#pretend i gave her all of her arms i kinda forgot she had four arms until i was done with it dhdggs

[realjem-art]

Wheehee!! Another plushie I'd like to make at some point

[mistresspotterhead]

The American Ymbryne- Chap. 1

Alma Peregrine x fem!reader

Warnings: Yelling, slamming hands on a table, being outed (kind of)

Words: 1,900 on the dot

A/N: Wow, this took a lil bit. Alma doesn’t appear until the very end of this chapter, but she’ll be in the next one a lot. Everyone has been so kind, and that has helped a lot <3. Also: Miss Saker indicates the type of bird you are, not your given name. I hope you guys like this. 😊😊😊

Tags: @itsonlydana @evil-feather @merci-bitch @multimilfs @escapetodreamworld @gay-and-sad-tm @multifandomfix @romanottsmaximoff @n0thing-is-real-exe​ @theaudreymere 

(ask if you want to be added/removed)

In a strange way, Cairnholm reminded you of the Chicago loop you and your wards had just fled from. They were both very dreary, cold, and, from what you could tell from those on the ferry, the people would rather be anywhere else. 

“M-miss Saker? I’m cold.” The bundle of talking coats shivered next to you. 

“I know, Astrid. We’re almost there, though.” You sighed and looked out toward the slowly approaching coastline. Your surviving children, Elina, Alexander, Leonard, and, of course, Astrid, all huddled closer to you. You stared at Cairnholm for a while longer, until the ferryman’s voice suddenly called out.

“Alright everyone, ‘ere we are! The… lovely… Cairnholm!” He steered the small ferry over to the somehow smaller docks, and you led your children out.

“Is everyone here? Astrid, Leo, Elina, Alex?” David, Beth-Anne, Lisa, Frankie, June, Stefanie, Josef, Alice, Rosie, Reggie. You suppressed the urge to call out their names as well. 

“Yes, Miss Saker,” they called in long-suffering voices- you were very adamant about attendance. It was good to see something was normal.

“All right then. Leo, can you see where the loop is? And Alex, are there any other peculiars near?” Ah yes, your diviners. It was very lucky for all of you that they were two of those that survived the wight’s invasion of your loop. 

Your Chicago loop near the Art Institute was one of the last surviving loops in America maintained by an Ymbryne, along with your South Side, McKinley Park, and St. Louis loops, though the latter was run mainly by its older wards and reset once a week.

As of a fortnight ago, though, the Art Institute loop was the only one you had. McKinley Park was attacked by Wights and Hollows in December, with South Side following close in early January. Samuel, the sole survivor of McKinley Park, was what Syndrygasti call a Librarian. He could see hollows and alerted you to them when you were traveling to St. Louis for reset. The problem with this, though, was that Sammy was only five years old, and so frequently got distracted.

It wasn’t hard to understand- Illinois in 1975 was very colorful. Sammy was gone now, though, as were all most all of your children. Speaking of… 

“There aren’t any other peculiars on the island, Miss Saker- at least not in this time,” Alex said, startling you out of your thoughts.

“Thank you, dear. How are you faring, Leo? Have you located the loop? I don’t like being out in the open for this long.” For emphasis, Elina gave a giant, chattering shiver that was surely exaggerated.

“Indeed, but it is on the other side of the island, and the night is fast approaching.” 

You looked over and scowled at the sun; if you couldn’t get rest, then why was it allowed to?

“Well then. It looks like we’ll have to go into town.” Immediately, protests arose.

“Aw, no!”

“Come on, Miss Saker! We can make camp out here!”

“Because that sounds comfortable,” Leo deadpanned to Astrid.

“Well, it’s better than town! There probably isn’t even a hotel!”

“Actually, Astrid, that’s where you’re wrong.” Astrid looked shocked at the suggestion that she could ever be incorrect at something. “There is a hotel. It’s called the….” You took out the crumpled guidebook the ferryman had given to each tourist. “Preist Hole. What kind of hotel is called the Priest Hole?” You muttered that last part to yourself. “Anyway, off we go. Come along, single file now.”

Your ducklings dutifully arranged themselves from youngest to oldest, seven-year-old Elina closest to you and sixteen-year-old Leo at the back.

You hoped that the food was at least good.

Nope. Everything on the Preist Hole’s menu was covered with vinegar. You wondered if that was a Welsh thing or a Cairnholm thing. Maybe the owner just liked vinegar. Next to you, Elina was grimacing with every bite. On a whim, you decided to flag the bartender down.

“Hey, Kev, was it?” He grinned widely at you. You gave him a small smile in return.

“Yes, ma’am, that’s me. What can I do for you ‘n yer bunch today?” 

“I was just wondering if you had some fries- sorry, chips- with less vinegar. My youngest is still picky.”

“Hmm. Well, I’ll talk to Arnie ‘n see what he can whip up fer ye. He’s the cook, ye see.”

“Thank you so much, sir.” You attempted a bigger smile, but it still felt forced.

“Naw, it ain’t a problem, really. ‘N please, call me Kev. Sir sounds like I’m fifty- ‘n I’ve still got twenty years ‘fore that,” he chuckled.

“Well then, you must call me y/n.”

“Of course, ma’am- y/n, sorry.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“It’s alright, Kev.” This time, your smile was a small bit genuine- his hesitancy was endearing.

“Yeh. Well, um, I’d better talk teh Arnie now. I’ve kinda been lingering here for a while.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to keep you from work, anyway.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t object if yeh did,” Kev concluded, winking before walking away.

Once he was out of earshot, Astrid started chittering.

“Ooh, was that flirting I saw, Miss Saker?” You rolled your eyes, and Alex guffawed into his water.

“Miss Saker? Flirt with a guy? I think Elina would drink an entire bottle of vinegar before that happened.” You turned your head sharply in his direction, but not before Astrid snapped back at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” You jerk your head toward her now.

“Well, Miss Saker isn’t really the type to, ah, dabble in the male gene pool.” It was like you were watching tennis, really, with all this head-turning.

“That doesn’t make any-”

“ENOUGH!” You stood up, placing your hands on the bar. “This is not a discussion we are having, especially not here and now. Alex, I told you that information in confidence, and I am severely disappointed that you have betrayed that. Astrid, whether or not I am flirting with someone, and really my love life in general, is none of your concern. Do you both understand?”

They nodded, Alex looking especially ashamed of himself.

“Sorry, Miss Saker. It just slipped out.”

You sighed and ignored all the stares you and your wards were getting because of your outburst. 

“Alright, Alex. Just… you can’t share things that people tell you privately.”

“Yes, Miss Saker.” He was quiet after that, poking at his food.

It bothered you that he had shared that information, though it didn’t seem as if the other wards had understood. Of course, Leo was the only one you would expect to, as he was sixteen, but he had been sheltered in your loop his entire life. All of your wards had, really.

Just as you were beginning to sink into your past again, Kev came out with Elina’s new plate of fr- chips.

“Here ye are, little lady. I hope you like these better.” He smiled at Elina, tugging a small one out in return. You both watched expectantly as she took a tentative bite. And another. And another. Until the plate was almost gone, and she was rubbing her stomach in contentment.

“Well, that was fast.”

“It was good, Miss Saker. I wasn’t going to let it cool.” You laughed at the disapproving look on her face.

“Alright, alright. I suppose you have a good point.” You turned to Kev. “Thank you again, sir, for-”

“Kev.”

“...right. Thank you for doing this. How much will it cost?” You were ruffled at his interruption, but he didn’t notice. He pretended to think for a moment.

“Hmm… how much will makin’ a little girl ‘n her mam happy cost? I dunno.” He smiled at you. “It’s on the house. I can see that ye haven’t had such a good day, so….”

“Really? Are you sure? I mean, I have the money….”

“I’m completely sure. It’s good te make someone happy once in a while.”

“Well, I truly do thank you. It also seems that we’ll need a room, if that’s alright?”

“Sure. Room four was just recently vacated. It’s right up here.” He led you up the stairs, the kids trailing behind.

The room was small for five people, but it seemed like a mansion to the children, who only had their old, overcrowded loop to compare it to. There were four rickety beds, though they did seem to be clean, and a barren nightstand next to each of them. 

“Ah… I forgot that this only had four beds. I can get ye another room, or-”

“No, no, this is fine. Thank you for your help, Kev.” You subtly ushered him toward the door.

“Oh- well, if ye need anythi-”

“Yes, of course. Ta, then! Have a nice day!” You shut the door, leaving him very confused.

Alex was wheezing on the floor behind you.

“That… that was absolutely amazing Miss Saker! You are an absolute icon!” 

What in Abaton does that mean? You never could understand the new slang terms that the 1970s held. 

Elina yawned, setting off all the other children and alerting you to their needs.

“Alright then, time for bed.” Immediately, they were completely awake.

“I’m not tired at all, Miss Saker, therefore I shan’t be able to fall asleep.” 

“The fact that your accent is coming out very strongly tells me that you are indeed tired, Leo.” You crossed your arms. “Bed. now.” Your wards slouched, and grudgingly picked out a bed each.

“Miss Saker, where will you sleep tonight?” Astrid asked as you were tucking her covers in.

“On the floor, of course. Now, did you remember to take off your gloves?”

“But it won’t be comfortable! The floor is so hard and cold and dirty and-”

“Your gloves, Astrid.” She was very talkative, even late at night, though you had come to enjoy it. Sometimes.

She took off the gloves that helped control her peculiarity and was about to start chattering again when Elina suddenly spoke up from her bed in the corner.

“I could make you a nest with a spare blanket, Miss Saker?” You gave her one of your very rare genuine smiles.

“That would be lovely, Elina.”

“Wait- how did she know you were going to sleep in bird form?” Alex asked, finally catching on. You smiled again at Elina and kissed her on the forehead.

“She’s made me a little nest before when I fall asleep in my study while in bird form.”

“And that happens often?”

“Surprisingly so. Now, snuggle in and no more talking.” As the children said their goodnights, you finally transformed into your bird form; a stunning saker falcon. You jumped lightly onto Elina’s bed, careful not to hurt her with your razor-sharp talons or accidentally hit her with your wing (which had happened on more than one occasion). 

Though you nestled into the warm bunch of blankets right away, you didn’t fall asleep until much later, and even then, you were restless all night. 

---

Little did you know, in the old manor that you would trek to the next day, a group of peculiars and one very curious ymbryne had observed all of this. Alma LeFay Peregrine set her watch and gave the children a reassuring smile while she pondered what this meant and why her stomach had fluttered when you gave that dazzling smile.

[bookyeom]

pairing: jin x reader / word count: 2.6k / genre: idiots to lovers, friends (kinda?) to lovers

summary: It was her birthday, and she really only wanted one thing.

tags: pure unadulterated fluff, maknae line shenanigans

warnings: none, just... alcohol maybe?

Happiest of early birthdays, dearest @taejinnies. It’s short and it’s sweet and I hope you like it. I love you!  (This is completely unedited and I’m sorry for that, I wanted to get it out for bb’s birthday before I head out on vacation!! I know your birthday isn’t until tomorrow - it’s already the 4th here - but I hope it’s okay that it’s early!!!)

*****

“Hobi.” 

She drew out the last syllable of her roommate’s name, the wine making her a little bit more tipsy than she probably should have been at this hour. Who cared? It was her birthday, and all of the people she loved the most were in the apartment she shared with her best friend, and she was happy… and so she’d had an extra glass. Sue her.

Hoseok let out a chuckle. “I guess you like the wine Tae got for you? He pretended he was at a small winery in the French countryside the entire time we were in the store picking it out.”

“I’m sad I missed that,” came her solemn reply. “I’ll have to thank him for going all the way to Bordeaux for me. It’s great, though. Have you tried some of it?”

Hoseok shook his head, holding up his cup. “I’ve got my trusty rum and coke, I’m satisfied.” 

She hummed in response, her eyes wandering over her friend’s shoulder to look around the room. She heard her name, and turned back to find Hoseok staring at her, eyebrows raised teasingly.

“Don’t worry, I asked Jin to come. Just for you.”

“Huh?” She tried to play innocent, but Hoseok simply took a sip of his drink, staring back at her. “Where is he then?” She finally caved with a pout. 

Her friend rolled his eyes fondly as he grabbed her by the shoulders. He gave her a little shake as he replied, “You’re so whipped, and you’ve only met him like four times.”

“We’ve met five times,” she muttered, looking away, and Hobi let out a snort. She paused, contemplating. “How drunk do you think I need to be before I ask him to make out?”

Her friend opened his mouth to respond, but the voice that spoke came from behind her.

“Why don’t you ask him now?”

She turned around in a flash, her eyes landing on the man before her, his eyes crinkled at the sides as he smiled. Even without alcohol, she was usually confident, but ever since she’d met Jin months prior, she’d felt a bit like a fraud. She could easily talk to her friends about him, about how hot he was, about how nice he was, about how much she wanted to shove her tongue down his throat… but as soon as he walked into a room, she forgot how to function.

Her gaze finally broke from his, eyes wandering up to his hair, parted on one side and falling softly across his forehead on the other. Her gaze traveled down to find him wearing a yellow and white collared casual dress shirt, and it briefly crossed her mind that the only other person who could pull off a shirt like that was Hoseok. On Jin, it looked amazing. It was a shirt she couldn’t ever recall seeing him wear in the few months she’d known him, and a thought suddenly crossed her mind. The last time she’d seen him, he’d asked, and she’d told him that yellow was her favourite colour. It was just a coincidence, right? There was no way he’d worn a yellow shirt on purpose because she’d said she liked that colour… Right?

But then his hand was lifting towards her, extending a yellow gift bag in her direction. “Happy Birthday,” he said softly. 

His free hand lifted to scratch the back of his neck, and she felt rooted in place. She wasn’t sober, but she also wasn’t drunk enough not to realize the implications. Either he’d remembered, or he just also happened to really love the colour yellow. It was too much for her hazy brain to comprehend.

It wasn’t a secret that she had the hots for Jin, and all of their friends told her they could tell he felt the same. When she flirted with him, he would blatantly flirt back, and she knew that there was definitely something there. Still, a voice in the back of her mind was consistently filling her with doubt. It had been three months since he’d transferred to their university, three months since they’d met, and he still hadn’t made an official move. Her friends all told her that maybe she needed to be the one to do it, but she couldn’t bring herself to. She was confident, sure, but she still didn’t like being rejected.

After a moment passed without her taking the bag from Jin’s outstretched hand, she heard Hoseok clear his throat from behind them. 

“I’ll put this with the other stuff,” he said, and she nodded at him gratefully. He sent her a smile, and she turned back to Jin, hoping her cheeks weren’t as flushed as they felt.

“I like your shirt,” she managed, and her stomach flipped as the smile on his mouth grew even wider. She could tell he was pleased with her compliment, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there was a soft pink blush dusting across his cheekbones. 

“Thanks. I bought it just for you.” He stated it simply, and the wind was knocked out of her for a moment, before she finally managed to steel herself for a witty response.

“For me? Didn’t I say my favourite colour was puke green?”

Jin let out a barking laugh at that, and she couldn’t help smiling, too. “Shit. Guess I’ll have to take it back and exchange it, then.” He paused before adding, eyes twinkling, “I’d do it for you, you know.”

The words left his mouth, and she wondered, yet again, if she should just do it. If she should just ask him out first, kiss him first, cross the line first. As he looked down at her, brown eyes sparkling as he teased her, she made a promise to herself. Tonight, she would do it. It was her birthday party, after all. Why not ask for the gift she really wanted?

*****

She did not do it.

What she did do was get roped into taking shots with Jimin, Taehyung and Jungkook - lots of shots. Lots and lots of shots.

Before she knew it, she was drunk, Happy Birthday had been sung, they’d cut the cake, it was 1am, and everyone was leaving. As she lay on the couch with her head in Hoseok’s lap, all she could think about was how grateful she was… and how absolutely exhausted she felt. 

“I’m going to head out.”

She looked up to find Jin, tipsy but not drunk. Curse him and his high tolerance. He was smiling over at her, a bag of recycling in his hands, and she could do nothing but stare at him for a moment. 

“How are you getting home?” She’d meant to ask it, but it was Hobi that finally did. He spoke from above her, and she looked up at him before looking back at Jin, waiting for his answer. 

“Taxi,” Jin shrugged. He lifted up the bag. “I’ll take this out on the way.”

“You should stay,” Hoseok suggested, and she turned to him in surprise. Hoseok shrugged. “Tae and Jimin are already crashed in the spare room, but the couch folds out.”

She could feel Jin’s eyes on her. Every fiber of her being wanted him to stay - but with her. In her bed. She somehow managed to stay silent, the sane side of her thankfully warning that that would be a very, very bad idea. Especially with how good he looked now, his hair looser than when he’d arrived, and his shirt unbuttoned more at the top. If she wasn’t so tired, she’d have gone over and messed his hair up some more herself.

“Yeah, I’ll stay.”

*****

She woke up in the morning, a soft pounding in her head, her mouth dry. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and she was grateful for that, but she still had to grab an Advil from her bedside table. She quickly brushed her teeth in the bathroom, wincing at her reflection in the mirror. She could thank her past self for remembering to take her makeup off, at least.

She headed into the hall towards the kitchen to grab some water, but stopped short in her tracks as she saw a familiar, broad back stretching from the foldout bed in the living room. He was sitting up, wearing just the white t-shirt he’d had on underneath his yellow shirt, his hair messy from sleep, and she wanted nothing more than to climb in with him.

“Morning,” was what she said instead, because there was no way she could get to the kitchen without him seeing her.

He turned to her mid-stretch, his face lighting up when he saw her, arms falling back to his sides. “Morning,” he replied back, and when he lifted a hand to rub some more sleep out of his eye, she was a goner. He was so, so cute. How had she let last night pass her by?

“I’m getting some water, if you want some.” She jutted her thumb towards the kitchen, and he nodded. She had meant that she would bring him some, but he stood up to follow her, still clad in his jeans from the night before. “Sorry if you were uncomfortable last night.”

Jin shook his head, leaning against the counter as she grabbed the water judge from the fridge, as well as two glasses from the cupboard. “Nah, I was out like a light,” he reassured her. 

She handed him one of the glasses, ignoring the way their fingers brushed as she did so. He thanked her, bringing the glass to his lips, and she cursed herself for being unable to look away as he swallowed. She finally turned to her own glass, but she knew he’d seen her ogling when she caught the soft smirk on his lips. 

“Did you sleep okay?”

“Yeah, it was fine,” came her reply. “Didn’t get too much of it, but I’m alright.”

“You could always go back to sleep,” he suggested, and she brought the glass back up to her lips with a shrug. 

“I have a hard time getting back to sleep once I’m awake,” she admitted. Jin hummed in acknowledgement. 

“Well, if you’re up for it, we could always do something else.”

She nearly spat out her water, and she watched his eyes widen as he realized what he’d said. 

“I meant we could play Mario Kart or something,” he groaned, and she could see the tips of his ears becoming red. 

As she watched him apologize, so genuine and endearing, she finally made the decision. She couldn’t go one more day without trying. 

It was now or never.

“I’m up for anything you have in mind, Jin,” she said softly, making sure to keep her gaze firm on his, trying to convey just exactly what she meant. 

He seemed to understand almost immediately, straightening his shoulders. “Yeah?”

She nodded, her back leaning against the counter as he took a hesitant step towards her. He continued to close the distance, their eyes never once wavering from each other. He was tentative as he reached her, giving her room to back out if she wanted, but as her eyes fell to his mouth, he seemed to realize that she didn’t plan on going anywhere. 

“You know,” she began, voice a soft mumble. “I didn’t get what I really wanted for my birthday.”

“No? And what was that?” He was staring down at her, his brown eyes twinkling as he asked the question. He was so close now, his mouth inches from hers, and she slowly lifted a hand to his face.

Their noses brushed as Jin’s hand gripped into her waist, pulling her even closer before she whispered, “A million dollars to pay off my student loans.”

It was silent for a moment, Jin’s eyes opening slowly, and he blinked down at her. She couldn’t help but giggle, her hand falling from his face to cover her mouth, and she watched as he began to laugh, too. 

“You’re the worst,” he whined, his forehead falling to rest against hers, and she couldn’t help but loop her arms around his neck. 

She was still smiling, giggles getting quieter until she was able to speak again. “I think you know exactly what I wanted, Jin.” She paused, her skin feeling electric wherever he touched her. “What I still want.”

He moved his face away then, his hands finding the small of her back as his eyes wandered across her face. “I think I have some idea,” he said softly, and she nodded as he closed the distance again.

“Dude, Jin! You actually did it? You asked her out? Nice!” 

The two of them sprang apart as Jimin and Taehyung entered the kitchen, and she held back an audible groan. 

“Could you knock?” She cried, her heart still pounding in her chest. Jin leaned back against the counter next to her, his arms crossed as he tried to contain his laughter at her obvious irritation.

Jimin furrowed his brows in confusion. “It’s a kitchen… without a door.”

“We just wanted some Lucky Charms,” Taehyung added, as if that would help dispel the tension.

She sighed, raising her eyebrows at the two men pointedly, and Jimin finally seemed to take the hint, tugging on Taehyung’s arm. “Let’s go to the cafe across the street, Tae, my treat.” 

The two of them turned to leave, but not before Taehyung gave Jin a pointed look, eyes flitting between the two of them leaning against the counter. When they were finally out of sight, she let out the breath she’d been holding, her eyes squeezing shut. It was Jin that spoke first.

“Should I get going?”

She opened her eyes to look at him again, and he gazed back. He sent her a soft smile, and she could have killed her friends for ruining their moment. 

“Um, yeah,” she said softly, looking down at the floor. “If you want to.”

He didn’t move. 

She felt his eyes on her, and she met his gaze again, eyebrows raising in question.

“Taehyung’s not crazy,” Jin finally spoke into the silence. “I had planned to ask you out, that’s why he asked if I’d done it.”

She short circuited. It took a second before she managed, “What?” 

Jin let out a soft chuckle. “I was going to ask you yesterday. At your party.”

She stared up at him, blinking slowly, before letting her head fall back with a groan. “Fuck. Fuck Jeon Jungkook for roping me into a drinking game,” she whined, and she could hear Jin begin to laugh. “You’re telling me we actually could have made out last night?” She sounded delirious, but she didn’t care - she would never forgive her friends for this one.

“Yes,” the man beside her grinned. He took a step forward, and she turned to him again. “We also can make out right now. Which is what I was trying to do before we were rudely interrupted.”

She couldn’t help it as her mouth parted slightly at his words. Sure, they’d almost kissed just moments before, but hearing him say the words out loud had goosebumps spreading across her skin. 

“You’d better fucking do it this time,” she managed breathlessly, and then he was beaming, his smile wider than she’d ever seen it, and then - his lips were pressed to hers.

It was everything she’d imagined, but better. He kissed her soft but firm, slow but insistent, his mouth moving against hers in a way that had her entire world spinning. He pulled her in flush against him, one hand in the hair at the nape of her neck, the other firm on her waist. Her fingers twisted into his shirt, pulling him impossibly closer as they kissed each other breathless. She couldn’t get enough. They finally pulled apart, chests heaving, and Jin moved to rest his forehead against hers.

“Happy Birthday,” he whispered, and she pulled him back in for another kiss before she replied.

“Happy, indeed.”

*****

tagging @taehyungsupremacy @tae-bebe @snackhobi @moon-write @xjoonchildx​ @hazeltae​ if you wanna read xoxoxo

[alighieri-sparda]

Cann you headcanon about Vergil holding nero as a baby. But the s/o died while giving birth to him.

I just want angst heh

Vergil in Fortuna Headcanons: Nero and his mother fates.

➤ Masterlist | Rules 

Hello, my dear anon. I am sorry for my usual delay, I hope you are still here to read this.

That’s my first time writing DMC angst, I guess. So yeah it might be kinda shitty I’M SORRY, but I tried so hard. ;w; Hope you like it, my dear. I really do. If you’re not satisfied with its results, however, don’t be ashamed of asking me to rewrite it. I’d do it gladly for you.

Devil May Cry 3 gif because there were no good gifs of him in 4.

WARNING: Angst, mentions of death and blood. 

