#oof these tags are going to be a mess | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

gingernut1314 · 1 year ago

Text

Demons and Claws pt. 1

Summary: Nightmares have been plaguing your dreams night after night. You can't sleep. Not in the silence. Not in the dark. You can only think of one person in your fear who can put you at ease and you go running for him.

Warnings: gender-neutral reader, fluff, mild anime spoilers (Chopper mentioned)

Word Count: 1.7K

Tag list: @fanaticsnail

A/N: I am flabbergasted I was able to write this as short as it is--cause Oof can I go on and on, buuutt here we are! 😂 I hope you all enjoy!! 🩷 (Updated style to match like fics Jan. 15th, 2025. No words have been changed)

↞ to One Piece Masterlist | Request Rules | Blog Navigation ↠

You started awake, sweat coating your skin and sheets a tangled mess around your legs.

A dream. It has just been a dream. Is what you tried telling yourself. What you told yourself as you yanked and pulled the sheets back over yourself tight, tucking them just under your chin.

A demon’s face. Bloody screaming and crying. The undead. Your friends turning their backs on you.

It had been more than some dream--it had been a nightmare. A mix of all your worst nightmares mixed into one. Nightmares you had started having more often after joining Luffy’s crew.

After seeing your nightmares come to life--seeing that they were living realities that existed in your world.

Nami, whose bed lay just across the way from yours, murmured in her sleep, rolling over onto her other side. It broke through the deafening silence of your shared quarters like some blessing, but as soon as she settled back in, that silence surrounded you again.

Silence like the tomb. Like the dead.

Your nightmares flashed through your eyes again and you shoved yourself upright, chest heaving up and down as fear crawled its way into her heart.

Too dark. It was too dark in this room. Too hot and too quiet.

Did something just move in the corner? No. That was just Nami’s treasure chest. A figure standing by the stairs? No. Just the lamp.

A loud noise sounded through the room. A sound that had you clutching at your sheets tighter at its sudden echo.

Snoring. It was just one of the boy's obnoxiously loud snores piercing through the walls of the Merry.

Your mind thought over the collection of bodies stuffed into the room just next to yours. Your captain must have been the one whose snore was monstrous enough to filter into your room, having found he was the most notorious snorer.

It couldn’t have been Sanji’s or Choppers, both of their snores too breathy to ever truly reach you. Usopp was the next runner-up, his snores nasally with a tendency to get stuck in his throat.

Zoro’s snores were loud and chest-rumbling, but this particular snore, which shook through your room once more, was definitely your captain's.

And though it was your captain’s snore, you thought of the green-haired swordsmen. Of how you had found him a month ago wandering around in the backyard of your home looking for the docks, which had been miles away. He had been very adamant about not being lost, though he hadn’t denied your offer to show him the way.

He was a man of little words, but his humor had been dry and you couldn’t help but laugh--to gravitate towards him.

The docks had been a mess when you two finally made it there. A mess of pirates looking to raid your home and to kill off Zoro’s own crew. He had taken them on with ease--protected you against them, though your being with him had only brought the first of your nightmares to reality.

By the time you had helped fend off the pirates from invading your island alongside the Straw Hats, your home had been burned to nothing but ash by one of the pirates who had slipped away.

And despite the rest of the Straw Hats being wonderfully supportive, Zoro had been the one who had been by your side every step of the way. Had sat with you while you cried for your losses. Had taught you a special way of remembering and respecting the dead, which you two partook on the dawn of each week.

Your room fell silent once more. A silence that had your eyes scanning over the room for every last little monster that could be lurking in the darkness.

Zoro fought by your side--kept you from harm's way and he was the only one you could think of to run to when the demons and shadows came calling for you.

With a mighty breath in and out, you hopped out of bed, feet running over the soft, robin’s egg blue carpet that lay over the floor, shifting to polished hardwood just before the stairs. You rushed up them, feeling as if clawed hands were just inches away from grabbing you around your ankles and yanking you right back into the darkness you were fleeing.

You burst out of the door, shutting it behind you as quietly as you could so as to not wake Nami up.

The storage room was just as dark--just as threatening and you rushed for the door that led into the kitchen.

Though moonlight shone through the four, arching windows, illuminating the space dimly, you still felt those clawed hands reaching for you. Hands that sent you rushing once more out of the kitchen and onto the deck. Chilled, salty sea air hit your nose as you crossed the course floor, all but lunging for the hatch just next to the mast.

You flung it open, taking your time to carefully find your footing on the ladder that was built into the mast, which continued downward into the belly of the Merry.

Descending downward, you were met with more darkness, though a small night light had been set up, giving off enough light for you to see around. You seemed to remember the boys arguing with Usopp about it’s being there, but you weren’t quite sure of its true origins.

The air was never once still as you silently hopped to the polished floor, snores of all kinds filling your ears.

The boy's room was cramped. There was no better word to describe it.

The small room had been fitted with two couches and a table you didn’t think the boys truly needed. Swinging in the far corner, layered on top of each other like sardines, lay the fast-asleep men of your crew.

As you grew closer, the louder the snores grew and the less you could think about the nightmares that had chased you out of your bed in the first place.

The first row of boys, closest to the far sitting couch, was made up of three hammocks. Chopper, being the smallest, lay in the top hammock, snoozing away like the precious angel he was. Next was Zoro, who slept with his hands behind his neck and his ankles crossed over each other. And below him lay Sanji, whose long limbs spilled out over the horrible, near burlap sack-like material that made up their hammocks.

You made a mental note to make them all some proper hammocks as soon as you got supplies from the next island you all landed on.

As carefully as you could, you climbed up onto the fine, blue fabric of the couch and walked over it so you could stand next to Zoro’s hammock. You looked him over. Looked over his is peaceful features--his slack jaw, which rumbling snores fell from and his sleep-tousled hair.

Carefully, as if approaching a rabid dog, you gently laid a hand on his hard-earned bicep and gave the swordsman a firm shake.

“Zoro.” You called on a tone just above a whisper. When he didn’t stir right away, you shook him a bit more harshly, his name falling from your lips in the same manner.

“What the hell--” He began on a hiss, but when his dark eyes snapped open to find you standing there, he huffed out a heavy breath. “...can I help you?” He asked, his voice rougher and deeper from the sleep you had just pulled him from.

“I…” You started, biting your tongue from finishing your thought. You felt yourself grow embarrassed. Embarrassed that you had run all the way down here. Embarrassed that you had woken Zoro up from his deep sleep which he needed.

It was childish really. You couldn’t handle a silly little dream? You were a grown adult. You could deal with it yourself.

A demon's face. Bloody screaming and crying. The undead. Wicked, clawed hands. Your friends turning their backs on you. Your family’s death--

“I had a nightmare.” You breathed, your voice wavering the slightest bit. Zoro blinked at you. A long blink that looked as if he was slowly thinking over your words.

“...okay.” He said after what felt like an hour had passed you by.

“Zoro.” You huffed, annoyed at his absent-mindedness.

“What?” He asked, equally as annoyed. Asked a little too loud for your liking. You shushed him, placing a finger over his lips which he only swatted away, ever the more irritated. “I don’t know what you want me to do about it.”

“You’re insufferable.” You whispered harshly, eyes narrowed down at him. “This was a mistake.” But before you could make your way back over the too-nice fabric of the couch you stood on, Zoro grabbed your wrist.

“You know I’m not a mind reader.” He said, his voice growing softer as he pulled you back in. Your body, despite you wanting to still be huffy and puffy with him, relaxed against his strong hold. “Just tell me what you want me to do about it.”

“I just thought…I think I would sleep better in here.” Zoro watched you for a moment, dark brown eyes scanning over your face carefully as if to catch anything he might be missing.

“Like on the floor?” You huffed and Zoro rolled his eyes. “Where then?”

“You’re going to say no.” You went to pull your hand from his grip but he held firm.

“Just say it already.” He urged you, that annoyance filtering back into his voice.

“Can I sleep in your hammock--with you? Please.” You blurted out before you could think too much about it again, “You make me feel safe.”

A sharp yelp escaped your lips as Zoro reached over, grabbed you around the waist, and hosted you up into his hammock.

You heard Chopper stir above you, but soon his soft snores fluttered from his nose once more.

Zoro tucked you into his side, wrapping you up in his strong arms and resting his chin on the crest of your head, a deep breath escaping his nose.

“Next time, just say that first. Could have been back asleep by now.” He grumbled, his voice evening out as sleep slowly fell over him for the second time that night. You nestled deeper into his broad, scarred chest, feeling instantly at ease in his arms. Feeling safe--protected from the demons waiting in the darkness for you.

“Thank you.” You whispered, brushing your fingers over the warm skin of his side.

“Whatever. Go to sleep.” You did as you were told, letting the rock of the sea, the chorus of snores, and Zoro’s strong presence lull you back to sleep.

Next ->

More like this: Couldn't Sleep? {Robin x GN!reader} ⋆ Just Trying To Sleep {Luffy x gn!reader} ⋆ How Can I Be Of Service? {Sanji x gn!reader} ⋆ Feeling Generous {Nami x gn!reader} ⋆ Nightmares {Usopp x gn!reader}

639 notes · View notes

minorlyatfault · 5 days ago

Text

vi / cherry girl sent a message : i don't know why, but with you, i'd dance in a storm in my best dress, fearless.

ᰔ pairing . . . p. jackson

ᰔ category . . . blurb , fluff , requested

ᰔ requested by . . . @simpingmyassoff

ᰔ with . . . a gn!reader ( cabin not specified )

ᰔ in which . . . you tried lifting up your boyfriend.

ᰔ tags . . . grammatical errors. ooc.

ᰔ look around . . . m.list. p.jackson , riordanverse m.list

────── vi whispers . . . ᰔ

001. i was so so so sleepy whileimadethis

you didn't intend to make it a thing.

okay, maybe you kinda did.

but in your defense, he started it▰the stupid way he always just casually flexed his powers & played with his sword like it was light as a feather, like he wasn't almost jacked from all those years of training at camp, & like he didn't know you were watching.

so yeah. maybe you did mean it.

it was a tuesday. after supper, when the sky was a pale watercolor mess & people were dispersed off doing whatever▰some folks around the campfire, others by the lake. you & percy were strolling back to the cabins, & he was going on & on about some drachma he lost in the strawberry fields ("it was shiny! i lost my train of thought!"), & you were trying to hear him out but also. scheming.

because he'd walked in front of you just a little bit, hoodie up & hands thrust into his pockets, all lanky & tall & boyish & unfairly adorable. & something in your head just short-circuited.

i could totally pick him up, you thought.

