#place. the girl you love kisses you on the beach and somewhere you heart stirs and your mind revolts and you savor every touch she has ever

[malinaa]

if i think about the hunger games in peeta's perspective i WILL start sobbing

[xbalayage]

💕 💞 💋 🎡 Here ya go, brainstorm your puppy

💕: Who’s the clingier one in the relationship?

Ahh, I'd like to say me because he's gone often with business, so when he's around I can't get enough of him. But he's grown to be the same way. He didn't know personal space before or how to read a room but man, after allowing me into his heart and understanding that I won't hurt him, he's been INCREDIBLY clingy. Any chance he gets, he wants to spend it with me and it bothers him greatly that his brother gets to spend more time with me than he does. Often, he wants to know if me and his brother did any activities together just so he can do one over on him, give me the better experience of the two and I just find it funny.

💞: How do you both express affection?

Definitely physical touch. It's hard to not be touching each other every second of the day. Sometimes if I try to restrain myself, he actually doesn't like it. I tell him I'm just being shy because everyone's watching us, and he's like 'so? let'em watch, you're my girl'. There's no telling him there's a time and place for things, he'll make it a time and place for those exact things. And if anyone has an opinion about it, he knows how to shut'em up real quick. After all, you can't forget he's a prince with unlimited wealth and power. If it was up to him, he'd take me whenever he wants me and as much as the idea of showing everyone what sounds he can create at out me, it's the exact same reason for why he hates that idea too. No one needs to see and hear what's made just for his pleasures.

💋: Where are your favorite places to kiss your f/o/where are their favorite places to kiss you?

My favorite places to kiss him are innocent - for the most part. But my simply loving kisses on the forehead, nose or cheek, or even his eyelids or over his heart, become to much for him. He finds them as a tease; he's hungry and wants the main course already, damn it. Sleepy mornings I also love to kiss every inch of his chest slowly while he still sleeps until he starts to stir. I'm guilty of hot mornings to put some cold on my lips to touch his skin with. Maybe even get a little moan out of him. Hehe. His favorite places to kiss always vary, he likes finding new places to leave his mark on the body that's all his to conquer. The inner thighs, my ass, inside my hips, my chest. I even discovered a new kink from his gentle kisses and accidentally turn something innocent into something more intimate, like moaning or giggling.

🎡: What are your favorite activities to do together?

Holding hands! It's one of our favorite activities. A very simple one, but very meaningful for our relationship all the same. Any time we decided on a location to go together, he makes it a habit to kiss my knuckles and rub them with his thumb. A sudden comfort that does wonders for my anxiety that occasionally makes itself known exploring unknown areas to me with loads of people around talking. Yes, I know they're not talking about me, but the brain picks up certain cues and sentencing that starts to feel directed at me. That's why we're often at a book store or the beach, somewhere nice, quiet and peaceful. Silvio's even humored me and tried his hand at reading some books if it hard pictures in them. But any place just being together was enough for us.

Here's the list if you want more of these!

[falcqns]

You’re Worth It

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x College Student!Reader

Summary: You visit Bucky’s apartment for the first time, and assure him that he's worth so much more than he thinks. 

Warnings: SMUT! age gap but its legal, very insecure Bucky, oral (f receiving).

A/N: Hope you enjoy!

You stood outside Bucky’s apartment door, watching your boyfriend dig his keys out of his skinny jeans, his other hand on a bag of groceries that contained your soon-to-be dinner. He pulled them out and located the door key, before turning to you. “Are you sure you want to stay here tonight, doll? I’m more than okay staying at your apartment.” He said, his eyes not leaving the ground in front of him.

You smiled, and placed your backpack on the ground beside you before turning and grabbing his stubbly face in your hands. “Baby. I want to stay here with you. I don’t care what it looks like. Whether it’s dirty or clean, the cutest apartment in the world, or the ugliest. It’s yours, and I want to see it.” You said, and he smiled before nodding. “Okay.” He said. He put the key in the door, and unlocked it. You followed him into the small apartment, and was immediately surrounded by the smell that was undeniably Bucky. 

You loved the way he smelled, you always had. He smelled like a field of lavender flowers on a beach, with a hint of salt water. He dropped his keys on the table, and turned around to face you. You placed your backpack on the floor again, this time by the table and looked around. There wasn't much, but he had a small chair and a side table, and a small tv stand where his tv sat. There was a chair in the corner by the kitchen island, and that was it. Your eyes ran over the pile of blankets on the floor, and you could feel your heart break.

He slept on the floor. 

He chuckled as you looked around. “Sad, huh?” He said, walking into the kitchen with the food in hand. “No.” You said, and followed him to the kitchen. “Like I said outside. It's you. You are building a life after a lot of suffering. Nothing about this is sad.” He shook his head as he took out the carrots and potatoes from the bag. 

“I couldn't even afford a full couch.” He said. You dropped your phone on the counter gently, and wrapped your arms around his waist. You rested your head in between his shoulder blades, and inhaled his smell. 

“Baby, it’s okay. You were gone for 5 years. So was half the world. Before that, you were living in Wakanda, where you didn't have to deal with the stresses of regular life. And, before that, you were trapped within someone who wasn't you. Don’t blame yourself for any of this. I love you for who you are.” You said, and Bucky turned around, his arms circling your waist. 

“How did I get so lucky?” he mumbled into your hair. You giggled, and lifted your head. “By saving my life,” You said, before pressing a kiss to his lips. He kissed back immediately, and pulled you closer. 

You pulled away when the need for oxygen became dire, and you smiled at them again. “All I did was pull you out of the way of a car that was out of control, doll.” He said, and ran his hand down your arm as you pulled out of the hug. “I would’ve gotten hit if you didn't. I’m not a super soldier like you are, its highly unlikely I would have survived if it weren't for my hero,” You mentioned, as you walked over to your backpack and pulling out your laptop.

Bucky chuckled, and watched as you sat down in the chair across from the tv. You tucked your feet under yourself, and sat your laptop on the arm before powering it on.

Bucky began to move about the kitchen and make the two of you dinner. No matter what you said, he couldn't stop feeling guilty about the state of his apartment. He could have at least bought a blow up mattress for you to sleep on, so you wouldn't be stuck sleeping on the hard wood floor with him. Better yet, he could have bought a bed. He had a bedroom, but he didn't feel comfortable in there. He glanced over at you while he washed the carrots in the sink and saw how you stretched your back before returning to your homework.

It wasn't an unusual occurrence for him to hang out with you while you do homework. He actually enjoyed watching you do school work. he could barely remember school, and he never got to go to college. Between working and taking care of Steve, he both didn't have time and couldn't afford it. Then the war started, and he thought about going after, but his capture by HYDRA kinda ruined that one. During his time in Wakanda, he had thought about going to college, but at that point he was still a wanted criminal and that was out of the question. He had been thinking about it more recently, and had decided to wait until he was finished making his amends to enrol somewhere. 

Mainly, he was just happy that you were getting an education. He planned on staying with you forever, marrying you, having kids with you, and growing old(er) with you, and he knew your future children would benefit from at least one of their parents having up-to-date school education. And, by up to date school education, he meant a curriculum that was developed this century.

He stirred the potatoes in the pot and smiled as he heard your fingers tapping on the keyboard. God, he loved you. You loved him for who he was, you didn't judge him, and most importantly, you didn't blame him for anything that happened. He hadn't been expecting to be so open with you about his past when he asked you out on a date, but you knew who he was instantly, and thanked him for saving your life. He may have physically saved your life that day, but he felt that you saved his life in every other way by just being yourself. 

He continued to listen to you tapping on the keyboard, the clicking of your knuckles as you cracked them, and the slow but rhythmic breathing as you focused on your work. 

Dinner was finished a few minutes later, and you closed your laptop just as Bucky was plating the veggies. You placed your laptop back in the bag, and joined Bucky on the ground to eat. 

“Did you finish your homework?” He asked, and you nodded. You swallowed before speaking. “Yeah. I can't submit it yet, but it’s finished and ready to go,” You said. 

The two of you continued making small talk throughout the night, and Bucky tried to find a way to convince you that the two of you should sleep at your apartment instead, but he knew that it wouldn't work. He tried to bite back the tears while you were in the showers and he laid out the blankets and pillows on the floor for the night. They almost fell again when he walked out of the bathroom from having his shower and saw you snuggled up on the ground, scrolling on TikTok. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he got a cup of water for himself and for you. He thought he had a handle on his emotions by the time he had settled next to you, but the dam broke when he laid down and your had found its way to your chest as it usually did. 

Your head shot up when you heard his shaky breathing and his sniffling, and you immediately wrapped your arms around his neck. “What’s wrong, Buck?” you whispered, and his arms wrapped themselves around your waist before he answered. 

“You deserve to be sleeping on a bed.” he whispered, and you shook your head. 

“No. Don’t do that to yourself. I know how weird it is for you to sleep in a bed, and that's okay. I’ve been camping before, and I’m perfectly fine with sleeping on the ground. I’m fine, baby.” You whispered, but Bucky still shook his head. 

“I should be able to afford a bed,” He said, and you sat up. “Stop. Don’t think that. You’re doing the best you can with what you have. You can barely afford the bills you have already because of what the government is paying you, which is way less than you should be. You’re doing great with what you have.” You reminded him, and he nodded.

“I know. But, I probably should have spent the little money I did have on a bed rather than a TV, but if I don't have the TV on, my mind runs to places I don't want it to. I know that’s not healthy, but neither is reliving everything I did for those years. I wasn't really thinking about having anyone to share my nights with during that time, so a bed didn't seem important. But, I should have bought a mattress when we started dating. Everything is just way too expensive compared to when I was growing up.” He said, a slight chuckle in his voice. You smiled, and pushed him back by the chest. 

He smiled suggestively when you straddled his waist, his hands coming to rest on your hips. “Lets not talk about it anymore, okay? Maybe me riding you will help you forget it.” You said, leaning down to press a kiss to his lips that were red and slightly swollen from his tears. He didn't say anything in return, but kissed you back while running your hands up your back and under your sleep shirt. He moaned when he felt that you weren't wearing a bra. 

“Naughty girl, not wearing a bra,” He whispered, as you kissed down his neck. He grabbed the hem of the shirt and pulled it up, leaving you in only your underwear. You moaned at his husky voice and ground your hips down on him. He moaned, and grasped your hips in his hands. 

He let you grind on him a little more, thoroughly enjoying it, before flipping you over. He trailed his hands down to your underwear, hooking his thumbs into the straps, before pulling them down your legs. 

He moaned when you were completely exposed to him. You looked at him with lust filled eyes, as he spread your legs, and settled himself on his stomach in between them.

He lifted your legs over his shoulders, and pressed kisses up your slit, making eye contact with you. “Fuckin’ beautiful.” he said, before diving into you. 

He swiped his tongue over your clit a few times, before attaching his mouth to it and sucking. You jolted slightly when you felt the cold metal of his pointer finger slowly push inside of you. He pushed it to the hilt, and then arched up to rub up against your g spot. 

You cried out suddenly and tangled your hands in his hair when his finger started vibrating right up against your g spot, causing you to fall over the edge into orgasm almost instantly. 

Bucky pulled off of you with a pop, and grinned, still moving his finger in and out while you rode out your orgasm. Once your breathing slowed, he pulled his finger out, and put it into his mouth, sucking your juices off of it. He laid on his back, and guided you with his hands until you were on top again. 

You began to shimmy down his body, but Bucky shook his head, and pulled you back up. “No. If you do that, I won't last, and I want to cum in your pussy not your mouth,” He said, and you bit your lip, and nodded.

His hands gripped your hips while you reached down for his now leaking cock, and gave it a few firm strokes, before lining it up at your entrance. You leaned forward and gripped your hands on his shoulder, before sliding down on him slowly.

“Fuck, doll. Always feels so damn good,” Bucky moaned, his hands tightening on your hips. You threw your head back and moaned as you began to move your hips, with Bucky’s help.

“Love seein’ you like this, babydoll.” Bucky rasped out, hit hips thrusting up to meet your movements. “Love how needy you get when you’re on top.” His words made you clench around him, and Bucky grasped your hips tighter to pull you down on his cock harder and faster each time. 

You could feel the pressure building in your abdomen, and you knew Bucky was close as well based on the movements of his hips. You ground your hips into his before continuing to bounce on him.

“F-fuck,” Bucky grunted as he was used over the edge, and released inside of you. You threw your head back as you felt Bucky’s cum smash against your walls, which sent you over the edge, and you shook as you came. 

A few minutes later, Bucky has cleaned both you and him up, and was coming back from tossing the wash cloth in the laundry hamper when he saw you sound asleep on the ground where he left you. He smiled slightly and carried you into the bedroom, along with the blankets and pillows. 

He laid you down and straightened out the blankets, and put your pillow under your head, before laying down next to you, and pulling you into his arms. He drifted off to sleep seconds later with the plan on looking for a second hand bed in the morning. You deserved to sleep on a bed, and so did he, he realized. 

At least the plush carpeting is softer than the hard wood. 

[15-dogs]

i need more |h.g.|

pairing: hermione granger x fem!reader

summary: hermione never seems to want you the way you want her, even if she claims that you’re dating (based on the song sports by beach bunny, angst angst angst, secret relationship, jealousy)

warnings: none

guide: (Y/N) = your name, lyrics in italics

word count: 1.4K

a/n: i’m sorry in advance i feel like this is really bad akdfljk i’ve never written hermione before and i’ve never made a moodboard sorry sorry i hope you like it

If you feel lonely,

I could be lonely with you.

You and Hermione were alone in the common room, your lips ghosting over hers. You nudged her nose with your own and she groaned at how close you were. It was so tempting but she didn’t want to give in.

“What’s wrong?” you teased, feigning innocence. “Are you okay?”

“(Y/N),” she groaned. 

Her head teetered forward towards your lips, waiting for you to make the first move. You chuckled, carding your hand through her bushy hair. She looked impossibly adorable with her lip pouted, waiting for you to kiss her. A part of you felt bad for holding out on her but you kept confirming to yourself that you needed to.

Hermione explained that she didn’t want to go public about your relationship, what your “relationship” was. That never bothered you. She could take all the time in the world if she needed to and you were always going to be sure that you wanted her. But as time went on, you weren’t even sure that she wanted you. You initiated every romantic encounter and some days it felt like she wasn’t even trying to make whatever you two were work. She was always confident in everything she did, so why wasn’t she confident in your relationship?

Hermione began to drift towards your lips, your eyes fluttering shut and a blissed out smile stretching across your lips. As soon as you met that peace, Hermione gasped and shoved you off with a hurried, “Sorry.”

That was not a strange occurrence, but it certainly wasn’t welcomed.

“Somebody’s coming,” she whispered as she flattened her clothing and smoothed out the spot in the couch you had just sat on.

“Right,” you grumbled as you fell into the chair across from her. You yanked a notebook from the bag that sat beside the chair, doodling aimlessly as you pretended to be working.

Tell me, baby,

why do you seem so blue?

Hermione shot you a pained look as the door to the common room swung open. Harry and Ron tumbled out, joking about something that you were too distracted to listen to.

Harry flashed a kind smile at you as he fell into the chair across from you while Ron sunk into the spot next to Hermione. You were trying so hard not to look up but you almost couldn’t help it. You could hear Hermione’s harmonic laugh-- the one that she always did when you told a joke-- and saw Ron joking with her as she did her homework.

Why are we so complicated?

Maybe love is overrated.

Your heart ached for her. It was selfish, you knew that, wanting to take her away from Ron and hold her in your arms but the thought consumed your body. You just wanted people to know how much you cared for Hermione. You wanted Hermione herself to know. Sometimes it felt like she didn’t.

But the more you thought about it, the less you could blame yourself. You put your everything into the relationship you had with her and she just...didn’t. And for the first time in your months of seeing Hermione you began to feel like things were too broken to fix.

A thought began to stir in your head. A thought that couldn’t be answered by anyone but Hermione. So you waited for everyone to go off to their common rooms, lying to Ron and Harry about why you and Hermione were staying up late.

“I just wanted to review for the N.E.W.T.s and whatnot,” you claimed. Hermione looked over at you, subtly quirking her brow before turning back to the boys with a smile. “We’ll see you tomorrow. Night, Harry, Ron.”

The two friends mumbled their goodnights to you two, stumbling up the stairs in tired stupor. As soon as they were gone, you slid onto the couch next to Hermione.

“What’s going on, (Y/N)?”

You took in a sobering breath, meeting her concerned gaze as you pushed through the constricting feeling on your throat. “What are we, ‘Mione?”

She blinked in surprise. “I don’t understand.”

“What are we?” you repeated. “Because it doesn’t feel like you’re my girlfriend. And if you don’t want to be, that’s fine! Just please, tell me.”

Her mouth shot open to protest but faltered. She sat in silence, pondering what you had said, her brow creasing with concern.

You couldn’t take it anymore. You picked up your bag and made your way up to the dorms, feeling tears prick the corners of your eyes. You heard her feet padding up the stairs behind you until she grabbed you by the elbow.

“Just give me some time,” she whispered, “just a little time.”

You nodded, knowing that no amount of time was going to change her answer to your question.

I’m tired of waiting,

I was never good at sports.

It had been a few days and you had yet to hear from Hermione. She seemed to be perfectly content with ignoring you and you had to pretend that your heart didn’t break a little each time she did.

You had no idea what you were holding out for. Somewhere deep inside your heart you hoped that Hermione would tell you how she felt, tell you that she was mad for you and she would try harder to make things work but you knew it was impossible, not when she couldn’t look you in the eye.

Save the games for the girls on the tennis courts.

It came down to another night in the common room. Harry and Ron had gone to bed, leaving just you and Hermione there. You stared at her perfectly sculpted face, scolding yourself for the butterflies in your stomach when you knew nothing good was about to come.

The room was silent save for the wood crackling the fireplace. Hermione cleared her throat, finally looking up at you.

“Are we going to do this now?” she asked, timid.

You were shaking. Everything led up to this spectacular moment of ruin, a colosseum on its last pillars ready to collapse.

“Yes, I think we need to.”

Say you need me,

but lately, you feel unsure.

Hermione shook her head. You could barely look at her. There was too much pain swimming behind her eyes. She swallowed hard. 

“What do you want from me?”

Your breathing became jagged out your nose. That terrible choking feeling grew tighter around your throat, preventing you from saying what you needed to say. You ran a hand down your face, closing your eyes for a fraction of a second.

“I just want you to want me.”

Hermione scoffed. “But I do want-”

“Do you?” The words flew out of you before you had time to think about them. Hermione’s chocolate eyes glassed over and a sinking feeling appeared in your stomach. “Because if I thought that you did, then we wouldn’t be here-- we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

Hermione tucked her legs underneath her, tugging her sweater tighter around her chest. She chewed her bottom lip, her long lashes fluttering as she processed your words. After a silence that lasted an eternity, she spoke up, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m sorry.”

And it was then you knew your worst nightmare was confirmed.

You stood up from the couch, thumbing the hem of your cardigan as you approached Hermione, taking a seat next to her on the couch. She looked up at you, all sorrow and innocence, and reached out to link your hands. You took the invitation with a wry exhale, leaning in for the very last time to place a kiss against her chapped lips. 

Energy coursed through you, but not in the way it used to. Kissing Hermione, as cliche as it sounds, used to be like fireworks being set off or electricity in your veins, but that last kiss was like the final embers of a fire going out or the spine of an old book cracking as you closed it, never to be opened again.

You rested your forehead against hers, relishing in that last moment.

“I don’t think I’m ever going to get over you Hermione.”

And with that, you ascended the staircase to the dorms, the taste of her on your lips.

Come on to me, come on to me,

I need more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

general taglist: @pandaxnienke @lunalovecroft @for-bebbanburg

[some-kindofgnome]

Kinktober #19: Paperback Romance: Eijirou Kirishima & Katsuki Bakugou

You, Kirishima, and Bakugou have some things to figure out. Luckily, you’ve got somewhere quiet to do it. 

Characters: Eijirou Kirishima/Katsuki Bakugou/f!Reader

Warnings: smut (18+ please!), aged up characters, fingering, awkward threesome, the softest bullshit you’ve ever seen

Notes: I... am not sure how I feel about this one. But we’ll see. I think I should change Kinktober to Mushtober, because as it turns out, I have a squishy heart. Today’s prompt was “Threesome,” and I had every intention of making this one filthy, I really did. But then this came out. There’s also, like, not a whole lot of talking in this one. Idk. It’s different.

Whoops. 

Kinktober Masterlist

The breeze is salted velvet on your cheeks as you race along the oceanside highway.

Bakugou’s been driving for the last hour and a half. You’re in the passenger’s seat and Kirishima’s stretched out in the back with the windows open. The ocean stretches brilliant and navy out the driver’s side. The distant cry of gulls backs the slow thump of the breeze past your window.

If this were any other road trip, you’d be blasting tunes. You and Kirishima would be singing your hearts out. Bakugou would probably still be driving, but he’d look a whole lot grumpier than he does right now.

For the last eighty miles, you’ve all been… quiet. It’s like the reality of this trip is finally starting to sink in.

Kirishima and Bakugou have been your best friends since high school. You crammed together, partied together, graduated together. You were the first one that they told when they’d decided to become more to each other.

You remembered that day above any other. The way your stomach dropped out. You’d known, you’d always known, but they’d never made it real before. For as long as you’d known each other it had been the three of you. But from that point on, it was them and you.