‣ ‣ ‣

A one-night affair was not something Vergil imagined he would find in the old city of Fortuna. In fact, the population of Fortuna was also not known by its good reception with outsiders; so, when that woman in red approached him and gently declared to be grateful for his work of slashing those demonic creatures, Vergil was more than certain that her words were not about gratitude only. He hesitated to proceed as soon as he found himself succumbing to her subtle proposal, but in his deepest thoughts, he had no real intention of letting this unique opportunity pass by.

Neither of them was completely sure of what they were doing. It was not like Vergil or the woman were uncertain about the decision they made though. Oh no, the point was definitely not that. It felt more like they were just following their pure instincts and deep desires, not giving enough credit to their insecurities or lack of experience on carnal knowledge. Specially Vergil got his mind all blank of important precautions since he was the one who was most aware of what that could turn into later. Besides, they had a wonderful and unforgettable night.

“Unforgettable” is, indeed, a precisely chosen word to describe the consequences of that night in Vergil’s life. He had no intention to come back to Fortuna at all: once his research was done, he would leave that antiqued island and keep his way on his unstoppable pursuit of power. His recklessness would have later consequences though since someone forgot to pull out even when neither he nor the woman had any kind of protection.

He tried his best to ignore his thoughts on the woman and yet her gentle words haven’t disappeared from his mind, not showing any possibilities to go away that soon. Those memories were pleasant of course, but nothing worth his attention, in his opinion. After four months of research and no expressive results, Vergil pretended not to be interested in that ordinary lady and left the old city. But it didn’t mean he didn’t leave something behind: among the crowd of hooded worshippers of the Savior, a humble woman had an accentuated belly bump kindly growing under her red dress.

All of his attempts to forget the woman were all in vain, however. During his lonely and self-destructive path of pursuing endless power, Vergil did remember her several times and wondered uncountable things about her current situation at the time. It started slowly: firstly, Vergil pondered if that gentle lady in red was doing right without him, due to danger caused by the demons who would show up in her neighborhood like on the day they met. Then, he remembered all the lovely words she said to him even after their night, and how her face contorted in sadness when Vergil sharply warned: “Thanks for the good time we had, but do not expect to see me again”.

But Vergil would not submit that easily. Oh, he stubbornly struggled as much as he could not to take another ship and go to Fortuna just to see if she was doing well. If she was safe. And when he finally figured out that the woman was almost certainly pregnant and his direct descendant was completely exposed, everything got even worse inside his mind. Those foolish distractions were driving him crazy, but for how much longer could Vergil run away from his responsibility? Would the consequences of his foolhardiness be that severe for his main goal to be worth his attention and time?

Vergil just made his decision when the memories about his childhood crossed his mind; his tricky subconscious focused specifically on his mother, Eva. After years of feeling abandoned, thrown to the cruel claws of the merciless demonic world with nothing but Yamato and his survival instincts when only being a child, the good remembrance of his calm and happy childhood alongside his family hurt like hell. What wouldn’t he do to have a happy life again? Maybe that woman and his child would be his unique chance to start again. To reconstruct what has left of his broken heart and give his descendent the happy life Vergil couldn’t have. To protect his family at last.

At the same time he missed those old times though, something deepened into his soul was blaming him to feel like that. Foolish weaknesses of his powerless human side, Vergil heard himself saying to no one more times he could’ve counted. 

After nine months of negligence and self-struggling, Vergil finally went back to Fortuna. He was still a bit annoyed about the decision he made, but he couldn’t help it anymore. Even if the woman didn’t want to accept him as her mate, Vergil would try to protect and support his kin regardless. His heart finally embraced at least a part of his humanity; Vergil realized after he stepped into the old gates. This would not distract him from his path of pursuing power, not even close to it; and they could even be something to motivate him to actually proceed.

Thus, the young son of Sparda lost himself among the dusty and antique streets of Fortuna in a search for the lady and the child who filled his thoughts for months straight, and after an hour walking through the common hooded crowd of Fortuna, he found himself in the same quiet street where the woman’s house was placed. Everything was just like it has always been since Vergil left, except for the wild and distorted growling coming from the said house.

No way it was happening again.

Vergil entered the house quickly, but he was too late. Even slashing those demons in the blink of an eye as he’s done uncountable times already, his main reason for being in Fortuna again was laying there: a lifeless cold body covered in blood. Why was she attacked by demons? Did they feel that a Sparda descendant was about to be born, or was she just another unlucky and random citizen of Fortuna who was a victim of the insatiable bloodlust of the demonic creatures? It didn’t matter at that point. Vergil failed on protecting someone who he cared about once more. He was still weak. 

He didn’t even get a chance to talk to the woman again. That sweet voice calling for him, the only one in the world that could make him feel loved? Vergil would never hear it again. 

Although, near the woman’s corpse, a little creature surprisingly was still alive. A defenseless baby was crying his lungs out to no one in that dark room. 

Yet still shocked with the woman’s dead body sight, Vergil immediately crossed the number of demonic carcasses and took the baby in his arms carefully. He had no experience holding a baby, but that fragile and innocent body fit perfectly in his embrace anyway, just like Vergil had done that instinctively. When Vergil put his eyes on his son and realized what was happening at that moment, he couldn’t hold back his tears. His son was alive in his arms, being warmly held and protected after a tragic loss of his family — something Vergil wished had happened to him when he lost his mother. 

However, the guilt Vergil felt due to his huge failure impeded him to keep his son with him. He could not take care of his son, he didn’t deserve it. Vergil didn’t have enough strength to protect him, not yet. But before leaving his son and keeping him away from the dangers of being related to a son of Sparda, Vergil gave him the name “Nero”. The name he would keep in his mind even in his darkest times to remember why he chose to obtain more and more power.

Wrapping Nero in the nearest black blanket he found and gently kissing his sweaty forehead, Vergil lost part of his soul when he basically abandoned his newborn son in front of the orphanage’s door, at the mercy of those who took care of and protected the defenseless children of Fortuna. Next to his wrapped little body, a grimy piece of cardboard was placed to not confuse anyone who would find him: he was Nero. His name would be the only thing Vergil allowed himself to give to him before leaving, no one could ever take it from him.

Once more, Vergil left Fortuna. But this time, he was certain he would go back: but only when he was worthy of it. He needed more power. More power to go back and protect Nero properly. Until that day, Vergil wasn’t confident enough to stay with him, no matter how badly he wanted to do so; it might be too risky. And if when he returned his son wasn’t there, alive and well, Vergil would shatter that city to pieces for pure vengeance.

Bonus: When Mundus turned Vergil into one of his puppets, he had access to his memories and found out about Nero’s existence. Then, Mundus decided to name his new creation as “Nelo Angelo”: to always remind that pitiful descendant of Sparda who he left behind and would never see again for being just a weak and miserable half-demon.

[candyopala]

Stuck in his ways, Chapter 4

Chapter summary:  Y/N sees too much. Both try to act normally but they just can’t help themselves, these two are too stubborn for their own good.

Words: 1.5k

AO3

Please reblog or like if you enjoy <3

“Dude! Put on some clothes!”

Y/N’s screams of embarrassment are enough to get Obito out of his sleepy state and into a frenzy around the room for something he can cover himself with, even though the room is dark and both can see very little. Enveloping all of his body and head into some big blankets from his bed, the Uchiha finally screams back: 

“The fuck you’re doing here?! Aren’t you supposed to be on the hospital? Are you some sort of maniac?”

“Look who’s talking, it’s Mr. Creep Uchiha! Give me a break, like I even wanted to see you like that”

Yeah, kinda.

“What are you even doing in my house? How do you know where I live?”

 “Calm down, my answers are: I came in to annoy you, I ran away, I might be maniac but not a maniac, you people live in the same part of town, it was easy. Satisfied?”

“Not at all.”

The bundle of blankets sits down on his bed and a small opening appears, revealing a big pout, almost child-like. Some light from the window beside his bed comes across Obito’s figure, and Y/N takes this as an opportunity to peek at the left side of Obito’s face, since a cloth mostly covered it on their previous encounter. This side, different from the other one, has no scars in it, only his left eye is missing, indicated by his eyelid being closed shut.

Damn…

“Ahem, so… aren’t you going to put on some clothes?” 

“Did you just say you ran away from the hospital?”

“Technically”

“Huh?”

“They told me I had to stay awake for 24 hours ‘cause I might have a concussion, and since I had no one to sign me off and take care of me, they wanted me to stay there. So I ran away”

“To my house?”

“Do I know anyone else in the village? No. Besides, you owe me one, after all, this is all your fault” She says pointing at her head. 

 Obito falls back on the bed, squirming lazily, clearly too sleepy for all this. A few seconds pass before he lets out a big sigh and says: 

“Get out of here so I can change, ok?”

“Oh no, what a shame, I totally wanted to see you naked again” Is all she responds, albeit ironically and completed with an eye roll. 

Again, kinda wanted to see some more

She then leaves Obito alone so he can change into something and to stop those furtive thoughts. A few minutes later out comes the Uchiha wearing battered sweatpants and an old T-shirt that barely fits him anymore.

“Are you coming out wearing that?”

“Coming where?”

“To the ramen booth, of course”

“It’s almost four in the morning, dumbass”

“So? It’s three thirty and I haven’t eaten since lunch, come on!”

“It’s not even going to be open at this hour”

“I checked before coming here, It’s open 24/7”

“Fuck…”

He gets back into the bedroom again to change into something more presentable, not that there would be anyone to see him.  

~”~  

They reach Ichiraku’s ramen booth in silence, Obito still half-asleep and Y/N poking him with her sheathed sword. After sitting down and ordering food for them both, Obito breaks the silence: 

“Why did you even bring that?”

“What? You? Well, you seem like you need some change of environment, you’re too grumpy for you age. I mean, I know we’re both probably reaching our thirties this next half decade, but you’re too-“

“The sword, I meant the sword, dumbass”

“Stop calling me that, creep! Anyway, I brought it because we’re training later”

“Over my dead body”

“Well I better go fetch my special shovel, ‘cause it’s happening”

Obito takes another good look at the sword. Simple model, all black with some decoration on the end. After a closer look, he also notices the Nara clan symbol etched very discreetly at the end, making him realize this is one of the famous traditional swords from the family, only the most notable members are allowed to use it. This raises even more question about the girl in his head, since he knows for a fact that Y/N is nor a Nara or has been a member from the leaf all her life.

“Where did you get that? Aren’t those rare?” He says pointing at the blade on her back. 

“My-… A good friend gave it to me”

“Willingly?”

“What sort of question even is that?”

“Uhm, sorry, talking to people isn’t my thing”

“I’ve noticed.”

“… Alright…”

“It’s fine. Just stop implying that I’m evil all the time, it’s not very nice”

Obito is thankful that the conversation is cut by their ramen being served. He is not all that hungry, but he could never refuse a good plate of ramen. Y/N also munches enthusiastically, ending her dish in record speed. She looks at him again, staring at his left side, making Obito remember that he forgot to put his eyepatch before leaving. 

“Oh my…” He says exasperated while covering his missing eye “I forgot to put on my eyepatch, I’m sorry for making you see this”

“See what? Calm down man, there’s literally nothing to hide there; it’s just your face”

 “A fucking hid-“

“A perfectly normal face. And stop pretending you don’t know you’re attractive, it’s annoying”

Obito needs to hide ASAP. To say his face went red is an understatement; he looks like a tomato from ear to ear. The last person that said anything nice about his looks was his grandma, and lord knows she passed away a hell of a long time ago. The best next thing he can do is to change the subject: 

“So, anyway, do you like the village so far?”

“Yup, climate is nice in this part of the country and the people have been so nice to me, well, almost everyone” She winks after her last statement.

“Hey! I was just messing with you, think about it as ninja hazing.”

“Well, I literally passed out of chakra exhaustion”

“I wanted to ask you about that, as in why the fuck did that happen?”

“Well, I went a little too far ‘cause I was annoyed with you”

“But you only did about one or two jutsu, basic ones at that”

Before responding, Y/N orders another big bowl of pork ramen. She then continues: 

“My chakra reserves suck, actually. I might be fast and good with the sword, but I understand very little about jutsus since I never had any formal training” 

“Sorry, but how did they promote you immediately to chunin if you don’t know the basics?”

“One: my reputation as a merc. Two: an old favor.”

“An old favor?”

“Yup.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“Not really.” She says after she finishes the bowl of ramen. 

“…”

“C’mon, let’s go have a walk. And you’re paying, of course.”

“What? Why?”

“You owe me one, remember?”

Fuck my wallet right? I might as well forget about this week’s ice cream store visit. 

Both walk around the village for the next couple of hours, showing the sights and main places to Y/N and talking very little. Obito, in all his grumpiness, does not know how to hold a conversation after what she said to him in the ramen place. Him and attractive in the same sentence, how absurd that sounds to him! Assuming she must be messing with him, he gets grumpier and grumpier by the minute. 

When they reach the main square, Obito shows her the Hokage monument: 

“So this is the first, Hashirama Senju; the second, Tobirama Senju; the third Hiruzen Sarutobi; the fourth, my sensei, Minato Namikaze; and right next to him… me”

“You mean, in the future, right?”

“Yes”

“Alright, just checking if you are still in touch with reality”

“You’ll see, I’ll be the next hokage”  

It is about seven o’clock when they finish walking around the whole perimeter, and Y/N seems, rightfully, bored. She then signals that she wants to head home, so Obito accompanies her there, even though there is no need for that. 

“So this is my place. I guess I’ll turn in. It’s close to 24 hours anyway, so I think I can manage on my own”

“You sure? I mean… you understand”

“Yup, it’s fine. And hey, sorry that I dragged you out here”

She turns around, opens the door and starts to walk in, but before she can do that, Obito grabs her arm quickly and pulls her in close. Too close. At this distance, he can clearly see some sun freckles starting to form, when he closes into her eyes he notices he needs to back off a little. Taking a step back, the Uchiha clears his throat. He looks away and digs his hand into his pocket, fishing out a leaf bandana.

“Here, forgot to give you this. Take good care of it”

“I will, sir” Y/N responds while jokingly making a salute. 

Obito rolls his eye. This one thinks she’s a comedian, how funny.  

“Meet me tomorrow at the training grounds ok? You have the day off, Kami know I need some rest too. Bye” 

[psychedellic-phase]

Blind Date

((gif by moi))

A/N: This is the first smut I’ve ever tried to write sooo let me know how it is!

word count: 3.6 k

tw: smut, swallowing, plain ol’ sex with a plot

masterlist

Spencer spun around lazily in his desk chair, flipping through a case file when Derek walked up to him.

“Pretty boy! Just who I was looking for!”

Spencer looked up from the folder at Derek and groaned internally, “What’s up?”

Derek half sat on the edge of the desk, barely containing his excitement as his leg bounced.

“How would you like to go out tonight on a date?”

Spencer scrunched up his eyebrows, a vague look of confusion painting his face. He was waiting for the punch like of this joke, or prank or whatever it was Morgan was trying to pull.

“A date?”

“Yep, a date.”

“With who?” Spencer dropped the file on his desk, crossing his hands across his chest and looking up at Derek. A date? He hadn’t even talked to a girl since Maeve. How was he supposed to go on a date?

“This nurse Savannah works with, (Y/N), I think you guys would be a great pair.”

So this wasn’t just another prank. Spencer sighed, rubbing his eyes with his hands.

“I don’t know, I haven’t, since—“

Derek cut him off, “I know, but it’s been three years Reid. She’d want you to move on.”

Spencer thought about it for a moment. It had crossed his mind recently that he needed to get back out there if he wanted any chance at a family in the future. He came to terms with Maeve’s loss a while ago, but it still felt like he would be cheating on her if he even looked at another woman.

“Look, kid, I think this one could really be worth it. She’s funny, kind, super smart and outgoing, I think you’d make a good match. I wouldn’t even bring it up to you if I didn’t.” Derek looked sincere, his eyebrows furrowed with worry.

Spencer thought for a moment and nodded, a sudden feeling of confidence coming over him, “Yeah, yeah okay I’ll go.”

What’s the worst that could happen? She could hate him and end up being a crazy killer? The odds were slim.

“Really?” Derek’s eyes were wide.

“Yeah, if she agrees to it why not?”

Derek slapped the desk and then squeezed Spencer’s shoulders, “Savannah and I will pick you up at 7, loverboy.”

“You and Savann–“ Spencer cut himself off, “Wait it’s a double date?”

Derek shrugged, “Yeah, that way if it goes South we can swoop in. But don’t worry. This date is not going downhill, not on my watch.”

Spencer just laughed lightly and tucked his overgrown hair behind his ear. A slight pang of guilt and dread formed in his stomach but he did his best to ignore it. Maybe this would be good for him? He hoped it was.

————

“No,” you said to Savannah over the nurse’s station.

She was trying to set you up, yet again, on another blind date. She was your best friend and you loved her, but she couldn’t let it go. She was constantly trying to matchmake for you, especially since she met Derek. You always told her she got the last decent guy, to which she’d roll her eyes and say, ‘Your guy is out there!’ You didn’t think that was true anymore.

“Y/N! C’mon, it’ll be fun!”

You rolled your eyes, skimming another patient file, “That’s what you said about Dylan. And Brian. And Craig. And they were not fun Sav!”

You started walking down the hallway and she followed you, shoes squeaking, “This one is different though.”

You stopped and made eye contact with her. She looked hopeful, genuine, sincere. Part of you wanted to say yes, but after several disaster dates with the disaster men that she sent your way you were very doubtful.

“You also said Scott was ‘different’ and he ended up still living in his mother’s basement.”

Savannah laughed and shook her head, “Okay, I was wrong about Scott. But I mean it. Spencer’s special!”

“He’s special?” You sounded bored.

“Yes! He works with Derek. The nerdy kid, remember?”

You vaguely remembered her meeting some of his coworkers and nodded, “Yeah he’s like a genius or whatever?”

“Yes him!”

You pretended to think, tapping your chin over zealously and then finally said, “Nope,” popping the ‘p’. You started down the hall way again, her still following you. She always was persistent, and even a little stubborn.

“Y/N, listen to me. Spencer is like 6’1, smart, lanky, kinda awkward but sweet, nerdy, brown shaggy hair; he’s literally your exact type.”

You sighed, she was right. That is your exact type. If you could build-a-man like build-a-bear, Spencer Reid is who you’d make. Savannah did always prefer the more masculine men like Derek, whereas you had a tendency to go for guys who looked like they ran on coffee and adderall and had sensitive eyes.

“Derek and I will be there too, double date style, just in case you guys need a little nudge.”

“But Sav—“

“Nope, no buts. You’re coming. This is a good one, Y/N. I can feel it.”

“But what about work? What if we get called or they do or?”

You were rambling looking for an excuse not to go. You had no good reason to say no, you were just tired of one too many bad dates.

“Work is NOT getting in the way this time! I’ll see you at 7,” she cooed, waving as she slipped into a patient room.

Maybe she was right, maybe he would be special?

————

So that’s how you ended up sitting across from Spencer Reid in the booth of a diner at 7 pm on a Thursday night.

“I swear I reserved the restaurant for tonight!” Derek said, Savannah on his arm as you all walked a few blocks to the diner. They were Barbie and Ken, just hotter. You and Spencer walked side by side, about a foot between you.

When you had arrived at the fancy restaurant at 6:45 the hostess informed you all that Derek had reserved a table for a Thursday three months from now. The backup plan was the 24-hour diner you and Savannah hit many times post shift.

Spencer sat across from you, folding open the massive menu to find something he’d like. He was exactly how you remembered him: wickedly smart and devilishly handsome.

A dangerous combination.

“So Y/N, Spencer’s from Las Vegas,” Savannah started, not to subtly nudging you under the table with her leg.

“Really? That’s nice, I love Vegas,” You said and Spencer nodded slightly in response, “You’ve been?”

You nodded, “Yeah, for a few girls trips.”

He just nodded and let the conversation die. You felt a little defeated. Was this guy that bad at dates? Or did he just not like you?

True to her word, Savannah stepped in again.

“Today Y/N had a patient throw ice chips at her.”

“What’d you do to make them do that?” Derek said, peeking over the massive menu at you.

You laughed, “That’s not even the worst thing that’s happened.”

“What rotation are you on right now?” Spencer asked you and ordered a Shirley temple. What kind of guy orders a Shirley temple? This guy. This impossibly cute guy, who probably didn’t want you.

“Labor and delivery, so I’ve had many things thrown at me, been called many names,” You laughed and he smiled back.

“I can only imagine.”

“Pretty boy here has actually delivered a baby before,” Derek chimed in.

You stifled a laugh, “Really? Is that so?”

Spencer’s cheeks turned a light pink, “Yeah, actually, and it was not what I expected.”

“Well what did you expect?”

He smirked, “I read all the manuals, I didn’t expect rose petals and magic but that much fluid? Where does it all even come from?”

You and Savannah chuckled, “Squeamish Dr. Reid?”

“Surprisingly, birth is harder to see than some of the dead bodies we get.”

“Hey hey, no dead body and grossness talk at dinner. I’m trying to eat here,” Derek said as the food arrived.

Spencer put his hands up in defeat, “No more dead body talk, I promise.”

You did the same, “No more birth talk, promise!”

You all started to eat, and of course you and Spencer reached for the ketchup at the same time, bumping fingers, like in those teen movies.

“I’m sorry, ladies first,” he said. You grabbed the bottle and squeezed ketchup all over your french fries.

Savannah cringed, “She doesn’t put ketchup on the side of her fries to dip like a normal person, she squeezes it all over top like a psychopath.”

You feigned insult and lightly hit her arm, “Hey! Don’t call me a psychopath in front of all the FBI agents!”

“For what it’s worth, Y/N, you definitely aren’t a psychopath,” Spencer said, offering you a shy smile, “I know psychopaths.”

“Thank you Dr. Reid,” you blushed and he took the ketchup from you, squirting it all over his fries just like you did.

“See! I’m not crazy! He did it too!”

“Probably because you’re both psychopaths,” Savannah giggled and the four of you laughed.

You reached over and took a fry from Spencer’s plate and then you both were finally comfortable. You looked at Savannah once and gave her a thumbs up; she was right, this was a good one.

The rest of the night was perfect. You and Spencer joked and laughed and learned about each other, by the end of the night you almost forgot Derek and Savannah were even there. The two of you were in your own little world, and it was amazing. You would’ve stayed out forever if they would’ve let you.

“We can all hitch a cab?” Derek said as you all stood on the corner. It was cold out and Spencer had so kindly given you his suit jacket. It smelled like fancy cologne, how much more attractive could he be?

You looked at Spencer, and he looked at you, and in that moment you made a decision. You were not going home without this man tonight.

“Actually, I live a few blocks that way,” You said, pointing in the opposite direction, the oversized jacket flopping as you did so, “I’m good to walk home.”

“Would you like some company?” Spencer said, his mouth turned up in a crooked smile. He rocked back and forth on his heels.

“I’d love some.”

Derek and Savannah gave each other a knowing look and bid you farewell. Spencer offered his arm and you grabbed it, leading him to your apartment.

As you walked he pointed out sights and told you the history of the landmarks you were passing.

“The Washington Monument was completed in two phases, a private one from 1848 to 1854 and then a public one from 1876 to 1884.”

“Have you ever been up in it?” You asked, stopping to stare up at the huge monument.

“No, have you?”

You nodded, “Yeah, I have.”

“Maybe you can take me up next time,” he stammered out, blushing and squeezing your arm tight.

You smiled, blush creeping up your face as well at the thought of a “next time.”

“Yeah, I’d love to, and then I’ll show you the best bakery in DC. I’m a sucker for an eclair.”

You released your arm from the crook of his elbow and grabbed his hand. He grabbed yours back, looking down at you in his jacket in the moonlight. His eyes were shiny and the brown was dark, almost black. His tongue darted in and out of his mouth and he bit on his lip ever so slightly.

You wanted to kiss him. Scratch that. You needed to kiss him. You stopped again and he turned to face you. Just as you went up on your tippy toes to kiss him, he knelt down to your level and connected your lips.

It was a short, sweet, innocent kiss that made butterflies erupt in your stomach, and other places. When you separated you were both grinning ear to ear.

