#putting leon in heels was already hard enough for me

[chilei-the-hotsauce]

time for the hardest part: the dress

[lipglossanon]

Guess Who?

Puppy!Leon S. Kennedy x fem!reader (Valentine’s One Shot)

Warnings: 18+ MDNI, hybrid au, Leon POV, soft boy Leon 🥺, slight dirty talk, kissing, unprotected sex, creampie, knotting, slight breeding kink

Barely looked over ✌️ lol

title from Guess Who? by BB King

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!! 💜 this is me dropping a card in your decorated box to say I think you’re cute 😘

He notices all the sweet smelling candies and flowers on your last trip to the grocery store, but it didn’t really click that it was for the holiday coming up until your friend dropped off a silly card. 

Resting his head over your shoulder, he reads whatever made you laugh hard enough to draw his attention. You hum and reach back to scratch him behind the ears.

“What’s that?” He asks, pressing against you more firmly as his tail wags. 

“Ah, just a silly Valentine from Claire. She’ll be out with Rebecca and Jill later and stopped by to invite me along,” you move your hand to tuck the cardstock back into its envelope. 

“Oh,” he steps away, tail pausing mid-wag as he realizes he didn’t even get you anything and you’re going out!?

Turning, you give him an easy smile, “Don’t worry, I told her I already had plans. We’re going to watch movies tonight, right?”

He grins and wraps you up in a hug, “Uh huh. And you promised popcorn.”

Laughing, you ruffle his ears before cutting yourself off with a swear. 

“Dammit, that’s what I forgot to get,” you sigh and rub the bridge of your nose, “let me run to the store and grab some and when I get back we’ll cuddle on the couch.”

Leon nods quickly and follows on your heels as you walk to the entryway and slip on your shoes. You give him a quick kiss on the cheek before closing the front door and locking it. As soon as the lock clicks, Leon takes off to his room. He digs through his wardrobe and under the bed before completely demolishing his closet. 

Although he may have not gotten you something for Valentine’s per se, he did have something he’d been meaning to give you but always slips his mind. He found a pretty lavender bracelet that reminded him of you during one of the last farmer’s market expedition ( he knows it’s mainly an excursion in socializing him with strangers, but that’s neither here nor there). 

It’s cute and he thinks you’ll like it. Plus, he attached the very first tag you ever gave him onto it as well (just seeing his name engraved in simple cursive makes his tail wag). Spinning in place, he turns back to look over his destroyed room. Ignoring the complete mess he’s made, he roots around until he finds a piece of crumpled paper and a couple of pens. His ear cocks back and he turns his head to listen— the crunch of gravel signals your car pulling back up the house. 

Now on borrowed time, Leon turns the paper longways so he can quickly write out his message and encircle it with a heart. Tossing the pens into the mess on top of his dresser, he grabs the bracelet and beelines it straight to the kitchen. It’ll be the first place you head into after entering the house; making sure to set out the paper where you’ll see it, he sets the bracelet on top. Then, he ducks back around the doorframe on the opposite end so you won’t see him.

“Leon!” You call out as you open the front door. 

He makes himself stay put as you call for him again before shutting the front door. Listening with rapt attention, he holds his breath as you walk into the kitchen, setting the popcorn down as you notice his note. He watches as your fingers graze the paper, a big smile spreading across your face. Picking up the bracelet you slide it on your wrist and twist it back and forth to admire it before turning back to the paper. 

“You like it?” His voice comes out small as you jump and turn to face him. 

“I love it, Leon. You’re such a sweet boy,” you coo, holding out your arms for a hug. 

He chuffs happily and wraps you up into a bear hug, smothering your laugh into his chest. His rough tongue licks across your ear and jaw before he finally finds your smiling lips, kissing you messily while your hands grip onto his shoulders. Before he lets himself get carried away, he pulls back, dropping one last kiss on your cheek. 

“You wanna start the movie while I get the snacks ready?” You murmur, hands lightly petting the nape of his neck and making him shiver.

He stiffens against your thigh, cock filling out as his eyes dilate. 

“Miss owner,” he whines softly and you laugh. 

“Go on, we’ll snuggle up on the couch,” you kiss the vampire bite of freckles on his neck and pull away from his body heat. 

With a dazed pout, he makes his way back into the living room and dramatically collapses onto the couch. Even if you’re not there to see it, it’s the principle of the matter. After a few minutes, he smells a buttery aroma at the same time his ears pick up the sound of kernels popping. It’s not too long before you walk into the living room carrying drinks and a big bowl of popcorn. 

He helps you set the drinks down as you sit next to him. Once settled in, you flip through your watchlist and settle on a romcom you’ve been promising to watch with Leon since last week. He watches you out of the corner of his eye while he picks at the salty snack you’re holding in your lap. Halfway through the movie, you shift the empty bowl onto the coffee table and pause the movie to go wash your hands. 

Leon stretches his legs out until they’re tucked under the table, slumping into the couch cushions lazily as he waits for you. Coming  back into the room, you smile at his relaxed demeanor and sit back down next to him. 

You curl up into his side, head resting against his neck as one hand pets his ears slowly. His tail half wraps around your waist and shifts when you sigh against his skin. Your lips drop soft kisses up to his jaw and he tilts his head to meet the next one with a groan. He loves licking into your mouth; it feels so dirty and good. You moan against the muscle as he runs it across your gums and tongue. 

“Miss owner, please,” he pants out while you kiss back down his neck. 

“C’mon be a good boy and just watch the movie,” you tease, nipping at his jawline, “you’ve been bugging me to put it on for ages.”

He huffs, head lolling against the back of the couch as you press closer into his side, one hand delving under his shirt to tease across his nipples. Leon rocks his hips, cock tenting the joggers obscenely as your fingers feather over his sensitive buds. You pinch one gently and he groans, precum blurting from his tip and wetting his sweats. 

“So cute,” you nuzzle his collar bone, “wanna pull it out for me?”

“Yess,” he hisses under his breath, hands fumbling with the band until he’s able to push the loungewear down to pool at his calves. 

He hears you inhale as his dick bobs, flushed and thick, dripping precum all down his shaft. 

“Please, touch me,” he whispers against your temple, eyes fluttering shut when he feels your hand grip him softly. 

“S’good,” his tail thumps as your hand slowly strokes his dick from tip to base and back up, squeezing the head in your fist. 

Letting go, he whines and paws at your hips as you stand up. You shush him as you shuffle your own sweats and underwear off before straddling him. Sandwiching his cock against your cunt, the fat tip parts your slit until his cock notches against your drippy hole. His hands grip the fat of your ass as you sink down inch by torturous inch until you’re fully seated in his lap, dick being squeezed by your pussy walls.

“Miss owner, s’all wet ‘n soft inside,” Leon bares his teeth before whining as you tug on his ears, “pussy’s so good, so perfect.”

“Leon,” you gasp, knees digging into the couch next to him as you raise up to drop back down, letting gravity drive his cock up into your soaked cunt. 

“Such a good boy,” your voice drips like honey from your lips and his hips rock up, humping your pussy as pleasure shoots through his body. 

“Yeah?” A high reedy moan sticks in his throat, “I’m a good boy?”

“Oh the best, Leon, the best boy,” you gasp, eyes drooping when his cock grinds against the front of your cunt, rubbing across the spongy spot that makes you clamp down on him tighter. 

“So sweet,” you lean forward, arms bracing your body on the back of the couch, “so sweet to me, w’nna show you much I appreciate it.”

He grunts, the new angle letting him thrust up harder into your pussy, the loud wet sounds of his cock pistoning in and out of your cunt echoing in your living room. 

“My sweet pup,” you murmur against his lips and he can’t take anymore. 

Leon yanks you close and stands up to splay you out, back pressed down on the couch, with him buried between your thighs. His hips rabbit against yours, pelvis smacking your clit making you squeal and claw at his chest. With a huff, his rough tongue rasps across your panting mouth, tongue delving between your lips. You moan as spit fills your mouth while Leon fucks your cunt rough and deep. 

“Gonna cum, Leon,” you finally pull your head back enough to moan. 

“Already?” He bites your bottom lip and sucks it into his mouth before letting go with a pop. 

“Want my knot, pretty owner? Want me to give you my pups?”

You thrash underneath him, pussy clenching and pulsing around his cock at his words. 

“Please, Leon,” you wrap your legs around his waist, “knot me, wanna feel my good boy fill me up.”

“Fuck,” he growls, chest rumbling with the sound. 

He reaches between you and thumbs across your clit in slow firm circles. His dick feels like it’s in a vice as you bear down on him, back bowing with pleasure. 

“Leon, oh god,” you choke out a loud cry and press your head into the couch cushions, tears beading your waterline. 

He watches you fall apart while feeling your pussy squeeze and milk his cock, pressing himself deep until his knot sinks inside and locks him into your spasming hole. 

“So good little owner,” he sighs happily, tail wagging behind him while he pumps your tight cunt with load after load of sticky cum. 

You giggle, high on endorphins, and run your hands through his hair, eyes tracking his bracelet, “I love the gift, Leon.”

“Mmm, happy you do,” he kisses you on the cheek, nose snuffling against your skin, “Happy Valentine’s.”

“Happy Valentine’s, Leon.”

divider: saradika

[brownsugarwrites]

♡ tonight, ill be your naughty girl ♡

pairings: bodyguard!Leon Kennedy x Popstar!black reader

warnings: smut with little plot. bondage. brat reader-brat taming. reader is a spoiled popstar and MEAN. little degrading that turns into praise. fingering. teasing. use of the word slut. dom and sub dynamics. mean Leon. cumming inside. choking. Spitting. edging . tons of aftercare!

notes: yes this was inspired by Beyoncé’s naughty girl. anyways Leon is your bodyguard who so happens to be your boyfriend and you give him a run for his money. as always thanks to my bestest friend @xixolotl for beta’ing written with black reader in mind but anyone can read! mdni

Growing up, you always got what you wanted.

You had the looks, the fame, and the fortune everyone wanted. You were the world's biggest pop star. Sold out stadium tours as you lived your life to the fullest.

In addition to being the world's star, every eligible bachelor wanted you. You entertained it because receiving gifts and going out on dates was fun, but you needed to be more serious about them. They couldn't handle your spoiled personality and always wanting princess treatment.

That was until your bodyguard, Leon, came into your life. He knew exactly how to deal with your stubbornness, and you hated it. You also hated how cute he was, How you could feel so little under his gaze. But then, one stern look from his eyes had you shutting up and crossing your arms.

Eventually, the two of you started dating secretly. From anyone else's view, it just looked like a simple business relationship. Leon protected you while you did whatever it was that you did.

You got on his nerves often, but that was in your nature. He loved you and would do anything to give you what you wanted. Even if you were a brat about it.

It was the day of the music video shoot of your current number-one song on the radio. You had been giving Leon the silent treatment all week. Neither of you could remember what exactly you were upset about, but he was sure it was something minor.

Before entering your dressing room, he saw you fluffing your hair in the mirror. Then, locking eyes, you quickly returned to ensuring everything was intact.