& the moment that thought took root in your head, there was no shaking it.

you quickened your step. just a bit. just enough so that you could creep up behind him as he continued to vent about having been cheated by a magpie or some such nonsense. you drew close enough so that you could hear the huff of his breath & smell the salt of the sea that inexplicably seemed to stick to him.

then you made your move.

"what the▰!" percy yelped when your arms curled around his waist. he stiffened, caught halfway through a step, wriggling a little in your hold. "are you hugging me or▰wait▰wait, are you actually trying to pick me up at this moment?!"

you were.

& holy crap.

you were actually doing it.

his feet never touched the ground again.

you smiled, eyes wide with sheer feral excitement. "i told you i'm strong!"

"you never told me you were insane!"

you stumbled a bit but shifted your stance. okay. yeah. he was heavier than you'd anticipated. muscle-y. water boy had some weight. but he was also sort of yelling, which didn't help.

"stop squirming!" you huffed, your arms wrapped tightly around his torso as you took another tiny step forward, just to prove that you could.

"i'm not squirming! i'm fighting for my life!" percy's arms waved a bit in front of him, as if he didn't know what to do with them. "why are you picking me up? is this revenge? is this because of that time i told leo you cried at ratatouille?"

"i didn't cry!" you panted, already sweating. "i got misty!"

"oh, you cried. full-on ugly cry▰ whoa, okay▰" he stiffened when you tightened your grip. "don't drop me. don't drop me."

you chuckled, which had nearly put you off balance. "you think i can't carry you?"

"i think you're making really bold decisions for someone who nearly tripped on a rock last week."

"i have core strength, jackson."

"you have delusions."

& that's when it did. the killing wobble. you moved your foot, your knee gave, & gravity suddenly recalled it was there to work. oh, he is not staying up there. not for long.

"oh no▰" you panicked.

"oh no▰" he echoed, voice rising.

you didn't so much drop him. it was sort of. a controlled descent. really… sort of… both of you fell in a heap on the grass, your body contorted underneath his as you thudded & let out an extremely ungraceful, "oof."

silence.

then percy groaned. "i think my soul exited my body."

you wheezed, giggling. "i think my spine did."

he rolled half off of you, thudding onto the grass with a theatrical sigh. "well. that was fun."

you rolled your head to look at him, hair sticking out in every direction. "i did carry you, though. even if it was just for, like, five seconds."

he regarded you. blinked. then grinned, all teeth & mischief. "you did. honestly? kinda hot."

"shut up."

"no, really. i've never been picked up before. it was… strangely romantic. dangerous. like you could toss me off a cliff & i'd thank you."

you pushed his shoulder. "i might."

he pushed you back, softer. "you totally won't. you love me too much."

you wrinkled your nose but didn't protest. instead, you looked up at the sky, both of you lying out in the grass, your bodies still entwined from the fall.

then percy moved closer, voice lower. "but next time?"

"yeah?"

"tell me before you go hulk."

you snorted. "where's the fun in that?"

#୨ৎ. kayvi's works !#ᰔ . . . riordianverse !#percy jackson x reader #percy jackson x y/n #percy jackson x you #percy jackson #percy jackson and the heroes of olympus #percy pjo #percy jackon and the olympians #pjo #hoo #heroes of olympus x y/n #pjo x reader #pjo x y/n #pjo x you #hoo x reader #hoo x you #riordanverse #rick riordan

104 notes · View notes

oralmisery · 7 months ago

Text

Stiff by Day, Stiffer at Night

written for @steddiesmuttyseptember

[ complete fic on ao3 ]

Rating: E | WC: 7,007 | Tags: Smut, Humor, Lingerie, Blow jobs, Hand jobs, Brat Steve Harrington, Bathing/Washing, Light Dom/Sub undertones

Week three prompt: Lingerie

Steve is a mannequin that comes alive at night.

Eddie occasionally dumpster dives at Starcourt Mall.

The corroded coffin boys break in Eddie’s new find like teenage boys do–with mischief and vandalism. The not so lifeless Steve holds Eddie accountable and makes him clean up the mess he and his friends made.

Eddie knew Starcourt Mall was a corporate parasite draining the economic and cultural vitality of Hawkins; practically stealing customers from local businesses–the mom and pop stores that are generational legacies. However, being that the local businesses’ version of economy and culture consist of sneering at Eddie's crumpled single bills and following him around their stores like he was going to walk away with their entire inventory in his pockets, he wasn't remorseful in the least for being a patron of the new mall. Besides, there was a record store Eddie could browse while Jeff dared Gareth to steal panties from Victoria's secret. It had an actual metal section, small but existent.

The mall also had some of the most unique dumpster finds, not that Eddie made it a habit, he just looked from time to time.

“Why did you-mphf , even take this thing?”, Gareth said. He and Eddie were finding it difficult to maneuver Eddie's latest find through the trailer's small doorway.

“Same reason-push man-you and Jeff stole frilly underwear-oof ”, Eddie said, knocking his elbow into the wall and almost losing his footing. “I saw something, I wanted it, and no one stopped me, besides my acquisition was free”.

“Can't believe you went dumpster diving for a mannequin” Gareth said, finally angling the mannequin's legs right so they could get inside the trailer. They started down the hallway to Eddie's room.

The mannequin was a masculine one, tall and fit with defined musculature that was somehow supposed to represent the average man. It was bare when Eddie found it and the smooth white plastic body proved slippery to hold. The sculpted hair on the head pressed into Eddie's stomach when Gareth gave an impatient push.

“Slander , I didn't go into the dumpster, it was just right outside of it, mint condition” Eddie said, hands grappling with the mannequins shoulders as they tipped it up to stand in the middle of his room. “Ya know this thing will actually get use, which is more than I can say for the lingerie y’all pilfered. Who are you going to give it to? I don't think I’ve even seen you talk to a girl”.

Gareth's face scrunched up and he opened his mouth to argue but was cut off by Jeff, “we can give them to Gareth's mom”. Gareth’s outrage turned to a new target and he swiped one of Eddie's pillows to whack a laughing Jeff.

Jeff dodged, “What are you going to use the mannequin for?” he asked Eddie, holding a swinging Gareth back with his superior arm length.

Eddie turned the mannequin a couple inches to the right, looking over its plastic figure with roving eyes, “So many applications Jeff, imagine! a prop for our sessions, a corroded coffin mascot, a model for new t-shirts”. Eddie turned and smiled, wide and mischievous, “also I'm gonna scare the shit out of Wayne with it”.

Eddie wiggled his fingers at the others, "now get comfy, we are not parting ways until we get our setlist right, I'm going to roll a joint and grab some beer” he bounded from the room.

Eddie plopped down at the small kitchen table and opened his lunchbox to roll a joint. He twisted the filter paper with ease and sealed it with a quick swipe of tongue. With the joint tucked behind an ear, he grabbed a six pack from the fridge and headed back to his room.

“Okay boys, so I think we- what the fuck ?”.

The mannequin was now wearing a pale baby-blue, lace lingerie set.

“I think he looks really good, right Eddie?” Gareth said as Jeff cackled.

Eddie bit his tongue. It did look good. The light blue bra stretched tight around perfectly sculpted pecs. The cups of the bra were completely transparent, the only opaque elements were delicately embroidered flowers and petals. Eddie could easily imagine pink nipples, bruising the sheer blue purple between the floral adornments. The same sheer fabric curtained around the bottom of the bra, creating an hourglass figure on a chiseled torso. Dainty straps enhanced broad shoulders. The whole piece stretched into a shape vastly different from the curves expected of it on a feminine figure. The paradox had Eddie's mouth watering.

The most modest part of the ensemble was the front of the panties. There was a wide triangle of opaque blue cloth, then the rest was just as sheer and flower adorned as the bra. Even though the mannequin’s groin was smooth and flat, the square muscular cut of the hips sparked the image of blue cloth pulling obscenely over a bulge. Eddie swallowed thickly. Unlike Jeff and Gareth, humor wasn't at all the emotion Eddie was experiencing right now. He didn't want them to know what he was actually feeling, lest they stop being his friends.

Eddie laughed, loud and performative “I'd prefer if the top was more filled out” he said. He might as well have spoken absolute gibberish for how meaningless those words were, but he wasn't going to expose himself. He was a goddamn dungeon master and he knows how to put on an act, how to control a room–reveal information only when he's ready to.

When players are a little too close to unraveling the mystery you give them a distraction, a side quest.

A misdirection.

Eddie swirled around and grabbed a marker from his desk, he uncapped it and flourished it in the air. He grinned at Gareth and Jeff, then nodded at the scantily clad mannequin.

“I think it needs some ink”

—----

Eddie woke up to something jabbing his ribs. He shifted with growing annoyance, wondering what was digging into his side. Then he recalled, not long before Gareth and Jeff left, that Jeff had pulled off the mannequin's arm and they took turns brandishing it like a sword. Eddie dimly remembered the arm next to him in bed when he passed out in a tipsy haze. He rolled over and started to sink back into sleep.

Something wiggled along his spine.

Eddie jerked upright and to the side with a strangled gasp. He moved so fast that his spine made an odd popping noise and by some miracle he didn't end up on the floor. Something was alive in his bed.

“Is that my fucking arm?”.

Eddie screeched and whirled towards the voice that just spoke. There was a man in his fucking room. It was too dark to see anything more than a silhouette, backlit with meager moonlight from the small window.

“W-what th- H-holy shit , I don't have any money man!”, Eddie said, frantic and garbled. He felt light headed; his heartbeat a rapid pulse in his ears. So at odds with the sluggish ebb of his thoughts and the sleep still encumbering his limbs.

“I dont want fucking money, give me my arm asshole”, the voice said.

“Wha -I don't know what that means, l-look just take whatever and go”.

