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totowlff · 7 months ago

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chapter seventeen — i'm not entirely to blame

➝ it's so easy to lie to yourself...

➝ word count: 3,5k

➝ warnings: mentions of smut

Toto lived in an extremely quiet, charming neighborhood just outside of Oxford, in a little hamlet called Boars Hill. His house was set on two acres of land that was mostly surrounded by trees, with a spacious and well-maintained back garden. Since the first time Cassie had visited his house, when Ingrid was still just an idea in their heads, she had a good feeling about it. She could even see herself walking down the narrow country roads pushing Ingrid in her pram, or watching Ingrid romp around the back garden as she and Toto sat watching her in chairs on the patio, just like a real family.

“No, Cassie, we’re not a real family”, she scolded herself as she made a left turn onto Bedwells Heath, looking carefully through the trees for Toto’s drive. She’d missed it once or twice before.

It wasn’t that they weren’t already a family of sorts; they’d come together to have a child, which meant they would be linked together in something resembling a familial unit, just not in the traditional sense. They were just friends, who were going to be parents together, but without the affection couples normally had for each other.

Except, though, sometimes their feelings for each other, at least for Cassie’s part, felt bigger than she would be willing to admit.

Plus, there was the sex…

The memory of Thursday night sent a rush of heat running over Cassie's skin. After bringing her to climax twice and giving her a few minutes to catch her breath, she felt the same heat as before. Just as she was going to remark on the sensation, she was interrupted by Toto as he kissed her again, his hands holding her tightly before sliding to the spot between her legs and making her come a third time.

However, when Cassie made a move to return the favor, Toto stopped her.

— Tonight is about you, Cassie. Just about you.

As she parked her car in front of Toto’s house, she clenched her jaw as she remembered the way he had cleaned her up and put her to bed, kissing her gently on the forehead before he left her flat, ignoring her pleas for him to stay. Seeing him leave hurt more than it should have, but there was nothing that could be done.

Toto would never be hers completely.

As she stepped out of the car, she looked up at the front of the house, admiring the traditional-yet-modern exterior, especially the way the front of the house looked like a circular tower, with a large panoramic window on the top floor. A vision popped into her mind — she and Toto sitting on the sofa together, his arm around her shoulders, her snuggled into Toto’s side. No work to do, no races on the other side of the world to get off to, just the two of them enjoying each other’s company, watching their daughter play with dolls or blocks on the colorful area rug as a summer rainstorm rolled through the meadows surrounding Boars Hill.

A perfect, quiet afternoon.

She shook her head as she pressed the button for the doorbell, chiding herself for letting her imagination get carried away again. A few seconds later, it opened, revealing the smiling face of the house’s owner.

— You know you don't need to ring the doorbell, right? — Toto said, smiling. He was wearing a chambray button-down and a pair of loose-fitting khaki trousers. His shirt was completely unbuttoned, exposing a plain white t-shirt underneath. To Cassie’s surprise, he was also wearing a pair of glasses with round, black frames. She wasn’t sure he’d ever seen him dressed quite so casually. Even when he had accompanied her to the clinic, he tended to wear a pressed Oxford shirt and some sort of dress trousers. She knew he occasionally wore glasses, but it was rare.

— I didn’t want to seem presumptuous — Cassie replied — Besides, I don't live here.

— Not yet. But you will.

— Temporarily.

— Yes, but I still hope you see it as home while you’re here — he replied, opening the door wider — Come in and make yourself comfortable, please.

With a small smile on her face, Cassie walked past him, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek. Leaving her bag in the entrance hall, she waited for Toto to close the door to follow him through the house, stopping for a few seconds to look at the compass rose tiled into the floor of the entranceway. She had always found that detail of the house very charming.

— Are you hungry? I can make some tea before…

— It’s fine. I ate before leaving home.

— Are you sure?

— I'm fine, really — she replied, trying to reassure him.

Toto let out a sigh.

— Well, if you don't need anything, could you come upstairs with me?

Cassie nodded, following Toto up the stairs to the second floor, where the nursery was. He had shown it to her in the first few weeks of her pregnancy. However, instead of turning right, towards the door of the nursery, he turned left, opening the door and asking her to step inside.

��It was a large suite with a king-size bed facing a large window, which had an impressive view of the garden at the back of the house. There were also two armchairs next to a fireplace, as well as a large painting above it of an Alpine landscape, perhaps in Austria. Staring at the painting Cassie realized which room she was standing in.

— Why are we here in your bedroom?

— Because it will be yours. Well, while you're here.

She blinked.

— But… This is your bedroom, I couldn’t possibly…

— There are three other bedrooms I can sleep in. It’s no trouble.

— Toto, I can’t…

— Cassie, you need to be comfortable, especially after the birth. This room is big, has a very comfortable bed and a private bathroom en suite. Also, it’s the one that’s closest to the nursery.

— I don't need a big room. Any place will do, even the nursery. We can have the decorator put…

He shook his head.

— No, we’re not going to put your bed in the nursery.

— But if I stay in the nursery I’ll be close to…

— You won’t be able to get any rest if you stay in the nursery, Cassie. You won't sleep because you'll be keeping an eye on the baby. You know that being fatigued will not help you recover after the baby is born, and it will just make taking care of her more difficult.

Cassie clenched her jaw and looked away from him. He wasn't wrong. If she was with Ingrid constantly, she’d be on high-alert at all times, and wouldn’t ever be able to get any rest, even when she needed it. She would hate for something bad to happen to the baby because she was tired.

— Okay — she conceded — I'm not going to sleep in the nursery, you’re right. But, I'm not going to take you out of your bedroom. I can stay anywhere else, but not here.

Toto sighed.

— Okay, come with me.

The two went to another bedroom, a little smaller, but no less comfortable-looking. The minimalist, almost-generic decor gave the impression that it was just a guest room, not used very often; everything looked almost brand-new.

— The only problem with this room is that it doesn’t have a private bathroom, so you will have to use the one in the hallway. Otherwise, it’s just as nice as the master bedroom.

— It's great — she smiled, heading over to the bed and sitting on the mattress to try it out. Toto sat next to her, a small smile on his face.

— I'll ask Bertha to get everything ready for you to settle in next week.

— Next week? — Cassie said, her eyes going wide.

— Yes, so you have time to get comfortable and…

— Toto, I was going to move in after I’m discharged from the hospital with the baby, I couldn’t possibly…

— But there are so many things for us to do before the baby arrives — Toto exclaimed — We have to tidy up the nursery once it’s ready, buy more clothes, get the car seat, get all of the baby’s things organized, pack your bags for the hospital, you still have doctor’s appointments, we have to go to visit the maternity ward…

— I don't need to move here for that.

— And how are Bertha and I going to help you organize things if you’re not here?

Cassie raised an eyebrow.

— With your hands?

Toto gave a sarcastic laugh.

— Very funny.

She laughed.

— I know.

— The point is that, with you here, it will be easier to make decisions about things, especially regarding organization and routine in the first few days. Furthermore, I —Toto hesitated for a few seconds.

— You… What?

— I wanted to enjoy this time with you. You know, the…Nesting period, I think they call it. Plus, doing things for Ingrid without you is strange. Every time I buy things for the baby, the salespeople ask where my wife is, so I lie and say that it is for a friend’s daughter, because if I tell them it is for my daughter, they will want to know more about her, and I don’t want them to get the wrong idea and that they will think trying to have a family this way is strange, and…

Cassie sighed in frustration, taking Toto’s hand in hers.

— We're not doing anything wrong, Toto. We are only doing what we want, which is having a family. Just because we’re not doing it in the most traditional manner doesn’t mean we’ll be any less of a family. Trust me, a traditional family isn’t always a happy one. I am speaking from experience, so trust me on that.

He looked at her, a small smile on his face.

— But we can do things better, Cassie.

Something inside her jumped, her heart pounding in her chest.

— Better?

— Yes. Move in with me.

— Toto…

— I'll feel a lot better if you're here, and Bertha can help keep an eye on you when I'm traveling.

— Toto, I'm not a child who needs to be supervised.

— But you have a child inside you. And she needs to be supervised.

— Yes, by me.

— And by Bertha — he said, giving one of those mischievous smiles that made her heart race. Seeing Cassie rolling her eyes, he added — And there's no point in making that face, Cassandra.

— You sound like I'm incapable of taking care of myself...

— I’m only saying this because I am concerned about the well-being of the woman who — he paused for a few seconds, as if he was evaluating the words he was going to use before continuing — Is pregnant with my daughter. That's all, Cassie.

Cassie was about to answer him when the doorbell rang downstairs. Toto stood up, saying that he was going to meet the decorator and she should wait for them in the nursery. Walking down the hallway with one hand resting on her stomach, she tried to shake off the anxiety that was building up by breathing deeply.

When she stepped into the nursery, she was a little surprised by the amount of things in the room already. In addition to the stroller, baby carrier, and the package of things from Mercedes-Benz that Ola had sent them after Toto had told him he was going to be a father, there were bags of baby clothes, and several boxes printed with the logo of a well-known toy shop in London. She had pulled a onesie out of a bag to look at, running her fingers over the screen printed lettering that read “future CEO” on it when she heard footsteps behind her.

— Well, this is the room — Toto said to the woman next to him. She was quite a bit shorter than him, with dark hair, styled into a pixie cut. She had glasses with dark-rimmed frames, and was holding a briefcase in one hand and a tablet in another. — And this is... Cassandra.

She dropped her clothes and went to the designer, smiling.

— Nice to meet you, Cassandra — she said, extending her hand to shake — I'm Taylor.

— Likewise, Taylor. You can call me Cassie, by the way.

— As you wish, Cassie — the woman replied, smiling — Well, if you don’t mind, I’d like to just ask a few questions so I can get to know both of you. For starters, how long have you been married?

Toto’s eyes went straight to the floor, and Cassie noticed it. He was definitely uncomfortable with that question. And that was what made Cassie smile at the woman.

— A few months. We decided to make it official after we discovered the little one was on its way.

The response made Toto look up suddenly, looking somewhat shocked at what she had said. However, if Taylor had noticed that reaction, she didn't notice it.

— Oh, that's great. And have you lived here for a long time?

— I moved here in 2012 — he answered. His entire demeanor had changed since her arrival. If he was cheery before, now he seemed distant and distracted — I did some renovations, but nothing major or thinking about a function for this specific room.

Taylor walked around the room a bit, taking photos with her phone, analyzing the walls and the window for a few seconds. Placing her bag on the floor, she took the tablet and its stylus out of its case. After a few taps, she began to scribble something on the device's screen, a thoughtful expression on her face.

— Is the baby a boy or a girl?

— Girl — Cassie replied.

— Do you have anything in mind regarding decoration or colors?

— No pink — Cassie replied, definitively — No unicorns and rainbows.

The woman smiled slightly, writing something down on the tablet. Then, she began to explain the ideas, as well as the trends that could be incorporated into the room and that would make their routine with the baby easier. She also discussed some of the pictures of cribs, closets and changing tables that Toto had sent her. Finally, she asked if they had a theme in mind or if they were thinking about something neutral.

— Well, I do — Cassie said, making Toto look at him — When we decided to become parents, the first thing Toto did was buy a plush bunny, and I don’t know why, but… It has stuck with me. I think that would be cute.

— Do you agree, Toto?

— Yes. Maybe something with rabbits — he mumbled, crossing his arms.

After asking a few more questions, taking measurements and making a joke about how much stuff they already had for the baby considering that Cassie wasn't even halfway through her pregnancy, Taylor said goodbye to them, stating that she would send new drawings with her ideas to the nursery by email to Toto. Then, politely, he motioned for the woman to follow him back to the house’s hall of entrance.

Alone in the nursery again, Cassie took time to stare at the white walls. She caressed her belly slowly, imagining herself in a comfortable rocking chair, breastfeeding her daughter. She imagined showing her the pictures of rabbits on the wall, the lamp on the ceiling, the cozy crib. She imagined herself changing her clothes and diapers, while talking and making faces at her, making her daughter giggle.

The room would be perfect.

The footsteps that sounded behind her made her look back, a small smile on her face. Toto had returned to his room in silence, with his eyes lost on the walls and his hands in his pants pocket.

— What did you think of her ideas? — Cassie asked, approaching him.

— Good — he replied, his voice flat.

— I liked the idea of indirect lighting that she suggested, to bring a more cozy atmosphere to the room, but I'm still in doubt about the style of the decoration, whether something more classical or something more modern is better — she continued, walking around the room — But her idea of using niches here to decorate is fantastic, isn't it?

Toto nodded, his gaze directed at the swaying treetops outside the window. It was the confirmation she needed to realize that he was strange, distant, even a little cold. And he had been that way ever since Taylor suggested the two of them were in a relationship.

She stepped toward Toto carefully.

— Toto? — Cassie asked softly, his eyes meeting hers — Look, if you're feeling bad about what I said, I just thought it was easier to lie than to try and explain our situation, I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable...

— Cassie, it’s not that, it’s just — he said, interrupting her abruptly — I’m just frustrated. Fuck.

— Why? — she asked, softly.

He ran a hand across his forehead, clearly uncomfortable.

— Because, even with all my work, all my effort, everything I said, not just to you, but to the lawyer and to myself, I failed.

— Failed? What do you mean?

— I failed to uphold our agreement by getting involved with you.

She swallowed hard, watching as Toto ran a hand through his hair, looking like he was about to come unglued. He was feeling guilty, but it was all Cassie’s fault. It was her fault that she hadn't been able to simply ignore her own horniness.

And it was consuming her.

— I know I shouldn’t have asked you that on Thursday...

— But you did — Toto grunted, looking a little irritated. His reaction made Cassie look down, feeling embarrassed. “I deserved that”, she thought.

— Toto…

— But the problem isn't you — he said, making her raise her head quickly, meeting his eyes — The problem here is me.

— But…

— You are in a vulnerable moment, feeling the effect of hormones, and all of that. It's not your fault for feeling urges and desires. But I'm to blame for not respecting the boundaries we set in the conversation with the lawyer. I should have said no to you, Cassie.

— And why didn't you? — she asked softly.

Toto stared at her silently, as if he was measuring his words. With every second, the tension inside Cassie grew.

— You said you needed my help. And I promised to help you. I was simply keeping my word — he finally replied.

— Then why are you so upset?

— Cassandra…

— After all, you were just keeping your word, simple as that.

— It's not that simple, Cassandra! — Toto exclaimed. She didn't know the reason, but her heart started to beat harder, her palms sweating. Hearing a man raise her voice, even as innocuous as the situation was, reminded her of her father, as well as the loud fights and arguments they had.

— And why not? — she managed to ask, her throat tightening.

— Because we made a legal agreement, stating that we would not have any romantic involvement.

— You know that's just a piece of paper, right? I'm not going to sue you for having sex with me.

— That’s not the point. We made a commitment, Cassandra, I had committed to giving you support and support to bear and raise our daughter. Of course, we started the wrong way, but I had already got it into my head that it was necessary, after all, to have a child, you have to have sex...

— Actually, there are other ways…

— For two fertile and healthy adults, having sex is the first option. But that's not the point, Cassie. My point is that, after doing what is necessary, it was my intention that things returned to what we had agreed upon.

He hesitated, running his hand over his face again. After a sigh, Toto continued.

— I like you, Cassie. You are an incredible, courageous, intelligent woman… I would never have a child with you if I didn't like you, but we went too far.

Cassie clenched her jaw. She couldn't say anything, the pain in her chest growing by the second.

— I think it’s better for us to… Put a limit on this.

— A limit… — she stammered.

— Yes, we need to re-establish our boundaries here. I will continue to support you, taking care of you. That won't change. The idea of you moving here still stands, everything remains the same. But, no intimacy. No kissing, no sex.

The thought of never kissing Toto again made Cassie's chest hurt, as did the thought of never feeling him touching her in a tender, sensual way again. To think that she would never again see him the way she had in those two nights was almost suffocating. Cassie had no idea how she would be able to move on knowing she would never have him again.

She felt like arguing, telling him that she was incapable of doing that because she was completely in love with him and was willing to tear up any paper and face anything to have him for herself. Maybe this was the time to say the three words she most wanted to say to him.

Yes, that was the time.

— Toto…

— Are you okay with that? Can we go back to just being friends?

“No, Cassandra”, she told herself.

— Yes, we can.

#toto wolff #wlffog #formula 1 fic #f1 fic #f1 fanfic #formula 1 fanfic #toto wolff angst #toto wolff fanfic #formula one fic #formula one fanfic #f1 x oc #toto wolff x oc #formula 1 x oc #formula one x oc #etlwlff

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atonalginger · 1 month ago

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I'm Your Huckleberry, Update #4

Howdy, howdy, howdy and happy Shattered Space day! I hope everyone is having a fun day!

Chapters 9 and 10 are now live on ao3. The Birthday is almost here and everyone is busy getting the finishing touches on Ashta Creek and their costumes. Costumes I happen to have concepts for:

Keen eyes will pick out costumes based off of RDR2, Deadwood, and other modern western movies and shows. Unfortunately I don't have concept art for Manny's costume, that one slipped my mind at the time that I did most of these back in the spring/early summer.

To read the latest chapters (9 & 10) you can click HERE!

To start from the very beginning you can click here.

And as always, a snippet under a read more:

“Well howdy, Mayor Delgado,” Jacob Coe said with the tip of his adventure’s hat.

The old man looked different with his more casual getup, a green and blue flannel shirt tucked into some weathered blue jeans with a bolo tie around his neck. Del was still surprised Bella invited him, even with their occasional dealings. He knew the tension between the old man and Sam as well as his over-protectiveness over his granddaughter. But he was assured the old Coe would behave.

“I see you wanted in on the fun,” Delgado tapped the silver tips of the bolo tie and smiled, “not many of the parents did.”

“Oh you know how it goes,” Jacob smiled, “they think because they’ve grown up they can’t have fun.”

“Speaking from experience?” Sam came to stand beside them. his attention was on his white cotton gloves, tugging at the edge to smooth out a wrinkle.

“Maybe I am,” Jacob conceded, “surprised Jamie was able to get you into a proper suit.”

“Sophie wanted city slickers visiting the frontier,” Sam shrugged, “who better to fit the bill than the Coes?”

“Except for Cora,” Jacob noted.

“Sophie wasn’t going to force anyone into a dress,” Delgado said as he looked down the path to where Cora was leading the gaggle of little kids toward the firing range as she gave them the grand tour of the town with Daiyu and Jazz alongside, “and while it might have given a certain flair to the trick shot routine she came up with, a dress would likely just get in the way.”

“So is the story that the Coes sent their daughter to Ashta Creek to work?” Jacob asked.

“I believe the story Cora came up with was that she was sent to live with her aunt and get the General Store up and running, which the Coe family finances,” Sam offered a tired grin, “and during her free time she practices out a the range with Calamity Jazz.”

“Calamity Jazz?” Jacob raised an eyebrow.

“My top engineer,” Delgado pointed to Jazz with all her dusty leathers and her dented top hat with the long white tail feather stuck in the ribbon, “when everyone was listening to Doc and Cora’s crash course on old Earth wild west history she became enamored with Calamity Jane.”

“I see,” Jacob said as he looked around the property, “you’ve got solid protections in place.”

“We invited some two dozen kids and their parents into ashta country, of course we have protections in place,” Delgado sounded borderline offended as he met eyes with Shinya leaned against a hitching post next to the saloon. Shinya tipped his hat and gave his duster’s inner pocket a loving pat before wheeling around and slipping back inside. Delgado turned to Jacob, “plus I wouldn’t want any of Bella and Sophie’s chickens getting nabbed.”

“Yes, those would be tasty little treats for the locals,” Jacob said sympathetically, “not to dwell too hard on the matter but how bad is the ashta situation out here?”

“Right now not so bad; it’s too fucking hot,” Delgado watched as parents milled about, talking to the costumed crew and socializing, “in a few months we’ll have to put the reinforced run back up around the coop. Last autumn, when we first moved in, we had days where we all just stayed inside and watched the ashta roam the property. Zhenya and I are pretty sure there’s a den on the other side of the ridge. And the Mossgnath cross the creek to the west to graze with the ranch smack dab in the middle.”

“And to think your grandfather lived out here alone,” Jacob sounded impressed, “the ranch is older than the manor, correct?”