“Are you going to continue to have an attitude or what?” He would ask

Remaining silent, you put your earrings on, ignoring him. You needed to figure out why he was making conversation with you.

Coming behind your chair, you craned your neck to look up at him. He was making it hard for you to stay mad. His large build towered over you while he looked into your big eyes.

“What do you want, Leon? I have to be on set in 5 minutes.”

“Oh, so she speaks now?” He asked sarcastically

“I don't have time for this. If you have something to say fucking say it already,” you said, crossing your arms and rolling your eyes

Biting the inside of his cheek, he scoffed. You never had any trouble expressing yourself, but damn, your mouth was horrible.

“You already know how I feel about you talking to me like that, sweetheart,” He would say warningly, returning to the couch to sit down.

“And you should know that I seriously don't give a fuck, Leon. So now leave me the hell alone,” you said before walking to the door to get to the set as the sound of your heels and bracelets got farther away from the room.

Your ultimate goal for this video is to be as seductive as possible, which wasn't hard for you. It was like second nature to you.

Leon was staring at you from the corner of his eye as the cameras were rolling. Not paying attention to him, you continued to work your magic in front of the camera.

The rolling of your hips and the way you made the slightest movements look so sultry had him in a trance.

“Tonight, I’ll be your naughty girl,” You sang as your manicured hands trailed down your body.

He couldn't stay mad at you long when you were like this. But he still had to teach you a lesson.

Soon enough, you were done for the day, and you were relieved. But, packing up your bag, there was a knock at your door.

“I'm coming,” you said, slinging your purse over your shoulder before putting your sunglasses on. Opening up the door stood Leon waiting on you to walk you to the car.

Ignoring him, the two of you walked to the blacked-out truck to go back to your high-rise. Receiving a call from your parents, you answered with glee. They were the only ones who knew about you and Leon's relationship.

Leon couldn't help but roll his eyes at your personality switch as you talked enthusiastically.

“Alright, Mommy and Papa, I’ll talk to you soon, muah,” You said before hanging up.

“You wanna tell me what's wrong?” Leon asked.

“No. Stop talking to me,” you simply said, looking out the window.

Truth be told, you had no idea why you were upset with him. You just liked being mad at him.

Pulling into the garage, your boyfriend soon opened the door for you. Giving a small thank you, you went to the elevator to get up to your place.

Opening the door to your expensive high-rise, you sighed, setting your purse on the kitchen island. Walking to your room, you noticed Leon sitting on your bed quietly. Fear struck your heart slightly. When did he get in the room?

“Why are you in here?” you asked quietly.

“We need to talk.”

“About what?” you said, crossing your arms and popping your hip out slightly

“Your fucking attitude. You’ve been a brat all week, and now you want to act like you haven't done anything,” Leon said sternly but without raising his voice.

You already knew what that tone of voice meant.

“On the bed,” he said sternly.

A part of you was excited about what he was about to do. But the other part was nervous.

Even though you stood there defiantly with your hands on your hips. Scoffing, Leon said nothing before coming to where you were to pick you up and drop you softly on the bed.

Going into the nightstand, he pulled out the hot pink rope, and your eyes widened in excitement.

Taking your shirt off and leaving you in your bra, you bit your lip to control your growing smile. Gently feeling your arms being placed behind your back as the thick rope dug into your brown skin before asking if it was too tight. To which you shook your head no,

Leaving the room silently, you wondered where he was going. You also wished your pants were off. Feeling the arousal in between your legs

Coming back with one of his ties, you looked at him, puzzled.

“Why do you have that?” You asked

Saying nothing, he put the tie over your eyes to use as a blindfold. He knew how much you liked looking into his eyes as the two of you had sex, so you knew tonight would be hard for you.

You began the whine as the darkest consumed your eyes, but those same whines soon turned into small mewls at the feeling of his lips on your neck. Finally, you slowly sank into submission as he kissed your neck down to your collarbone.

“I like when you’re quiet like this. Letting me do anything to you.”

All you could do was moan quietly in response. It didn't take you long to give him control, but it wasn't easy.

“Are you gonna fuck me or what,” you asked rudely.

Peeling off your pants, he sent a harsh slap to your pussy as you moaned in response.

“I didn't tell you to talk.” He would say before sending another slap to your clothed cunt.

This was torture. But how could it feel this good?

“This slutty pussy is just begging to be fucked. Maybe that would get rid of that attitude of yours.”

In the car, he realized this was why you were acting the way that you were. Between your busy schedule, it took a lot of work for you to spend time together, resulting in your brattiness.

Peeling off your panties teasingly, he inserted his fingers inside you as your back arched off the bed. Your hands tugged at the restraints in need as you felt him pump in and out of you.

“Greedy pussy is just sucking me in, isn't she? I guess someone missed me,” he would say snarky as he saw you bite your cheek to hold in your thoughts.

Feeling his thumb coming to play with your clit you sighed weakly, feeling your pleasure wash over you. But was soon interrupted by him pulling his fingers out of you. Then, calling his name softly as you whined, he brushed your tears while smiling.

You were so pretty like this, all tied up, and for him to use you at his expense.

Coming towards your face to grab your neck softly, he applied pressure slightly. Your legs started to close in arousal.

“Give me one reason as to why I should fuck you right now, pretty girl?” he asked while holding a tighter grip on your neck but still allowing you to breathe.

“Been so rude and bratty towards me. I should just make you get off yourself. Would you like that?” He asked with a smirk on his face.

Whining out a 'no sir,' he smiled.

This is the side he liked to see of you.

He let go of your neck and stood straight to remove his pants. Hearing his belt buckle, you tried rubbing your thighs to relieve yourself of the arousal, but it didn't work. You needed him.

Feeling him coat his dick in your juices made you moan for some friction. You soon heard him spit onto his hand before stroking his length and spitting on your needy cunt.

“What's the color,” he asked before he started.

“Green,” you answered.

Smiling, he slowly inserts inside you, pushing all the way in as you let a string of curses leave your mouth. He slowly started to fuck you before speeding up his pace just a little. He was slowly driving you crazy. More strings of his name flew out of your mouth like a song.

“Gonna be good for me, princess?”

You didn't answer as you felt your second orgasm begin to wash over you. Stopping Leon's movements, you whined again with tears falling from your eyes. Giving another harsh slap to your pussy you squealed from the pleasure.

“Answer me,” He demanded, caressing your face.

“Yes, Leon, please need to cum s’bad. Need it.” you babbled.

Hearing your whines fueled his need to fuck you. Then, continuing to give you long and deep strokes, he heard you trying to say something.

“What is it, angel? What's wrong” he asked, continuing to fuck you.

“Need to see your face,” you cried out.

You wished you could see his pretty eyes screw shut as his hair stuck to his forehead from the sweat or the way his cheeks flushed pink as he fucked you.

Obeying your wishes since you were giving him no trouble, he took the makeshift blindfold off before kissing the corners of your eyes.

‘Fuck he was so pretty like this,’ you thought.

“Leon, im close, please,” you whined, looking deep into his blue eyes,

The way your eyes held so much love had him groaning and picking up the pace. He would give you the moon and the stars if you wanted it. All you had to do was ask.

“I love you so much fuck.” So he would say as the two of you came together.

Feeling your eyelids get heavy, you smiled, feeling him put his body weight on top of you. Then, turning you over slightly, he freed you from the rope before picking you up to shower. When washing your body, you gave him a soft thank you before you returned the favor. Coming out of the restroom, you put on a nightgown before going into your bed.

“Now tell me. What were you upset about again?” He asked teasingly.

“Oh shut up… I love you,” you said with a slight pout.

“I love you more, princess,” he said softly, kissing your lips and forehead.

reblogs are highly appreciated!

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if ur name isnt highlighted I couldnt tag you :(

[sleepy-achilles]

How is that fair?

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

Drew jolts back as the bigger man storms towards him.

Taker grabs the younger man by the hair and pulls him close.

"You are not good enough for my son. He may not see you love, but I do. Stay away" Taker growls. Drew stares at him shocked as the ref separates them. "Off the hair!"

Taker knew.

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

Taker knew.

Taker knew times changed. They changed quick. Last time he saw Drew Mcintyre he was some scrawny kid with a crush on his boy.

Now he's some big oaf still nursing a crush.

"I want him." Taker mutters. Hunter looks to see taker staring Drew down across the canteen. "Mcintyre? Why? Vince already has plans for him." Hunter asks sitting back. "What plans?" Taker asks, keeping his eyes on the man. "Teaming him with Lee." Hunter answers. He watches the other man's jaw tighten. "Tell him to put him against me first." Taker growls. "Ill do my best." Hunter sighs pulling his phone out.

Drew keeps his eyes on his plate. "Well, either your match had a bad impact on him, or he's got the hots for you." Sheamus smirks. "Not funny. He knows." Drew whispers. "Knows?" "About Leon." "And what, Leon doesn't? Jesus I think I need to get that boy out more." Sheamus huffs. "No, you're not listening, he's known since I first stepped into the company and now I'm back, he knows it still a thing" drew snaps. "My advice? Don't fall in love with the undertakers son. Or befriend Shawn so that way you have immediate protection. That's what I did and I only wanted Leon friendship" sheamus suggests as he pinches a chip off Drew.

"He won't let me near his son, you really think he'll let me near his husband?" "Good shout" sheamus nods looking past drew. "Oop, here he comes." Sheamus whispers. "Fuck."

He flinches as a firm hand lands on his shoulder and squeezes too tight to be human. Drew closes his eyes as Taker leans down. "My threat still stands. You stay well away from Leon." Taker whispers. Drew just nods. "Attaboy." Taker hums pulling away. Drew opens his eyes as the man walks off and finally looks away from his plate. His eyes immediately land on Leon who's staring at him confused.

"Shit" drew mutters standing and rushing out. He cannot let Taker bully him. Not anymore.

-------

And somehow he ended up stood across from taker in the ring. Again.

"Just weaken him! Then tag me in!" Shane barks at him. Drew frowns and turns away, he keeps his head down. But that's when he hears taker chuckle.

Chuckle.

He moves forward, raising his head and getting into takers space. Taker stares him down. "Im not scared of you." Drew states. "You sure?" Taker asks. "And I'm worthy. I work hard and I care too damn much about him to let you try and scare me away. He's a grown up." "Hes my son" Taker growls stepping impossibly closer. "And I'd never hurt him. Unlike you" drew growls back.

The ref is quick to separate them. "Youll live to regret that Mcintyre" Taker snaps, ignoring Romans and Shane's concerned looks. "I don't reckon I will." Drew snaps back.

Sheamus smiles backstage. "The hell is mcintyre doing?" Sheamus turns to see Leon stood behind him. "Finding his balls." Sheamus smiles. "Why's my dad obsessed with him?" Leon questions. Sheamus pauses. What's he supposed to say to that?

He claps Leon on the shoulder. "Your guess is as good as mine bud" sheamus smiles. Leon frowns and moves closer to the screen.

What's the deal with these two?