You’d never been able to pinpoint why that bothered you so much. Why your heart crunched just a little smaller, whenever they had to be a couple around you.

But on the night that it fell into place, it fell fast. You’d been in love with them, both of them, for as long as you had known them. It wasn’t enough that they had one another. You wanted to have them, too. Those feelings that had been bottled up for so long came spilling out one night, among tears and wine and bitter words that you’d wished you could take back.

But buried among all that bitterness and jealousy was the truth. They felt for you. The way you did for them. They’d only ever wanted it to be the three of you. But that gap felt unbridgeable.

Even now, just a few days later, it’s growing wider between you in the silence of the car.

You’d decided to take off for the weekend, drive somewhere remote where you could remove yourself from the prying eyes of the public and just figure everything out. That somewhere turned out to be a beach house well out of the city. You’d been on the road for hours.

The afternoon’s waning into evening by the time you pull up to it. It’s just as cute as the booking site promised- all whitewashed boards and sage green shutters- with a little path winding its way from the back porch to the ocean.

Kirishima- who, by this point, is just waking up from his backseat nap- speaks first.

“Wow, it’s cute!”

You and Bakugou both give a little sigh. He kills the engine, and you both step out and slam the doors shut at the same time. You’re both taking in the sight of the little cottage, and then you both peek over the roof of the car to glance at one another.

You skirt your gaze past him to the ocean beyond. It’s killing you that things have become so awkward between you. But that’s what this weekend is for- knocking down all those walls, all at once. Kirishima and Bakugou tell you that as soon as they had broken down their barriers, everything came naturally.

You’re just hoping it works the same way for you.

Bakugou cooks you dinner that night, and he’s still far more stoic than usual. Though his explosive temper has calmed down since your teenage days, he’s never been very good at expressing himself through words. You taste it in his cooking, though. When the three of you cluster together around one end of the dining table, things start to feel normal again.

Until all three of you volunteer eagerly to pitch in with the cleanup.

Finally, the kitchen is sparkling, the sun has set, and there’s nothing else to think about but the bedroom upstairs and the single king bed that the three of you have promised to share.

“Hey,” you speak up. Bakugou looks up from the paperback he’s been thumbing through. Kirishima peers inquisitively over the top of his phone at you. They both look so honestly interested in you it makes your heart break.

“Listen.” You can’t take the silence anymore. Silence isn’t you. Any of you. You’ve been able to talk to them about anything, for as long as you’ve ever known them.

But this is different.

“I just wanna know.” You scrape your fingers through your hair. Your cheeks are hot. You’re clamming up, something you’ve been doing far too often around them lately.

“Are either of you half as fucking nervous about this as I am?”

For a breath, there’s silence.

Then laughter.

You don’t know who started it but you’re finishing it, peals of relieved mirth bubbling from your chest. Kirishima crosses the room in an instant, climbing into the recliner, smothering you with a tight hug.

“We couldn’t sleep a wink last night,” he chuckles into your shoulder. Bakugou bristles across the room, but he doesn’t disagree.

“C’mon, sweetheart,” he mumbles. “Let me take you upstairs.”

“Us,” gruffs Bakugou from across the room. Slowly, he shuts his book and rises from the couch. “Let us take you upstairs.”

You sit on the edge of the gigantic bed. The windows upstairs are all open with gauzy curtains fluttering inward, crisp cotton sheets damped down by the humid sea air.

Kirishima kisses you first. It’s not the first time it’s happened, but you’re far from used to it. His lips cover yours so gently it makes you ache. Especially when Bakugou grabs you by the jaw and pulls you to him, and his kiss is insistent and rousing and you feel yourself easing into it already.

They know each other’s bodies well. Seeing them together is like paging the worn paper of a well-loved book; spine creased, corners folded.

You’d like to know how this story ends.

You tumble into the sheets in a messy tangle of limbs. You’re not sure what to do with your hands as Bakugou licks into your teeth and Kirishima’s trailing kisses down your chest. His forehead bumps Bakugou’s thigh as he works to push your clothes away. You have to stop three times to untwist yourselves before you’re all stripped down to your underwear.

But they want this with you. They want to be all of you again.

You climb boldly between Bakugou’s thighs, cupping and stroking his thick cock where it stands out through his undershorts. Kirishima’s behind you, kissing his way down your back and peeling away the last shreds of your modesty.

“I haven’t been with a girl in a while,” he mumbles, kissing the swell of your hip. “Tell me if I hurt you.”

He slides a finger into you from behind, pumping slowly. Below you, Bakugou’s grabbed your hips and holds you fast against him, letting you rock your pleasure into his firm muscles. Kiri’s fingers move earnestly, dipping into your tight heat while his other hand finds the swell of your clit and begins to rub.

“Ah-“ Your voice breaks as your chin falls forward. Bakugou holds you tighter.

“That’s it, sweetness,” he gruffs in your ear. “Let him make you feel it.”

“Kiri,” you whine, “I’m not gonna- I can’t,”

“Go on,” Kirishima whispers against your skin. “You’re so beautiful like this. Y’know that? Let me see you break for me, baby.”

You come hard, as if on command. Your body quakes with pleasure as it races up your spine like a gunshot, tightening your thighs and making you bury your head in the crook of Bakugou’s shoulder as you scream.

They’re looking at one another over your shoulder- you can feel it. And when you stir to life again, Kirishima collapses beside you and Bakugou rolls you into the middle.

It’s complicated and awkward and messy, but the three of you find your pleasure that night. And you fall asleep in the same sweaty tangle of limbs with your boys on either side of you.

As apprehensive as you’ve been, as badly as this scared you for so many years, now that you’ve got it, it feels peaceful as the dawn. This, you, the three of you, is how it always should have been.

And you know nothing will tear your boys from you. Not anymore.

[hiccanna-tidbits]

“Let her come to me.”

Cyan waves ripple aside, and Moana steps onto the wet sand. In the distance, glowing veins of bright red stand out against pitch black and smokes and sparks and cinders fill the sky.

All fire and fury and burning...like the worst of you. And the best.

The creature in the distance shrieks, drops to all fours and starts crawling across the seafloor. Mindless, furious, feral--far out of her reach. But she has to try.

Water coats her like a protective shell, flowing and rippling across her skin in a sort of dancing armor. Her hair rises and falls like ocean waves, encased in a little pocket of sea.

I have crossed the horizon to find you.

She’s come so far, sailed oceans and followed stars and felt so lonely and pained and lost she feels like she might die--but she kept on anyways. She kept on because all she wants in the world is fiery hair and eyes like the morning sky and the loudest presence she’s ever known and if she fucks this up now, she might never have that again.

And Moana would cross another horizon, if she had to. If that’s what it took to get her back.

Searing, clawlike fingers throw up wet sand. Moana keeps on. 

I know your name.

“You’re Merida Dunbroch,” she says, voice cracking. “You’re the best archer I’ve ever met. You’re crude and brash and unapologetic and fearless. You’d take on the whole world if it meant you could prove yourself. You love empire biscuits and apple tarts and you’d finish a whole roast chicken yourself if no one stopped you. You snort when you laugh and you eat like you’ll never see food again. You love feeling the wind in your hair, and getting it even more tangled because your mom used to hate brushing it out afterwards. You’ll climb to the top of any rock or cliff you can, no matter how dangerous it is, just so you can take in the view and drink in the wind. You’d do anything in the world for your little brothers, but you’d never, ever tell them that. You carved my name into your bow and told me it was so...so you could always take me with you, wherever you went.”

Moana’s voice breaks.

They have stolen the heart from inside you.

She remembers the smoke coming in and clouding the island, Te Ka lunging across the waves and onto the beach. The villagers screaming, fleeing to the top of the mountain to get out of the beast’s reach. Merida, the outsider, the one who fled from a kingdom far, far away to escape a destiny she didn’t want, the one whose boat had washed up one day and forced her to integrate to an entirely new way of life, bravely standing her ground with her sword brandished. The way she swung and struck and screamed with everything she had, trying to take down a monster twenty times her size to protect a village she had only called home for a little over a year. The way she kept fighting even as Te Ka closed her hands around her and black rock began to grow on her skin.

She kept fighting until the very end, when Te Ka took her away. When Te Ka corrupted her, made her into something just like the vast, wrathful goddess.

When the lava coursed through her, it must have burned her heart away until she was left with nothing, like Te Ka.

But there had to be something still in there. Moana had to believe that.

She couldn’t come all this way to find out she was wrong.

But this does not define you.

The lava beast draws closer. Moana can see the eyes. They’re vast, golden-orange pits, impossible to read.

Impossible to see if the girl she knew was still behind them.

But she had to be. Merida Dunbroch was not one to go down with a fight. Not one to let herself be lost completely. She was the strongest person Moana had ever known.

This is not who you are.

The anger. The rage. The hatred. The pain. Moana knew they all belonged to Merida--all things Te Ka could feed off of to power her little double. Anger at being forced to be someone she wasn’t, rage at being “auctioned off” into a political marriage when she knew she could never love a man. Hatred at a world that didn’t care to understand her, that told her every time she was loud or impassioned or stubborn that it made her shameful and disgusting and worthless. The pain at being trapped and alone in a place where she was going to have to put on a facade for the rest of her life.

But there was more in her. She smiled radiantly, she laughed hard, and she loved fiercely. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for people who showed her kindness and care. She loved amusing the other villagers, loved making her friends happy. She doted on Pua and HeiHei with surprising gentleness.

There was so much more in her than anger and chaos and cruelty and destruction. And that was what Moana needed her to remember.

You know who you are.

The lava creature pauses, snarling mouth hanging open, hair flowing behind in billows of smoke. Moana steps forward, willing her to remember. Needing her to remember. The playful shoves, the evening dance lessons, sipping coconut water as they watched the sun go down. Moana knew all of it still had to be inside of her somewhere.

What had once been Merida wouldn’t be pausing in attacking her if it wasn’t.

Moana steps forward, and the lava creature doesn’t move. Taking a breath, she presses their foreheads together. It burns and sears like anything, but Moana just doesn’t care. The lava creature closes her eyes, still and calm in a way Moana never thought she’d see again.

“Who you truly are,” she whispers.

She reaches up and places a water-cased hand on the hard, rocky chest, and the lava beneath sizzles and steams as it dries and hardens into black rock. A soft rumble fills the air as the rock begins to split, water snaking over it and burrowing into the cracks. Chunks begin to shear off and thump into the sand, and Moana catches sight of pale skin and a torn dress.

She watches in wonder as the ebony shell crumbles away--first her chest, then her arms, and finally her face. Two wide, pale blue eyes stare at her in amazement as smoke disperses and lava slides away and what’s left is a head full of bouncy orange curls.

“Mo?”

Merida says it uncertainly, like she’s in the strange space between wake and sleep where she can’t quite tell what’s real and what’s in her mind. Moana laughs, and she wraps Merida in her arms and crushes the other girl against her--so she’ll know this is real.

“You’re back,” Moana sniffs. Somewhere in her laughs, tears have begun to fall. “You came back to me.”

Merida laughs, and holds her back. They both sink into the sand, clinging to each other like there’s nothing else in the whole universe to cling to.

And maybe there isn’t.

“What are yeh doin’ way out here?” Merida murmurs against her ear, tone surprisingly stern. “The ocean’s a dangerous place, lassie. And Ah know damn well yeh can’t actually sail, no matter what et is yeh tell yerself.”

“I had to come to you,” is all Moana says.

Merida seems to melt even further into her grip. “Yeh...came all this way...for me?” Her voice breaks as she says it. “Why?”

“I love you.”

The words slip out before Moana can stop them.

Merida leans back and studies her inquisitively, and all Moana can think is I’m fucked.

The next second Merida’s hands are on her cheeks and she’s pulling the other girl forward to kiss her ferociously.

Moana is frozen, stupefied, completely unable to move. She never thought she’d be here, living this moment--but bringing Merida back was only the first of the miracles to happen today, apparently.

Moana slowly lifts her arms, draping them over Merida’s shoulders and melting into her.

“Ah love yeh, too, lass.” Merida pauses long enough to breathe it into her ear. “Ah just didn’t know how tae say et. Ah never thought yeh’d look at me that way. Ah was scared yeh might think et was...wrong.”

Moana responds by kissing her again. Before they know it, they’re tipping over, lying entangled on the wet ground. Sand stirs around them, slowly coating their skin and already-dirtied clothes as they press closer and closer into each other, but they realize that they just don’t care.

Moana is filling with warmth--so vast and full and overpowering that she can’t help but wonder if Merida still has some of that lava left in her. Whether she does or not, Moana can only form one thought as she laces her fingers through sandy red curls.

I’m never letting you go again.

***

When Merida next feels lava on her skin, it’s dozens of years later.

She doesn’t know what to make of it, waking up with cracked black rock on her skin again and streams of lava curling away from her scalp in fiery hair. But it doesn’t burn, it doesn’t hurt--it feels all too right. The power, the passion, the vigor of when she was taken over by Te Ka is there--but this time, she can control it.

Merida lived a long life. A happy life. She stayed on Motunui--even when the village began voyaging again, charting new lands, she always came back to their home with Moana. Her Moana. They passed together on a summer evening, lying on the beach with their hands entwined and the tribe safely in the hands of the fine young man they had chosen to be the next chief-to-be.

When Te Ka became Te Fiti, it appeared a vacancy opened--the need for a goddess of volcanoes and lava, now that the goddess of life had returned. Life was a cycle, after all--you couldn’t have green and growth and lushness with burning magma and barren rock and life sizzled out. That’s where Merida guessed she came in.

It baffled her, why some outsider like herself would be chosen for such an honor. She had worked hard at becoming a great warrior, protecting the people she had adopted as her own. But ascending to godhood? She didn’t deserve something like this.

And then she sees her walking over the horizon.

Her body is made entirely of water--curves in shining cyan, dress splashing around her laced with foaming whitecaps, hair whipping behind her in rippling ocean waves. But her hands, her face, her eyes--there’s no mistaking it’s her.

“Moana?” Merida whispers.

They run to each other, ripping across land and pounding through sea to reach one another. When they crash together, steam rises around them in graceful billows--the heat of lava and the cool of ocean, united into a gentle mist.

“Moana? How are we here?”

“The ocean chose me a long time ago, to return the heart of Te Fiti and restore life to the world,” Moana murmurs into her shoulder. “And now it’s chosen me again--for something more important. I’m one with the ocean now, making sure it brings and sustains life for all the generations to come. But you...you deserve to be here with me, contributing to the endless cycle.” She leans back and gives Merida a soft smile. “So I may have put in a good word for you.”

Merida laughs. “Are yeh sure et isn’t cuz yer too clingy tae let me go?”

Moana just smles. “That too. I guess eternity seems a lot more tedious to pass when you’re not there.”

They’re an odd pair. The goddess of the ocean, who gives homes to sea turtles and whales and bright fish, who guides ships between islands, who’s always there for someone to dip their feet in on a hot day...and the goddess of volcanoes, who explodes with burning magma, who rains ash and smoke across the sky, who brings unquestionable death to all those who don’t get away fast enough. But when they touch, when they kiss, when they tangle themselves up in one another, pieces of volcanic rock topple into the sea and grow lush and full with life bursting from every seam. The goddess of the sea and the goddess of lava make more life together than they ever could apart. 

Sometimes they must temper one another. An especially vicious volcanic explosion is stopped only by the cool calm of the sea. Fierce stormclouds that could sink ships are pulled apart by clouds of smoke and ash. Magma rises from the ocean floor, calming tsunamis. Rain puts out the worst of the fires from spewing lava. It’s a balance.

But at the end of the day, when the sky clears and new islands come to be, green and lush and full of fruit and palm trees and vines and animals that hum and chirp and buzz, there can be no doubt that the two goddesses can’t be without each other.

There can be no doubt that the goddess of the ocean and the goddess of volcanos are deeply--and eternally--in love.

***

WELL WELL WELL! A lot of people seemed to really like my Moanida Goddess AU, so I made a moodboard and started writing a drabble and...this happened, I guess? The story came out a lot longer and more angsty than I planned, but oh well--hope y’all like it!

Legit love how these two balance each other out. I feel like the chaotic, reckless “fire energy” of Merida definitely needs kind of a calm, rational “water energy” from someone like Moana. Merida needs someone level-headed to talk her out of doing Dumb Shit without being mean-spirited or talking down to her about it, and Moana needs someone like Merida to drag her out of her comfort zone and help her face off her demons and self-doubt and whatever. Literally a perfect match! God I fucking love Fire x Water pairings so much. Can you tell I’m also a fan of Zutara

Also yeah I’d definitely be on board with Moana x Te Fiti if Fi wasn’t a giant-ass goddess like 20 times Moana’s size. Can you tell? But sue me, that entire scene did in fact have sapphic vibes.

@takaraphoenix Moanida time!!!

Pic credits available upon request!

[collecting-stories]

Alright - JJ Maybank

Request: hey! can i request a jj maybank x reader? basically just a MASSIVE fluff dump?? like jj loves to protect his girl but he's a huge softie who wants to be held by her & wants to be good enough so one night at a party he gets drunk & he spills all that, saying how his dad makes him feel like he's not good enough for her, & so maybe the prompt is the next day, where he's just so emotionally exhausted & wants to be loved and called petnames & he's super clingy & maybe there's a couple tears but FLUFF

A/N: I think there are always songs that stick with you, for whatever reason, and when I was younger my mom used to listen to this Sara Groves song ‘It’s Gonna Be Alright’ and I was thinking about it when I wrote this.

Outer Banks Masterlist

The alarm that you had set at the beginning of summer, in hopes of not falling out of a routine and in hopes of actually waking up and doing yoga or something positive instead of hitting snooze, went off from the other side of the room. 

The soft sound of Ed Sheeran’s Kiss Me not registering in your more-than-tired state of mind. With eyes still closed and mind a little fogged you tried to place yourself. Were you home? Had you stayed at John B’s after the party or had you been sober enough to drive yourself home?  

You could feel a weight against your side and realized, with some help as you pulled yourself up in bed, that you were in your room and that JJ was there too. You sat up enough that you were propped on your pillows, reaching for your phone as Ed reached the chorus, hitting the button on the side to silence him for now, moments from the night before coming back to you.  

Pogue parties were legendary on the island and JJ was an infamous character among these parties. Was it even a party if he wasn’t there, spouting off some bullshit tall-tale and involving himself in antics that would be talked about for weeks afterward? You were only a supporting character in these nights, or at least, you usually were. It’d been a bad week at home though, when JJ was home, and you had argued with him not to even go to the party.

“Lets just stay at here, we can watch movies or something.” You had urged when he started riffling through the pile of his clothes that had been left on the desk chair in your room. He had been sleeping on your couch since Sunday.  

“I don’t wanna watch movies. I need a beer...or twelve.” He replied. He wasn’t ungrateful that your mom had taken him in during what he called a ‘rough patch’ at home but she didn’t allow alcohol in the house and the dependence he’d already developed was making him go a little stir crazy.  

“JJ...I just don’t think it’s a good idea to go out tonight.” You stressed.  

The last thing he needed right now was something to kill what little filter he had. He was agitated at everything and you knew it was only a matter of time before something worse than being dared into surfing naked at midnight happened.  

“Well mom, feel free to stay the fuck home.”  

Of course, you didn’t. You got dressed and went with JJ because the only thing worse than going to a party when he was that out of it was letting him go alone. You could remember going with him but you couldn’t remember being designated driver which meant that you definitely drank which explained the fuzziness you were having piecing all the events together in your head.  

JJ was still sleeping beside you, on his stomach facing the window. You sat up further and picked your phone up, awake enough to check texts and drink some water to get rid of your dry mouth but not awake enough for anything that required leaving the bed.  

The party was down at the boneyard; as if that was the only stretch of beach in the OBX worth drinking on. You tagged along and-

A long, muffled groan interrupted you as you texted with Kiara about a video she’d taken the night prior and drew your attention toward JJ, who was pushed himself up onto his elbows. His head hung for a moment before he picked it up and turned to look at you, hair falling into his eyes.  

“What are you doing?” The whining undertone in his voice betrayed his age for just a moment, making him sound like a kid. He sat the rest of the way up to his knees, pushing the blanket down passed his ankles.

“Texting Kiara.” You replied, holding your phone up for him to see. Technically you were waiting for her to text you back.

JJ frowned, a pout scrunching up his nose and pushing out his bottom lip as he processed the information. There wasn’t much he remembered from the night before aside from actually going to the party. After that was just blackout, which he knew you had been trying to avoid by convincing him to stay home but it hadn’t worked and now he could practically feel his head pounding.  

He reached for the phone, taking it from your hands and tossing it somewhere onto your carpeted floor. “JJ! What the hell?”  

The strangled groan was back as he rubbed as his eyes, “so loud.”

“You threw my phone across the room JJ, how am I supposed to not be loud about that?” You whispered harshly.  

JJ shifted to sit on his butt, scooting closer to you in bed and trying to pull you back into a position where you could lay down with him. “Stop being mean to me, I don’t feel good.” He muttered, “I just wanna cuddle.”

“You don’t feel good because you have a hangover babe.” You teased, leaning back against the pillows but keeping yourself propped up. JJ continued to shift in bed until he made himself comfortable, laying on his back with his head on your chest. You brought one leg up and he twisted his arm so he could run his hand over your knee.  

“I don’t feel good cause my girlfriend is being mean to me.” He replied, the smile that settled on his face as you combed through his hair with your fingers betrayed his words.  