The voice groaned like the home invader was the one inconvenienced.

“Like I want to be here? You're the one that kidnapped me from the mall, then stole my arm! now give it back”, the man said, a slight whine edging into his vexed tone.

Eddie wasn't convinced they were having the same conversation. His body moved on autopilot, trying to appease the man’s commands as he mentally debated if this was all a vivid dream. He patted his person as if he had anything on him besides a worn t-shirt and boxers.

“Next to you, Jesus”

Eddie blinked, still processing, “Kidnap ? The fuck-I never, how ev-, I-I took a mannequ-” he said, dazed, his hands reaching out blindly on the bed sheet next to him. His left hand bumped into something warm and smooth.

There was a click. The darkness was cut through with the bright glow of his bedside lamp.

Eddie noticed first that the man in his room wasn't wearing clothes. Mostly. He looked around Eddie’s age and was just miles of smooth tan skin and toned lines that were not at all hindered by a pale blue lingerie set. Indecent was not a word Eddie used often, the term usually directed at him, but the current display had him clutching his metaphorical pearls. Also, there were crude scrawlings of black marker all over the man’s face, like the first person to fall asleep at a truly vicious sleepover. He had uneven sketchy glasses, a stupid french villain mustache and a crooked goatee.

The second thing Eddie noticed was his searching hand was resting on a hairy forearm. There was a severed arm in his bed.

“WHAT THE FUC-” Eddie leaped up and away, tripping over the blankets wrapped around his legs and falling straight into the almost naked burglar. The man grabbed Eddie (third thing Eddie noticed is the guy only had one arm) trying to keep vertical but they both went down in a tangle of limbs.

“Ow! fuck, Dude ”, the stranger groaned.

“Oh my god, what the fuck, there’s a fucking arm in my be-,” Eddie’s words muffled into incomprehensible noises when the other rolled them sideways, pinning Eddie under him as he sat up. The man didn't respond to Eddie's alarmed yelp. Instead, he reached over to grab the arm on the bed spread.

“Ew , don't touch i-”

The man ignored him and Eddie noticed that for all the separation of limbs going on there was remarkably little blood. None. No gore, exposed bones or flaps of skin. The place where the mans’ shoulder ended was fuzzy–like TV static. The end of the arm was the same way, like Eddie couldn't focus properly on what he was seeing.

The man hoisted up the arm and with a quick motion, snapped it back into place. He shook it out and started moving both shoulders in circles. Like a seasoned athlete warming up for a game.

Eddie watched speechless, mouth hung open. He wanted drugs to be the explanation, but he was unfortunately familiar enough with being high that he knew what stone cold sober felt like. Eddie's eyes lowered. There were more doodles and words scrawled on the man's chest and stomach. Eddie paused on a hand-drawn devil face, horns and everything–Hellfire’s club logo, right above the man’s belly button. Eddie remembered drawing it, and cursing when he made the second horn too big cause the marker skidded across a plastic ab.

With a dread thick in his gut, Eddie turned his head slowly and glanced at the corner of the room where they had left the defaced, barely-clothed mannequin.

The corner was empty.

“Where am I? This is not the GAP”

Eddie looked back at the man still sitting on him, now with two arms, crossed across his chest. His handsome face was carved with a scowl, bordering a pout. Eddie absentmindedly observed that the guy was hot . Like, probably the hottest man Eddie had seen in real life. And it wasn't the sexy underwear–the same pale blue combo that Gareth had stolen. The man was so attractive, he made a dying marker look good. He had brown swoopy hair, expressive eyebrows, pink lips and moles everywhere .

“You-you're the mannequin ?” Eddie asked. The question feels stupid–obvious but also absurd. Like asking if the moon was real and if it was made of cheese in the same breath.

“Yes, duh ” the man rolled his eyes, “also it’s Steve, now why am I here? Did you rob the GAP or something?”, Steve said, eyeing Eddie's room like it was tainted.

Eddie blinked, dazed. The mannequin had a name. And it was rude as hell.

“Hellooo, do you have ears? Why did you rob the GAP and take me? Where's the new summer collection, huh? I was in The All-american Polo with a contrast collar, slim fit and the #5 khakis, size 32", Steve said. His chin tilted up as he stared at Eddie down his nose.

“I didn't rob anywhere, are you talking about the GAP in the mall ? Starcourt mall?" Eddie asked.

The annoyance disappeared from Steve's face, leaving it cold and intimidating–anger sunk under the surface to fester. His eyes narrowed, “are you always this slow?” he asked, voice tight.

Eddie opened and closed his mouth. The manne- Steve’s glare was making his skin feel hot and itchy. He’s had unrealistic dreams start like this before, unfortunately the way those usually end is not a likely outcome in this situation.

“I didn’t know you're from the GAP, you were out by the dumpsters, man”

“The dumpster?!” Steve looked affronted. He jumped up and off Eddie to start pacing the room ranting.

“The fucking dumpster ? They were going to throw me away? I'm supposed to be displaying hot new summer looks at reasonable prices. I’m the frontline of fashion, dammit! I don’t deserve to-to model a fucking trash bag ”. He abruptly stopped and whirled around on Eddie who was sitting up, trying to drag himself back on the bed.

“Why am I in this ”, Steve asked, plucking at the lacy bra on his chest, “also fucking marker? Are you serious, you guys 8 years old or something?”. Steve waved an angry hand from his face to down his body. He planted his other hand on a jutted hip.

Eddie's eyes followed Steve’s wave as if it was an invitation. His eyes slid down Steve's figure, marker and all. Eddie swallowed, the bulge wrapped in baby-blue was bigger than the one he had imagined.

“Are you going to answer any of my questions or just keep staring at my crotch?” Steve asked. Both hands on his hips now, unashamed, almost presenting in contrast to his sharp words.

Eddie's eyes flew up, his cheeks hot.

“Uh yeah, or…no, I’m 20 not 8 years old”, Eddie said. Steve’s glare was volatile. Eddie put up his hands in surrender, “sorry , we were being stupid, just messing around. I'm so sorry, we didn't know you were, uh, alive …do, ah, all mannequins come to life?”

“As far as I know, Just me” Steve answered, preoccupied, looking off into the distance. He ran a hand through his hair and pursed his lips, “Ugh , can't believe they threw me out, I'm the best male sport model they have, I'm the only one that does the athletic stance”. He demonstrates with a pose that Eddie assumed was flawless but he's a little distracted with how the lingerie stretched around Steve’s spread thighs, leaving a little less of his crotch to imagination.

“Uh, well that's great…I mean the pose not the being… fired ? not sure why they threw you out but, um, I can drive you back-" Eddie hiccupped when he was roughly pulled up by the front of his T-shirt. Steve leaned in close and snarled.

“Absolutely not, you're gonna clean up what you did” Steve said. His face inches from Eddie’s.

“What?” Eddie asked, wrong-footed. They were so close, he could see flashes of the inside of Steve's mouth.

Steve furrowed his brow and shook Eddie, “all the marker, you're gonna wash it off”.

[ continue reading ]

#steddie #steddie smutty september #ao3 #steddie prompts #steddie event #eddie munson #fanfiction #steve harrington #stranger things #fanart

98 notes · View notes

inactiveobeymeblog · 1 year ago

Note

Hi!

Could I request the brothers + side characters reaction when mc turns into a goose? I was thinking something like mc turned into a goose due to Solomon messing up again, and they act like the goose from Untitled Goose Game, but cuddlier. Like they are still a little menace, but also want to be pet and cuddled.

If you don’t want to do this request I completely understand as it is a bit odd. I hope you have a great day/night!

A/N: Sorry that I’m so late!! I was just caught up in a lot of things and forgot this was in my drafts oof. I also changed a few things up just to be a little silly (and also bc I didn’t want to write the personality of duck MC here). Anyway, I decided to divide this into two parts; one for the brothers and the other for the side characters. Enjoy!

The Brother’s Reactions to Duck!MC

Characters: Lucifer, Mammon, Leviathan, Satan, Asmodeus, Beelzebub, Belphegor

Rating: SFW, fluff

Warnings: GN!MC, no pronouns used for MC, no gender specified for MC, interactions based on the brothers (not MC), personality not specified for MC

Tags: Fluff, the brothers love duck!MC, cuddling, preening, etc.

Part I (This Is Where You Currently Are), Part II (Coming Soon!)

Lucifer

How the hell did this happen?

“Will you stop taking my things, please? You’re making my life even more difficult than it is already.”

At first, he’d have fun with it, teasing you by picking you up randomly when in private

Even going so far as to sit in his lap while he pets you

But then he’d look for a way to fix it

And eventually he does, much to everyone’s protests

He’ll miss the times when he sets you in his lap and feeds you your favourites, but if you can be more helpful to him in your human form, he’d prefer that

Besides

He’d like to see your face instead of that of a duck

Mammon

Oh lord

Is he ever about to get in trouble

He’s no doubt teaming up with you to steal money

I mean

A duck?

In the Devildom?

Now THAT is about to attract a lot of money

He’d probably set up an attraction where lots of demons and demon-kin alike get to meet and pet a real goose

I feel like at the end of it all, even if Mammon did get a lot of money, you’d be exhausted

Because you already know you were out there for hours getting pet by so many

You need to recharge a bit

And that includes a lot of pets from Mammon

And a lot of cuddles

You know he’s going to be so happy to oblige

Levi

Unlike Mammon, he’s not going outside of the house

So you don’t have to worry about that

He’ll set you in his lap while he’s playing video games and he’ll let you time to time between bosses

Hell, he’ll even give you a controller to play with him if he’s feeling extra bored

And it baffles him how you win every time

Because a duck? Beating him? That’s impossible!