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

Taker crosses his arms. "Put him with randy." "God no. He's teaming with drew and that's final." Vince snaps. Taker sighs and drops his arms. "Why? Why drew? Why Leon. Put him with dolph or something." "Because I reckon they'll get along a lot better than you think. What's the issue? It's not like I'm putting a baby face with a heel. In fact I reckon we use this to finally get a face Leon. Fans will love it." Vince explains. Taker goes to speak when he hears fussing outside. He turns to the door as Leon slams it open. "Why have you got us waiting outside like children?" Leon demands. Drew appears behind him looking sheepish. "Because I'm having a meeting?" Vince questions. Leon looks at taker.

"Why am I here?" Leon asks walking in. Vince sighs. "Come in drew." Drew slowly walks in. Stepping away from both men. "I want you to tag team with Drew." Vince states. "No." Leon immediately responds. Drew looks at Leon with hurt. "Told you." Taker smirks at vince. Leon looks at taker. "Exactly. Yeah, sure why not. Couldn't hurt. Just don't expect me to play nice." Leon shrugs. Taker looks at him shocked. "Thats the point. You don't play nice, I want people to believe this tag team won't work." Vince tells him. "Cool, see you Monday partner" Leon nods at drew before walking out.

Drew glances at vince. "Thank you sir" "Anytime." He looks at taker. "Guess I'll be spending a lot of time with him now." He smirks before walking out. Taker growls and slams the door shut.

Vince raises an eyebrow. This seems like a problem.

A Shawn problem.

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

"Whats your problem with Drew?" Shawn asks. Taker looks up from taping his wrists to see his husband stood infront of him, arms crossed, head tilted. Shit.

"Whatever do you mean?" Taker asks. "Dont play stupid. Him and Leon have been tag partners for five months and you won't even look the man in the eyes or shake his hand after a big win. Do you know how unfair that is when you hug John and cassies partners?" Shawn asks. "Dont be silly.-" "Dont you even. What is the issue?" Shawn snaps pulling the tape out of takers hands. "Maybe I dont trust him. Maybe I think he should be nowhere near our boy." Taker snaps standing up. "Who gives you the right? You don't know that boy enough to judge him" Shawn whispers. "I trust my gut. My guts never been wrong" Taker snaps. Shawn scoffs and moves away.

"Your gut is the most ridiculous gut I've ever met. That's the same gut that trusted Paul." Shawn points out. "Now Paul? Paul hurt Leon. But drew? Drew cares about Leon and is willing to go to hell and back for him." Shawn defends the Scott. Taker shakes his head. "Hell didn't Paul do this exact thing to you when it came to me?" Shawn suddenly asks. Taker bites his lower lip. "That was different." "Yeah, was it now?" Shawn scoffs throwing him back the tape. "Grow up Undertaker."

Leon moves from the door and hides as his Papa walks out.

Huh, fancy that.

He smirks to himself as he pushes off the wall and makes his way out of the arena.

--------

Drew smirks as the shield talk amongst themselves. He listens as Leon takes his jacket off, he also watches as the Shield pauses and stares. "No fuckin way" roman huffs. Drew turns to Leon and his eyes widen. "Fuck"

-

Shawn smiles at the screen as Taker walks in. "What?" He asks. "Look at this" Shawn nods. "I think your attitude is having the opposite effect" he states. Takers eyes widen as he sees it. Its hard not to with the camera zooming in on it.

Drew written above his right collar bone.

Shawn watches as Taker subconsciously touches his name which sits upon takers neck. Shawn smiles softly as he looks back at the screen to see drew practically cornering Leon to look at it.

Yeah, he's the one for his boy.

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

Drew leans against the tiled wall, watching the freckled hand rub over the letters. He can't help but smile as it doesn't watch off or fade. "I can't believe you did that." Drew comments. Leon glances over at him. "It was our 5 months as a tag team. Had to do somethin" Leon smirks. "Nothing to do with your dad's blanted hatred of me?" Drew asks. "That too I guess." Leon shrugs looking back at the wall. Drew watches as Leon tilts his head back letting the water hit his face. "What do you know?" Drew asks moving closer. Leon lowers his head. "He doesn't think your good enough for me. My pa reckons we are just like them." Leon comments.

Drews face heats up slightly. "And you?" Drew asks quietly. "I don't do love. Can't be like them." Leon mutters. Drew frowns and steps back. "Dont do love ay?" Drew whispers.

Leon looks at drew to see his back to him. He turns back to the shower. "I.." Leon tries to find a response. They've been working together for months now and he cannot open up to him? Not that he opens up to anyone, but something in him, wants him to open up to drew.

"Im poison." Drew looks at Leon quickly. "I hurt anyone around me. I won't mean to and they won't do anything wrong but I...I just..I can't help but poison people." Leon whispers. That's when drew finally understands it. All of it. So many times people have called this man a monster. Not once have they told him differently. "Guess I'm immune." Leon looks at drew. "What?" "I must be immune. Because, I enjoy being your partner. Even when you say those hurtful things about me. I enjoy being your friend" drew shrugs. Leon's eyes widen. "Friend?" "Yeah. I hope you see us as friends." "....Yeah. Yeah I do." Leon nods. Drew smiles at him.

"Maybe your pa didn't mean it in the romance way you've seen it. Maybe he meant it like their friendship, their bond." Drew suggests. "Yeah. Maybe that's it" Leon whispers as drew begins washing his hair. "Maybe that's it." Leon mutters to himself, his fingers lingering over the name tattooed onto his body.

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

Leon is knelt in the ring, hands shaking as the crowds scream and cheer. The belt is lowered into his hands and he stares at it. "We did it!"

We did it.

It isn't Leon's first time holding these belts...but this? This is different.

As the hand rests on his shoulder, the knees touch his. He looks up to see drew knelt next to him, a massive smile on his face. "We did it!" Drew smiles squeezing his shoulder.

Leon doesn't know what comes over him. One minute their kneeling, the next he's throwing an arm around drew and hugging him, squeezing the back of the mans neck. Drew hesitates before hugging him back.

--

"Wow." John huffs watching his baby brother hug someone who's not family. "Hes really grown on him" Randy comments unscrewing his waterbottle. "Yeah, that's what worries me." John mutters. Randy looks at him as he drinks. "Why?" Randy asks confused as Taker and shawn walk in. John just looks at his parents. "Our baby has his first non family tag belt" Shawn smiles at John. "He does, and he's having a cuddle over it" John jokes. Shawns smile widens as he looks at the screen.

"Of course he is." Taker mutters. Shawn smacks his arm and frowns. Randy just glances at John.

It wasn't a secret taker hated drew. Randy never understood how taker could like him but hate drew. But he wasn't going go question it.

"Dont be a dick" Shawn scolds. "Difficult for him." Leon comments as him and drew walk in. "Congrats lee" "congrats both" the two different responses makes leons smile fade. "Thank you" drew smiles as John shakes his hand. Leon just stares at his father. "Say congrats to drew." The room falls quiet.

"Leon...don't." Drew murmurs. "No. He worked damn harder than me that match, say congrats to him." Leon pushes. Taker meets his sons stare before looking at drew. "Congrats on the win drew." "Thank you sir." Drew nods. "And look at that the world didn't end!" Shawn claps. "After cassies match we are taking you all out for food. Including you drew" Shawn smiles. Leon doesn't take his eyes off his father.

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

It was a wacky year.

Leon knew it was a bad idea stepping into Goldust bar.

"Ah! Lee Lee!" Goldust cheers pulling the youth into a hug. "You look stunning" goldust purs cupping the boys face. Leon chuckles. "Hello Goldie" "I invited some of your and cassies friends" goldust smiles. "To our parents anniversary party?" "My party my rules" goldust tuts. Leon's eyes spot him straight away. Sat at the bar with cassie laughing about something. "You invited drew?" Leon asks shocked. "Hes your friend no?" Goldust questions. "Dad hates him." "Wasn't my question, was it" goldust smirks.

Leon ignores goldust and moves over to the pair.

"I don't know Cas..." Drew signs. "Dont be a downer. It'll be a world full of fun. Not every day we have a pay per view and a smackdown in death Valley" cassie smirks. "Yeah, it's because they've just finished the stadium, now scram brat" Leon buts in. Cassie frowns. "Im tal-" "I didnt ask. Go" Leon orders pulling her up and pushing her away.

He sits in her seat and motions for a drink. "She made me come." Drew states. "I aint got a problem with you being here. Just rather I get the shit for it than her." Leon states accepting the drink. "Hey, he's with me alright?" Leon asks the bartender. "I should really ask gold-" Leon's eyes glow purple. "With me." "Alright man, shit." The bartender huffs putting money infront of Drew before walking off. "What?" Drew questions taking his money back. "Youll be treated like shit for the next few hours, might aswell make sure you don't go bankrupt too" Leon smirks before downing his drink and waving for another one. "Leave the bottle yeah?" "I forgot how much of an asshole you are" the bartender grunts before he slams the bottle down and walks off. "Mmm sure you did." Leon smirks as he watches him walk off.

"Takers gonna go mad" drew whispers. "Fuck him. Who cares? If he's stupid enough to let you ruin his anniversary thats on him. We are going to have a good time whether he does or doesnt" Leon tells him. "Ill never understand you Lee." "Good. I like to be a surprise." Leon smiles at him. Drew can't help but smile back as Leon raises his glass.

The men clink their glasses as the couple of the night turn up. Leon glances at his parents before back at drew. "Happy valentines drew." Leon hums. "Happy valentines Leon." Drew smiles softly. John suddenly rushes over and grabs Leon. "You didnt say Happy birthday to cassie?" John snaps. "Im sure the hell of a gift I left in her room makes up for it" Leon scoffs. "Thats why you were late?" "Yes that's why I was late. I didn't forget my baby sis birthday. I'm not that much of an animal" Leon rolls his eyes as he sips his drink.

"Well, your friends have been waiting for ya" John states. "Im busy." Leon mutters nodding his head towards drew. John looks at drew before back at Leon. "I tho-" "you got something else to do other than bothering me when I'm trying to drink?" Leon snaps looking at his brother. John chuckles and steps back. "My bad. Don't forget you've gotta lead the hoedown" John smirks before patting his back, hard, and walking off. Drew raises his eyebrow. "Thought you weren't a stereotypical cowboy?" Drew asks. "Oh don't. You'll be joining us" Leon smirks behind his glass. "What?" "I didnt bring two cowboy hats for nothin" Leon states putting his cup down. "You didnt." Two shadows form infront of Leon and fade to show two cowboy hats. One black the other a dark blue. "You did." Drew huffs. Leon places his on his head before grabbing the blue one and leaning forward. "Of course." Leon smirks placing it on drews head.

Leon leans back and looks at drew and can't help but smile. "Better say hi to the folk. I'll catch you in a minute." Leon hums before pushing away from the bar and walking off. "Hes a good kid." Drew jumps as Kevin takes Leon's seat. "I know" drew nods. Kevin glances at him. "Real loyal when you get past that tough guy bullshit." Kevin adds. "I can tell." Drew mutters looking at Leon with his family and friends. "He'd be real lucky to have you." This takes Drew by surprise. He looks at Kevin. "What? Don't you me-" "God no. He's a fucking asshole and you'd deserve better. You? You see through that, I don't know how but you do. You don't see him as a monster, you see him as a person. He'd be lucky to have you." Kevin states as the music starts. "Thank you?" "Just don't let it ruin you. Too many have fallen to the Michaels Curse. Including themselves." Kevin hums pulling Drew up.