The rest of the walk was hand in hand, him rubbing his thumb over your knuckles and you both talking. When you arrived at the front door, you both paused.

“Well, this is me,” You said and started to unlock the door. He stayed a few steps down, just smiling at you.

“Do you want my—should I give you my phone number?” He said, his voice laced with doubt.

You smiled and turned, “Actually...”

His face fell, a sad expression covering the smile he had moments ago.

“Oh, it’s okay I understand, I-I thought we were having a good time is all,” he mumbled out, rubbing his arms because he was freezing and you still had on his jacket.

“I was going to say would you like to come in?” You said, feeling just as awkward as he did.

His eyes widened, “Uh- do I want to come in?” Even he knew what that was insinuating.

You suddenly felt embarrassed, like you had misread the entire situation, “I mean, only if you want to?”

He regained his confidence a little, “Yeah. Yeah, I want to.” And he followed you inside.

You slid off his suit jacket and laid it nicely over a chair, “Can I get you a drink?”

He nodded, “Water’s fine.”

As you went to the kitchen to find him a glass of water, he made himself at home on the couch. You could’ve sworn you heard him mumbling to himself, but shrugged it off. You sat next to him and placed the two glasses of water on the coffee table.

You turned to him, “So—“

To your surprise, he immediately kissed you again, this time with less innocence and much longer. You kissed back, nipping slightly at his lower lip. The kiss got more and more intense, your tongue moving between his slightly chapped lips. His hands found a home on your hip bones, using his thumbs to rub small circles there. When you separated you both had to take a few slow breaths.

“Sorry, I don’t usually do this on a first date,” you mumbled, scooting closer to him so your thighs were touching.

He grabbed a stray piece of your hair and tucked it behind your ear, “I don’t usually do this at all.”

His hand went to cup your face and he was kissing you again. This time, you leaned back so he could hover over you, his tie laying over your chest.

His hands were on either side of you, and your fingers were running through his messy brown hair. You tugged slightly at the root, making him moan and open his mouth even more to you.

Slowly you reached down to fumble with his tie, his hand reached up to stop you.

“Patience,” he mumbled into your lips before kissing down your cheek and across your jaw. Each kiss sent jolts through your body, making the peach fuzz on your neck stand up. You put your hands back where they were in his hair, and one of his hands stayed next to you, supporting him, and the other landed on your hip. His lips found a spot just under your ear, and he sucked on it slightly making you moan and shut your eyes.

“The ears are a neglected erogenous zone,” he said against your skin before nipping and biting at the lobe.

“I-I like it,” you breathed out as you reached back for his tie and undid it, tossing it somewhere across from the couch.

“Should we take this somewhere else?”

You nodded, and in one motion he picked you up bridal style. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders and giggled as you led him to your bedroom. He laid you on your bed gently.

You scooted up to the pillows and propped yourself up on your elbows, “Lose the shirt, Dr. Reid.”

He raised and eyebrow at you but did what you asked and soon his dress shirt and undershirt were on the floor. He was slim but covered in muscle. You bit your lip at the thought how scratch marks would look down his back.

“It’s rude to stare,” he joked, and another redhot flush graced your cheeks.

You absentmindedly rubbed your legs together in anticipation as he began to undo his belt. You felt like it was only fair that you undressed too, so you took off your dress and laid out in your bra and underwear.

When he returned to hovering over you he smiled, sloppy kisses running from your lips and down your neck. You silently cursed yourself for not wearing nicer undergarments, but Spencer didn’t seem to mind as he palmed your breasts over your beige bra. You moaned into the skin of his shoulder and started to kiss and suck there. Your hands scratched down is back, leaving red lines in their wake. He grabbed your bra straps and pulled them off your shoulders, pulling the bra down to expose you to him.

With a sharp intake of breath, his mouth was around one of your nipples, sucking on it and twisting it between his lips. His free hand came up to pinch the other bud, making you moan loudly again. You arched your back to meet him, and his hand left your chest to force you back down.

You whimpered as you felt him hard and hot against your thigh. Then he switched sides, wanting to give you equal attention. He stayed there until you begged him to stop.

“S-Spencer,” you said between breathy moans, “Just fuck me already.”

He pulled back and blew on your chest lightly, sending shivers down your spine and wetness to your center.

He stopped and looked at you, his eyes warm and full of concern, “Are you sure?”

You writhed underneath him, “Yes, I’m sure. I’m clean. I’m protected. Please. I need you.”

He completely removed your bra and underwear now, leaving you naked beneath him. You pulled his boxers down slightly, so he could spring out. You pumped him a few times and ran the tip across your entrance, making both of you groan. He kissed you kindly, like he had in front of the washington monument, and then slid inside of you.

You groaned at the feeling, clutching the sheets beside you as he let you adjust.

“Okay?” He whispered and you nodded.

“Do something Spencer, please.”

And with that he began thrusting in and out of you slowly, stopping when he bottomed out. You wrapped your thighs around his waist and pulled him in closer to you while your hands tugged at his hair. The sounds falling from both of you were obscene and delicious. It was hard to tell where he started and you ended.

“Fuck,” he groaned, falling from his hands to his elbows over you. Your chests touched and he stuck his thumb in your mouth. You instinctively sucked in it and he took it between your thighs to start stroking figure-eights on your clit. You groaned and arched into him.

“Don’t stop,” You mumbled, kissing whatever skin your mouth could reach.

“I’m close,” he whispered, sweat dripping off his forehead and onto you but you didn’t care. All that mattered was the way he was winding you up with his fingers, getting you closer and closer to the edge. You stared up at him, his hair stuck to his forehead and his eyebrows furrowed. You made eye contact and he caught your lips in a lusty kiss.

“Wait for me,” you ordered, scratching more lines down his back as your orgasm took over. Your vision went black, your whole body tensing as you pulsed around him.

He rode your high with you while chasing his own.

“Where can I?”

“My mouth,” you said, as he pulled out and put his tip between your lips. You used your hands and mouth to finish him before he came.

The two of you flopped on the bed panting, then started laughing. You turned to lay your head on his chest, “I’m glad I went out tonight.”

He pulled you close to him, so your head was just above his pounding heart, “So am I.” And he kissed your forehead.

You snuck out of his arms to get cleaned up and returned to your spot on his chest. There he stroked your back lightly until you both fell asleep.

————

The next morning you were turned away from Spencer, your butts touching slightly making you chuckle. You looked over at him and he was still soundly sleeping, looking even more adorable than he had the night before, if that was even possible.

You looked for your phone and saw two missed calls from Savannah. You called her back.

“Hey,” you whispered so you wouldn’t wake Spencer.

“Sooo what’d you think? What’d you guys do? Did you....”

You rolled your eyes, “It was a great night Savannah.”

She squealed on the other side, “YES! I knew it. You owe me $15!” She called to Derek, who was no doubt listening on the other end. You had to stifle a laugh.

“So there’s a second date in your future? I don’t have to keep setting you up?”

You looked over at Spencer, his hair falling in angelic waves around his face. You admired the lips you had grown to know last night and couldn’t wait to feel them again.

“No more setting me up,” You whispered, “And you were right Sav, this one is special.”

You couldn’t tell but Spencer was awake, his mouth turning up into a smile as he overheard your conversation. When you hung up he stretched as if he has just woken up.

“Hey,” he said, voice raspy and groggy.

“Hey,” you placed a peck on his lips.

“How about breakfast is date number two?”

[yikesharringrove]

PT. 1 this isn't really a headcanon cause its heavily based on one of my favorite fics from you- but steve and his mom had a good relationship for a while, he takes after her a lot and they got along (or at least better than the one with his dad) Or at least he thought, one night hes going out for a date with billy and his mom is home for some reason, he goes to say a quick goodbye and asks if she needs anything before he leaves but she is super drunk and just responds with 'I never loved you'

PT.2 and I think after that he just broke for a good week, like he shut down cause for the longest time his mom was the only person he had, he couldnt get out of bed or even dare go downstairs and look her in the eye cause he just feels so betrayed and disappointed. Billy and Robin had to come over regularly to keep him company cause steve just needed reminders just they still love him and people still love him

-

This is either modern au or no homophobia/steve is out to his mom au

-

Steve’s father hated how close Steve was with his mother.

Ever since he was a little boy, he was always trailing behind her, one chubby hand fisted in her skirt.

He would toddle up to her, a big smile on his face as he made grabby hands and said uppie, uppie Mama! until she picked him up.

He would sit on the counter of her large vanity, watching as she did her hair and makeup. He held her hand walking down the street long after his father deemed him too old for such nonsense, Steven.

He loved his mother.

Loved her with his whole damn heart.

He tromped down the stairs, shoving one arm through his jacket as he went.

“Mama, I’m going to meet Billy.” He poked his head into the sitting room. She was perched on the couch, glass of wine in her hand. Steve glanced wearily at the two empty bottles on the coffee table.

He didn’t like how much she drank. Knew it was because she was unhappy. And he never wanted her unhappy.

“You need anything while I’m out?”

“No, Stefano. Thank you.” He smiled brightly at her.

“Okay, well, I’ll probably be home late. I love you.”

Her eyes were glassy when she looked at him, cold and dead.

“Do you?” Steve’s smile slid off his face. “I think I loved your father once. It’s been a long time.” She always got like this when she drank, all introspective. “And I certainly never loved you.”

It felt like all the wind had been punched out of his lungs.

“Wha-what?” She sneered at him.

“See? Very stupid. Always so stupid.” His vision was beginning to tunnel. He felt like he was gonna pass out. She just turned back to the television, staring at the infomercials.

“You, you think that I’m stupid? And that’s why you don’t love me?”

“One of many reasons, Stefano.” She sipped her wine, not looking at him.

Steve fidgeted with the zipper on his jacket. She sighed.

“Must you be so infuriating?”

It was like being kicked in the stomach.

He thought they were close.

But she had been pretending all this time. Pretending to listen to him, pretending to care about him.

Pretending to love him.

He raced back upstairs.

He tossed off his clothes, tears in his eyes, and dived under the covers.

He curled up into a tight ball, stifling his sobs into his pillow.

-

Billy parked next to Steve’s car in the driveway.

Fucker had stood him up.

He figured he like, forgot they were going out or something, or got caught up watching a movie with his mom while she was still in town.

He let himself into the house, found his mom in the kitchen, washing a wine class.

“Hello, Mrs. Harrington. Is Steve in?” She smiled brightly at him.

“I don’t know where he got off to. Maybe check his bedroom.” She swept past him, heading for the master bedroom on the main floor.

Billy raced up the stairs, barging into Steve’s room.

He opened his mouth to say something, but the words died when he realized what was going on.

The room was dark, the curtains closed tightly, all lights off.

Steve was huddled under his bed covers, not moving.

This isn’t the first time this has happened, when Steve buried himself in his bed and couldn’t get out.

Billy sat down next to him, pet over where he figured Steve’s hip would be.

“Sugar, it’s me.” The little lump under the blanket gave a hoarse hmm noise. “You missed our date.”

“I’m sorry,” Steve croaked out from under the blanket.

“It’s okay. I know how you get.” It was quiet as Billy took off his shoes, sitting on the bed further. “Can you talk to me?”

“Don’t wanna.”

“Baby, I just wanna help you.”

“Can’t.” Billy sighed.

He was mostly just fishing to figure out if he had done something to send Steve into a spiral like this.

“Can you please tell me what’s causing this?”

“My mother.” Billy furrowed his brows. Steve always referred to her as Mama, talked about her like she hung the damn stars.

“What happened.”

Billy felt Steve shift under his hand, give a big sigh.

“She told me doesn’t love me. That she never has.”

“Oh, holy shit.” Billy was fucking gobsmacked.

Steve and his mom had always been really close. Steve told her everything, said she was probably the most important person in his life.

And she had pulled the rug out from under him and went to bed like nothing had happened.

“Baby, I’m so sorry.”

“Am I unlovable?” Steve’s voice was tiny. Billy’s mind was reeling.

“Of course you’re not unlovable. I love the fucking garbage outta you.”

“My own mother doesn’t.” Billy stood up, shoving himself under the bed covers with Steve.

He was curled in a tight ball, just in his socks and underwear. Billy wrapped himself around Steve as best as he could.

“I’m so sorry, Stevie. I’m so sorry.”

Billy had always kinda figured his mother didn’t love him. Figured if she left him with Neil there must be some disconnect there.

But Steve had felt loved by his mother. And apparently, it was all fake.

“I’m not faking anything. I really do love you, Stever.” Steve hummed. “I promise. Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a dick in my eye, or whatever it is.” He wanted Steve to huff a little laugh, maybe loosen up a bit, but nothing happened. “I mean it.”

He laid with Steve for a while, just tracing patterns on his skin.

-

“She told him she doesn’t love him. That like, she never has.” Robin’s jaw dropped open.

“Oh my God.”

“Yeah, right?”

“That’s fucked.” She shook her head.

Steve didn’t come to school today, and Billy had filled her in, wanted her to come over with him to Steve’s after school.

Steve was still in bed when they got there, didn’t move or make any sound when Robin pulled open his curtains.

“Hey, Dingus.” He hummed at her. “Billy told me everything.”

Billy sat down on Steve’s other side, patting his back.

“Did you get outta bed at all today?”

“Don’t wanna see her.” His voice was rough.

Robin fluttered about.

“I’m going to go make him something to eat. She closed the door quietly behind her.

“Have you eaten?” Steve huffed at Billy. “Right. Dumb question.” he tugged down the blankets to expose Steve’s head, brushing his fingers through his hair.

The product from last night had gone a little greasy.

“Robin’s making you some food. Because she loves you. Because people love you.” Steve remained quiet.

Robin came back quickly, turkey sandwich on a plate.

Billy manhandled Steve until he was sitting up.

His eyes were red and glassy, and he looked pale.

They sat with him as he slowly ate.

“Dingus, people care about you.” Steve gave no reaction to Robin’s words. “Sometimes the family you choose is just, better.”

He finally looked up at her, his bottom lip trembling.

“I just, I want my mama.”

Billy thought he was gonna start crying as Steve dissolved into tears.

He pulled Steve into him.

He genuinely had no idea what to do.

-

“He hasn’t left his bed in four days.”

He curled up tighter as he heard Billy on the stairs.

“We’ve been forcing him to eat.” Robin’s voice was there too.

There was a soft knock on the door, and a gentle weight on his bed.

“They told me everything.”

Joyce’s voice was soft in the darkness as she addressed Steve. “I’m sorry.”

He kinda wanted to cry, but it felt like he had no more tears left.

“I remember the first time Lonnie got mad at me. Got really mad. I felt like you do. Completely betrayed. Realizing this person, this person that promised to love me forever, didn’t. It felt like my spine had been ripped out.”

And Billy watched from the doorway as Steve actually pushed away the blanket, as he sat up to look at her. Eyes dull but focused.

“What did you do?”

“Focused on my boys. The people that I could say without any doubt that loved me. You’ve got a lot of people that love you, Steve. But I know it hurts, and it probably will for awhile.”

Steve’s eyes found Billy’s. Billy offered him a small smile.

“You’re not unlovable. She’s incapable of love. And that’s not your problem to fix.”

And Steve looked back at Joyce, and nodded at her.

Joyce smiled.

“How about you come over for dinner tonight? We always love having you over.” Her tone left no room argument as she stood up. Steve nodded at her, and actually smiled. Just a tiny thing.

“That’d be nice.”

[collecting-stories]

The Crush - ep. 04 - JJ Maybank

Summary: It turns out it wasn’t on accident Rafe showed up to the party. Some secrets are revealed amongst the pogues. 

A/N: I don’t know if you’ll have seen this twist coming...

The S’week Masterlist | Outer Banks Masterlist

☼ ☼ ☼ ☼

“It’s a known fact.” JJ huffed, crossing his arms behind his head as he looked up at you. He was laying in your bed, much like the night before only this time he was beneath the covers, no clothing on, and you were sitting beside him, facing the head of the bed with your legs crossed, your right thigh pressed against his side. 

You were naked too aside from his cut-off, navy blue shirt. The one he’d been wearing on the beach when you found him. 

“It’s a known fact that you’re a brat.” You replied, pressing your lips together as you tried to fight off a smile. “This cannot be the worst senior week ever.” 

“You’re right, once I hooked up with this girl-“

“Oh my god!” You laughed, shoving him away from you though he didn’t budge. Instead he grabbed your wrist and held your hand in his. 

“Let me finish the story!”

“Okay, okay, your hooked up with this girl.” 

“Yeah, it was her senior week and John B and I went to this party. Anyway, we hooked up right, and all the sudden her boyfriend burst through the door and just starts pounding on me. If it wasn’t for JB, I would be dead right now.” 

“I would’ve had sex with a ghost?” You teased.  “Very Patrick Swayze.” 

JJ gave you an exaggerated frown and shook his head like he had no idea what you were talking about. You grinned, leaning down and kissing the bridge of his nose and then his lips.  

“It’s a movie? Ghost...he dies and then comes back to haunt his girlfriend. There’s a freaky scene where she makes pottery...we’ll watch the movie.” You decided. 

“Eh not my kinda movie.” 

“It’s good for a laugh.” 

After you’d taken a turn skinny dipping in the ocean the both of you had haphazardly thrown on clothing and walked back to the house, sneaking upstairs with the bag of alcohol to continue the party together in your room. 

You’d had every intention of polishing off at least the pinnacle of vodka but the bag sat untouched where you’d dropped it at the door when JJ had grabbed your hand and led you to the bed. 

JJ shifted in bed and scrunched his nose up, “I need a shower, I’ve got sand like up my ass or something.” 

“Oh wow, there’s a turn-on.” You teased as he flung the blankets back and stood up, completely naked, to look for sand. “Oh my god,” you leaned forward, pressing your forehead into the pillow, “you really are having the worst senior week ever.” 

“Tell me about it.” He huffed, making his way into the bathroom to start the water for the shower. 

“Your back looks good by the way. You can probably go to the beach today, if you let me put sunscreen on you.” You called, getting up and walking over to lean against the open bathroom door. JJ was standing in front of the full length mirror, still trying to determine if he had sand anywhere. 

“On one condition-“

“Is it, that I shower with you?” You asked. 

“See, great minds and all that.” 

“No, I’ve just spent more than ten minutes with you so I know what you’re like.” 

“Either way, you agreed to shower sex and there are no take backs.” He announced, before looking over at you and adding, “I mean obviously if you changed your mind-“ 

“I got it.” You laughed, “now get your sandy butt in the shower.” 

“I told you, didn’t I tell you!” JJ practically shouted as you pushed him into the shower. You pulled off his shirt, tossing it by the door and climbing into the shower after him. 

JJ pulled you under the spray of warm water, kissing you and trying to back you up to the wall. You pulled away, holding his face in your hands as if that would ward him off. 

“Shower.” You insisted, “I promised Kie last night that we would actually do the beach with them this time.”

“But-”

“No.” You shook your head, moving your hands to shake his in time with yours, “no sex. Just shower.”

“I get shower sex post beach then.”

“You got shower sex post beach last night! JJ!” You laughed and squealed when he surged forward, burying his face in your neck and sucking on the skin there. “Stop!”

“Never!” He teased fingers dancing along your sides and making you squirm. 

“Okay, okay. Post beach shower sex.” 

-

“Do you feel like Sarah is being weird?” Kiara asked as you walked to the beach, Pope and JJ already a few feet ahead of you. “I mean she practically begged us to come down here and she’s been avoiding us all week. I thought it was John B too but he told me last night that she’s been weird.” 

“Yeah; somethings off.” You replied. “She’s been weird with me too.” 

You had been friends with Sarah since you were kids and you were used to her push and pull behavior when it came to friends but this was something entirely different. She acted like she wasn’t even on the same vacation with the four of you and was dominating all of John B’s time and attention. You’d barely said five words to him in the time he’d been down here. 

“Hey, try to keep up,” Pope called, leaning against the umbrella stake as he and JJ waited for you and Kiara to catch up. 

“Sorry,” she apologized as the two of you picked up the pace. You pulled your sandals off and walked barefoot the rest of the way to JJ, who was grinning smugly as he watched you. You were still wearing his pelican marina cut-off, using it as a cover up for your bathing suit. Pope had grilled him about it on the walk up while you and Kiara talked about Sarah. 

“Dude, I literally asked her yesterday if anything was going on with you and she said no and now she shows up in your shirt? Not to mention where the hell did you disappear to last night?” Pope had whisper-shouted, a specialty of the Heyward's. 

“A lot can happen in 24 hours?” JJ had asked, shrugging his shoulders. He had glanced back at you, laughing at something Kiara said, looking totally happy, and he was pretty sure he knew exactly how John B felt the one time he got drunk and tried to explain his feelings for Sarah. 

When you had looked over at him you stuck your tongue out and then smiled and he was slightly derailed off his conversation, missing the end of what Pope was saying. 

“...get involved.” 

“What?”

“I said, don’t forget she’s Rafe’s ex...do you really think it’s a good idea to get involved?” Pope had asked, genuinely concerned for his friend. The last thing he wanted was JJ putting himself out there only to be let down. 

“That’s over.” JJ replied, tone filled with so much certainty that Pope didn’t question it further. 

You hadn’t told JJ everything about Rafe but he’d seen the way Rafe had talked to you last night and, though everyone was always ready to write off JJ as being oblivious, he could pick up on body language better than most. It was a necessary skill when he lived with his father and he hadn’t missed the way Topper put himself between you and Rafe. He might’ve still gone after Pope but he had been protecting you. JJ’d only been a jerk about it when you came up to him at the beach because he was pissed to be the last person to find out that you had dated Rafe and he was a little worried that Sarah had been telling the truth when she told Kiara you were going to get back with him. 

“Okay, I’m not walking another second, my legs are killing me.” You announced when you finally reached JJ and Pope. 

“Well I’m not putting the umbrella down here, this is a terrible spot!” Pope complained. The sand was still soft and a little too dry for his liking. He wanted to go further down the beach, closer to the water.

“Fine.” 

Kiara laughed as she walked passed you, “you’ll make it, don’t worry.”

“Hey how much do you want to carry me down there?” You asked, eying JJ. He’d stayed put while Kiara and Pope walked down the beach.

“Barely at all.”

“Please, I’ll buy lunch.” You pleaded, pouting at him. 

JJ pressed his lips together and furrowed his eyebrows as he pretended to be deep in thought, “lunch and whatever I want on the boardwalk.” 

“Okay.” You nodded your head and held out your hand, “deal.” JJ spit into his hand and shook yours, laughing when you pulled away immediately. “Oh my god, ew!” 

“You didn’t complain about my spit last night.” 

You pretended to gag at his words, only sending him into another laughing fit as he turned around to let you piggy back down the beach. You wrapped your arms around his shoulders and he hoisted you up. You kissed just below his ear in thanks. JJ kept his hands on your thighs as he walked down to where Kiara and Pope had set up the umbrella and blankets. When he got over them, he let go of your legs in an attempt the drop you but you held on tighter in shock as your legs fell, pulling both of you down on the blanket. 

“Good job JJ.” Kiara teased, pushing at him until he rolled off of you. 

“She didn’t let go!” 

“So you could drop me?” You asked, sitting up and moving closer to Pope, “no thank you!”

“Hey, give me your phones, I’ll put them in my bag.” Pope held up his black jansport, shaking it for emphasis. 

Kiara handed hers over and you fished JJ’s out of your bag, digging for your own with no luck. “Mine’s not in here.” 

“Did you leave it plugged in?” Kiara asked, leaning over to look in the bag too. 

“Maybe.” You shrugged, “I know I had when we went back to the house.” 

“Probably in the bathroom or something.” JJ said, “now, more important...sunscreen me. I think I’m already burning.” He held the sunscreen bottle out to you and you rolled your eyes, moving over to sit behind him.  

He pulled his shirt over his head and settled in front of you, letting you rub sunscreen into his back. You kissed the back of his neck before smoothing some across there too, pushing some of his hair away so it wouldn’t get oily. Kiara and Pope headed down for the water but you stayed behind with JJ.  

“Not going in yet?”

“I’m gonna work on my tan.” He replied, laying down on the blanket and putting his sunglasses on.  

You pulled your coverup off and JJ glanced over at you. “You saw me in my bathing suit this morning before we left.”