“I’m sorry, you threw my phone though J, it could’ve broken.” You pointed out. It wouldn’t be the first time JJ had cracked your phone. He’d once stepped on it trying to lift you up and carry you to bed. Your phone had slipped out of your pocket and JJ’s heavy booted foot had come down right on the screen, crunching it beyond use. “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing...I just wanna lay with you.” He tilted his head to the side so he could see you though he kept his eyes closed, a move you recognized as him wanting a kiss more than him trying to look at you.  

You kissed his forehead so that you wouldn’t have to change positions and continued to play with his hair, your other hand laying across his chest, holding the hand not rubbing your knee. It was a tangle of limbs and odd angles but it was a comfortable position for the most part, one that allowed you to hold him.  

“JJ-”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” JJ had been avoiding the topic of his dad since Sunday, pushing it all down and trying his hardest to lock it away so that he didn’t have to deal with what he was feeling. He hated that those bad feelings lingered, that they followed him to hangouts at the Chateau or The Wreck, that he couldn’t just leave them behind when the screen door on his porch slammed shut after him. He definitely didn’t want to talk about them with you. And not because he didn’t trust you or love you or think you were capable of understanding and empathizing but because he wanted you to see him happy and in control of himself.  

“Okay,” you squeezed his hand, trying to ease him into sleep again. You knew he was still tired from the night before and no doubt he was dealing with a massive headache. It was silent for a moment and you thought maybe he had fallen back to sleep that quickly when you felt him shift against you and the sound of sniffling. At first you didn’t say anything, unsure if he wanted you to acknowledge the fact that he was crying or just ignore it and pretend to be oblivious. It was hard to know with him.  

When you couldn’t block it out anymore without a knot of guilt twisting in your stomach you spoke, “JJ?”

He didn’t say anything and you almost thought he was holding his breath to get you to ignore him.  

“Babe?” You heard a sniffle and continued to brush his hair, twisting little pieces of it in your fingers. When he continued to cry again you shushed him quietly, “it’s gonna be okay, I’m right here. I love you so much Jay, you’re okay, we’re safe.”

JJ pulled your hand up to his mouth, kissing the back of it and you could feel his tears wetting your skin as he pressed his lips to your wrist. Whatever catalyst had brought about last night’s wild antics it had dissolved into this, a version of your boyfriend you didn’t see often, one who was something beyond vulnerable? Laid open perhaps, scars on display. You repeated your words over and over until they sounded like a mantra meant to put him to sleep.  

When he woke later on he’d stumble out of bed for some Advil and pretend like nothing ever happened and for now you would let him.  

-

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[brelione]

Road Trip (Rafe,Kelce,Topper X Reader)

Takes Place before The Best Boys

Arguing over who gets to play music

Merging all your playlists together and putting it on shuffle.That means going from the Moana soundtrack to Good Girls Bad Guys real quick

The ending location is Kelce’s lake house in Maine

Swapping spots in the car at every stop (Mostly stops demanded by Topper who just wants a slushie from every state)

Rafe driving when you guys first take off,letting you hold his hand

After the third snack stop you sawp to sit in the back with Topper,Kelce going into the passengers seat.You and Topper would watch Finding Nemo together and you werent wearing your seatbelt,leaning against him.

You used your polaroid camera so often,snapping pictures of Kelce whenever you could,even getting some of Rafe driving.

“OOH!MCDONALDS!PLEASE!”Kelce shouted over the music,Rafe glancing at you through the mirror,asking you silently. “Dont look at me!Get the poor boy some McDonalds!”You exclaimed,Kelce fistbumping you as Rafe pulled up to the McDonalds,not quite at the microphone. “Okay,we’re about to go throught the drive thru.Does everyone know what they want?”He asked,sick of Topper never knowing what he was doing.The three of you nodded,the boys ordering cheeseburgers,large fries,McFlurries and a yogurt parfait to “stay fit”.Rafe looked over to you,asking what you wanted. “Just a caramel iced coffee and a happy meal please.”You smiled,still having food from the gas stations.

Kelce was only allowed to drive during daytime because he has terrible eyesight

“Fuck-they forgot my happy meal toy!”You exclaimed,disappointed.The second Rafe saw another McDonalds he pulled up to the drive thu,asking for a cheeseburger happy meal,checking it for a toy after the worker handed it to him,letting out a relieved sigh. “Thats a good one,too.It looks like a Marvel person.”He handed it back to you.

At four in the morning the four of you were looking for a hotel to stay the night in,Topper driving this time around.Rafe noticed you go pretty much limp in his arms,your phone slowly falling from your hands and onto your stomach.He grinned,whispering to Topper and Kelce to turn down the music.

When they finally did find a hotel you guys were somewhere in Pennsylvania,getting a room with two beds and a pull out couch.

You were pretty tired,falling asleep on one of the beds immediately while the boys went to the vending machines,Kelce looking for something other than an energy drink for you to take your vitamins with.He had come back with an apple juice,grabbing your pills from the backpack you chose to bring inside,waking you up. “Hey,princess.You gotta take your vitamins then you can go to sleep.”He grinned,placing your pills into your palm,opening the bottle of apple juice.

Rafe was too tall for the beds,ending up on the pull out couch while old Mickey Mouse cartoons played on the tv.

You were clinging to Kelce when you woke up.He was scrolling through his phone,his arm at a strange angle so he wouldnt accidentally hit you. “Morning.”He grinned,setting his phone down,moving his other arm so you could sit up. You rubbed your eyes,yawning.The shower was running and Kelce had told you that Topper went to go get coffee.At some point you had fallen back asleep,face pressed into the cold pillow when an iced coffee was placed on the table next to you.You heard the shower turn off,Rafe emerging with a towel around his waist,hunting for his backpack.You blinked a few times,thinking that he was naked for a second. “Can we stay here for the day?Im tired of being in the truck.”You grumbled,reaching for the coffee and stirring the sugar and caramel syrup that was stuck at the bottom.Topper nodded in agreement,glad to finally stretch out his legs. “Yeah,yeah okay.”Rafe nodded,sitting on the pull out,watching the tv,glancing to you and Kelce every once in a while.He heard his phone ring,heart dropping when he saw that it was Ward. “I’ll be right back.”He told you guys,accepting the call.He paced up and down the hall as Ward demanded to know where he was. “I told you for the past three weeks I was going on a trip with (Y/N) and the boys.”He answered,biting his lip. “I dont remember that.”Ward grumbled. “Its cause you dont listen to me.”Rafe answered,hanging up and turning off his ringer,huffing as he leaned his head against the wall.You came out shortly after,sweatpants and Kelce’s baggy shirt on your body. “Hey,you okay?”You asked.He nodded,sniffling.You didnt say anything else,hugging him.His arms were tight around you,kissing your forehead,eyes closing as he calmed down. “He’s so bitchy.”Rafe whispered,voice shaky.You nodded,pressing a kiss to his collarbone. “I know,I know he is.But this is a fun little trip we’re having,right?”You asked,looking up at him.He nodded,his smile slowly coming back. “Right,so lets enjoy it.Lets go eat shit and watch stupid movies,i’ll even let you pick the movie.Even though its my turn-dont forget its my turn next time.”You grinned,tapping the tip of his nose.He chuckled,letting you drag him into the hotel room,sitting next to him on the bed.Topper had taken your polaroid camera from your bag,waiting for a good time to take a photo.Your arms were around Rafe,his head under your chin as he scrolled through the movies. “Isnt it (Y/N)’s turn to pick the movie?”Topper asked.You shrugged,not wanting to go into details.Rafe eventually picked a movie called ‘Shark Night’,a grin on his face knowing it would probably disturb you.You were on your phone most of the movie,a smile on your face as Rafe moved his face up so he could take a photo with you on snapchat,blue butterflies on his cheeks.You were oblivious to the fact of Topper taking a polaroid photo.It didnt matter how much it hurt him to see you and Rafe cuddling like a cute couple,you looked happy.He wanted to capture your genuine happiness in a photo,keeping the polaroid for himself.

Rafe had managed to stay clean for a bit of the trip,eventually doing a line in the hotel bathroom,pinching his nostrils so he wouldnt get a nose bleed.

Topper had went to go get you some fruit at a nearby grocery store,figuring that you’d be more comfortable eating something healthy.

He was right,watfching your happiness increase,loosening up as you ate a bowl of cherries and grapes.The second night at the hotel you slept next to-on top-of Topper,your arms around his shoulders and legs around his waist.

The morning of the third day you guys got back in the truck,enjoying The Descendants soundtrack,stopping at a beach to watch the sunset and have a small fire.

New york was a crazy experience,the place too crowded for you to really enjoy yourself.The four of you stayed at an apartment that Topper’s mother owned because of course she had to own a random apartment in the middle of New York.You showered at the apartment,the place so cold that you had to take Topper’s long sleeve shirt from him,shivering against him.

Thats when you chose to watch Z Nation,accidentally catching feelings for 10k.You had also gotten some of the best polaroids of Topper and Kelce,including two of Kelce eating a cookie the size of his head.In the first he was biting into it,the second he was glaring at the camera,realizing you had caught him.You also got a polaroid of Topper doing meditation,headphones on and sitting on the floor.The polaroids from that trip stayed in your mini backpack and away from the others just incase the boys ever wanted to look through your polaroid stacks.

The boys also got plenty of photos of you on their snapchat and around one hundred in their camerarolls if they were all put together.

Once you guys finally got to the lake house it was nothing but laughs,camp fires,kayaking and dancing around

You and Topper decided to bake a ton of sugar cookies and frost flowers and waves on them,most of it just looking like melted blobs of color but it was still fun to do.

Sitting on the large couch and binge watching disney princess films as you all ate the sugar cookies

“We love a bisexual bitch.”Kelce grinned at the television.You guys were currently watching Mulan,one of Kelce’s favorites. “He really puts the bi in bitch.”You agreed.

Campfires were fun,roasting marshmallows.Rafe being the dumb bitch he is burnt all of his,eating one that had ashes on it,gagging.

You and Rafe went kayaking in the lake but you were paranoid as hell from the movie you guys had watched,wanting to turn around when you guys got to the deeper part of the lake.He had laughed at you,agreeing.You guys decided to just sit on the sand,his hand on your thigh as you sighed,looking out at the clouds.

You guys stayed at the lake house for around ten days,not wanting to leave the cozy place. “We should move here.Like,can you imagine all of us living together?That would all be fucking chaos.”You laughed,eyes closed as you laid on your back with a pillow under your head.Topper blushed,glancing outside one of the windows. “I feel like it’d be fun.”Kelce shrugged,flipping through the channels. 

You and the boys had driven into town to the tourist shops,laughing about how you probably looked the same as the tourons in obx.You got a sweatshirt with the location on it along with a t shirt and a mug,a grin on your face when you saw Kelce looking at t shirts,figuring it would most likely end up on you more than it was on him.

The mornings were really fun,the air was cold and you could see your breath,the four of you drinking hot coffee outside and enjoying the sight of the water and the beautiful green trees.

Kelce had taken photos of plenty of leaves,claiming that they were ‘the chosen ones’

You guys found a farm stand,going and trying a ton of new things including a bottle of home made strawberry milk and dunking the leftover sugar cookies in it.

You guys even went to see a huge waterfall,Rafe doing a secret photo shoot of both the trees,the waterfall and you.

You found a really cool rock that was both shiny and green,giving it to Topper for his rock collection that only you knew about.

The drive back to North Carolina was kind of sad,missing the vibes of the house in the woods.You all decided to go back to your house and have a sleepover,not wanting to drive anymore than necessary.

“Can we get taco bell?”Kelce asked,half asleep against the window. “Bruh,I cant even think about food right now ill throw the fuck up.”You mumbled,reaching for his hand.It felt cold which was nice because you felt really warm for some reason,dragging him across the leather seat,enjoying how cold he was. “What are you doing?”He asked,not fighting it. “You feel cold.”You mumbled,clinging onto him.Rafe frowned,asking if you wanted him to turn the AC on higher.You nodded,enjoying the blasts of cool air.Luckily Kelce got his taco bell,eating only half of it before falling asleep.You felt the car pull into a gas station,Topper and Rafe swapping spots so Topper would be the one driving and pumping gas into the truck. “We’re almost there guys.”Topper told you and Kelce,the radio playing Billie Eilish quietly.When the truck stopped again you guys were at a motel,not far from the docks where you’d have to catch a ferry in the morning.Topper just carried you in,letting you sleep against him on the bed,only waking up to the alarm that had been set.

The ferry ride was a blur.Kelce’s silver car had been parked in his cousins garage,the four of you getting inside and driving right to your house,all of you going back to sleep in your living room.Poor Rafe didnt even make it onto the couch,falling asleep on your floor.You were all asleep until mid afternoon,Rafe having a slight sunburn on his nose,cheeks and forehead but not so bad that he needed aloe.Kelce was walking like a zombie,making coffees and hot pockets,serving them to you guys. “Shitting hell-you didnt take you vitamins last night.”He cursed,handing you the small fist full and grabbing you a water bottle. 

“dammit-we have to redo the whole trip!I forgot to get a slushie in every state.”Topper huffed. “Fuck dammit,bottom!” “Well who’s fault is that?Who’s is it?Not mine” “Maybe you shouldve driven the whole time!” Topper pouted,all of you attacking him at once.

“I made a cool edit though,you wanna see?”Kelce asked you guys,excited as he went into his cameraroll,not waiting for an answer.There were clips of you guys in the car,screaming the lyrics to the Ever After High theme song,the next clip of you and Rafe cuddling on the pull out mattress,weird filters on your faces.The next was Topper trying to get chips out of the vending machine,nearly getting his arm stuck. 

“Shut the hell up!Its almost my favorite part!”You shouted,shushing the boys as your favorite part of Rewrite The Stars came up.

 “Im going to catch this frog-im gonna do it.”You were determined,squatting over the long grass,staring down. “Shit-I lost it!”You laughed.

Topper tried to balance a sugar cookie on his nose,failing and losing it to the couch. “NO!THAT ONE HAD A SUNFLOWER ON IT!”He cried,searching desperately for it.The camera then moved to you and Rafe laughing then to Kelce,a smile on his face as he glanced down at the phone screen.

It was all funnier than it shoulve been since the theme song to little einsteins was playing the background,the video ending with a video of you and Rafe battling eachother with pool noodles,Topper shouting about fowl hits and how it was ‘illegal in the land of narnia’

“Wow,freaking photographer ass.”Topper chuckled,making Kelce shrugged. “I mean,I learn from the best.”He smiled at you.

@sweetlittlegingy​    @nicolefarley603 @ilikealotofpeople-younotsomuch @newsies-yeet​ @butgilinsky​ @jjjmaybank​ @gracelovesbroadway​  @one-stella​ @outerbongs​  @copper-boom​  @httpstarkey​ @teenwaywardasgardian @drewswannabegirl​  @simonsbluee   @jiaraendgame  @khiaraaa-in-spacee​  @on-socks-off​ @spn-marvel-nerd​ @lovelyelinor​ @chinamolina602  @sexytholland​ @28cnn​  @popcrone818​ @fttayla​ @cherryobx​ @n1ghtsh4d3-67​ @drewstarkeyobx​ @poguestyleskye​ @judayyyw​ @jjtheangel​ @jj-iz-bae​@sunwardsss @meaganjm​  @sarcasticsagittarius1998​ @natalie-kate-98​ @nxsmss​ @broken-jj​​ @joshy-obx​

[amanda-glassen]

Reality Bites

It's the last day of school in 1992 and Alex is finally going to tell Olivia how she feels...if only she can get five minutes alone with her.

Previous chapters can be found here.

Chapter 7: Slushies and A Hickey the Size of Texas

She may have only known her for about seven hours, but Olivia had already gotten her into the backseat of her car...just not in the way that she had expected. The car had won her a superlative and she was probably the only girl to win the category of Coolest Car in their school’s history, but popularity contests didn’t matter to Olivia and it was evident by the way Olivia tried to shrug it all off while they flipped through the yearbook in the parking lot of a convenience store by their school. 

“You look so cute in this picture!” Alex told her and she did look cute posing for the superlative picture with her red 1991 Mustang GT. Olivia’s car was her pride and joy and, although Alex always skipped the superlative pages in the yearbook, she didn’t want to stop looking at Olivia’s picture. 

Olivia covered the picture with her hand. “Stop! I do not look cute! Superlatives are nothing more than a lame popularity contest, anyway. They don’t mean anything.”

“Says the girl who won one of these lame popularity contests.”

When Alex became distracted with stirring her blue bubblegum flavored slushie－trying to make sure it had the correct ice to syrup ratio－Olivia  grabbed the yearbook and put it in the front seat. Alex began to wonder why Olivia didn’t want to look through the yearbook with her until she remembered the superlative on the next page was “Most Desirable Girl” and along with that title came a picture of Jenna Crossley. Jenna－Liv’s fling throughout the entire school year－and the girl she hoped she wouldn’t spend the rest of the summer comparing herself to. Did she hook up with Jenna in this very backseat?

Olivia scooted over as close as she could so she could rest her head on Alex’s shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking and, no, I didn’t hook up with Jenna or any other girl in this backseat. You’re it for me and, if we ever break up, I’m swearing off women forever. I’ll never love again.”

“You need to stop that,” Alex laughed.

“What?” Olivia asked. She had slurped too much of her cherry slushie, bringing on the inevitable brain freeze. “Son of a...ow…ouch...why do I do this to myself every time? I never learn.” She held her hand to her forehead and squirmed in her seat－anything to keep her mind off of her brain freeze. “Okay, I’m better now.”

Alex noticed Olivia had moved further away when she was squirming, so she wrapped her arm around her waist and pulled her in again. “Every time I try to be introspective, you pull me out of it. You need to stop that and let me wallow in self pity about not having the nerve to ask you out on the first day of school.”

Olivia took another sip of her slushie and, it dawned on Alex that Olivia really never really did learn her lesson, but she thought the brain freeze was cute nonetheless. “Like I said earlier today, it’s my compulsive adorable syndrome,” Olivia responded, trying to downplay the effect of her second brain freeze. “And you can’t place the blame on yourself. I could have asked you out, too. I could have asked you out every single weekend. Plus, there was prom and homecoming and winter formal and Sadies, but we can’t waste our time thinking about that. We just have to make the most of the next three months.”

That morning, Alex’s friends had asked her what she liked about Olivia. She told them, physically, she liked everything about Olivia and she did, but with every passing moment, the list of things she liked about Olivia grew longer. Beyond just her smile and her figure－the two things that first attracted her to Olivia－Alex liked how Olivia’s hands fit so perfectly with hers, how Olivia’s lips felt against hers, how Olivia, in such a short period of time, had seamlessly integrated her into her world and, it made Alex smile to think about it, but she even liked how Olivia used three Ninja Turtles band-aids on her knee to cover some scrapes that she got from a failed skateboarding trick. Most importantly, there was now the list of non-superficial things she liked about Olivia. No one had ever made her laugh the way Olivia did. No one had ever comforted her the same way Olivia did and no one had ever made her feel as alive as Olivia did.

During the drive to the convenience store, they both discovered that the other had a love for the classics and, although they were still in the parking lot, they left the radio on so they could listen to some of the feel good songs that reminded them of childhood or, in Alex’s case, the childhood that she had fantasized about having. When a Beach Boys song came on, Alex noticed Olivia smile uncontrollably.

“I heard this song with Tim the other day and it gave him the not-so-brilliant idea that he and I should go surfing this summer,” Olivia shook her head. “Because he said, and I quote, surfing is just like skateboarding but on water.”

“Are you going to try it?”

“No way! It’s nothing like being on a skateboard. I can’t get swept away by some strong current or bitten by a shark while skateboarding. There’s no way in hell I’ll try it and nothing can change my mind.”

Alex gave her a chaste kiss and it made her heart happy to see how that single kiss made Olivia shy all of a sudden. “That’s too bad because I think you’d look so hot on a surfboard. I can already picture you in a wetsuit top and some bikini bottoms. I wouldn’t be able to keep my hands off of you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I’ll try it!” Olivia said almost too enthusiastically. “And, yes, I’m well aware of how easy you can make me change my mind about anything in your own...special...way and I’m okay with that.”

Seeing that Olivia was finished with her slushie, she took the cup from her and put it in the cupholder in the front seat along with her own. While bent over the center console, she rummaged through her backpack until Olivia playfully pulled her back over and she accidentally or maybe not so accidentally landed on top of her. “Liv!”

“What?” Olivia laughed. “As much as I was enjoying the view of you in that position, I missed you.” 

“What did you miss?” Alex asked playfully.

“Kissing you,” Olivia responded before gently biting Alex’s lower lip. “Touching you.” 

Alex didn’t know what had come over her and the girl she was that morning wouldn’t have believed it, but she straddled Olivia right then and there in the backseat of her car. “Is this okay?” she asked, her shyness suddenly returning to her.

“Alex,” Olivia said softly, her hands now caressing Alex’s back, underneath her Harvard t-shirt. “Anything you ever want to do in this position is okay with me.”

“Liv!” Alex blushed.

“I’m serious!” Olivia said in between kisses. “With a single kiss, you convinced me to go surfing. I don’t even want to know other ways you can convince me to do things. Wait, nevermind. I actually do want to know all the ways you can convince me to do things.”