Drew just looks at him. "Good luck." Kevin walks off leaving drew stood confused. "Cmon drew!" Leon calls. Drew looks at the other and finds himself drawn to him.

The Michaels Curse..

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

Drew could not give a flying fuck about the Michaels Curse.

Leon Thomas Michaels is and always will be hot.

Drew would gladly fall victim to him at any point in the next five seconds.

Drew knows he's staring, but he doesn't care. Leon's chest heaves as he throws the chair out of the ring, towards the men stood on the ramp. "Back the fuck off!" Leon yells. He turns too drew and kneels infront of him. "Are you good?" Leon asks cupping his face with bloody knuckles to examine him. "I uh...what?" Drew asks. Leon frowns and tilts his head as prods a bruise forming on drews temple. "I asked if you're okay?" Leon pushes. "Your shirtless." Leon michaels was never without a vest on infront of the cameras.

And boy was he beautiful. "Yeah..I was in the middle of getting changed when you got jumped." Leon nods as if it's obvious. That's when drews eyes fall down to see Leon's jeans not even done up. His belt hung around his waist and his button popped open. "Jesus" drew chokes. Leon chuckles and tilts his head up. "I reckon we need to get you too the medic. Get your head checked" Leon smirks. Leon stands and pulls drew up. Drew takes a moment to examine Leon's tattooed torso. He lean figure. His sharp, hard abs. The scars that litter his body. "Your so hot." Drew whispers. "Yeah yeah, I know cmon before you confess which diva you've got the hots for" Leon chuckles leading drew out the ring.

You.

Is what drew wanted to say.

But he decided to keep his mouth shut.

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

Leon was busy setting his makeup out when he felt the presence behind him.

He glances up and his brain stops working.

His eyes scan Drew massive back.

Whilst there's only a inch between the men in height, Leon never realised how fucking small he looked compared to drew until now. Drew is pure muscle. And Leon knows he's been working out to look bigger a lot more recently. Infact, Leon knows drew hates that he used to be small, so instead of focusing on defining his muscles, like Leon does, he's focusing on bulking up.

And Leon didn't release he was this big until now.

Drew turns to look at Leon in the mirror, leaving Leon staring at his chest.

Drew, compared to himself, was bigger, softer and hairy. Leon felt small. Jesus is this how his father felt compared to everyone.

Leon is sharp, stone like, skinny and just ugly compared to him.

He's never really appreciated drews beauty until now.

Jesus maybe he did need to get laid, it has been awhile.

"Leon!" Leon's eyes snap up to meet Drews concerned gaze. His face brings Leon guilt. The bruises and cuts from his own father getting drew jumped."Yeah?" Great he was caught staring at drew chest. "Are you okay? Zoned out on me for a moment" drew asks, voice full of worry. Leon can't help but chuckle. God, big, beautiful and dumb. Leon's sure got a type. "Yeah I'm good big guy, just thinking about things" Leon smiles.

Drew raises an eyebrow. Leon just called him big guy. The same Leon that cringed whenever his father used the term.

"You sure?" Drew asks. "Mhm" Leon nods collecting his face paint. "Well, I asked if you wanted anything to eat" drew repeats. "A milkshake will be good. Just need some sugar." Leon answers. "Alright. Be back soon" drew smiles pulling a tshirt on before leaving.

Leon presses his forehead against the mirror. He slaps the back of his own head. "You idiot" he scolds.

------------------------Meanwhile------------------------------

Shawn watches as Taker enters the ring. "I want you to look at the tron." Shawn tells him. Taker pauses and looks. It's Leon smiling. "Wanna know who did that?" Shawn asks. "Who?" "Drew." It continues to show drew turning towards Leon, his own little smile on his face. "Look at them." Shawn orders. A bunch of clips of the pair smiling and laughing together show before it's back to them. "That man brings our son happiness and you...you hurt him for that? How is that fair?" Shawn asks. Taker accepts a mic. "This isnt about fair. It's about what's right. What's right for our son." Taker states. Shawn scoffs. "You know what's stupid. I look at those two and you know what I see? I see us, I see us at their age. Running around, causing vince headaches, having fun, only enjoying each others company, feeling unstoppable. Like no one in the world gets us but each other." Shawn states. "And what I see when I stand here, with you, is Paul. That figure who doesn't want that happiness in a young man. That wants to destroy a growing relationship." Shawn snaps. Takers jaw tightens.

"Hating drew won't separate them. Infact, it'll make their bond stronger. He's your son taker. He will do anything to go against you. And along the way, he's formed a friendship. A friend he cares too much about to lose." Shawn tells him. "And what do you do? You go and hurt that boy! What is wrong with you!" Shawn yells. "I am doing what's best for-" Shawn scoffs and goes to turn away when Taker grabs his arm and pulls him in. Shawn levels his gaze with takers as Taker lowers his mic. "Im doing what's best for everyone." He growls. Shawn pulls out of his grasp. "More like what's best for you and only you." Shawn snaps before dropping his mic and climbing out of the ring.

Taker faces his husband and watches as he walks up the ramp. His head tilted and he's refusing to look back. Taker sighs and rubs his temple. Boy he's in trouble. Shawn always look back. This means shawns extremely pissed, especially if he's head tilted but still not looking.

-----------

"In other news, WWE tag team, The Scottish Warrior and The Skeleton King, consisting of superstars Drew Mcintyre and Leon Michaels have taken the Internet by storm lately after Mcintyre was attacked by Michaels father, The Undertaker" the reporter explains. "Fans and non wrestling fan have come together and started editing the pair and complying evidence that the stars could be in a relationship. They also bounded together to make edits explaining why both stars, separately, are attractive after they brush off comments about them being so." The reporter continues. "The pair have rised to the top in a short amount of time, making a new record for the Internet and the fandoms on it. They are literally everywhere. A photoshoot they did recently for their merch was even posted on timesquare without any input from wwe themselves." The reporter chuckles. "Vince Mcmahon has commented on the situation, let's take a look"

-

Vince looks at Michael Cole. "Whats your view on what's going on with mcintyre and Michaels?" "Im extremely happy that they've become so popular, I even more happy that they are bringing in non wrestling fans. I mean that's what we aim for right? They've come such a far way and grown so much together it's amazing to see how much they've improved. How much they've improved each other." Vince comments. "And the relationship rumours?" "I will officially say that as of right now, Drew and Leon are just good friends and are very comfortable with each other. No offical relationship has been reported or announced." Vince nods.

-

"Mcmahon made the rule of relationships being announced after the drama that went on between Michaels parents Undertaker and Shawn Michaels in the 90s. So as far as it goes. Deon is not official. Onto other sporting news-"

Leon tilts his head at the tv. "The fuck is a fandom?" Leon asks looking at cassie. "You know, your fans. The work they make about you." Cassie states as if it's obvious. "Right." "Yours call themselves the royal guards." "Thats a stupid fucking name." "Its because your the skeleton King?" Cassie points out. "Its still stupid. Why not call themselves knights or I don't know Warrior's? Why royal guards." Leon pulls a face. "Mine are warriors" drew hums. "Really? I'd called them Klits" Leon comments. "That is good!" Drew smiles. "Are you two not even slightly weirded out that people think you are dating?" Cassie asks. Then she looks at them, drews arm around Leon's waist, a bag of crisps in his hand that Leon is helping himself to whilst leaning against drew.

"You know what, I take back my question" cassie huffs. "Why would we care?" Leon asks. "People think pa dated half the kliq" Leon shrugs. "He slepted with them, not dated." John comments from where he's working in his script. "Are you two dating or fucking?" Cassie asks. Both men stay quiet. "No." Leon mutters. "Dont sound so disappointed" John chuckles. "Ill make sure your the first to know if we do tho" Leon smirks glancing at his big brother. "Fuck off. Not again. I will block your number." John gags. "Does this mean we are the top superstars?" Drew suddenly asks. John looks up. "Dude, you are the top stars in all of Hollywood right now. No pressure." John tells him.

"Fuck"

"Fuck" Shawn whispers turning the tv off. "Its not going to go down the same way." Hunter hums. "I don't want their friendship to get ruined because of some rumours." Shawn frowns. "It won't." Hunter promises. "Im worried how takers gonna react. I haven't seen him since raw." Shawn whispers. "This is the perfect time to push that vlog idea with them" vince speaks up. Both men look at him. "The fuck?" "Leon will not do it."

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

"We are currently backstage" sheamus smirks behind the camera. "Drews about to go fight and Leon's preparing to speak to his father" sheamus states zooming in on the pair. Leon crosses his arms, ignoring the man. "You don't have to do this." Leon states. "He wants a fight. I'll give him a fight. Just gotta get through tonight. If you two can't make it work, I will." Drew states. Leon frowns and shakes his head. "My...my dad isn't someone you want to goto war with." Leon whispers. "Its okay. You're worth it" drew states before leaving. Leon's eyes widen and his face heats up.

His eyes immediately land on sheamus. "Turn it off!" He barks as sheamus giggles like a little girl. "Dont be mean! You two are so cuteeee!" Sheamus coos before running from the other.

--

Drew shoulda known to keep his guard up. He snarls at seth when suddenly something hits him in the back.

He groans as he hits the matt. He glances to see seth nodding and rolling out of the ring.

He huffs and turns onto his back to see Taker stood, staring down at him, chair in hand. "Just couldn't do it, could ya?" Taker growls reaching down, grabbing drew by his hair, pulling him up. Drew groans weakly and grabs at takers hand, his other hand landing on takers waist area. "You just had to stay away" Taker snaps. "I love him" "you do not know love!" Taker barks at him. "Stop! Dad!" Drew hears Leon yell as the younger man runs down the ramp. "Your not hurting me." Drew snaps looking at taker. "Your hurting him. And that isn't fair." Taker stares at him, even as Leon pulls the chair off him and throws it out.

"Let him go!" Leon demands grabbing takers hand. Taker looks at Leon before letting go. Drew slouches as Leon pushes Taker away from drew. He stands between the two men. "Why? What has he ever done to you!" Leon yells. "I warned hi-" "Why! You don't warn cassies friends! You don't warn John's! Why drew! Why!" Leon snaps. "Because they don't love them!" "So what! So what if he loves me! What if I love him!" Leon yells. Drews eyes widen as he looks at Leon. "Whats it too you?! I'm a adult!" "You do not kno-" "the consequences?! I know the consequences of people loving me! It's the same for you! And yet look at you, happily fucking married with kids!" Leon barks shoving the man.

"How is that fair?"

"What?"

"Why do you get love but i do not? How is that fair?" Leon pushes. Shawn stands on the stage. He came out here to break it up, but right now, despite unable to hear them, it seems things are fixing themselves. Leon looks back at drew. Leon helps drew up and allows the man to lean against his back as he faces his father. "I don't need or want your approval. Hate him all you want, but you leave him alone. You take it out on me. Not him." Leon tells him. "Youll never lay a finger on him, ever again." Leon warns, pulling drew along, shoving the older man out of the way.