“Si,” Delgado smiled and waved at Sophie as she skipped past with some of the girls toward the General Store with Manny leading the way, “not by much, but it is. Like most of the founding families, the Delgados staked a claim out in the frontier and worked the land while the walls were built.”

“I still remember how mad your father was over Raphael’s decision to leave the ranch to you,” Jacob shook his head, “not because he wanted it, mind you. Pretty sure he was going to knock the old house down to make space for a warehouse or some nonsense. But instead it sat empty, waiting for you.”

“Probably why Abuelo did it,” Delgado said quietly, “Bastian had already ruined enough.”

Jacob took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow before smoothing back his hair, “no, Raphael did it because he loved you, Gabriel. You were his whole world. Hell, right there at the end, when he’d moved back to the city for treatment, Raphael talked about you all the time. I remember he and Bastian got into it after one of your more spectacular heists made the news. Raphael seemed to relish in throwing your successes in his son’s face. ‘He’s done more with our family name than you ever did,’ Sat outside the manor taunting Bastian for a while before his nurse walked him back to his apartment.”

Delgado laughed to shake the shock off his face, “that so?”

#starfield fanfiction #fanfic #atonalginger writes #the coemancer crew #sam coe #starfield delgado #Cora Coe #starfield #atonalginger art

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pvlvsdog · 4 months ago

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If sinners were to be bugs/insects etc, which one would they be?

Okay okay okay. This is a really exciting ask, thank you! I did lots of thinking about this one :3

Ish gets a pea leaf weevil. First of all, not biology based, but weevils are generally liked by people on the internet and I like the way they look. Some of pea leaf weevils look kind of ginger too. So that’s a bonus^^ The main thing about this one that it can survive in a lot of places, that little bug is determined to get by and will not be bothered by a simple relocation. I feel like, that kind of goes along with sailing and being on the move, you have to learn to be versatile. But they are known to like dry places, right? Well, my funniest reason to pick this little guy is that a few years back the country was swarmed with articles because uh oh. Turns out they enjoy the sea a lot. And take residence there as well. And if they got some business, they will not stop just because you’re sitting in the way. The seaside is their place, you’re just visiting it 😌😌

Unfortunately, the common pond skater goes to Sinclair. It would make more sense to give that one to Ishmael instead, but I based this one on behaviour only. See, they are just some common little guys, I like them quite a lot. From what I’ve read they move around quite a lot out of fear of being eaten. But, other than being quite frantic and looking harmless, they are uh… well intense. They can bite you and you *will* feel it, I promise. Don’t pick them up, because as scared as they are, they are capable of fighting back if they need to. Plus, just like many other insects, they are partial to things we could consider off-putting such as cannibalism. I picked this species since they remind me of the ‘he’s just a little guy -> oh, he’s a little f-ed up actually” and that fits the vibes I have from him

Meursaul gets a louse. I don’t like them.

After some thought I have to give Outis a giant horsefly. They look chill, many are, based on personal experience it’s very nice to interact with them. But then again, if the female needs it, she’ll bite you. Nothing personal, simple conflict of interest. I feel like that kind of fits with Outis being a bit… suspicious in her intro but they being so patient with Dante (even if it’s not all that genuine). Also I just like those horseflies :3

I see Don as a grasshopper. This one’s fairly easy - she moves around a lot, distinct fair hair (like the grasshoppers signature light green), is easily recognisable. The freaky anatomy and facts are kind of a bonus here. Besides, they are, quite literally, ancient. And Don’s source isn’t all that recent either

With its… quite different name in my native language, the black beauty walking stick just kind of fits Heathcliff. Being named (again, in my language) the devil scare, it’s known for a few things. Of course first and foremost for its intimidation tactics. They look a bit „scary”, at least that’s what I’ve heard people say, and they add to it with their strategy of covering for vulnerability with their scare tactics. Being seen as „fun silly pets” adds to it for me, because from experience I know that the households that do buy them often don’t really see them as like, a „real animal” and they often get treated like toys or reluctant additions to the family. Overall disposable

Based on vibes mostly, Yi Sang is an orchard ermine moth. The colours just make sense for me. Besides, it kind of makes sense from a meta perspective cause their history (the spiecies divide, the unexpected spikes in uneven distribution) is quite interesting and while at first I also looked at Yi Sand as kind of unassuming, the bits of information I have on him now prove me otherwise

Rodya gets desmoxytes purpurosea. It’s a relatively new species, it’s beautiful, popular amongst people. Absolutely amazing. And it smells like almonds. Why? Well, probably due to hydrogen cyanide they produce. Not a surprise considering the hot pink is a pretty good indicator of them being a bit… dangerous to it’s opponents. What girlbosses they are, they get to be cute, hot pink and unassuming AND pretty deadly

Dante gets a summer chafer. Despite being seen as quite useless and a pest, they don’t make much significant damage. Their lifestyle, notably mating, takes quite a toll on their bodies and by the time the female laid eggs a few times (each time the process paired with digging lasts around a day) she passes. They are drawn to light. And look absolutely adorable as a bonus

I wanted to give Ryōshū some sort of a mantis, but I settled on the horrid king assassin bug. This is not a roast, I just think they are and look pretty dangerous while also being damn intimidating. Besides, having a few ways of killing, which makes them more proficient by a long shot, kind of fits in with her whole vibe and the killing thing. I think she would appreciate variety in the craft as well^^

Hong Lu gets the Spiny Flower Mantis. It’s a species well loved and appreciated for their beauty. Look up some pictures, please, they look unreal! The goal is to look similar to flowers. When they feel like they’re in danger, they spread their wings and start flapping them, making the colours on them glimmer. Which I find a bit funny, because it’s also something they do to show off to others. Also having eye-spots kind of sold me on giving it to him, to keep the theme (a lot of art displaying his eyes). They don’t chase after prey, they aren’t known to be a very active species, preferring to sit and wait for things to come to them. Also kind of picky with their living situation, for example they don’t take humidity well in captivity and pretty quickly you will be made aware of that as their home giver

For Faust I settled on a domestic silk moth. They don’t live in the wild since they are pretty important to humans and have been fully domesticated to help out with developing sciences. Mainly, they are tied to research as well as, well, producing silk

Lastly, Gregor. I didn’t want to go for a cockroach, I feel like he gets treated as a vermin enough as is, I really don’t want to perpetuate that (I wouldn’t use ‘cockroach’ as an insult, but he would take it as one, hurtful at that). At first I thought to give him some sort of a beetle. But after thinking more objectively, I settled on a bumblebee. Peaceful, beautiful, soft - overall amazing. Also mostly liked because they are practical to humans, I’m not sure we would like them a whole ton if the argument “don’t kill them, they are useful” didn’t come into play. So that uh… that goes along with certain canon themes. Something something having value if “actual” humans can make use of you. But yeah, well, I don’t want to be all depressing. World cold and hard, bumblebee soft and warm 😌😌

#limbus headcanons #limbus company #limbus #limbus company headcanons

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ofpineapplesanddawns · 2 months ago

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Here's a little one-shot from that werewolf Peter au I was talking about yesterday.

Summary: Aro finds the strange creature that has been causing trouble, and quickly takes an interest in him

Warning: blood, mentioned death, Peter is not dressed due to werewolf reasons, Aro is an ass, but this is normal

On with the fic!

Aro had been expecting a newborn vampire as the one causing all these slayings in the city of Las Vegas, they had fit the usual style of bloodthirsty vampires with no proper guidance. It was a decent reason to travel to this city after a visit with the Cullens, just to check up on their little child, making sure she wasn't a threat still.

He had taken up the task to find the newborn himself, he needed the amusement.

However, what he had found was anything but a recently made vampire.

Instead, he found the shivering form of a naked human, covered in claw marks, and blood, both the human's own and another person's. The scent was strong, but the blood of the human before him was... not right.

It reminded Aro of the shapeshifters, of both this country, and of Europe. Though there are quite a variety of shifters around the world, you could tell the scent of their animal if you were well adapted as Aro.

And he smelled the scent of a feral wolf.

The human was a skinny thing, but clearly a tall one, with dark brown hair, and eyes that showed both fear and anger. There were still features of the wolf on him, the long, nasty claws still soaked in blood and chunks of meat, with sharp teeth bared. The body was a tight thing of muscles still trying to change back into a more human-like structure, and the feet were... not quite right, yet, but were slowly changing back.

It looked painful.

"My, my, my..." Aro stared, smiling as he stared at the human, hidden in the shadows of a disgusting alleyway. The scent of garbage, human, and blood was strong here, was a terrible place to be. "Was not expecting one of you to be the cause of all the attacks, how curious."

"Fuck off." The human snarled, practically growled out. The accent was clearly not a local one, he sounded British. How silly, a reverse of that old film, then?

"And why would I do that?"

"Got enough problems right now, fang face, don't need a fancy ass vampire to come cause me trouble!" The human stated before crying out as there were loud bone snaps, his feet becoming normal again.

So, it was painful. Fun.

Aro chuckled and approached, standing over the human laid on the filthy ground, panting hard and not seeming to care that he was naked as anything.

Hmm... not a bad looking human, probably wouldn't be much of a snack even if he wasn't a werewolf. He had the underlining scent of alcohol. Lots of it. It made blood taste terrible.

"How did you know I'm a vampire?" Aro asked, smiling down at him.

The man glared up at him, gritting his teeth as his claws started to revert back into fingernails. "I'm... clever like that. Expert hunter... fuck!"

He panted hard then dropped his head back with a grunt. "Plus, you stand out like one from a movie or somethin'. Or a dumb vampire novel."

Aro couldn't help but to laugh at this, he'd be insulted if he didn't find this creature oddly amusing. "Expert hunter, hm? Is that how you became a werewolf, little wolf?"

This earned him a very, very nasty look, which only served to amuse Aro more. "Fuck you. I am, one of the best experts in the world. And I got bit... in a way that's none of your business."

Aro just hummed, nodding, taking note of scars on the human's exposed skin. Scratches, lots of them, some old, some new, some healing right now. There were also bites, old ones, scattered about, but there was one that sat on the man's left shoulder, it looked red still, but the attacks had been happening for a few months now, was a werewolf bite slow to heal?

This creature made Aro very curious, it wasn't often he dealt with werewolves, it had been ages since he last encountered any, and all of them had been slaughtered by humans shortly afterwards. Or by other vampires.

It would be a shame to slaughter this one, when Aro could use him to study the beasts. He watched the human roll about in pain as the last of his body changes back to a normal appearance, and he ponders over this being.

He wonders... would a werewolf be good in his ranks? Those vampires up north have their shapeshifters, so why shouldn't he have one? It would make things more interesting for him, that was for sure.

He grinned, holding out a hand. "Here, let me help you."

The man stared at the hand. "Why?"

"You are lying in blood and who knows what, it is nearly fully sunrise, and I am sure you'd like to be home and not naked and coated in blood before anyone else sees."

"Hmm... and how do I know you're not just going to bite me and drink my blood when you help me up?"

"I do not like the taste of animal blood."

"Bite me!"

"I just said I don't like dog blood." Aro laughed at the sputtering the human made, and just yanked him up off the ground, much to his protest.

As much as it bothered Aro to let anyone use his clothing, he removed his cloak to cover the man, who mumbled a thanks, curling up in it.

"Now," Aro started, clasping his hands in front of himself, "how about we discuss things in a more secluded location."

The man looked confused. "Discuss what things?"

"Oh, you'll soon learn. Come now, show me where you live, dear wolf." He smiled, gently taking the man by the elbow and started to walk out of the alley.

Peter would fight back more, but he is utterly exhausted, in pain, and feeling like shit for a number of reasons. He'll be much more annoyed with Aro once he gets a shower, sobs over his self-hatred and guilt, and has at least three cups of coffee in his system.

#john's drabbles #vincturi #good omens extended universe

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canirove · 2 years ago

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Best friends… forever? | Chapter 13

Previous chapter | Next chapter

Masterlist

"Is that for me?"

"Yep" Fran smiles, giving Mila a red rose. "It may be too much, but I don't know, I saw a guy selling them earlier and couldn't help myself."

"I love it when people get me flowers. Thank you." Rúben always gets her a bouquet after she's won a big game. After losing it too. Rúben...

"Are ok you?" Fran asks her. "You look... I don't know. Weird. Are you sure you want to go out?"

"I do, yes" Mila says. "I need to keep my head busy and stop thinking for a while."

"May I ask what has happened?"

"I'll tell you at the restaurant."

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Wow."

"I know" Mila says, taking a bite of her food.

"So you are in love with your best friend, who happens to be Rúben Dias, the Manchester City player."

"I’m not in love with him. I am falling in love with him. It isn’t the same." Or that’s what she tells herself.

"And you came to that conclusion thanks to me?"

"Yeah... And I'm so sorry about it. You probably feel like I used you or something."

"Oh, it’s ok. I knew this was just a fling, that it wasn't going anywhere. Our lifestyles and the fact that we don't live in the same country, make trying something very difficult. To be honest, I'm flattered” Fran shrugs.

"Flattered? What do you mean?"

"You said you chose me because I reminded you of Rúben, and he is like... Fitness, style and career goals. And you, who know him better than anyone, found some of the things he has on me."

"That's... Weird. But ok, if it makes you happy" Mila chuckles.

"Very" Fran smiles.

"Then can we stay as friends? I wouldn't mind having someone I can visit in Sevilla."

"The doors of my house will always be open for you. But what are you going to do now? Are you going to tell Rúben?"

"Oh, no. No, no, no. Just the thought of it makes me feel this thing in my chest and... No."

"Then?"

"I don't know. We still have a couple of weeks left before the preseason starts, so I guess I'll go back to Portugal with the girls."

"You are leaving Cádiz?"

"Next week it is Eva's brother's turn to stay at the house, and he invites his friends. We have to leave" Mila shrugs.

"Then come to Murcia with me."

"What?"

"You said you've never been, right? I think I can convince Pablo to let me take you as my plus one to the wedding. If you want, of course."

"Fran, are you... Are you sure? Wouldn't it be awkward?"

"Nah" he says. "So tell me. Are you in the mood for a Spanish wedding or not?"

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"She isn't coming?"

"Nope. She's staying with some new friends she made" Rúben says.

For the first time in years, Mila is missing their "Portuguese gang" reunion at the end of the holidays. And it doesn’t feel ok.

"New friends? Who?" Bruno asks.

"I'm not sure. She just told me that one of them invited her to his wedding."

"That's odd, isn't it? They just met, and she is going to his wedding."

"Anything to stay away from us" Diogo says. "Or from Rúben."

"Or maybe just from you, who suddenly became the annoying one" Rúben spats.

"Hey, let it be peace" Bruno says. "We are on holidays, remember? Let's try to relax and have fun."

"I don't know how we'll be able to do that with grumpy cat over here" Diogo says, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm not grumpy" Rúben replies.

"Of course not" Diogo snorts.

"Ok, new rule. It is forbidden to talk about Mila" Bruno says. "She doesn't exist, understood?"

"Do you think you can forget about her for a few days?" Diogo asks Rúben.

"I can" he says. But he knows that is a lie. Even when he doesn’t want to, he finds himself thinking about her. And knowing that she is at someone's wedding, definitely with the guy she was talking with on that photo, doesn't help.

"Great!" Bruno says. "Let's cheers to that, and think what we want to do next. Maybe rent a boat?"

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"Mila, you look absolutely stunning."

"Thank you, Fran" she says, feeling her cheeks getting warm.

"I just hope they don't kick us out of the wedding."

"Why would they do that?"

"Because I'm sure you look ten times better than the bride, and today it is supposed to be her day" he says with a cheeky smile.

"Oh, shut up" she laughs, taking the arm he is offering her.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

"That has to be the most bizarre dance of my entire life" Mila laughs, letting herself fall on a chair.

"I just can't believe that, being Portuguese and spending your summers in Spain, you didn't know about Paquito el chocolatero."

"I don't know, maybe I'm normal" she shrugs.

"If you were normal, you would have known about it" Fran laughs.

"It is just so... The moves, you know?"

"I know."

"And everyone dances. Adults, children, the grandparents... Everyone!"

"That's Paquito el chocolatero" he shrugs. "Are you having fun?"

"Lots of fun. Thank you for convincing me to come."

"It's been my pleasure. Though maybe we could... End the night with... Actual pleasure, you know?"

"Fran... Are you asking me if I want to have sex?" Mila laughs, the woman sitting on the table next to theirs giving her an outraged look.

"Just one last time. As a goodbye. To me, to the summer, to Spain..."

"Ok then" she says after thinking about it for a few seconds. She only has a couple of days left of her holidays before she has to go back to Manchester. Before she has to face Rúben and her feelings for him. And God knows how that will go. So maybe having one last wild night with this very nice and very hot guy like Eva liked calling Fran, wasn't such a bad idea.

"You sure? If you don't want to do it it's fine, I totally get it."

"I'm sure" Mila says. "Your room or mine?"

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━

Author’s note: In case you are curious about what “Paquito el chocolatero” is, it is a super famous Spanish song with very particular dance moves that it is played on weddings and parties in general, usually when people already are a bit tipsy 😅

The moves that made Mila go 👀 are the ones you can see here at minute 1:27 😂

#ruben dias #ruben dias fanfic #ruben dias imagine #football fanfic #football imagine

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hydrangeyes · 1 year ago

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You are what you are

So if you don't know, Yes this already existed, my old account was deleted (accident but I can tell I won't be getting it back), and am reposting my old x male reader works!

I don't know if I saved all of them but here is one that was saved to my AO3 account.

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

Part 1

16. Toga needs her big brother, league meets ‘quirkless’ OC

Summary: Toga gets homesick and the group takes her to see her big brother. Domestic League, pairing: ???? also I love the Idea that other times Toga is crazy big sister but when sad/down she is baby

Edit: I looked it up and twice is way older than i thought so for most if not all things I write him in he is 22.

Edit 2: changed big brother to younger brother to fit canon a bit more

Now here is a mini series I never picked back up really, I do think I have part 2 somewhere but eh. Another project I started and dropped (no specific reason)

Dabi x Male reader x Shigaraki

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Toga stared blankly up at nothing. She’s been sitting at the table, resting her head between outstretched arms for most of the day. It worried the fuck out of everyone. Usually when toga’s quiet she’s up to something, but it’s been hours. The only time she even shifted and responded was when twice tentatively sat next to her, asking what was wrong.

She only said nothing and that she was a bit thirsty when he asked if she needed anything. The boys sat at the bar to give her space as she sipped some orange juice. Kurogiri polishing the glass cups, Twice and Dabi watching Toga, and Tomura playing a game on his new switch.

“This shit is giving me hives. Just tell us what your problem is so we can fix it.” Dabi suddenly says standing up from the bar seat. Twice and Kurogiri held their breaths while Tomura continued playing on his game, but did glance over to see her reaction.

“…..I miss my little brother.”

The reactions were immediate. She had everyone’s full attention, occasionally glancing at one another as if to confirm that she actually just said that.

“Usually around this time I would go visit… But with things so tense and us trying to keep it low. I don’t want to bring all our mess to him, he would have a heart attack.” she pouts scratching her cheek sitting up finally. “Especially since he is a civilian and all.”

That definitely shut up any quirk related questions. Toga went on as if she didn’t notice the others questioning everything they assumed about her so far. “I don’t think I told him I became a full on villain. See he lives country side too so wouldn’t see the papers about us.”

“Let’s visit.” Tomura speaks up suddenly, putting the switch down to turn and start showing that he was paying attention.

“We need a break anyway. Think if you call him and ask if he has room, we could stay for a bit?” Toga perks up as Tomura talks excitedly and lets out happy squeals. “Shiggy!! That’s an awesome idea! Wait here!” and with that she rushes out to go get her charging phone.

Taking the silence as not knowing what to do next twice hopped on the opportunity to start freaking out. “SHE HAS A BROTHER?????? Calm the fuck down.”

The others left the anxious man to it, Dabi turning to Tomura in annoyance. “Why exactly are we really going to visit this ‘brother’ of hers? Didn’t take you for the… Visiting family type.”

Tomura hums going back to his own switch, right hand twitch then lightly rubbing his jaw after a look from Kurogiri.

“I’m not. But we are in need of more members, even if quirkless this brother could still be of use to us.” Tomura notes, eyes on the screen. “Plus I’m bored and seeing Toga around a male she hasn’t tried to kill sounds like a fun side quest.”