“I forgot how good you looked on the way here.” He replied, smiling at you.  

You rolled your eyes at him and tossed his shirt over his head. When he pulled it away and pouted you could only laugh, leaning over and kissing him.  

��I don’t know if this is the best place to have this conversation but...I don’t wanna chicken out or anything and I just wanted to reiterate that I don’t want this to be like, a casual, here for s’week thing.” You explained, pulling your knees up to your chest. “I also wanted to ask if you wanted to stay with me an extra week? Everyone could stay too, it doesn’t have to just be us-”

“It could just be us.” JJ replied, “I’d be down.”

“Even after your terrible week here?”

“I guess it hasn’t been so bad.” He admitted. “And like I said, it’s not casual. I swear.”  

“Good, because Pope told me about your s’week plans.”

“No, come on!” He groaned, standing up and dropping his sunglasses on the blanket.  

“What are you doing?” You laughed, standing up and following him down to the beach. He ran into the water, jumping in and swimming over to Pope. Kiara shouted when he splashed her by accident, jumping on Pope’s back and sending them both down into the water.

“Dude!” Pope laughed, surfacing and trying to dunk JJ underwater at the same time.

“He knows I know about his ‘JJ does s’week’ plan.” You said, laughing at the two of them wrestling in the water with each other.  

“I can’t believe you told him.”

“What plans?” Kiara asked, looking between the boys and you.  

“JJ was gonna have sex with a bunch of girls this week.” You explained, keeping your voice low as a woman and her two kids waded passed.  

“Oh my god! JJ!”

“What? I only had sex with one!” He practically shouted. The woman whipped around, looking startled by the four of you and JJ bit his lip to stop from laughing at her expression as Pope apologized for him.  

“What a lucky one I am.” You muttered as the woman pushed her kids further away.

“You know it baby.” JJ winked at you.

“Ew, can we just have a normal day please?”

-

John B was already talking about another party after dinner, as the six of you stood and sat around the island eating straight from the boxes of pizza that were sitting there. JJ was standing next to your seat, his hand on your stool and you angled toward him. He leaned over and kissed just below your ear.  

“I think I’ll stay here.” He announced glancing over at John B.

“JJ Maybank, turning down a party?” Kiara said, “do my ears decieve me?”

“You guys go.” He shrugged.

“We can go,” you whispered, leaning into him. “I don’t care.”

“Nah, I would-”

“Your phone’s buzzing.” Sarah cut in, looking at your phone vibrating against the marble countertop. It was laying facedown and you picked it up, angling it away to look at it.  

It was right where JJ said it would be when you got back to the house that afternoon, sitting on the bathroom counter charging. When texts from Rafe had started to come in you had looked back through your messages, confused, only to find that someone had sent pictures and texts to him from your phone. You hadn’t told JJ that you were getting texts but you’d been ignoring them since they started.  

“Who is it?” Sarah asked, leaming across the counter.

“No one.” You shook your head and put your phone down again. You turned back to JJ, knowing that the texts were getting too out of control now and you’d have to tell him. “Can I talk to you?” You whispered.

“Yeah, sure.” JJ nodded. He backed up to let you out just as your phone buzzed again. Sarah was out of her seat, rushing around the island and grabbing your phone off the counter.

“Sarah!”

“What the hell?  I thought you said things were over between you and Rafe?” She asked, holding the phone up.

“They are!” You insisted as she passed the phone to Kiara. She shook her head, not wanting to look at it.

“Well I don’t send guys I’m not with pictures like this.” She scrolled down to one of them and held it up so everyone could see the phone this time.  

You turned in your stool, trying to reach for the phone. “Sarah!”

“What the hell Sarah, give her the phone back!” JJ said.  

“I didn’t send those, I swear to god.” You looked back at JJ as you spoke, “they were sent while we were at the beach.”

“So what? Someone else sent them?” Sarah replied. “Are you accusing one of us?”

“I didn’t send them.”

“I guess it wasn’t you that told him you made a mistake and JJ means nothing to you? That’s he just a loser pogue and so are his friends.”  

You clenched your fists, digging your fingernails into your palms and trying to stop yourself from crying. “I would never say that. Why are you doing this?”

“She didn’t have her phone at the beach Sarah,” Kiara grabbed the phone now, scrolling through to check the time stamp, “I saw her bag I know she didn’t.”

“So who did?” JJ asked, not a hint of malice in his voice as he put his hand on your back.  

“Are you suggesting one of us did?” Sarah asked, looking between the two of you.  

Your eyes met Sarah’s as JJ’s hand came up to squeeze your shoulder and you saw the way her jaw tensed and she clenched her own fists. “Oh my god.” You gasped.

“What?” Kiara looked away from the phone and over to you.

“It’s JJ...the guy you liked before John B. The one you told me you still had feelings for? It’s JJ isn’t it? That’s why you’re doing this?” You accused.  

“You’re insane.”

“Don’t hurt him, we might not get along but he’s John B’s friend...what a load of bullshit!” You said. “So what was your plan for senior week? Come down here and get him back?”  

“It’s not JJ.” Sarah insisted.

“You’ve avoided spending any time with us...you invited Rafe to the party last night didn’t you?”

“Look-”

“What a shitty person! God, I can’t believe you!” You pushed away from the island and got up. JJ grabbed your hand but you pulled away from him. “I have to go.”

“Wait!” Sarah reached out for you.  

“No, just stay away from me! You knew I would say yes to you guys coming down here. You knew I liked him, I told you.” You said, glancing back at JJ before looking at Sarah, “you knew about  Rafe.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Don’t play dumb Sarah. Even Topper knew.” You left the room, running up the stairs. Kiara got up from the table and followed you to make sure you were okay.  

“Sarah, what’s she talking about?” John B finally spoke up, looking between his girlfriend and his best friend.

“Sarah and I hooked up before you guys started dating. It was just some party...it wasn’t a big deal.” JJ explained to John B.

“It wasn’t a big deal?”  Sarah whipped around to look at JJ, looking absolute devastated.  

John B’s chair scrapped against the tile floor and he got up from the island, grabbing his phone from the counter and heading for the back door. Sarah called his name but he only shook his head before letting the door slam shut after him. JJ, Pope, and Sarah were left in the kitchen.  

“I’m gonna...” Pope said, grabbing a slice of pizza and heading for the basement where the theatre room was.  

“I didn’t...” JJ let out a breath, running a hand through his hair, “I’m sorry if you felt like...there was something here but...why date John B then?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, maybe it’s something you should think about.” JJ said, making his way passed her to the stairs.

“Where are you going?”

“Making sure she’s okay.” He headed up to your bedroom where Kiara was sitting on your bed. You had locked yourself in the bathroom and you weren’t coming out was how she explained it before going to find Pope.  

“All I wanted was a drama free week.” Kiara said.  

JJ shut the door behind Kiara and walked over to the bathroom, knocking gently. When you didn’t answer he tried the doorknob, closed in but not locked, he came in to find you sitting on the closed toilet seat, head in your hands, leaning over to your knees crying.  

“Hey,” He spoke soft, kneeling down in front of you and placing his hands on your thighs. “Are you okay?”

“I don’t get it...like, we’ve been friends since kindergarten, I don’t know why she would do this.” You said, lifting your head to look at him. “She has John B, like he’s crazy about her...”

“As much of a catch as I am,” JJ said, making you stifle a laugh, “I know that’s not the whole of it.”  

“The last time I broke up with Rafe it was because he thought I was talking to someone about him...I like to party but Rafe...is on a whole other level. And he’s paranoid when he’s high. He freaks about everything and-”

“It’s okay.”

“I thought he wasn’t gonna stop. He was pissed because I broke it off and Topper and Kelce knew he could...get physical but they never saw it. But Top drove me to Rafe’s and I was just sitting there on the couch while he screamed at me. He called me a whore and a liar and told me I was worthless and then he just...Topper had to pull him off me.”

JJ put his arms around you, guiding you off the edge of the toilet seat to sit with him on the floor. He pressed his back against the bathtub and held you while you kept your face in his neck, tears wetting the skin.  

“Sarah knew though,” you said, “she saw me leave with Topper, he told her what happened. She knew. I don’t care about...whatever boys and shit, no offense-”

“Very offended but you can make it up to me later.” He teased, kissing the top of your head.

“She knew about Rafe, I don’t understand why she would try put me in the position again.”  

“Let's skip the party tonight,” JJ suggested, “I think the alcohol bag made it back to your room.”

You nodded, closing your eyes and holding JJ a little tighter.  

-

“Hey, is Sarah still here?” You asked, standing on the last stair and watching John eat cold pizza. It was somewhere near three am in the morning and you were having trouble sleeping.  

“All her stuff is gone. I think she went over to stay with Rafe.” He shrugged. “I thought...I don’t know. I guess I thought things were really good between us.”  

“I’m sorry...I didn’t mean for all this to happen-”

“It’s not your fault.” John B insisted. He pushed the pizza box down the island toward you, “cold pizza.”

“Don’t mind if I do.” You walked over and grabbed a slice, standing at the island next to him. “I feel like we haven’t gotten to hang out a lot. Like I’ve barely seen you all s’week John B.”

He laughed and nodded his head, “I know, I know. I gotta change that.”

“Well, I think we’re going to the waterslide tomorrow if you’re interested in that?” You offered. “I’ll ride double so you don’t have to go on alone.”  

“Thanks I appreciate that.” He said.  

You turned to face him, smiling. John B looked at you for a moment before leaning in toward you as if he was going to kiss you. You backed away from him just as he pressed his lips against yours, eyes wide and John B seemed to lurch back in surprise.  

“I-” He choked on an explanation for what he had just done.  

“What’re you doing?”

“Sorry, I just...”

“I’m just gonna....uh, thanks for the pizza.” You said, dropping it into the box and heading back toward the stairs. “I’ll...see you in the morning.”

“I’m sorry! Shit.” John B cursed, scrubbing his hands over his face in frustration.  

-

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[echo-three-one]

Chapter 42

THE ROAD SO FAR

This chapter was a mess. But it's my mess.

FOUR weeks of Silence

Gary "Roach" Sanderson

Veteran's Village

A peaceful Sunday meant that Roach, Alex and Soap were chilling at the house Samantha and Maxine were in. It had been 4 weeks since that Cuban incident and Francine had gone to therapy for her near death traumatic experience. If it wasn't for Soap, she would've been left out there for good.

France thought that it would be healthy to stay in a more domestic setup rather than the base so she took her time off duty to recover in the veteran's village. And ever since that day in Cuba, Soap and France's relationship was more expressive than ever.

"If we're having a barbecue tonight, we better head off to the meat shop." Alex peeked by the door, giving a heads up to the rest of the people sitting on the couch. Soap turned his head to Alex and tossed his keys as Roach stood up and came with Alex.

"Any other requests?" He looked at the group then to Maxine, who shook her head and laughed. 

"Just be back safe." She replied.

"Got it." Gary nodded and waved goodbye at them. Soap wanted to come along but France had been falling asleep on his lap for quite a while. And Maxine and Samantha noted that she hadn't had decent for days.

"Oh, Roach! Grab me a cigar maybe." He whispered, trying not to wake France up.

"Roger that." He nodded and made his way to Soap's jeep, where Alex was already waiting on him. He sat himself on shotgun and let Alex lead the way to their destination.

He turned on the radio as it played a song about driving. Roach was quick to shazam it and found out it was Automobile by KALEO.

"Now this is going to be on my playlist." Alex said as his head nodded to the music, taking him where the winds take him, far away.

"Agreed. Oh, Soap actually asked for cigarettes so we might have to stop by a convenience store on the way back." Roach informed as the song ended. 

"Okay. That's cool. Maybe add a few sodas for the girls. They probably haven't had those i  ages." He said as he turned the radio off and switched it to AUX.

"Here. Grab my phone and play that song again." Alex instructed as he drove through the streets, and Roach followed him. Playing the song again.

"Ah yes. This song is good." Alex sighed.

"Yeah. It's fire." Roach commented, making Alex raise an eyebrow.

"You know, fire… lit… slaps… Modern terminologies." Roach explained shyly as Alex chuckled.

"I'll never understand the young ones of today." Alex chuckled as he stopped by the parking lot, pulling his phone and leaving the car.

Dinner was the best part of the Sunday evening as the three couples enjoyed a hearty meal together, sharing experiences and funny stories like an extended family. Roach talked about his raccoon story once again as one topic led to another until such time that the inevitable topic was discussed.

"Speaking of fires, do you have any leads on Nero?" Samantha asked innocently as the men fell quiet, looking at each other. Wondering who would open up the topic.

"Well, uh… After his assault in New York…" Soap trailed off, his eyes went to Alex, signaling him to continue.

"Alex, it's your girl's question! Go answer it!" Soap complained as France laughed, wrapping her arms around Soap.

"He's gone silent." Alex muttered. Samantha was kinda sad she asked about it so she tried to make up by brightening up the mood.

The night continued on as the group played charades, girls vs boys. For an hour or so the soldiers forgot about their worries and acted like they're normal people living their normal lives outside work. It wouldn't hurt to pretend like that, especially when the baggage of guilt was hard to handle.

"So, Gary. I've been meaning to ask you something…" Maxine said as she assisted him in the kitchen.

"Yeah, what is it?"

"How are you… like mentally. You seem… off." She asked, Gary sighed and eased his shoulders.

"It's just… we almost lost a life back there… for nothing. Lannister hasn't said any useful information and as the days go by another assault might occur." he breathed out his worries, earning a back rub from Maxine.

"People have their limits. Lannister could break anytime. Let's just hope we're not too late." She assured him. It was a very negative statement but somehow it's actually helpful. Gary smiled and gave her a hug.

"Thanks Maxine." he said.

"Yeah. Don't ever think you're alone. I'm here for you. Actually, just last night. I had another memory restored. And it felt so important that you have to know it first. Before…" she said, her voice lowering down after every word.

"Before what?" Gary whispered jokingly. Maxine laughed and hit his chest gently.

"Nevermind that word. Back to my memory…

I…" she trailed off, looking like she was too shy and scared to finish the statement.

"You…?" Gary raised an eyebrow. Maxine took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"I had an ex-girlfriend." She blurted and paused right after saying it, bracing at what Gary's reaction.

"I- uh.. That's okay… There's nothing wrong with that, Maxine." He said like he meant it. Maxine was too shocked about his reaction. Maybe she thought about it too much.

"Like… does that change anything?" She asked.

"Nothing at all. Oh wait! Yes! It does." Gary announced and Maxine's smile almost dropped.

"It means that if I want to have you, I'll have to step up my game. I have more competition now." He realized and Maxime sighed in relief. This man was about to get some scolding.

"You worried me, you know!" He continued gently hitting on Gary's chest, giggling away all her fears. He still accepted her. This was great.

"My point's valid!" He laughed, defending himself from her hits,.like children playing house. This may seem like a simple event, but this was the beginning of something new for the two of them.

Task Force 141 Base - Interrogation Room

Price sat in front of Gabriel, they've been silent for about an hour now as Gary and Soap stayed on the viewing area to observe the interrogation. Alex was here thirty minutes ago but he left after he got a phone call.

"What kind of twisted play is this?" Soap asked, crossing his arms and looking at Gabriel.

"The bastard won't talk. Just cut off a finger or something." He scoffed. To Gary, it would make sense, but with all the cameras and the formalities, It wasn't allowed. Especially that Gabriel's alibi was that he got their first to investigate. Which was total bullshit.

"He still has his ace on his sleeve. As long as we don't find proof of involvement, he's going to be free soon." Gary commented, making Soap grumble some Scottish curses.

"It's pretty obvious!" Soap yelled as Alex entered the interrogation room, saying something to Price as they immediately left him alone. Whatever that message was, looked way more important than Gabriel.

"We've got a lead on Nero!" Alex said as he peeked on the door, making the two stand up immediately and head to the briefing room.

"Operation Eye of the Storm." Price announced.

"In 24 hours, Nero and his newfound friends will meet on a hotel in Prague. This intel was from one of the Resistance Leaders Alex once teamed up with. They reached out for help since Nero started to secure the whole city." Price paced back and forth on the big screen.

"The plan is to eliminate Nero and his allies. As simple as that. We have the element of surprise in our hands. Soap, I want you to position yourself on the clock tower, just by the hotel. A bullet to the head should work. Alex will be watching your six. Jack will be our eyes and ears inside the convention. He'll be signaling when they'll be out on the open. Roach and I will enter the building for cleanup. We only had one shot at this so let's make it count." Price briefed and everyone else murmured their thoughts, some were already thanking for a solid lead. This was it. The final showdown. The end of the war.

PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC

Alex and Soap already left the resistance safehouse, they had to be at the clock tower tonight, using the concealment of the night and the noise of the rain for cover. The perfect opportunity to say under the radar. Meanwhile, Roach and Price stayed to defend the place as Nero's men once again ransacked the streets just to ensure his safety. The world may have announced that the war in US was over, but Nero still had some cities under his control. This minor setback was the reason he's planning for something new. And they're here to stop it.

"Alright, Roach. Your replacements here." Price said as he stood up from his spot. 

"Get ready for the big day tomorrow." He added as he nodded and left his gun for the next person to use. Tomorrow's battle is going to be tough, and even though he didn't want to admit it, Roach needed some rest.

Despite the occasional gunfire and screaming, Roach was able to sleep. He didn't mind the battle outside the building as his battle was with Nero. Once Soap shot him dead, he would also want to shoot him again, just to feel satisfied.

0639H 

Hotel Lustig

Prague, Czech Republic

Roach hid on the west wing of the hotel, while Price was on the other side. They were both clinging on to the walls as their entrance was at the small opening where Soap would shoot Nero. Roach eyed the convoy just below him.

"Convoy's up ahead. Nero should be in one of those cars." Soap muttered.

"Can't see shit through the lens. He could be anywhere." Alex added.

"Easy lads. We'll have a clear shot once they're in the balcony. Right Jack?" Price asked. Jack didn't respond, but maybe the signal inside was too weak.

"Jack? Do you copy?" Price asked.

"Da. I do copy, Captain Price. I'm just here to get my old prisoner back. I've had him in the gulag for quite a while but it seems this is our first time meeting face to face." A russian voice which everyone assumed to be Nero said in the most villainous tone possible.

"You're too predictable, Captain." he said as he clicked something, prompting an explosion on the clock tower.

"Get down! C4!" Price yelled as the two soldiers jump out, falling on to railings. Alex landed on a fruit cart by the tower while Soap landed on the car, crashing it as it alarmed.

"Roach! Go help them out!" Price ordered as Nero's men started to circle around the two while the resistance team helped them defend. 

Roach quickly pulled Soap up who was groaning in pain. Alex looked pained too but the look in their eyes says that they're still willing to end this today.

"Let's catch up with them." Alex said as a resistance member tossed them a rifle and quickly hid for cover, pushing their way into the hotel. At the corner of Roach's eye, he saw Price enter the building, loading his gun and ready to end this as well.

Next Chapter : THREE Bullets

Notification Squad my Beloved

@smokeywhalee @enderio @samatedeansbroccoli @whimsywispsblog @ricinbach @bumblingbee1

[seungkwan-s]

Tail of Two Cats

Words; 1688

Pairing; san x reader

Genre; fluff, lots and lots of fluff, a hint of comedy if you look hard enough, the reader being a chicken over a needle. Also this is a non idol fic.

Warnings; the reader said a bad word.

A/N; hi guys!! as you're probably aware, I'm a cat person and I've had a lot of San feels recently so I put the two together and ta-da! If you're not a cat person, my apologies. One thing, the word daft just basically means you're crazy about something, like you're infatuated with it. I think it's definitely more of a word we British people use. Anyway, I hope you'd enjoy this one, feel free to leave a comment ⚘ stay safe xo p.s I'm terrible when it comes to titles, the credit does not go to me.

You and San had been living together for a year today, and today’s date happened to be one of your favourite days of the year, August 8th; International Cat Day. You were a crazy cat person, but not one of those overly obsessed crazy cat people, you hadn’t quite reached that level yet. You’d been living with your boyfriend, San, for a year now and wanted to get him a gift, nothing too major, just a little something and by something; you mean, a cat. You’d been all smiles and warmth when San mentioned he loved cats on your first date, in fact, it was all you two talked about for an hour. You still haven’t forgotten about that conversation because it brought you two closer together and.. it was about cats.

You were cat daft; you had your cat socks, cat keyring, cat plushies, and you already had a cat tattoo planned out for when you decide to get one... unless you chicken out, like last time. Honestly, you hadn’t even booked the tattoo yet before your ran off down the street, away from your mum.

~

“No, nope, nooooope,” You put your hands out and wave them around, “I’m not doing it. You can go get yours, I’m passing,”

“Okay, but you’re paying for miiiiiine,” Your mum sang, gently squeezing your cheek. You knew she was joking, you had that kind of relationship where you two could joke around with each other and have a laugh. You would probably pay for your mum's tattoo, considering the fact that you chickened out. Honestly, you felt so silly about it but you just weren’t fond of needles.

“I’ll get one with you, next year. I promise,”

~

You felt your phone buzz in your pocket, leaning back slightly and pulling out the phone out of your pocket, you spot a text from your mum.

I’m 15 minutes away. I have Toffee in the car with me.

Toffee. You still think it’s a fantastic name for a cat.

You quickly reply; Drive safe x

You jump up from the sofa, popping your phone in your back pocket. You knew San wouldn’t be home for a few hours, as he was out with his friend, Seonghwa. Seonghwa mentioned he’d wanted to buy a suit but needed San, as a second opinion, so they’d left an hour ago for town.

You had found Toffee, when your mum had called you about some kittens in her work, that had been abandoned by their mother and were in need of a home. She had been working for a charity who were dedicated in rescuing and rehoming cats; whether they are stray, homeless or have been abandoned by their previous owners. Your mum loved her job, but it was difficult sometimes. Cats would be brought in and if they had been abandoned, were very scared and it would take time for them to warm up to people again, but as your mother is, and has always been; she is patient, calming and warm, and you were raised the same way. With a warm heart.

You had fallen in love with Toffee, you were under her spell. She was beige and had these gorgeous blue eyes. It was like looking at the ocean and it was magical. You knew San would love her, as you had seen him looking at cats like Toffee online.

You were so lost in thought thinking about who Toffee would love more, you or San, when your mum walked through the front door.

“Knock, knock, y/n, didn’t you get my last message?” your mum comes in with a cat carrier in one hand and a box under her other free arm. Soft meows emit from the cat carrier, and you almost feel ready to melt.

“Toffeeeee,” you say, in the highest-pitched voice you can manage. You hear a whole lot of power being thrown into a slightly louder and high pitched meow. You place your hand on your heart, and pretend to faint due to the cuteness of the sound. You peer into the carrier and see these two bright little eyes staring back at you. You put your fingers through the small holes of the door to the carrier, tickling the side of Toffee’s face. Small purrs erupt from her mouth as she enjoys the petting.

“I’ve got kitten food in the box, some toys and a blanket. There’s a cat bed and litter tray in the car,” she gives you the carrier and places the box on the table next to you, “Take Toffee, I’ll be back in a sec,” You take Toffee over to the sofa and place her on the table. You don’t know how she can be so cute. You had seen photos and videos of her, but she was so adorable. You were completely in love with her. You laughed, as she sat on her tail, and gave herself a startle.

Your mum came in through the slightly left open door, bringing in the bed and the litter tray and placing them onto the floor, “When is San due back?” she asks, taking her shoes off at the front door.

“Not for a while,” as your mum closes the front door, you open the door to the carrier, now seeing Toffee in full view. She gave you a few meows, did a few purrs. You let her come out of the carrier on her own terms, and she pretty much just fell into your lap. And you just fell even more in love.

Toffee began to get used to her surroundings within her first two hours of being home. Your mum and you ordered a takeaway, while Toffee became your entertainment. She would make wide eyes at things in the air and then run off, then she would come back and purr for attention. According to your mum, she loved a belly rub. She would lay on her back, and put her paws in the air, much like a puppy. You thought it was hilarious, your never had any cats that did the same thing. But no, Toffee loved it. And you were in no position to deny making Toffee happy.

You two were in fits of laughter at Toffee’s continued shenanigans, when the sound of a key in the door startled you both.