Shawn nods at Leon as they pass each other on the ramp.

Shawn stands on ring side.

"It wasn't going to end how you wanted it too." Shawn states softly. Taker looks down. "And right now, you can't even justify why you've done what you've done. And you know what? That's good. That's amazing, because that separates you from Paul." Shawn explains as he climbs into the ring. Taker glances at him. "Your not angry?" "I think our sons anger, but also your anger at yourself is more than enough. Disappointed? Yes. But I can see why you are so protective of Leon. He reminds you of yourself." "He reminds me of you." Taker corrects.

This stuns Shawn. "What?" "Yes, he's different like me. But he looks like you, he has your emotions. Your mindset. And I failed you, I didn't want to fail him" Taker whispers. Shawn takes his hand. "You didnt fail me and you will not fail him, as long as you accept drew. He clearly cares about him, pushing drew away, pushes Leon away." Shawn sighs. "They love each other." Taker mutters. Shawn smiles. "I know that. I've known since day one. As have you. But like you know, its up to them to discover that. Maybe you've helped them do that, maybe they'll thank you for this period of time one day, but right now? Right now they'll hate it." Shawn explains.

"I have to make it up to him." "Im sure you will"

---------------Oh boy this is getting long----------------------

"So you two accidentally confessed your love for each other but you've not actually talked about it or made any steps to make it official?" Sheamus asks. "No." Drew mutters stabbing his food. "And whys that?" Finn asks confused. "Its Leon. He...he doesn't do emotions." Drew huffs leaning back. "No. That is valid, I take back my question" finn chuckles.

The boys fall quiet as yelling grabs their attention. "The hell is that?" Sheamus asks as Seth walks in. "Bearer and Kane are back-" drew is straight up and running towards the hallway. "Drew? Drew!" Finn barks following him with sheamus.

"You don't fuckin scare me!" Leon barks. "Thats why your hands are shaking?" Paul asks. Leon clenches his shaking hands. Panic building in his chest, taking over him like a disease. He brings his hands up to his chest. That's when his view of Paul is blocked. "I think you need to get leaving." Leon looks up to see the back of drew. "And you are the Michaels new play thing, huh?" Paul asks. "I won't tell you again." "Is that right?" Paul hums. "Back the fuck up." Drew growls. "Or what?" Paul asks. "I aint scared of you or your dog. You need to stay the hell away from Leon or I'll fucking kill you" drew threatens. Leon's eyes widen. "You heard the man." His dad's voice calls. "Taker! My boy, I'm so proud of you"

The sentence makes taker feel sick. "And that's exactly why I'm so ashamed of myself. I never want to be like you, or for you to be proud of me." Taker hisses. "What?" "Because that would not be fair for those who love me." Taker hums moving to stand next to drew. "Now, drew advised you to get to stepping. I'm telling you to get stepping, or I will make you." Taker growls. "I need to meet with vince anyways. I'll be seeing you." Paul mutters before walking away.

Taker turns to drew. "I apologise for my behaviour." Taker states. "I don't expect you to forgive me. But I appreciate you Standing up for Leon. I'm glad he has someone who cares so much about him." "Ill always have his back sir." Drew nods. "And I do forgive you. I understand why you did it." Drew adds. "Yeah?" Taker asks. "Hes your son. And he's a lot like Mr michaels." Drew shrugs. Leon glances at drew. "Fresh beginnings huh?" Drew asks holding his hand out. Taker chuckles and shakes his hand. "Fresh beginnings kid. Now, how about you two go out for lunch yeah?" Taker smirks. "What?" Leon blurts out.

"Shit Leon, keep up, go out together, alone. I'll buy you time, gives me time to sort Paul out" Taker huffs. Leon looks at drew. "It'll be fun. Cmon" drew smiles holding his hand out. Leon looks down at his hand.

"Ah fuck it, I'm always down for some fun" Leon smirks accepting the hand.

Taker watches as they walk away. "Mmm, remind you of something?" Shawn smirks. Taker turns to look at his husband. "You really need a bell" Taker huffs. "But yes. Yes it does" Taker smiles taking shawns hand.

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

"In wrestling news, Fan favourite, The Scottish Warrior and The Skeleton King have been confirmed to not only be dating but married. Its unsure how long it's been going on but the couple along with their boss announced it after Mcintyre referred to Michaels sister as his sister in law. We send our congratulations to the married champs."

---------Notes--------

This got so long I forgot what I was doing.

But give me credit, I started this yesterday night and finished it the exact time I started it yesterday. Been working on it on and off since.

I wanted to do something based off the gifs but went completely rogue.

Shock

Anyways I love writing deon, I adore them, so honestly I'm not angry.

[rescuefield-arch1]

clicking of heels echoes against the floor, claire's attention focused on her surroundings as she makes her way out of the airport. the crowds don't bother her as much anymore but a part of her is always wondering if someone would be crazy enough to cause another red herring outbreak - the answer is yes, though claire tries hard not to think too much about it before the only choice left is locking herself at home. gaze widens upon hearing her name called out from the main entry, features softening once realized it's leon. admittedly his presence is a surprise - she had mentioned the time of landing in passing but didn't expect him to show up, after all work is always very demanding of both of them, that much she understands perfectly. "hi baby," she greets, tone so so tired but then again claire wouldn't even know where to begin with the story of her latest mission.

hand easily finds its way to leon's, soft smile on lips as she watches him slip both in the pocket of his coat, other hand already taking away the duffle bag from her. head rests against his shoulder as they walk in the parking lot, basking in the moment before the awful feeling settles - her report was only the first step in regards of the joint mission she's just come back from. "sorry for pulling you out of work." she lies, corner of lips pulling up into a smirk. "how was your week? better than mine i hope." words are brought to a pause, the thought of inez hitting her like rapid fire. heart sinks for a moment, already thinking about how to break it to the woman's parents that their daughter has died on the field. in cases like this claire is glad there are no elders to put such a heavy news on, but then she thinks about all the people who loves her like family and it just begins to hurt all over again. "i sent chris the report already but he asked to see me in person, so..." voice trails, leon's knowing look almost making her laugh.

@deadaim : sounds like you two have a lot of catching up to do. 

"no actually i'm glad you came to pick me up," claire says honestly, fingers brushing through short auburn strands as she gets in the passenger seat. "this mission was a mess and half," a reality show, a bunch of idols, the apparent existence of a cult and of course a spy coming back to finish the job people before her couldn't - while it sounds like the plot of a possibly cool action B movie, claire can't help but wish it hadn't happened to her. "if you come along you might find the information useful or fill me in with more details, either way." a pause as she sink deeper in the seat, soft gaze studying leon as he starts the car. "plus there was stuff about t-phobos we need to discuss, and you know how chris getting antsy also gets me in a shitty mood." pleading eyes when gazes meet, claire adds a pout for good measure. "we could go home and take a nap when it's done... i know i need one."

[costellos]

author’s note: another self-indulgent piece! you can interpret this as ur dating ur boo already or nah. the only ones that imply not being in a relationship are Bucciarati and Fugo’s scenarios. in any case, take it as you will and enjoooyy.

❥ ┋ ❝ bucci gang & their first kiss with you!

bruno bucciarati.

Bucciarati first kissed you after being caught in the rain.

the sound of his water faucet comes gently humming from his bathroom. it offers a nice contrast to the heavy raindrops pattering against his window. Bucciarati sighs, watching as a strike of lightning ignites his house, then slips a bag of earl gray tea into a kettle of boiling water.

this is his fault. he had asked you to meet him at Libeccio to go over some last minute details about an upcoming mission. but just as you were both about to part ways, an onslaught of rain came pouring from above. and of course, neither of you had an umbrella. ↳ “my house isn’t far from here. you can stay with me until this passes.”

Bucciarati curses to himself. he’s trying his best to make the most of the situation. the sense of guilt for forcing you out is overwhelming, though. and now that the temperature is dropping in Naples, he fears that he set you up to get a cold. 

the water from his bathroom cuts off. alright. you’re almost done. hopefully taking a hot shower will keep you from getting sick. a sigh escapes his lips once more as he pours the earl gray into a mug for you.

fantastic work, Bruno, he thinks to himself. it’s nice to have you here, it really is. but this was hardly out of choice. there had been so many scenarios that Bucciarati had concocted to bring you back to his home, to make you feel as safe as you do for him, yet. here you are. stuck here because he didn’t check the forecast.

really, that’s what it’s all about: he’s seen the way that you act around the team and civilians. how you selflessly put their needs above your own. even when he requested that you talk with him last minute, you didn’t hesitate to drop everything and run to Libeccio. you shouldn’t have to do that for anybody. certainly not him.

he desperately wants to take care of you, just as you do for everyone else. he wants to be the one that you come to for all your problems. he just wishes that mobster life wasn’t so complicated, that he could admit his feelings truly and wholly.

the mug in his grasp slips away. Bucciarati blinks. but when he hears your giggle, he realizes he must have gotten so deep in his thoughts that he didn’t notice you were out of the bathroom.

you sip your tea, sending him a playful grin. Bucciarati returns it with one of his own. you look so small here, with your towel over your head and your cheeks still rosy from your hot shower. god. he can’t help but smile wider.

oh. hm. his strainer must not have contained all the leaves, because there’s a stray earl gray remnant on the corner of your lip. wordlessly, he reaches up to swipe it off with his thumb. your skin feels so smooth under his touch, so warm and soft. he just wants to take care of you. he just wants to make you feel loved. he just wants to— 

Bucciarati’s kiss is quick yet so incredibly gentle. remnants of his cologne still stick to his skin — sandalwood and sea salt — but all you can focus on is how loving he feels against you. he tastes faintly of red wine. ↳ “forgive me. I couldn’t help myself.”

leone abbacchio.

Abbacchio first kissed you while doing your makeup.

it’s quiet underneath the yacht that Bucciarati rented. Narancia is blasting music on the deck above you and Mista and Fugo are talking, but everything is so muffled. it’s just you, Abbacchio, and the rouge lip stain that he’s sliding across your lips.

it’s a simple job: infiltrate a fundraiser hosted by the capo of a rival gang. because you’re one the most stunning member of the group, you were unanimously voted to distract the capo’s guards. this would give Mista access to his room and end this once and for all. and so, here you are now: getting your makeup done to, as Bucciarati quoted, “put your best face forward.”

so beautiful, Abbacchio thinks to himself. to be honest, he doesn’t understand why you asked him to help with your makeup. you really don’t need it. but he’d take any opportunity to get closer to you (though he’d never admit it).

the lip stain feels cold against your skin. Abbacchio does his best to make you comfortable, with his holding your chin in his grasp. his eyebrows are knitted, eyes strained as he tries to make you look your best. ↳ “alright. now rub your lips together.”

you do as your told, sliding the solution between your lips. seeing you move your mouth in such a way, rolling the liquid between your skin, your face so perfect... well. it’s an understatement to say that he’s overwhelmed.

“Leone?” your voice is so soft. he’s still holding onto your chin. you’re so close that he can feel your breath against his skin. all it would take— ↳ “so beautiful...”

his kiss is breathy and needy. you never expected him to be so desperate. how long has he been like this?