But he loves it

He’d lose to you again and again if it meant holding you in his lap like this

Satan

Team Prank Lucifer: Duck Addition

No but seriously, he’s getting into mischievous trouble with you in tow

He’d probably start by making cursed illusions of you but they all have different personalities

For instance, one could be kind and gentle while another could blow up the house

But while your illusions are causing havoc, the real you is resting in his lap as he reads a good book

He’s running his fingers through your goose feathers, practically preening you

He finds it relaxing how he can just pet you and sit back

If he’s honest, he hasn’t been reading his book for the past half an hour

He’s too busy adoring the way you shake your feathers in response to his pets

He finds you irresistibly adorable

Asmodeus

You already know he’s going to put you in cute little outfits

Doesn’t matter how much you hiss at him, he’ll find a way to put some sort of sweater on you

Once he does, he squeals and gets out his phone, taking a selfie with your very-not-amused-goose-face

This is not the first outfit he’s putting you in though, he’s putting you in sparkling pink and blue dresses and cute little tuxedos

He’s also putting some big, fluff coats on you

You’re not getting out of his sight no matter how hard you try

You just have to hope he gets bored

But let’s be honest here

That’s not happening

Beelzebub

Beel is pretty chill when he sees you all snuggled up beside his pillow, minding your own business

At first, he didn’t know it was you so he just kinda left you alone, thinking that you were another one of his brother’s crazy pets

Only when you had followed him out to the kitchen did he start to catch on

And once he does know it’s you, he’s carrying you everywhere with him

To the kitchen, the common room, the gym, RAD, or even the Demon Lord’s Castle

It doesn’t matter

As long as you’re in his arms, he’s happy

And if you want, he’d give you a few snacks as well

He doesn’t mind

And honestly? He’d get a bit sad when you return to normal

He got used to carrying you around :(

Belphegor

You can get he’s not moving unless he has to

So you’re his napping buddy until he’s forced to get up

He’d hold you in his arms and cuddling you as he sleep talks

Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can escape his grasp and sit on either his back or his stomach

When he wakes up, he’s so confused bc his sleepy brain is thinking-

“Why is there a duck on me?”

And then he remembers that it’s you and he bundles you up in his arms again

He looks away when your duck wings flap in his face but he starts petting you when you settle

He’ll stay awake to pet you despite the pull of his sin that makes his eyes flutter closed every now and then

But he enjoys it

And when you return to normal, he’s in your arms fast asleep

136 notes · View notes

artilite · 10 months ago

Note

ohhhh my gogfh. oh my good gracious ohh man. oh stars oh gems etc etc etc sorry for the spam on your lion dance post i didn’t realize until after going INSANE over it that it’s from like five months ago but again i. i saw it and went insane. genuinely one of my favourite things any isat creator has done to date thank you SO MUCH for the joy and whimsy im running up the WAAAALLS

NOOO NEVER APOLOGIZE I WAS SO SO HAPPY SEEING YOUR TAGS-- it's always a delight seeing other lion dance enthusiasts bc they feel so few and far between :') THANK YOU SO MUCHH AJDHAK !!! also OOF, PASSAGE OF TIME? i promised myself i'd properly revisit lion dance isat one day.. perhaps soon.....

i hope you don't mind me piggybacking off this ask to share my reasoning for their roles :^) i realize i never shared it anywhere JSDHSF (long post under cut) (there's art i promise)

the lion: siffrin and isa!! of course!! The base of a lion usually needs to be strong and steady, traits that fit isabeau very well :) i think he'd also appreciate being reliable/having to be relied on so much, and supporting sif in putting themselves out there in performance. Siffrin also probably weighs like, nothing to him, so that's a plus LOL.

Siffrin would be the head, not only bc they're quick and agile, but also bc I think they'd give the lion a fun personality! I think having the costume to hide behind would help him come out of his shell more :] (and my personal hc is that the island is SE asian in some way, so a fun way to connect to his culture as well, even if he doesn't remember it </3)

i drew them with a fut san lion (just 'cause its easier for me LOL) but i think they'd perform hok san!

the buddha: loop... i think they'd appreciate the ability to look out for sif and isa and keep them safe, while also messing around and being part of the performance themself !! they'd love any opportunity to annoy siffrin anyway HSDJHSDF also something something... universe's cosmic joke being the comedic relief role......

drum: originally i gave the role of drummer to bonnie, but now i'd probably hand the role to either mirabelle, to carry over her leader position in the group, or odile, since she's the most senior member! definitely leaning towards mirabelle though. i like the idea of her being the heart of the party :)

other instruments: odile is on gong, based purely off of vibes. tell me odile wouldn't pop off with the gong. also, she's probably familiar with it already! bonnie gets symbols because that's JUST like banging pots and pans together, which i'm sure they have plenty of. honestly, they could just bang actual pots and pans together LOL. they'd have fun with it :)

#askilite #THANK U FOR THE CABBAGES!!!#hands you so many oranges and li xi #i got way carried away with this HELP #THANK U SM AGAIN!!!#made my morning fr #lion dance #isat #artilite doodle #in stars and time #in stars and time fanart #isat fanart

124 notes · View notes

teamchasezwrites · 25 days ago

Text

Opening Day

Word Count: 9,840

Characters: Damian Priest/OC, Jimmy Uso (minor), Roman Reigns (minor)

Tags: Domesticated Damian, Father-Son Relationship, Fluffy Family Feels

Summary: Damian has an important reason to fly back to the states in between the European Smackdown shows - opening day for the Yankees and he’s taking a special guest.

Author’s Note: You know me… Another installment of ‘this didn’t turn out like I planned’. One of these days I’ll write a story where it’s just what I wanted and not all this other stuff. Today was not that day.

This is set in the same universe as “The Stocking”. You do not need to read that one to understand this one. But read it anyway!

“Why the fuck you ain’t sleepin’ Uce?”

Damian looked up from his phone at the voice and saw Jimmy staring at him from the seat beside him. The other man had his head phones cocked on his head, revealing one ear so he could hear the conversation. He had his own head phones on in preparation for the flight mostly to block out noise more so than listen to music. Even though no music poured from the speakers, he still lifted one of the shells from his ear. “What’s that?”

“I said, why the fuck ain’t you sleepin’?” Jimmy dropped his feet from the foot rest in front of him. His seat slid back into the upright position. A quick glance to his right showed his wife, Naomi, fast sleep. Her own noise canceling headphones on her ears. A sleep mask over her eyes. A blanket covering her body.

“I’ll sleep a little later,” Damian answered his friend. “I’m trying not to throw my sleep schedule off too much.”

“I hear ya,” Jimmy nodded. This European tour was killer. They were already two weeks in on a three week bout. Not only working Smackdown, but many house shows as well. The European crowds were killer and he loved them, but man did it take time for him to recover from the time changes.

This week they gave some downtime since he and Naomi weren’t scheduled to work the live events. Just Friday in London for Smackdown. Some might find it crazy to trek 13 hours on a flight one way only to do it all again five days later. He missed his kids though and if he was being honest with himself – he missed sleeping in his own bed. In his own house. Missed his damn couch. The random food in his pantry he could grab whenever he wanted.

He watched as Damian scrolled on his phone. He couldn’t tell what was happening on the screen – the other wrestler had one of those black out screens like he did – but whatever was going on he could tell it was bringing agitation. Just from the quick thumb swipes and the tap of the digit on the screen. He let a few more moments pass. Who knew? Maybe Damian was in the middle of a game and the level was kicking his ass. Jimmy had a couple of those games. Right now he was currently on a break with a sorting game where you had to match three like grocery items. There were static shelves, moving shelves, conveyors. Items behind items you had to clear before you could get to them. Shelves that were locked until you matched a certain number. Do all that just to run out of damn time. Game was supposed to mind numbing; something to do to pass the time, but God damn did it piss him off at times.

“What’s up?” Jimmy finally asked watching irritation flash on Damian’s face once more.

“What?” Damian pulled his eyes away from his phone to look at his friend again.

“Man your hearing messed up?” Jimmy rolled his eyes. “I asked what’s wrong?”

“Oh sorry,” Damian apologized. He felt a little bad to be ignoring Jimmy. He didn’t mean too. “I’m trying to figure out scheduling and timing.”

“You playing a game? Cause man I got this one…” he broke off seeing Damian’s head shake.

Damian sighed. “I bought opening day tickets to the Yankees game when they went on sale. Long before this European tour was scheduled. The game is Thursday and we have to be in London on Friday.”

“Oof. Yeah been there with scheduling and having to cancel things. But come on, I know opening day is big and all, but you got over a hundred more games to make it to.”

“Normally I wouldn’t care, but I promised Isaac I’d take him. He’s been talking about it for months. Missing school. Flying to New York. His first time at Yankee Stadium…”

Jimmy grimaced. “Rough when kids involved.” He’s had to cancel on his children numerous times. It never got any easier and he felt like a heel each and every time.

“It’s the first time I’d have to cancel something with him or Amelia… I hate it.”

Jimmy sucked in air through his teeth. “Don’t get any easier man. You feel like shit each and every time you have to look them in the face and say ‘sorry but’. The worst part is when you haven’t even said anything but see the disappointment on their faces because they know. Done it so many times they come to expect it.”

That pierced Damian’s heart. He felt the pain deep in his chest. He didn’t want to disappoint Isaac; didn’t want to have to tell him he couldn’t make it but he couldn’t seem to find a solution. He bought the tickets before he was even moved from Raw to Smackdown which added another headache, but his father had stepped up to fly with Isaac back to Florida while he would fly out to which ever city Smackdown invaded. It was all fine until the European tour came down hill.

Now he had to figure out how to take Isaac to the game with a 3pm start time. Get him back to his apartment where his dad was waiting for babysitting duties. Then get to the airport to catch a flight to London. New York offered many options of airports to fly out. That wasn’t the issue. The issue was the time of the flights. They never seemed to offer a window he could make fit. Even one where everything had to be perfect.

It was looking more and more like he would have to cancel and promise the ten year old they would catch another game. Damian could already see the disappointment on Isaac’s face like Jimmy eluded to. He didn’t want to be that kind of person. He wanted to be able to keep the promises he made. This job sure didn’t make it easy.

Each passing week he had more and more respect to the wrestlers with families. He was new to having to make travel plans around the schedules of others. The minor expectations for his parents’ birthdays, his siblings birthdays, and holidays (and even then they were sometimes missed because of traveling) he always just had to worry about himself.

That changed over a year ago when he met his current girlfriend, Rachel. Hanging out at a city park near his sister’s, he took his nieces and nephews out to allow his sisters the peace and quiet and ability to wrap Christmas presents without worrying about peeking eyes. He hadn’t known his life would change that day. Amelia jumped out from her hiding spot beneath a slide and directly into his heart.