Letting out a tsk, Dabi looked over to the still freaking out twice but kept his response to himself. It’s not like he had any work to do right away. Taking out his phone he texts his pesky bird he’ll be gone for a bit. They were going to need some new casual clothes.

—————————–Timeskip——————————-

It was always blissfully quiet during this time of day. The countryside is rather peaceful compared to the city side. Which is probably why he was sent here to begin with. But he wouldn’t complain much, after all the house he got was pretty sweet.

A two story cottage house surrounded by a cute metal fence, with its own large front and back garden. The woods not far from the back and not long after his first stay did he find an outdoor onsen.

At 11 am on the clock it was like the world at large was napping. With the warm summer air and singing from restless cicadas. Michi hummed softly as he finished up cleaning and airing out his decent size collage home. He made his way outside to go water the front garden excitedly.

“It’s been awhile since Himi-chan came to visit, and with some friends.” Michi mumbles to him and his plants. The heat may be getting to him a bit but he was wearing the lightest clothes he had; well that wasn’t underwear. A loose soft blue tank top and patterned pineapple swim trunks.

Losing himself in thoughts of what they could be like and when to start lunch, Michi didn’t notice time passing till he heard the distant sounds of a vehicle coming from down the road. Hearing the vehicle stop snaps him out of it, curiously hearing what seems to be the tail ends of an argument.

“I told you taking the left turn would get us here! Now we’re late!”

“Stop yelling at kuro, he was just following the gps.”

“Why!? I know-”

“Toga?”

Peeking over the front hedge, Michi sucks in an excited breath completely zoning in on Toga as soon as he sees her. “TOTO-NEE” he shouts, racing over and lifting her up into a tight hug laughing.

He obviously startled her but just as quickly she hugged back hard, laughing for once in absolute happiness that didn’t involve killing someone.

While talking her up and after seeing how big she’s grown, Michi kept an eye on her group of friends. The first to grab his attention being a tall seemingly male with mists as their head and hands, dressed in a full on casual suit.

A flag pops into Michi’s head, then even more as he continues looking over the others; taking mental notes.

‘Mist form- cloud quirk? teleportation?, Casual suit. Most wary of.

Stables and burnt skin- fire quirk, sleeveless jacket and leather pants. Could be a problem

Full on mask, white t-shirt and jean jacket- unknown quirk, maybe face related. Super suspicious.

Dry skin and specialty gloves- touch related quirk?, Black shirt and long red coat (little red riding hood), not immediately suspicious but still be wary’

Smoothly Michi turned his full attention back to Toga. He really did miss her a lot, seeing her in person was a bit of a shock. Not wanting to go down that depressing road he grins and squishes Togas cheeks. Toga squawks and pouts flailing her arms in protest but he can hear the laughter in her tone. “Mimiiiiiiii!!!!”

—————————-

It was weird. The boys all mentally agreed. Seeing toga act like a ‘normal’ girl was fucking weird. And her brother seemed so normal in comparison. 5’7 with lean muscle, dark skin, familiar ash blonde hair and yellow eyes. No hints of underline bloodlust or killing intent.

There was nothing about this brother that hinted that he’s even been to the city. A sort of country bumpkin aura too him. His posture was relaxed, open and easy to read. His attention was so focused on Toga, that they each weren’t sure if the man noticed them just standing there with their luggage.

“Oh! Is this them?” Michi asks, finally turning his head in their direction. Away from a pouting Toga who clung to his arm. Giving the boys a soft welcoming smile.

'Oblivious.’ They each thought, with the way this man was acting he had no clue that they were real villains. Michi figured it out as soon as he hugged toga immediately and smelled fresh blood on her sweater. Finally Kurogiri and Tomura stepped forward with a slight bow, establishing to the blonde who the leaders of the group were. “My name is Tomura, this is Kurogiri, Dabi, and Twice.”

Dabi and twice stepping forward to show who was who. Twice going a bit extra by giving Michi an awkward deep bow. while Dabi’s blank stare was dripping with mischief, Toga gave him a smile full of warnings.

Michi chuckled, raising an eyebrow at the whole thing. Waiting till toga excitedly let go, running to the house. Michi hums and just for a second gave each and every one of them a calculated look. Immediately the boys tense surprised by the change of atmosphere.

“Michi Toga. I do hope you all have been taking good care of my big sister, I wouldn’t want this ‘vacation’ of yours to end with me draining you dry.”

Given how Toga’s quirk works, they all can guess what type of threat the man was making. Tomura looked unbothered but he was standing up straighter, Kurogiri stepped a bit more in front of Tomura. Dabi’s eyes narrowed and Twice looked between the 4 staring down each other.

“Michi- chan give me a tour!!” Hearing that Michi sighed playfully exasperated. Turning and starts heading towards the house. “Come on boys, you all can get settled while I start on dinner.” Inwardly he smirks ‘cute.’ leaving them to their thoughts.

“We’re screwed. Who does that quirkless asshole think he is. Do you think he’s onto us?” Twice asks as if that wasn’t obvious enough.

—————————————————-

heh this took longer than I expected, writing these characters verses imagining the prompt is definitely a fun challenge. So is going from docs to tumblr, the sync is weirdddd

Anyway Part 2 is in the future but so is a brewing male reader x hawks prompt.

Edit: Lmaooo sure hun sure

#x male reader #male reader #bnha x male reader #bnha x oc

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keysmashhhhhhhh · 10 months ago

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I can't fit the whole story in the tags so it's going here. Buckle up folks because I live for retelling my parents story.

OK so my mum finishes uni, decides she can't go back to her boring life in Cornwall so she dumps her boyfriend, packs up all her stuff and takes up a 9 month teaching post in Russia teaching English to Russian kids. There she gets into all sorts of shenanigans including a party at the Kazakhstan embassy, an infamous chicken incident and that one time she accidently spilt home brewed vodka and it was so toxic it stripped layers of metal off of the sink. Theres an issue with the building shes living in so she ends up relocating and has to move in with another one of the teachers, we'll call her R. Anyways she's living it up in Russia meanwhile my dad is stuck in a job he hates in Glasgow working for BT (which he only got through nepotism) but he's super into computers, super nerdy and has lots of similar friends including one guy, we'll call G. Mum and R's teaching post ends in Russia and they both go back to the UK with a deal that the first one of them to get a job in London will move there and they'll both live together, R gets the job so my mum once again leaves Cornwall for London. Back to Dad, he's still stuck in Scotland but his friend G has just met a really nice girl in London none other than R! So they meet, fall in love and decide to get married. At this wedding my mum and dad meet for the first time but it's not the love at first sight you'd think because THEY HATED EACH OTHER. Basically R and G thought they'd be perfect for each other, both a bit weird, edgy and interested in the same music so R and G tried EVERYTHING to set my parents up at the wedding, making them sit next to each other. But my parents, both happily single, didn't want to be set up so they pointedly ignored each other. According to my dad his first impression of my mum was "big hat" and according to my mum she was so drunk that day she doesn't remember meeting him at all. So yeah not the ideal first meeting BUT the day after the wedding R and G decide to go to the pub with their closest friends including my mum and dad. There my mum and dad kind of meet each other properly you know outside of the context of being set up and realise they do get on well, they can both drink a lot and they have similar taste in music and they kind of liked each other. BUT they live in completely different ends of the country it'll never work out, right? Well they swap emails and stay in touch, including a cute month of playing virtual poo sticks together (awwww) anyways my mum visits Scotland for a weekend, my dad comes down to London and eventually they decide my dad should just move in permanently. So my dad moves in with my mum, her sister and my mum's ex boyfriend (yikes) in London, all sorts happen lots of stores I've heard from parties they hosted. Anyways this is kind of the sad bit, my mums sister gets cancer and after a year of pretty horrible suffering she dies, instead of running out my dad sticks my mum (who he's only known for less than a year) because he's a lovely person. Then less than a year later my mum's dad dies of cancer, and my dad again supports her and is just generally a good person where most people would have freaked out. After they've been through all that they decide to get married, according to them they always say they got all the hard stuff out the way in the first 2 years of the relationship so anything they face now is pretty insignificant to the pain they faced then. So yeah that's their story I love it so much because its literally enemies to lovers, plus it just makes me so happy to retell it because at least in my friend group, my parents are one of the few still together, and people always ask me how they do it. :)

I watched When Harry Met Sally yesterday so now I'm curious how everyone's parents met. Any and all stories are welcome!

#Sorry for the INCREDIBLY long post i just love this story #i couldnt even fit it in the tags it was so long!

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renegadepack · 2 years ago

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when writing “beautifully happy & painless romantic,” one of my favorite parts was imagining where the members of the pack were in their lives. as it wasn’t the focus of the fic, i didn’t dive too much into the details. but i do what i want and really love thinking about it (plus i’m always down for more pack content) so i’m beginning to write longer pieces focusing on each of the members. here’s seth’s.

As long as he could remember, Seth wanted to be a teacher. From the start, he loved school, loved learning. When he phased and was told he would have to drop out, he hated hearing it as much as Sam hated telling him. But there’s not much use in dwelling on what you can’t change, so he did his best to keep up with everyone. He knew eventually he would find his way back.

Months later, everything tentatively seemed safe. They would always need protectors, but two large packs wasn’t necessary anymore. And Jacob knew Seth didn’t want this, not really. It was an order he was only too happy to give; Seth had to stay home and go back to school. Someone had to be the brains of this generation. And as one who could always stay positive, upbeat, he was one of the first to have full control. The worry was always possible, but no longer probable.

Even with all of…everything, Seth was able to catch up and graduate on time. He spent a lot of time towards the end of his senior year applying to schools, researching the ones nearby that had good teaching programs. He landed on one in Seattle, refusing to go too far away. And of course, Leah was happy to make some room for him in her apartment in the city. After so much time together as a pack, they had missed each other a ton when Leah moved away. She was only too happy to have her brother back, even if she tried to hide it.

To no one’s surprise, Seth loved college. He fit right in; adjusted well. Being in an environment where all he had to do was meet people and learn was right up his alley. He loved his classes; always gushing to Leah whenever they both had time to grab a meal together. Through clubs, classes, bumping into people in the cafeteria or at the library, Seth found plenty of friends as well.

Five weeks in, he finally was able to go to a meeting of the Educator’s Club. It was a club on campus for everyone in the teaching program, regardless of subject. He hadn’t narrowed down his focus yet, and was hoping the club could help him figure it out. Plus, knowing more people in his major couldn’t hurt. But it was so much better when he walked in and saw a face he hadn’t seen in ten years.

As a child, Seth’s best friend had been a girl named Violet. From their first meeting at nearly a year old, to when Violet’s family had to move across the country, they had been inseparable. And as unfortunately almost always happens, they had lost touch over the years. But now, ten years later, they were in the same room again. And this time, they wouldn’t lose touch.

They quickly became close again, almost like no time had passed. She slid right back into Seth’s life, and he into hers. And then at a party, she leaned over to kiss him and the rest was history. A few years later, with hiring letters from the same school and Seth down on one knee at their graduation, they were ready to start their lives together.

It was easy for Seth to settle back into life in La Push, especially with Violet by his side. Sue came by for visits, and they swung by his childhood home. Violet remembered more than she thought, although it was different now. He kept friends with the old pack, laughing about past adventures and thinking to the future. He had grown up surrounded by love, and he wanted that for his kids. He couldn’t wait to have a big family.

So it was perfect when late one night, Violet had some great news for him, and a slight need for a bigger house.

full fic // jacob // sam & emily // leah

more fic // request fic

#seth clearwater #twilight #twilight fanfic #twilight headcanons #tts #ttsfanfic #twilightfanfic #twilightfic #renegadefic

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lonely-lost-soul · 4 years ago

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Slumber Party

Request 4: C!Ranboo and his best friend just having a calm like self-care sort of night? Like just some fluffy friendly content- maybe the reader playing with his hair? 🥺 I thrive on platonic content so so much

Requested By: Anonymous

(PLATONIC!Ranboo x Reader)

I felt like this one was better written in HeadCannon style hope that’s okay!

Marching through the Tundra the snow crunched under your feet, this was the first time you had made the journey out to visit Ranboo.

You two had been inseparable since he came to the country of New L’manburg, Tubbo had introduced the both of you and you were attached at the hip ever since. You were one of the first names under the best friends category in his memory book and you had a locket with his face inside it labeled best friend.

So it was only natural that he had made sure you were the first person who had direct permission from Technoblade to be on his property.

The pigman had warmed up to you surprisingly quickly, mainly because you had brought him a housewarming gift.

(The gift in question was some of your world-famous homemade mashed potatoes)

He took it stiffly and gruffly, turning away from the both of you to walk back towards his house.

Ranboo rushed to assure you that, that’s what he does when he appreciates something.

You chose to ignore the weird reaction in favor of following Ranboo to his home.

Ranboo’s pets remembered you and it was a joyful reunion between all of them. It ended in many snuggles and pets from both parties.

Eventually, Ranboo suggested you both move away from the pets and do something more fun. Mainly he wanted to officially show off his new powers to you, keeping them a secret had been immensely challenging.

The both of you sat across from one another on the floor, in front of you he placed a grass block.

“Ready?”

“Considering I don’t know what you’re doing sure.”

You almost screamed when he broke the grass and it was still...well grass.

“Do it again! Can you do it to other blocks or just dirt? What else can you pick up?

He couldn’t help but preen at all the praise and you were happy to dish out the compliments.

Ranboo explained how he went around with Techno to do some little experiments with what he could pick up.

You could care less about the spawners but the cake was another story. You made him pick it up about five times, eyes sparkling about unlimited cake.

Finally, to distract you away from the cake he asked how you were doing living with Tubbo in Snowchester.

“The nukes freak me out a little but other than that it’s peaceful. Tubbo and Jack’s shenanigans are super entertaining, I love living by Charlie! His puns make me laugh and he feels like he’s having a permanent mental breakdown. Which is again, very entertaining.”

Ranboo gave a soft chuckle, “Yeah I mean understandable whenever I visit there’s certainly never a dull moment.”

The only thing that did worry you was how weird Jack Manifold was being around Tommy. There was just a weird vibe you couldn’t quite put your finger on and Ranboo frowned in distaste. He felt it too.

However, today was a good day. No sad or worrying thoughts and certainly no dwelling on business that wasn’t either of your own.

Ranboo watched your brow crease in worry and immediately wanted to steer your thoughts away from any negativity.

RANBOO SAYS THERE’S NO SADNESS ALLOWED IN HIS HOUSE UNLESS IT’S HIS OWN

“You wanna braid my hair?” He ended up blurting and watched you blink in surprise your sadness fading away and it was replaced with a look of confusion.

“Is...Is it long enough?” You tilted your head to the side, now officially eyeing his multicolored hair.

“I don’t know...You wanna try?”

“Yeah! Totally!” You chirped as he nodded, you both moved to shift into a more comfortable position. He sat in front of you, you could barely see over his shoulder to even reach his hair you had to sit up on your knees.

“Hold it!” Ranboo paused turning to look over his shoulder, “put a pillow down.” He mama henned you, “you’re gonna bruise your knees.”

You grabbed a pillow with an eye roll and put it beneath your knees as he instructed.

You gently put your crown off his head and placed it on your own, you began to run your fingers through his hair.

How was it so soft? It’s way softer than yours! That’s not fair!

Ranboo felt you huff against him, and he smirked to himself but his face immediately melted into a relaxed expression as you ran your fingers through it.

You began to softly braid the strands of hair, waiting curiously as the stray stands of white and black got intermixed with one another.

You ended up making two small pigtail braids and tying the ends with rubber bands to make them stay in place. You had placed his crown back on his head and smirked proudly.

He turned to face you and your smirk turned into a proud grin,

“How’s it looking?”

“You look amazing. I’m amazing, the talent I have is immense.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” He declared moving over to look in the mirror, he had to admit you didn’t do a terrible job at all.

He turned back to face you and declared it was your turn for him to play with your hair.

So the both of you switched positions, you sitting comfortably in between his legs as he brushed his fingers through your hair.

In the end, Ranboo couldn’t figure out how to do anything other than put it in a small ponytail.

You snickered at his misfortune but assured you loved the new hairstyle and decided you’d wear it for the remainder of the night.

“You don’t have to.” Ranboo sighed shoulders slumping forward, “your hair will only get tangled-”

“Too late I’m wearing it all night and you can’t stop me.”

“(Y/n) please.”

“Never. It’s my new style now, permanent hair doo.”

“Please no.”

An idea struck you suddenly declaring the both of you make the night a self-care experience

Ranboo had no idea what that meant but decided he’d follow your lead.

You snickered, he had no idea what he was in for, you told him to give you five minutes and everything would make sense.

Unfortunately due to his Enderman traits, Ranboo would experience the warm water of a pedicure so you’d make due.

You came back arms full of the so-called self-care supplies you’d mentioned earlier.

The first thing you declared that you were going to paint his nails, you demanded he picks the colors he wanted and he hesitantly picked out a soft red color.

You painted his claws swiftly, he adored it immediately seeing the first nail completed.

Once all of his nails were finished he held his hands out and wiggled his fingers, his eyes lighting up in childlike wonder.

“Let’s do more self-care. Right now!”

You laughed happily and promised him there was more to come, and not to worry.

Eventually, the sun began to set over the hills and both of you were clad in a face mask, cucumbers sitting atop both your eyes.

You were sipping a strawberry smoothie, and Ranboo was sipping on peanut butter and banana.

“Can we get Tubbo in on this next time? He seems like he needs it.” Ranboo asked suddenly a cucumber sliding off his eye to stare at you. You looked back at him with a hum,

“Absolutely. Maybe Tommy can come too.”

“This is why you’re the smart friend.” He complimented, “Although we couldn’t have it here for reasons that look like a half pigman.”

“That’s alright my house is big enough to fit everyone. Plus I have more self-care stuff there anyway.” You turned to face him this time popping off the cucumbers on your own eyes yourself,

“I’ll tell Tubbo and you find Tommy?” Ranboo hummed, “Does next weekend work for you?”

“I do nothing like all the time so yes. It works.”

“How do you stay away from everything, all the drama, and the fighting?”

“I only talk to like three people,” You let out a small laugh rubbing the back of your neck, “Can’t get into drama and wars when you’re barely noticed.” Ranboo frowned a little nudging you with his arm,

“First of all, you are noticed. Whenever I gush about you everyone knows who I’m talking about,” He watched you flush a little at the inclination that he talks about you, “Second I will not have my friends talking bad about themselves or they’ll have to fight me.” You gave a little laugh and Ranboo held up his fists, “I’m gonna fight those negative thoughts.”

“My hero,” You cooed holding your hands to your chest and he smiled fondly at you.

“Plus staying drama and war-free means you’re safe and that’s what’s important.”

“But I want you safe too.”

“I… trust me.” He lied and you could tell there was something he wasn’t telling you but you knew Ranboo and it wasn’t good to press the boy, so for now...you let it go.

“You know I do, always will Boo.” You rest your head on his shoulder and he let you snuggle up close to him, he rested his chin on top of your hair. “Just don’t get hurt okay, I need you in my life.”

“I don’t plan on leaving you behind. Don’t worry.” Ranboo promised and watched as you held out your pinky towards him.

“Pinky promise,” you whispered and he melted,

“Promise.” He interlocked his long pinky finger with your own, from that moment on he knew he had made the right choice to join the Syndicate. He wanted to protect you, and being apart of the Syndicate would certainly allow him to do so, he had to fight to protect the ones he loved. Tubbo, Micheal, and you...he’d go against the world for them, even with his memory problems and his Enderwalking his only goal was to protect his friends, and that’s what he was going to do even if it killed him.

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sanghyukstattoos · 3 years ago

Text

Care

Summary: Almost any day now.

Genre: crime au; fluff-fluff; smut-smut-smut (spanking and submissive behaviour, amongst others)

Characters: B.I I Kim Hanbin x reader x Bobby I Kim Jiwon

A/N: None of the images in the collage are mine, please refer to here for more; For SF9 writings, read here and for iKON, read here~~

The place is a motel, straight out of an American movie. You would not see a place like this anywhere else in the world, or even visit one for that matter. But he had insisted. He brought you here, on a whim, spontaneously. The bed is fine, less than clean but not dirty either. Upon first glance, the place is retro. ''Out of an American movie'', you had said out loud. He chuckled, ''I guess it is.''