“Shit! Hide the cat!” your mum lifted Toffee, running into the guest bedroom with her. Your eyes widen as you spot the floor covered in cat toys, and a cat blanket. You kicked the toys under the sofa and threw the blanket over yourself, pretending to be cold.

You leaned on the sofa, as San and Seonghwa piled in with bags, “San... did you buy the whole shop?”

“Only half,” You mentally facepalm. A suit they shopped for and they come home with everything else. Although, you weren’t that innocent, you go to any shop for one thing and come home with four new cat mugs, a cat plushie and more fluffy socks than you can count. You take after your mum in that sense.

San slides across the floor, and gives you a kiss on your forehead before pulling the blanket over your face, and telling you, “Don’t look, I have something for you,”

“Okaaay,” you hear San running off outside, you hear the car door open and close again, before hearing his heavy footsteps rushing through the door again. You keep the blanket over your eyes, waiting for the signal so you can find out what’s going on. You don’t have long to wait before San takes the blanket off and he hands you a box with holes in it. You don’t think and are about to shake it, when San stops you.

“Oh my god, please don’t shake it, this is definitely not what you want to shake around,” You narrow your eyes at him, and walk around the sofa, placing the box on the table. You only had to open the box halfway, when your eyes caught sight of a black cat... San had literally got you a cat. But... You got him a cat. Could you both handle the cuteness of two furbabies?

“San... you got me a cat?”

“I did, I’ve been looking at her for a few weeks now. We picked her up after we went shopping. She’s called Liquorice,”

“Liquorice... And Toffee,” you pet Liquorice and you melted, hearing her purring loudly. You looked up at San as you mentioned Toffee and his eyebrows narrowed at you, “MUM!” You heard the guest bedroom door opening, and your mum appeared with Toffee in her arms. You skipped toward her and took Toffee from her hands, bringing her closer to San.

“The thing is... Um, I got you a cat, too,” Toffee meowed and you saw Liquorice peering over the box, looking to see where the noise came from. San took Toffee from you and snuggled her in close. You kinda forgot that Seonghwa and your mum were still there, you couldn't take your eyes off your gorgeous boyfriend and your adorable kitten.

“We have two cats,”

“We do indeed,” you say, walking over to the other box and picking Liquorice up in your arms, she snuggles into you, her paw wrapped around the back of your neck. Her butt perfectly sitting on your arms, “Do you think they will get on?”

“Shall we see?” San puts Toffee on the floor and you do the same for Liquorice. You watch intensely, as they sniff each other, quiet meows are shared before they start to run around the room, playing with each other. You felt a sense of relief when the two started playing together, you knew that two cats meeting each other could go one of two ways; they’re either friends straight away or they’re throwing paws.

You thought it was hilarious that you and San had bought each other a cat, and now you have two cats. You were incredibly lucky to have a partner who loves cats as much as you do. And even if Toffee doesn’t love you more, Liquorice will.

[fatesdeepdive]

Entry 9: NO

Before doing anything else, I built a lottery house in the castle. The logistics of there being stores and gambling houses within my personal castle, that my soldiers work at, that don’t just give me whatever I want is kinda weird. The lottery gave me a radish I fed to Lilith.

Support: Hana/Subaki

C: Hana confronts Subaki about his tendency to refer to himself as perfect. He brushes it off, because he thinks that he genuinely is completely without fault. This angers Hana, who brings up a time Subaki fell off his horse and challenges him to a duel.

B: The duo begin their competition. Subaki, despite not actually having any sword skills, manages to defeat Hana by studying her fighting style over several months and messing with her head.

A: Hana takes the second round, beating Subaki in a horse race. Hana reveals that she doesn’t actually care about beating Subaki, just about serving Sakura, and the two decide to suspend their competition.

S: Subaki states that he hates when Hana brings up the time he fell off his horse because he embarrassed himself in front of Hana. Also the duo apparently love each other now.

Review: Decent set up, lackluster execution. I do like Hana’s feelings of inferiority in comparison to Subaki, and Subaki is wonderfully arrogant during this line, but the resolution comes from a revelation Hana had off screen and feels anti-climactic. I felt nothing during the marriage conversation.

Support: Hana/Sakura

C: Hana and Sakura discuss their childhood friendship and the fact that Hana has been protecting Sakura since even before she was a retainer. Sakura states that Hana’s stubbornness pairs nicely with her own introversion.

B: Hana reveals that Sakura’s kindness gave her a reason to dedicate herself to becoming a master samurai. Sakura reveals that she chose Hana as her retainer, in spite of her age and objections from others, because of...a reason explained in the next conversation. Gotta love cliffhangers.

A: Sakura chose Hana as her retainer because of all the times she protected her as a kid, so many times that Hana is covered in scars. Sakura feels guilty over Hana’s scars, but Hana brushes it off, stating that her scars are a badge of honor because they were earned protecting Sakura. Small character design note: Hana does not have any visible scars in this game. She does consistently have a scar in her arm in Heroes, and inconsistently has a scar on her left thigh, but neither of those scars are visible in game. Maybe the scars are hidden below her headband?

Review: First off, these two deserve an S-Rank conversation. They have more chemistry than most of the couples in this game. Setting that aside, I enjoy Hana and Sakura inspiring each other to be better. I love the idea of Hana protecting Sakura from feral dogs and Sakura repaying her by making her a retainer, going against royal officials to do so.

Support: Sakura/Subaki

C: Subaki yawns in front of Sakura then pretends it didn’t happen, because he is too perfect to get fatigued.

B: Subaki makes a tiny slip-up when filling out a form and has a complete meltdown, launching into a self-depreciating rant. Hana brings up that she’s seen him make mistakes before, which only makes things worse.

A: Sakura comforts Subaki and he reveals that his obsession with perfection stems from his childhood; his parents hammered in the idea that he must be perfect at all times as to not embarrass himself in front of royalty. He brings up the time he fell off his horse in front of Sakura right before she chose him as a retainer and reveals that he’s thought for years she chose him out of pity. Sakura comforts him, saying that he’s amazing and his slip-ups only make him more charming.

S: Subaki renews his vows as a retainer, promising to always fight for Sakura even if he cannot achieve total perfection. Sakura accepts, on the condition that Subaki marries her.

Review: I actually really enjoyed this one. The main gag with Subaki is that he’s arrogant and thinks of himself as perfect. This line deconstructs that, showing him fall apart at the idea that he isn’t good enough. It didn’t go fully into it, but this line suggests that Subaki may have some real mental health issues, possibly stemming from an abusive childhood. The romance isn’t perfect, but I do like the idea of Subaki ending up with Sakura because she helps him learn to accept himself. Also for all of Sakura’s supports I’m going to pretend that she isn’t like fourteen, because otherwise they’re all super creepy.

Support: Corrin/Sakura

C: Corrin asks if Sakura dislikes her and Sakura, who has never once visited any Fire Emblem or Smash Brothers forum, states that no one could ever dislike Corrin. Apparently, Sakura is awkward and shy around Corrin because she sucks at talking to people. Corrin offers to help her practice talking.

B: Corrin asks Sakura some basic questions and Sakura freezes up from anxiety and can’t answer anyone. Corrin theorizes that Sakura is easily intimidated by other people.

A: Sakura reveals that she’s always so anxious because she heard a rumor that Nohr actually wanted to kidnap her, not Nohr. This rumor was evidently false, because it makes absolutely no sense from a lore perspective. Also, I question the idea that this is the source of all of Sakura’s anxiety. Her anxiety around Corrin, maybe, but it’s odd that guilt over her sister’s kidnapping that she’s known for years wasn’t her fault would make her anxious around other people. I mean, it’s more pronounced around Corrin, but only in this support line. Whatever. Corrin swears to protect Sakura and I guess that means her anxiety is cured.

Review: This conversation is mediocre. Sakura getting anxiety because of something a maid said once is stupid, but Corrin trying to help her get over it is okay.

You’ll notice that I stopped this at the A rank. Well, you see, Corrin and Sakura only have three, conversations instead of four because, despite Corrin having a variable gender, Corrin and Sakura are siblings and Intelligent Systems would never include incest in a Fire Emblem game. They’d never do that because that would be terrible.

Wait. What’s that? Why does it say on the wiki that they have an S-Conversation? Surely this isn’t real.

Oh god it’s real.

No.

No no no.

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

What the fuck, Intelligent Systems? Why did you include incestuous pedophilic marriage in your role-playing game? Seriously, what the actual fuck?

And, looking at Corrin’s support list, it’s not just Sakura. Every single Nohr and Hoshidan royal can date Corrin. I don’t know what’s worse, Corrin having sex with her stranger blood siblings or having sex with the people she thought were her blood siblings for years. Fine. Let’s just do the stupid conversation.

S: Sakura reveals that she’s been dreaming about the sibling she never knew for years, imagining what Corrin would grow up to be like. It’s actually a decent idea, albeit one hidden in the evil cursed S-Support that I hate. Corrin asks if they live up to expectations and Sakura states that they exceed them. Then Sakura says that she loves Corrin. Romantically. Corrin, being the sane person, objects, pointing out that they’re half-siblings. I don’t know where this half-sibling thing came from, as far as Corrin knows both of them are the children of Mikoto and Sumeragi. I mean, it is stated in Revelations that Mikoto isn’t actually the mother of anyone but Corrin, but Corrin doesn’t know that yet. Whatever. Sakura pulls out a letter from Mikoto that she only read a few minutes ago that says, psych! Corrin and Sakura aren’t actually related. At all. So it’s cool to bang. Corrin instantly gets over the whole “Don’t fuck your little sister” thing immediately and proposes to Sakura. What the actual fuck.

Review Continued: If ninety percent of the S-Rank conversation is convincing the audience that, no, this isn’t incest, you know it’s bad. And sure, it isn’t technically incest anymore, but who cares? Corrin and Sakura didn’t know that until ten seconds before they screwed each other. This is an incestuous marriage and it’s fucking gross. The writers clearly know it was gross, but they included it anyway.

And here’s the big problem with the Hoshidan sibling marriages: Birthright is built on the premise that this is Corrin’s real family, that Hoshido is her real home. It’s literally called Birthright. But if Corrin isn’t actually related to the Hoshidan Royals, all of that falls apart. They’re just strangers. The whole concept of the game doesn’t apply anymore. Because Intelligent Systems couldn’t release a game where the player insert doesn’t fuck literally every character. And, until we get to the point in Revelations where that is properly revealed, I’m going to pretend I don’t know it.

We got some new characters at the end of the last chapter, so let’s talk about them.

Silas

Silas is a cavalier who went turncloak for Corrin at the end of the last chapter because of a childhood friendship Corrin doesn’t remember. His personal skill makes him fight better when Corrin is injured. I’m starting to notice just how many of these skills specifically relate to Corrin, which makes sense but is still kinda weird. His design is fine, nothing objectionable there. I do think Silas’s forgotten childhood friend backstory is a bit odd, though. And I’m getting sick of characters who are obsessed with Corrin.

Saizo

Saizo is Kaze’s twin brother who looks like twenty years older than him. He’s the slower but tougher of the duo, judging from their stats. His personal skill Pyrotechnics is basically just him blowing shit up, which as far as I’m concerned is his solution to all problems. His mask is really weird looking, but at least he’s visually interesting. Personality wise, he seems like a dick, but in a good way. Our army needs some common sense and he brings it.

Orochi

Real talk: I forgot this character existed until she joined us. Orochi is a mage...er, diviner who has the personal skill Capture, which I’ll talk about later. Her design is decent; I like the sultry hair pulling in her portrait, it gives off a lot of personality. I don’t have much to say, I forgot she existed before the end of last chapter and have no clue what her personality will be.

Birthright Chapter 8: Fierce Winds

Team Corrin travels up the Eternal Staircase, a massive subterranean tunnel that leads to the Wind Tribe Village. Kaze notices that the group is being followed and a group of faceless pop out. Kaze and Corrin slaughter them with ease. Unfortunately, after the battle, the faceless turn into Wind Tribe civilians. Iago appears and explains that he disguised civilians as monsters using magic. He learned it from his favorite movie villain, the Joker from the Dark Knight, who Iago thinks is actually the good guy.

The gang reaches the Wind Tribe village. Corrin decides to just waltz in because sneaking past would be suspicious. Wind Tribe members attack. Not sure how they know about the whole slaughter thing. Maybe one of the fake faceless got away? Whatever.

Our three princesses apologize to the tribe members and they lead us to their chief, Fuga. Then the battle immediately begins. Guess negotiations didn’t go well.

Also here for some reason is Hinoka and her two retainers, Setsuna and Azama, both of whom are absolute morons. But, like, in a good way. Setsuna falls in quicksand, doesn’t care, and Azama immediately declares her dead. The fact that Hinoka has to basically babysit her two idiot bodyguards is amusing.

Setsuna

An Archer that works as Hinoka’s bodyguard. Her personal skill, Optimistic, makes her recover more when healed by a staff. A thing they do a lot in recent Fire Emblem games is to have characters that are based around specific gags or tropes. These are hit or miss, but Setsuna’s gag of constantly endangering herself and just not giving a shit sounds funny. The faced half-covered by hair initially makes her seem cool, but when paired with the dopey face and her personality it makes her look completely distracted. I like Setsuna, from what I’ve seen.

Azama

A monk who seems to be ridiculously optimistic and laid back. His personal skill, Divine Retribution, hurts opponents who attack him when he’s unarmed, which is a really cool idea. Azama doesn’t seem to be quite as funny as Setsuna, but still seems entertaining. I have mixed feelings on his design. I can’t tell if I like the closed eyes or not. The puffballs and wild hair are dumb though.

It’s worth noting that, because we move first, Corrin’s army attacks without provocation. Remember, they can’t see the red labels on enemies.

This map takes place in a desert. We can use the Dragon Veins to make it not a desert, which is good, because Fire Emblem deserts suck. Halfway through the battle, we finally talk to Fuga. He explains that we must earn the right to explain by killing all of his men. Bit of a dick move, chief.

We beat Fuga fairly easily. This chapter was fine, but just fine. Not bad, just unremarkable. Fuga explains that he was friends with Sumeragi and knows a lot about Yato. Apparently, us killing all of his men was a test to make us stronger so we can unlock Yato’s true power. Apparently, Yato can link something called the Sealed Flames and destroy the world. Neat.

Fuga accepts our explanation of the civilian murders. Which makes sense, it was kinda dumb. Actually, wait. Why did that have to be a plot point? Couldn’t this chapter just have been Fuga testing us?

Before we leave, Corrin and Azura discuss that there may be more blades like Yato out there. They don’t ask Fuga, because reasons. Also Fuga gives us his son. Neat.

[atlafan]

Take it Slow - Part Twenty

a/n: okay this is my first shot at a harry:y/n fic, and it will be multiple parts. y/n had a bad experience with an ex over a year ago, and finally accepts her coworker and good friend Niall’s invitation to go on a blind date with his friend Harry.

(Fluffy part with some smut...Part Twenty-One gets really intense, so I wanted to leave this one on a good note.)

Part One Part Two Part Three Part Four Part Five Part Six Part Seven Part Eight Part Nine Part Ten Part Eleven Part Twelve Part Thirteen Part Fourteen Part Fifteen Part Sixteen Part Seventeen Part Eighteen Part Nineteen

Masterpost

It only takes you a little over an hour to get back to your apartment. You were so thankful for Harry. He took his button up right off when he walked through the door, but kept everything else on. He sat down on the couch and turned the TV on. You sat next to him and snuggled up close.

“Thank you for everything today, you were such a good sport. I couldn’t believe how well behaved my family was! I hope the tattoos thing didn’t make you uncomfortable.”

“Not at all. It was kinda nice to show them off a bit. Can I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“Where was your oldest sister, what’s her name? Bridget?”

“She goes to her friend’s house on Thanksgiving. She’s usually there at the beginning because she helps bring food over with my mom. We must’ve just missed her.” You shrug.

“Oh…I was just wondering because no one even mentioned her.”

“There’s nothing to mention.” You keep your eyes glued on the TV.

“Does she still live with your mum?” You sigh heavily. “Sorry, I’m prying aren’t I?”

“No, it’s okay. I just don’t really like talking about it. Her whole life style is just annoying and I hate giving it the time of day to even think about. At some point I’ll tell you all about it, but right now I just don’t feel like it.”

“Alright baby, that’s fine.” He rubs his hand along your arm. You loved the way he called you baby. One time he even called you baby girl and you thought you were going to melt into a puddle. It was a term a lot of people used to call their significant other, but coming from him it felt more special.

“I like when you say baby girl.” You say still watching the TV. He feels his cheeks heat up.

“You do?”

“Mhm.”

“Alright, baby girl it is.” You feel your eyes flutter closed. He looks down at you and sees your mouth parted. It had been a really long day. He was hoping to get lost in you, but he felt equally as tired. Maybe in the morning.

You were half asleep when you felt him lift you off the couch, and carry you into your bedroom. You wanted to see what he’d do, so you pretended to stay asleep. He stood you up and leaned you against his body to unzip your dress. He let it drop to the floor. Next he unhooked your bra and let that drop too. He picked you back and laid you on your side of the bed. He tugged your nylons and panties down your legs. He grabbed one of his t-shirts from your dresser. He sits you up for a moment to put it on you, then he lays you back down and puts the blanket over you. You hear him sigh, satisfied with how he’s taken care of you. Even if had told him you were awake, you wouldn’t have had the strength to get changed.

Harry took his clothes off, leaving his boxers on, and climbed into bed with you. He wrapped his arms around you so he could spoon you. You loved the way his body felt pressed against you, and the way he nuzzled into your hair. You quickly fell back asleep in his arms.

You drifted into a dream. You were running through a field of sunflowers. Harry was running on the other side towards you. You run into his arms, he picks you up and swings you around.

“Oh Harry, I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

“Take me, here, now, in this field.”

“Are you sure?”

“More sure than anything.”

You felt something hard rubbing up against your butt, waking you up slightly. You realize you had been pushing yourself against Harry, clearly exciting him. You hear him grunt into your ear. You’re not sure if he’s awake. You decide to tease him a little, and continue to grind your butt into him. He pressed harder against you, making your head roll back.

“(y/n)?” He said with a sleepy voice.

“Mm?”

“What you doin’?”

“Grinding against you.”

“Right.”

His hand reaches around to your front, he sighs when he feels how wet you already are. He rubs your clit with his fingers while you continue to grind against him.

“Fuck.” You say through your teeth as he rubs you harder. You were turned on by so much, his hand, his hard dick pressed against your ass, and the way you two were just so comfortable with each other.

Harry’s teeth graze your shoulder, biting down and sucking your skin.

“Bite me harder, please.” You gasp out. You don’t have to tell him twice, as he sinks his teeth further into you. You moan out loudly.

“Can I rub myself against you?”

“You are.”

“No, against your wet pu-“

“Yes.” You turn over quickly, and pull himself on you. He keeps his thumb on your clit while he presses himself against you. His boxers were slightly wet with precome.

Your hips raise to his and he moans out your name. It felt so good just to rub against each other. You knew he wanted to just stick it in you, and you were getting closer to wanting that too. You imagined how it would feel to have him stretch out, pumping and throbbing in and out of you.

“Oh, Harry, Harry.” You moan over and over. You were literally fantasizing about him while he was right there with you. He rubs your clit harder, sending you over the edge. Your hands rake through his hair, and pull on him hard as you come undone.

“Can I come on your stomach?” He asks, panting.

“Please.”

He lifts his shirt, just under your breasts. He pulls his boxers down just enough for his dick to come out. Your eyes widen as he grips himself, and jerks off onto your stomach. Thick streams of come shoot out of him and onto your stomach. He flops onto his back next to you, admiring his jizz on your tummy.

“Fuck, I love you.” He says, trying to catch his breath.

“I love you too. You’re such a man, you know that?” He looks at you with a smirk.

“Is that so, baby girl?” You giggle at the words.

“Here, let me go get a towel to clean you up.” Harry rolls his eyes when he looks at the clock. “Jesus, it’s only four in the mornin’.” He grabs a towel from your bathroom, and wipes your stomach clean.

“Plenty of time to sleep still.” He gets back in next to you. “Sorry I woke you up.”

“You’re apologizing?” He smirks. “You can wake me up like that anytime.”

“Good to know.”

“Lemme lay my head on your chest.”

You smile and shift onto your back so Harry can rest on you. You play with his hair until you both drift back off into sleep. The sound of his light snores always help you sleep better.

//

Later that morning you woke up to the smell of toast and eggs. You stretched out in your bed, and got up. You didn’t bother putting any pants on, Harry’s shirt covered you just enough. You pad into the kitchen and smile immediately. Harry is in his boxers, cooking you breakfast. You know he doesn’t eat eggs, but he was making them because you eat them. He sees you out of the corner of his eye and smiles at you.

“Mornin’ beautiful.”

“You’re making me breakfast?” You yawn and rub your eyes like a little kid.

“Mhm.” He sets up a plate for you. “Avocado toast with eggs, your favorite.” You go around the island and nuzzle into him.

“Thank you baby.” You kiss him on the cheek, then take a bite of the toast. Harry eats some avocado with a little hot sauce and olive oil on top. “Mmm, so tasty.” You lick your lips. “You’re such a good cook, have I ever told you that?”

“You may have mentioned it once or twice, but by all means, keep the compliments comin’.” He winks at you.

“You make the best fried eggs I’ve ever had.”

“Go on.”

“And this toast.” You point to it. “Perfectly browned.” You both start giggling. “You know what, I need something to drink. Would you like some coffee?”

“Uh, yeah, please. Can’t believe I forgot about coffee.”

“S’okay, you were busy.” You reach up into your cabinet to grab two mugs. Harry starts choking on his food when he sees you pantieless. You never walked around like that. How did he not notice before? “You okay?” You say, starting up the Keurig.

“Yup, perfectly fine.” It’s not like he hadn’t seen you in the light of day before, but something about you just wearing his shirt, and being so comfortable around him for you to walk around like…it was starting to drive him wild.

You shrug it off, and make both of your coffees. You hand him his with a smile, and he happily takes it. You loved when Harry stayed over. It wasn’t just because it gave you more time to fool around, it was for moments like this. The domestic bliss that you craved as a child. Your home was not a happy one, and now you’ve created one for yourself. The thing is, you were starting to get greedy. You wanted him there more and more. You figured if you two ever decided to move in together, you would need to find a two bedroom apartment. You each would need a place to get work done at home, especially him. Maybe Niall knew of any open places in his building.

“Babe?” Harry breaks you from your day dream.

“Hm?”

“How ‘bout a shower?”

“Good idea.”

You bring your coffee into your bedroom with you and set it on the desk. You grab an elastic, flip your hair over, and put it up in a bun. While doing this Harry can’t keep his eyes off your butt. Without thinking he gave it taut smack. You jump and squeal, rubbing the spot that was sure to leave a bruise. You look up at him confused, and a little annoyed.

“What the hell was that?”

“M’so sorry, it was an accident.” He’s trying to stifle a laugh.

“That’s not funny! That really hurt Harry, Jesus.” You continue to rub your cheek which was still sort of stinging. “I mean you really smacked me, what came over you?”

“It was…there.” He shrugged. “You should really make sure you wear your knickers around me, or stuff like this will just happen.” He walks into your bathroom.

Not taking that for an answer, you watch him bend over to take his boxers off. You wind your hand up, and attempt to smack him as hard has he did you. The sound filled the room, but he didn’t make a noise. He simply stood up straight, and turned around to look at you.

“Sorry, it was just there.” You say in a mocking tone, almost in his accent.

“You know, if you had been bent over a bit more, I could’ve gotten ya right on that little clit of yours. Don’t think you’d be complainin’ then.” He reaches to turn the water on, and crosses his arms.

That was some serious dirty talk that just came from his mouth. He had never really spoken to you like that before. Which Harry was this? You try to wrack your brain around it. Was this another side to your daddy Harry? Or was this a darker Harry? One that wants to spank you until you come.

“So that didn’t even hurt?” You point to the pink spot on his butt.

“Not really, love. Did ya want it to hurt me?”

“I just wanted you to feel what you did to me.” He smirks.