“Olivia!” Alex laughed. She wanted to maintain her composure, but instead she leaned in so she could bury her face in the crook of Olivia’s neck. She started to delicately kiss her neck, smiling when she noticed one of her kisses had tickled Olivia, but it wasn’t long until the playful gesture wasn’t enough for Alex. She gently nibbled on her neck, tasting just a hint of saltiness on her skin. Alex didn’t want to admit it, but even the taste of Olivia’s sweat turned her on. Was it Olivia’s sex pheromones or some other term from 10th grade honors biology causing this? Why am I thinking of my 10th grade bio class right now? But when Alex heard Olivia moan, she no longer cared about that class or anything other than making Olivia elicit that sound again.

“Kiss me,” Olivia said, the tone of her voice making her words sound somewhere between a question and a command. 

Alex felt Olivia’s hands gripping her thighs, pulling her in even closer. Olivia’s hands on her body made her feel even more turned on than she had ever felt before, almost to the point where it hurt and feeling Olivia’s tongue in her mouth did nothing to ease her tension. It wasn’t her first time making out with Olivia that day, but Alex knew this was different－unbridled even－and the way she felt Olivia’s tongue moving in her mouth made her wish she could feel it on one part of her body in particular.

...and that’s when she heard the perfect song start playing on the radio. It was the perfect song while she made out with her perfect girl. The song was nearly thirty years old and, whenever she listened to it in her bedroom on one of her mom’s old 45s, she thought about Olivia and what it would be like to kiss her and slow dance with her. Slow dancing with her would have to wait until tomorrow night, but until then she was still able to kiss her as much as she wanted. She hoped Olivia wouldn’t notice, but her mind started to wander. With every kiss, she realized it wouldn’t be long before she fell in love with Olivia－if she wasn’t falling in love with her already. 

Alex had found the 45 in a trinket box in the attic just a few months ago. There were five trinket boxes that Alex had rummaged through one autumn night. Each box was identical except for the boy’s name that it was labelled with and inside were old photographs, love letters, and records with love notes written on the sleeve. These boys were all a part of her mother’s youth－the carefree time in her life before she had a husband and children. Mrs. Cabot never kept her children’s old art projects and Mother’s Day cards, but she kept all of her old photographs and love letters there in the attic as a testament to who she once was and Alex wished she could have known this version of her mother. 

With Olivia leaving in three months, she began to wonder if their relationship would eventually become nothing more than little trinkets in a box that she’d occasionally revisit. She figured the two of them would continue a long-distance relationship for the first semester until winter break when Olivia would tell her that she had met someone－maybe she lived down the hall or they met at a party－Alex wasn’t sure, but she knew it’d be Olivia that would find someone because being clear across the country from her family and friends would leave her wanting to feel something or even someone again. They’d share a night of angry breakup sex, or so Alex assumed based on what she had seen in movies, before never seeing each other until their later in their adult lives, at their 20-year high school reunion or some other cliche meetup. They’d both be someone’s wife and maybe even someone’s mother. The two of them would share a few minutes of awkward conversation and, in that brief period of time, she’d wonder what might have been before realizing Olivia was no longer that playful, grungy girl with piercings and a Ninja Turtle band-aid, but it wouldn’t matter because that eighteen-year-old girl would live on in that trinket box filled with some mixtapes and whatever else Alex was able to collect during the summer and maybe autumn of 1992. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by Olivia pulling away from her kiss. Those dark brown eyes were looking into hers with so much concern and so much sincerity that they were all Alex could focus on until Olivia started to kiss her newly-formed tears. “Let’s stop, okay?”

“Why?” Alex asked, although she felt it was obvious why Olivia wanted to stop.

Olivia held her as close as she could while Alex rested her head on her shoulder. “Because the place you were in right now－where making out is just going through the motions while you’re thinking of something or someone else－I’ve been there before and I know how much it hurts.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to kiss you. I’m just thinking about the future and－”

“And me leaving in September?” Olivia asked as she continued to hold Alex. “Like I said on the football field, I’m leaving this state, but I’m not leaving you. But, really, you don’t know me that well yet, Alex. Maybe in September, you’ll be glad I’m leaving.”

“That’s impossible.”

“You say that now, but wait until we have an entire three months at each other’s side,” Olivia teased. “Let’s see...my IQ goes down a few points every time I hang out with my brother and Travis. My favorite show is Beavis and Butt-head. You just witnessed that I never learn my lesson with brain freezes. My parents think I spend most of my life looking like I just woke up. That’ll go over well with your parents at the country club. Can you imagine? They’re expecting their daughter’s girlfriend to be some cute, preppy girl and instead they’ll get me in ripped jeans and a men’s flannel shirt. No, I’ll clean up nice for them and I’ll make sure to clean up nice for you tomorrow night. I’m sure there’s a presentable young woman somewhere underneath all of this.”

“Olivia!” Alex laughed. Although she wasn’t out to her parents yet and she didn’t know when or if her parents would actually meet her, Olivia had managed yet again to make her laugh when she was feeling low.

“There’s my girl. You have the cutest laugh and I’m willing to do anything to make you laugh, even if it’s at my own expense.”

Alex was about to kiss Olivia again when they heard the sound of someone hitting Olivia’s driver’s side window with the palms of their hands. “Get it, sis!”

“Tim!” Olivia glared at him. Olivia may have been frustrated, but Alex found the whole situation amusing and she knew that as long as she was with Olivia, she’d be subjected to teasing from Olivia’s stepbrother and their friends.

“Get out of the car. I gotta show you something.”

Olivia gave Alex one last kiss. “Let me go settle him. I’ll be right back.”

“Brainiac Barbie, too,” Tim told her. “I have a present for her. Wait, the grape slushie is here now? Old Man Henderson said not until July.”

“...no?” Olivia gave him a confused look.

When they got out of the car, Alex noticed Travis was now standing out there with Tim. There were two guys in the backseat of Tim’s car and it didn’t take long for Alex to realize it was her brother and her brother’s best friend, Carisi. 

“Minor niners, out of the car!” Tim ordered.

Carisi was completely unscathed, but Alex tried to control her laughter when she saw her brother. Tim had put maroon lipstick on him, some glittery eyeshadow, and an obnoxious amount of bright pink blush on his cheeks. “Forget something?” her brother Josh asked. “You and Olivia promised that you’d be there early to pick me up.”

Their fifteen minute window of opportunity to get slushies before picking up Josh had turned into the two of them hanging out in the backseat of Olivia’s car for nearly an hour. “Josh, I’m sorry.” Alex tried to sound sincere, but her laughter made Josh think otherwise.

“Sure, you are,” Josh folded his arms and glared at his sister. “I got dirt on you, Alex, so you－wait, why is your tongue purple?” His tone of voice was no longer angry. “Is the grape slushie here now? Old Man Henderson said not until July.”

Before she could respond, she noticed Casey pulled up into the parking lot with Connie in the front seat and Amanda Rollins in the back. “Amanda’s gonna see me like this?” Josh smacked Tim on the arm and Tim shoved him in return. 

“Like you had a chance,” Tim snickered. “Amanda doesn’t like either of you clowns.” 

With Connie, Casey, and Amanda now with them, Alex felt bad for how embarrassed her brother was until she remembered that he was probably going to spend the rest of the summer blackmailing her. 

“Change of plans,” Casey told Alex. “We’re not going to the park.”

“We’re going swimming at Abbie’s instead,” Connie added. Swimming at Abbie’s house? That means Olivia in a bikini.

“But Georgia Peach, here, still has to do our snack run,” Casey pointed out.

“A snack run?” Josh asked in disbelief. “Is that what girl hazing is?” But the girls ignored him while they looked at Alex and Olivia.

“The grape slushie is here?” Casey asked in disbelief. “Last week, Old Man Henderson said it wouldn’t be here until July.”

“What’s everyone’s obsession with the grape slushie?” Olivia asked. 

“Look where you’re at,” Connie reminded Olivia. “You’re not in Manhattan anymore. The only thing to look forward to in this town is a new slushie flavor.”

“Wait a minute, you weren’t even excited about the grape slushie,” Josh reminded his sister. “You’re predictable when it comes to slushies. You always get blue bubblegum.”

“Liv always gets cherry,” Tim added. “I tease her every time about her wanting a cherry in her mouth and then she slugs me in the arm. It’s a thing we have.”

“There’s no grape slushie!” Olivia said in a frustrated tone of voice. “Why do you all think Alex and I had grape slushies? I had cherry. Alex had blue bubblegum. Can we shift our focus to something else now?”

Casey started laughing uncontrollably before hugging Alex. “I’m so happy for you. You, too, Olivia.”

“What’s going on?” Carisi asked. “Old Man Henderson wasn’t lying? There’s really no grape slushie?”

“You guys are so dense,” Amanda told him. “Think back to kindergarten. Combining red and blue gives you…”

“Purple!” Josh responded. “If Alex had a blue slushie and Olivia had a red slushie and both of them have purple tongues...then that means...eww, that’s disgusting! I got hazed, Alex, because you were too busy sucking face with Olivia to pick me up?”

Alex didn’t know whether she wanted to keep laughing at her brother’s misfortune or hide because of how he had just announced to everyone what she and Olivia had been doing, but just as she had been doing all day, her girl made it better for her.

“Leave her alone,” Olivia told him and she put her arm around Alex to hold her close to her side. “...or I’ll make you leave her alone. What Tim did is nothing compared to what I can do to you.”

Tim roughly patted Josh’s shoulder. “She’s not lying, man. She is not lying. By the way, Liv, you got a hickey the size of Texas on your neck. Tomorrow’s your graduation day and you know Mom and Dad are gonna lose it.”

Alex expected Olivia to be as embarrassed as she was, but Olivia was in control of the situation. “I’ll just put some neutralizer and foundation over it,” Olivia smirked. “No big. Being with Alex is worth any trouble I’ll get in.”

“Don’t soil our valedictorian’s good name,” Travis said jokingly. 

“She’s soiling it herself,” Casey responded. “Finally!”

They were teased mercilessly for the next few minutes, but none of it phased Olivia. In fact, she took it in stride. She held Alex and kissed her cheek and told her how beautiful she was regardless of how much teasing they got for it. Before long, Alex stopped caring about the teasing and just revelled in the feeling of being in Olivia’s arms. Pretty soon, her world would change and she knew she’d miss this when she moved to Boston－hanging out with her friends and her girl in the parking lot of a convenience store in a town where a new slushie flavor and a new couple were a big deal.

“So, there’s really no grape slushie yet?” Josh asked. “You’re saying if I go in there and ask Old Man Henderson－”

“For the last time, Josh,” Olivia began. “There is no grape slushie and if you ask about it again...”

[wastelandcth]

heyyy so could you write a piece about the reader’s birthday since you wrote one about cal’s maybe with her relationship with cal, she’s kept her friend group pretty small, just the girls and guys and some others surrounding cal’s friend group. but she’s so sweet to all his friends and everyone in general and she or anyone doesn’t deserve any hate so he wants to make her day super special because she’s treated him so well unlike his past relationships ugh i just live for fluff

oof this got a little personal in the beginning but any time i get to write soft cal i just want to hug him 🥰

Special Day

Her birthday had always been something she tried not to get too worked up about. In the past, her family had ever really done much to celebrate, sure she'd be thrown a party every once in a while, but most of the time it was waking up a year older with a small cake and a dinner. One year, when she had turn sixteen, an age she thought was worth celebrating, the thought of her birth slipped past her family's mind. She stopped caring about her birthday after that. Every year when the day rolled around, she would simply try to ignore the feeling in her stomach as she went about her day like she would any other day.

The day had Calum met her, he had no idea it had been her birthday. He didn't know it was her birthday until a few months later when he asked her about it as they were both sat on the couch watching a movie. She had explained that it wasn't a big deal, that it was just another day and another year passing by. That's when Calum knew that her next birthday would have to be celebrated like it never had before.

Calum had started planning the party a month before her birthday, making sure to keep everything a surprise for her. He'd spent countless hours on Pinterest trying to find a cake that he thought she'd like. He also dragged Ashton and Luke to multiple party stores to find decorations for the backyard and kitchen all while her and Michael went out with friends as a distraction. He'd sent out the invites three weeks before the party, making sure to tell everyone in the email not to mention the party to her at all, that it was meant to be a surprise. He'd even recruited her best friend to help him, texting her almost every day leading up to the party to make sure the night would be something she'd like and not a horrible idea.

The night before her birthday, Calum had used the studio as an excuse to go pick up the cake he had ordered for her. It was a small round cake, covered with edible flowers and the fruit she loved so much. By the time he pulled into the driveway, he only had around ten minutes before midnight. Rushing into the house, he tried his best to quietly set up the kitchen counter with the cake and a couple of the presents that he had bought for her special day. Some were wrapped in a metallic blue wrapping paper that reminded Calum of the phone case she'd had when they first met, somewhere wrapped in a brown wrapping paper that was covered in black paw prints he'd all but forced Duke to do when she was at work one day. He also tried his best not to fall off the counter as he hung a happy birthday banner on the ceiling, he didn't think she'd appreciate having to drive him to the emergency room so late.

With two minutes to spare, Calum finished up his decorating and set up his phone in the corner of the kitchen to record her reaction before he rushed over to their bedroom. It was dark when he walked in, the white noise machine that had soothed her to sleep was still playing and Duke was asleep on the edge of the bed, his head raising as Calum turned on his bedside table lamp. He pet the small dog, making sure he kept his eyes on the time. Once the clock hit midnight, Calum gently shook her shoulders, his soft voice trying to wake her up as calmly as possible.

"Sweet girl, need you to wake up for me, yeah? Have something to show you, darling," he whispered, his lips pressing against her shoulder as he felt her stir in bed. He was met with sleepy eyes and furrowed eyebrows. "Come on, I have a surprise." Calum chuckled as she sat up and rubbed her eyes, mumbling something Calum couldn't understand, her voice laced with sleep.

"What time is it?" she asked quietly as she got out of bed, a yawn leaving her lips as she slid on her slippers. His hand was holding onto hers tightly as he led her down the hallway, her eyes squinting as she adjusted to the bright lights in the kitchen. "Cal...what is all of this?" she asked quietly as she saw the kitchen counter littered with presents and flowers. Her eyes landed on the cake, the bright candle flame bringing tears to her eyes as she read the banner above them.

"Happy birthday, sweet girl," Calum mumbled against her ear, his arms wrapping around her waist to pull her close to him. "Wasn't going to let you just act like today wasn't a special day, now was I?" His arms wrapped around her tightly as she let the first tears fall down her cheeks, her face snuggling into the crook of his neck as her heart swelled.

She had always made a big deal about everyone else's birthday. She made sure to clear her schedule for the day and get them a heartfelt present. She had been especially kind on his own birthday, planning a whole day out full of adventures and memories that Calum still reminisced about nine months later. So there was no way Calum was going to let her birthday pass, she was too special for him to simply just get a present and a cake and call it a day. She deserved the world and Calum was going to make sure she got it on her birthday.

After she had blown out the candles and Calum had obnoxiously sung happy birthday to her, they shared the small cake, even giving Duke the chance to lick some of the ice cream off of Cal's fingertips. Calum handed her one of her presents as he saw her tired eyes open and close slowly as her body leaned against his. Her fingers carefully ripped the wrapping paper, making sure to fold it back neatly on the counter before turning her attention back onto the present.

"You've been complaining about the noise machine not really helping you anymore, so I did some research and this one is supposed to be the best one ever made. Maybe we can use it tonight, yeah? You can open the rest of these in the morning." Calum nodded, smiling as he felt her tugging him towards the bedroom again.

When she'd woken up alone in bed the next morning, she thought she had dreamed of the wonderful cake and the banner that was hanging in the kitchen. Her suspicion fading away as she heard her phone buzzing non stop on the bedside table. She smiled to herself as she opened up her phone to notifications from her friends and family wishing her a good day, But she couldn't help but feel her heartbeat quicken as she saw a notification from her Instagram, a video that Calum had posted and tagged her in. Tears once again pricked her eyes as she watched herself on the screen, listening to Calum sing to her and then watching herself blow out the candles to her cake.

She hadn't expected Calum to stroll into the bedroom a few minutes later, telling her that the girls would be here soon to take her out to get pampered. She also hadn't expected Calum to hand her another one of the boxes that had been on the kitchen counter, this one with a label saying it was from Duke. She opened the gift as the old dog sat on her lap, barking as she laughed as the framed picture of her, Duke, and Calum at the beach, all three of them covered in sand and ocean water.

The second that the girls' car was out of sight, Luke's car pulled into the driveway, his backseat filled to the brim with colorful balloons and party decorations. Ashton and Michael arrived soon after him and they all started working on decorating the house for the party in a few hours. After a few arguments about the best place to set up the drinks and food and Calum almost falling into the pool while carrying a table, the backyard was set up for a party to remember. The doorbell ringing sprung everyone into action, Calum rushing over to greet the guest and leading them over to the main space, his nerves racing as he waited for her to come back home.

Calum shushed everyone as soon as he heard the car pulling into the driveway, turning off the music as he rushed back inside to grab the door. He was met by the four freshly pampered women, three of which looked at him with knowing eyes. As Calum led them inside, he couldn't the smile on his face as he heard a gasp. He turned to look at her as they all stepped out into the backyard, his eyes watching her as the entire backyard shouted in celebration.

"Happy birthday, baby." Calum watched as her tears formed in her eyes, for a split moment, he panicked thinking they might not be the happy tears he was hoping for but that was washed away as she jumped into his arms and hugged him tightly. Calum chuckled and kissed her head, squeezing her waist as he let her go. "Go on, I'll get us a drink, yeah? You go have fun, it's your party."

Calum watched as she talked with everyone at the party. He laughed while their friends made corny speeches about her and the joy she'd brought into their life. He watched her in awe as she talked about her life with her friends, he was mesmerized by her and everything she was to him. Calum took a sip of his drink as he watched the girl of his dreams be recognized and appreciated on her special day, something he knew she wasn't used to. But he had made a promise to himself that night when she'd told him about how her birthday had never really been celebrated before. He whispered it to himself as she slept next to him in bed, hoping that she was too far gone in her dreams to hear him whispered how he was going to make every birthday from now on a day to remember for her. It was the least he could do for her, she deserved to be spoiled and pampered like this, she deserved all the attention to be on her, even if it was just for one day a year.

[romanticrising]

Unconditionally (Thinking of You Part 2)// JJ Maybank x Reader

Read Part 1 here

Summary: basically just a continuation of part 1

Requests are open so ask away

Warnings: Smut (wrap it before you tap it; birth control doesn’t prevent STDs), smoking weed, swearing

Several days passed after my early morning rendezvous on the beach with JJ. I wrestled back and forth with my better judgement, trying to convince myself that telling Michael wouldn’t be a good idea. In the end, I realized it didn’t matter how he took it because either way our relationship had to end. It would always be JJ. He was my better half in every single way. Where I was too cautious, he was carefree and impulsive, occasionally to a fault, but that was what I loved about him. Come to think of it, there wasn’t a single thing I didn’t love about JJ.

The morning after I called it off with Michael— technically, it was mutual but I digress— I went by JJ’s place. He gave me a cold shoulder for a bit while I followed him around, trying to apologize, before finally agreeing to let me take him out into the marsh on the HMS Pogue. I dropped the anchor in our old favorite spot and lit up a blunt while he pretended to ignore me. I sat down beside him and held it out to him as a peace offering. He took it after a moment and sighed, letting the smoke curl out of his lips. 

“JJ, I’m sorry,” I said.

“You said that already,” he said off-handedly. I looked over at him. His head was thrown back, his lips slightly parted, joint hanging loosely from his fingertips.

“I shouldn’t have left. Everything was telling me to stay, but I—”

“Why?”

It was the first time he’d looked directly at me since I’d gotten to his place that morning. “Why what?”

“Why did you leave me? Do you know how shitty that feels? I haven’t thought about anything but you since we broke up and after everything on the beach I thought you’d finally come back. And then you left me. Even I stick around for a bit after I fuck a tourist. That was low.”

I reached for his hand but he pulled it away, scoffing. “I shouldn’t have left.” I repeated. I didn’t know what to say.

“Yeah, I know. You’ve told me all morning how sorry you are.”

“JJ, I don’t know how to convince you how sorry I am. I haven’t slept since then. I—”

He interrupted me again. “Are you still dating that Kook?”

I sputtered, lost for words. “No, we broke up.”

“When?”

“Yesterday.”

“Wow, so I’m your rebound.”

“No, I’ve been trying to tell you: we broke up because I finally grew a pair and realized I love you. We broke up because I’ll only ever love you and it was pointless for me to be with anyone else.”

“Too little, too late.” He stood to leave. I jumped to my feet and grabbed his hand. 

“Please. How do I prove it to you? JJ, it’s only ever been you. Since before I can remember, it’s been you and me, best friends until we were more. I’m sorry I left you on the beach; I should have stayed. Hindsight is 20/20, right? Well I know that now.

“Remember when we snuck out of my house and took the boat out here, and we got super high and you finally told me you liked me? That was the best day of my life. You were all of my firsts: first kiss, first time, first love, first heartbreak. You were the first person to not laugh at me for crying at Finding Nemo, and yes, that’s stupid but I remember it. I remember it because it was you. Do you know how many guys asked me to the dance in middle school? At least three, and I rejected them all because I only wanted you to take me. And then you asked that stupid girl— I forget her name— and I cried so hard I ran out of tears and it took John B showing up with flowers and a chocolate cupcake to convince me to go.”

JJ stared at me for a second. “You remember that?”