Now he is balls deep in you. Caressing your side, in a soothing manner, soothing your cries and whimpers because of the stretch he causes. But it's more than that. The cries of his name that fall from your lips is because of how he pleasures you. Surges of arousal rocks you to and from. With every touch he fills you.

Hot and cavernous are his kisses. You only lean away for breath. Ironic that it has to be something so intimate to occur in such a setting. With every kiss, your hot cries are muffled, like he wants you all to himself. So that no one else can hear you. It is the small space between the two of you, within which all the sounds of resulting pleasure come from, that cultivates such precious memories.

Maybe it was the thrill of running away. From the police you were running, gasping for breath. You wonder if you are going to go to jail. That can not happen. There was conflict of the mind. You were scared, when you were running through the barbed-wired gates but for a brief moment, you looked at the two of them and laughed. Such a weird moment it was; you can't stop thinking about it.

''Let's play some music'' he had said. As he kissed your collarbone and fluttered down your breasts, taking a perk bud into his mouth, hot and heavily, music played through the speaker. In between fast- paced and slow-paced, regular maybe, it played in the background. It was like nature, enough to leave an impression but also enough to pass by.

Hanbin sucked on the skin above your breasts, skirting the area with the warm touch of his lips, his mouth doing it's dirty work. He loves tasting you, the smell of your skin would embrace him too, in this act. Without Jiwon. The atmosphere is different, more serious. With Jiwon it would be light, some jokes would be thrown around. Where is Jiwon?

Out taking a risk. He could be caught. You and Hanbin are here, without a care in the world. Finish what you start. A couple of thoughts are involved in this. He absolutely needs to be naked with you, to let go of all his worries. Motivated by his concerns about the three of you getting caught by the police? High off adrenaline? Whatever it is, you push him on his back, straddling him with a bright smile.

Moans and groans ensue from the man underneath you, whose chest you have your hands roam on, freely. Exploring. Your mouth falls open, jaw slacks when you sink onto his hard cock, circling your hips. The two of you are way past any concerns at this point. He caresses your backside, kneading the flesh in his hand.

You fall forward, on his chest. He slapped your backside, rather harshly, eliciting a moan from you. Anything he does would be pleasurable to you right now. Not less than twenty minutes later, Jiwon comes back. Flash of fear radiates throughout your chest. Your first instinct is to freeze but Hanbin's isn't. He covers you with his body, shielding you from view.

You look like you are caught. You can not see much but you relax. It's Jiwon's chuckle, ''You guys are doing this? Go on, it's not like I haven't seen her naked before.''. You mumble something for Jiwon to shut up, which he laughs at, ruffling your hair before dropping off the groceries on the table.

''Shit you scared me man.'' Hanbin murmurs, ''Plus, we were done, just cuddling.'', he motions, wincing as he slips out of you and into his jeans. You lay on the bed for some time, contemplating, looking outside with your limbs splayed all over the sheets. In a moment, you find them in the bathroom.

Jiwon is freshening up, all his clothes removed, hastily placed on the counter. He only wears his boxers. You grab your shirt from the side, putting it on. Jiwon momentarily loses his train of thought when he glances at you. ''What was I saying? Ah'' was what he said, welcoming you with a hug.

The conversation stops short. He hugs you, in relief, I'm back, so to say. He nuzzles himself in your hair, breathing in the scent of home, what it smells like. Committing it to memory just in case he does not come back anymore. Hanbin looks up from his phone, smiling at the two of you. It can not be the same without either of you or something like that, he thinks.

''What happened?'' you ask in the embrace with Jiwon. It sparks a need from him, he's open to the idea since there's a bed big enough to fit the three of you out there. He needs you, but not now. He has something to tell you first.

''Let's get out of here first.'' he motions to the bed that makes up for most of the room.

Hanbin doesn't say anything, he follows you out into the room. ''We have time, we can stay here for sometime. Unless the two of you want to get out of here, which is perfectly fine by me. Actually, I think we should move.'', Jiwon looks out the room, confirming his idea.

Hanbin seats you in between his legs, his chest touching your back and opposite Jiwon who is close enough to touch your knees. He rubs your sides, blowing out air in nervousness. He tries to keep calm. He can't lose his calm now, especially not in front of the two of you. Shit like that is contagious.

''Where should we move?'' Hanbin asks. This has to be thought out carefully. Choices have to be rationalised right now. The more choices the better, but then it would feel as if it was wrong, like this can't be right.

After that conversation, Jiwon takes the two of you to the pool he found earlier. To relax. You feel that he's doing this because you won't be able to rest, maybe for a really long time. Jiwon thinks hard to himself that he wants the three of you to be together. More peacefully as compared to the situation that you currently are in. Maybe in a foreign country, relaxing on the beachside, something like that.

He'll make sure that it happens, just the three of you. He knows that you aren't one for settling down but it's better than going to jail. That's how it is at this point. Alone would endanger you with no help and three is a support but easy to pick off when together. Stuck. Perception?.

He's on the other side of the pool, waddling his legs and leaning against the granite wall. The pool is blue, brightly so. Sun shines throughout the whole area. Hanbin is at the opposite end; you are swimming towards Jiwon. You took off your t-shirt earlier. You are naked right now. What can Jiwon do?. He knows that this was perfect.

Jiwon reaches out for you as do you for him. He switches so that it's you against the wall. You already know how this will play out. But every time is a new experience. Of experience but new? Fresh is the optimal word. You kiss him lightly, giggling some and laughing some.

He reached for your sex, easing a finger or two in without warning. His groin stirs at the scenario. You were already wet from having sex with Hanbin, he had eased you up. But like this? You must have been ready for a second round. You would have done so if Jiwon hadn't come back then.

If he was more than a second late, he would have seen Hanbin ramming your pretty ass into the creaking bed, without a care that the bed should be intact because it's the only one you have. For three people. He could have joined in. But now he had you all to himself. He turns you around, telling you to place your hands on the wall.

You do so excitedly, he can see the flush on your cheeks at his suggestion. ''From the back?'', you ask even though you know. He hums, placing a kiss on your neck, pumping himself a few times before he sinks into your warmth. God, it is glorious. He is lost for words. The feeling of relief after a long day spent running and what not. He always had the energy to do this with you.

He rocks you against the edge of the pool, shifting the water in waves. Hanbin doesn't watch for the first half, but he can hear. And his cock grows hard when he hears. Especially what you say about Jiwon's dick and how it is like an intrusion between your legs. Fuck, he thinks. You cry out in pleasure, like you had moments ago, cutting off your speech short.

It is how hard you were holding onto the edge, grasping the granite, moaning out like the mess you were. Jiwon noticed the red print, like a shake darker than it should have been. The mark on your backside, made by Hanbin. He grits his teeth at that instant. He pulls you back by the neck, asking, ''What were you and Hanbin up to when I was gone huh?''.

His tone is punishing and you know where this is going. You are about to love this. He takes your silence as disobedience. He lets go of your neck, letting you fall back to the edges. Jiwon forces you straight when he fists your hair, printing your backside red. Tears rim your eyes. You will find it hard to sit afterwards.

Jiwon is angry. Unsuccessfully, he had pushed it away earlier. By going out, he was risking his life, your relationship. He could have been caught. But he walked in to see the two of you having the time of your life, of course, it angered him. And this is how it was coming out. Frustration.

He hits till you cry out for him to stop. He goes much more slowly then. He caresses your tummy, avoiding your sore spot altogether, asking, ''You okay? Do you want me to stop?''. You sniff, finding him peering at you with those inquisitive eyes, always inquisitive.

You disagree and he continues on, till he rips your release out of you. Before you can slump, Hanbin catches you, sliding in front of you. You lean on his chest. Jiwon kisses you, leaving the pool. You pull him back, ''Where are you going?''. He kisses your hand, meeting your smile, ''I'll be back.''.

You are a little tired, not by much. Hanbin holds you till Jiwon comes back, with a bottle of lube and a condom. ''Huh?'' you murmur, realising that you are not done, at least not yet. Jiwon slips back into the pool, the warm body of water enveloping his figure.

Two different people, two different scenarios. Perhaps not all the resources are available but you have time. Enough to let both of them fill you up before you leave for the open road.

#ikon #ikon scenarios #ikon imagines #ikon smut #ikon fanfic #ikon writings #ikon ikonic #ikon oneshots #ikon angst #ikon au #ikon fluff #ikon x reader #ikon bobby #kim jiwon #ikon b.i #kim hanbin

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lambourngb · 3 years ago

Text

a skeleton of something more [malex wip]

Inspired by the promo/trailer for season 3. Spoilers and speculation ahead.

A tumblr work-in-progress

Pairing: Michael/Alex, Alex/Forrest

Summary: Alex goes undercover to seek out Deep Sky. Starts mid-2x13.

Alex leaned his back against the solid wood of his front door, letting the heavy oak take up his weight. He kept making the standard uneven bargain with his body, of giving just a little more, going through the motions for a little longer, and then it would be over. But the tally sheet his body held was long, overflowing with so many unfulfilled promises that it seemed ever more likely he would end this journey in the red.

If it ever ended.

At least, tonight, he had haggled wisely for some space to breathe. On the other side of the door, he had managed to escape Forrest’s hopeful and not subtle attempts to follow him inside, toward the bedroom for a long-awaited reunion. A reunion that Alex had deftly avoided without a trace of guilt. He had used the bland excuse of fatigue from a long, cramped ride from Holloman Air Force Base to Roswell on a bus that had predated the ADA by a good thirty years. It was transparent but still true, written on every line of pain in his smile as he had said “Not tonight.” that even Forrest could read it, even if only Alex knew the real source of his fatigue.

He waited several long moments, before turning to look out the peephole to watch Forrest’s Prius silently reverse out of his driveway. Exhaling out long and low, the tension he had started carrying a little more than a year ago slipped away, letting the calm certainty of safety of his house slip down his body as he released the facade.

Alex was almost done with this assignment, he reminded himself, as he rubbed the back of his hand against his mouth, scrubbing away the taste of Forrest Long from earlier.

Just a little while longer, and he will have enough good will built up to finally meet the leader of Deep Sky face-to-face, after all who could resist the request of a senior member, especially one with the last name of Long? It had been a lucky find that Alex had made in cleaning out his father’s house after his death, a ring and an old photo of the members. In washed out Kodak colors was the cabal of Deep Sky. Former military men with names Alex had memorized off the salvaged hard drives from the Caulfield prison. Linked not by overlapping time on the alien project, but what had become of their careers after their military service had ended. All of them vowing to carry on the protection of Earth against an alien threat, but without the oversight of the government.

The photo in his dad’s desk had been expected, but the silver ring? He had remembered clutching it, his hands still sore from tearing down the shed with Michael, and feeling the imprint of the symbol press deep into his skin. Searing across what Mimi had called his long-love line, singular and deep on his palm. Searing even deeper inside with the recognition that the symbol matched the ring Forrest Long wore.

The genial historian with the loose-fitting cardigan and blue-streaked hair, who had shown flattering interest in Alex, had worn the same ring. Easy on his hand, flashing in the bright sunlight when he had eagerly met up with Alex at the paintball fields with sharpshooter skills. After that date had crashed and burned thanks to a mishmash of his father’s voice and the feeling he had whenever he thought about kissing someone, not Michael, well, Alex had figured that would be the last he would see of the man.

It hadn’t been.

Suddenly, Forrest was everywhere he was, the Crashdown, the Wild Pony. It should have been suspicious to Alex, after months of sharing the same town with the other man without a single encounter. His heart was still bounding uselessly after Michael, while his hands had been full of his suddenly feeble father, and he had missed the snare of the trap. Not just the one his father had laid. Then after his kidnapping, two things had become clear to Alex, his father would never change from the hateful man he was, and Alex’s heart would never change when it came to his feelings for Michael.

Alex pushed his leaden body away from the door, tottering on his feet for a moment before the new prosthesis shored up his balance and he took a deep breath for the strength to move forward.

Fuck. That was a mistake.

His house smelled like rain. Michael. The unexpected consequence of having Michael watch over his house while he had moved around the country, playing up the role of the grieving scion of the Manes family legacy. After a year of brief trips back to Roswell and long stints on the road, the house now smelled like Michael.

Alex sucked in greedy gulps of air, chasing the taste of green and petrichor with his tongue to wash away his previous actions at the bus stop. His security system, his reinforced door and window locks, the weight of his gun still tucked in his back holster, none of it made him feel as safe as the smell of Michael in his home. It was the smallest crumb of promise, but it filled him.

Moving toward the kitchen for a drink, he clocked the changes Michael had made in his absence. His heavier luggage, shipped ahead of him, was already stored, including the set of crutches and the charging station for his back-up prosthesis. The lights in the kitchen came on with a single touch, all of them bright. Dammit, Michael had fixed the two burnt out bulbs, along with the slightly weeping fitting on the sink faucet.

There was zero sign of neglect in his house, no matter where he looked. Not even the faintest trace of dust on his guitars. The house looked warm and well tended. Loved.

The rush of tears welled in his throat, an impossibly large lump, as Alex fought to keep from breaking down. Don’t fucking cry, don’t do it, that’s for at night, he swore creatively at himself. Tears were only allowed under the cover of dark, in hotel rooms or visiting officer quarters, not in the middle of his brightly lit kitchen.

A knock sounded on the front door.

Abruptly, every drop of tortured longing was gone, as Alex straightened his shoulders and crossed the threshold back to the door. He pasted the right amount of faked aspiration mixed with real annoyance on his face as he yanked the door open, expecting to see Forrest back on his step with a weak excuse concocted to overcome the earlier rebuff.

Michael looked up in the porch light, his black hat in hand and his curls wild with nervous raking. “Uh, hi.” He scuffed his boots against the concrete before growing still under Alex’s gaze.

He looked over Michael’s shoulder nervously, for the distinctive truck that everyone in town knew belonged to Michael, but his driveway was empty.

“I parked a few streets over. I don’t think anyone saw me-” Michael’s explanation was cut off short as Alex grabbed his wrist and yanked him inside. Stumbling from Alex’s strong grip, Michael fell forward, and then back as the front door slammed shut with them both safely inside out of view. His mouth was still open in surprise as Alex covered his lips in a kiss.

The surprise was short-lived. Michael came alive under the kiss, opening and yielding to Alex’s hungry lips and tongue. Alex brought his hands up into Michael’s curls, cupping his head protectively as he pressed Michael firmly against the door, drinking in every sound Michael was making.

Hours before, he had kissed Forrest at the bus station, playing up the role of a dutiful boyfriend returning home. It was the tariff he paid with his body to get closer to the roots of Deep Sky, but this, feeling Michael whole and safe under his hands, tasting him now, that was sustenance. Lifeblood. There was an evolution of difference between the two, like comparing simple bacteria wiggling toward complexity and the finished product of a man, standing upright.

It was both a reminder of why he was doing this and a reinstatement of focus, as he slowly broke the kiss with reluctance. Michael chased at his lips, his mouth red and wet, his eyes dark with want. He could feel the heat coming off of Michael’s thin brown shirt, his hands itched to pull it off, to descend back into the physical, but Alex knew that he owed Michael an explanation for earlier.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I didn’t know he was going to be there to meet my bus. I thought it would be okay for you to give me a ride,” Alex explained quietly, as he ran his hands from Michael’s neck down to his fingertips, drinking in all the changes that had happened while he was gone. Michael looked thinner to him, as if he wasn’t eating enough despite the healthy amount of work and money. “I guess he wanted to surprise me and thought it would be romantic.”

Michael made a face at the idea of surprises ever being considered romantic, especially to Alex. He turned sweetly toward Alex’s palm, kissing the center as Alex pushed a stubborn curl out of his eyes. “Are you sure that’s all it was? He wasn’t testing you, was he?”

“I don’t think so.” Alex couldn’t pull his hands away from Michael, and leaned in to kiss him again. It started soft and shallow, trading breaths with Michael, lips against lips, licking deep into his mouth as his previous weariness disappeared now that Michael was here. “He saw you watching us. Now that I’m back, he’s worried about losing my attention to you. He hasn’t hidden his jealousy that I asked you to watch my house last year.”

“Did I look sufficiently broken-hearted?” The question was light, but Alex could hear the grain of truth under it.

“You did.” Alex closed his eyes, the guilt of the situation flooded back inside. The statue of his father looking down on him didn’t make him feel nearly as sick as having Michael’s eyes on him as he let Forrest kiss him in front of the town in a cinematic homecoming moment. It was a cruel reminder to Alex that he had never been able to give Michael that, a public welcome that spelled out who they were to each other, not once in ten plus years of deployments and duty station assignments. Trading a glance across the Wild Pony was as close as they came. “I wish it wasn’t like this, sneaking around, pretending-”

“Hey, I agreed to this, right at the very beginning when I was your only back-up. Remember?”

“We were just friends back then, you couldn’t have known that things would end up like this.”

Michael laughed, his head tilted back against the door, casting an attractive line of his throat to his collarbone. “We’ve never been just friends, Alex, but I knew what I was signing up for when you told me what you planned to do to smoke out Deep Sky. We’re in this together.”

*** to be continued... here

#malex fic #malex wip #season 3 spoilers #isn't everyone writing a trailer fic?#rnm #not forrest long friendly

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dragon-kazansky · 3 years ago

Text

Made with love | Helmut Zemo

Chef Zemo AU! 👨‍🍳

Gender neutral reader

Collage by @realremyd

[Previous chapter] - [Next chapter]

Part 4

Helmut wiped down the last of the tables. It was just him and Bucky left at the moment. It was closing time. Bucky counted up the money in the till as Zemo made sure every aspect of his restaurant was clean and tidy for tomorrow.

Once everything was accounted for Bucky went home and Zemo locked up. He tugged his coat around him a little tighter and and began the small journey to his home. However, something caught his eye and he stopped to take it in.

Across the square there was a man standing there, looking in his direction. He couldn't quite tell who it was, but he could take a pretty good guess. There had been rumours of the infamous Tony Stark arriving in Sokovia.

Helmut watched him for a moment before turning and leaving. He had no reason to dwell on it right now.

Zemo went home.

When he opens shop again in the morning, he doesn't see the man again. However, he does see you and Wanda walking, arms interlinked, the pair of you laughing and chatting.

He can't stop himself from looking at you.

Yesterday when he brought up how well you would fit in with Sokovia, he was hoping to maybe spark a slight idea into your head. The fact you were only visiting his country made him feel rather sad. To see you every day, chat with you at the bar, to see you smile, he wanted more of that.

Never before had someone been on his mind this much before.

You and Wanda walk out of sight.

Sam and Bucky enter to start their work day. Zemo goes into the kitchen to prepare for the day.

Wanda takes you to her favourite place, surprised it was even still open. A bowling alley. You chuckle as she drags you through the door and over to the desk.

"Pietro and I would come here all the time," she told you.

"Sounds like you two had a lot of fun."

"Oh, we did. Pietro used to work at Escorpión Morado. I would meet him outside and we would come here."

"Pietro used to work at the restaurant?"

You both are given a pair of bowling shoes each and you go sit down to out them on.

"Yeah, he used to tend the bar. It was his first job. He loved it."

"That explains why he's so good with drinks," you chuckle. Pietro had his own bar back home, often he would make you, Wanda and Natasha drinks on your nights out.

"He learned from the best."

You both stand up and go to your designated alley, thanking the staff for guiding you. Wanda puts your names into the system.

Wing woman

Y/N Zemo

"Wanda!"

She laughs as she confirms the names and stands up. You glare up at the monitor and then glare at her.

"You can scold me all you like, but in going to have you fall in love with that man of it's the last thing I do."

"Wanda, please be realistic about this."

Wanda picks up her preferred ball and steps up to the lane.

"I am," she says, pulling her arm back and lining up her ball.

"No you're not. You want to set me up with a man who lives in a completely different country to me. This is mean."

Wanda throws her ball.

"It's not mean. It's helping. Ever since you came back, I know he has been on your mind. I can tell by the way you talk about him that you like him. I know because it's the same way I talk about Vision. I know love when I see it, Y/N."

She takes another turn.

You sit there, watching her second ball glide down the lane and take out a few more pins, three still standing. The lane resets the pins for you as you swap places with Wanda.

"It's just a silly crush. It will go away."

Wanda resists rolling her eyes at you.

"Do you really think the only reason I came here with you is because I wanted to see my home? Don't get me wrong, I am over the moon to see Sokovia again, but I cane here for you."