“Didn’t mean to hit ya that hard, promise.” He kisses your nose, and steps into the shower. You strip yourself of his shirt, and climb in behind him.

“Do you like talking like that?” You ask while his head is submerged in the water. He turns to look at you.

“Hm? Like what?”

“What you said a minute ago.” He gives you a confused look, and then he’s struck with realization.

“I don’t really know why I said that. Sorry if it made you uncomfortable.”

“It didn’t…I was just taken off guard.”

“Sometimes it’s hard to stifle my inside thoughts.” He steps aside so you can step into the water. “You know I could get an attachment so this sprays differently, then we wouldn’t have to do this dance every time.” How could he just change the subject so easily?

“Sure, we could go to WalMart or something. Um, so, you think like that often?”

“Why are you so interested all of a sudden?” You weren’t sure exactly.

“Just curious I guess.” You try to shrug it off.

“You can tell me if it was, um, a bit much. It really did just slip out…”

“No, no, it was fine. I just, I don’t know, I didn’t realize you were so erotic?”

“Good word for it I suppose.”

“What word would you use for it?”

“I don’t know, flirting maybe?” You stop and realize that you and Harry never really flirted with each other. Even in the very beginning, it was mostly cute and kind conversations. Then it turned into more sexual moves, but never really flirting. He was also just way more comfortable with you at this point. He figured it would be okay to let it slip once in a while what he was actually thinking and feeling.

In your daze, he grabs a wash cloth and your body wash and starts to scrub himself. He starts wiping up your chest, which snaps you back into reality.

“Need to step into the water, love.” You move aside and watch as the soap falls down his body.

“How do you turn it on and off so easily?”

“What?”

“The way you talk. One second you’re incredibly sweet and thoughtful, another second you’re straight up charming, and another you’re…well saying those other things?” He smirks at you.

“When I saw you bend over to put your hair, and I saw this glorious rump in front of me.” He puts his hands on your butt and gives you a squeeze. “I think all the blood in my body rushed to my dick, and that’s why I said what I said. Plus the fact that you had given me a pretty good smack. It was hot actually, how you just took command of the situation.”

“You didn’t even flinch when I did it.”

“I told ya, it didn’t hurt.”

“How could that have not hurt?”

“Don’t know.” He shrugs. He leans down to your ear. “Didn’t I tell you once before, a while ago, that those little hands of yours wouldn’t be able to hurt me?” A shiver goes up your spine as you remember the first time you really gave his hair a good tug. He straightens himself back up. “All set?”

“Mhm.” He turns the water off. You grab both of your towels, and get out of the shower.

“I have some work to do today, but I brought my laptop with me so I can do it here.”

“Did you want to go back to your place so you can use your big monitor?”

“No, no it’s fine. Just touching up some pictures I took of this couple last week. They’re doing this pregnancy announcement.” You go to your dresser to put on a sports bra and leggings.

“Oh, how sweet!” Harry puts on his dark blue jeans and saunters into the living room, grabbing his laptop bag. You grab your laptop from your desk and join him on the couch. “I have some work I could get done too actually. Days like this are always great for catching up on email.”

“It’s nice that your company gives you the day after off.”

“Yeah, I like working there because of all the benefits we get. They even give us that week off between Christmas and New Year’s.”

“Really? That’s almost unheard of.”

“I think the CEO or whatever really values work-life balance. She really pays attention to the data that shows how to boost productivity and morale with employees. Everyone is happy to get their work done because they know they’ll have the time to relax. I also think she noticed that a lot of people took that week off anyways, so not much was getting done regardless.” You plug your headphones into your laptop, and pull up Spotify.

“What are you doing?”

“I like to listen to music while I work and I don’t want to distract you.” He looks you up and down.

“Not much that can help with that.”

“Says the shirtless guy sitting next to me.” He rolls his eyes at you playfully. “You don’t listen to music while you work?”

“Depends on what I’m working on.” He shrugs. “Do you want to see the photos?”

“Sure!” You lean over so you can see the beautiful pictures Harry took of the couple. It was two women, one of them had a small bump. They both looked overjoyed. The one that wasn’t pregnant was holding up a pumpkin to her belly to match the bump of her partner. “Oh, Harry these are beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

“They both look so happy.”

“They were over the moon.” He sighs. “They told me they felt lucky to find me. Some photographers turned them down because they were afraid of having a gay couple’s photos on their website or something. Can you believe that? In this day and age?”

“That’s so sad! How did they find you?”

“Honestly, I think it was Facebook. I made a page for myself that’s attached to my Instagram. I think one of them had a mutual friend with me or they happened to like my page or something. Either way they had seen photos of a previous shoot I did with these two guys, so they reached out.”

“Can I see those? With the guys?”

“Sure, this was actually really fun.” Harry pulls ups his Instagram page and scrolls down a bit. “They wanted to send out engagement announcements. It was pretty cute. I took them out to this trail that had a waterfall behind it.”

“These are stunning.”

“This was a fun day for sure. I think if someone wants their picture taken, they should have them taken.”

“Agreed.” You give him a quick kiss on the cheek.

You put your headphones in and get to work. You get through a dozen or so emails, and open up Adobe Premiere. You work on a video, marketing a website launch. Harry glances to how your hands move as you cut clips together. How you take a moment to close your eyes so you can concentrate on the sounds coming in, to make sure everything is lined up correctly. You finish up your video and set your laptop on the coffee table to let it render. You glance at Harry’s project. He’s making a digital photo book for the couple. He stops to rub his eyes, and sets his laptop on the coffee table.

“Alright, time for a break.” He sighs. He looks at you and smiles. “Get much done?”

“Oh yeah, I’m way ahead for next week. How’d your book come along?”

“I think it’s good. Just need to make some small changes. Almost done though.”

“When do they need it by?”

“Oh, well the pictures are all good to go. The book is just an extra touch from me. I’m going to email them everything tomorrow.” You stand up and stretch.

“Would you wanna go for a walk? Get some steps in?”

“Sure, lemme just throw some joggers on.”

Harry changes into sweatpants and a sweatshirt. You hand him his beanie before you lace up your sneakers.

“It’s a little cold out.” You smile at him as he puts it on.

“Thanks.”

You go for a nice, long walk. You giggle about the funny things Harry noticed about your family.

“We do not yell!” You laugh.

“Yes you do! It was so funny, you and your dad did it first, and then throughout your sister’s house.”

“It’s mostly just when we need each other’s attention. When you have a big house full of six people, it can be hard to get someone to listen to you. What was your house like?”

“Not the biggest, but not the smallest either.” He smiles. “My favorite thing was that we lived next door to this Chinese food place, and every day after school I’d come home, open my window, and take a big whiff.”

“What do you guys usually do for the holidays? Do you go home?”

“Yeah, usually. We just have a small gathering. I try to go home a couple days early so I have some extra time with my mum. I don’t stay there for New Year’s though.”

“That’s nice you’re able to go home. How often are you able to go back?”

“Typically for the holidays, and then I take about two weeks in the summer, sometimes three. My work lets me take pictures out there so I don’t have to use all my vacation time.”

“I feel like Niall does the same thing. Only he has to use his vacation time in the summer.”

“Yeah, he and I usually try to fly out together. When does Hanukkah start?”

“Couple of weeks. I think the week before Christmas this year.”

“How is it determined?”

“The Jewish calendar is lunar.”

“Ohhhh, okay. Does your family get together?”

“Yeah, my great uncle usually has this big party on one of the weekends it’ll fall on. It’s a lot of fun. As kids, we waited until Christmas to do all our presents, but now we just get together for Hanukkah. It’s just easier because now that my brother’s married, and Erica has Mike, no one has to run around on Christmas.”

“So what do you usually do on Christmas if your family doesn’t get together?”

“It’s just another day. One year I went on vacation with the girls, another year I went down to Florida to see Nannie.”

“Hm, interesting.”

He wanted to take the moment to ask you to go to England for Christmas. He wanted to show you around, see where he grew up. Drive you into London for a day, just completely sweep you off your feet. But he knew you wouldn’t let him pay for the ticket. He needed more time.

“What do you say we go out to a movie tonight?” He asks you.

“Sure! Do you want to go to that theater that has the dinner service?”

“Works for me.”

//

You both decide on going to see Knives Out.

“That was fun, it reminded me of Clue.” You say, walking out of the theater.

“I was going to say the same thing! That’s a movie we should watch sometime.”

“Yeah, maybe we could have the crew over for a movie night sometime.” There were a couple of things you just said that made Harry happy. You said we, as in your place was practically your place. The word crew also delighted him. Your friend groups were merging naturally.

“I think that’s a great idea.” He snakes his arm around you. “The night’s still young, feel like goin’ to have a drink?”

“I like the way you think.”

He drives you two to a bar near the theater. You grab a couple of open stools. You order your usual vodka-tonic, and Harry does the same.

“You look cute tonight, by the way.” He says warmly.

“It’s just jeans and a top. Nothing special, babe.”

“Maybe to you.” He winks. “I like when we get to spend this much time together.”

“Me too…you’re not bored or sick of my place?”

“Not at all. It was nice earlier when we were both just workin’, doin’ our own things, but in the same space.”

“I agree.”

“You don’t feel like suffocated with my stuff there, or me there a lot?”

“No way! I like it better when you’re around Harry.” He takes a sip of his drink.

“I wanna run somethin’ by ya, but I’ll be honest, I’ve been a little nervous to ask.” You give him a warm smile, and put your hand on his thigh.

“Don’t be nervous sweetie, what is it?”

“Well, remember earlier when we were talkin’ about holidays?”

“Mhm.”

“Um, well,” He runs a hand through his hair. “I don’t know why I’m having such a tough time with this.” He sighs. “I’d love for you to come to England with me for Christmas, (y/n). I want you to meet my mum and sister, I wanna show you around London. And I know that’s a lot to plan in just a few weeks, and you may not feel comfortable taking such a big trip with me yet, but I hope you’ll at least think about it.”

You get up from your stool, and wrap your arms around his neck. You give him a few quick kisses on the cheek and start giggling.

“Harry, I would love to go to England!” You squeal, and sit back down.

“Really?”

“Sure! I’ve always wanted to go, and I of course want to meet your family.”

“I want you to let me pay for the plane tickets.”

“Harry, you know I can’t let you do that.”

“I’m inviting you, so I want to do it. I travel enough that it really won’t cost a lot. I can use my miles.”

“I don’t want you wasting that on me though.”

“S’not a waste. Please, just let me take care of it. At least let me book everything, and then we can discuss the payment later.”

“You said the same thing when we stayed at the inn, and you refused to take my check.” You sigh. “I work, I have a good job, I can afford things. If I let you book these flights, you will let me pay for it. I mean it.” You try to be stern with him, assert yourself a little. He clears his throat.

“I never said that you don’t make any money. It’s not about that. This is about me inviting you somewhere.”

“I just feel like you never let me pay for anything. I appreciate you being a gentleman, but for this kind of trip…”

“Baby girl.” He said it. He knew if he called you that you would immediately give up. You weren’t sure what it was about him calling you that, that made you putty in his hands, but it did.

“I’ll drop it for now, but we’re not done discussing this.” You pout. He leans forward and gives you a soft kiss on the lips.

“How ‘bout another round?”

“Let’s drink at home.” Once again, instead of saying your place, you referred to it as home. Harry’s love for you grew deeper by the second.

“Deal.”

[wu-sisyphus-gang]

Motion Sickness Chapter 81

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"Where were you?" Ruby asked me.

"In town. Down in Mantle. There's this bar I went to a lot when I was a criminal. It's run by this union group," I answered. I shifted slightly in the corner of Team RWBY's room. I leaned against the wall and crossed my arms.

"We don't like it when you just disappear. Anything could have happened," Ruby went on.

"And I heard you were involved with some plot in tandem with the strikes. That was where our people picked you up. In the middle of a crime scene. You're not giving us the full story," Weiss followed her up.

"I worked with the leader of this terrorist group, Dyne, while I was a criminal. His wife died and he went mad from grief. He had this little girl, Marigold. He was talking about killing her. So I showed up and did my job as a huntsman."

"You were working with those terrorists though. Weren't you. When you were a criminal," Yang perceived.

"I was working with a different group of terrorists. But effectively yes. It was my responsibility to clean things up. And they had information I needed. Or could have had information I needed. About my sisters or Cinder. I had to follow up."

"Why didn't you tell us? We would have gone with you!" Ruby exclaimed.

"I know you would've. This wasn't about that. It was about cleaning up my own mess. Ironwood's orders to take the day off be damned."

"He is technically your superior officer," Blake said.

"Maybe. But he needed this kind of thing cleaned up, too."

"But people died," Ruby mumbled.

"People always die," I shot back. "What matters now is that it's over and done with."

"This kind of terrorism is never over and done with," Blake fired at me.

I had to concede the point to her. She would know better than me.

"What should I do next time? Get you four involved in something I can take care of?"

"We're not little girls," Weiss said with some venom. "We deserve to be in the loop."

"I never said you were. I handled it. And when I find my sisters or Cinder I'll let you know just like I let you know back at the hotel that I found out she was in town. But you don't need to be involved in every little errand I run."

"People died and that's an errand to you?" Blake asked.

"Yeah. That's about right. I didn't kill them. I even went out of my way to try and spare them, too. People are just fragile."

"I don't like this. No more secret errands," Weiss told me.

"Fine," I agreed. "I promise to let you know first next time."

"I want you to not do it," Weiss returned. Some heat in her voice. If I wasn't careful this would turn into our first lover's spat. It might be already too late for that.

"I needed to do it. It had to be done. I needed some information that the guy I was with had."

"And what information was that?" Weiss demanded.

"When I sunk your father's ship one of my charges went off prematurely. I needed to know why and who my saboteur was."

"You sunk that ship?" Weiss asked. "Any other terrorist acts you're not telling us?"

"I also caused that mine collapse."

"You're responsible for all the strikes down in Mantle!" Weiss exclaimed. "I can't believe this. And let me guess, you forgot to tell us."

"It hasn't come up! And yeah. I probably am responsible. I was buying future information from Avalanche and Aurum. My criminal contacts in this city. I was building my network. I did far worse than sink a ship and cause a dust mine collapse. I killed people and burned down a building, too. But you already knew that."

"Why'd you burn down that building, Cloud?" Ruby asked.

"It was full of drugs. Aurum's competitors. It was a favor."

"Cloud!" Weiss shouted.

"I'm not a perfect person! I'm not even a good one! You already knew that!"

"What else have you been up to in this city?!" Weiss demanded.

"I think that's about it."

"You think so?"

"Damn, Weiss, I can't remember everything at once and my mind plays tricks on me. I don't remember. Some prisoner break out, too, for that guy, Aurum. But you knew about that too. I didn't even kill anyone with that."

"And you think that makes it better?!" Weiss asked.

"It doesn't make it any worse!"

Her nostrils flared up at me. "I'm tired of you not telling me things. Of you trying to hide things. Like when you wanted to not tell Ruby about your seizures. You don't get to decide what's best for us."

"I didn't even know today would be a problem. They just said they had something they couldn't discuss over the phone. I'm literally telling you all everything. As it comes up. You want my life story? Well, me too."

She glared at me for a moment more. "Fine. But no more tip toeing around the line. You come clean with us. Before. Not after." The 'or else' was implied. I got the memo.

"Did you find out who sabotaged you?" Blake asked.

"The Happy Huntresses. You heard of them? Robyn Hill wanted to shut me down. Adam Taurus was there. When my bomb went off early he thought I was cutting the mission off at the knees and he attacked me. That was when he nearly killed me. Any more questions?"

"What information were you looking for?" Weiss asked.

"Just more dirt on Cinder, Merlot, and my sisters. I've been trying to learn all I can but so far 'nothing much' has pretty much been the word."

"But you know that Cinder is in town. From who?" Weiss questioned me further.

"Aurum. He's a drug lord. He runs The Den where you ambushed me that night. Anybody else?"

They were silent.

"What are we going to do for the rest of the night?" Ruby asked.

"Grill me," I deadpanned.

"You brought this on yourself," Weiss shot back. "If you would have at least told us where you were going that would have been something."

"You would have wanted to come."

"Which ought to tell you something."

"Guys…" Ruby bemoaned. We both shut up.

I sighed after a moment of silence. "Look Weiss. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about it. I'll do more next time."

She rubbed her thighs where she sat with her palms and wouldn't meet my eye. "You had better." I figured that was as close to an 'it's okay' as I was going to get. I took it as such. We weren't ruined over this. It was just a fight. We'd be back to where we were later.

"So seriously what are we going to do for the rest of the night?" Ruby asked again.

"I was going to go get my bike out of impound."

"You bought a bike?" Yang asked.

"Just some wheels to get Neo and I around. Any of you are welcome to come with. It'll probably be boring as hell."

"I'll go with. Can I drive it?" Ruby wondered.

"I don't see why not. I also don't see why." I gave her a teasing grin. She 'pffted' her hair out of her face up at me but she gave me a small smile.

Weiss sighed. "Does it have room for three?"

"Probably if we don't mind getting touchy-feely with one another," I answered.

"We're going dancing again. You mentioned The Den. Is it any good?"

"I never clubbed there. Well not really. About the only thing special about it is all the hard drugs."

"You didn't…" Weiss trailed, slightly threateningly.

"I tried some. I figured it couldn't make things worse." Open honesty being the policy…

"So that's how you know what hyper is like," Weiss sighed. She leaned a hand on her forehead like she had a headache.  

"Is it any good? I always wondered, too. Ow. Don't hit, Blake," Yang muttered.

"I could honestly take it or leave it."

"Leave it," Weiss growled like she was talking to a dog. Which, I mean, fair enough.

"You could give it a try. Tell them Cloud sent you. Get you a bit of a discount," I went on like I hadn't heard her. "It's a bit intense. Bit of a rush. But you can get the same thing with, like, good sex."

"Interesting…" Yang said. "Blake. I said no hitting. You're abusive."

"You'll find out just how abusive I can be," Blake shot back. "No drug use."

"Cloud is there any good weed in this town?" Yang wondered. "I tried some back home. I could use it to open this girl up. Loosen up, Blake."

"Some. Same place. Same people. Got your hook up. I could really use a hit right now, too."

"Tough shit for you, Jau-Cloud. Learn to live without," Weiss grumbled, slipping up on my new name.

"I'm trying but it's not easy."

"Did it really help that much?" Ruby asked.

"Ruby!" Weiss hissed.

"What? If it helped him then… then I want it for him."

"It's a hard maybe, Rubes. Let's keep trying what the doctors have me on for now. But I'm not sure I can take a few more months of this."

"Is it that bad?" Ruby wondered.

"It's not great," I returned with a sigh.

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I got my bike out of impound and was riding it down an empty highway. Our seating order went me, Weiss, then Ruby in the back. They clung to each other then to me super close. It was actually kinda nice. Especially Weiss clinging to my torso after our fight.

It let me at least pretend I was in part forgiven. Even more so when I'd take a turn and feel her arms tighten around my chest. Her fingers trailing across my abdomen and her palms drifting across me.

I checked my rear view mirror. Two other bikes were coming up on me. I slowed down to let them pass, I wasn't in any rush. Then they caught up to me and started to match my speed.

I truly wasn't that suspicious until one of them pulled a sword with two blades. The other whipped out a gauntlet with sharp points on the end. One of the riders, a girl, hovered close to me on her bike. A helmet obscuring her features. Blonde hair breezing through the air behind her.

"Cloud!" Ruby called, her voice barely making it above the wind. "It's them! From Argus!"

I flinched. I drew my sword around Weiss's body and drove with one hand.

I turned my bike sideways and abruptly slowed down in an attempt to lose them. Another girl on a bike rode up on me right then from behind, boxing me in. She yanked up on her bike and front-flipped right over us, bike and all. She pulled her pistol from her waist and pointed it right at my head as she did. Then she fired and the punch from her gun rocked my head back.

I'd gotten a good look at her through her helmet as she did her trick though.

"Saphron?!" I asked. I shouted over the breeze. "You're real?" The one with the gauntlet pulled up on me. I recognized her immediately. "Lavender? You too?"

"Poor big brother. Can't tell reality from fiction." Lavender let out a laugh. Her narrower jaw made her stand out from my memory of my sisters. My head suddenly pounded and I touched it with my sword hand. My sisters…

"Come with us, big brother," another voice said. I recognized it right away. Violet pulled up on my other side with her double blade. Her darker eyes and shapely nose pointed her out. Our swords clashed for a moment. I could feel Ruby and Weiss readying their weapons on the bike behind me as I drove.

Violet tried to catch my weapon with a twist of hers and disarm me. I held fast to my enormous weapon regardless. I slashed at her and she blocked while I drove.

"Come see Mother with us. She'd be happy to see you," Violet giggled. Like it was some private joke. I didn't laugh. I didn't get it.

Lavender punched at me with her gauntlet and I drove the bike to the side on the empty highway and I sliced at her too.

Saphron was pulling up in front of me. She turned around in the seat on her bike and shot me with her pistol again. It was a decent calibre round because it stung.

My head pounded. It hurt like it had when I'd last talked to, "...Mother?" I wondered aloud.

"Come with us, Jaune," Lavender beckoned. "We'll take you to see her." Her voice pierced over the wind as we drove down the empty highway.

"Cloud!" Ruby called. "Stay focused!"

"Cloud?!" Violet laughed. My sword met hers again. The long blade served to keep her double one away. "Is that what they think your name is?"

"I'm…" I flinched like I'd touched a hot stove but with my brain. "I'm Cloud now."

Saphron shot at me twice again. One hit me in the chest, the other pinged off of my bike.  

"Is that what you're calling yourself?" Saphron asked. A note of laughter on her voice. "You'll always be our Jaune."

Ruby stood up on the back of my bike and took a shot at Saphron. It struck asphalt and tore it up. I drove over where she had just shot and the bike went badump .

She fired another shot and hit Saphron in the back. Saphron twisted on her bike so she was driving backwards and took three more shots at us. I heard Ruby cry out in pain. She'd just made herself a bigger target when she stood up.

Lavender came up on me again. She seemed to hesitate. I knew that stance. It was like she was charging something. She was storing a little time away. She punched down at my bike and I swerved to avoid her gauntlet. She swerved down and struck the asphalt and tore a huge chunk of it out in a flash of purple light. Then she threw it at us.

Weiss caught it with her pseudo-telekinesis. A dull black glyph came to life. Then she tossed it over us and at Violet who had to swerve to avoid it.

"Big brother!" Saphron sung out. "Don't you want a family reunion? Everyone can be there. Especially if it's for you."

"Come be with us! Ditch these girls. You don't need them." Lavender called. I clashed with her gauntlet again. Myrtenaster poked out from beside me and met the double blade of Violet.

Saphron shot back at me twice again. She hit me both times with preternatural accuracy.

"Come be with us," Violet purred. Ruby opened fire from her stance on the back of the bike and hit Saphron again. Saphron spun back around to drive straight once more.

My head hurt so bad. It was like talking to Mother again. It pounded with memories. With memory .

"Cloud? Are you alright?" Weiss asked.

"I'm fine," I bit out.

My head whipped back again as Saphron shot me in the skull one more time. Then my blade met Violet's beside me. I shoved her back.

Lavender was driving focused and unmoving. Like she was storing more time away for another devastating attack. Ruby took three shots at her to disrupt her concentration. The first hit her. And the next two hit her bike and caused her to swerve slightly.

Ruby shifted her weapon into its full mode out of just the gun state and took a swipe at Violet while I had her blade engaged.

Saphron shot me three more times. They came at me high impact and hit like .50 caliber bullets. I was pretty sure they were. She tossed an empty clip behind her and reloaded. She then whipped around and threw a knife at me. It buried in my aura up to the hilt and the tip nicked my face, leaving a cut behind before it bounced down into the street.

I flinched to the side. I swerved slightly to the right but that just led me closer to Lavender. I tried to block her purple flaring punch with the wide side of Crocea Mors but the force of it was enough to lift up my whole bike, three passengers and all. It nearly slammed us into Violet. Who in turn took a long slash at the bike that would have crippled us if Weiss hadn't caught us with a glyph and blocked her cut with Myrtenaster.

Saphron shot me in the head again and there was a whoosh of air as I got Limit.

