can't give any helpful advice on the subject. That's... that's rough though. Um... The bugg-oid alien in the guest bedroom; is he staying?"

Dib "No, Zim's moving back to the city with me."

Nny "Thank God. I'm taking his room when you leave."

Dib "So thrilled. Hey, I have a question and... feel free to answer with brutal honesty."

Nny "Ok, but I'm holding you to that."

Dib "Do you consider me a bully?"

Nny *shrugs* "Never personly met a bully who cared if they were perceived as a bully and you look out for Squee, which is all I care about, so I'm going to say... no?"

Dib "Thanks. Appreciate that."

Nny "Since we're on the subject, do you think I'm depraved enough to stab a baby?"

Dib "Um-- I mean, I know you've stabbed a hand full of pregnant women and dozens of teens so-"

Nny "Seriously?! You wouldn't trust me to keep an eye on your kid without killing him either?"

Dib "I wouldn't trust you to keep an eye on a pet rock without killing it, man."

Nny "Fuck you and your stab shaming! You know what? You ARE a bully! And only TWO of the women I ever stabbed to death were pregnant to my knowledge, and the third one I punched the stomach JUST TO CLARIFY. "

Dude. "...Dude."

Nny "I know..."

Dib "That didn't help your case at all."

Nny "I know..."

[A continuation of these two dialogues]

[onskepa]

Unlitsa ch 2

Alright here is chapter 2! If some of yall are just seeing this one first! here is the previous chapers! Uniltsa series . Enjoy!

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

[first pov]

Apparently I am a smartass in this world. Since I was the one who made the inhaling implants on the humans here. So why do I feel like a dumbass at the moment. I have no idea what each foods are, and scared they would taste something I might not like. "here uniltsa! got your favorites!" tuk says to me as she brings a leaf full of some fruits and other things. "ah...thanks tuktuk" the kids eyes light up with that nickname. So that's good.

Tuk is so cute up front! but from what I remember, she was still short but almost as tall as spider. So why is she a little more shorter? I could never ask what year this is. I would look rather dumb. Last thing I need is people questioning me. But so far, not many noticed my odd behavior.

So far so good.

[third pov]

Uniltsa took her time in eating eat item carefully. While the taste was something familiar, but was still a bit skeptic one some things. Lo'ak saw her eating her food slowly. "you sure you're ok?" he looks at her concerned. "Usually you're eating as quick as you can".

Uniltsa blinked a few times before respond, "sorry, I just have a lot in my mind right now". Lo'ak scooted closer, their shoulders touching. Feeling concerned he looks into her eyes, scanning for something. Knowing her since birth, he can basically read her mind. This time however. Whatever she is thinking about. He cant detect.

"you alright? if you're sick I can take you to grandma to fix you up" he suggests. Uniltsa just shook her head. "no no, I am fine really" she smiles up at him, but it looks more of a nervous smile.

Lo'ak wasn't ready to drop it but stopped asking. Every since this morning his friend sure has been acting odd.

Later on lo'ak took uniltsa out to do their stuff when every time they pass a flower, a pretty rock or a water stream, uniltsa has to stop to look at it. "I swear, you look at all of this its your first time" lo'ak says while crossing his arms.

Uniltsa once again stopped to look at some pretty large flowers. Admiring their beauty.

"w-well yeah! Sometimes when you do things over and over you forget to notice some details" she replies quickly. Lo'ak merely shrugs. "Well are you done? I want to get there while we still have daylight". Uniltsa sighs silently and continues on their path.

Trying to play it cool, she asks "I forgot, where are we going again?". Lo'ak answers, "weird of you to forget but we're going to the long river to collect some beads. Tuk's birthday is in a few days so as we gotta find the best of the best stone for her".

Tuk's birthday? From what uniltsa, tuk was 8 at the start of the second movie. And she is smaller when looking face to face....so how far back did she go?

"right right. Ummmm....I honestly don't know what to give her" she says, literally not knowing what to give her. Lo'ak huffs a bit with a smirk. "Come oooon, you always give her the best stuff, tch, I remember you gave her a empty shell of a bead and she still has it! I swear tuk loves you more than her own siblings".

"jealous?" Uniltsa smirks teasingly. She noticed lo'ak's tail swish in a certain way. But looking at his face, seems she is sort of right.

puffing his cheeks a bit, looking slightly annoyed.

"no" his ears gave away.

Smiling more, she points at lo'ak, "you so are! Cant help it if tuk loooooooves me!!" she giggles out. Lo'ak smiles a bit too. Seeing his friend go back to how she usually acts. "whatever! lets just go!" he stomps the way further.

Grinning to herself she follows him. She takes her time in the path was because while mentally she doesn't know any parts of the forest, her body does. It is very familiar with the forest and its like by instinct to know where to go. Perhaps that is something she can rely on while still figuring out in what year she is in.

But during the mean time, hanging out with lo'ak, her fictional crush, is turning out to be a lot of fun.

And that is it for this chapter! Hope you all liked it! until next time! see ya!

Taglist: @deathislame , @mochacoffeeumai26 , @shit-i-say-shit-i-think , @tojisleftarm

[kiwibirdlafayette]

Hey there! What happens in your Mamma Mia/Trollhunter AU? And how do you feel about the Childhood Friend Romance trope, have you seen it done poorly or good? I’m thinking of how to write Draal’s death for my own fanfic, but what kind of heroic sacrifice should I give him?

Heya! Sorry its taken me a hot minute to get to this ask I honestly kinda forgot I had a TH Mamma Mia AU its been so long xD

From what I can find (since I dont believe I ever wrote anything down and only really made one drawing for it xD) I remember it mainly followed the plot of the musical, with Deya as Donna, and Aaarrrgghh as Sophie (and ofc Blinky is Sky because troll dads solos i've never faltered on that) IIRC, the changeling trio (Otto, Strickler and Nomura) were the mystery dads, but it was more about who 'created' him because I might have been goin by canon troll creation headcanons with the whole rock magic shit xD I also didnt ship any of em with Deya but it still couldve been crack at that. GummGumm experimentation couldve been a thing too.

It was nearly a fully troll dads AU but my OTP brain was like nah man I don't wanna make potential other pairings besides Blink n Aaarrggghh so theyre Soph and Sky (plus. lay all your love on me troll dads. can you just imagine AOUGH /pos leavin yall w that image)

Childhood friends to lovers is a really good trope! I've definitely seen it done really well and also not that great, and I've used it myself as well (Trollhunters marching band AU, c!Skizzpulse, origins Syndisparklez) I find it tends to work better when its not so much a blatant "ok now were older and adults we obviously have to go beyond just friends its obligatory" but more like "ive known you a long time, and maybe i fell in love you for other reasons then that but you're still my friend and we just get each other because we're already so close", like its gotta develop beyond just growing up in someway for me to really be invested in it xD

and oo sacrifice love me a good sacrifice :eyes: I don't know the plot of your fic, but if ya do wanna have him sacrifice himself, doing so against the will of the others is always peak angst (i.e., like Jim is meant to die or something, and Draal takes the fall instead before anyone else or him can give in)- that could be stuff like being the vessel for taking in the evil to prevent it from harming anything else, or taking out the big bad with him to save the rest of them :3 Trading his soul for someone else to live would also be kinda cool, or if you want it a battle scene, using himself as the weapon that ends the final boss smiles