You throw the ball and watch it go.

"Why is this so important to you?" You look at her as you grab a second ball.

"Because you never show interest in anyone and suddenly you do. I've been telling you from the start, you'll marry this man one day and you'll be happy with him. You'll be running Escorpión Morado together, you'll see."

You throw your second ball and say nothing to her. You only take down four pins in total. You go sit back down.

"He likes you too, you know. I've seen the way he looks at you. He wants to spend time with you, talk to you, be around you. He likes having you in his restaurant."

Wands stands to take her next turn.

"I like being there," you say, softly.

"Good, we shall go there after we're done here."

You don't even argue with her. You want to go. You want to see him. Wands knows this. You can see the way she looks at you that she knows.

Wanda ends up winning in the end, which does not surprise you if she and her brother spent so much time here when they were younger.

You walk arm in arm to the restaurant. There's a few people about, but it's not crazy busy.

Sam sees you enter and smoothly glides into the kitchen. Zemo is finishing up a dish as he enters. He looks up when sees Sam come over.

"What is it?" He asks, assuming another order.

"Y/N is here with their friend. Thought you might like to take this one," Sam grins.

Normally Zemo would just tell Sam to go back to work and stop messing about, but he knows he wants to see you. He had been thinking of you all morning. He wipes his hands and presents the dish to Sam, who takes it and goes out to serve it.

For a brief moment Zemo pauses and quickly fixes his hair and straightens his shirt. He steps out of the kitchen. Wanda and yourself were sitting at a table near the window.

He smiles when his eyes land on you.

Helmut holds his head high and walks over to your table. Your eyes catch his and you smile softly at him. Wanda is looking at you with a grin on her lips, but he isn't really paying attention to her. He can only look at you.

"How are you today?" He asks, lips curled into a handsome smile, dark eyes glistening with happiness.

"We're good, how are you today?"

"Doing better now my favourite customer is here. What can I get for you both?"

"Coffee?" You ask, nibbling at your lower lip shyly.

His smile was making you feel things.

"Coming up."

He leaves the table and you bury your face in your hands. Wands laughs from across the table.

"You are so in love with him!"

"I am," you admit.

The fact you admitted it makes Wanda smile. She was proud of you for confessing how you felt.

"Maybe there is a life for you out here," she says, deep in thought.

"You really think I should just up and move to another country, leaving you all behind and starting over here?" You look at her.

"Yes. Back home, sure, you have all your friends and your job. Out here, there's him. This man you can't stop thinking about."

You glance over to the bar. Zemo has poured you each a cup of coffee and is coming over. He smiles when he sees you looking at him. You thank him softly when he places the coffee down in front of you.

Before he can say anything, a customer entering the restaurant cat has his attention. Both Wanda and yourself turn to see who had come in.

This man felt like he demanded attention. His suit looked expensive and tailored. There was a presence about him that made him stand out among the other people in the restaurant.

"Who is that?" You hear Wanda ask.

Helmut gives an apologetic smile and excuses himself from you, approaching the man.

You watch him curiously.

"He seems important," Wanda whispers.

"Yeah."

You watch as they shake hands and talk. The stranger gestures to a table and Zemo leads him over to it. They sit down and they chat.

There is something about Helmut's expression that concerns you.

The stranger looks around the room, his eyes hidden by his sunglasses, but you can see the way his lips a pulled into a thing grimace.

You feel offended by his distaste in the establishment. Poor Helmut.

They sit there and chat for several minutes before he gets up and leaves. Helmut looks a little defeated as he stands up and looks over at your table. Upon seeing you looking at him, he smiles and makes his way back over.

"I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be. Who was that?" You ask, too curious not to know.

"His name is Tony Stark. Remember that new restaurant I was telling you about?" You nod at his question. "Well, he owns it. He was checking out his competition in the area."

"I don't like him," you say, not really intending to say that out loud.

Helmut chuckles softly.

"Neither do I."

"What did he say?" Wanda asks.

"That he wasn't worried if this place is considered the best in Novi Grad. My restaurant isn't a threat to his business."

You unconsciously clench your fists.

"Your restaurant is the nicest place here. He has no idea what he's talking about. He didn't even try your food."

Helmut grins at your comments.

"No he didn't. Though he intends to come back. I need to cook up something magnificent for his return."

"You can do it. Everything you cook is amazing, Helmut. A lot of care goes into your cooking."

His smile makes you giddy.

"Food tastes best when it's made for enjoyment and not just to satisfy hunger," you tell him, meaning every word of that.

Zemo swears his heart would beat out of his chest if it could. If he wasn't already swooned by you, he would have been now. You had no idea what kind of power you had over him.

"I am always glad to hear it."

Wanda looks between the pair of you and smiles. She quietly excuses herself to go use the bathroom. Neither one of you glance at her as she slips away.

Helmut sits at the table.

"How long do we have?" He asks.

"Wanda and I have a few days left yet. We're not leaving too soon."

"Good," he nods his head. "I'd like to see more of you."

"Really?" You ask, shocked by his words.

"Yes, really."

You smile. Your smile makes him smile. Oh, what he would do to see it every single day of his life. This man was utterly in love with you, but he would be fool to just blurt that out.

Plus, you weren't staying. He would have to say goodbye to you again.

"Maybe Wanda and I could pop back every day. When the coffee is this good, we would be silly not to come back," you drink the last drop from your cup.

"Ah, so it's my coffee you like?"

"The owner isn't so bad either," you say, unable to hold eye contact much longer.

The chuckle that escapes past his lips makes you tingle all over. It's so deep, yet so joyful and pure. A sense of pride washes over you for making him laugh.

"Sokovia will feel so empty when you're gone," he says, softly.

"I will miss it. I have missed it."

"I missed you, you know," he admits.

Your heart stutters. You don't get a chance to say anything as Wanda returns. Zemo is quick to change the topic of conversation, smoothly too.

"Can you cook?"

"Uh, I can cook to feed myself. Wanda is more of a chef than I am, but even she can't compare to your culinary skills."

Wanda was caught off-guard by your statement and Zemo was full of pride again. The more you complimented his cooking, the bigger his ego was inflating.

"Would you like to assist me for Stark's visit tomorrow?"

You stare at him, lips parted, mind whirling in confusion.

"You want my help?"

"Yes. I could teach you."

You glance at Wanda. She nods enthusiastically at you, winking.

"Alright, but please don't let me get in the way. I'd hate to be the reason things go wrong."

He leans forward, lips tugged into a grin.

"I trust you."

You smile softly, finding the table suddenly more interesting than before.

Wanda chuckles softly.

"While you do that I'll go see if my old family home is still there," she says, smiling.

"Are you sure?" You ask her.

"Of course I am."

You smile and turn back to Helmut.

"Then it's settled. We'll show Stark what he's up against."

Zemo smiled brightly.

Just you and him in the kitchen tomorrow. He was going to make every moment count. This might be the most amount of time he will get to spend with you while you're here.

Zemo gets up from his seat and grabs the two empty cups from the table.

"Another?"

Both of you nod.

Zemo goes to get more coffee. While he's gone, Wanda leans across the table and takes your hands into hers.

"Woo that man!"

You laugh.

"I mean it! One day you'll marry him and be the happiest person alive. Maybe you should seriously consider moving out here. I could help you. Maybe I'll find some places for you tomorrow."

"You don't have to do that."

"You're not saying no, though," she grins.

"You're right, I'm not." You glance over to the bar. "I really like him Wanda."

"I know, so let's do something about it."

You nod softly.

Zemo returns, this time with an extra cup. He sits down with you both and asks you to be at the restaurant first thing in the morning. You agree.

From tomorrow onward, you knew things would take a turn. Your life would literally be flipped upside down.

And you were happy to let it happen.

@namethathasnotbeentaken @belle82devart @cathrin2405 @lieutenantn @wilder-fangirl @latenightartist-author @lucky-luck-lucky @hb8301 @charistory @thatoneartgalsstuff @thesuitkovian @malkaviangirl @zemosimp420 @realremyd @the-chaotic-cow @lostghostgirl94 @zafiro-draco @lazygurl05 @pinkcutiepiee @goddessofmischief03 @whovianayesha @myybebe @awesomesauce-abbie @that-stupid-head-tilt-thing @zemo-is-my-muse @nonamec0s @apparrio @scuttle-buttle @alex-the-nb

#helmut zemo #helmut zemo x reader #zemo x reader #baron helmut zemo #marvel #chef zemo au #au

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thewritetofreespeech · 4 years ago

Text

Words: 3800+

Rating: M

Pairing: Benimaru (TSSK) x Reader

Summary: Rimuru-sama had told Benimaru about a tradition from his world called a 'honeymoon'. He thought it was a great idea.

AO3

It had been several months since the night you and Benimaru had become true husband & wife.

After the envoy left, you talked more about things. As expected, there were still a bit of growing pains in forming your relationship from what it once was into what it was now. However, you were making it work.

Benimaru was patient and kind as ever, but unexpectedly different when you were alone together. You hadn’t thought he would be like this. You had only seen him in a ‘formal’ capacity most times, the job of the Commander in Chief of the Jura forces was one that never really rested, or appropriately close when with the rest of your friends. Now though, you got to see another side of him.

He was funny. Playful. Once he let his guard down, he wasn’t nearly as intimidating as you’d originally thought. Actually, he could be quite goofy. His devotion was not only to Rimuru-sama and your people, but also devoted to you. He was always asking how your day was and if things were alright. Making sure you were provided for. Passionate.

You blush as you put away the linens you had folded up from outside. Benimaru had apparently not been kidding when he declared he’d claim your body everyday if he had to to prove it was his. Not that he needed to prove it. You had openly and willingly accepted yourself as his, and he yours. Still, almost every night, he came to you when you laid in bed together to physically profess his love. The man seemed insatiable. Though you weren’t exactly complaining.

You look up from your chores as the devil himself appeared. Coming through the door as if your thoughts had conjured him.

“Benimaru-kun! You’re back early. Did the meeting go well?” The kijin nodded as he removed his sword and sat it in it’s usually place next to the door. “I’m glad to hear it. I didn’t expect you home so soon, so I haven’t started dinner. I’ll get started now, but it will be a little bit.”

“In a moment [Y/N]. I need to talk to you.”

You pause on your way out the door and back track back over to the table to sit across from your husband. “Rimuru-sama has asked me to go on an ambassador mission in the mountains. To seek an alliance with the Yuki-Oni there.” You blink a little in surprise at the news. Though you were sure Benimaru could handle this, and seemed very pleased at being selected by your lord, you have to wonder about the forethought he put into it. Sending a fire oni to speak with a village of snow oni seemed uncharacteristically irresponsible of your lord.

“Well, I’m happy for you dear. I’m sure your trip will be successful.” Benimaru seemed to beam brighter at being complimented by you. “So I’ll see you in, what, a few days?”

“Actually, I was hoping you would come with me.” You were taken by surprise again. Had Rimuru-sama asked you to come? “I asked Rimuru-sama about it, and he said he could spare you for the few days.” Benimaru added, as if reading your mind. “It would be a nice chance for you to see places outside of Rimuru City. And Rimuru-sama told me about a tradition in his former world called a ‘honeymoon’. It’s when two newly wedded people go on a trip together shortly after their married to spend time together.”

“But, Benimaru, we’ve been married for more than a short while now?” True, your real married life had only begun a few months ago, but you had been married for over a year now.

“I know. But we didn’t go on one or do anything when we got married. I thought it would be nice.” The usually proud warrior looked down at the hardwood of your table, blushing and rubbing the back of his head in a shy manner. “Plus, I don’t want to go if I have to leave you here. I was serious when I said I never want to be without you by my side.” A declaration he had also made more than once since that night. “I’ll…be lonely without you.”

You put your hand against your mouth, pretending to be in thought. In reality you were trying to hide the goofy grin spreading across your face. How could someone so fierce and intimidating also be so adorable?

“Ok, I’ll go with you.” You finally announce, as if you had thought it over and come to a decision. “It would be nice to see the world a little. And, if Rimuru-sama can spare both of us, I see no reason not to go.”

The red head beamed ecstatically at your reply, then leaned over the table to give you a peck on the cheek. “Excellent! I’ll let Rimuru-sama know and tell Shuna to finish making your cold weather wardrobe!”

“Shuna? Hey wait.” Benimaru stopped in the doorway. “You asked Shuna to make me a cold weather wardrobe before you even asked me? What if I had said no?”

The oni looked at you like the thought had never crossed his mind. Then he grinned again and said ‘well, it all worked out’ in a rush before he left again. Alone, you shook your head. Honestly. What was your husband thinking sometimes?

*****

It took some time to get the preparations set, but soon enough you were ready to travel to the mountains to visit the Yuki-Oni.

“Safe travels, onee-san!” Shuna told you in parting with her usual bright smile.

She had called you that before, but in recent months it sounded more like she meant it. Thinking of you more now as a true ‘big sister’, married to her brother, than an older woman she could depend and rely on. The former was still true, but it was clear in her tone she thought of you more as family.

You depart Rimuru City with everyone’s blessing. Coming to see you off until you were out in the country side and off on your journey.

It took a few days to make it to the Yuki-Oni village. Between the distance and intentionally treacherous path up the mountain, it had taken a bit of time. It hadn’t been all bad. While still down in the valley you had stopped for a picnic once or twice, and laid in a field of flowers you had come upon for a bit to soak up the sun and sweet smell. Benimaru said that this was one of the things that Rimuru-sama told him people did on their ‘honeymoon’. You weren’t sure about that, but it was a much-needed respite from your travels.

Arriving at the village, you were greeted warmly by the ice monsters. They all seemed very demure and polite. A cool sort of air about them that really fit with the cold aesthetic of their homeland. The men were all tall and hard looking, while the women were all beautiful and waif like. Pale alabaster skin, long white hair, piercing blue eyes. You were glad you came with Benimaru now. Not that you thought for a moment he would be unfaithful to you, but you still didn’t like the idea of those beautiful creatures lingering around him.

You were shown to your quarters in the elder’s home before you were to meet with the council of elders. The idea of having to convince a council concerned you. It was harder to persuade a group than one. And the Yuki-jiji all looked like they were a group of men not to be easily swayed. “Maybe I should stay here?” You question as you unpacked your things.

“What? Why?”

“I don’t think the Yuki-jiji appreciate women in their council meeting.” They didn’t even let their own women in. Let alone a human one. The last thing you wanted to do was insult these people, and their traditions, by forcing yourself in to the situation. “It might be best if you just go.”

“Ridiculous.” Benimaru said with a sneer. “We didn’t come all this way for you to sit in a room and be cast out.”

“I thought we came for our ‘honeymoon’?” You said as a joke. Trying to break this awkward tension.

“We came for two things.” He quipped back at you. “I want you to come with me. I want us to go together. I’m…not good at this sort of thing on my own. Rimuru-sama put his faith in me, and I’m grateful for this opportunity, but I think it’s misplaced. I’m much better at forcing an agreement at sword point, not conversation.” The kijin looked away, clearly irritated at himself for not being better at it no matter how hard he tried, before looking back at you. “If you’re there though, you’ll keep me grounded. I find your presence calming. So I’ll be less likely to make a fool of myself.”

“You won’t make a fool of yourself, whether I’m there or not.” You assure him while placing your hand against his cheek. It hurt your heart to hear him berate himself like this. Rimuru-sama picked him because he was more than just a strong arm at the end of a sword. Why couldn’t he see that? “Alright. I’ll go. I don’t know if it will really help but I’ll try to be supportive. To you and our cause.”

Benimaru smiled. Then tilted his hand to kiss your palm before squeezing it in his hand. “Let’s go then.”

*********

The meeting lasted most of the day, and well into the evening. By the time you both return to your provided quarters, you were both exhausted.

“Rimuru-sama will be happy to hear of our success.”

“I’m sure he will be. Jura seems to be growing by leaps and bounds.” Who would have thought?

“It’s all thanks to you.” Benimaru said as he came up to sit on your right.

“Me?” You remark in surprise. “I didn’t do much of anything?”

“That’s not true.” The oni said with a soft smile, shaking his head. “The way you talk to people. The way you talk about our home, and the virtue it brings. Not just it’s strength. How it’s a place for all. They could see that’s something they want to be apart of. Rimuru-sama was very wise to have you come along. As he always is.”

Your cheeks tint at Benimaru’s words. Such high praise something you never seemed to get used to. No matter how much he or the others lavished you with it, you always felt so awkward to be complimented by people.

“So, the evening is ours now. What shall we do?”

“Well, I was going to take a bath, buuut….” You look over at the provided tub. Not looking warm & inviting like a bath should, but cold & dark like a vat of despair. “I guess the Yuki-Oni aren’t a fan of hot baths.”

“I can heat it up for you.” Benimaru declared. Already activating his powers to do so. “A thing like this is not so hard. I’ll have it warmed up for you in a moment.”

“That’s amazing Benimaru!” You gush at your husband’s resourcefulness. Who knew he could be so handy?

The oni grinned wide. Briming with pride at the praise. He went over to the tub and slipped his hand into it. The water almost instantly steaming at the contact. “There! That should do it.”

“Ahhh…warm bath…” You sigh happily. Moved nearly to the point of tears at the idea of being warm for the first time since you got here.

You move to discretely remove your clothes and get in the bath, when you notice movement out of the corner of your eye from Benimaru. The man not moving to leave as you’d anticipated, but undress as well. “What are you doing?”

The red head stopped in removing his undercoat and looked at your curiously. “Taking a bath?” The expression on his face saying ‘didn’t we just have this conversation’.

“Wait a minute! This is my bath! Did you really heat this up to steal my bath from me??”

“What? No! Of course not! I thought we could share.” He looked back to the tub, completely missing the blush and sudden halt in all function from you, as he examined it. “It’s big enough.”

“I don’t think it’s appropriate to do that here.” You reply nervously. Cheeks still pink as you had a pretty good idea where this would lead.

“Come on. It’s just a bath.” Bemimaru insisted. “Besides, my powers for this work best when I’m in close proximity. If I’m not touching it, the water will just grow cold again.”

You have the sinking suspicion that he was lying to you. But it was a very convincing lie, and one you couldn’t really argue with. “Alright. But behave! We’re here as Rimuru-sama’s ambassadors. We shouldn’t be fooling around while guests in another person’s home.” A person whom you were trying to sway to your cause.

The red head nodded and assured you he meant no funny business. Again, you had the sinking suspicion he was lying to you, but couldn’t actually prove it, so you went along. You both stripped down and get in the tub. The only way you would both fit was if you practically sat in Benimaru’s lap. His back resting against the side of the tub while your back rested against his chest.

“Aaaahhh…” Your ‘chair’ sighed loudly. Feeling his sigh vibrate through your back as he relaxed. “This is great. We should have done this sooner.”

“Agreed.” You reply as you relax too against him. The warm water soaking out all the tired muscles from your journey and tension you had felt before the meeting. Making you complacent.

You both stay like that for a little while. Relaxing in the warm water in complete silence. Until you feel Benimaru’s hand brush against your arm. “What are you doing?” You asked in a drowsy, but mildly suspicious, tone.

“I was going to wash your back for you.” He replied against your ear. Making you shiver. “Can you lean forward for me?”

That nagging suspicion of his intent still clung to the back of your mind, but it was getting pushed further and further back by the warm water and his soft words. Having your back washed did sound nice.

The water slouched around a little as you moved to sit up and lean over the other side of the tub. “Is this ok?” You ask. Looking back over your shoulder from where you had cradled your head in your arms on the rim.

“Yeah….” Benimaru replied in a low voice. Looking at you. “That’s perfect.”

Your husband shifted around carefully, both to not hit you or splash the water out of the tub, as he came up on his knees behind you. The soft, wet sponge touched your back tentatively at first. But once you relaxed and even let out a soft sigh it became more diligent. His hands pressing a little harder with the sponge to give you a dual back wash & massage. It was extremely pleasant. The warm water and his warm hands on your body. So much so that you might moan a little when he came to your lower back.

“Ah…don’t do that to me…” Benimaru said. His voice sounding odd. Pained. It sounded so strange that you opened your eyes a little. You hadn’t realized you closed them. “I’m trying to be good and honorable. But if you moan like that, it gets very hard.” You’re not sure if he meant ‘it’ by the situation in question or the erection you were now feeling brush against your leg. When had that gotten there? You gasp at the feel of him against your thigh, but also the sponge and his hand shifting to your front; just at the top of your breast. “Please [Y/N]. Let me be with you. I can’t stand being without you anymore. It’s been so long.” You want to tell him that it’s only been a few days. But apparently, in ogre time, that was an eternity. He genuinely sounded like he was in agony right now. Not to mention that his hands wouldn’t stop touching you.