“Of course I remember that! JJ, I’ve loved you for the better part of my life. I’m sorry. For everything. For letting my mom shit talk you the way she did that time, and for getting so mad at you when—”

“Shut up,” JJ moved forward, cupping my face in both his hands. He captured my lips with his, moving his mouth against mine with practiced ease. It was like everything that had ever been wrong was fixed. Stars could collide and set the world on fire and we would never know it. We were alone in our world, complete in each other like we’d never been before. I kissed him back like I’d lose him if I didn’t. He held me tightly against him, one hand fisted in my hair, the other resting on my lower back under my shirt. Our weed had fallen to the floor somewhere, forgotten. I couldn’t bare to let him break the kiss, but even still we realized at some point we would need air and pulled away. 

He rested his forehead against mine, breathing heavily. I could taste the marijuana smoke on his breath. His eyes were still closed and it took him a moment to open them.

“You wanna know what I remember?” His voice was raspy and stirred something in my chest I’d only ever felt with him. I slowly ran my hands through his hair, pulling his mouth down so it was mere inches from mine. He made a sound between a growl and a moan and kissed me hungrily. After a moment, when kissing started to lead to more, we broke apart. 

“What do you remember?” I asked.

“I remember when you showed up to that stupid middle school dance with John B, in your favorite blue jeans and your dad’s old shirt with the tear in the side from when we got stuck in the bushes running from the cops. I knew you’d been crying, but John B had helped you put on some lip gloss and fix your hair and you looked so beautiful I felt stupid for not asking you instead.”

I struggled to regain focus as ran his thumb over my bottom lip. My lips parted involuntary at his action and he watched me through half-lidded eyes as I followed the motion of his fingers.

“Why didn’t you ask me?”

“Because I was worried if I did you’d figure out I liked you.” We kissed again, this time slow and passionate. His lips tasted better than any candy I’d ever known. My heart pounded as if it was trying to burst out of my chest and join with his. He pressed his body closer to mine so we were flush against each other. All I could feel was him. 

We parted all too soon and he sat down at the front of the boat on the cushions there. I sunk down next to him, curling myself into his side as he wrapped his arm around me.

“I’m still mad at you for leaving me,” he murmured, kissing the back of my hand. I swung my legs around so they laid across his lap and leaned up to kiss him. I couldn’t get enough of him. Something felt different between us now. Our love had always felt timeless but now we felt mature, like we’d weathered a hundred storms. I guess that’s what happens when you’re meant to be with someone. You’re like the rigged games at a fair: as many times as you knock one of those pegs down, they still keep coming back up. 

“I’m very sorry,” I said, puckering my lips teasingly and closing my eyes while he tilted my head up toward him.

He chuckled, pecking my lips. “I’m only going to forgive you because I love you.”

I smiled, staring into his eyes. God, I could drown in those baby blues. “I love you too.”

Clutching at his waist, I pulled him closer to me and kissed him hard, wishing my lips could convey how much I’d missed him and how much I loved him. Words could only do so much. 

When I pulled on the hem of his T-shirt, he got the message and tugged it off over his head. I reconnected our lips as soon as his shirt was off, running my hands down his chest. I moved my legs again, this time to straddle his lap and roll my hips down onto his already hardening erection. He mumbled something against my lips and I paused, pulling away from him.

“You won’t leave me again, will you?” I glimpsed a rare flicker of vulnerability in JJ’s eyes when he asked that question. It made my chest clench and that familiar pit in my stomach threaten to swallow me. I hated knowing that I’d hurt him. 

“Never,” I promised. “It’s you and me, as long as you want me.”

“I hope you’re okay with forever then.” An elated laugh burst from my lips and JJ’s face lit up in a smile. “Now strip.” His tone went from happy to dominating in a matter of seconds and my skin tingled where he touched me. I obeyed, pulling my shirt off to reveal my bikini top, which he quickly untied while I tossed my shirt aside. His hands were rough on the sensitive skin of my breasts and I couldn’t help but let out a wanton moan. I felt my arousal pool in my bathing suit bottoms so I took his hand and brought it down between my legs. He got the message and started rubbing my clit through my shorts. I dug my nails into his skin, clutching his shoulder with one hand while my other hand moved up the back of his head and entangled itself in his hair.

I couldn’t tell where JJ’s body ended and mine began by the time we were both naked. He helped me lay down on a towel we’d spread out earlier, kissing me gently. Missionary wasn’t either of ours favorite positions, but he wanted to look at me right now. We agreed that other positions could wait until next time. After all, we’d have all the time in the world now that we were together again.

He entered me with a groan after teasing my fold with his tip until I cursed at him and told him just to fuck me already. He didn’t waste any time giving me a moment to adjust and set a rough pace that had me wrapping my legs around his waist to pull him deeper. I moaned his name loudly arching my back and grabbing at the towel beneath me to have something to hold onto. He adjusted his angle, lifting my leg up and making me scream out as he hit my G-spot. My body hummed with pleasure as I felt myself nearing my orgasm and my breaths came in ragged gasps interspersed with moans of his name.

“JJ, I’m close,” I moaned, nearly losing myself in the rhythm of his thrusts.

“Hold on, baby,” he grunted, leaning closer to me and entwining my hand with his above my head. My free hand found its way to his hair once again and I pulled on his messy blonde hair, bringing his lips down to mine. I came a moment later, moaning against his lips. He groaned as my walls tightened around him and reached his orgasm a moment later, thrusting erratically as we came down from our highs. I kissed him again as he pulled me up to sit on his lap. He kissed along my neck and shoulders, leaving hickeys on my skin. I shivered as a breeze blew across the boat. Ever the gentleman, JJ cleaned me off and helped me back into my bathing suit. He gave me his shirt and I put that on over my bikini, loving the way it smelled like him. 

I rolled up the towel and got rid of the weed we’d forgotten about earlier while he pulled up the anchor and started the boat. He wrapped his arm around me while we cruised back through the marsh, keeping me close to his side. Every few minutes he would ease up on the throttle and lean over to catch my lips in a kiss.

“Hey, baby?” I asked.

He hummed in response.

“I love you. And I’m sorry. For everything.”

“Just don’t do it again,” he remarked. There was a moment of pause. Then, “I love you too, dumbass. I expect I will for a long time.”

“Unconditionally?”

“Unconditionally.”

[angelliev]

Lover Boy - JJ Maybank x OC - Part Three - Rocking with the Waves

Word Count: 3K

Summary: Aria just can’t get enough of JJ and his affection, making him absolutely irresistible and a familiar face arrives in the Outer Banks, along with suspicion from her father.

Warnings: Smut, some cursing, hopefully no typos and unsafe driving?

A/N: Words can’t even describe the joy and happiness I am experiencing from the amount of people who have read my writing. Thank you so much guys! I sincerely appreciate it. I hope you enjoy! (Not my GIF. Credits to the owner. I don’t own the show or the characters.)

Lover Boy Series Masterlist

Birds sing their little toons outside, the warm morning air kisses my skin and the sun beams down on my face through the windows. These are typical mornings I wake up to. Except in my own bed. By myself. Instead I wake up to the sound of a beating heart and my head laying on a naked chest that continues to rise and fall. I glance up to see JJ still asleep, his handsome face so calm without a worry in the world. I couldn’t help but lay a kiss on his warm cheek causing him to stir. For a while I just lay there drawing shapes on his chest. This causes his eyes to flutter open. He smiles down on me.

“Rise and shine lover boy.” I crawl on top of his naked boy under the sheets. “Oh, something’s rising alright.” He smirks. I lightly smack his shoulder. I have to admit though, his raspy morning voice is quite the turn on. “It’s not even noon Jay.”

“I take it that’s a no, on morning sex? It would be a real good way to start off the day.” His hands start to play with my bed hair. I simply giggle at him.

“How do you feel?” He asked genuinely concerned. “Different. Like a good different. It hurt a little at first, then it began to feel really good.” I never knew just how close you can become with someone. “Want me to me make you feel really good again?” His question laced with lust. “God, yes please.” “Good girl. Now lay back and enjoy the show.” He smirks before laying a kiss on my lips and kissing a trail down my body, taking his time. The anticipation begins to start a pool of wetness to form down below, especially when he starts kissing and nipping at the peach soft skin of my inner thighs, littering them with more love bites. When he finally reaches the region that requires the most attention, he glances up at me, holding eye contact and places my legs over his shoulders. My feet rest on his slender soft back.

“So wet for me. We’re you dreaming of me perhaps? Did I treat you so good last night?” His breath fans my pussy and he plants a kiss there, causing me to squirm. “Tell me babygirl, what do you want me to do? I need words.” His teasing look becoming too much. “Please, I want you to taste me. Make me feel good. Please baby.” I practically beg. He licks a stripe up my folds making me gasp, never taking his eyes off my pleasure filled face. My petite finger comb through his hair gripping hard, while his lengthy ones enter my core curling in. His lips attach to my sensitive clit, making me moan. He hums out of satisfaction as I continue to tug on his luxurious hair. His free hand comes up to grope my left breast. His fingers began to pick up speed as they thrust in and out of me.

“JJ, I’m so close.” I breathe out, my feet start to dig into his back and hips begin to buck. He grabs a hold of my hips stabilizing me. The familiar euphoric sensation washes over me as I reach my orgasm, making my toes curl and my back arch off the bed. My juices coat his fingers. He brings the glistening digits up to his lips, licking them clean along with my dripping hot core. I can taste myself on his intoxicating lips when kisses me so passionately. He’s so addictive like nicotine. I simply can’t get enough of him.

“You taste so good babygirl. Did you know that?” I giggle at the closeness and his hot breath fanning my neck before attacking it with soft kisses as I hold him close to me. We lay there enjoying each other’s presence in the morning sunlight. Unfortunately, our moment is interrupted by the ringing of my phone. On the screen I see Charis’s number.

“Hello?” I answer. “Hey where are you? Your parents called to ask if you were with me. Don’t worry I covered for you, said you crashed at my place, but they want you back home like asap. Just tell me where you are.” Shit. I didn’t even think about that. “Shit, I’m at John B’s chateau.” “What are you doing there?” She asked confused. “I’ll explain everything when you get here. See you soon.” I hang up and sigh. JJ looks up at me.

“I’m sorry, but my parents want me home.” He just smiles at me. “No worries babe.” He grabs my phone and punches in my number. “When will I see you again?” I asked hopeful. “Soon. I’ll take you out somewhere fun. Ever been surfing?” I shake my head yes. “A girl after my own heart, this should be fun, after all I’m the best surfer in the OBX.” I chuckle at his cocky attitude. “I have a question for you Jay.” “Mm?” I was a little hesitant at first to ask this question. “What does this make us?” I nervously bite my lip. “What do you want this to be?” He asked while playing with my hair. “Something more than just sex. I really like you JJ. I want to be close to you all time. I want to be intimate.” I confess hoping I don’t sound clingy. “I like the sound of that. Let’s give this a shot and see where it leads us.” “Do you think we’re going too fast?” “Nah, plus I like going fast.” He places one last kiss on my lips before we both gather our clothes.

Stepping out onto the porch, I see Charis’s car. I turn back to JJ who didn’t even bother to put on a shirt. “I’ll stay in touch that way we can hang out again.” My fingers play with his. “Sounds good.” He uses his black bandana to tie up my hair in a ponytail, making the butterflies in my stomach erupt. I loved the fact that he willingly let me have one of his belongings. I place a kiss on his cheek. Before I could turn away, he grabs my waist planting one last passionate kiss on my lips. My arms wrap around his neck, pulling us closer. Our noses touch even after pulling away. “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you soon.” I peck his lips. “See you soon beautiful.” He finally lets me go; I turn back to steal one more glance before opening the door. He sends me a wink, making me chuckle and blow a kiss.

I can feel Charis’s burning gaze on me as I situate myself. “Oh. My. Fucking. God. What the fuck just went down?” She doesn’t even take the parking brake off before hammering me for details. “I may have spent the night with JJ.” I can feel the heat radiating from my blushing cheeks. “Wait, did you lose your V card?” She asked astonished. It just hit me that I was no longer a virgin and I just lost my virginity to JJ. Not being able to process words I just smile and nod yes. This sets her off. “Holy fucking sweet baby Jesus shit! You had sex with JJ Maybank! Holy shit! About time you got dirty in the sheets!” She hugs me tight. I’ve been the virgin of the group for a while now. Charis lost hers freshman year, while Sarah lost hers last summer. “Oh my god can we go before my parents lose their shit? My dad is already pissed at me.” I plead. “Right sorry, I’m just still trying to process this. When did this start between you guys?” “It started since we first met.” “So, are you guys just hooking up or are you dating?” “We’re kind of taking things slow.” This makes her laugh. “Bitch please, you skipped slow and went straight to speeding.” “What I mean by slow is that we’re still getting to know each other.” “Oh, I think you guys got to know each other a lot.” She laughs and continues to drive. “I need you to promise though that you won’t tell anyone about us. I really like him and my dad would lose his shit if he knew about us.” I plead. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me splinter bean.”

After showering, changing and covering many hickeys, I come downstairs and walk outside to the balcony to find my family and a familiar face. “Damian?” I asked surprised. “Hello Aria. Nice of you to finally join us.” He lifts up a glass. Damian Prescott. He’s my older brother. We get along a lot more than Jennifer and I do thankfully. He’s not around much though. He lives in Las Vegas. He works business with my dad. Standing next to him is a woman about his age.

“Hey, I didn’t know you were coming out here.” I give him a welcoming hug. “Thought I surprise you. I’d like to introduce you to my fiancée, Rebecca.” What?! “Fiancée?! You’re getting married?” This all came as a shock to me. He’s kind of womanizer, so for him to be engaged all of the sudden definitely surprised me. “Yes. We just bought a house here in figure eight and are planning on having our wedding here. Rebecca here is an international model and fashion designer.” “That’s impressive. Congratulations. I’m really happy for you guys, and it’s a pleasure to meet you Rebecca.” I hug her. “Likewise, darling.” I am still trying to process the surprising news.

“Where have you been Aria?” My father asked out of the blue. He stares me down with interrogating eyes. I sometimes wonder if he and Ingrid are long lost twins with their helicoptering tendencies. “I spent the night at Charis’s.” I say as calm and convincing as possible. Last thing I want to do is have him find out about who I was actually with. “Nice bandana. Where did you get it?” Asked my nosey Jennifer. “I found it earlier this week on the beach.” For the rest of evening I had to deal with peering eyes, but I didn’t let that bother me, instead I began daydreaming about seeing JJ again.

Next Day…

Today is a perfect day to go surfing. There’s not a cloud in sight, parents or Jennifer. Only me, my surfboard and soon JJ. Not a single soul stops me from leaving the house and jumping into JJ’s muscular arms kissing him long and hard. “Why hello there. I missed you too babe. You ready to go?” I nod my head excitedly. I couldn’t help but gaze at him while he was driving the van. His eyes were so focused on the road, yet he still kept his warm hand on my bare thigh. The wind blows past his hair as he drives. He seems so carefree.

“See something you like?” I blush embarrassed that he caught me staring. “Sorry. You’re just so beautiful.” I have no shame as I continue to admire his attractive features. “Awe, aren’t you sweet? C’mere.” He pulls me into his lap as he comes to halt due to a stoplight, my legs lay across the middle console. “Is this safe?” I ask, but not really caring. “Probably not.” He closes the gap between us to keep me quiet and I had no urge to protest. The annoyed drivers behind us say otherwise as they honk at us. We both laugh as continues to drive.

I then noticed a fully healed scar on the back of his hand. I trace over it hoping that it would just disappear. It saddened me to see a scar had littered his beautiful skin. “What happened?” I asked curious. “Oh, probably just a cut from something I accidentally did.” He lied brushing it off like it was nothing. His eyes said otherwise, but I didn’t want to push it.

We walk down beach surfboards in hand ready to have some fun. The warm water hitting our feet and soon engulfing our bodies. The two of us let out cheers as we successfully ride out some waves. He wasn’t kidding when he told me that he was a very talented surfer. It was heartwarming to see him in his happy place. Neither of us keep track of the time. We didn’t notice the day passing by as the sun was about to set. It was then when we decided it was time to leave the water and dry off. This time I catch him staring. “See something you like?” I tease about to tie up my hair, but he stops me. “Don’t, I like it down.” He says taking the hair tie away. He places a slow and passionate kiss on my lips making me smile and pull him closer. One thing led to another, now we’re laying down on the beach blanket having a heated make out session.

I was thankful that we were both wearing swimwear as I began tugging at his swim trunks. He pulls away surprised. “You sure?” “Positive. I want you to take me right now.” My encouragement only seems to excite him even more as he removes my bottoms and covers the two of us with an extra blanket. He strokes my slit with his tip teasing me. “You want this babygirl? Want me to fuck you out in the open?” His dirty talking turns me on even more, making me desperate. “God yes please. Make me yours.” That’s all he needed before plunging in so deep. His hand clamps over my mouth to contain my loud moans. “As much as I love to hear you moan my name with that pretty voice, we don’t want to get caught.”

His thrusts were a lot different from last time. These were faster, deeper and harder, which only increased the pleasure. His grunts were a little louder too. A bead of sweat began to form on his forehead and a little bit of his damp hair fell over his face as he continued to thrust into me. JJ and the colorful sky were both so gorgeous, a sight I could get used to. He spreads my legs further apart and grabs my hips creating a deeper angle, now hitting the spot that craves the most attention, making me moan loudly, neither of us giving a damn. “You like that babygirl?” He pants through moans.

“JJ!” I scream and my vision goes white as I tighten around him, milking his hard cock, making him throw his head back. He joins me shortly after, his hot cum spewing inside of me, riding out his high. The two of us stay there for a moment catching our breaths. “JJ, that was amazing.” I say dazed. This earns me a breathy chuckle from him “You can say that again. God damn you’re so tight around me babe.” We both laugh together.

We both enjoyed the peaceful silence in the van on the way back home, the two of us feeling spent. I was disappointed when we pulled up to my house. “I had a lot of fun today JJ. That was one hell of a first date.” He looks back at me. “I’m glad you had fun. I’m looking forward to seeing you again.” “Me too. See you later.” I kiss lips before exiting the van and grabbing my surfboard. I blow him a kiss and he returns it with his infamous wink that makes me weak in the knees. I place my surfboard in the closest, and grab a bowl of strawberries to snack on. Before I could go upstairs, I am stopped by my mom.

“Hey sweetheart, I didn’t hear you come through the door.” She greets me with a smile. “Oh, I just got back.” “I never seen you wear that sweatshirt. Is it new or something?” She’s referring to JJ’s Fast Arch gray sweatshirt that he lent to me when he noticed I was cold earlier.

“Oh this? It’s not mine. My friend let me borrow it because I was cold.” This is officially my new favorite shirt. It smells just like him. Weed, mint and the ocean. I still feel engulfed by him as I wear it. “That’s nice of them. What did you guys do today?” Oh, if only she knew. “We went surfing.” I only told her half the truth. “That sounds like fun. Did you use sunblock? Do you need aloe gel? You’ve been drinking plenty of water, right?” I chuckle at her. The only time she asks me a billion questions is when it’s over my health. “Yes, mom I used sunblock and drank lots of water.” I reassure her. “Okay, well take this with you anyways.” She hands me a bottle of water. I laugh. When is she not carrying water? I swear if she were to be charged for anything, it would be possession of too much damn water. “Thank you, mommy. Goodnight.” I kiss her forehead. “Goodnight love.”

I pass by my sister when she got a whiff of my new scent. “God, did you and your so-called friend get stoned while you were at the beach?” Jennifer criticizes. “No, and eavesdropping is really rude. You should get a new hobby.” She rolls her eyes. “So, who did you go to the beach with?” She asked. “Who I hang out with is none of your business. Goodnight.” I slam the door shut with a huff and let the events of earlier replay in my head. I shower and go to bed in JJ’s shirt, letting the aroma bring me peace.

I mindlessly let my fingers travel down to my wet folds and begin playing with myself. I imagine that its JJ’s fingers thrusting and curling inside of me. I imagine the dirty things he would say to me as I chase after my own orgasm. His name leaves my lips in soft whimpers as I finally finish off the night in pure bliss.

[nightingiall]

things i love about you: you make lovin’ fun

a post-little do you know drabble series // story page

Niall was, in a word, exhausted.

For some reason, despite the many cups of coffee he’d consumed, he still felt himself nodding away at his desk, unable to keep his eyes open. The words on his screen were so blurry that he kept rubbing at his eyelids, as though attempting to scrub the drowsiness away would help.

He felt like he’d been behind at everything lately. He was always writing an article down to the last minute, barely making a deadline before he was assigned a new story. Eventually, he’d had no choice but to take his job home, often working on a story well into midnight, only making it to bed after his girlfriend basically had to drag him there. Even then, he couldn’t sleep, mind constantly buzzing with words and synonyms and phrases he could use to replace something in an article. It was like he was buried under a pile of work all the time.

“Here,” someone was saying to him, and he pulled his hands away from his eyes—apparently, he’d been rubbing at them again—to find his co-worker Duncan sliding a cuppa onto his desk. “You look like you need this. And if you have more coffee I’m afraid your heart’ll give out.” After tossing some sugar packets and a wooden stirrer onto the desk, he smiled, flashing that famous gap-toothed grin that Niall had seen woo many ladies at various evenings spent in multiple Manhattan bars. “And how will I explain that to your girlfriend.”

Niall rolled his eyes, laughing along nonetheless as he ripped open a sugar packet and dumped it into the hot beverage. “Thanks, mate.” Working with Duncan, a fellow Irishman, was something Niall didn’t expect to enjoy as much as he did. Always laughing and joking, he could be counted on to lighten the mood. He was also whip smart and was basically like Niall’s human thesaurus, something Niall never forgot to thank him for. Besides, the rest of his friends loved him, which he took as a good sign for keeping him around.