Damian found himself in the middle of a ready made family. It was no longer just about him. It was Rachel. It was Isaac. It was Amelia. It was discovering Fortnight and Minecraft. Little League baseball games and soccer practice. Gymnastics. Library trips. Bookstores. Beaded friendship bracelets and Taylor Swift. So much Taylor Swift.

His eyes moved off his phone to the wrist of his left arm where a beaded friendship bracelet given to him on Christmas sat. The alternating red and black beads leading to white beads with black lettering.

Amelia <3 Damian

He held it in high regard more so than the expensive silver Versace watch it was nestled against. Definitely the best piece of jewelry he’d ever owned.

It was looking more and more like he was going to have to cancel. Give the tickets to his dad or brothers to enjoy. The flights just weren’t working with him. Not La Guardia. Not JFK. He even looked at Newark just over the river in Jersey. They were all conspiring against him. He was going to have to break the heart of a little boy when he got to Florida. Who had his bag packed and ready to go. The Aaron Judge jersey he received for Christmas on top.

The screen on his phone faded to black as Damian tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling of the airplane. He blew out a breath and let his eyes close; hands relaxing on his lap trying to clear his mind. Tried to let go of the disappointment of things he couldn’t change (like the timing of baseball games and flights) and concentrate on the things he could control. Like being able to spend the next six days in Florida with Rachel, Isaac, and Amelia. To see his mom and sisters. To being able to take Rachel out to dinner to Christner’s – an elegant steakhouse that offered a romantic ambiance of private seating and a live piano player or sometimes a live singer. To the flip side of taking the whole family out for pizza or burgers. Hitting up the frozen yogurt place in town where the kids always seemed to have more toppings in their dishes than ice cream.

Playing in the pool where his muscles always screamed when he climbed out worse than they did during a workout session. The kids always insisting on being tossed. Of seeing who could hold their breath the longest. Who could pick up all the dive toys the fastest. Who had the biggest splash. Playing basketball where the hoop was at the deep end and nobody could touch.

Maybe heading to the beach on Sunday and spending a few hours in the surf, enjoying the hot Florida spring temperatures. Walking the beach searching for the best shells. Building the best sandcastles. He didn’t know though. It was spring break season in Florida and the beaches were starting to get crowded. Another thing he couldn’t control. The kids’ spring break was last week.

While he was in Europe of course.

Next school year he would be better with scheduling. Working harder to be around during their breaks. The countdown was already on for this school year. Both kids were ready for summer break. Even Rachel – a seventh grade English teacher – was ready for the school year to end.

Damian opened his eyes as a thought occurred to him. He re-gripped his phone and tapped the screen and swiped up. The flights departing La Guardia on Thursday were still in his screen. He opened a new tab and pulled up the Yankees schedule looking at the June games. He might not be able to take Isaac to opening day on Thursday but there was an entire summer free where he could take everyone to New York. They could all catch a game at Yankee stadium. He could show them around the city. A hotel might be in order because his apartment was only a one bedroom. An air mattress might work with a little rearranging of his living room though.

The Yankees schedule showed three weeks across June and July that could work with the team being home for the week. June had a week with the Dodgers – a rematch of last year’s World Series. A loss he was still smarting over. Also the Orioles. A team that wasn’t very good. So it would be easy wins and wouldn’t be as crowded at the ball park. The first home stretch in July held promise heading into the All-Star break but he had Saturday Night Main Event in the mix that he couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t be needed. The last week in July had games against the Phillies and Tampa. Phillies would be a hot team that promised good games. August was out because it was the start of school.

The idea now in his head Damian spent the next couple of hours scrolling on his phone. He took notes on ideas the kids would want to do. What Rachel would like to see. Found a few Broadway musicals such as The Lion King, Aladdin, and Harry Potter the kids might like. The obvious tourist stops like The Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. Obviously put down a couple of upscale restaurants for him and Rachel. He wanted at least one night of just them in the city. His dad would enjoy the opportunity to babysit.

By the time he was plugging his phone in and turning his music on, Damian had a jam packed note section and an excitement building in his belly. If he were being a little honest with himself, he was more excited for the potential New York trip than he was for WrestleMania. He leaned the seat back and put his legs up in the foot rest coming from beneath seat in front of him. It wouldn’t erase the disappointment Isaac was bound to feel but he sure hoped it would ease it.

*~*

Damian and the rest of the weary passengers around the baggage carousel as the conveyor belt came to life and started bringing in their bags from outside. He stood with Jimmy and Naomi thankful most of the people waiting at the baggage claim didn’t seem to be too impressed to be in their presence.

The thirteen hour flight nearly drained him broken up only by a short layover in France. He was able to catch a few hours of sleep but he didn’t want to sleep too much. His sleep cycle was already thrown off and bound to get worse when he left again in a few days. That was nothing to worry about now.

His bag circled around the belt; the skull keychain catching his eye first. He lifted it from the belt and placed it on the ground so he could pull the handle up. Next week he would only have his carry on since it was a short trip over to London and back instead of the week long trip he was coming back from. Jimmy grabbed the matching suitcases that rolled by a few past his. He chuckled as they argued about who would carry them. Damian didn’t say a word when Naomi took control of one leaving Jimmy with his.

They made their way from the baggage claim toward customs. Their steps a little faster at the growing feeling of the realization their trip was over and they were almost home. The early wake up call. The shuttle. Security. Boarding. The layover. The actual flight. Trying to debark through an entire plane who stood up at once. It was all finished. One more item and they were free.

Soon Damian was sliding his passport back into his carry on book bag and sliding it back on his shoulders. He gave a parting nod and half salute-wave toward Jimmy and Naomi behind him before turning to walk down the hallway along the roped walkway.

“Damian!”

The excited shriek of his name caused every single tired bone in his body to rejuvenate. A few heads turned at the commotion but he paid them no mind. He locked eyes with Amelia. Her entire body nearly vibrating as she bounced excitedly. Baby blue t-shirt covered in yellow sunflowers, white shorts, light pink flip flops on her feet. Numerous bracelets on either wrist. She clapped her hands together. Her smile wide and infectious. Her long strawberry blonde hair hanging in a wild mess down over her shoulders nearly to her waist.

Isaac stood next to her. A Yankees cap on his head that caused a quick flash of pain. Grey t-shirt with a dabbing Skelton riding a skateboard, black basketball shorts, black Nike slides on his feet. He was smiling just as widely as his sister but Damian could tell he was trying to appear cool. A beaded bracelet hung on the boy’s wrist and he grinned. No one was safe with Amelia and that kit.

Then Rachel…

Their eyes met. The smile on his face softened. Her simple white t-shirt and cut off jean shorts. White flip flops on her feet. A delicate gold ankle bracelet around one ankle. Her skin sun-kissed in only the way a Floridian could be. Her hair hung loose like Amelia’s. His fingers itched to bury themselves in the soft locks; using the hold to guide her lips to his.

“Damian!”

He must have been deemed close enough because seconds after Amelia excitedly uttered his name again, she was colliding with him. Her arms were wrapped around his waist in a squeezing hug as her head rested on his stomach. He laughed and released the handle of his suitcase so he could hug the little girl. “Mi dulce niña.”

“I’m so happy you’re back!” Amelia smiled up at him. She broke the hug and started pulling at the strings of one of the bracelets on her wrist. “I made you this! I worked on it all week since I didn’t have school.”

“Hit me,” Damian grinned and held out his wrist. The bracelet was not one of her usual beaded ones. This time it was white thread knotted together almost as thick as a hair tie. It gave off a spiral staircase vibe with the knots circling around. He watched as she secured it on his wrist leaving little inch tails so he could make the bracelet bigger to slip off his wrist. Each tail had a small silver ball at the end.

Then she pulled the bracelet adjusting it to the tails were hanging down. He grinned finally seeing the full bracelet. A thick flattened round bead was centered between two small silver beads on either side. The flattened disc was painted like Puerto Rico’s flag.

“I painted one of my white beads to look like Puerto Rico’s flag. The first one I did got ruined when it got wet. But Mommy helped so now it won’t get ruined.”

“I love it Mia,” Damian pulled her into a hug.

“I did one in black too. It looks weird but you do wear black a lot so it matches.”

Damian laughed but didn’t argue. After all, how could he? He was standing there, right outside the customs gate at Orlando International Airport wearing black jeans and a black hoodie. He had no come back. “I see you didn’t come out of spring break unscathed…” he turned his attention to Isaac, nodding toward the beaded dark blue and white bracelet on the boy’s wrist.

Isaac rolled his eyes, the grin on his face belying the ire. “I gotta hide them all before my friends come over and see them. But this one is cool.”

Damian peered at the bracelet on the outstretched arm. The alternating dark blue and white round beads. Then the flat white beads with the black lettering spelling out ‘Yankees’. He wondered if Rachel’s father saw the bracelet yet. As a die hard Braves fan, there were plenty of good natured ribbing back and forth whenever he and her father were together.

“It’s for the game on Thursday!” Amelia interrupted, standing next to her brother. Her blue eyes sparkled. The smile yet to fall from her lips. “I made one for you too, but it’s at home. That way you can wear it too!”

Damian’s smile faltered. Amelia wasn’t even going to the game, but she looked so damn excited for Isaac. He looked at Isaac who was smiling just as much. Damnit he didn’t want to have to break his heart. He didn’t even know how to do it. Here in the airport? Tonight after dinner? Tomorrow morning? When was the right time to tell something to someone they didn’t want to hear?

“Isaac is such a dork,” Amelia continued like Damian’s heart wasn’t breaking. “He’s already packed. I actually caught him taking everything out of his bag this morning and putting it back in.”

“Shut up,” Isaac gave his sister a little shove as his cheeks tinted in embarrassment. He saw the Yankees play with Damian last summer when they were in Tampa, but that was with his mother and sister too. This time he was flying all the way to New York to see them at Yankee Stadium. It was just going to be him and Damian. No mushy girl stuff. No Taylor Swift music. No vegetables on his plate. No babyish cartoons on the TV like Miraculous Lady Bug and Bluey. Just guy stuff. Burgers and soda. Staying up late. Scary movies. Rock music. Maybe even a cuss word or two.