Abbacchio’s lips smack against yours, the hand on your chin moving to the back of your head, pulling you even closer to him. you can feel the lip stain that he just applied transferring to his own mouth. it tastes like cherries.

he keeps pushing himself further and further into you. he’s so enamored. so deprived. it takes you by surprise, but you follow his lead. ↳ “agghh! I’m sorry! I’ll come back later!!”

Narancia slams the door to the yacht’s room, effectively ending whatever you had just a moment ago. Abbacchio flinches from the sound, and once he realizes that Narancia saw everything, he rolls his eyes and sighs. ↳ “we’ll continue this later.”

giorno giovanna.

Giorno first kissed you during a mission in in the Alps.

you’re patrolling the perimeter of a ski resort. it’s cold up here, colder than you’re used to. nonetheless, this is potential new territory for Passione, so Bucciarati sent you and Giorno to observe the scene. you just didn’t expect your fingers to freeze so quickly. ↳ “I told you to bring a thicker coat.”

your partner isn’t helping. you turn to the blond next you, a sly grin on his lips. you merely stick your tongue out in response (which, quite frankly, freezes rapidly too).

in any case, you push further. despite your chilly surroundings, you have to admit that it’s nice up here. the setting sun sets the sky on fire, casting an orange glow on the snow at your feet. the air smells vaguely of pine and Giorno’s cologne, but you can’t quite pinpoint the notes on the latter.

Giorno is trying to be subtle when he looks at you. when he knows you’re not paying attention, his green irises turn to you. you look so cute out here, with your cheeks so rosy and your eyelashes covered with tiny snowflakes. you’re wearing the knit hat with the little pom pom that he bought for you. that gesture makes his heart as warm as the jacket you should’ve brought with. he’s so enamored by you.

but he can’t help but notice how much you’re shivering. he wishes he had been more adamant about bringing a thicker jacket. you insisted you would be okay, but even still. he feels that this is partly his fault. ↳ “here. hold on.”

Giorno stops in his tracks, forcing you to stop as well. the air falls dead silent, likely due to the snow around you. he unwraps the tan cashmere scarf from his neck, opting to swing it around your own. it's here that you can finally identify what his cologne smells like: vanilla and tobacco, the latter a remnant from an earlier meeting. it’s so inviting, just as he is to you.

but instead of folding it around your neck, Giorno grasps the ends of the scarf, pulling you close to him. that stupid sly smirk is on his face, and as he presses his lips onto yours, you can feel it against your own.

for as confident as he seemed just earlier, he almost recoils in the kiss. he’s shy and inexperienced, and it seems he acknowledges this, for the kiss itself is rather chaste. but he places his forehead on yours, his smirk replaced with that gentle smile you’ve come so well to know. ↳ “is that better?”

guido mista.

Mista first kissed as you were waiting for the subway.

your eyelids feel heavy. it’s far past your usual bedtime. not that you mind; tonight was an important mission briefing, so of course it would go far longer than any of you expected. 

nonetheless, it’s dark out. few people are at the Salvator Rosa subway station. maybe it’s better that way — fewer creeps to deal with. though Mista had offered to bring you back home, you live on the other side of Naples from him. it’s a sweet gesture. you just feel bad accepting it when it’s already so late.

click. click. click. the heels on Mista’s boots send echoes down the tunnels. he looks down the train tracks, seeing no sign of any approaching vehicles. the train should be coming every ten minutes at this hour. it’s not that he wants to get rid of you, he just wants to make sure that you get home as soon as possible. he doesn’t like the thought of you being out this late by yourself.

at no sign of a train, Mista clicks his tongue and leans back. he then looks at you, catching you mid-yawn. you’re tired, that much is obvious, with your bloodshot eyes and sullied expression. yet even then, he can’t help but find you so charming. you work so hard for everyone, trying your best to do the most that you can. you continuously put everyone first. he wishes he could do the same for you. it’s the least he could do. ↳ “you’re so incredible, I could kiss you. ...wait, did I just say that out loud?”

oh my god oh my god oh my god DID HE REALLY JUST BLURT THAT? 

Mista’s internally panicking now. he’s trying to take back what he said (but also not, because it’s true), yet there’s no smooth way to do it. he’s tried for so long to put up this cool guy persona and now he’s ruined it!!! (even though he never had it in the first place.)

but you just laugh in response, and that alone is enough to relax him. okay. so maybe he didn’t fuck up entirely. ↳ “err... can I kiss you?”

god, he’s such an idiot. but you oblige, saying yes, he can kiss you.

Mista wastes no time. he takes you by your hips, pressing his lips against yours. he’s wanted to do this for so long now. and now that this moment is here, all he wants to do is keep you close to him — and him only.

his kisses are eager and excited. he’s not inexperienced, especially with his flirtatious past. but there’s something about the way he moves his lips that makes you feel like you’re the only kiss that matters. you can feel him smiling as you return his enthusiasm. ↳ “you have no idea how long I’ve been wanting to do that.”

narancia ghirga.

Narancia first kissed you during a moment of silence.

Tupac is playing quietly in the background. the smell of stale potato chips fill the room. you can hear Narancia playing some video game on his N64, the soft buzz of his TV filling the silence between songs.

neither of you had any days off nowadays. but by some miracle, some god took pity on the both of you and allowed a Friday night of relaxation. although Narancia and you had discussed going out, you both decided you were too damn tired. (even though it’s far beyond midnight now.)

Narancia selects the TRY AGAIN? option (after dying for the upteenth time... jesus, this game is hard), and while he waits for the loading screen to pass, he can’t help but look at you. you’re sitting cross-legged on his bed, reading some trashy tabloid. you look so at peace here, with your eyelids low and a Twizzler hanging from your mouth. he loves seeing you like this; it’s such a nice change from how stressed you’ve been lately. he wishes you would always be like this. and he knows that’s not the life either of you agreed to once you joined Passione, but. the fact still stands.

it’s like you know that he’s watching you. you instinctively tap on his arm, a sign he’s so familiar with that means you want to play the game next.

everything here is so comfortable and familiar. he wants this moment to last forever.

the only thing that would make it better is to... well. hmm. how should he go about that? ↳ “hey, hand me a Twizzler.”

without looking, you move your hand from his arm, reaching to the plastic bag beside you. ↳ “no, stupid! I meant like this.”

it’s a smooth move, you have to admit. after he pauses his game, he climbs onto the bed with you. he bites onto the opposite end of your Twizzler, far before you can process what’s even happening.

though, let’s be real, Narancia doesn’t even know what’s happening. there are all sorts of alarms ringing in his head. what is he doing? oh my god, is this what it means to be smooth??

he supposes so, because he quickly closes the gap between you. he’s clumsy and he tastes like strawberries, but he’s so, so inviting. he tries to take it slow, with his peppering your lips with relaxed, gentle kisses. you can feel his right hand creep onto your cheek, the pads of his fingers tickling your temple.

↳ “was... was that okay?”

pannacotta fugo.

Fugo’s first kissed you while tending to your wounds.

crickets chirp from outside his window. cicadas hiss from outside. you hiss along with them as Fugo places an alcohol-soaked cotton ball on a cut. ↳ “I know, I’m sorry. I’m almost done.”

following a stand battle where, quite honestly, both of you narrowly escaped death, Fugo took it as his responsibility to tend to you. not that he particularly wanted to (which is what he kept telling himself), he simply felt it was his responsibility after you took care of him just a month earlier.

neither of you should be in this situation. had you not defended some civilians during the fight, both of you would have come out of this battle a lot cleaner. especially you. dear lord, your skin is littered with cuts and bruises. nothing too concerning, and thankfully no gashes or broken bones, but that was calling it way too close.

his violet eyes flicker to you for a second. your lips are pursed and your eyebrows are furrowed  — he can tell you’re in pain. although he tries to make this process as easy as he can, there’s only so much he can do.

Fugo turns back to your arm. you have a cut along the inside of your elbow, which he’s currently wrapping in gauze. he makes a note of it. that’s going to hurt whenever you bend your elbow, which will effect how you fight during your next stand battle. he sighs. you’re so stupid.

even still... he envies you. you don’t hesitate, ever, unlike him. you know exactly what you want to do and how you’re going to get it. and despite everything, you still try to protect the people around you, even if it means putting yourself in harm. that part is foolish, he thinks, but admirable nonetheless. he wishes that he could follow in your lead, carving his own path.

however, he couldn’t ignore how you defined him a month ago: a friend, someone worth caring for. Fugo has been described as many things yet... that’s the only one that he felt mattered. he wants everyone to see him as that. that’s how he sees you, at least.

he turns back to your face. your eyebrow is singed. he takes his thumb, running it over your charred hairs, checking for any more cuts. thankfully, there’s nothing.

but it’s here that he realizes how close he is to you. your faces are a mere three millimetres apart, your wide eyes looking back at him. with that stupid grin on your face (though he admits, most of the time it’s cute), you quickly reach up and kiss his nose.

to say Fugo is stunned would be an understatement. is... is this even appropriate? can he do this...? this wasn’t at all how he expected the night to go, yet...

Fugo exhales. you can hear how his breath wavers. but once he composes himself, he takes your face in his hands and presses his lips onto yours.

everything about Fugo is calculated. but here, it feels as though he’s absorbing everything for the first time, fumbling through the steps. because, honestly, it’s true. you’re his first kiss, and he couldn’t be happier to share it with you. he’s careful to not to push too hard into you or to touch you where your skin is cut, but his lips are smooth and welcoming. taking you in as if this was his intention all along. ↳ “come closer. I... I don’t want to stop.”

[icollectyoursins]

Caesar Zeppeli blowjob with a twist

Are you horny for some penis-thigh traps? I am. A penis-thigh trap being you giving them head and then them locking their legs around you so you can’t get off their dick. Yeah, I’m in a mood.

This is going to be part of a trio (Abbacchio, Risotto and Caesar), those will be linked below.

Risotto Nero

Leone Abbacchio

After so many nights of Caesar pleasing you like no one has before, you thought you’d return the favor, but he has... other ideas, ones where he’s not so obedient and you give in, just a little.

Have a character, but no idea? Prompt list here!

Looking for more? Master post here!

WARNINGS: Restraints, grinding, teasing, blow jobs, thigh ear-muffs, face fucking (kinda. Not for very long), like, a paragraph of soothing bath time.

Word Count: 1536

Returning A Favor

    Caesar was a very generous person when it came to sex. He had his cruel moments when he played with you a bit too much, of course, but he always made sure you got what you want. Eventually. Tonight, you thought you’d repay the favor. Or maybe it was payback, either way, tonight was about him.

     You playfully kissed a trail up his neck to his lips, ghosting over them, teasing him. He laughs, testing his restraints. His eyes watch you as you lean back, soft hands trailing down his chest. You gently raked your nails against his skin, knowing how much he loved when you placed with his pecs. He shifts his hips, slowly gyrating his hips into you, trying to get you to give in, let him have his fun, he knew if he tried enough you would do whatever he wanted.