Duncan settled into his chair at the neighboring cubicle. “Need help with anything?”

A scoff pushed through Niall’s lips as he mindlessly stirred at his cuppa. “A fuckin’ break would be nice.”

This made Duncan laugh. “Tell me about it.” They had been absolutely swamped for the past few weeks, and if the darkness beneath their eyes were any indication, work had clearly taken a toll on them. “Why don’t you take a vacation, mate? You didn’t go anywhere this summer.” Duncan stretched back into his chair, his spine giving a rather satisfying crack. “Take the missus out to a beach somewhere or something. Might do you some good.”

Niall smiled softly at this, reclining back in his chair as well. It was not lost on him that this topic had come up several times over the past few weeks. “Yeah, we were talking about going somewhere but never finalized any plans.” The tea slinked down his throat as he took a sip, filling him with warmth and a newfound focus. Perhaps they should just take off and go somewhere for a week. He needed some sun and some quality time with his Mona. Preferably soon too. He felt himself slowly starting to go crazy, just sitting there at his desk. “Any suggestions?”

Duncan hummed, pressing the tip of his eraser to the corner of his lip. “Anywhere in the Caribbean is always nice. My mam’s from Barbados and it’s always quiet down there around this time.” He took a sip of his own drink before lighting up with another idea. “Oh, Hawaii in the off-season is great too. No big crowds, good prices, fantastic food.”

Pristine beaches, warm saltwater air, and a room that overlooked it all sounded like a phenomenal idea to Niall. Most of all, he wouldn’t have to share his time with anyone else except for Mona. Not with work, not with clients, not with friends or colleagues, even though he very much enjoyed every one of them. For now, though, he just wanted uninterrupted relaxation time with the person he loved most.

He and Duncan talked about Hawaii for the rest of their shift. While sorting through emails and drafting up an article, he quizzed Duncan on the most ideal resorts and sights for a quiet and peaceful but still fun trip. By the time the day was over, he had a rough draft, which he sent over to his editor, and some semblance of a vacation idea he can talk to Mona about when he got home.  

It was all he thought about on his commute. New York may have been teeming with gorgeous fall colors, but somewhere warm sounded so nice. And he’d like to not have to worry about waking up early to take the subway or meeting deadlines at work. He needed a break from it all. They both did.

He was just twisting his key into the lock when he remembered that it was Thursday. Mona’s Mimi day, as she liked to say. Her therapy sessions often left her in unpredictable moods. Lately, she’d been having more rough sessions than good ones, and he often came home to find her curled up either on the couch or in bed—whichever she could drag herself to first—her head buried into a pillow and eyes clenched shut.

He usually tried to pick up some flowers or her favorite sweets from the Indian grocery store on her Mimi days, just to cheer her up, but he’d totally forgotten today. A frustrated huff worked out of him as the realization dawned, and he scrubbed a hand over his eyes at how terrible a boyfriend he’d been lately.

After all, the only reason they hadn’t actually gone on a trip yet was because he was too busy at work. Most days, he’d get home late, and even then he’d work until late into the night, unable to find it in himself to unwind and leave his job where it belonged, at the office. By the time he was ready to crawl into bed, it would be midnight and Mona would be fast asleep. He was honestly just lucky that she’d still indulge him with a cuddle, despite being deep into her dreamland.

To his surprise, and relief, when he swung the front door open, he was met with the soft twinkle of Mona’s laughter, his most favorite sound in the universe. She was perched on the couch, cross-legged with a bowl of pistachios on a pillow on her lap, the shells tossed into a smaller bowl beside her. Something on the telly was making her laugh so hard that she reached up to swipe a stray tear from her lashline with her sleeve. The mere sight of her, dressed in his jumper, her hair freshly washed and draping over her shoulders in soft, slightly damp waves, filled him with such a surge of affection that all he wanted was to curl right into her, on the couch, and not have to move for the rest of the night.

“What’re you laughing so hard about?” he asked as he kicked his shoes off and rounded the corner of the couch, stopping behind her to press his lips to the top of her head. She looked up at him, mid-giggle, and he pressed another kiss to her nose too because he couldn’t help it. He loved her like this, big, fluffy hair and flushed cheeks and a huge, wonderful smile that never failed to have his knees go impossibly weak.

“Worst Cooks.” She gestured to the TV, which Niall noticed was, of course, turned to the Food Network. “How have we never watched this show before? I never thought anyone except for Harlow could burn water but there’s a whole world of terrible cooks out there!” Sure enough, just as he looked up, a woman had somehow managed to flip her burger while simultaneously getting it to catch on fire. Mona cackled gleefully at the sight. He couldn’t help but laugh along with her, completely enamored.

After putting away his bag, hopping in the shower, and changing into clean clothes—he didn’t like staying in his dirty work clothes, especially after his subway commute—he felt much more relaxed and ready to curl into the warmth of his wonderful girl, who was still lounging about on the couch, laughing at the kitchen mishaps on the TV.

Taking the bowls of pistachios and shells from her lap and placing it on the coffee table, he stretched out on the couch beside her, head resting comfortably on the pillow on her lap. Her hair was fully dried now, and as she brushed the strands behind her ear, he caught a whiff of peppermint. It was only the beginning of October but she’d whipped out her favorite holiday shampoo anyway. It was his favorite too.

She smiled so sweetly down at him that he had to close his eyes, otherwise he was sure his heart might burst. “How do you feel about pizza for dinner?” she asked, trailing a finger down the bridge of his nose. She was so soft and so warm, her arms wrapped around him, consuming him with that peppermint scent, and Niall wanted her to just hold him like this forever.

“Whatever you want.” He breathed out a laugh when she let out a soft cheer, reaching for her phone to order. It was the second time this week that she’d asked but he didn’t care. She could ask for the stars and he’d find a way to give it to her.

When she was done, she tossed her phone to the other end of the couch, returning her attention to him. The TV was a quiet soundtrack to their evening but Niall felt like he couldn’t even hear it. He was too lost in the way she smiled at him, the way those big brown eyes glittered. It didn’t matter that he was dead tired and worn out; whenever he was all wrapped up in her, everything always fell into place.

Mona skimmed her knuckles over his cheeks, her fingers cool on his warm skin. “Everything okay?” she asked, voice a hushed whisper. When he opened his eyes, her smile was softer now, more subdued. He hummed in answer, nuzzling into the hand caressing his jawline. She simply sighed at him, fingers now gently trailing against the skin below his eyes. “You work too much. You look so tired.”

Her lips pressed kisses to his closed eyelids, the tip of his nose, the hinge of his jaw. Soft and feather light. It filled him with immeasurable joy. “’M fine,” he murmured, even though he knew she could see right through him. It was as though he could feel her eye roll when she scoffed, and he couldn’t help but huff out a laugh. She pressed her cheek to his forehead when she was done with her little butterfly kisses and he sighed contentedly, so comfortable that he could just fall asleep right there. “How was your Mimi day?”

Her fingers were twirling into the hairs at the nape of his neck now. “Fine. We talked about love languages, which I hadn’t heard of before.” She started to shift away from him but he stopped her with a quick tug on her wrists. It was too comfortable; he didn’t want her to move. “I was trying to figure out what yours might be but I couldn’t. Do you know what it is?”

Niall smiled because he did know. He had always known. It was her, spending time with her, lounging around like this or going out on dates or cooking a meal or curling into one another in bed. Anything with her. Everything with her. They could be doing absolutely nothing, just sitting there listening to each other breathe, and it was just enough for him. Simply being by her side made him happy. Nothing else could compare. “I think if would satisfy you more if you figured it out yourself.”

Mona sighed, pursing her lips against his forehead. “I think you’re right.”

They sat in silence for a few moments. He relished in the warmth of her as she continued to run her fingers through his hair. He could have fallen asleep like that, just lying in her lap, taking her in. Then he remembered. “Hey, Mo?”

“Hmm?”

“Let’s go to Hawaii.”

She sat up then, brows raised at him. “Hawaii?”

He grinned up at her. Just talking about it made him excited. Beaches and beers and tropical sights and Mona. It sounded like a damn great time to him. “We need a vacation. We keep talking about it but never actually go anywhere. What are we waiting for?”

She was grinning too, a laugh bubbling out of her. “Well, when do you want to go?”

He shrugged. “Soon, please.”

And so, the rest of the night was spent with pizza, some wine, and their laptops, sending in their vacation requests to their jobs as well as booking everything they needed, like flights and a hotel.

All Niall could think of was one thing: Hawaii, here we come.

~ “I told you to wear sunscreen.”

Niall huffed at this. He was currently slumped against the pillows of the biggest bed he’d ever seen in his life, watching as Mona got ready for their dinner plans tonight. She was fussing with her hair while simultaneously scolding him about his bad skincare habits. It wasn’t his fault, really. After all, he wasn’t used to applying sunscreen when it wasn’t the summer months, and how was he to know that their afternoon hike would cause a bad sunburn on his nose? “You’re being mean.”

It took a great deal of effort to hold back a laugh at the way she glared at him. “It’s not my fault you don’t listen.”

This time, a chuckle inadvertently escaped him. She wasn’t wrong after all. “Darlin’.” He crawled off the bed, hands finding her hips and smiling at her reflection in the vanity mirror. She was still trying to decide whether to leave her hair down or pin it up. “You look stunning as always and your hair looks fine. Now can we go get dinner? I’m starving.” This earned him one of her signature eye rolls and a flick to his sunburnt nose. “Ow!”

Mona simply grinned at him, turning around to pull him close and press a light peck to the stinging area. “You’re so annoying.”

“I can’t help it,” he breathed into her skin, all thoughts of dinner suddenly evaporating from his mind as he skimmed his hands down her spine. “You’re so cute.”

“Ugh,” she huffed out, but laughed nonetheless, lightly shoving him away. “Let’s go.”

Niall laced their fingers together as they walked over to the restaurant. He didn’t know why they had never done this before, splurged on an actual vacation, because this was quite possibly the best idea ever. Their flight into the Big Island had been long so they hadn’t done anything on the first night, but yesterday they had gotten a couple’s massage before lazing about in the hot tub, and today they rented a car to drive around before taking an impromptu hike to indulge in picturesque views of the island.

Now, with Mona’s hand in his, the night air warm and inviting around them, palm trees and flower bushes lining the walkway, he felt a bit like he’d fallen in love with her all over again. It was like he was twenty-one again, holed up in a winter cabin with his friends, completely entranced by this girl with dark hair and soulful eyes and a killer sense of humor. Except this time, she actually loved him back.

There was a moment today, when they had hiked up the mountain and were greeted with the mesmerizing views of the entire coastline, she had turned around and laughed, big brown eyes glittering in the sunlight, skin shining with the slight sweat she’d worked up on the climb, and he almost did it. He almost dropped to one knee right there, fingers already reaching for the ring in his pocket. Somehow, the words got a bit lost in his throat though, and it never happened. It was a perfect moment; she pulled him in and pressed the most reverent kiss to his lips, murmured that she loved him before smiling that sweet smile at him.

It was a perfect moment, yes, but something told him it wasn’t the right one.

“It’s so warm here,” Mona mused as they settled at their reserved table. They’d chosen a spot outdoors so they could eat with a view of the ocean. The sky was swirling with the colors of dusk, the sun already nestled beneath the horizon. Mona was smiling at him, pinks and oranges painting the sky behind her, waves crashing into the sand in the distance, and all he wanted was the ability to freeze this moment so he could hold onto it forever. “What if we just packed up and moved to an island? Left everything behind and lived the rest of our lives in…” It took her a moment to find the word she wanted, eyes glazed over as she mulled it over. Niall simply admired her, cheek resting in his hand as he leaned against the table. Her eyes absolutely lit up when it came to her. “Paradise,” she proclaimed dreamily.

Niall grinned, imagining them as island dwellers with their own little home in a tropical oasis. “What about all our friends?”

She shrugged, reaching for some chips on the platter between them. He hadn’t even realized when the waiter had placed it there. “We could write them letters.”

At this, he laughed, leaning back into his chair again. “You’d really just leave everyone behind?”

She tutted like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Yeah, why not. I’d have you.” She was popping another chip into her mouth when her eyes were lighting up again. “Ooh, you know what we can do? We can get a puppy.”

“A puppy?”

“Yeah!” At this point, the chips were halfway finished. She seemed to notice this and offered him some, and he opened his mouth so she’d feed it to him. “We’re not having kids any time soon so in the meantime we can at least get a puppy.”

Niall was about to respond when the waiter arrived, asking if they were ready to order. Once they’d decided on what they wanted, the waiter left and Mona excused herself to the bathroom. As he watched her go, his fingers trailed absentmindedly against his pocket, tracing the outline of the ring inside.

He reached in for it, rolling it in his hands for a moment. For months, he’d been carrying it everywhere. At first, he figured he’d plan something nice; a date night, perhaps, and he’d surprise her with the ring. But the longer he thought about it, the more he realized he had no idea where to pop the question. The ideas were endless: at a picnic in Central Park, at the top of Empire State, at the botanical gardens, or maybe even in their damn living room. So he figured that if he just carried the ring with him everywhere, once the perfect moment arose, he’d be ready.

But every time he thought it was the right time, something happened. They were either being interrupted or there were too many tourists around or the words simply got trapped in his throat. It felt a bit like he was trying to tell her he loved her for the first time all over again.

The ring glinted in the candlelight. Mona’s mom, Raina, had given it to him last year when they visited her in San Francisco. She had waited until Mona had left the room before she pressed the box into his hands. “I was going to give this to Nick,” she had said, “but it feels more right giving it to you. It’s the same one their dad gave to me.” Niall had simply looked down at the box in utter shock. Raina closed his fingers around it and smiled. “Think of it as my blessing to you both. And I know Mona will really love having something of her dad’s.”

Niall thought of that moment every day. He sometimes just sat back with this ring, rolling it between his fingers, and wondered how Raina even considered him worthy enough for this. Perhaps it was why he was having a hard time figuring out the perfect moment. It was too important. This ring meant so much.

He was just sliding it back into his pocket when Mona returned. She smiled, asking how he wanted to spend the day tomorrow, but all Niall could think about now was whether Hawaii was the place to finally ask her to be his wife.

As their food arrived, she mentioned something about snorkeling or deep-sea diving. Niall wasn’t sure. He was too engrossed in how she glowed. The sun had splashed a bit more color onto her skin, and she shined as bright as the moon that was now visible in the darkened sky. She threw out another idea of swimming with dolphins and Niall told her they could do whatever she wanted. He’d follow her anywhere, no questions asked.

She settled on the dolphin idea, happily chattering away about making reservations in the morning and that they could even go to the luau on the beach on their last night. They’d have to do some shopping for their loved ones, of course, but they’d find time to do that somewhere in between.

When they were sufficiently stuffed with great food and even greater desserts, they took the long way back to their villa, hands interlaced as they strolled down the beach, the waves splashing up against their ankles. The ocean was surprisingly warm. With the salt and humidity swirling in the air, Mona’s hair had gone even bigger and fluffier than usual. She was laughing at something he’d said, head tossed back, strands of hair fluttering in the slight breeze, and his fingers instinctively found the outline of the ring in his pocket again.

Her eyes twinkled at him and he stopped himself. Not here, something in him said. It was dark and he had a sudden vision of accidentally dropping the ring into the water. The thought wedged a quick twist of anxiety in his chest and he inadvertently squeezed Mona’s hand.

“You okay?” she asked, brows quirked in amusement. She stopped walking to pull him into her, arms wrapped loosely around his waist. The stars seemingly reflected in her eyes as she smiled softly up at him. He briefly wondered if it was ever possible for this to get old, because they were nearing four years together and every time she looked at him like that he still melted inside. “You’re kinda quiet tonight.”

He dropped his shoes to drape his arms over her shoulders, holding her close. Sand in his toes, salt in his hair, and a whole lot of love in his heart. He was on cloud nine. “Just taking it all in, I suppose.”

She huffed out a laugh that gusted over his skin and he pressed his forehead to hers. They stayed like that for a few moments, taking each other in, swaying gently to the sound of the waves lightly lapping up against the shore. When she spoke again, her voice was a delicate murmur against his lips. “Thank you.”

Niall’s arms tightened around her as he pulled her closer, nose nuzzling against hers. “For what?”

He felt her smile against his skin. It sent a surge of warmth rushing down his spine. “You choose me every day. Even when you don’t have to. Even when you probably shouldn’t.” She held him so tightly it was as though she was attempting to keep him from floating away with the waves. “So, thank you.”

To any other person, this would have sounded nonsensical. But he immediately thought back to their conversation on the couch all those days ago, when she talked about Mimi telling her about love languages. He smiled. “You figured it out, didn’t you?”

A breathy giggle fell from her lips. “Yeah.”

He pulled back to press his hands to her face, the curve of her jaw nestling perfectly into his palms. The tiniest bit of moisture had collected over her lashes and he swiped it away with his thumbs. “Of course I choose you.” Sometimes he held her like this and she looked at him like she couldn’t believe it, like this was all just a dream, and he had to gently remind her that he did indeed love her. More than anything in the world. “You’re the other half of me.”

This seemed to work for now. She smiled softly at him, pressing her lips to his in a tender kiss before grabbing their shoes in the sand and tugging him back to their villa. They’d barely gotten there and he could hardly keep his hands off her, trailing fingers against her sunkissed skin, lips finding her sweet spots, the pulse on her neck, the space between her collarbones.

She’d only just gotten the door closed behind them when his lips finally met hers, kissing her slowly, languidly. They had all night and the rest of the week for themselves. “’M gonna take my time with you tonight,” he murmured into her mouth. She hummed, breath hitching when his fingers gripped her thighs beneath her dress, hoisting her onto the bed.

“Yes, please,” she breathed, blindly undoing the buttons of his shirt as he peppered kisses over the soft skin of her shoulders, making quick work of the zipper at the back of her dress and pushing her straps away.

After all, he didn’t need to be told twice.

~

Mona missed a few strands when she’d pulled her hair up into a messy bun. Niall busied himself with brushing them away to make room for his lips, grinning to himself as her skin rippled with goosebumps at the feather light touch of his fingers, shoulders giving a slight shudder. She sighed quietly as he pressed slow, lazy rows of kisses from the nape of her neck to the edge of her shoulders, his arms wrapped loosely around her middle, holding her close.

She was reclining back against him as they relaxed in the lounger on their private lanai, both of them dressed in nothing but the soft sheets from the bed. The lanai overlooked the ocean and was a perfect spot to watch the sunrise, which Mona had dragged him out of bed for, insistent upon watching the sky transition from dark blue to swashes of reds and yellows. He didn’t mind, really. Not when he could snuggle her close like this.

She gasped softly, gripping his wrist as she jutted her chin towards the horizon. “It’s happening,” she breathed, eyes lighting up brighter than any sunrise. Still, he followed her gaze, the sun just barely peeking over the sea in an arc of deep orange. Mona shifted so she could rest her head on his chest, wrapping both her arms around him, and they silently enjoyed the sight of the sun slowly slinking up the sky, bathing them in a warm golden glow.

When it had gotten too bright to look at anymore, Niall shifted his gaze to his wonderful Mona darling only to find a serene expression on her face, lips quirked up into a soft smile. He ran his fingers down her spine just to feel that sharp intake of breath again. “You thinkin’ about moving to a remote island again?” he teased.

A giggle bubbled through her lips. “No.” She looked up, head resting on his shoulder, and he held her close. “I was thinking about that time we went to Vegas. After Deepa’s wedding. And,” she started to laugh, “Harlow schemed her way into getting us that honeymoon suite.”

Niall laughed at this too, remembering. It seemed like yesterday, even though it was a few years ago. “That was a fun weekend. Even if we weren’t really together yet.”

She hummed, fingers tracing abstract shapes into his side. “I already knew how I felt about you though.”

This surprised him. “Really?”

Her smile grew. “Mhmm.”

“Huh.” He quirked a brow, looking off into the horizon for a moment, processing this. He had always thought she didn’t see herself with him romantically back then. “So, when did you actually realize?”

She shrugged, a hand finding his, pressing them together. They both had long, nimble fingers, but her hands were smaller. Niall liked how they slotted together with ease. “The cabin. You kissed me under the mistletoe and then you dragged me up that stupid hill in the cold.” They shared a laugh. Mona’s eyes had glazed over in memory, voice soft and reverent. “You made hot chocolate with whiskey in it. It was a full moon and the stars were out and you said we don’t get that kind of view in the city. And you smiled. And it hit me that I’d been in love with you that whole time and I never even realized it until then.”

Niall laughed in a bit of disbelief, mostly because he remembered the moment well. She was laughing at something he said until a sort of struck expression came over her and she swore under her breath. If he had known then what it all meant then he’d have told her how he felt right there. It didn’t matter much now considering she was currently in his arms, but perhaps they could have been together sooner.

“When did you know?” she asked.

Niall smiled wryly at her. “The cabin.” She tutted and he realized she didn’t know what he meant. “The first time at the cabin.”

She stilled for a moment, seemingly turning his words over in her head. It was as though he could feel the gears working. Then, she sat up abruptly, looking at him in shock. “Shut up. There’s no way.”

He grinned, highly amused by this. He loved her the whole time and she never even knew. “It’s true, darlin’.”

This earned him a scoff and a frown. “Nuh uh. You’re lying.”