I had had enough. I stabbed Crocea Mors into the asphalt and picked us up off the ground. I swung the bike around without losing momentum and reversed us completely so that we were driving the wrong way. Then I crossed over to the other side of the interstate over one of those entry ways for police. I left my sisters behind, they were driving straight where I'd completely turned around.

"Cloud?" I put my sword away and raised a hand to my head.

“Jaune…”

"...Mother?" I murmured.

"Cloud, snap out of it!" Weiss ordered.

I shook my head. I was trying but my head hurt. And not just from being shot there a couple times.

Behind my eyes pulsed and I shuddered. Weiss wrapped her arms around me tightly.

"It's okay, Cloud. We're here."

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I stumbled off my bike at the garage in Atlas Academy. I fell to my knees. The grimy pavement in the garage mattered little. I felt grimy in my head and in my very soul.

“Come to me…my son… my precious son…”

"Cloud, you recognized them, didn't you." It was Ruby's voice.

"Saphron, Violet, and Lavender," I muttered. "They're real. My sisters are real." I sort of knew that they had been, I could feel it. Like I could feel Mother. But seeing it was a whole next level.

"Cloud? Are you alright?"

"My head hurts. And I hear Mother's voice," I bemoaned. I rubbed my face with the whole of a hand. I got a phantom pain across my entire tongue from when I'd bitten through it.

“Reunion… a family reunion… Just for you.”

"Mother?" I called out.

"He's delirious," it was Weiss's voice. I felt her arms wrap under mine. "Gods he's heavy. Help me, Ruby."

“Everyone will be there…”

"Everyone will be there. At the reunion," I murmured. "All my sisters. And Mother."

"What are your other sisters' names?" Ruby asked.

“Iris, Kolumbine, Juniper, Lily…”

"Iris, Kolumbine, Juniper, and Lily," I repeated Mother's voice outloud for Ruby.

"Someone has a flower fetish," Weiss grumbled.

"Step-father must have thought he was being funny. They're… they're all like different models. Different makes. Like cars."

"What's his name?" Ruby wondered. Trying to keep me focused.

"I don't… I don't know." I picked myself up and out of their arms. I took two steps and almost fell again. I pitched and swayed on my feet. I rubbed my face. My head ached.

"How many times were you shot?" Weiss asked. "You've got a nasty cut."

"A couple. She really kept bouncing them off my skull." She had rung my bell with those bullets. Then with that knife.

"Are you going to be alright?" Ruby asked.

"If I…"

“Go to the reunion…”  

"...no…" I murmured. I cut that thought off.

"No?" Ruby asked, concerned.

"Yes?" I realized I was having a conversation with myself. "As alright as I ever am."

"That doesn't sound promising," Weiss murmured.

"They knew your old name," Ruby followed her up, speaking softly.

"Mother must have told them."

"Salem," Weiss softly corrected.

"No… yes…" I breathed. "Salem. My sisters are real. I… I don't know if I can face them. I don't think I'm strong enough. There's seven of them. And I'm just the bad batch."

"Don't think like that," Ruby whispered. "You're not alone, either."

"Let's get him inside. Put him to bed."

"No. Please. Anything but that. She gets me when I sleep," I pleaded. "I'm not strong enough. Not for this. I don't know if I can resist the urge to go to the reunion."

"What's the reunion, Cloud?" Ruby asked.

"My summoning. She calls out to me from so far away." I realized I made no sense to anyone but myself. "Don't you see? She calls to me." Distantly I realized I sounded a lot like Dyne.

"He's going mad." Weiss murmured.

"What do we do?" Ruby whispered back sounding desperate.

"What can we do?" Weiss wondered back.

"How can I save my sisters when I can't even save myself?" I laughed. "Salem has them. She has them. She'll get me too."

"Cloud, listen to us. Can you hear us?" It was Ruby's voice. I heard it so I nodded. "That is not going to happen to you," she went on. "We'll keep you from losing yourself."

"Cloud if you ever feel like you're going to lose yourself we'll be there for you. And we'll help you save your sisters, too. You need to sleep though. We'll be right there for you when you wake up," Weiss reassured.

"How can you know that?"

"Which part?" Weiss asked.

"Any of it," I shot back.

Ruby came up to me and took both my hands in hers. "Because I believe it. We're going to save you."

I choked back a sob. But I nodded. "Don't let me go to the reunion," I begged.

"We won't," Weiss promised.

"Whatever I say and do… And don't let me kill myself."

"Well we especially won't do that," Weiss went on, she smiled slightly. She reached up and touched my face. I almost couldn't look down into her ice blue eyes.

"My head just hurts," I complained as they started to walk me to my room. "It hurts like I'd talked to her again."

"Does it always cause you pain?"

"It did last time. And she made me bite my tongue off. Almost completely."

"You didn't tell us that," Ruby murmured.

"I thought I was going to die from the pain," I confessed. "My head is full of these… these memories. I don't know if they're real. What does it mean for a memory to be real anyways? How can you tell? I have so many memories of living and playing with my sisters. They can't be real though."

I remembered when my sisters braided my hair in Shion. I remembered walking in the rain alone with Kolumbine when we were both just little kids. Just flashes of spending time with the short haired Iris before school one morning. I even knew that I'd fought this boy who pulled on Lily's pigtails. It came to fists over it. Little Lily… my little Lily. I could recall Saphron and I eating my Mother's cookies in the kitchen once. My little sister, a little shortstack. Absolutely adorable with big blue eyes and shoulder length golden hair.

I was going to be sick to my stomach.

And my Mother, she'd been a beautiful blonde woman in a flowing white dress with pale wispy blue eyes like crystal.

But I couldn't recall my father's face or anything about him. That's how I knew it was fake. It was glaring and obvious but only once I knew where to look.

And my Mother… she was always wearing that same dress. White and drifting in every little breeze with golden trimmings to match her pale straw colored locks. That same dress… Burned into my mind. Roaring across my skull. It had been planted there by her. By my Mother. It was all fake. It had to be. I didn't have a childhood.

She was always wearing that same white and golden dress. Always.

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-WG

[alexlabhont]

I didn’t mean to fall in love with you

Chapter five

Book: Queen B - Choices (Universe)

Pairing:  Poppy Min-Sinclair x Trans!Male MC (Beck Hughes)

Genre: Canon re-write (Because I can)

Rating: Ehm... 13 years < , I mean, is not that hard, but just to be sure.

I´ll be posting this one over here because Tumblr, for some reason, thinks my secondary blog is a bot...

This is me trying to write by and for the Trans community, specially FTM community, meaning, trans guys, but I actually took the liberty to use They/them pronouns for everyone out there who´s interested (Also, the name Beck was the most neutral one I could find, trying to use the cannon Bea Hughes)

Now, about the PAIRING... I will be using choices style, kinda, because I want to give you choice at some point. If you have any comment, PLEASE BE RESPECTFULL and patient with me. This is also my first english fanfic and english is not my mother language, so... i’m sorry fo the grammar errors

CHAPTERS 

The beginning

Chapter one 

Chapter two

Chapter three

Chapter four

ONE-SHOTS 

Just a dance (Zoey x MC)

—————————————————————— 

“No.”

“What?”

“I'm not doing it.” Poppy laughed, trying to hide her anger towards them.

“Farmsville, come on…”

“I said no.”

The strawberry blonde closed her fist so hard she could almost feel the earpiece cracking.

“Honestly… This seems a little extreme. And I will never support any kind of hurtful pantomime.” Those icy eyes pierced right through her, a strength and courage radiating from them so powerful that Poppy would´ve been turned on if she wasn’t very pissed.

“Am I missing something? I thought you hated Chloe as much as we do.” Oh, right. There was Bradley. She almost forgot about him.

“As we do?” The irony in Beck’s voice was so palpable that she could see it slapping Bradley right in the face. “Has Chloe ever done anything to you that I´m not aware of, Hollywood?” Beck smiled tired, as to making fun of themselves. “Zoey was right; I shouldn't have come… “The simply mention of that girl´s name set on fire her blood to an unexpected level.

“That bitch…”

As Beck tried to walk away, Poppy intervened, full of rage.

“I didn’t think of you as one of those who´s afraid to actually do something!

And that´s where Beck stopped, as if something made click inside them. They turned around and for the first time in her life, someone’s look made her feel naked, completely exposed. The more Beck analyzed her, looking for something they only knew, the more vulnerable she felt. That moment lasted just a couple of seconds, no-one around them notice it but both of them.

“You’re right.” They finally said, reaching out for the earpiece which Poppy gave them doubting, giving out the other one to Bradley. For some strange reason she didn’t want them to participate anymore, but now they were necessary, it was too late. The operation had already begun, so she didn’t have other choice but linked her arm with theirs, walking into the dance floor.

“I´m counting on you tonight, Farmsville. Don’t disappoint me.” Once on the dancefloor, Poppy gave Beck a light shove and took a deep breath, trying desperately to erase any residue of the feeling they made her have. “You take the left side of the club. I´ll take the right. And remember, don’t let Chloe out of your sight.”  That was the last thing she told them before parting ways.

~~X~~

The thing is…

She hasn’t seen Chloe in all the fucking night.

What were the odds? Surely the stupid blonde should be in Beck's side, the very thought of it tasting bittersweet… deep down, she knew the real reason to involved Beck.

They were a good person.

The heaviness in her chest was there since the moment she found out Chloe was taking the hook. At first she was thrilled, smash enemies, that was her favorite thing, having plans, blackmailing, humiliating… that was kinda her thing, and she loved it at some point… but Chloe…

Gosh, she hated her. But the memories of them playing, laughing, crying, growing together… a big part of her really wanted to make her pay for her betrayal.

But the other one, the little, small other one… the other one begged to have her best friend back.

Maybe that’s why she didn’t stop Beck when she saw them warning Chloe, telling her she should not trust any word coming out Bradley’s mouth. Maybe that’s why that previous moment with Beck was so intimate yet personal… Yes, definitely they were more observant than she gave them credit for.

After making sure Chloe was far away and all the attention was on Bradley, Poppy walked towards Beck, her bitch mask on as always. She would rather be caught dead before admitting she needed their help to protect her from herself.

“It’s go time. Let’s make this bitch bleed.”

Her words claimed, but her actions were something else. Feeling stupid, like a child, Poppy wrapped Beck's arms around her, searching for comfort, but giving them her back. She could feel their chest behind her, their heat warming her body and their breath close to her hair. Without realizing, her fingers caressed their forearms tenderly, her eyes never looked away from the stage, where Chloe was dazzle by Bradley.

This was it. Her plan was marching flawlessly, even though the first words spoken by Bradley were… well, definitely he did not know how to improvise.

“You’re up, Farmsville. Feed him his first line.” Poppy felt Beck taking a deep breath and hugged her tightly but gentle. Their mouth hided behind her ear, and suddenly, she forgot about the purpose of all the things she was doing.

Because for one moment, Poppy felt as a regular girl, hearing sweet nothings from her significant other.

“She’s got an amazing sense of style… Seriously, she dresses like a runway model. Whatever she walks into a room, everyone turns their head.”

Her heart was beating fast, a strange warm in her chest was growing, and their lips moving closer made her snuggle even more against them, being reciprocate immediately by Beck, holding her still.

“Whenever I’m around this girl, I feel like the king of the world. Not only is she so hot, she’s also compassionate… She shines this amazing light on everyone and everything around her. People who are lucky enough to be her friend can always count on her support.”

Poppy felt the playfully smile on Beck’s mouth, that idiot, even in times like this still managed to crack some joke around.

“You’re a moron.” She whispered.

“Think you could do it better? Be my guest.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

“This might sound like a stupid question, but… do you know who I'm talking about, Chloe?”

And, as simple and quick as that, it all went down to reality. Beck broke the hug apart, walking away to the bar so quickly it actually made Poppy shivering from the sudden cold, feeling unprotected, like something was missing… someone was missing.

“Of course I do” she heard Chloe said. A weird mix between excitement and fear taking over her, while looking perfectly neutral from outside. “It’s Poppy, isn’t it? You’re talking about Poppy Min-Sinclair.”

Poppy's honey eyes went straight to Beck, who was pretending to do a toast, alone, in her behalf. She didn’t even pay attention to what was on stage. Beck admitted to her having sabotage her revenge.

And she couldn’t be more relieved about it.

She also reached for the bar, standing up next to them, neither of them looking at each other.

“Poppy, you have to understa…”

“I can’t say I'm not disappointed, but at least we got Chloe to look a little stupid up there.” Poppy interrupted them. Beck looked surprised for a second, nailing their gaze into their drink after that. “… By the way, the lines you fed Bradley were pure, vicious gold.”

“I got inspired, that’s all.” They murmured, almost ashamed.

Poppy didn’t had time to respond, because The T notification buzzed in her phone: Beck was now top nine, and, of course, herself was back on top one.

“Oh, it worked all right. I’m right back on top, where I belong.”

She couldn’t help but smile to them, a real, happy smile. She got her crown back, and the damages weren’t so bad after all. And it was thanks to Beck, they were a completely live saver. No wonder why Zoey was so eager to protect them…

Speaking of her… if she was as serious as she claims to be towards Beck, and since The T spies were already here… maybe it was time to make a really good move to prove her who's better. And she knew exactly how.

“You did your part. Now, let’s dance.”

Decided, Poppy grabbed their hand, trying to lead them out on the dance floor, but she didn’t get much. Beck was rock still, looking uncomfortable… Like with all of those girls.

“No, I… I don’t dance, Pops.” Are they really rejecting her? To her? No, she was not another stupid whatever girl, she was, again, the Queen. Nobody says no to her.

“Don’t be ridiculous, of course you do!” she said. “I’ve seen you dancing around with Wade. Don’t you try to deny it.”

“That’s different.” They defended themselves, making Poppy raise an eyebrow, challenged, before changing it to a flirty grin.

“Well… maybe I want to be different to you, too.” There it was, that precious lamb’s look she wanted so badly to see. “Just this one, tushi-face…”

Beck started walking almost right away. There it was, their soft spot for her Beck didn’t wanted to acknowledge, but it was already within them.

Not letting go their hand for a second, Poppy and Beck reached the dance floor right away to start to move to the beat in time, Beck trying… really trying to do the same.

Seriously, this dude was bad at this.

Was Zoey the answer?

No, they’re nervous, she could feel the tension in all their body. But why?

“What are you so nervous about?” She asked, feeling a little insulted.

“Paranoia.” They said.

“To what?” Beck only managed to shrug, something in their eyes was off, remembering something from… the past? Beck was afraid? Hell, what did Farmsville do to them? Poppy threw up her arms around their neck, leaning closer, trying to make him forget. “Don’t repeat this to anyone, Tushi-face, but… I needed you tonight.”

“Sounds to me like… You want me, too.” They joked, Poppy could feel the tension disappearing, nothing really to do with the conversation, but with the small petting she was doing to the hair close to Beck’s nape. “Be honest. Was this whole plan an elaborate ruse to get me on the dance floor?” Poppy smirked.

“Don’t be ridiculous, this was all about sabotaging Chloe.” She said, laughing. “Of having wanted it from the start I’d already have you.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I want you now, and I’m having you.” Beck expression was a poem, the surprise written all over them for a moment, processing the information.

“What are you saying, Poppy?”

“I’m a woman used to get only the best, Hughes. And once I put my eyes onto something… or someone I want, I’ll do anything to make them mine…” The sexual tension was in the air so thick it made everyone around just disappear, the sparks between they both, the way they looked at each other… full of hunger, of need… She wanted Beck, and they wanted Poppy just the same. She could feel it so clear in the way they were touching her back, delicate, yet strong, longing, like begging to the devil to stop, but not wanting to. Please, just end my misery… those eyes claimed, but their body, moving along with hers was screaming to continue, and Poppy got drunk on it, needing more… a lot more.

“Baby, you got lucky cause you're rocking with the best… And I'm greedy… so greedy” She sang whispering, stroking her nose against theirs, playfully, softly, their lips oh so close to hers she could somehow feel them tremble, the sensations intoxicating them both so badly. “I ain't talking money, I'm just physically obsessed… And I'm greedy…”

“Poppy…” They moaned and the strawberry girl couldn’t take it anymore, desperately claiming Beck’s lips with her own.

Her heart exploded.

Beck’s mouth was warm, soft, addictive. As the kiss continued, the need became more and more insufferable, she wanted all and everything. She wanted to feel these heady fireworks on each part of her skin, that tongue taking care of the flames in her body, their hot lips heating her as fire, their breath became poison and the cure at the same time, she stuck her body even closer, trying to feel theirs desperately… Never, anyone, had made her feel so much with just a kiss…

A kiss that suddenly went to a rude ending.

Beck broke apart the touch so promptly that it actually hurt inside her.

“No, I… I just can’t. I gotta go.” Beck was trembling, that was the last thing she managed to understand before being completely alone.

-----

Next

[cheeriecherry]

The Dogma Of Childhood Friends [2/4]

Shinsou Hitoshi x Reader

Warnings: fluff

Part 2/4

It’s been months since you and Hitoshi last spoke. In the beginning, you’d chalked it up to him being disappointed about the hero course, and not knowing how to react. You’d seen him in the hallways at school, and tried to talk to him.

You know, to extend the metaphorical olive branch.

But every time you were left hanging, with him pushing past you, turning away, or just flat out ignoring you.

It crossed your mind that he might be jealous, but you discarded the thought as quickly as it came. Hitoshi wasn’t that kind of person, and even if he was, it wasn’t enough to warrant his actions.

And, somehow, said actions only worsened when the students moved into the dorms. Any time you’d see your best friend -in the hallways, on campus- he’d turn on his heel and start walking in another direction. Despite him being your oldest friend, he was making it very easy to be annoyed with him.

It was to the point where even your classmates started noticing.

“So,” Mina began one morning, sidling up to your desk, “what’s with you and the purple haired guy?”

“Huh?” Maybe if you played dumb, she’d leave it alone.

Uraraka turned around in her seat and regarded you with a smile. “I think she means Shinsou,” she clarified, “and I’ve been wondering the same thing! He avoids you like the plague. Were you guys rivals in middle school, or something?”

You fidget with one of your pencils. You supposed it wasn’t really a secret, what had happened. You weren’t ashamed or scared to tell anyone. They’d just...never asked? Maybe.

“Well…” and yet saying it out loud was still difficult.

“We’ve...actually been best friends since we were little. Our classmates used to pick on him because of his quirk, y’know? I stood up for him, the day we met, and it turned out that we had a lot in common. The rest is history.”

Mina cooed softly beside you, her eyes alight with mischief. “That’s adorable!”

“But it doesn’t explain why he ignores you,” Uraraka pointed out.

You sighed.

“Fine, fine. We applied to Yuuei together, hoping to get into the hero course. When he found out I was in 1A, and he was in the general studies department...he kinda just...stopped talking to me.”

Your two friends stare at you, the beginnings of anger blossoming on their faces.

“I still send him texts from time to time,to let him know what’s going on, but he never replies. Always leaves me on read.” You had hoped to placate the situation, but your words only seemed to make it worse.

Mina stands up tall, and crosses her arms. “You still consider him your best friend?! Why?”

You shrug. “Of course. Whatever he’s going through, whatever he’s feeling, I’m not giving up on him so easily. He’sprobably got it in his stupid purple head that he’s not good enough for me, or something. I won’t let our friendship die just because he’s being a dumbass about it.”

Uraraka looks sad beside you. “That doesn’t make it okay for him to treat you the way he is.”

“I know,” you say, “and I won’t pretend it doesn’t, like, hurt or anything, but friendships can be complicated. Especially when negative feelings come into play…”

Mina looks like she has a whole lot to say, but is cut off by Mr. Aizawa sauntering into the classroom, so she takes her seat instead.

Halfway through the lesson, Uraraka passes a note back to you;

‘If you still care about him, make a gesture that will mean a lot to him. Maybe he feels bad for what he’s done, and doesn’t know how to apologize.’

A grand gesture, huh?

You think on it for the rest of class. You’ll have to consult Mina on it later.

----

‘Later’ turned out to never come.

After classes had finished for the day, you’d rushed back to the dorms to prepare the idea you’d had during English. It was a little corny, but you’d decided that a small gift and an uplifting note would be perfect for Hitoshi. It was unassuming and personal, but more than a few simple texts.

You doubted he’d accept it from you directly, though, even if you could manage to hunt him down. No, instead you waited until most of the other students had gone to bed, and then sneaked out to drop the parcel on the 1C dorms doorstep. Addressed to ‘Shinsou’, of course.

It wasn’t until the next morning that you realized your mistake.

“Y/N, did you hear?!” Mina practically dove on you the moment you entered the classroom. “That Shinsou guy has a secret admirer! Someone left a present for him in the dead of night, and one of his classmates found it this morning!”

You felt like your stomach had been filled with rocks.

“Mina…” you groaned, “that was me!”

“You have a crush on him?!”

“No!” you retaliated, voice squeakier than you would have liked it to be. No, there was no way you had a crush on him. Not a chance.

Unless.

No. No way.

You realize Mina is staring at you curiously, so you make haste and explain the genius plan you’d had last night. The peace offering gift, the uplifting note, the midnight drop off.

“I guess I forgot to sign my name on the note…”

Uraraka pats your shoulder sympathetically. “Hey, maybe it’s better this way. Shinsou might be more likely to accept your gifts if he doesn’t know they’re from you.”

You hide your face in your arms, sinking deeper into your seat. “That completely defeats the point, though. He’s supposed to know they’re from me. What if…”

...what if he thinks they’re from someone else? What if he wants them to be from someone else?

You couldn’t place why the thought left such a sour taste in your mouth. The thought of him wanting someone else, someone besides you…

“Oh my god!” you groaned, gripping at your hair and tugging. “Mina, you’re right! I like him! As more than a friend!”

Both girls attempt to soothe you, trying their best to calm your overwhelmed nerves.

There was no way you could do this.You had to keep giving him gifts, had to keep showing you cared! But now, the thought of him finding out you were behind everything? You could practically see the look of utter disappointment on his face, having expected the trinkets and letters to have been from a pretty classmate, instead.

Not you. Never you.

“Everyone, take your seats, and open your textbooks to page thirty.”

You glance up just in time to see Mr. Aizawa bumble into the room, and begrudgingly do as you’re told.

----

You decide to actually consult your friends that evening, instead of going ham with a plan you thought was good. You were bent on making sure you didn’t make any more dumb mistakes with the next gift to Hitoshi.

“I gave him licorice snaps shaped like cats yesterday, so I was thinking tonight I might go with something cute? I found a cat figurine dressed as All Might the other day, so I had to buy it. He might get a laugh out of it.”

On the floor beside you, Momo smooths the pleats in her skirt. “I think that’s a sweet idea. It’s small and simple, but I bet he’ll smile when he sees it.”

“You should do it,Y/N!”

“Yeah!”

You nod as the girls around you cheer you on. “Alright! I’ll do it! And this time, I’ll make sure to leave the note anonymous on purpose!”

The four of you giggle a bit.

It takes about twenty minutes to find the necessary wrappings for the gift, and another ten for you to decide what to write in the note.

“I don’t really want to be over the top,” you say, “he’s not on for dramatics, but he likes honesty.”

Mina reads over the several discarded notes on the floor, wincing at how choppy and blocky they were. “Why don’t you go with something personal that he’s done for you, or something about how he makes you feel?”

You chew on the end of your pen. “That could work. How about this: You’ve inspired me every day to work hard in achieving my goals. I know that one day, you and I will be great heroes!”

The pink haired girl quickly snatches the note out of your hand, folding the paper into a heart and depositing it in the gift box. “It’s perfect,” she assures, “raw and to the point, as a love note should be.”

You feel your face heat up at that, but say nothing to disregard her.

“All right, I’m going to go drop this off, but if anyone asks, I’m just getting some air.”

----

Over the next week, you continue to drop off little presents in front of Hitoshi’s dorm. Every night, it was harder and harder to get the parcel into place, the students of 1C staking out the doorway until the wee hours of the morning.

It was when you almost got caught that you realized you couldn’t keep this up. Which eventually found you at your desk on friday evening, writing your final letter.