     He sighs through his nose, rolling his eyes when you don’t do what he wants. The devious look in his eyes tells you he’s not going to obey willingly. Two can play at this game. You roll your hips into his crotch, eliciting a groan from him. He’s getting hard, you can feel it with every grind into him. 

     “You’re going to make me break these restraints, cara,” Caesar’s voice is smooth as silk, despite the effort you’re putting in to do the opposite. You give him a dangerous look and he chuckles, bucking his hips up into you again making you gasp.

    “Behave, you’ll get what you want,” you say, digging your nails into his pecs as a warning, he moans, then laughs lightly.

     “What do I want, dolcezza?” His emerald eyes wander over your body, lingering on your crotch, then darting back up to lock eyes with you. You laugh under your breath, leaning down to his face again, breath tickling his lips.

     “I don’t need to say it, you’ve made it very obvious, Caesar.” You kiss him lightly before shifting so you’re now in between his legs, hands massaging the inside of his thighs. You slowly creep up to his crotch, getting a little rougher. He’s getting antsier, the anticipation of you finally touching his cock was getting to him more than he thought it would and he couldn’t stay still.

     You pull your hands away suddenly, relishing in the way he sighed, frustrated, bucking his hips to try and get some kind of relief. You needed to do this more often. The flush on his face, the heave of his chest, his muscles flexing whenever he pull on his restraints. You could get used to making him this worked up.

     He mustered enough control to give you a desperate look and you gave in, slightly. Carefully you pulled his underwear down, delighting in the bob his cock made when it slipped out of the fabric. You pouted your lips, lightly trailing your fingertips along it. It looked painful. The tip was flushed red and as you wrapped your hand around it you noticed how stiff it was. The poor thing.

     You look into Caesar's eyes, taking note of the desperate look in his eyes, pitiful almost. With your hand now firmly wrapped around it, you gave his cock a smooth pump. His head rolled back into the pillow, sighing contently. Finally, relief. Your pace was too slow though and he felt himself bucking his hips into your hand for more feeling. More pleasure.

     As quickly as you had started, you stopped, pulling your hand off, resting it on his thigh again. He let out a sound of frustration then relaxed, holding himself as still as he could. You smiled. He was a quick learner. Your hand returned to his cock, squeezing hard than before, but still slow. His moans were shameless, falling from his lips with ease. Music to your ears. You picked up the pace, slowly leaning in to wrap your lips around his tip.

     "~Aah! Oh, more, please!" Caesar squirmed under your touch. Your mouth felt so warm around him, he couldn't help it. He wanted more, but he promised he wouldn't break the restraints when you had first put them on. Oh, but if he could, your throat would be full of his cock. He'd be thrusting into that bottomless warmth, fists full of your hair, keeping you there until he spilled every last drop into you. Then, he'd go for round 2.

     As if you could read his mind, you swallowed more of him, sending him into a fit of pure bliss. He was so desperate, you could tell that much so at this point you didn't stop his shallow thrusts into your mouth, you worked with them, bobbing your head and hand with the rhythm. His legs curled, heels digging into the bed.

     Despite his fear of cumming instantly if he looked at you, he make a quick glance and oh, the sight he saw was gorgeous. Your lips stretched around him,  hand pumping in sync. You were enjoying this as much as he was, clearly. You flicked your eyes up to his and he was lost in them for a moment, unable to form a single thought or sentence other than “more. You happily obliged.

     You removed your hand, letting your mouth and throat do all the work now. As a show of prowess, you lifted off of his cock until you were at the tip, then, still keeping eye contact, you slowly swallowed all of his length, breaking the eye contact when you reached his crotch. The sound that left his mouth was just deplorable, a sweet mixture of shock, delight and lust. 

     You resumed your pattern of slurping up and down his cock, twisting your tongue as much as you could to add more pleasure. The effort was not unnoticed by him. He watched you with awe. Such a beautiful sight. God, he wished he could keep you there forever.

     Wait...

     Caesar fought the urge to chuckle as he squeezed his thighs together when you reached his crotch again, knowing you would probably not be able to fight back or escape. Your eyes widened when you felt the pressure, looking up at him, pleading. There was no way you could stay there, he knows that right? A light thrust up into your throat broke your train of thought and you found yourself rolling your eyes back, wanting him to do it again. 

     Spit drooled out of the sides of your mouth and your vision was starting to go fuzzy. Then, the pressure was relieved. You pulled up, coughing a string of spit connecting you to the tip of his cock. His eyes met yours. You looked so hungry, so needy.

     “Take these restraints off and I’ll-” he didn’t even get out the rest of the sentence before you were crawling on top of him, getting them off of him, tossing them aside. Your lips crashed into his, desperate. His hands were on you instantly, travelling along every part he couldn’t get to before, making up for lost time. He spoke again when you broke. “On the floor. Now, please.”

     You “gracefully�� clambered to the floor, kneeling in front of him, eagerly waiting his next order. Caesar sat with his legs spread and motioned you to come closer. When you did, he grabbed your head and pushed you down onto his length again, then up and then back down again. You were thankful for the help, obviously tired from having to do so much work. You thought he would be done earlier than this. He seemed close now, all you had to do was wait and then, of course, he would return the favor. 

     One last thrust onto his cock and his legs quickly wrapped around you, holding you there. You felt the tell-tale twitch of his release, then a smooth substance coating your throat. Instinctively, you began to choke, trying to pull back. He let go a little, giving you some room to breathe, stroking your head all the while, soothing you. 

     A few seconds later and he was done, pulling you off, using his thumb to wipe some of the drool/cum mixture off the corner of you lip. He said something that sounded like “beautiful,” but you were so out of it you couldn’t tell. You felt his hands grabbing your arms, pulling you up and onto his lap where he holds you close, massaging any sore spots he can reach.

     “Why don’t we get you cleaned up, hm?” That you heard. At least the effects weren’t permanent. You nodded your head weakly, wrapping your arms around his neck while curling into him more. You knew what was coming.

     He carries you into the bathroom, setting you down on the counter where there was already a moist towel waiting for you. Soft hands and even softer kisses clean you up, bringing you back down to earth while the bath fills in the background. You’re held close until it’s done, then are lifted into the bath with ease where he scrubs and massages you more than he was doing before, until you fall asleep, knowing very well you will be sore the next day, but, frankly, not giving a fuck.

-----

Translations:

cara = dear

dolcezza = sweet/sweetheart

[misskikuwrites]

Piece by Piece (1/2)

Bederia Week 2021: Day 3 - First Kiss 

Bede/Gloria (dressedinpinkshipping)

Tags: Fluff, angst, alcohol spiking, underage drinking, leon/sonia ship reference, swearing

Words: 8,806

@bede-x-gloria

-

Gloria stared out the Sky Taxi window and into the night. The city of Wyndon was a glistening sea of lights below them, alive and vibrant as though unbothered by the late hour. As they flew closer to the Rose of the Rondelands, the elegant five-star hotel where the Gala was taking place in its grand ballroom, the nerves in Gloria's stomach began to tighten. She wove her fingers together on her lap to stop herself from wringing the delicate chiffon skirt of her violet dress. 

 Violet. Gloria clenched her jaw and swallowed the lump in her throat. Even now, her heart ached when she thought about him- about Bede. A week had passed since she'd ran out on him, since she'd realised how she felt towards him. It had been a week filled with tears. A week spent fighting the pain, the guilt, the fear. A week where she struggled to put the pieces of her heart back together. Fragile like broken glass, the wound was still raw. It hadn't been long enough

 She felt unbalanced. About to crumble at any given moment, ready to fracture. The impending Gala was more daunting to her than ever before, knowing that Bede would be there. There was no avoiding it. She'd sent him a short text, apologising her abrupt departure with the weak excuse that something had come up. Something she needed to attend to. 

 That much wasn't a lie, but she refused to read his reply. It hurt too much. She'd cried enough for a lifetime over the past few days, overcome by fear, and couldn't bear to find out how he'd judge her for it. Gloria let out a shaky sigh. She blinked hastily as tears pricked in her eyes, tilting her head back to stop them forming. She couldn't risk crying now, not after spending an hour - and a lot of money - getting her make-up done by a professional.

 Hop shifted closer to her on the plush seat. "Hey, don't worry. Everything'll be fine," he said, giving her arm a gentle, reassuring squeeze. 

 Even with Hop next to her, fear had taken hold inside her. Like a creeping vine, it wound around her heart, making its home in her chest, in her lungs, with a thousand thorns that pierced her flesh whenever she breathed. 

 "He's going to be there," Gloria said quietly. She didn't need to say his name. She couldn't, not without giving in to her tears. 

 "I know," Hop said, "but that doesn't mean anything's going to happen." 

 She pressed her lips firmly together. He was right, but trepidation seeped through her veins with every beat of her heart, filling her with fear. Drowning out Hop's voice of reason. 

 "I don't want to see him." Her lips trembled. Chest tightened. Gloria wanted to curl up as small as she could, to hide away, to vanish completely. 

 She didn't want to do this. 

 "There'll be tons of other people there, you probably won't even notice him!" Hop pointed out. "You'll be too busy dancing or talking with all the sponsors and famous people fighting for your attention. I doubt you'll have any time to worry about Be- about him at all." 

 He quickly cut himself off from saying Bede's name, but Gloria's heart thumped painfully in her chest, hard enough to make her wince. It wouldn't be difficult for her to avoid Bede- as Hop had said, there'd be dozens and dozens of people clambering to speak with her all night. The issue was her heart, the longing, the ache inside her that drew her towards Bede. It corrupted her, this feeling she despised.

 This love. 

 Gloria wrapped her arms around herself and sank further into the chair. "What if he knows?" she asked, her voice as quiet as a breath, faint and insecure. Full of fear. 

 "C'mon, Glo. There's no way he'd know," Hop said. He gave her arm a gentle rub, trying to comfort her. 

 Gloria let her vision blur, eyes falling closed. The lights out the window, tiny speckles like stars below, bloomed into ribbons of light. The glass was cold against her skin. Cold and hard, echoing how numb she felt. 

 "You know I'm not good at pretending," she said slowly. "I can't… hide my feelings well." 

 Gloria had never been good at that, hadn't seen the point in pretending to feel something she didn't. She couldn't fake it. She was an open book for anyone to read, and it had never been an issue.

 Until now. 

 Gloria felt vulnerable. Paper thin, as though everyone could see right through her. As though her heart was out in the open. 

 "You won't have to fake anything," Hop said. "Just be yourself. He can't read your mind, remember? He's your friend. If he does come up to you, act like nothing's changed, because nothing has changed." He nudged her with his elbow gently. "You said you've felt like this towards him for a while, right? If he didn't notice then, he won't notice now." 

 Gloria grimaced with a flash of pain. "I don't want to feel like this." Her voice caught. "I don't- I don't want to be in love." 

 Tears threatened to fall. She sucked in a breath and blinked rapidly to force them away again. She wasn't about to let the efforts of her make-up artist go to waste just because she couldn't stop herself from crying. 