“I’m not!” he got out through a laugh.

A deep breath worked through her as she thought this over, deflating slightly. “I never knew,” she mused, clearly still in shock.

“Yeah,” he said, shaking his head, “you were always kind of oblivious.” Then he thought of the fact that he’d been carrying around a damn engagement ring for a whole year and she was none the wiser. “You still are, to be honest.”

She swatted a hand against his chest, a stunned sort of giggle escaping her. “Shut up.” Still, it wasn’t long until she was curling into him again, pressing her cheek to his shoulder with a sigh. “All that time…you never said anything.”

The breeze was beginning to pick up. It swirled around them, their little sanctuary of love, and flicked her stray hairs into her face. He brushed the strands back into the knot on her head, pressing a gentle touch of his lips to her nose. “Darlin’. You would have freaked out if I told you before you were ready.”

She pursed her lips, rolling her eyes at this assessment of her. “I hate that you’re right.” Their laughter trickled into the air, echoing slightly around them. Mona shifted until she was straddling his lap, her arms draped over his shoulders as her lips turned up into that beautiful smile. Niall leaned back to catch the full view of it. “Doesn’t matter,” she murmured, tracing a finger over his eyebrows before delicately smoothing back his hair. “I think we turned out alright.”

He felt a surge in his chest then. This was it, a perfect moment. She was all wrapped up in him, soft and warm, messy hair and no makeup. Her cheeks were flushed slightly, from the sun and the fact that she couldn’t stop laughing. He was so enraptured by his love for her, laying back and taking her in. He could ask her right now.

But, for once, he didn’t have the ring on him. It was still in the pocket of his jeans, folded over the top of his suitcase, and to go get it he’d have to let go of her; he’d have to break the moment.

So he didn’t ask. Not now. Not yet. He wanted to hold onto her for the rest of the morning, wanted to savor that smile and the soft kisses she was currently pressing to every inch of skin she could find.

It didn’t matter. They had all the time in the world. And besides, she’d given him an idea. Another perfect moment. He’d just have to wait for it to come around.

For now, he pulled her face towards his and kissed her with his whole heart. She was here. She was his. The beach beyond was calling their names.

He was happy and nothing else mattered.  

--

thanks for reading! here’s some bonus instagram content: 

[feyjaeyong]

❧ ─ 30 NOTES TO HUANGJUN

it goes like this: usually huangjun wakes up first. jaeyong always wakes up too, too conditioned to be a light sleeper, too intrinsically on edge and protective to sleep through much. he feels huangjun stir a little too much and he blinks open his eyes. jaeyong usually succeeds in wrapping huangjun up and keeping him in bed for at least another five minutes. eventually, huangjun escapes, always with something about making tea or breakfast.

sometimes jaeyong falls back asleep until huangjun returns to wake him up, if he doesn’t just let him sleep. usually, however, he won’t linger too long, and will join his boyfriend in the kitchen before long. more recently, instead, he reaches to his bedside table and pulls a small notebook out of the top drawer. 

there, he writes a note to huangjun, meant to be sneakily stuck somewhere around the house for huangjun to find later in the day. (sometimes, he’ll scribble out a note before class instead, or while huangjun is at work, or when he’s not with him at the grocery store. anytime will do.)

THE NOTES:

remember when i said i would spend the rest of my life with you? i know sometimes you get scared. sometimes you doubt, but i’m not going to let you forget. the rest of my life, and i’m going to make that life as long as i can. i’m going to love you for the rest of my life, and you’ll have to work hard if you ever want to get rid of me. the rest of my life. i love you. don’t forget!

i forgot to tell you, yesterday, this old man came into the store and bought every album in snsd’s discography. i wanted to ask him why but i’ve been told that’s rude and bad for business :( i guess i’ll always be left to wonder. i love you! wait, you know snsd, right? have i listened to snsd with you?

no time with you is ever enough. i love you.

you were snoring last night. just a little! don’t feel bad. it made me smile. there’s something so mundane about it. comforting, even. a reminder that you’re here with me without having to watch you breathe. i love you.

not to say something completely cliche but we’re out of milk and i love you, i’ll buy it.

i had a nightmare last night. i don’t remember it, though. i used to always remember them. they used to be all that i remembered, but now, so much fills the spaces in between, like love and light. i wonder if it’s you.

reminder that i love you more than anyone in the world has ever loved anybody.

it was rainy today. like, really rainy and gross. i watched a girl get off the bus without an umbrella or raincoat and i knew she was going to be soaked instantly, but a guy swooped in and offered her his umbrella and it made me think of us, and it made me wonder what their story would be. would they never see each other again? would they fall in love? i never cared about stuff like that before you. i know our story hasn’t been easy, but i’m glad it’s ours. i love you.

you fell asleep while you were reading. i don’t think you sleep enough these days. i’ll call in sick on your next day off. let’s sleep a few extra hours, or all afternoon. i love you and there’s nowhere else i’d rather be.

sometimes i just want to watch the world end with you. as long as i’m with you every city could burn. i’m probably not supposed to say that, but that’s just how i love you.

reminder that i’m going to spend the rest of my life with you and i’m gonna marry you one day and you can’t logic me out of it, no “but jaeyong we can’t get married it isn’t legal” because i am DETERMINED. you know i’ll do anything to get what i want, and i want to love you forever.

i could write all the love songs in the world and they still wouldn’t explain how much i love you.

i woke up a little bit before you today. i got to see the way the sun filtered through the blinds and shined on your face. i don’t know a word in any language that encapsulates how beautiful you are. i love you.

huangjun, sometimes i worry. the love in me is so overwhelming. i wonder, is this all too much? maybe it would be better to love you quietly, but you know i’ve never been good at that. i think it’s because i don’t have room in my body for it all. that’s why i say i love you so much. it always overflows. in the end, i’d rather my love be too much than not enough. i’d rather you get tired of hearing it than regret not saying it, but if you need me to love you quieter, just say so. i can learn.

i found this app that tracks sharks yesterday. i only remembered when i checked my phone this morning. the closest tracked shark to us is by papua new guinea. she’s a tiger shark and her name is lisa christina. i hope she’s doing okay. i love her :( but not as much as i love you.

you’re watching me as i write this. i’m not good at writing under pressure. i told you not to read this until i’m not around, but you’re so damn good at reading. you can probably look this way on accident and read the whole thing. i’m sorry, this isn’t my best work, but i love you still. maybe more than ever.

lisa christina is swimming away from us now ㅜㅜ i miss her. i miss you too, whenever you’re reading this, guaranteed. i love you.

do you remember when you used to always call me sunbae? and then you finally called me by my name. i always wonder when. when did i fall in love with you? maybe that was it. the way you said my name, like no one ever had, like you saw something in me no one else did. no one makes it sound as good as you do.

huangjun i want a pet shark. also i love you

i’m going to write 100 songs about you and get rich from them, and then i’ll buy you a nice house, or build one if we can’t find one that makes us feel like we can finally breathe easy. it’ll be somewhere safe, where i don’t always have to look over my shoulder and you don’t have to worry that i won’t come back every time i step out the door. some place where i can randomly decide to remodel the bathroom, then take a hammer to everything and accidentally break something important, but end up with something better when we’re done. somewhere to grow old in. i love you. i’ll do it. i’m serious!

you shouldn’t have died in that alley. every day i’m so thankful i was there, and that you didn’t. i love you even more than you know.

i’ve been thinking, when we get out of here, and all of the green finally outnumbers the concrete, what we should have in our garden. herbs are a no brainer, but what about snapdragons? they symbolize both graciousness and deception and i think that’s kind of sexy in a flower and also probably people too. but i also just think they look cool. think about it!! i love you!

wherever i am right now i’m probably thinking about kissing you. please give me a kiss next time you see me :( i love you.

i never told you this, but i had a dream once. we were on a beach. this dream was way before i took you to an aquarium and watched the way your eyes lit up when you saw stingrays, and before i bought you that teapot that looks like a pufferfish and the teabags that expand into sea creature shapes when you put them in water. we were on a beach, and there was a kid that didn’t look like either of us, and a feeling that i couldn’t decipher at the time but that i know now is love. for you, for that kid. everything was...rose gold. i don’t know how to explain it. i woke up so afraid, because i didn’t want kids and i knew that kid was ours, huangjun, and i had never felt something so warm. you know i wasn’t raised for warm. i was afraid to want warm, but i watched you sleep and i couldn’t help but think about it. sometimes i still do, but most of the time i don’t remember. sometimes, i think i’m still scared of it. i guess that’s why i’m writing it down instead of telling you out loud. i don’t think i could ever write or say how much i love you. let’s just raise fish???

the sky reminded me of you today. i’m starting to really love the sky. it’s never the same twice. it’s part of why i love you. there’s always something new to see. always something beautiful. i think i would see you everywhere even without the sky.

my dream used to be to rid the world of supernaturals. safety for humanity. it was...surprisingly noble. but misguided. now, it’s different. when i think of what i want most in the world, it’s your soft smile, and the way you tuck my hair behind my ear, and the way you say ‘i’ll make tea’ just about anytime you don’t have something better to do. saying “you’re my new dream” is too cheesy even for me, but something like that. i love you.

the sky was light blue again. the color of your favorite sweater, a few clouds. i looked up and i thought...how wonderful, to love someone so soft and unending, to hold a heart that touches everything like that.

sometimes i feel like i’m drowning in how much i love you. not in a bad way, though; in a way like that one time, when you watched all the fish swim by in their tanks and wondered if it was peaceful. that kind of drowning. it is peaceful. it is.

if an angel looked in the mirror, would he see a monster? something fearsome, awe-inspiring, certainly. a view enough to make any man of god repent. i understand them. i am no holy man, but you make me want to get on my knees. i love you. amen.

reminder that you make me happier than i’ve ever been. i never used to think about if souls existed, and never really cared, but you made me believe in them. there’s no other way to say it than my soul is at peace with you. i don’t know if we’re soulmates or not, but i know i can lay my head in your lap and feel at home there. i know you changed me. you made me better. maybe that’s all soulmates are. i love you.

[sunflowerhoney]

I’m sorry this is so late...I had so many things going on and the ugly case of writer’s block but here it is...longer than just a drabble this time 💞 hope you had a wonderful birthday, darling 🌺

It’s a lovely morning when Gwendolyn wakes up next to her special woman. Birds are chirping and the sun shines through the sheer lace curtains. Mildred stirs suddenly and rolls over in Gwendolyn’s arms. The brunette rubs her eyes open and smiles tiredly at the blonde. She yawns before she can say anything.

“Happy birthday, darling,” Gwendolyn murmurs into her favorite lady’s ear. Her lips graze Mildred’s temple, cheek, chin, and finally pause on her mouth. They kiss hungrily. Mildred moans as Gwendolyn explores her mouth with soft swipes of her tongue and the younger woman’s breath hitches when the older of the two bites her lower lip softly. Mildred tangles her fingers in Gwendolyn’s locks and pulls her closer as they continue making out passionately.

“Thank you, sweetheart...” Mildred gasps out once they take a moment to catch their breaths. “It’s the best one I’ve ever had, and we’re not even eating yet!”

“Hm...that reminds me.” Gwendolyn sits up and pushes the covers off herself. She strokes Mildred’s hair and then rests her hand on her girlfriend’s cheek, stroking her thumb against it from side to side. “My love, I’m going to get breakfast made for us, but then I’m baking a cake...now what flavor would you like?”

Mildred squeezes her hand and looks down bashfully. “Oh, Gwen, you don’t have to-“

She gets out of bed. “I want to...but only if it’s okay with you, of course.”

“Why?” Mildred looks at her, puzzled.

“Sweetness, because I adore you. I cherish you with every fiber of my being. Everyone deserves to have cake on their birthday if they’re a decent human being, and you are far beyond that...you’re amazing and I take genuine pleasure in spoiling you.”

“Fair enough.” Mildred giggles. “I’m talking to a lady who makes me breakfast in bed almost every morning. Many of them contain chocolate chip banana blueberry pancakes or waffles with coffee the way I like it, milk, creamer, and whipped cream!” She beams up at Gwendolyn. “Um...yellow cake with chocolate frosting!”

The light feeling blossoms within Gwendolyn. “That sounds delicious! What did you want to do for the rest of the day?”

“Take a stroll along the beach, then a picnic for lunch...fine dining tonight complete with margaritas, and cake, of course!” Mildred responds cheerfully.

“Oh, what a wonderful plan!” Gwendolyn sighs happily as she takes Mildred in. “My goodness, I love waking up next to such beauty every morning, and such a kind hearted soul!”

“As do I, my darling.”

“Isn’t that my pet name for you?” Gwendolyn teases her.

Mildred swats at her playfully.

“I’ll resume my pampering.” Gwendolyn lifts Mildred’s hand and kisses her knuckles before leaving their room. She wants to surprise Mildred with a meal she’s never made, but Mildred sometimes orders it when they go out for breakfast.

“Egg omelette with cheese, bell peppers, and ham!” Mildred squeals when Gwendolyn carries the plates full of food and beverages into their room. “Thank you so much, honey!” The younger woman scoots herself up to a sitting position and waves it over.

“You’re very welcome, dear!” Gwendolyn sets it in her lap and takes a spot beside her. They share a hot, open-mouthed kiss before starting to eat their meal and sip their drinks.

While Gwendolyn makes Mildred her cake, the latter takes a shower and puts on a yellow casual dress for her special day. She wears makeup and twists her hair into a bun before putting on a white sunhat. She goes downstairs and stops at the doorway of the kitchen to hear Gwendolyn humming cheerfully while sliding her cake into the oven.

A lump forms in Mildred’s throat, for she’s never actually celebrated her birthday with anyone. Anna, her caseworker, gave her cake, but never fostered her. The others who had, just treated the day like nothing. After only one time of doing so, she had learned never to speak of it again. Blinking her tears back, she comes up to Gwendolyn and puts her arms around the blonde’s waist from behind.

Gwendolyn makes a noise of surprise. “Oh, darling, hello, I didn’t hear you arrive.” She turns in Mildred’s embrace and hugs her back.

“I’m sorry that I frightened you. My footsteps aren’t very loud.”

“You don’t need to apologize,” Gwendolyn assures her. She gives Mildred a fond peck on the lips and her blue eyes stare lovingly into Mildred’s brown eyes.

Mildred grins at her love and twirls her fingers around the blonde, messy tendrils that frame Gwendolyn’s beautiful face. “I know...it’s just a habit.”

Gwendolyn smiles at her sadly, remembering when Mildred had told her how mistreated she had been in her youth. “Mm-hm. You look beautiful today, but you always do, every time I lay my eyes on you.”

“Thank you, sweetheart. So do you!”

“Your compliment is much appreciated, but I’m going to take a shower, okay? I love you.”

“I love you too,” Mildred responds, beaming with joy.

After Gwendolyn curls her hair to perfection, she puts it in a half-up style and dresses in a sky blue button-up shirt and black trousers. She sets her matching beret on her head and applies eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara, and bright red lipstick. “Well?” she asks, spinning around adorably.

Mildred chuckles. “Absolutely glamorous!”

“Thank you!”

As soon as Gwendolyn takes the cake out of the oven, she lets it cool. Mildred eyes it hungrily. They pack their lunches and then Gwendolyn shoos Mildred out. “How I decorate the cake should be a surprise until after dinner tonight!” she claims.

“I couldn’t agree with you more!”

Gwendolyn helps Mildred into her coat and then puts her own on. She holds her hand out for Mildred to take. “Shall we go, princess?”

Mildred grabs it. “Yes, my girl.”

On their stroll along the beach, they’re holding hands, talking, and laughing as the waves crash against the shore. They’re carrying their picnic baskets and gazing at each other with so much adoration. “Do you notice how the sun glitters on the sea?” Gwendolyn asks.

Mildred nods and she’s smiling so hard that her cheeks hurt. “It’s beautiful...but it hardly compares with how pretty you are.”

Gwendolyn’s eyes sparkle like sapphires as she grins. “My darling, you’re too sweet.”

The brunette shakes her head. “No, that would be you.” She kneels down and lays out a red and white checkered blanket. “This spot is lovely, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it sure is!” The blonde sits with her and they eat while watching the enchanted, greenish-blue ocean. It’s hardly warm enough to actually swim, but they do enjoy taking photos of it and each other.

When their lunch is finished, they put the containers away and lay on the blanket together, cuddling under the magnificent sky until it grows dark. They watch the sunset as the clear moon rises and then, they see stars. Gwendolyn shivers a bit and that’s when Mildred knows that their pleasant stay out here must end and they need to go somewhere inside. “You’re cold, honey,” she points out.

“Yes, it’s getting chilly,” Gwendolyn agrees. “Let’s get to that restaurant!”

“Okay!” Mildred says excitedly.

Gwendolyn drives them to a Mexican place and they order margaritas and cheese enchiladas with rice, refried beans, mild salsa, guacamole, chicken, and sour cream. It’s all so delicious and their heads are buzzing with the alcohol. It’s such an excellent sensation and Gwendolyn pays for the meal.

“Thank you for such a wonderful day,” Mildred tells her softly.

“You’re welcome, but it isn’t over yet,” Gwendolyn murmurs, winking at her. “Hey...isn’t every day splendid with me?” she teases.

“Of course it is!”

They both giggle in harmony.

At home, Gwendolyn has Mildred sit at the brown table in the dining room and then she dims the lights. She goes into the kitchen and lights ten candles that she’s plopped into the cake - three years for each one. She begins singing Happy Birthday as she enters the living room, holding the platter of cake. Mildred’s face glows with extreme happiness as Gwendolyn places it down in front of her.

“Happy birthday, dear Mildred, happy birthday to you!” she finishes crooning.

Mildred claps and cheers. She puts her hand to her chest. “Aw, thank you so much, Gwen! Chocolate frosting with my name in pink letters and a blue heart beside it and yellow flowers...my favorite design ever!”

Smiling, Gwendolyn takes a picture of a beaming Mildred with her cake. “The pleasure is mine, my sweetest darling girl. Now, make a wish!”

Mildred closes her eyes and inhales. A few moments later, she blows out her candles and Gwendolyn claps for her. They exchange a liplock and then remove the candles before the wax melts into the frosting. “Wouldn’t you like to know what my wish was?”

“Don’t tell me, or it won’t come true!” Gwendolyn warns her.

Mildred smirks. “Yeah, I better not.”

“Now...hold on one moment, before I forget...I have a gift for you!” Gwendolyn runs up the steps and grabs the present she’s about to give Mildred. She goes downstairs to find Mildred seated on the couch. She hands Mildred the neatly wrapped box and watches in anticipation as her girlfriend opens it.

The younger woman squeals, holding up her elegant diamond necklace. “Oh my! Gwen…thank you.”

“My pleasure. Can I help you put it on?”

Mildred nods, beaming. So Gwendolyn does, and ever so delicately, too. Mildred giggles as Gwendolyn’s fingernails lightly brush the back of her neck as she does the clasp. The pendant sits in the valley of Mildred’s cleavage and it looks amazing. She gazes at her reflection in the mirror. “Wow, it’s truly gorgeous!”

“I’m glad you love it, sweetheart.” Gwendolyn hugs her from behind and Mildred returns the gesture. “Would you like to dance?”

“Sure, but...there’s no music playing.”

“I’m about to change that!” Gwendolyn strides to the record player and begins a slow, romantic song. She starts swaying with Mildred, swirling her around their living room floor, and then dipping her as the brunette cracks up with pure, unbridled joy. Gwendolyn joins in and then, their lips touch. She brings Mildred back up and holds her gaze.

Their arms wrapped around each other, they kiss over and over again without abandon.

OH MY GOSH THIS IS LITERALLY THE CUTEST EVER!!!! Thank you so, so much you are so awesome and this is truly amazing!!! 🥺

Gwen making Mildred a birthday cake!!! That is too cute!! Mildred deserves a happy birthday with her love after everything, this was so so cute and well written and so them!!

Thank you so, so much again and thank you for the birthday wishes!! I’m so sorry I’m a bit late posting but I appreciate you a lot!! 💖 ☺️

[shoutaaizawas]

Bakugou x OC Messaged Received: Chapter Twenty Two

Summary:  Bakugou Katsuki wants to improve his English after enough incidents of tourists getting into trouble. Harper Bailey is hoping to learn enough Japanese to be able to take a trip to Japan one day. They find a site that sets up online pen pals to help them improve in the language they’re learning. When they’re paired together it’s the beginning of a relationship neither of them expected.

Read On AO3 | Masterlist

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It had been a week since Harper had arrived in Japan. That week had been the best week of Bakugou’s life. Or at least that’s what he felt at the moment.

Bakugou sat on the couch watching Harper make her cup of coffee. As she stirred the drink with a spoon she did an excited little dance as she did he realized just how far gone he was as he smiled widely at her actions.

Sure, he had accepted how deep his feelings were for her but he wasn’t planning on saying it out loud any time soon. It wasn’t that he was sure about how he felt but even with how well he felt things were going he was still scared that she didn’t feel the same way. He couldn’t imagine anything more embarrassing than putting his feelings on the table only for her to not return them.

It was easy for him to get caught up in what their future would look like but he constantly told himself to take things one step at a time. For now, she was going to stay here longer and that was good enough for now.

Harper returned to the couch, sitting down next to Bakugou, he placed his arm around her as she did.

“I just have to answer some work emails then I’m all yours.” She said resting her head against his shoulder as she pulled her phone out.