‘Thank you for being a good sport about all this, it’s been fun to show you even a fraction of my appreciation for you. But I’m not ready to tell you who I am yet, and it’s been difficult to sneak around (though I guess it was good practice for stealth missions, huh?). Even though my gifts will stop, know that there is someone out there who loves you as you are, and admires so many things about you. By the way, congrats on officially getting into the hero course next year!’

You carefully fold the piece of paper and slide it into an envelope. Hopefully it’ll be easier to stash away than a whole gift would. You at least hoped it didn’t get overlooked.

----

The following Monday, you wake up late. Having worried all weekend about whether or not your letter was received, you’d not slept particularly well. 

Thankfully, you arrived to class before the final bell, but you were certainly frazzled by the time you stepped into the classroom.

Immediately, all eyes were on you.

“What?” you ask, “I’m not late, so don’t scold me.”

A couple of the girls break out in giggles. “That’s not it at all!”

“I guess Shinsou’s secret admirer gave other people ideas!”

“Y/N has a secret admirer now too!”

You felt your face heat up, pure disbelief bubbling up in your chest.

“What?!” you exclaim, louder than intended. You all but run to your desk, almost tripping over Uraraka’s bag. Sure enough, there, on the small tabletop, is a small box with your name on it, wrapped in a pastel version of your favourite colour.

[rome5683]

My Secret Mate - Chapter One

-this is an original piece, not a work of fanfiction-

I sighed to myself, slightly dreading what today would bring as I sat up in bed. I started getting ready, thinking of what would happen by the end of my birthday. The thought of having someone to love wasn't troubling, but not being able to choose who they were was. I didn't mind about gender, but their personality. What if they liked country, or if they hated reggaeton? What if they were human?

Human mates weren't exactly rare, but also not very common at all. It was just harder to explain, harder to connect with certain things, though many others with human mates in my pack made it look easy. It must be horrible, maybe. Would it really matter? As soon as I found my mate, I'd be like a hormonal and love-driven twelve year old all over again. It wasn't always something to look forward to, but when I would look at the pairs in my pack, I longed for that understanding and love.

I stepped out of the steaming shower, drying myself off with a towel before applying some lotion. Hygiene was important, after all. I put my boxers on, then flossed and brushed my teeth as hard as I could. Anything could happen today.

Mouth wash, cologne, a black crew neck and ripped black jeans later, I was almost ready for today. I slipped on some black doc martens, before glancing myself at the mirror and undecided about what to do with my hair. It was a black and curly mess, but I simply ruffled it and shrugged it off.

I walked downstairs, slightly confused when I saw my mom and dad bickering over something in whisper. I was used to tuning people out to be polite, and it was rude to eavesdrop even though we couldn't help hearing what everybody was up to most of the time. Instead of trying to listen in, I speculated it was about the party I planned for tonight, they promised to stay away for the night after opening up the party with ground rules and cutting the birthday cake. I had passed out fliers last week, so a lot of people from the pack and my high school were going. I was excited, the big eighteen was here, but I was still dreading finding my mate. What if they were cruel? What if they rejected me first? They were too many factors that had me buzzing with nervousness.

Mom gave me a stern look as I sat down in front of a plate of pancakes, "Xavi," her small accent barely showed on the usual, but when she said my name like that, it was prominent. The usual spelling of my popular name was with a 'J', but my mom decided to be original and put an 'X' instead. Most kids pronounced it wrong which I didn't mind, but if my mom heard them pronounce it differently, she would lose her shit. "I know it's your birthday, but you still need to eat your oats and your vegetables." She placed a bowl of oatmeal and a different bowl of carrots in front of me.

I groaned, "Can't you just give me bacon like dad?"

My dad smirked, biting into the strip of his bacon with a satisfied moan. I rolled my eyes and my mom shrugged, "Or we could cancel the party. It's up to you."

I scowled, biting the carrot with emphasized distaste. It was funny at times, how my petite mom could control us so easily with a simple look or statement, but she was no joke. She was the scariest, most loving mother around. The fact I was having this party was a miracle, but I guess she was feeling extra loving when she had said yes. Or maybe she thought it'd be better to find my mate with everybody from school there.

"So, you excited for today?"

I raised an eyebrow, "Yeah. I mean, it's gonna be the biggest party ever. And right at the beginning of October, it's gonna be sick."

My dad scoffed, "You know that's not what she meant."

My mom sucked in her teeth, scolding me. "Are you seriously not looking forward to meeting your mate?"

I shrugged, "I don't know. I mean, I don't wanna be someone I'm not just because I met them. Do I even have a choice in loving them? If I reject them, pain. If they reject me, pain. What's the point? Why is this even a thing?"

My dad sighed, "I know what you mean. Your mom and I had a very complicated start, but it worked out. It can suck, feeling like you don't have a choice at times. But the moon goddess knew what she was doing, and we're really good together."

"But it's like they have control over you!" I felt the frustration engulf me, making me dread the moment I'd meet them. "Everything they do is gonna affect me, and it just isn't fair."

My mom placed a hand on my shoulder as I continued to eat, and my parents were silent as I stood up to put my dishes in the sink. The whole tension dissipated as my two siblings walked into the room, and my parents perked up. Monsè entered the room with a yawn, all dressed up for school in a baggy sweater and skinny jeans. She was fifteen, and usually rode with me to school. My brother, Lance, was just sixteen, a year and a couple months older than Monsè, and liked to ride with his friend Keith.

"Good morning!" My mom chirped as she placed their plates on the table, asking if they were going to attend the party and that if they screwed up anything, to make sure to let her know because she hated secrets.

I motioned to my sister to hurry up as I got my backpack by the door, and got the keys from a little dish next to the couch. I leaned against the arm of the sofa, taking out my phone and texting Lindsay to wait for me to pick her up before she went to school. She was my best friend, and was practically my sandbox buddy since we were four. I usually went to her before anyone else, she had a good level-head on her shoulders, and was better for asking advice than most of my other male friends. I also made sure to text Trent, my other good friend and his sister, Bella, my occasional hook-up (make-out session) when I was lonely, to meet up at our usual cafe. They were all werewolves, so it was easy to confide and trust in them. A tap on the shoulder made me turn, and I ruffled my sister's hair. "Let's get going, gremlin."

She whispered with a scowl, "Yeah, okay bitch."

"MONSE! YOU BETTER PRAY YOU GET IN THE CAR BEFORE I GET TO YOU!"

Her eyes widened before she sprinted out the door, and I chuckled as I followed her into the car. My car was a truck, so it was a little difficult for Monsè to climb in the passenger side, but she managed. I connected my phone to the aux cord and put my playlist on. My sister rolled her eyes as 'Take Me Out' by Franz Ferdinand played, though I could see her tapping her feet to the beat which made me smirk.

Lindsay jumped in the backseat with ease, "Hey, boomer. Hey, Monsè."

"Hey, Lindsay!" Monsè chirped energetically and turned around, smiling with a blush spreading over her cheeks.

I laughed, "Where's my gift?"

"Oh." She pretended to pull something out of her backpack, then pulled out her middle finger with a Cheshire grin. "Almost forgot."

Monsè laughed, holding the back of her hand against her mouth.

"Oh, thanks. Was missing that in my life, actually." I looked in the rear view mirror, noticing she didn't have her seatbelt. I kept driving down the street towards the cafe, it was an hour before school, around six pm, which was why the street wasn't that full and I felt confident to be able to pull a prank on her.

"Brake check!" I suddenly braked as I pulled into the lot, having Lindsay hit her head on the passenger seat with a loud screech. Monsè gasped, her seatbelt scratching against her neck as she was pulled forward.

"Agh! Son of a bitch-"

"Xavi! What the hell?" Monsè gave me a dirty look.

"I'm so sorry, guys. You okay?" I made my voice sound sickening sweet, and high pitched in order to sound as fake as possible. Monsè snickered lowly, not wanting to be so upfront about laughing at Lindsay. Lindsay was somewhat of a role model for her, and they talked all the time. I low-key suspected Monsè had a crush on her, which was cute but slightly sad since Lindsay was way too old for her. But, who knows?

We pulled up to our usual cafe at the corner of Maple and Lunescape. I parked in front, all of us talking about what we'll order when we get inside as we got off the car.

Lindsay huffed, "See, I haven't tried the pecan pie shake, but I also haven't tried the Pumpkin Maple Syrup Mocha, which I hear a lot of good things about.

I hummed in thought, "Well, it depends who you're hearing this from. They could be trying to sabotage you."

Monsè scoffed, "And why would they do that, Xavi?"

I shrugged, "Hey, you never know. Plus, pecan is a legit flavor and it can never really do you wrong."

Lindsay sighed, "Yeah, but I get pecan like every other day. I've never tried the pumpkin one... Oh, the tough choices in life. They plague me."

Monsè chuckled, "However will you survive?"

I shook my head as I held the door to the cafe open for them, "You're too indecisive. Just go for it if it's bothering you that badly. If anything, I'll drink it if you don't like the pumpkin."

Lindsay gasped, "Oh my god, yes!"

She raced to the counter along with Monsè as I saw Trent and Bella wave me over to their booth. I approached them with a grin, giving Trent a high five and a fist bump, while nodding my head towards Bella in acknowledgement.

"Trent. Bells. How's everything?" I sat across from them, scooting towards the window.

Trent shrugged, "Nothing new. How about you, birthday boy? Excited to find your mate?"

Bells smiled, "Happy birthday, by the way."

"Thanks." I glanced over to Lindsay and Monsè to see them walking over with our drinks and pastries, "About the mate thing, it's whatever. Whether it happens or not, I'm fine."

Trent scoffed, "You're so weird, sometimesc. Everyone else in the pack looks forward to this their whole lives." He took an angry bite of his chocolate muffin, then swallowed before continuing. "I mean, even humans write stories about this kinda shit!"

Lindsay giggled as she squeezed into the booth on my side with Monsè, "Talking about mates again?"

I glanced at Bella, noticing she was intentionally staying silent. She looked up at me and blushed suddenly when our eyes met. I looked away, sighing exasperatedly. "Dude, I just don't think it's cool how we're forced to love someone. We have no choice but to be attracted to them."

Monsè groaned, "Because they're perfect for you!"

"Well, it's not really love at first sight. It's more like you subtly like them, and as you get to know them, you start to fall in love. Like normal people. Just think of it as a suggestion that they might be good for you." Bella smiles encouragingly, placing a hand on mine. "I'm sure your mate will be lovely."

I hastily pulled away, annoyed with the conversation. Seeing the slight expression of hurt on her face from the corner of my eye made me feel guilty, but I ignored the feeling. "I'm just gonna flat-out reject them, I honestly don't care."

Trent winced, "Isn't that supposed to be super painful?"

"He's always been a masochist." Lindsay rolled her eyes, sipping her Pumpkin Maple Syrup Mocha with glee.

Bella murmured under her breath, "Not really."

Everyone suddenly groaned, and I gave a small and playful glare to Bella.

Monsè faked a gag, "I just started my life. Please don't make me commit the 'not-alive' so soon."

Trent made a low growl, pulling his head back and closing his eyes as he faced the ceiling in an overdramatic manner. "Please tell me you guys aren't fooling around anymore. I do not wanna picture that."

Silence. He glared pointedly at me, "Are you?”

I stayed quiet, simply eating my strawberry and cheese croissant as I also avoided eye contact.

Trent cursed, "Fuck, man! Dude, she's my twin! How could you make out with someone that looks like me?"

I gave him a deadpanned stare as I sipped my boysenberry pie shake. The only sound was the slurping from my straw, and Trent narrowed his eyes at my both nonchalant and smug face. Bella looked at him confused, "We're fraternal, not identical."

He scowled, "Identical or not, this stops today. One, you guys are gonna have mates who you might not reject. Two, she's my sister. It's not cool, man. Three, do you not remember why you guys stopped fooling around in the first place?"

Bella's glared at her brother, "That was before."

Trent gave her a deadpanned stare this time, "Sure it was."

I shook my head, hating the awkward atmosphere that suddenly entered the booth. Last year, Bella had caught feelings during our arrangement, which caused a lot of confusion for me, and hurt for her. I ended it promptly after a huge scolding from her brother about playing around with her. He was the future beta of our pack, so I had to listen. But then she said she was over it now, so of course I believed her, since she was also a beta and somewhat had to believe her. But I wasn't that sure now.

I broke the awkward silence, "It's not like I'm sleeping with her, Trent. And even if I wanted to, I'm gonna reject my mate today. Maybe then I could choose who I wanna be with, whether it be physically or for life."

He took another angry bite, speaking with his mouth full, "Anf shwat if she doeshnt reshect hersh?"

I shrugged, "Thats up to her. Either way, I'd be free to do what I want."

Bella smiled to herself, and I cursed internally. I didn't want to hurt her, and I almost wanted to call it quits right then and there, but not for the reason you think, not for my 'mate'. Even though I could be physically 'lonely', it didn't mean I wanted to be forced to be with someone, whether it be Bella or my mate. The worst part was, there was no guarantee that I could reject my mate. Though I was determined to, there's no way to be able to predict what I'll think or act when I meet them. Though, the same thing could happen with Bella, so in reality, we were both in the same boat. Except I didn't have feelings for her in that way, I didn't have a desire to be in a relationship with her. She is physically appealing, but that was it. Sometimes I thought there was something wrong with me, she was kind and smart. Who wouldn't fall in love with her?

Me.

Lindsay changed the subject with ease, "So who's ready for that statistics test today?"

Trent groaned, "Is that today?"

Monsè went on her phone, not entirely interested or knowledgeable about what we were talking about since she was two grades lower than us. Bella shrugged, "I take AP calculus, so can't relate.

I smirked, "I studied, hard."

Lindsay raised an eyebrow, "That's a first."

I shrugged, "I wanna change my fate. I'm changing my life, one step at a time." Trent snickered as he heard my claims, "First, better than average grades. Second, no mate."

Monsè laughed, "Good luck with that one."

I scowled, "Mark my words. By the end of today, my mate is going to be rejected."

Monsè gave a cynical smile and a thumbs up, "Yeah, you're cool." Her smile dropped into a stoic face, "Can we go to school now before we're late? We've been here for forty minutes-"

I nodded, grabbing my keys and shooing them, Lindsay and Monsè, off my side of the booth. Trent and Bella stood up, walking with us outside.

"How about we make a bet Lindsay?"

She huffed, "You really think you'll win?"

I raised my eyebrows up and down with a grin, "Whoever gets a higher grade on the statistics test wins. Whoever loses has to drink five shots of tequila tonight."

Lindsay smirked, "You're on, bitch."

"Hell yeah." Trent patted me on the shoulder, "I'll join you guys in that."

I shook my head, knowing there was barely a chance for him to win. Not that he was an idiot or anything, but he didn't really try a lot in school. He rarely studied, but he always managed to get a passing grade. A higher score than Lindsay or me, though? Not really. "You know you only wanna take shots."

He shrugged, "Maybe. Or maybe I just wanna beat your ass."

I sighed, "Never gonna happen."

Trent chuckled, "What if I used my awesome beta powers to force you to lose?"

I scoffed, "They're barely worth anything. I'd just tell Ryder you're abusing your power."

Ryder was our pack's, which was named Blood Moon after his great-grandfather's threatening intimidating ways, future alpha. He was cool, and we hung out with him every other day, but right now he was out of town with his parents for a little family bonding. Since he was going to find his mate soon, his parents wanted to spend some more time with him. That's what they told the pack, at least, but Trent had told me that there might have been more to it, like how the humans were suspicious of something. I didn't pay too much mind, Trent was known to have conspiracy theories from time to time.

"He'd just join me!" Trent laughed.

I grinned as I unlocked the car for Lindsay and Monsè, "Fuck yeah, he would. But at least then it'd be a fair fight."

Trent flipped me off as he unlocked his car too, opening the door for his sister. "Race you to school?"

I shrugged as I sat down and closed the door, starting the car. I rolled the window down with a nonchalant expression, "For twenty?"

"I'm feeling charitable. Make it forty."

I smirked, "On your mark."

His face went into panic as he raced to his side, "I'm not even in the car yet-"

I raised a brow, "Get set."

He jumped into the driver's side, slamming the door.

"Go!" His engine roared to life as I reversed out of the lot, swerving to go forward towards the school. I wasn't confident I'd win, his car was faster than mine, which was why I cheated and took a small head start. He had a black sports car, I didn't really know what kind and I didn't care. My truck could be fast if I pushed the limit, which was okay since there wasn't a lot of people on the road. Save for some here and there.

Trent passed me with ease, smirking my way. I huffed, pressing the gas harder.

Lindsay held onto the dash board, "Damn, you really wanna win, huh?"

Monsè chuckled, "It's nice to see how testosterone can be fun."

I clenched my jaw, focused on the cars ahead of us. I didn't wanna break any laws besides maybe the speed limit, so I changed lanes to the right. It was a small detour, but with the red light, I could turn into another street and possibly beat him.

I laughed as I turned into another street, him stuck on the same one. I turned left, waiting for the green light, then left again. I sped more seeing the school just ahead, skidded just ahead of Trent's car, and into the lot with ease.

I parked right by the entrance, turning off the engine as I hopped out of the car. I saw Trent's car pull into the space next to me right after I pulled into mine, and I grinned smugly as I leaned against my car. He sighed, closing his car door and sauntered over with hurt pride.

"Listen..."

I held back a laugh, biting my lip. "I'm all ears."

"You're an asshole. And you cheated so..."

I held my hands up, "You never spoke about any rules, so..."

"Well-"

"Yeah?"

"I don't have forty on me right now-"

"What do you have, Trent?" I furrowed my brows, and squared my shoulders. I was putting on a front, of course. I held my hand out expectantly.

Lindsay placed her arm on my left shoulder as she cocked her head, "Yeah, Trent. What do you have?"

Monsè and Bella walked over, grinning at the spectacle. Trent wasn't always one to lose in our races, so it was a rare sight to see, which was why I was being so smug.

He rolled his eyes and sighed, pulling a twenty and a ten out of his wallet. He slapped them into my hand, "Fuck you."

I smiled, "Maybe when I reject my mate."

Trent playfully punched my shoulder, "Don't threaten me with a good time."

Lindsay shook her head, "You guys are something else."

Bella patted my shoulder, "So, you guys are a cute couple."

"Hey. Are you making fun of us?" We walked through the door and into the first hallway, and the faintest smell of something amazing filled my nose. I couldn't tell what it was, but something in me just had to find out.

"Maybe." She held her hands behind her back with a sly smile, "So wanna meet up during study hall?"

My wolf stirred, his gruff voice echoing in my mind. Mate. I froze, my heart skipping a beat. I could sense it. They were here.

"Hey, man. You good?" Trent's voice faded into the background.

I don't know what it was that made me ignore her and lightly jog down the hall. When I turned into another hallway, the smell got stronger, and I jogged a little faster. I could detect apple cinnamon, but not the strong kind, the kind you eat in oatmeal, and maybe some... I couldn't pinpoint the other smell. I walked into another hallway, I wasn't even focused on where I was at this point, and came up to a row of lockers. One locker was open, and I knew the smell was coming from there... from them.

The locker closed. My breath hitched, and I saw the most beautiful male I've ever seen in my life. I could hear my inner wolf howl at the sight of him. His hair was chocolate brown, and a straight, disheveled mess. He had a slight fade on the side of his hair, and his eyes were a solid dark green. His complexion was slightly pale but very clear, with prominent cheekbones, and with the slightest plump to his lips. His jaw was pretty clean, not super sharp to stand out, but enough to be defined. He wasn't much shorter than me, maybe by an inch, and his stature was slightly less muscular than mine. He was wearing a blue long sleeved v-neck, blue skinny jeans, and some vans. He looked to me, startled to see me blatantly staring at him, and I blinked in realization. Oh god. Oh no, fuck no. He's human. I can't just reject him without being a weirdo now. Why? I didn't expect my mate to be so... fucking ravishing. That's not the point. Jesus help me.

"Hey! Um, you must be wondering what I'm doing here... staring at you."

He let out a melodic laugh during the awkward tension, "A little bit, yeah."

"Well, I was gonna, um," I came to a blank, speaking without really thinking, "I was wondering if you heard about this party I'm having tonight."

His eyebrows raised a little, "I think I've heard about it, yeah."

"Oh, cool." I leaned against the lockers, biting my lip without really wanting to. I was flirting without even meaning to, "So, you going?"

"Maybe." He shrugged, "I'm not really sure."

I chuckled, "You see, it's my birthday. So you kind of have to go."

He laughed, "Is that so? Happy birthday, then."

"Thanks. Yeah, it'd be kind of a dick move not to go." I liked the playful banter, I felt my heart beat faster, and a warm feeling spread throughout my body.

"What if I want to be a dick?" That made me laugh, maybe a little harder than I should.

"Well... damn. That sucks. I was hoping I'd get to know you." His expression changed from playful to astonished, and maybe a slight blush forming on his face. Maybe. "No. Wait. That came out wrong. I mean, it's my senior year, and I wanna... meet new people. Broaden my horizons..."

"Oh. Yeah, no. I get it." He leaned his shoulder against the locker, tapping his finger against his backpack strap in thought. "Um, I'll think about it."

"Yeah." I walked a little backwards, "You better, because it's my birthday, so..."

He nodded, a smirk lining his face as he turned away. Jesus, even his backside was attractive. I felt a part of me curse, and a part of me felt so elated right now. I wanted to go punch something, to run and jump, I couldn't decide.

The warning bell for first period rang, and I tensed. Statistics was next. I'd have to answer why I ran off, though I suspected they knew the answer why.

I walked in just in time, sitting next to my usual seat next to Lindsay, Trent, and some girl whose name I could hardly remember. She was friendly, I guess.

I looked around, wondering if he was in my class. Was he in any of my other classes? The fact I'd never noticed him before should be illegal. A snap in my face got my attention, and I looked to Lindsay in confusion.

"What's up?" She frowned at me, practically glaring.

"What's up? What do you mean, 'what's up'?" She scoffed, her auburn hair swaying to the side as she looked to Trent as if to make sure she wasn't tripping out. She raised her pierced eyebrow at me, "What was earlier all about?"

I sighed, knowing I couldn't exactly lie to her. I debated on staying quiet, but knew she'd just bother me until I fessed up. "I met them."

She gasped excitedly, "You're kidding!"

"Miss Pierce! Is there something you'd like to share as I do roll-call?" Mr. Damocles was a burly man, frowning as he pushed up his glasses. Trent snickered.

Lindsay sighed, "Sorry, Mr. Damocles."

He continued to do roll-call, and she spoke in a whisper. "So, tell me what happened."

"Tell us." Trent corrected her.

I shook my head, mostly disappointed in my lack of resolve when it came to wanting to reject my mate. "I don't know his name..."

Lindsay's eyes widened, "It's a guy. Oh my god, yes. Was he cute?"

I failed to hide my smile, "Yeah. He had these eyes..." Thinking about them made my stomach do flips, "And his lips. Jesus, I couldn't believe I never noticed him before."

Trent scoffed, a smirk tugging at his lips. "You are so whipped. What happened? Did you... you know?"

I looked down, not really knowing if I planned to anymore. If I even wanted to anymore.

"Xavier Ramon."

I raised my hand, signaling my presence. Mr. Damocles continued roll-call, and Lindsay groaned impatiently.

"Well? What happened?"

I scratched the back of my neck, "I, uh..." I closed my eyes, slightly embarrassed as I replayed the scene in my head. "I asked him to the party tonight."

I heard a small chuckle, and I frowned at both Lindsay and Trent. "What?"

She looked to Trent with a grin, "I give it a month before he marks him."

"I give it three." He shrugged, "It takes time to build up a relationship like that."

"It doesn't have to happen during sex, Trent. It can be during a make out session or something."

I scoffed, "Nobody said I was going to accept him right off the bat-"

"But you're not rejecting him either." Trent smugly grabbed paper from the girl passing them out, and passed them to us as well. "So three months it is. Denial is a huge factor."

"I change mine to a month and a half."

I rolled my eyes, "Well, they're human, so it's a little more difficult. Plus, I just wanna know who I'm rejecting before I... reject them."

They both laughed, and I cursed under my breath. This whole mate situation was going to be a bitch.

——

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