You’ll blame the warm water, and being so relaxed, and his damned skillful hands later, but your resolve broke quite easily. “Yes. Yes, I want you too Benimaru.”

You think you hear a happy rush of air level his lips before he moved forward and enveloped you. His broad chest encasing your back as he laid against it. His hands dropping the sponge to make direct, intentional touches with your body. His cock slipping between your legs to brush against your apex in pseudo-love making. You both moan.

He rutted against you like that for a moment. Thrusting against the outside of your opening. The hard lines of his cock brushing against the bundle of nerves at the top, making your insides quake and spasm greedily around nothing. “B-Benimaru….” You whine as you pressed back against him. His torturous touch driving you mad. “Please.”

Your husband groaned a little, low in his throat, before he kissed his mark behind your ear, where he had bitten you that first time, before lifting off to enter you. Being relaxed and the warm water made it easy, but he was as gentle as ever with putting it inside you. There was still a slight stretch with his size, but it’s a feeling you grown not only accustom to but relish. Just having him inside you made you moan wantonly.

“Ah…I keep telling you. Don’t do that to me.” Benimaru replied to your moan. You couldn’t see it with him behind you, but you could hear the hint of a smile in his voice. He pulled back and began to thrust, low and slow, into you. “I can’t control myself when you moan like that for me. How am I supposed to keep calm, and quiet, when you make my blood boil like that?”

“I’m…sorry…” You stutter out. Your voice staggered from his deep thrusts and your own labored breath of pleasure. “It just….feels…so good…..!” You moan again when his thrust went deeper this time. Hitting that place inside you that made you see stars.

He couldn’t control himself? What did he expect you to do when he was making love to you like this?

If anything, this was his fault

“Hmmm…this is no good…” You let out a surprised noise as Benimaru pulled out. You look over your shoulder. A little wounded at the comment. Not good? But before you could ask, or get more upset about the comment, Benimaru turned you around so you were facing him. Thrusting back into you in one swift move of your back hitting the tub and knocking all words out of your mouth. “I wanna see your face. It’s no good if I can’t see you and kiss you any time I want.” Then he did just that.

His tongue thrust into your mouth like his cock into your lower half. Swallowing your moans now that were flowing out unabashed. Doing it the other way had been nice, but you have to agree. This way was much better. Being able to kiss him. See his amazing body. Look into his beautiful eyes burning with such passion & love for you was bringing you closer to the edge than ever before.

“B-Beniamru! I…I’m close!”

“Me too.” The oni grunted out. Kissing your ear when you wrap your arms around his neck. “Cum for me my love. Let’s go together.” He always seemed to have a way with words with you, because you did as you were told and came around his cock.

His thrusts continue for a few moments longer, pounding through your orgasm, before they stop and Benimaru shuttered in your arms. A sign that he had finished too. You stay there for a moment. Holding each other loosely in the tub, before the kijin pulled back and looked around you like he just remembered where you were.

“I think we fucked all the water out of the tub.”

Your mouth scrunched up and you pinched Benimaru’s shoulder. “Don’t be vulgar.” He was right though. Now that your brain had resumed function again, you could see that half the water in the tub was gone. The floor soaking wet to the point you had to groan. No way you were going to be able to clean this up or explain this away without attracting attention.

The oni yipped at your pinch before he chuckled, then kissed you softly. He then stood from the tub, wet and naked and proud, before lifting you up out of it as well like a princess and carrying you over to the bed.

“We’ll clean it up later.” He stated, seeming to read your mind once again, as he laid you on the soft futon. “It’ll be alright.

“I still can’t believe you talked me into it.” You grumble. Pretending that you had been seduced, rather than whole heartedly accepting your husband in all aspects, as you dried yourself off. “What will the Yuki-Oni think.”

“That we are too people in love.” He replied quickly and with a smile. “The elders are all men. I’m sure they remember what it’s like to be young and in love, and unable to keep your hands off their young, beautiful wife.”

You blush a little at his words, but don’t really want to think about those old men being happy with their wives. “I suppose it’s a natural thing, but it’s still very rude to have sex in someone else’s house.”

“Maybe for humans. But we oni don’t see it that way.” Benimaru replied. Tossing his towel away. “Besides, Rimuru-sama said that this is something that most newlyweds do on their honeymoon.”

You shook your head as he pulled back the covers to let you both get under them. The room growing cold again now that you weren’t in the warm water, or doing other warm, pleasurable activities.

You snuggle together under the blankets. Watching the fresh snow flutter down outside the window. “Did you really need to be touching the water for your powers to work?” You finally ask.

You don’t know what his answer was going to be. But judging by the way your husband stiffened and balked at the question, you know now that he had been lying to you. “Well….it does work best that way. In theory. But….no….”

He turned away to not look at you. Or the steely stare you leveled at him. “Benimaru. I can’t believe you lied to me.” Sweat drops seemed to start pooling at his forehead as in flinched at your harsh words. Then he let out a startled sound as you flipped over on top of him, forcing him to look up at you with a confused expression. “You’ll have to be punished.”

#;pen & paper (fanfiction)#benimaru #benimaru x reader #benimaru tssk #benimaru (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken)#tensei shitara suraimu datta ken #tensei shitara slime datta ken #tensei shitara suraimu datta ken imagine #tensei shitara suraimu x reader #tensei shitara slime datta ken x reader #that time i got reincarnated as a slime #random fandom

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fishnets-fingers · 3 years ago

Text

Six Months - Part Seven

Summary - Layla desperately needs a vacation and her Aunt and Uncle come to her rescue. So, at twenty two, she packs her bag and jets off to America. Harry took a break from education and is now a full fledged content creator on OnlyFans. At twenty, he makes more money than almost all of his friends. What ensues when these two meet and realise the windows in their rooms face each other? How will paper airplanes bring them closer together?

PAIRING - camboy!harry x indian!oc

a/n - please like and reblog! Would love to know what you think so far! If you can, please do watch the movie. happy reading!

Word Count - 11.2 k

Warnings - smut, fluff, sex toys, angst.

Masterpost (find previous parts here)

Layla had been deep cleaning the kitchen after her folks left for work. She was busy wiping the island after she washed the sink. Her phone was propped up by a scented candle jar and was on Facetime with her friends. Her screen was divided into four rectangles and Ramya, Susan, Grace and Heidi’s faces were amused. The four were extremely happy for her when she told them about her and Harry’s first date and kiss at the waterfalls.

“I can’t believe you are going to a sex shop with your boyfriend and you haven’t had sex with him yet.” Heidi says, with a smirk on her face.

“He’s not my ‘boyfriend’. We’re exclusive but we haven’t given each other a label yet. Plus, when did penetration become a benchmark for sex?”

“It is not. But make sure you get some lube today, you are gonna need lots of it when it happens.” Susan says. Ramya and Grace agree.

“Got it. Ramya, do you want something? I can bring it home and drop it off when I come over for a visit.”

“Why does Ramya only get something? What about the rest of us?” Grace feigns annoyance.

“Because the three of you are in countries where sex toys are not banned.” Layla sticks her tongue out at them.

“Yeah. Get me a good vibrator - those rabbit things I keep seeing.” Ramya says.

“Get something you can hide easily from Aunty and Uncle. Rabbits are huge!” Grace says.

“What about those tiny bullet vibrators?” Susan suggests.

“I got one on Amazon. It’s waterproof.” Heidi says, looking around her bedside drawer. “Look! Pretty, right?” She holds up a turquoise vibrator. It fit in the palm of her hand. “It’s rechargeable and there are three vibration settings. See!” She presses the button to show the four, the different settings. “Not that loud either.”

“Better than a showerhead?” Ramya asks.

“Yup. So much better. Do some research and tell Lails,” Heidi tells Ramya.

“Look into those hand free clit vibrators too. I got one and you can basically tuck it into your labia folds and it stays in place and it’s soo good! They are super small too.” Susan walks out of the frame to grab the toy she keeps beside her bathtub. She holds out a small almost oval like green device with two tiny antenna-like structures stick out from both sides.

“Jake and I got a cock ring a few months ago and let me tell you a vibrating dick is just chef’s kiss. I went cross eyed and I’m pretty sure I drooled. I saw those handsfree one too but they were super expensive so we just got the glass anal beads. They are due to arrive in two days,” Grace says.

“I can’t believe you said okay with doing butt stuff,” Layla grimaces.

“Hey, I’ve used the plugs and let me tell you it feels pretty good. Don’t shit on it before you try it,” Grace rebukes.

“Okay okay. Sorry. I just don’t like the idea of anything going up my bum, unless it’s for an endoscopy,” Layla says.

The four crack up. “Why do you think you’ll need an endoscopy at the age of 22?” Susan giggles.

“Not now. When I’m old and they need to check all my crevices,” Layla chuckes. “Other than Grace and me, what about the three of you, where do you stand on the bum stuff?”

“I’d try,” Ramya says.

“A boy ate my ass once and I liked it. I’ll definitely try if it comes up,” Susan says.

“I don’t know. I’m on the fence. I’m with Layla on this one,” Heidi says.

“Thanks for the info guys. I’ll do some research and I’ll send you some links okay?” Ramya looks at Layla who nods. “When do you leave by the way?”

“In an hour,” she says, looking at the clock. “I haven’t had breakfast yet and it’s half to noon.”

“So eat, idiot!” Grace says.

“I’ll do that in a bit. I still need to empty the dishwasher and refill some pulses in the containers.”

“Grace, what happened to the visa dude?” Susan asks.

“Right! Did you get your work visa? It’s been a while since you applied, no?” Heidi says.

“It takes a long time for processing and I’m losing my mind,” Grace runs her hands through hair, frustration apparent.

“Hey don’t worry. Government stuff takes forever normally. I’m sure you will get it soon. You are a skilled immigrant now. SKILLED. You have skills. I’m sure you will get it.” The others nod agreeing with Layla.

“Post graduate diploma is hardly skilled,” she mutters.

“Two PG diplomas. Both honours. New Zealand will be lucky to have you,” Susan says.

“Yeah. I suppose. I just feel so lonely-“ Grace’s voice cracks and a few tears slip from her eyes.

“Babe. Talk to us. What’s on your mind, hmm?” Heidi says.

“I’m just home alone most of the time. Jake goes to work and comes back at 7 and immediately gets on the computer to play Call of Duty with his friends. I mean his work is stressful, so that is his time to unwind. I don’t blame him but he says he’s gonna play for a bit but gets sucked into it for hours. Sometimes even till bedtime. I called him out on not paying me any attention and we had a really bad fight. I walked out of the house. I just realised I had nowhere to go. We live together in a one bedroom apartment. Rent is expensive here. The acquaintances I made, the people in the uni desi club, all have their own lives and are busy. I’m so jealous of my sister, she’s moved back in with Amma and Appa and they have so much fun. I know I made the choice to leave the country but I’ve become too dependent on Jake and he forgets that he is the only source of socialisation for me.” She wipes away more tears that fall. “We didn’t even resolve our fight the other day. I came back home after a walk and we just had angry sex. Every time this comes up it just leads to angry sex. And I’m so mad at myself because I love angry sex that I don’t say no,” she takes a shaky breath.

“Why didn’t you tell us this?” Ramya asks and Layla abandons cleaning the island to sit on the stools to give Grace her full attention.

“I.. I don- don’t really know, to be honest. Didn’t want to feel like a burden ,” she mutters.

“Not with us. Never with us. You can tell us anything at any time. Never a burden babes.” Heidi says.

“Yeah. It seems like you both have gotten into patterns that’s not helping.That being said Jake can’t keep ignoring you the whole evening. He’s not a child. He’s a twenty seven year old man who needs to manage his time. He needs to find other ways to destress than just gaming with the boys. Not that there’s anything wrong with it but every single day for hours ignoring his girlfriend who lives with him. Nah, that just will not do. You keep saying he needs to unwind but there are other ways he can unwind. I’m just saying,” Susan says.

“Yeah. Lails, you are the only person who games out of all of us. What do you think?” Grace asks.

“I mean there’s nothing wrong in playing with his friends everyday but again as Susan said he is a twenty seven year old with responsibilities and a live-in girlfriend. He needs to get his shit together and play for a bit and spend some time with you as well. I just hope it’s not the only form of escapism for him, after a while, it can become an addiction real quick.”

“You need to sit your ass down and tell him you are feeling underappreciated and lonely.” Ramya adds.

“Yeah, plus, it’s not like you sit on your ass the whole day. You do chores and cook him three meals a day. You give him a piece of your mind, Grace.” Heidi says while taking her glasses off and rubbing her eyes.

“I’d like to add something. Don’t want to seem like a devil’s advocate?” Layla hesitantly says.

“Wouldn’t expect anything less than that,” Grace chuckles.

“Have you told Jake that the visa processing is making you feel super anxious? I mean, you are essentially in a limbo and no one likes uncertainty. You also seem a bit homesick. Sit down and talk to him. Calmly. Don’t get all pissy cause then you will be tearing off each other’s clothes.” Layla’s statement making the four chuckle.

“I suppose so. I thought he understood, you know.”

“Grace, men are dumb. You need to spell it out for certain people. I agree with Layla. I think you need to talk about these two things and then maybe circle back to the games and troubleshoot from there, huh.” Susan says.

“You’re right. I need to be more open about my feelings. Maybe I can ask him about other things we can do together that could help him decompress.” Grace says.

“Exactly! But I think you need to find some hobby for yourself too for the time being. Something to keep you occupied when he plays or even throughout the day. You’ve been wanting to learn how to play the bass, right? Look up some tutorials online or a teacher and start,” Heidi says.

“True. It’s as good a time as any to start learning. Especially now, that I don’t have anything else to do, literally. I don’t have to be reliant on him all the time,” Grace says while nodding, a sign that the cogs in her brain were turning as she’s figuring out a resolution.

“Yeah. I’m sure this will calm down after you get the work visa and land a job. You’ll be occupied and you’ll make new friends.” Ramya says.

“I think I'll talk to him tonight or wait till Friday. Thanks bois,” Grace says.

“Yeah and if he fucks anything up or doesn’t meet you halfway, he’s not worth it. You do not deserve to be treated that way.” Susan adds and Layla, Heidi and Ramya nod, clearly agreeing to what Susan said.

“Yeah. If he hurts you we’ll break his neck,” Layla says, making Grace giggle.

“He’s a twenty seven year old man. But good luck trying,” Grace laughs.

“Hey! One measly Asian boy who works in software is no match for three feral brown women. Plus, I’ll build some muscle when I swim to New Zealand from Sydney,” Heidi manages to get the sentence out in between bouts of laughter. The other four crack up.

“Thanks bois. I feel so much better now.”

“Hey, Grace, don’t bottle things up yeah. Just talk to us. If talking to all of us is exhausting, just call or text one of us.” Ramya tells her.

“Yeah. I’m plenty free all the time,” Layla adds.

“Will do! Enough about me. Heidi and Susan tell us about your upcoming weekend trip to Canberra,” Grace asks and the two launch into their itineraries.

Layla gets up and starts filling up the jars with pulses and puts them back in the pantry.

“Oh, bois, did you listen to Enjoy Enjaami?” Ramya asks.

“Oh yes. So so good. That cuckoo cuckoo has imprinted in my brain,” Layla laughs.

“Same. It’s so catchy. It keeps playing in the back of my mind in the library,” Susan says.

“I literally haven’t listened to anything else in the last week. It’s been on repeat,” Heidi adds.

“I watched it with Jake. The visuals were stunning. YouTube has subtitles and he kept asking me about the title and I couldn’t really explain it,” Grace arches her eyebrows.

“I watched an interview with Arivu, the dude who raps, he wrote the song and he talked about how ‘Enjoy Enjaami’ has two meanings. It’s written from his grandmother’s perspective. She was taken to Sri Lanka by the colonisers as a slave and worked in the fields all day. It basically tells him to enjoy and protect nature. But the title can be interpreted in two ways, as I said - Enjoy Enjaami, like enjoy the bounties of nature and appreciate it my grandson. Enjaami is a slang for my Lord and grandmas use it a lot to refer it to their sons or grandsons because they are their gods-“

“Sexist.” Susan interrupts Heidi’s explanation.

“Oh very. It’s very sad that older women, who were treated like crap, continue on to treat the next generation of women like shit. Anyways, the other meaning is his grandma saying enjoy the bounties of nature that I slaved for my lord - like, how they used to address the colonisers and slave owners. The second one is very sarcastic.” Heidi finishes.

“Aptly named no? Arivu. His name means intelligence and the title of the song itself reflects his smarts,” Ramya chuckles.

“I agree. The song is structured like an oppari.” Layla adds.

“What’s an oppari?” Susan asks.

“It’s an old art form where old women gather in households where someone has passed and lament.”

“Like a eulogy?” Grace questions.

“Kind of. They sing it and it’s such a unique art form but it’s not really considered an art because only people from the lower caste practice it.” Layla says moving on to empty the dishwasher. “Which sucks balls. I’m so glad the song is really bringing it back.”

“Yes. People love it. Everyone is playing it here. I went to get some vegetables from the market and all of them are either singing it or are listening to it,” Ramya says.

They move on to talking about Heidi’s and Susan’s papers and assignments. Layla finishes putting back the dishes in their places and serves some breakfast for herself in a bowl and sits down at the island stool.

“Ooh, are those idlys?” Heidi asks.

“Even better. Mini idlys and sambar,” Layla flips the camera around and shows the girls her breakfast.

“Oh my god. Fuck I miss home food. I’m so sick of bread. I can smell Ratna Cafe’s sambar. I hate you Layla,” Grace flips her off as she takes a bite.

“Fuck me, I’m gonna order some idlys from Saravana Bhavan here. It’s so expensive but so worth it,” Susan says.

“I would sell my soul to have some Greek food,” Ramya says.

“Just you wait. You’ll find yourself in a position where Aunty can’t make food and it’s just bread and salads everywhere. You’ll lose your goddamn mind.” Heidi says.

”I need help,” Layla says after spooning her idly with piping hot sambar into her mouth.

“Hmm. Go on,” Susan probes.

“It’s nothing serious but Harry and I have started this thing where we show each other movies we really enjoy. The theme is romance this week and we watched the Notebook on Monday.”

“Uh oh. It took you three days to finish the movie when you first watched it, no?” Grave chuckles.

“Yeah and it’s my turn today and I honestly don’t know what to pick,” she sighs.

“What about Stardust? You love that movie,” Susan says.

“Yeah. You’ve watched it loads of time and it’s fantasy, no one will end up hating fantasy,” Grace agrees with Layla.

“What about something Tamil? Everything has subtitles now. Pick some good Tamil romance,” Heidi suggests.

“Yeah but all our movies have a cornucopia of all genres. I’m drawing a blank,” she says, rising off her bowl and spoon and loading them into the dishwasher.

“Alaipayuthey? You love it, no?” Ramya says.

“Ooh yes. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that. Classic. I love the soundtrack too.” Layla says, raising her arms up in victory. “Hold on. He’s texted,” she says when she sees a notification pop up on her phone.

“Oooh. Layla halts a conversation with the girls to respond to a boy’s text. Can’t believe the day is finally here,” Ramya says, pretending to wipe tears away from her cheeks. The other three snicker.

“Shut up,” she mutters, clicking on the notification.

Harry: Hi! You ready? I’m gonna close up and head over to yours.

Layla: Hoi hoi! I’m almost done. Come through the back door please. It’s unlocked and I’m in the kitchen.

Harry: 👍🏽 Be there after a wee.

“Okay. Where were we?” She says to her friends.

“What did he want?” Susan asks.

“He was asking me if I’m ready to go to the store. He’ll be here in a minute or two.”

“Oooh. Do we get to meet him?” Grace wiggles her eyebrows.

“Do you guys want to?”

“Umm…do we want to meet the boy who is currently sticking his tongue down your throat? Yes bitch!” Heidi says in a matter of fact tone.

“Alright. Be nice,” Layla says.

“When are we not?” Ramya says, sticking her tongue out.

“If you’re leaving now, aren’t you gonna change?” Susan asks.