Last night Midoriya had texted him about a group of their friends getting together to go to the beach. His initial reaction was to say no. He would prefer to spend the day alone with Harper but more than that he was worried to introduce her to all his childhood friends at once. He knew it would be overwhelming and didn’t want to put her through that.

At the same time, he also did want them to meet, even if he knew his friends were sure to embarrass him in front of her. But he wanted her to be a part of his life and this was a good way to start. He finally decided to leave it up to her.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go to the beach today?” He asked.

“Oh, you’re not surprising me this time?” She teased, looking up from her phone.

“Midoriya invited us, a lot of my high school friends will be there. I wanted you to have a choice. I didn’t just want to throw you into it.” He explained.

“That’s very sweet of you.” She said pressing a kiss against his cheek. “I would really like to meet your friends. Are Mina and Jirou going?”

“Yeah, I think so.” He said. “Did you bring a bathing suit or do we need to get one?”

“I brought one, I kind of over-packed but in hindsight that wasn’t a bad thing.” She laughed.

“Let me make you breakfast before we get ready.” He said, brushing a strand of hair out of her face.

“How can I say no to that.” She said with a big smile, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips. Bakugou’s heart skipped a beat.

Bakugou quickly made breakfast for both of them before getting ready. He made sure to pack a back with sunscreen and towels as well as grab an umbrella and chairs.

He was finishing packing some drinks and snacks when Harper walked out of his bedroom dressed in a pair of shorts and a tank top.

They arrived at the beach, the sun was bright in the sky and the weather was perfect for swimming. Harper was nervous, she would admit it. For one, they were all impressive pro heroes but more importantly, they were Bakugou’s friends. Even if he played it off that they weren’t super close she knew they meant a lot to him.

“Are Suki and Kirishima going to be here?” She asked.

“Yeah, they rarely miss anything where we all get together.” He said, pulling their bags out of the car. Harper tried to reach for one before Bakugou pulled it away giving her a look. She should have known better that he wouldn’t let her carry anything. She put her own bag over her shoulder refusing to let him take it for her.

It was a funny sight looking at him carrying all of their stuff at one. The bags over his shoulder, chairs in hand, and umbrella balanced somewhere in there and yet he still left his hand open to hold hers.

“If it’s too much we can leave whenever.” He said squeezing her hand reassuringly.

“Thank you, I appreciate it.” She said looking up at him with a big smile.

It was easy to spot the group even with only knowing a few of them. There was a large group, they had umbrellas, towels and chairs set up all over. As they approached them all Harper started to feel even more nervous.

“Harper!” A familiar voice shouted. She looked over to see Mina waving at them excitedly. Harper and Bakugou approached and Mina gave Harper a hug before going to hug Bakugou. “I’m surprised you guys came, I was sure Bakugou would want to keep you to himself.”

Bakugou gave her a look and Harper laughed.

“I’m glad we came, I’m excited to meet everyone.” She said.

“Hey, guys!” Kirishima said as he and Suki approached. They both gave them hugs as well.

“I’m so hurt that you got to meet her before I did.” Harper heard from a blond man as he approached with Jirou beside him. He had yellow eyes and a black stripe that almost resembled a lightning bolt in his hair. She recognized him from the news the other day.

“Hey, Harper.” Jirou greeted. “It’s good to see you again. This is my boyfriend Denki.”

“Not just your boyfriend but one of Bakugou’s best friends.” He defended. “Not that I’m not absolutely overjoyed to be your boyfriend.” He said giving Jirou a charming smile.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Harper said bowing.

“Hey, I don’t want to be left out!” A man with black hair said. He had a wide grin and odd elbows. “I’m Sero, it’s nice to finally meet you. You’ve been quite the subject among us all.”

“Oh boy, hopefully only good things,” Harper said with a nervous laugh. She understood that it was only expected to be talked about, her own friends talked about Bakugou quite a lot.

“It’s not been anything negative.” Mina jumped in. “Everyone has just been excited to meet you.”

“I’m glad it’s mutual.” Harper laughed.

“We’re going to play some volleyball if you want to join. We need one more for the girl's team.” Jirou mentioned.

“Oh, I love volleyball. I’d like to play.” She replied excitedly.

“Perfect, I’ll introduce you to the rest of the girls.” She said grabbing Harper by the hand. Harper spared Bakugou a look before being dragged away. He looked concerned but she gave him a reassuring smile to let him know she didn’t mind.

“Okay, you know Jirou and Suki of course. This is Momo,” She said pointing the woman with her black hair in a ponytail. She looked so elegant.

“Asui,” She said.

“My friends call me Tsu.” The green hair woman said. She had big eyes and almost resembled a frog.

“And Uraraka, or Midoriya now,” Mina said with a laugh at her slip up.

“You’re married to Deku?” Harper asked. The brunette blushed.

“Yeah, it’s been over a year now.” She said sheepishly. “Have you met him yet?”

“Oh, no not yet. I’ve heard about him quite a bit. Is he here?” She asked. Harper was quite interested to meet Midoriya. She had heard so much about him both from her own friend back in America and from Bakugou now.

“We forgot to bring ice so he went to go get some, he should be back pretty quick.” She explained.

“Alright, let’s head over to the net,” Mina said. Harper’s gaze followed to the net that wasn’t too far from where they had set up everything.

“Are you going to play?” Harper asked as she walked beside Suki.

“Oh no, honestly I can’t keep up with all these heroes.” She laughed. Harper gave her a serious look.

“Am I about to make a fool out of myself?” She asked.

“Maybe?” Suki said trying not to laugh at her sudden seriousness. “Depends on how good you are at volleyball.”

“What have I gotten myself into.” Harper sighed.

They got to the sandy court and the guys were there and ready to play. On the other team, there was Bakugou, Sero, Denki, and Kirishima that she knew. There was also Iida, a tall dark blue-haired man and Tokoyami who had a bird head and a quirk called Dark Shadow that was a sentient bird shadow that was a part of him. Nothing out of the ordinary. She had also seen him on the news.

Harper tried her best not to stare at Bakugou as he pulled off his shirt and tossed it to the side before getting into place for the game. He said something to Sero that she couldn’t hear.

The game began and it was easy for Harper to understand why Suki sits these games out. The speed and power that they casually played at was far above anything Harper could accomplish. The ball darted back and forth far quicker than she could keep up with. She tried following it along but it usually was gone before she could do anything.

It was also hard to focus on the game when she couldn’t keep her eyes off of Bakugou. The way that he jumped for the ball spiking it into the sand. The way his muscles flexed as he effortlessly moved. That determined look in his eyes as he watched everyone before deciding his next move. She almost didn’t mind that it was a point against them when he did it.

“Harper!” Mina shouted, setting the ball in her direction. It headed toward her at a normal speed for once. She was able to run up and hit the ball over the net. The ball headed in Bakugou’s direction. His gaze moved from Harper and to the ball. He hesitated before going for the ball but it slipped past him.

Harper shot Bakugou a look. There was no way he couldn’t have hit that ball.

“Oh my god, he really is going soft.” Denki said.

“Shut up, extra.” He shouted over at his friend.

“I’ve never seen Bakugou let anyone win anything on purpose.” Sero chimed in.

“They’re gonna get themselves killed.” Jirou said indifferently.

“Never stopped them before.” Mina laughed.

Bakugou walked over to them but Kirishima was quick to intervene, holding him back.

“Wow, guys. Let’s get back to this game so we can break out the snacks once it’s over.” Kirishima reasoned.

Bakugou let it go, looking over to Harper. She gave him an amused look. Bakugou smiled back. She saw Denki open his mouth but Tokoyami was quick to slap his hand over his mouth to stop whatever comment was about to come out.

The game went on, even with Harper not able to help out very much the girls stayed nearly tied to the boys. It felt like the last play of the game lasted forever. Both sides were pushing to win. The ball went back and forth for the longest time.

The ball was about to hit the sand on the girl's side when Harper dove for it. She pretty much went face-first into the sand but she was able to hit it up just enough for Tsu to jump up and spike it onto the boy's side.

The girls cheered. Mina and Jirou helped Harper up from the ground.

“Harper you’re amazing.” Ochaco said approaching her as Harper dusted the sand off of herself. She was going to feel that tomorrow but it was worth it to not be the most useless person on the team.

“I’m glad I was able to do something.” She laughed. “I didn’t realize just how out of my league I was.”

“As long as you had a good time, that’s all that matters.” Tsu said.

After they finished up they broke out the snacks as Kirishima promised. Harper got to meet Shoji, Aoyama, Ojiro, Sato, and Koda as they arrived. They were all so nice.

Bakugou stayed close to Harper’s side, almost always having a hand on her whether they were holding hands or he had his arm around her shoulder. It was nice, getting to meet everyone and laugh with them. She would sneak looks at Bakugou when he wasn’t looking at her and see how content and happy he looked around his friends.

“You’re finally back.” Ochaco said Harper looked to where she was walking over to only to see a tall green-haired man. That must be Midoriya, she thought. He had bright green eyes and freckles across his cheeks. He was both an intimidating figure and very soft at the same time.

“Sorry, I got caught up with some work on the way back.” He said sheepishly.

“Of course you did.” She said with a laugh.

“Look who I found on the way here.” He said gesturing to the two men with him. One had purple hair and the other had white hair on one side and red hair on the other along with a scar on one side of his face.

“I got lost.” The one with the split hair said.

“I found him lost on my way here.” The purple-haired one said.

“Of course you did.” Bakugou scoffed. “That’s Midoriya, Shinsou, and Todoroki.” He said pointing to them respectively.

“It’s nice to meet you all.” Harper said with a smile.

They all said hello to her before splitting off to different areas. Midoriya took his ice to a cooler before making his way back to Bakugou and Harper.

“Kaachan! It’s good to see you. How are you feeling?” He asked giving him a big smile. Harper looked over to Bakugou giving him a look at the nickname. He gave her a look back that said don’t touch it. She smirked.

“I’m fine, don’t worry about it.” He replied.

“You must be Harper. I’m really happy to get to meet you.” He said with a bright smile.

“Same here, I’ve heard a lot about you,” Harper said. “In fact, one of my close friends in America is a really big fan. She’s actually a pro hero, she’s not in the top ten or anything but she’s awesome.”

Midoriya’s face lit up. He asked about her friend and her quirk. Harper gladly explained everything, it took her off guard that he was so genuinely interested.

“Do you have a quirk?” He asked.

“Yeah, I can control plants. Not very much but it comes in handy for keep houseplants alive.” She laughed.

“Wow, that’s an awesome quirk!” He said. She wasn’t expecting him to be so impressed by her quirk and it didn’t seem like he was just trying to be nice.

“Can you control any plants? Is it only small plants or can you control trees or any organic material? How can you control them? Can you move them or is it only their growth?” Midoriya rambled out what felt like a million questions. It was overwhelming she wasn’t sure where to start.

“Cut it out, nerd.” Bakugou interrupted. “That’s too many questions.”

“Oh, I’m sorry!” He apologized. “I get a little carried away.”

“That’s an understatement.” Bakugou scoffed.

“It’s okay.” Harper said.

The three of them ended up sitting down under some shade as Harper explained her quirk to Midoriya. His genuine interest was flattering. This was the number one pro hero in Japan and he was interested in her quirk that in her own opinion was barely capable of taking care of a garden. Granted, it did help her when she was kidnapped so she supposed she couldn’t bash it too much.

“Bakugou, can you help us before Kirishima burns all the food?” Suki called out to him. She was standing next to Kirishima who was standing in front of a grill that currently had more fire in it than looked necessary.

“I’ll be back.” He said to Harper giving her a soft look before getting up.

“No worries.” She replied.

“He really cares about you.” Midoriya said when Bakugou was out of ear’s range. Harper looked over at Midoriya.

“I really care about him too.” She said with a smile.

“Kaachan has been through a lot, he’s grown a lot. He’s an amazing hero, an amazing person.” He said. “He deserves an amazing person.”

“I agree.” She said. “I hope I can be that person for him.”

Midoriya smiled at you.

“I know I don’t know you very well but I have a good feeling about you.” He said. “Kaachan mentioned you're an author.”

“Yeah, I write under the name Harper Hawthorne.” She explained.

“Really? Ochaco loves your books. She made me read them when we first started dating.” He said. “We can’t wait for the next book.”

“You guys like them?” She said with a laugh. Who would have thought that the number one hero had read her books? “Well, then I’ll have to hook you guys up with it before it’s out.”

“If you could not tell Ochaco that would amazing. Our anniversary is coming up and that would be the perfect gift.” He pleaded.

“On one condition,” She said with a smirk. “My friend’s a big fan and it would make her life if you could send her a little video saying hello.”

“Of course.” He said happily. “I can get her some merch too if she wants. I’ll even sign it.”

“She would love that!”

“You two are really excited about something.” Bakugou said as he returned.

“We’re just bonding.” Harper said.

“Great.” His tone was dry but she could tell he was happy that they were getting along. “C’mon, let’s go in the water.”

Before she could protest Bakugou was pulling her up and dragging her towards the water.

The water was beautiful, a clear blue against the white sands it was picture perfect. Harper hadn’t seen a part of Japan she hadn’t liked yet. The water rose and crashed against the shore.

Harper wasn’t one for the beach, normally. The waves made her nervous and she had never been a strong swimmer. The few times she had beach days with her friends she always stayed far away from the water and stuck to getting a nice tan or helping her friends prepare food.

But she didn’t want to stop Bakugou and the thought of breaking off from everyone sounded nice. She was enjoying getting time to meet all of his friends but it was overwhelming.

Before they got too close she stopped to pull off the clothes that had been covering her bathing suit. Bakugou had already been in his swim trunks without a shirt.

Looking up she caught Bakugou staring, he looked away quickly with red cheeks.

“You’re allowed to look.” She teased. Bakugou looked back but his blush didn’t lessen.

He walked into the water and Harper followed. It was cool against her skin, a nice relief from the heat of the sun that felt endless. Bakugou continued further in but she hesitated when the water reached her knees.

“Are you coming?” He asked when he noticed her falling back.

“I- uh,” She hesitated. It felt childish, stupid even to be scared of the water. Bakugou was so strong, fearless there was no way her fear wouldn’t be seen as foolish. Instead of answering she caught up with him, the water now at her waist. She could feel her anxiety raise but she pushed it down. It’s fine, she thought.

“When I was little my family would always come to the beach.” He said as he watched the waves move. The water would move past them, crashing onto the sand behind them. “My dad would take me out into the water, he taught me how to hold my breath and swim under the waves before the crashed. It became a game for me.”

Harper smiled at the fond look on his face.

“I never liked being in water that much, it makes it harder for my quirk to activate but I always loved our beach trips.” He said.

“That sounds really nice.” She said. “My family didn’t go to the beach very often. We lived pretty inland, we would go to the lake or a river.”

She left out the part where she always avoided going too far in so she wouldn’t have to swim.

It seemed that life didn’t care for her hiding of important facts about herself, that or it simply didn’t care for her in general. Before she could reminisce more about her family’s summer activities a big wave swelled up.

Before she could do anything it was crashing down on her. Harper froze, closing her eyes and waiting for the impact to sweep her away. The water rushed over her, she hadn’t been able to hold her breath in time but an arm wrapped securely around her waist keeping her from tumbling with the wave.

As the water settled she coughed out the water that made it into her lungs. Opening her eyes she saw Bakugou looking at her concerned. He picked her up carrying her out of the water with hast before setting her down on the wet sand out of the path of the waves.

“Are you okay?” He asked.

“Yeah,” Harper said still coughing. “I’m okay, I’m okay. I’m just not that good with water.”

“Why didn’t you say something we didn’t have to go in.” He said.

“I know, I just didn’t want to be a wet blanket.” She sighed.

“You drowning would be more of a wet blanket than wanting to stay out of the water.” He scolded. “What if I hadn’t grabbed you in time?”

“I mean I wanted to get in the water too, I just didn’t expect that wave to come out of nowhere.” She said.

Bakugou sighed, glancing out to the water. The sun was getting low in the sky and the sky was beginning to turn shades of pink and purple.

“If you told me I could have helped you more.” He said.

“Maybe we can try again, without the almost drowning this time.” She offered.

“Okay, just stay close to me and follow my lead.” He said.

Bakugou took her by the hand leading her out to the water. He leaned down for a moment in front of her hoping she’d understand what he was asking without him saying. Harper hesitated a moment before realizing it. She wrapped her arms around his neck, trying her best not to choke him, and she used her legs to keep herself from falling off his back. He easily stood up, walking further into the water. He made sure to time it right so they weren’t hit by any big waves.

He was quick and efficient as he swam just far out enough that the waves would break after them. He grabbed Harper’s arms, signaling her to let go so he could turn around to face her. He made sure he kept his hands on her so she didn’t feel like she would float away.

“Good?” He asked.

“Good.” She smiled back at him.

The sky was stunning, the motion of the waves bobbing them up and down gently was relaxing. He pulled her closer to her, one arm wrapped around her waist the other brushing her wet hair out of her face.

“It’s beautiful.” She said glancing at the sunset.

“It is.” He agreed.

“This is perfect, thank you.” Harper said, wrapping one arm around his neck. It was so easy floating in the water, keeping her close so she would feel safe. He felt honored that she felt safe enough with him to be able to enjoy this.

Bakugou didn’t answer but pressed a kiss against her lips. He had never considered himself a romantic man but Harper changed that. Or maybe she was simply the key to unlocking all of this softness he had locked away. She made him want to be a better man, not just in their relationship but in every way.

He pulled away breathless, staring into her eyes. He loved her so much but he wasn’t ready to say it out loud. Not yet.

It was nice to be able to hold each other and float in the gentle waves and watch the sun sink lower in the sky as the colors changed every moment.

“Bakugou! Harper!” Denki shouted from the shore. “Food’s ready!”

Bakugou let out a huff.

“Are you hungry?” He asked.

“As much as I’d love to stay out here, yes I am.” She answered.

Bakugou motioned for her to hang onto his back again and he made his way out of the water safely. He put her down once they were back on solid ground but he didn’t let go of her hand as they returned to where their friends were gathered on the beach.

It was nice to see his friend accepting Harper and it was nice to see her getting along with everyone. He knew it had to be overwhelming for her but she handled it so well. He was thankful that his friends were welcoming, granted if anyone gave her any attitude it would be the last thing they’d do.

A part of him wondered if she would be happy living here, with him. He knew that it wouldn’t be easy leaving behind everything that she knew, that she was comfortable with. But she got along with his friends, he could easily see her as a permanent part of his life here in Japan.

He shook his head. He couldn’t ask her to leave behind everything she knew, leave behind the friends she cared for so much. He wouldn’t ask her. He shouldn’t even be thinking about it right now, he should enjoy the extended time he had with her.

His friends had prepared food and had it set out on the table under the sunshade.

“Dig in guys.” Kirishima said gesturing to all the food.

They didn’t hesitate, grabbing plates and grabbing the food that they wanted. He waited back with Harper for most everyone to get their food.

“What do you want?” He asked her as he grabbed a plate.

“Oh, I’m not sure. I can get it myself.” She said reaching for the plate in his hand but he pulled it back.

“I got it.” He said.

Harper threw her arms up in surrender.

“Okay, whatever you say.” She said with a slight smirk.

Once he got both of them food he sat down near Kirishima and Suki, knowing that Harper was the most comfortable with them.

Midoriya and Ochaco were sitting nearby along with Mina and Sero. The group talked about different things. Bakugou was glad that they included Harper and she easily cracked jokes and fit in with the conversation.

As it got darker they started a bonfire easily thanks to Todoroki’s quirk and they all gathered around sitting down.

Bakugou sat on a towel, Harper resting between his legs and leaning back into his chest. He had been mindlessly playing with her hair as he watched the fire move and dance, listening to the conversation around them. That lead to Harper falling asleep in his arms.

“I really like her, she’s a nice girl, Bakugou.” Midoriya said from beside him. “I’m glad that you found someone.”

At times it was hard not to fall into old habits with Midoriya. Even now, after all this time and progress he made he still wanted to shoot a rude comment at the green-haired man. It didn’t help that his relationship was a touchy subject. Not that that meant anything bad, but it was still a tender thing opening his heart and his life to someone else. Much less having people comment on it.

“Thanks.” He said finally, using his self-control.

“Maybe sometime we can go on a double date!” He suggested.

Bakugou didn’t have that much self-control.

“Okay, beat it nerd.” He snapped.

Midoriya laughed at the comment, undisturbed.

“Really, I think it’d be fun.” He said. “Besides I owe her some signed merch for her friend. She’s hooking me up with a copy of her new book before release.”

Bakugou scowled at that. He was the first to read her book before anyone else, he didn’t like the thought of Midoriya getting his hands on a copy. Granted it wouldn’t be long before the whole world read it but he liked feeling special. His reasoning voice kicked in and offered that he would always be the most special since he was the first one to read it.

“Fine.” He grumbled. “We’ll set something up.”

“I can’t wait.” Midoriya smiled.

Bakugou spent more time around the fire chatting with his friends, but not so loudly that he’d wake Harper from her peaceful sleep.

As much as he hated to admit it, with Harper in his arms and being surrounded by his close friends his heart felt full.

He wished that the rest of his life could be like this but even though their relationship was firm so far they had so much to work for before they could feel secure in their future.

It hadn’t been long since they started dating officially but he couldn’t stand the thought of losing her. He couldn’t stand the thought of spending another moment without her.

Whatever they face, they would get through it. He promised that not only to himself but to Harper.

We’ll make it through.

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