“Don’t start,” Rachel spoke up stopping any sibling horseplay before it could start. Her hands itched to reach out for Damian. Her arms ached to wrap around him. It’s been a long two weeks since they were sharing the same space let alone the same country. They’ve been boiled down to phone calls, texts, and video chats. Her eyes met his again and warmth spread through her. “Hey…”

“Ah Corazòn…” Damian reached for her hand and used that connection to pull her into a hug. While her hands went around to his back, one of his arms went around her back, the other hooked around her neck. The hold was tight on both their parts. His eyes closed and he tucked his head toward hers. She sank into his body the way he wanted to sink into hers.

“I missed you,” Rachel’s voice was muffled against his chest but he heard the longing in her voice. He tightened his hold.

“Dios Mío Corazon. Te extrañé tanto. No quiero ni dejarte ir. Te sientes tan bien en mis brazos.” Damian let the Spanish words flow from his mouth as he held onto her; breathing in her intoxicating flowery scent. The same scent which took over her bedroom and clung to his clothes. He could smell that sweet perfume when he opened his suitcase in New York after spending time in Florida.

With her hands gripping Damian’s hoodie, Rachel lifted her head and met his warm, tender kiss. She fell into the kiss like she did his hug. Her body sinking further into his warmth as their lips moved together.

“Do you have to do that in public? It’s kind of gross.”

Damian laughed against Rachel’s lips at Isaac’s words. He kissed her lips again before they broke apart. He kept his arm around her back, keeping her to his side.

“Uce has a point.”

Damian looked over his shoulder to see Naomi and Jimmy coming up to them after making it through customs. “Some of us don’t get to travel with our wives.”

Jimmy’s eyes widened briefly at the term, but he knew better than to mention it. At least in front of kids. When Damian was alone though… He turned to look at Rachel, giving her a quick perusal as he pretended to think. “She could always become a wrestler. Have that whole ‘hot for teacher’ vibe goin’…”

“Oh no,” Rachel laughed and shook her head. Her cheeks warmed. “I’ll leave that to you guys.”

The six of them kept the conversation going as they walked toward the exit. A couple people stopped them for a photo but soon they were outside and parting ways. Naomi and Jimmy toward the ride shares and Damian, Rachel, and the kids toward the short term parking. She parked so they be inside an offer a better homecoming instead of shoving suitcases in quickly and pulling away from a curb.

“Anything scheduled?” Damian asked as he climbed into the driver’s seat of Rachel’s SUV.

Rachel shook her head as she buckled her seatbelt. “It all depended on you and how exhausted you’d be from traveling.”

“I’m good.” Damian backed from the parking spot and made his way toward the gate. He paid the minimal fee and drove away. With the amount of traveling he did across the many different time zones, he found it better to quickly accumulate himself. No matter how tired he was upon arrival, he did his best to stay awake until an appropriate time to go to bed; which sometimes meant eight. “You guys already have lunch?”

“Can we go to that one place where you can golf after you eat?” Amelia piped up from the backseat.

“That’s all the way back home Sweetie,” Rachel pointed out. It was a little over two hours away. “Damian might be hungry now.”

“I’m alright,” Damian said as he merged onto the I-4 toward Tampa. “But there better not be any cheating like the last time.”

“I didn’t cheat!” Amelia gasped, offended. “I swear there was a bee!”

Damian laughed at Amelia’s excuse. The last time they went golfing he was only behind by a couple strokes. He had the shot lined up and the moment he swung, Amelia started shrieking. He pulled the ball sending it completely off course from the hole and into the rough. He was doomed from there.

“Yeah right,” Isaac laughed. “You were all fine and then, ‘ah! A bee!’” He failed his arms dancing in his seat mimicking his sister’s movements.

Damian reached across the center console to take Rachel’s hand as the kids argued in the backseat and started placing bets on who would win at golf. He raised his eyebrow at Rachel, threading their fingers together, when a five dollar bet was placed

“My dad slipped them money last week,” she rolled her eyes good-naturedly. She glanced over her shoulder quickly to see the kids still engrossed in their conversation and leaned toward Damian. “Wanna place a wager ourselves?”

“Name it Corazòn,” Damian squeezed her hand and spared her a quick glance. He shifted in his seat seeing her heated look.

“Winner gets to be on top.”

“You’re on.” Damian brought their hands to his mouth where he kissed her knuckles.

*~*

The chime of Damian’s phone woke him later that night. He brought his left hand up to scrub across his face trying to wipe the tiredness away. Between the time difference, the long day of traveling, entertaining two kids with golfing, pool time, and a cutthroat game of UNO he was worn out. Not to mention the perfect welcome home celebration that occurred in the privacy of Rachel’s bedroom.

‘I know I lost, but it sure feels like I won,’ Damian groaned, tossing his head back on the pillow. His hands gripped Rachel’s hips helping her move against him.

He tilted his head toward the bedside table but the fluff of the pillow blocked his view of the clock. His right arm was out of commission with Rachel’s weight on it as she slept curled into his side. Her head rested on his chest. He palmed her hip as he stretched his left arm out for his phone. After a few misses, he was able to feel the device with his fingers.

He squinted against the backlight coming off his phone as he held it up. It was two in the morning. He figured his day started twenty four hours ago. At least he thought anyway. His brain wasn’t exactly firing at the ready at the moment. There was a notification from Jimmy waiting on him and he swiped the text thread open.

‘Got u a flight to London so u can still go to the game. Be at FBO at La Guardia at 8.’

‘What?’ Damian responded, confused at what Jimmy was getting out. Before they parted ways at the airport, while they gave a quick hug, Jimmy told him not to cancel his New York trip just yet. Damian was a little skeptical but decided to give it a day before telling Isaac he had to cancel. Luckily Isaac was distracted all day with other things and didn’t mention the trip or the game.

‘Man just be at the airport at 8.’

‘You’re welcome.’

~*~

By the time Damian sat down in his stadium seat on the first base side, he felt like he already walked ten miles. Even with taking the subway from his apartment to the stadium. Isaac drug him to every corner of the stadium it seemed like and then back again. He was thankful he decided to get there a little early to give Isaac time to walk around.

The excitement was infectious. Damian felt like he was seeing the stadium for the first time himself. Even though he’d been there dozens of times and the first time over two decades ago. The Yankee Museum on the main level was a joy to walk around. Something he hadn’t done since the Derek Jeter exhibit opened up. He pointed out the autographs of some of the most famous Yankees on the baseball wall and laughed as Isaac’s eyes nearly fell out of their sockets coming face to face with the World Series trophies from the last seven championships.

‘These are huge!’ Isaac exclaimed staring at the display case holding all the World Series Championship rings. ‘Can I see one of your rings?” He looked up at Damian, his eyes still wide in awe.

‘Sure,’ Damian slipped off the biggest ring; a thick silver band with a huge black gem on the face. He handed it to Isaac and watched as he put it on his index finger. He laughed as Isaac could almost slid the ring on two of his fingers it was so big in comparison.

‘If they handed out rings for winning a championship, would you wear it?’ Isaac asked as he held his hand up comparing the size of Damian’s ring to some of the earlier rings. The rings got bigger as the years went on.

‘Maybe for a special event like the Hall of Fame ceremony,’ Damian answered after he thought about the question for a moment. “But I would put it on display with the belts.’

After checking out the museum, they walked to Monument Park to look at the plaques and retired numbers. Isaac read most of them. He wanted his picture taken in front of Babe Ruth’s retired number and of course Derek Jeter’s. Then it was the store located behind home plate. The monstrous memorabilia shop that looked nearly as big as a department store. Damian thought Isaac’s eyes got huge at the trophies, nothing compared to the look on his face as he froze right inside the doors. Eyes staring as far as he could see at all the different items the Yankees slapped their name on.

Staring down at the bag at his feet Damian realized he definitely needed to work on his ability to not only set limits but actually enforce them. Inside the bag was a navy blue hoodie with the iconic Yankees logo, a couple of t-shirts, and an old school wool pennant. Maybe Isaac would be able to slip the items into his closet without being noticed. He doubted it though. Rachel would nab his suitcase the minute he got home.

“This is so cool!” Isaac gushed as he stared down at the field. He had yet to sit in his seat; standing so he could stare down over the few rows in front of him to the Yankees dugout.

“Turn around and I’ll take your picture with the field and the Yankees sign behind you.” Damian dug his phone from his back pocket and held it up. He snapped the picture of the grinning child and chuckled as he stared at it. The smile on Isaac nearly bounced from the screen. It was so wide and so bright.

“If you want, I can take a photo of both of you.”

Damian looked over his shoulder to see an older couple sitting behind them. He smiled appreciatively and without hesitation, handed his phone to the woman. “Thank you. Isaac, come here.” He got Isaac’s attention and stood from his seat. He placed the bag of popcorn down on the ground next to him.

“Try not to block the Yankees sign,” Isaac grinned.

“Yeah and the sun too,” Damian chuckled. He placed his hand on Isaac’s shoulder. Isaac lifted his right arm and bent it toward his body, his fingers folded down to make the the ‘rock on’ sign. “How about a normal picture for your mom?”

“So she can get mushy?” Isaac rolled his eyes but dropped his hand. The smile on his face was still wide, the excitement just too much.

“Mom’s will always get mushy,” the lady taking their picture winked. “My son is probably just as old as your dad and he still whines and rolls his eyes when I tell him not to make faces during photos.”

Isaac’s face scrunched and Damian held his breath as he waited for him to correct the well meaning lady on how he wasn’t his father. Isaac surprised him though. “Man,” the word was drawn out in a way only a ten year old child could do. “You mean mom’s gonna be on my case forever?”

Isaac’s words drew laughter from those sprinkled around them as the section started to fill up.

“Fraid so kid,” the woman laughed. “But now that we have the nice picture for mom. How about the cool one for your friends?”