“Nah. I’m so comfortable.” Layla steps back further from the island to show off her outfit. She was wearing her dad’s dark blue Under Armour walking shorts. It stopped right above her knees. She paired it with her uncle’s collared white tee. She stole it from the dryer on Monday. Her hair was in a french braid and it was messy, her hair sticking out due to her hair cut - layers. Her curtain bangs were blow dried and she had thin plain gold small hoops in her ears and a gold chain with a small elephant pendant hanging from it. She was going to wear her chunky sneakers with loafer socks.

“You look like Adam Sandler,” Ramya giggles.

“Hey! Layla and I are the president of the Adam Sandler-core.” Grace says, since they both loved baggy clothes. “I can’t believe you are the same girl who wears corsets and faux leather pants,” Heidi giggles and Layla shrugs.

She hears the back door open and his footsteps trudging through the family room to get to the kitchen.

“Lails! I’m leaving my shoes at the door,” Harry calls out from the family room. He was wearing khaki coloured corduroy shorts and a sky blue shirt with some blue checkered Vans. and His face splits into a big grin, dimples on full display, when he sees her.

“Hi!” Layla says softly as he gets closer to her.

“I missed you.” He pulls her closer to him.

“You saw me last night,” she rolls her eyes.

“Still! I’m allowed to miss my baby, aren’t I?” He chuckles and crashes his lips to hers. Hands on both of her cheeks. Harry did not realise that he had an audience of four people.

“Oooooh hot!”

“Baby! He calls her baby!”

“Layla’s kissing someone! Pinch me!”

Are some of the phrases he hears before howls and wolf whistles. He steps back from her and whips his head towards the sound to find her phone propped up against a candle on the island.

“Sorry. I was gonna warn you before, but you got all excited,” she mumbled an apology. His face was flushing with colour by the second.

“Those are your friends, yeah?” He points to her phone.

“Yeah. We were on a call. Do you wanna meet them? You don’t have to. It’s okay if you don’t.” She said quickly.

“No no,” he says to her. “Hello! Heard a lot about you four,” he says to her friends, stepping closer to the island to get a better view of the four.

“Harry, these are the four biggest pains in my ass. This is Grace, Susan, Ramya and Heidi,” she points to each of their faces in the tiny square. “Bois, this is Harry,” she gestures to him.

“Hi! Just wanted to make sure you were a real person and not someone Layla made up,” Grace says, making Layla flip her off. Harry chuckles.

“Hey, Harry!” Heidi waves.

He waves back. “We've met before, haven't we? A while ago, Layla and I were on a picnic. I hope your essay went well.”

“Oh yeah. You remembered! The professor liked it.”

“Lovely to meet you, Harry. Layla’s told us a lot about you.” Ramya says.

“Not everything I hope. I like to be shrouded in mystery,” he jokes, earning a giggle from them.

“Hello! I’m so happy Layla has someone to socialise with,” Susan says.

“I’m ecstatic to hang out with her too. Her personality is a bit of a downer but her pretty face sure does make up for it.” The four laugh. “Ow!” Harry exclaims, rubbing the spot on his arm where she punched him.

“Asshole. I have a sparkling personality.”

“Hmmm sure. Whatever you say, Lails.” He chuckles and leans to press a kiss on the top of her hair.

“I like him!” Heidi says.

“Definitely approve,” the other three agree.

“I’m honoured. What do you guys do?” He asks.

The four tell him what and where they are studying and working. He tells them that he’s taking a gap year. He tells them he will be applying for colleges for the upcoming academic year - which is news to Layla. The four already know about OnlyFans but Layla didn’t tell them anything more. All they know is that Harry posts on there and she happened to run into him at the house warming party and they turned out to be neighbours. She didn’t even tell them why they headed to a sex shop today. Layla locks the doors while Harry talks to her friends and they leave shortly after through the back door.

////

Ramya: Lails he cute as sin

Grace: I agree. Still don’t understand why it took you a whole month and a half to make your move.

Susan: The accent is the icing on top of the cake 🤤

Heidi: He’s funny too

Layla chuckles as she closes the group chat and adjusts her sunglasses. Harry was driving them to the sex shop. Her other hand was clasped in his large ones and they rested on his thigh.

“What’s so funny, hmm?”

“Oh. My friends sent me their approval. I think they like you more than me now.”

“As they should,” he smirks at her, tilting his head a little to the side.

Layla sticks her tongue out, earning a chuckle from him.

“Would you mind meeting Mitch and Sarah on Friday?” Harry asks.

“Not at all. I’d love to, Har.” She turns her body towards him. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Why not order the stuff online?”

“I prefer trying on the outfits before buying them, can’t do that online. I know the store manager and I get discounts here and there. Plus, supporting small businesses and all that.”

Layla nods. He parks outside a store called Cherry Pie.

“Cute name. If I didn’t know any better, I’d definitely think it was a bakery.” This makes Harry chuckle. She takes off her seatbelt and turns to unlock the door.

“Lails, wait! I’ll get it.” He unbuckles his seatbelt and gets to the other side and opens her door.

“Thank you, Har.” He gets on her toes and kisses his jaw.

“My pleasure.” He throws an arm on her shoulder and they walk towards the store. Layla opens the door and motions Harry to walk in. They walk around and Layla gets to the bachelorette party section and can’t stop giggling at the cake tins, straws, and ice lolly moulds of penises. She takes a picture and sends it to her friend group.

“Woah,” her jaw drops at the DVD collection stacked on the display shelf.

“I bet there is a DVD for every fetish possible,” he chuckles.

“Who even buys DVDs nowadays?”

“Apparently a lot of people. Look! Genie porn.” Her eyes follow his hands to a DVD cover of a woman dressed like Jasmine, well at least Jasmine’s pants, with her boobs on full display, suggestively leaning over a very muscular man who was painted blue.

“This is the lost tale of the one thousand and second Arabian night,” Layla comments. Harry buckles over with laughter.

“Come on. Let’s get you some stockings,” she tugs Harry towards the clothing part of the store. She picks out a few fishnet pantyhose and asks Harry to try it on.

“Hey, I’m gonna go look at a few toys there. Meet me there when you’re done?”

“You don’t want to come in?” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.

“And ruin the effect? Nope. I wanna see you properly when we do the photoshoot.”

“Okay. I’ll be back.” He leaves to go into the changing room.

She picks out a fishnet stocking for herself and walks to the women’s toy section and picks some out for Ramya and sends her some pictures.

“Hi! Can I help you?” A sales assistant approaches her. Carla was the name on her badge and there were they/them pronouns underneath.

“Hello. I’m Layla. I’m looking for a toy for my friend. I’ve sent her pictures of a few toys she’s been wanting. Waiting for her to pick one and text me back,” she says with a smile.

“Do you wanna look around anything else till then?” They say.

Layla remembers what her friends said on the call before. “Umm… yeah. Lubes. Where do I find them?”

“Follow me, Layla.”

They get to a small display with different kinds of lubes, and essential oils, and massage oils.

“Looking for anything particular?” They smiled at her.

“Uh. Not really. I’ve never really got one before. But water based is the correct choice, right?”

“Yup,” Carla says. “Here they are,” they point to the top shelf. There were over fifty different bottles before her.

“Okay, I’m stumped,” she says looking at a few bottles.

“Can I ask if you want one for oral sex? If you do, I’d say pick one with flavour. If it’s for penetration then I’d suggest you get that one. It’s basic and gets the job done. It’s my personal favourite. Most OBGYNs recom-“

“There you are,” Harry interrupts Carla. Layla suddenly has a wave of embarrassment wash over her.

“Hi! Sorry. Got a bit side tracked,” she muttered. ”Everything okay for you?”

“Yeah. I really liked this one.” He brings the one from his side to his front, so she could see better. “I do have a question, they are all high waisted. Is that intentional?”

“Yeah. It’ll look better that way. Trust me.”

“What are you doing?” He says, noticing the lubes on the shelf.

“Uh. Well… just looking around an- and I’m thinking of- of maybe buying one,” she manages to get the sentence out.

Harry’s eyes widened a bit but that was all his face gave away for Layla to read. Harry’s heart on the other hand was racing. He was excited, and that was putting it lightly. He nods and steps back a few feet gesturing for her to continue. Giving Layla her space.

“Sorry about that,” she says to Carla.

“No problem. As I was saying, most OBGYNs recommend this.”

“Sounds good to me.” She picks up the bottle and reads the description and checks out the price. It was pretty affordable too, for a little over three ounces. Around 95 millilitres. Converting everything to the metric system was tedious to her a month ago, when she came to the States, but it was now becoming natural.

“About the flavoured ones, they are pretty big and I don’t think I’ll use it much.”

“I could give you the smaller sample bottles to try out,” Carla suggests.

“That’s perfect!”

“Pick what you like and I’ll get the smaller version,” they say.

“Umm…Har?” She calls for him. “Do you have any particular flavour you like?”

“Hmm…” he takes a closer look at the bottles. “Banana, apple, watermelon, strawberry, vanilla, berry, kiwi, chocolate, cupcake…” He reads from the bottle.

“Pick one, dude,” Layla says hurriedly.

“Ooh. Cotton candy,” Harry says, picking up the bottle.

“We have a winner.” Layla turns to Carla. “Can I have the smaller one of this, please?” She motions to the bottle Harry’s holding in his hands.

“I’ll be back,” Carla says, walking towards the stockroom, presumably.

“So… lube, huh?” He scratches the back of his head.

“Yeah. I mean I thought it better to have it than to need it and not have it.” She shrugs.

“Makes sense.”

Layla’s phone vibrates in her pocket. “Hold on,” she tells him and she swipes and raises her phone to her ear.

“Hey Ramya!”

“Hi. I think that bullet will do.”

“Are you sure? Those hands free things Susan had looked good. The Lelo one with the sonic vibration sounds cool.”

“But they are too expensive. I can’t afford it.”

“Ramya, don’t worry about the money. I have some saved up. Consider it a gift from me.”

“No way. I want to buy my own vibrator-“

“Then pay me back whenever you want and get the cool ones,” her tone was a little exasperated.

“No. I think a bullet will do for now. I can use it on me and maybe even my girlfriend. I do have a few questions though.”

“Wait a bit. The sales person will be back and I’ll ask them, okay.”

On cue Carla comes back with a sample bottle of the cotton candy lube. “Here you go.” She hands it to Layla.

“Perfect. Thank you. I have some questions about the bullet vibrator.”

“Ask away,” Carla says.

“Ramya, what did you want to know?” She says back into her phone.

“Batteries or rechargeable? Which one is better?”

Layla turns to Carla. “Should I get the batteries or the rechargeable one?”

“I’d say rechargeable. A full charge lasts up to ten days sometimes.”

Layla parrots the information back to Ramya.

“Question number two, is it noisy?”

“Of course it’s going to make noise, you idiot,” Layla chuckles.

“The ones they make now are more whisper quiet.” Carla says.

“Then get me the bullet. Rechargeable one.”

“Any colour in particular?”

“Yeah. I liked the dark blue one.”

“Done. Bye!”

“Byeee. Thanks!” Ramya hangs up.

“Sorry about that. Ramya wanted something,” Layla tells Harry.

“No problem. I assume you are getting a vibrator?” She nods. “Lead the way.”

The three get to the women’s toy section and Layla picks out the one Ramya wanted.

“Can I interest you two in anything else?” Carla asks.

“I think I’m done. Harry?”

“I’m done too.” They walk to the cash register.

“That’s cool.” She points to a leather harness suit in the BDSM section.

“Really?” Surprise registers in Harry’s voice.

“Yeah. That and those fluffy handcuffs.”

“For you to wear?”

“Nope. I like being in control. Technically they’d be for you to wear,” she smirks.

Tingles run though his body at the thought of Layla pinning him down. “Do you wanna get them?”

“No!” She shakes her head. “At least not right now,” she adds and Harry nods.

Carla rings up Layla’s things first - a pair of fishnet stockings, two lubes and a bullet vibrator. “Do you want me to bill your things separately?” They say to the two.

“Yes-“

“No. Combine it.”

“Harry, you can’t be serious! You cannot pay for mine.” She turns to him.

“What? It’s okay.” He pulls out his card from his wallet.

“No. It’s really weird that you are paying for my best friend’s vibrator,” she crosses her arms and scrunches her face a bit.

“Okay. I see what you mean. True. At least let me pay for the lube.”

“No! I got it,” she stares him down.

“Fine,” he huffs. “Pay for your things. I’ll be right back.”

Layla hands the money over to Carla and Harry comes back with two penis straws and puts it on top of his fishnets.

“Why are you getting those?” She giggles.

“You couldn’t stop laughing at it,” he shrugs and pays for his things. They thank Carla and head to the car.

////

They stop at a nearby Starbucks so Harry can get some black coffee. Layla didn’t really want anything, so she was sitting in the cafe’s outdoor seating area and Harry headed in to get himself the coffee. Layla was looking around to get a feel of the town. She’s been to Raleigh a few times but not this part of the town.

She’s distracted by a small yip, she turns to the side to find a girl walking the cutest little corgi. She was stunning, blonde hair, blue eyes, body like a model and legs that were long and to die for.

“Oh my, can I pet your pup? He’s so adorable,” she asks the girl.

“Oh sure, go ahead. This is Colin.”

Layla puts her bag on the chair and squats down to the pavement to pet Colin. “Hi there, Colin! Aren’t you the cutest thing in the whole world!” She talks to the corgi in her baby voice. She gives him some good behind the ear scratches and he jumps up and places his front paws on her knees and lets out a small bark and licks her hand. This makes Layla and the owner giggle.

“Hey, Lails, I know you didn’t want anything but I got you a- Phoebe hi,” Harry says awkwardly.

“Harry. Didn’t think I’d see you here. How are you?” Phoebe was flustered. Layla's eyes were on them but her hands were still petting a very excited Colin, she had a feeling they knew each other.

“I’m good, thanks. This is Layla, my girlfriend.” This is the first time he’s referred to her that way and to think in the morning she wasn’t sure what to call him.

“Hello,” Layla stands up and extends her hand out and they shake. Harry wraps his arm around her waist and pulls her closer to him.

“Lovely to meet you,” she mumbles.

“Likewise. Colin is quite the sweetheart.”

“He is,” she smiles at him.

“I didn’t know you had a dog,” Harry says.

“He’s my parent’s pup. They are here for a visit.” She says. Harry and Phoebe stand there awkwardly for a few moments.

“I have to go. It was nice running into you. Happy to meet you Layla. He’s a wonderful guy, take care of him Layla,” she says.

“I fully intend to. Bye.”

“Bye, Phoebe,” Harry smiles and Phoebe walks away from the café.

“That was awkward,” Layla says as she settles down.

“Tell me about it. Here. It’s a dragon fruit, mango lemonade.” He passes it to her.

“Thanks. Although I won’t be able to finish this.” She takes a sip of the refresher. “How do you two know each order?”

“She’s studying in Chapel Hill. Meet her in a club here with Mitch and Sarah. We kinda umm…”

“The friends with benefits thing?”

Harry nods. “Sorry. Didn’t know she’d be here or I wouldn’t have come here. I haven’t spoken to or thought about her in over a month and a half. You have to know that.”

“Harry, it’s okay. You don’t owe me an explanation. I don’t expect you to not come to Raleigh because of one person.” She reaches for his hand and gives him a reassuring squeeze.

“I didn’t know you love dogs.”

“Oh dogs are superior to cats. I love them. Especially golden retrievers and doodles. I’ve always wanted a dog but my parents never let me have one. What about you? Are you a dog or a cat person?”

“I had a dog growing up. Mum had three cats. So both I guess. I also had a pet hamster when I was ten. She sadly passed away five months after I got her.”

Layla pouts at him. “What about you? Any pets growing up?”

“I had two rabbits, a fish - he was a flower horn and the absolute love of my life. Had him for seven years. Lovebirds and a parrot. The parrot was shipped off to my great grandmother's house because she worsened my granddad’s asthma. She calls me “kutti” everytime I walk into my great grandma’s home. It’s real cute,” Layla smiles.

“Like how your aunt and uncle call you?”

“Yup. She just sorta picked it up because everyone called me kutti growing up.”

“You don’t like cats?”

“I don’t particularly care for them. A cat bit my pinky once. So I don’t really trust them. But I’m nice to them. My friends have cats and I treat them well and for some reason cats gravitate towards me even if I’m the one in the room expressing the least interest. A friend’s kitten once dove head first into my crotch.”

“I’d like to dive headfirst into your crotch. Oh to be that kitten.”

Layla’s face becomes hot, she rolls her eyes and playfully kicks his shin under the table. He chuckles, pulling her hand to his lips and giving a kiss.

“Cats do that because you ignore them, they think you are the least aggressive and rub up against your legs. The best way to befriend a cat is to act like you don’t care about them in the slightest,” he chuckles. “I’m curious, how did a cat bite you?”

“It was summer vacation and my cousins and I were helping my grandma give our dog, Tommy, a bath. When I said help, we were just playing in the water with him. We didn’t notice the cat going inside his kennel in the backyard. After his bath, Tommy went over and scared himself and the poor cat. I think he was trying to play with the cat and he was chasing him around and my older cousins caught the cat and had him pinned on top of the kennel and I was telling Tommy to be gentle and I raised my hand to pet it’s head and the next thing I know, there was pain and blood. They took me to the doctor and she gave me an injection. I don’t remember which pinky though. I was probably four or five.”

Harry examines both her pinkies. “Yeah. I don’t see a scar either. Healed pretty well.” He strokes both of her pinkies.

“You thinking of applying for undergrad?”

“Yeah. Working on this paper with you really made me miss collecting data and reading. I have been looking at a few schools. There are some that offer accelerated 4+1 year programs where I can get my Masters too.”

“That’s good!”

“What about you? Are you looking into doctoral programs?”

“I have. They are really competitive though. Only three or four people get picked out of three hundred or more applicants. Plus, I’m an international student. That puts me at a disadvantage already.” She sighs heavily.

“But you won’t know until you try, right? What’s the harm in applying? If you don’t get it, which I don’t think will be the case for you, you can always work.” Harry takes a final sip of his coffee.

“Suppose you are right. I do have to get a WES accreditation to get the American equivalent of my degree and my GPA. Maybe I’ll apply. I have all of my documents and whatnot already scanned and in a folder in my Google drive.”

“That’s great.” He gives her a reassuring smile. “Are you gonna finish that?” He points to the mango dragon fruit lemonade that was half finished.

“No. I’m full. I had breakfast a little late. Thank you for getting me one though. How much do I owe you?”

“Nonsense. You don’t have to pay me back. Can I drink some of yours?”

“Yeah. Can we get going home, please? It’s a quarter to three and my mom calls me and if she’s on video call and she sees that I’m outside without my folks, she’ll kill me.”

“Yeah. Come on.”

The two get into the car, put on their sunglasses, and Harry connects his phone to the Bluetooth and ABBA starts playing. “I didn’t know you liked them!” Layla says.

Harry starts singing Take a Chance on Me and she joins along. The rest of the twenty minute drive goes like that. The two sing and dance along to hits after hits of ABBA and Layla occasionally raises the Starbucks cup to Harry’s lips, so he can drink the remainder of her beverage.

Harry’s stops at a red light and turns his body to face Layla. They’re singing Andante Andante and he can’t help but lean over and kiss her cheek multiple times causing her to giggle and swat him away when the light turns green. For the first time in a while Harry feels light. Like he’s walking on air. He hasn’t felt like that in over a year, since his parents split. He always thought of a glooming cloud that was hovering over him and now he feels the little rays of sunshine fighting their way into his heart from the tiny crevices where the clouds seem to have stirred.

As Layla raises the straw towards his lips, he takes a sip and wonders if it was because of her.

////

Like clockwork, Layla’s phone vibrates at 3:10 pm and her screen lights up with a picture of a middle aged woman, who looked very similar to Layla. Amma, it said on the display.

“Layla! Your mum’s calling!”

Harry heard her footsteps get down the stairs, where she went to pee and wash her face. She gets to the family room and Harry hands her phone to her.

“I’m going to take the call in the kitchen. Be right back,” she says hurriedly and walks towards the kitchen.