This time Isaac lifted his hand and gave the ‘rock on’ symbol once more. His mouth open in a fake yell. Damian shook his head, chuckling softly but copied Isaac’s pose. When the photo was taken, he thanked the lady before retaking his seat. Isaac sat next to him nearly vibrating. A glove already on his left hand in hopes to catch a foul ball over the netting. His brand new Aaron Judge jersey he’d gotten for Christmas made Damian appreciate the fact he selected Judge and not Soto who left during the off season. The jersey was a little snug in places because Isaac wore a hoodie beneath it. New York’s chilly 54 degrees at game time might as well be the frozen tundra to the Florida boy.

“This is so cool,” Isaac practically danced in his seat as he punched the glove with his right arm. “It would be so cool to live here and be able to come to the game all the time.”

“Whoa whoa whoa,” Damian laughed. “Por favor no le digas esto a tu mamá. You tell your mother and I’m in the dog house.”

They watched the pre-game festivities and the opening ceremonies. Isaac cheering loudly as the starting line up for Yankees was announced. Then joined in as the stadium seemingly rumbled as Carlos Rodón took the sign from his catcher and threw the first pitch to officially begin the season.

The Brewers lead off man ended up striking out on three pitches. The second guy hit a grounder to the second baseman and Damian held his breath as he was able to handle the ball and throw it to first easily getting the second out. Their defense could be a little shaky. With three of their pitchers starting the season on the injured reserve, they needed to not make any errors and make sure they completed the easy plays. The next batter popped up the first pitch and just like that, the Yankees were up to bat.

It was a one pitch home run for the Yankees lead off man, Austin Wells.

The stadium erupted as soon as the bat connected with the ball. Everyone stood on their feet as the ball shot out into the outfield.

“Come on come on come on,” Isaac stood on his tip toes to see over the people in front of him. He could barely see the players and his eyes drifted to the Jumbotron just in time to see the ball fly over the outfield wall and into the stands. “Wooo hooo!” He screamed loudly; his arms thrown in the air as he jumped up and down. “That’s what I’m talking about!”

“Amigo, you must be good luck!” Damian slapped his hand in celebration. The inning finished rather quietly after the excitement of the first batter with the next three hitters all failing to reach base with a fly out, strike out, and a ground out.

Another Yankee home run in the bottom of the second inning had Isaac dancing again but the Brewers came back with a home run of their own in the top of the third.

“That’s alright; that’s alright,” Isaac chanted as the Brewer player stepped on first base and slapped hands with the next batter and the on deck hitter before ducking down into the dugout. “We got this. Just one run. Brush it off.”

Damian hid his grin behind the souvenir stadium cup filled with Pepsi. Isaac was more animated with each batter than he was at the Tampa game they attended last summer. He settled back in his seat as the innings went on. There were a few base runners but no new runs. The game was going pretty quickly. At first he hated the pitch clock but it grew on him and he liked how the pace of the game picked up.

By the 5th inning, the lack of excitement was starting to get to Isaac. The game was basically three up and three down with a single or a walk here and there. “I need to go to the bathroom.”

Damian reached for the empty cup in the holder in front of him and grabbed the handles of the plastic gift shop bag. “Grab your drink,” he said as he stood up. Then he began the process of scooting through the row toward the steps apologizing as he went. Reaching the stairs, he let Isaac go in front of him so he could keep him in sight.

In the concourse he glanced up and noted the location of the bathroom and led Isaac toward the men’s. Then it was some juggling as he accepted Isaac’s cup. While Isaac went to the bathroom, he dumped their nearly empty drinks and stacked them on each other. Then he was handing the bag and cups to Isaac.

“Don’t move,” he said sternly. The look on his face conveying the seriousness. For the first time he felt that fear parents had out in large gatherings. It would take less than a couple seconds for someone to grab Isaac and be lost in the masses.

“And scream loudly if someone tries something. I got it,” Isaac rolled his eyes. “I’ve heard the speech a thousand times before.”

“I know but how would it look if I go back to Florida without you? What would your mom say?”

“Mom’s pretty tough… for a girl anyway… but I bet she’d kick your butt if you lost me.”

Damian laughed. “I have no doubt. So have mercy on me okay?”

Isaac gave an over exaggerated eye roll along with a sigh. “Alright… I’ll protect you from mom.”

“Thanks kid.”

With the bathroom taken care of, both boys entered the concourse.

“Food?”

“Sure,” Isaac followed Damian down the concourse. He could see the looks from others; watched how their eyes widened in realization that it was in fact Damian Priest walking by them.

“What’s your poison?” Damian asked as they came to one of the concession stands. There were a lot of different places to eat; from regular ball park food to actual restaurants.

“Hot dog and fries,” Isaac told him.

“You got it.” Damian stepped up to place the order getting an extra fry for himself to snack on during the game. He wasn’t sure when he’d eat again. Hell he wasn’t even sure exactly how he was getting to London. The carry-on he packed before heading to the game had a few snacks tucked in the front zippered compartment. He planned on sleeping the majority of the flight, but it was always good to have something to nibble on.

Once they had their food and their cups refilled, they were faced with the dilemma of carrying everything back to their seats. It would be a hundred percent better if the drinks were actually bottles but even then the policy was now to unscrew the lid and throw it away. A deterrent in case some idiot wanted to throw them on the field over then the bottle filled with liquid.

“You should probably carry the drinks.”

“Good call.” The last thing Damian wanted was Isaac accidentally dumping one or both all over some poor soul in their row or in the row in front of them. That still left two buckets of fries, a hotdog and the gift shop bag. He frowned. They needed an extra hand.

“Wait!” Isaac grabbed the foil wrapped hot dog and lifted his jersey to reveal the pocket of the hoodie beneath. Damian watch bemused as he shoved the hot dog in it letting the jersey fall. “See!”

“Right on,” Damian laughed at the ingenuity. “Now hook the bag on your wrist and grab the fries.”

When they were finally situated, they walked back to the tunnel leading to their section. It was the bottom of the sixth inning before they were seated. The gift shop bag back in the ground at Damian’s feet. Both drinks in the cup holders hanging off the seats in front of them. Damian held his fries in one hand, taking a couple and sticking them in his mouth. Isaac’s fries were stuck between his legs as he munched on the hotdog.

Fries were nearly upended when they shot out of their seats when Aaron Judge hit a ball that bounced just the right side of fair on the third base line and into the outfield. Yankees first baseman, Ben Rice, came around third to score while Judge had a standing double. Isaac screamed loudly, clapping his hands together as the Yankees padded their lead – 3-1 with runners in scoring position.

“Let’s go Bellinger!” Isaac shouted with his hands cupped around his mouth.

It was Isaac’s words to the baseball Gods in the sky as Bellinger hit a sacrifice fly knocking in another insurance run after the throw to the plate was up the third base line.

Then a nail biter ensued.

Damian took out his phone and snapped a picture of Isaac as the Brewers loaded the bases in the top of the 9th. Isaac stood with his arms tucked to his chest. His hands gripping the collar of his hoodie as he had it pulled up over his chin and mouth. His body rocked with nerves and Damian was positive if he could see the boy’s mouth it would be moving in a whispered prayer.

Isaac screamed loudly and threw his hands in the air as the Brewer swung on strike three ending the game with the bases loaded. The Brewers were able to score one run but still came up short – 4-2. “Yankees win!”

“Good luck charm Amigo,” Damian grinned and held his hands up for Isaac to slap them.

“Win today, World Series tomorrow!” Isaac exclaimed.

Damian laughed. “Slow down there. Still a long ways away. There’s still a hundred and sixty one games left. That’s a lot of baseball.”

“We’re still gonna make it.” Isaac said matter of factly before his face changed. His lips tilted in a smirk and his eyebrow rose. “Wanna bet?”

Another laugh escaped from Damian. “I know for a fact that you lost your five bucks to your sister.”

Isaac scowled thinking of the putt putt golf game over the weekend. “She cheated.”

“I think the word you’re looking for is snookered. Girls will do that to you.”

“Is that what mom did to you?”

“More like bewitched.” Damian gathered the empty fry containers, stacking one inside the other and Isaac’s balled up foil from his hot dog went into the cup as well. A lot of people left their trash behind, but he always felt funny in doing so.

“What’s that mean?” Isaac asked as he looked to make sure his glove was put into the bag so he wouldn’t forget it.

“She knocked me on my behind.”

“Really!” Isaac’s eyes widened in shock.

“Not literally,” Damian laughed knocking the bill of Isaac’s hat. “Ready?” At Isaac’s nod he ushered him to go ahead of him again. This time he walked closely behind the boy with everyone emptying from the seats to the stairwell. He didn’t want them to get separated.

Back in the concourse, he threw the trash away and dumped the remnants of their drinks. He pulled a napkin from a dispenser and quickly wiped out the cups before shoving them into the gift shop bag. Then they joined the gaggle of people trying to leave the stadium at once.

Isaac followed the flow of the crowd. They were all pressed together. He didn’t even feel like he was walking; more like being carried. If he stopped he would be trampled over as the crowd was just a continuous movement. He was elbowed and pushed. Most people didn’t even notice he was there. A child in the middle of adults. Bodies all around. A wave of fear washed over him and his steps stuttered causing him to get run into from behind. He whipped his head around; his eyes wide as he started to panic.

“Hey, you okay?” Damian reached to lay a hand on Isaac’s shoulder. He could see his eyes fill with relief once their eyes met. “I’m right behind you. I know it’s crazy right now, but it will get a little easier to walk soon.” Outside the gates people would start thinning out as they veered off toward the various public transportation choices.

Isaac looked forward, staring at the backs of all the people in front of him. His hand moved slowly and reached back behind him coming into contact with the rough denim of Damian’s jeans. Before he could even start searching, a hand took his and squeezed. He held on tightly.

Keeping Isaac’s hand in his, Damian maneuvered them through the crowd and toward the subway. It was just as crowded standing on the platform and people pushed just as hard when the subway showed up and the doors opened. It was one of the times where his height and menacing features came in handy. People cleared out of his way and he was able to secure two seats. Sitting down, he held onto the bag of souvenirs. He dropped Isaac’s hand and laid it across the seat behind him.

“You’re not gonna tell anyone I was holding your hand like a baby are you?”