Harry goes to freshen up in the hall bath. He comes back and draws the curtains to block the afternoon light streaming from the backyard to the room through giant French windows. He throws a cozy blanket and pillows on the cloud couch. He turns on the TV and dims the light, they were going to watch a movie after all. He settles down on the sofa and texts Sarah and Mitch asking if they were free on Friday to meet Layla. He then posts a picture of her to his Instagram stories. He took it before they left to the store; she was standing in the backyard throwing a peace sign in one hand while the other was on her hip. She was smiling looking directly into the camera, her dimple on display, head tilted to the right. She had the softest dimple on her left cheek. Although they weren’t as deep as his, they were still very prominent when she smirked, gave him a big smile, or pursed/sucked her lips in when she was thinking. President of the Adam Sandler-core Association, he added the text underneath and tagged her. She’d said that to him when he asked her if she was wearing her uncle’s stuff- “it’s a fit, dude,” she added striking a pose, making him throw his head back in laughter.

“Hey,” Layla says softly, walking over to him. She stands behind the couch and bends down to kiss the top of his head.

“All done with your parents?”

“Yeah. It’s almost three thirty. How about we eat something for lunch while watching the movie?”

“I can’t believe it’s three thirty and I’m not starving,” he turns around to look at her.

“That’s because you downed half of that giant lemonade and coffee,” she chuckles. “Come on. I’ll whip up something quick.” She walks towards the kitchen and he follows.

“What do you want, Harry?” She asks, opening the rice cooker and taking out the cooked rice.

“I thought we are having that,” he points to the rice.

“I’m going to make curd rice. I didn’t know if you’d want that. I can make some sandwiches for you.”

“No, I’m liking all the South Indian food you make. What is curd, by the way?”

“It’s just fresh unsweetened yogurt. Very good for your gut. We make them at home everyday. See!” She pulls out a medium sized earthen pot from the refrigerator.

Harry opens the lid and peeks in. “I didn’t know you could make yogurt at home.”

“It takes two seconds. All you need is some lukewarm milk and a drop of unsweetened curd or yogurt.”

“Interesting.” He watches Layla spoon the rice into two plates. The rice looked a bit overcooked. “Did you overcook it?”

“Huh?” She was getting ginger, frozen mangoes, green grapes and a pomegranate from the fridge.

“The rice,” Harry explains and helps her and puts the fruit on the island.

“Oh no. You have to overcook it a little for this dish,” she says.

“Do me a favour and cut up these grapes and get the pomegranate seeds out would you?”

“Yes ma’am.”

He gets to quartering a handful of green grapes and Layla starts tempering some spices in the pan.

“What are you doing?” Harry asks when he hears the sizzle.

“I’ve put some black mustard seeds, chopped green chillies, curry leaves, asafoetida, and grated ginger in the oil. Can you put the grapes on top of the rice, please?”

Harry divides the grapes up equally and puts them in their plates. He gets to the pomegranate and accidentally knicks his left index finger, the side of his first knuckle, with the knife. Blood starts oozing immediately. “Ow! Shit.” He brings his finger to his lips and starts sucking on it.

“Did you cut yourself?” Layla immediately whips around, pries his index finger out his mouth to examine it. “It’s just a knick. You’ll live,” she says, bringing his hand to the sink, turning on the tap and letting the water run over it.

“Wait here,” she says, turning off the tap. She then turns around and does the same to the stove. “I’ll go get the first aid kit.”

“It’s just a small cut, Layla. I’ll be okay.” He was amused that she was making this such a big deal.

“I love patching people up. Please don’t take this away from me,” she says with a pout.

“Okay.” A chuckle escapes his mouth as she goes to the garage to get the first aid kit.

Layla dabs some antiseptic on his cut and wraps a band aid around his fingers. "There all better now,” she smiles.

“You know, I hear kissing the wound makes it heal better,” he says with a smug look on his face. He raises his index towards her face. She rolls her eyes and kisses it. He then uses that finger and taps on his lips. A smirk plastered on his face.

“I don’t remember you cutting your lip,” her eyebrow arches.

“I hear that it is the best way to patch someone up.”

“That so?”

“Hmm.”

“Alright then.” She gets on her toes and grabs his face with both her hands, his arms immediately wraps his arms around her waist, and pecks him on the lips. Once. Twice. Then three times.

“I think my finger’s healed up already,” he says against her lips, causing the two of them to giggle. She backs away from him and gets the pan off the stove. She spoons a generous amount of curd into their plates. And adds the pomegranate seeds, that Harry managed to get out before cutting himself, into the plates. She pours the tempered oil with the spices into both their plates, salts it, and hands Harry two spoons and asks him to mix it.

“That’s it?” He asks.

“That’s it.” She gets a jar from the cabinet and spoons some mango pickle on her plate and keeps very little on Harry’s plate.

“Why do I get a tiny amount of that?” He whines

“It’s pickle and it’s super spicy. I promise, if you can handle that you can steal some from mine. Eat now,” she says, moving to the blender.

“Aren’t you gonna eat?”

“I will. Right after I make some mango lassi.” She puts half a bag of frozen mangos into the blender.

“Oooh. My favourite! Mum and I loved it when you came home the other day after dinner and surprised us with that. Now I get to watch you make it.” He starts eating the rice watching Layla. She pours some honey, a spoonful of rosewater, two saffron strands, and blends it. After checking for lumps, she dumps the rest of the curd into the blender, tosses in some ice cubes and runs it again for a minute. She gets the spoon beside her plate and feeds some to Harry and he willingly accepts.

“You think it needs any more sweetness?”

“Yeah, I think it needs some.”

She spoons some sugar into the blender and runs it again. She puts them into a giant glass jar and puts it in the fridge to chill.

She sits down next to Harry and starts scarfing down her lunch.

“Whoah, slow down. You’re gonna choke,” Harry scolds.

Turns out Harry did finish his pickle like a pro and took the tiniest bit from Layla’s plate.

“What’s this movie we’re gonna watch?” He inquires.

“It’s a Tamil movie, called Alaipayuthey. Hope that’s okay.”

“I actually wanted to ask you to show me some of your favourite Tamil movies, we’ve only been watching English so far and I really wanna get to know your culture.”

Layla smiles at his admission.

“What does it mean? The name of the movie. I can’t pronounce it.”

“Uhhh.. You are really putting me on the spot. I don’t know-”

“You don’t know?”

“I mean I know what it means, but I really don’t know how to explain it in English. I’ll just look it up.” She pulls up the translation on her phone. “Here we go, it means relentlessly flowing waves. Wait, that's not right! It’s too literal. Gimme a minute,” she closes her eyes and thinks hard. Her face makes him chuckle. “Got it! Metaphorically, it means wavering. Like my heart is wavering but gravitating towards you.”

“Ah. Anything I should know before I watch it?”

“Not really. But it did come out twenty one years ago. So, that’s why some borderline stalking/pursuing is considered romantic. Also, I love the soundtrack to this movie, every song just hits different.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Can’t believe the first Tamil movie you’re showing me is older than moi-”

“I’m showing you a classic,” she shrugs.

“What are your favourite songs on there?”

Layla finishes eating and pushes the plate away from her. Harry gets up and clears their dishes, the blender and the pan and starts loading them in the dishwasher. “Thank you for cleaning up.”

“It’s the least I can do. You cooked,” he says matter of factly. “So? Favourite songs?”

“Umm… that’s hard. I like all of them. I’ll give you the top three. It’s Kadhal Sadugudu, Pachiai Neeramey, and Endrendrum Punagai. Please don’t ask me to translate. I’m sure the subtitles will do that for you when you watch it.”

“Go put it on, I’ll be right back after I wipe the island and put the fruits back in the fridge.”

Layla settles down on the couch and opens her uncle’s Amazon account. He’s already purchased the movie, so she pulls it up and Harry walks in with a water bottle and sets it on the ottoman and settles in next to her, throwing an arm around her shoulder.

She presses play and the opening credits start playing.

“This is a top three, right?” He asks.

“Yup. Such a good youthful road trip song. A.R. Rahman did a great job,” she says.

“He’s the Oscar winner for Slumdog Millionaire?”

“Yup.”

“I’ve always wanted to get a bike,” Harry says, watching the protagonist riding a motorbike.

“Do you know how to ride?”

“Yeah. I have driven my mate’s bike. Mum will kill me if I ever get one.”

“That’s a shame. I love bike rides. The wind in your face. The feeling of being free. You can feel that in a car but it somehow feels confined.”

“Sounds like you know how to ride one,” he chuckles.

“I do know,” she says with a shy smile.

“What?” He turns around and looks at her.

“You sound so surprised.”

“You are the last person I’d imagine riding a motorcycle. You are such an anxious bean.”

“True,” she chuckles. “I can ride Vespas on my own. I’m too scared and a bit short for motorbikes but if my granddad, dad, or uncle sits behind me, I will.”

“Such a thrill seeker,” he chuckles and plants a kiss on her forehead.

They watch the rest of the movie in silence. Harry threw some pillows on the floor and sat down, with his legs outstretched, his head rested on Layla’s knee and his back was supported by the couch. Layla was lying on the couch on her side facing the TV, her head on the arm. Her legs were bent at the knee and were at a right angle- one leg upright, resting on the backrest and the other on the cousin, where Harry’s head rested. The two lovers in the movie now moved into their house. Layla’s number one song was coming up.

“I really like the aesthetic of the unfinished house,” Harry says softly.

“Me too,” Layla mumbles.

Soon, Layla’s favourite song comes on and Harry adjusts himself a little so he could pay attention to both the movie and Layla. It was romantic. It was dreamy, the lyrics conveyed how much the protagonist loved and worshipped his wife and Harry could feel it. His hands absentmindedly starts rubbing soft circles on the exposed part of her inner thigh, closer to her knee. He sees the softest smile etched on her face, in the glow of the TV and the dim lights, an idea pops into his head. When the song gets over, he reaches for the remote and pauses the movie.

“What are you doing?” she whispers.

“Pull up the song on Spotify and put it on repeat, please.”

“Why?”

“Trust me, yeah,” he turns around to face her, still on the floor, and sits back on his heels. Layla was confused but she picked up her phone, pulled up the song on Spotify and connected it to the TV, so the music came from the surround sound. The screen was lit up with the album cover, causing the room to be washed in a pretty shade of yellow. The song starts playing.

“It’s on repeat, yeah?”

Layla nods and for some reason, the way Harry was looking at her right now made butterflies flutter in her belly.

“Did you shave?”

She nods, her heart flutters.

“So you wouldn’t mind if I took off your shorts?” His palms move up and down her inner thighs, underneath her trousers.

She nods again.

“I need you to speak, baby,” he coos.

“I don’t mind,” her voice breathless.

He grabs her hips and pulls her closer to the edge. Layla wiggles her torso forward, so her face was almost close to the edge. He hooks his fingers in the waistband, Layla lifts her hips up, so he can pull them down easier. When he gets them to her ankles, she toes it off and kicks it off the cushions.

“So eager,” he chuckles.

He gets a “shut up,” immediately from her causing him to giggle.

He kisses up her thigh and his hand snakes its way into her panties and his fingers explore her folds. He gets to her clit and starts rubbing slow circles. Layla’s breathing gets shaky and her tummy clenches. He withdraws his hand, leans forward and kisses her clothed clit through her panties. She whimpers and bucks beneath him as his tongue swipes over her folds and teases her clit.

“Harryyy, get them off,” she pants. He slides her panties down her legs and tosses them on the cushion.

He sits up on his knees, puts one of her legs over the backrest, and folds the other and pushes it a little higher, she is now completely exposed to his eyes. “Keep them there, baby.” His cock twitches at the sight of her slick core. He crawls a little up and bends over and blows on her folds. She lets out the softest moan. “Tell me if you don’t like anything baby,” he looks into her eyes and she nods, her lower lip trapped by her teeth. He wasted no time after that. He tilts his head to the side, his face was upside down - his nose almost at her entrance and his mouth near her clit. He inhales and dives in.

He swirls his tongue around her folds and, sucking and lapping around her entrance.

“Harry,” she almost screams when his tongue flicks at her bud. She was climbing and climbing, her breathing was shallow, pants, her eyes scrunched tight from the pleasure that burst through her body.

“Ah,” she says and bucks her hips up into his face and he lets out a loud groan. Shivers run down Layla’s spine. The music, the lyrics, Harry’s tongue makes her grip his hair and tug. He moans again. He moves his face from side to side, nose almost prodding at her entrance. His hands tighten around her ass, pulling her even closer to him.

“Do that again, baby,” he begs. Her hands immediately tugs his curls. He kitten licks at her clit and sucks hard.

“Oh, mother of fuck!” She twitches and explodes.

Before she has any time to recover Harry backs away and pulls her up to a seated position. Her legs were now spread apart, Harry was in between them, and he dives in again, sucking her clit hard. Her head thrashes from side to side. “Ah, Layla,” he moans as she bucks her hip towards his face.

Her hands were intertwined with his. Harry prodded his tongue at her entrance and licked into her, eyes closed. Music and Layla were the only two things that were occupying his senses. “Go back to my clit. It’s not doing much,” she pants.

He lets go of her hands, brings his right middle finger and sucks on it. He goes back to flicking his tongue back and forth on her clit and eases his middle finger inside her. She mewls.

“Christ, you are so fucking tight.”

“Harry. Harry. Nugh.” She wiggles as his fingers ease in and out of her and he nibbles her bud. He curls his finger up and starts looking around for her special spot.

Layla was soaring, she didn’t think she could take it anymore, until Harry found her g spot. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she sputters and looks down at him. She could feel the heat in her stomach pooling and the dam waiting to burst.

Harry smirks up at her and the eye contact sends her reeling, she throws her head back on the sofa. He goes back to sucking and furiously licking her bud as his finger pets her walls. Layla twitches and shudders. “Stop squirming baby,” he says, tightening his left hand around her thigh holding it in place. The vibrations of his voice sends tingles through her body. She grumbles back something unintelligent. He could feel her tightening around his finger, as he goes back to nibble on her, moving his finger inside her.

“Come on, sweet girl,” he mumbles and harshly sucks her clit and that was all it took. Her body goes slack and twitches. Her ears ring and, if her eyes were open she swore they wouldn’t have worked for a minute. Harry withdraws his fingers from her, and keeps licking on her folds, working her through her orgasm.

Layla opens her eyes to find Harry’s green orbs staring right back at her. He sucks his middle finger clean and her mouth parts at the sight.

“How was that?” He whispers and plants an open mouthed kiss on her knee.

Layla pounces on him and attacks his mouth. She pins him to the floor. Her tongue invades his mouth, and she could taste herself on him. Her nose scrunches at that unpleasant thought but quickly pushes it away. Harry moans into her mouth as she palms for his rock hard cock through his shorts.

“Take off your clothes and sit up for me,” she says against his lips. He immediately peels off his shirt and pulls his boxers down with his shorts. His throbbing cock springs free slapping against his stomach.

He sits beside her, his legs outstretched. Layla was kneeling facing him. He follows her eyes to his bloated penis. It was big and thick.

“What’s wrong?” He caresses her cheek.

“Nothing. It’s just. I don’t know. I’ve never seen one in real life and it’s just so weird. Not weird in a bad, ugly way or anything. Weird different. I suppose my nethers are also weir-“

“Baby. Stop spiralling,” he leans over and kisses her lips gently sucking on her bottom lip.

Layla wraps her hand around him. Harry’s breathing hitches. He felt warm in her hands. She could feel him twitching. She moves her hand up and down. He winces.

“Oh fuck. Did I do something wrong? Did I hurt you?” She looks at him, eyes filled with panic.

“No. Calm down, baby. It’s just that you’re giving me a dry rub down,” he brings her palm to his mouth and licks it three times.

“There we go,” he says leaning over to kiss the tip of her nose.

Layla starts pumping him and uses her thumb to swipe at his tip. Harry was a whimpering mess. She starts kissing on his neck, careful not to leave any marks. “Can you rub my tip with your thumb again?” She nods and does what he asks. He lets out a loud groan.

“You like that?” She whispers in his ear.

“Oh fuck. Christ. So good baby. You’re doing so good,” he moans his praises.

His orgasm was bubbling. Layla feels him twitching and she uses her other hand and starts massaging his balls. He thrusts his hips up into her hands.

“I’m gonna come beautiful,” he breathes out. Layla pumps him faster, her thumb squeezes his tip.

Just as she’s contemplating putting her mouth on him, Harry says, “Kiss me baby. Kiss me.” He turns his face towards her. She kisses him hard, his tongue licks into her mouth.

“Give it to me, Harry. Come for me,” she says into his mouth and that was all it took to push him over the edge. He whimpers and comes gloriously, spurting ribbon after ribbon. She pumps him through it, sucking his bottom lip. It gets on her hands and some get on his thigh.

They both collapse against each other just sitting there, grounding themselves. Their breathing returns back to normal. Now that the pants, moans, groans and heavy breathing has settled down, the music comes into focus.

Harry leans over and kisses her cheek. She reaches for some tissues in the tissue box on the Ottoman and hands him some. Harry wipes his thigh.

“Give them to me. I’ll bin it. I’m gonna go wash my hands and pee.” With that she takes the tissues and walks to the hall bath to clean up.

Harry stands up and puts on his clothes. The song starts again. He had no idea how many times it played when they were loving on each other. This just might be my favourite song yet, he thinks. He picks up the TV remote and pulls up the movie again from where they left it.

Layla comes back in and pulls on her underwear and the shorts and plops down on the far end of the couch. “What’s wrong?” Harry asks.

“Nothing. Play the movie.”

“You’re so far away,” he pouts, making grabby hands at her.

Layla giggles. “Sorry. I’m not a very touchy person. It didn’t even cross my mind,” she says, scooting closer to Harry and pats her thigh.

Harry presses play and lays his head on her lap. She scratches at his scalp and he lets out a contented sigh. They watch the rest of the movie in silence.

////

Layla turns off the TV when the end card comes on. “What’s the verdict?” She asks Harry who was looking up at her from his lap.

“I liked it. The fact that she didn’t say I love you throughout the movie to her husband but said it at the very end on the hospital bed hit me in the gut. It was like they finally realised their love for each other was unconditional after the reality of life sets in. Both their performances were really good. I liked the music too. The three songs you said, and the one that plays when they meet each other for the first time at their friend’s wedding, especially liked the colour one-“

“Pachiai Neeramey?” She interrupts.

”Yeah. Will you send me a Spotify link of the album? I’d like to listen to it again, especially the one that was on repeat,” he says with a smile.

Layla nods, her cheeks heat up.

“So better than the notebook?” She asks with a smirk.

“Don’t push it,” he says, making her giggle.

“Can we take a nap? All those scalp scratches you gave me made me sleepy,” he pouts at her.

“Sure, hold on,” she reaches over and empties the remaining water in the bottle and settles back on the couch.

Harry gets up to turn off the lights and crawls in between her legs and rests his head on her chest. A few moments pass by and Harry suddenly lifts his head up and starts alternating kisses on Layla’s left and right breasts.

“What the hell are you doing?” She laughs.

“Just remembered that I haven’t paid attention to them all day. So I’m loving on them,” he shrugs.

“You are such a weirdo,” she shakes her head.

“Yet you chose to hang out with me all day. What does that say about you?” He quips.

“Touché.”

“Har?”

“Hmm,” he yawns.

“Why did you ask me to put that song on repeat when you went down on me?”

“I was really feeling it. The lyric translation and the music. You were smiling at the TV, too. You looked absolutely adorable. Plus, it was your favourite song. I just wanted to give you something to remember by the next time you listen to it,” he shrugs and nuzzles into her chest. The two settle back and slumber finds them.

////

Abi and Vasanth key into the house around seven and find the two fast asleep on the couch.

“Oh my god, Vasanth! This is so cute!” She squeals snaps and a picture of the two and sends it to Layla. They both head upstairs to wash up.

////

Layla heads up to her room at quarter to twelve after a long video call with her parents and grandparents along with her aunt and uncle planning one of the first of many pregnancy ceremonies for Abi. Harry left at around 7:30 with mango lassis for him and Anne. He wanted to spend some time with his mum at dinner.

She notices a paper airplane on her bed. She picks it up and looks over to Harry’s window. It was closed and the blinds were shut - he was probably asleep.

She reads the note: Your friend’s kitten can suck it. Dove headfirst into your crotch, baby. ;)

“Idiot,” she mutters to herself with a big smile, she sends him the link to the album on Spotify with a small white heart emoji, and walks into the bathroom to do her skincare.

LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK SO FAR!

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