Damian bit back a smile. He remembered being ten; a tender age between little kid and big kid. Wanting to be grown up yet still enjoying things that might be considered baby-ish. Peer pressure from friends didn’t help. “Wasn’t holding my hand Amigo. Must have been someone else’s.” He winked.

Isaac grinned. “Thanks Damian.” He felt Damian squeeze his shoulder and settled back in the chair as the car finished loading. It was packed and Isaac wondered if there was a limit on how many people could be on at one time. All the seats were filled and there were just as many people standing. Most patrons were staring down at their phones. Others stared off into the distance. Some had their eyes closed.

The subway’s doors closed and a few moments later they were moving. Isaac’s eyes moved about the car and saw a woman lift her phone. She held it in their direction before lowering it and he watched her fingers moving quickly over the screen. He leaned closer to Damian. “She just took our picture.”

Damian followed Isaac’s line of sight and saw the women flickering her eyes in his direction again. When she saw him looking, she dropped her eyes back to her phone. “Happens a lot.”

“Do you hate it?”

Damian shrugged. “It is what it is. It comes with the territory. I usually just ignore them.”

“Do they know who I am?”

“Maybe,” Damian answered honestly. He tried to keep his private life as private as possible. He gave the WWE Universe so much as it was and there was just a certain part of his life he wasn’t willing to give. He didn’t share photos of Rachel and the kids on any of his social media. Neither did his brothers who had public accounts. Rachel’s Instagram and Facebook accounts were private.

He would be a fool to believe fans haven’t sleuthed he was seeing someone. The detective work of who he was following on Instagram and matching up the random account with Rhea, Finn, and Dom who followed as well. Jimmy and Naomi more recently. Keeping his private life private didn’t mean staying cooped up in the house. That was no way to live. He went out with Rachel and the kids all the time. The movies. Out to eat. Shopping. The beach. Disney. The brave fans came up to ask for photos. Most just snuck photos of him thinking he didn’t know, but he saw most. He wouldn’t be shocked if those photos ended up posted and gossiped about. Who Rachel was. Who the kids were.

“Are you coming to Florida when you get back?”

Isaac looked at him with so much hope shining in his blue eyes. Damian was once against faced with having to disappointment him. This time Jimmy wasn’t going to save his ass. He shook his head and watched Isaac’s eyes dull. The smile fading from his lips. “I gotta come back here. I was in Europe for two weeks, then in Florida this week. You’ve seen my place. It’s a mess. No food. Gotta water the plants.”

Isaac rolled his eyes, giving a small laugh.

Disappointment settling in his belly. “You don’t have any plants.”

“I’ll be back next weekend for a few days and look,” Damian leaned to pull his phone from his back pocket. He swiped it open and went into his calendar. Swiping into the month of April the days were littered with purple dots and blue dots. Purple indicating work. Blue for everything else. He tapped on the second Tuesday of the month to open up the day and turned his phone to Isaac.

On the eighth he had two events schedule. The first event simply said ‘Florida’ signaling him being at Rachel’s. The second event of that day was ‘Isaac’s Game’. “I’ll be there for your game.” That earned him a small smile. It wasn’t enough to rid himself of his own disappointment but it would have to do. It did solidify his thoughts from earlier in the week of bringing the family to New York for a week. This summer he wanted to spend as much time as he could with them.

“Well it’s not the Yankees…”

“I’d rather watch you play a hundred times.” Damian moved his arm from the back of the seat to wrap around Isaac’s shoulder. He squeezed gently; his heart expanding when Isaac stayed against his side.

They sat quickly through the first couple of stops and the car emptied out. Only a few people got on at each of the stops. Damian glanced at his watch, checking the time. Once they got off the subway, it was a short walk to his apartment. He wouldn’t have a lot of time to drop Isaac off with his father and grab his suitcase before he needed to head to the airport.

When the subway stopped at their stop, he and Isaac stood and walked from the car and onto the platform. He smiled feeling Isaac’s hand slip into his. He gave it a reassuring squeeze but didn’t make eye contact so not to embarrass him.

“Hey Damian?” They were close to his apartment when Isaac spoke up. His voice soft, almost scared-like.

“What’s up?”

“Are you gonna marry my mom?”

The question caused Damian’s steps to falter. His mind raced faster than the subway they just departed. Inside he felt a mess but the outside showed his usually calm, cool collectiveness. “Would you be okay with that?” He kept his tone neutral trying not to show his hand or somehow let it influence Isaac’s response.

The idea of marriage was on his mind for months now. He even asked Rachel’s father on Christmas for his permission. It was the newness of their relationship holding held him back. The newness and Isaac and Amelia. Just because they liked him didn’t mean they wanted him to marry their mother.

“Would you live with us? Like in Florida or would we live here in New York with you?”

“That would be something your mother and I discuss before getting married.” Outside his apartment building, Damian steered Isaac to the side away from the door and crouched down in front of it. “If we decide to get married there would be a lot your mom and me would discuss. Where we would live is one of them. There is a lot to work out because I travel a lot. Every weekend I’m flying somewhere else for work.”

“Would you make us call you dad?”

Damian reached out and cupped Isaac’s shoulder, giving it a squeeze. “Isaac, I would never make your or your sister call me dad. You don’t have to call me anything other than Damian.”

“But what if we would want to?”

Isaac’s eyes were filled with so much longing, practically oozing from him. “Then I would be honored.”

“Do you love mom?”

“More than anything.” Damian said truthfully. ”I hope one day when you’re old enough, you meet a girl who makes you feel the same way as I feel about your mother.”

“What about us?” Isaac continued the inquisition. “Do you love me and Amelia or are you just being nice because you like mom?”

“Does it feel like I’m just being nice?” Damian had to hold back a chuckle that threatened to break free. That Isaac even questioning what he felt for him and his sister was laughable. These kids dove right into his heart the very first day they met. He supposed it came with the territory. Kids who were already spurned by one man would be a little hesitant about the next one.

Isaac shook his head.

Damian let go of the bag he was holding and drew the little boy into a hug. “Isaac, I love you and your sister just as much okay. Never doubt that.”

Isaac tightened his arms around Damian as he felt his eyes fill with tears. He buried his face in Damian’s shirt, embarrassed to be crying.

“Hey, what’s this?” Damian asked, hearing the sniffles. “What’s wrong?”

Isaac lifted his head. “I don’t want you to leave. You just got home.”

“Oh Isaac,” Damian hugged him again. A major part of him wished he was getting on a plane in the morning with Isaac to fly back to Florida instead of his father. “I know it sucks and the last few weeks have been crazy with me in Europe but it will slow down soon and I’ll be able to be in Florida more okay?”

“I can just come with you?” Isaac’s grin was wide; his wet eyes hopeful and pleading.

Damian chuckled and stood. “If I do that I won’t be coming back to Florida ever because your mom would kill me.” His words caused Isaac to laugh.

The conversation over, Damian grabbed the bag from the ground and took Isaac’s hand again as they made their way into the building.

*~*

Damian took his bag from the driver of the black Suburban that showed up at his apartment almost twenty minutes after he and Isaac arrived. He reached for his wallet when the driver lifted his hand to stop his movements.

“No need. Everything has been taken care of. Enjoy your trip.”

Damian nodded and started walking toward the private plane before him. There were so many questions in his head. Who exactly was he flying with? How in the world did Jimmy manage to acquire him a seat on a private plane?

Only one way to figure it out.

Climbing the stairs he entered the plane and turned the cabin. He paused in the entryway when his eye met his fellow passengers.

“Welcome aboard,” Paul Heyman’s jovial voice filled the plane. He laughed seeing the shock on Damian’s face. “I take it Jimmy didn’t tell you?”

Damian shook his head. “Just told me to be here at 8. With a rather heavy dose of snark that somehow still came through over text.”

“Sounds like Jimmy,” Roman rolled his eyes and shook his head.

“Make yourself comfortable Damian. I’ll let the pilot know we’re ready.”

“Thanks for this,” Damian told Roman as he took a seat in one of the vacant ones across the aisle.

Roman waved him off. “Jimmy said you were in a pinch. Something about an important baseball game?”

Damian could hear the skepticism in Roman’s voice. “Yeah. It’s opening day. Had these tickets for months. Promised Isaac I’d take him. I didn’t want to disappoint him.” He handed his phone across the aisle with the photo the lady took of them before the game.

“He wasn’t excited at all.” Roman scanned the photo. Excitement practically radiated off Isaac’s smile. He handed the phone back to Damian. “Nine?”

“Ten.” Damian stowed his bag and put his seatbelt on. “Got a sister whose nine. I have never heard so much Taylor Swift before.”

Roman laughed as Paul came back and took his seat. “I hear you. JoJo is pretty much the number one Swiftie. And now she’s interested in football because she’s dating Travis Kelce.” He rolled his eyes thinking of his teenage daughter Joelle. “Just be thankful you missed the JoJo Siwa era.”

“I don’t even know who that is.”

“You’re lucky.”

“I’ll take your word on it.” Damian settled in as the plane started taxiing. They were leveled out in the air before he spoke again. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Roman paused what he was doing on his phone and looked over at Damian. “Been seeing her long?”

“Officially? A year last week.” Which they couldn’t celebrate because he was in Europe. He sent flowers to the school where she taught.

‘The class ooo’d as soon as Mrs. Drake brought them in my classroom. Teased me the rest of the day for having a boyfriend.’

‘Well I had to stake my claim.’

“Still new then.”

“Feels like forever.” Damian rested his ankle on his knee. He flipped his phone over in his hands. The screen lit up revealing the new background photo he put there a few days ago. A selfie he had taken of him, Rachel, Isaac, and Amelia before they started golfing. Roman noted Isaac’s smile in the photo from the stadium and how it came alive, but staring at the family photo Damian couldn’t help but notice the genuine smile on his own face. He wasn’t smiling for the sake of the photo. He was actually happy.

As he slipped his headphones on and settled in for the long flight he was already counting down the days until he was back in Florida.

‘Hey Damian,’ Isaac asked as the elevator doors slide shut.

‘Yeah?’

‘I hope you marry my mom.’

#wwe fanfiction #wwe fanfics #wwe fanfic #damian priest fanfic #damian priest #damian priest fanfiction #fanfiction

30 notes · View notes