 "Hey, love's not all that bad," Hop said. "You never know, maybe he feels the same about you-" 

 "That doesn't matter!" It came out in a beat of panic. Her heart clenched tight in distress, forcing a sob out of her throat. "It doesn't matter," she said again, softer this time. "Love only leads to pain. I don't… I don't want to go through that again." 

 Hop touched her arm. "Gloria…"

 "Sorry." She shook her head. "I'm being stupid again. I know you think it's ridiculous that I'm terrified of love." 

 "No, I…" He looked away. "I don't think it's ridiculous. Neither does your mum. Those of us who know what happened… we understand." 

 "But you still think I'm wrong." 

 Hop stifled a grimace, his expression twitching with regret. "I think… it's a shame that you won't give this a chance, that's all." 

 A chance. That was a risk she couldn't take. Gloria tried to shove her feelings away, to force them deep, deep into the back of her mind in the hope that she was strong enough to stop them from resurfacing. If she could get through tonight without crumbling to dust, then perhaps she could control this and keep those feelings at bay. It was a test, one she'd been practicing a week for. The Sky Taxi landed out the front of the Rose of the Rondelands hotel, and Gloria sat up straight. She took a deep breath and perfected her mask. 

 When the Sky Taxi door pulled open, she was no longer just Gloria, a simple girl from Postwick. She was Gloria, the Champion of Galar. She swept out of the carriage and into the blinding lights of camera flashes. Cries of her name filled the air, increasing in volume when she waved politely to the journalists with a smile. She felt like someone else. Someone more confident, more classy, someone who fit in the world of the elite and famous. The delicate make-up and stunning dress gave her a veil to hide behind. Her hair was styled into an elegant updo, fashioned with a French braid that trailed above her right ear.  Even her usually plain fringe was styled to fit, and she had soft wispy curls left to frame her face. It wasn't Gloria they saw, not really. They saw the Champion. 

 Behind her title, she could hide in plain sight. 

 Hop stepped up beside her, looking smart in his dapper, slim fitting navy suit, and he met her smile with one of his own, one that soothed away the final cracks in Gloria's mask. He offered her his arm, and she took it with practiced grace. The week they'd spent rehearsing paid off as they strode arm-in-arm with confidence through the doors.

 Gloria breathed the faintest sigh of relief as the doors closed behind them, shutting out the buzz of noise and lights from outside. Hop's eyes twinkled with unspoken pride as they were led through to the grand ballroom. It was as exquisite as last year, and Gloria found herself dazed for a moment. Chandeliers glistened like diamonds over the marble floor, the ceiling towered above them, held up by pillars carved with intricate designs. Interspaced between the pillars were glass windows and doors that fed out into the balcony, the night a wedge of darkness outside.  

Gloria forced herself to keep moving as heads turned towards her and Hop as their entrance was announced. Already, the ballroom was filled with people, most of whom she didn't recognise. People mingled in groups by tables overflowing with tiers of cakes, arrangements of fruit, and varying morsels of food the size of which would've better suited a Skwovet. Waiters expertly swept through the crowds, carrying crystal glasses bubbling with what Gloria assumed was something alcoholic. She tightened her grip on Hop's arm and nervously glanced from face to face, from group to group. Instinctively, unintentionally, seeking him out. 

 "Look, there's Lee and Sonia," Hop said, tapping Gloria's arm. 

 "Where?" She forcefully dragged her gaze to where Hop was pointing as he led her over to them. 

 Sonia brightened when she saw them approach, looking absolutely stunning in an off-the-shoulder teal dress. A slit in her skirt ran halfway up her high, showing off her long, slim legs. She wore heels that matched the colour of her dress, the height of which made Gloria blink in shock for a moment. In her heels, Sonia stood as tall as Leon. 

 "Oh, don't you two look so precious!" Sonia said, gesturing with the glass in her hand. "Reminds me of the first Gala Leon invited me to." 

 She leant closer to Leon, their arms comfortably intertwined. He smiled at her, his eyes soft with remembrance, and Gloria suddenly felt as though she'd missed something. 

 "That was years ago," Leon chuckled softly. 

 "You didn't tell me you'd be here, Lee," Hop said, lifting an eyebrow. "I didn't think they let ex-Champions attend." 

 "I'm here as the proprietor of the Battle Tower," Leon said. "Turns out that makes me important enough for an invite. And here I'd thought I'd had enough of these for a lifetime." 

 Gloria managed a smile as her attention drifted away from their group. She looked past Sonia, to where a band was playing by the dancefloor. Couples spun and twirled in time to the music, manoeuvring around each other in a perfectly choreographed synchrony. Gloria's heart thumped as she glanced between the dancers. None of them had his height or his build. None had platinum blond hair or curls like his, none had his elegance or poise. She swallowed thickly and looked away. Would Bede soon be dancing like that with a gorgeous woman in his arms? 

 That thought soured her mood more than it already was, filling her throat with nausea. She pulled away from Hop's arm and gave him a tight smile when he looked at her. 

 "I'm going to grab a drink," Gloria said. 

 She ducked around Hop towards a passing waiter. One of them had to have something non-alcoholic, and if they didn't, then surely they could bring her something that was. She made for the waiter as quickly as her heels would allow while also retaining her sense of refinement. In her haste, she almost collided with someone. 

 "Oh, sorry!" Gloria apologised, swallowing her yelp as she stopped herself a split second away from walking straight into the young man in front of her. He jolted just as she did, his bright blue eyes widening with recognition. 

 "You must be Gloria," he said, "the Champion, right?" 

 She straightened and gave him a smile. "That's me," she said with a sheepish laugh.

 Gloria distracted herself from her nerves by fingering the bracelet around her wrist. She touched each tiny star, the crystals sparkling pink in the light, and her mind drifted to the moment Bede had given it to her, to when he'd gently clasped it around her wrist and her skin had tingled at his very touch. She felt her cheeks warm. 

 Not now! Gloria stamped that memory out. Don't think about that now! 

 "What luck, running into the Champion of Gala before I've even had my first drink," the blond-haired stranger said, smiling gently at her. He held up the glass in his hand, the clear liquid spotted with tiny bubbles. "Here, why don't you have mine? You seemed to be after that waiter before you almost barreled me over." 

 Gloria flushed darker. "Oh, um, I can't drink. Alcohol, I mean. I'm not eighteen yet." 

 "No need to worry, then. It's non-alcoholic sparkling wine," he said, offering it to her again. "I don't drink either, although I could if I wanted to. I'd rather not dull my senses, you see." 

 She accepted his glass, peering into it for a moment. As the stranger had said, there was no evidence around the rim that he'd tried it, and so she gave it a tentative sip. It tasted much like it smelled, though sweeter than expected. 

 "Thank you," Gloria said, appreciative that she didn't have to continue chasing a waiter. "I don't think I caught  your name?" 

 The stranger smiled. "That would be because I hadn't given it to you, yet. I'm Elliott Murdoch. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Gloria." 

 She smiled back despite how strange it was to have people she'd never met know so much about her. She doubted that she'd ever get used to it. 

 "It's nice to meet you too," Gloria said. She filled his name into the back of her mind before pausing. "Hold on- Murdoch? As in, like Richard Murdoch?" 

 Elliott gave a short laugh. "That would be my father, yes." 

 Gloria's heart plopped into her stomach and churned with her nerves. She knew who Richard Murdoch was, almost everyone in Galar did- he owned most of the newspapers, the magazines, that circulated. He was one of the richest men in Galar, and could possibly be the richest now with Rose out of commission. 

 And she'd almost run into his son. 

 Elliott must've seen her pale, for he touched her shoulder gently. "Don't worry, I've got little to do with my father's empire at the moment. I find that associating myself with him tends to limit the amount of people comfortable around me," he said. "I'm sure you must experience something similar, being the Champion." 

 Gloria found her nerves loosening slightly. "I think so," she said. "People see me as the Champion, rather than as myself. It can get a bit exhausting, sometimes…" she trailed off, and slowly drank from her glass. She'd begun looking over his shoulder, her attention shifting between the people behind him. Searching the crowds. 

 Where is he?  

"I know what you mean," Elliott said, and Gloria snapped attention back to him. 

 Arceus, what am I doing? She scolded herself. Pay attention to who you're talking to! 

 She nodded stiffly, trying to listen to Elliott as her mind threatened to drift away again. Every flicker of movement in the corner of her eyes, the people moving about, the couples dancing, itched at the back of her mind. He would be here somewhere. With his date- perhaps with the one he'd spoken about to her, the one he liked. 

 Gloria's stomach twisted into knots. She lifted her glass to her lips and downed the rest to force away the nausea rising up her throat. Even now, Bede managed to invade her thoughts. Just knowing he was here, somewhere, sent something crackling and fluttering away in her chest, and filled her with a longing to find him. A longing that came with fear. 

 Elliott tapped Gloria's shoulder, giving her a sheepish smile. "I believe your date is staring me down," he said, and gestured behind her. 

 Gloria glanced over her shoulder, and caught Hop's gaze. He raised an eyebrow at her, his brow furrowed with the slightest hint of concern. A question in his eyes. 

 "I should get back to him," Gloria said. She gave Elliott an apologetic smile to which he chuckled. 

 "Yes, well, we wouldn't want your boyfriend to get the wrong idea." 

 Gloria stiffened. All the muscles in her body went rigid. Tight. "He's not my boyfriend," she said. Nausea returned with a vengeance, and her heart began to thump heavily in her chest, each beat hollow with dread. "Hop's just a friend." 

 "Ah, my apologies, then," Elliott said with a sweet smile. "I'd heard you were dating the young professor's assistant, but really, of all people, I should know to take what I read in magazines with a heap of salt." 

 Gloria forced a smile. The polite breath of laughter she tried to give died on her lips. "Those magazines have… never been right." 

 "Well, since I've received information directly from the source, I'll be sure to tell our writers to stop publishing nonsense rumours about you two," Elliott said.

 "I'd really appreciate that, thank you." His assurance lifted a weight from the pit of her stomach. "It was nice meeting you, Elliott," Gloria said, giving him a grateful nod. 

 "As it was meeting you." Elliott flashed a charming smile, and said with a wink, "I'll have to ask you for a dance later, if your date doesn't mind me monopolizing a bit more of your time." 

 She shot a glance over her shoulder. Hop turned away unsubtly, but she caught Leon's eyes. His expression was unreadable, almost stern, but when their eyes met, it vanished beneath his smile. The look on Leon's face had lasted but a moment, and it still managed to disconcert her as she headed back to them. His attention remained on Elliott for a while longer. 

 "Who was that?" Hop asked, eyeing Gloria's empty glass. "You didn't get me one?"  

"Sorry." She shrugged. "Elliott offered it to me, and he only had one." 

 "Elliott Murdoch," Leon said. His smile had faded, leaving his gaze distant. 

 "Wait, that was Elliott Murdoch?!" Sonia gasped. "As in, heir to the Murdoch empire? Son of Richard Murdoch, the wealthiest man in Galar? That Elliott Murdoch?!" 

 Gloria shrunk, her grip tightening around her glass. With Hop, Sonia and Leon staring at her, it was like she was being interrogated, forced under a spotlight. 

 "I think so…?" Gloria said meekly. "Is he that well known?" 

 "Of course he is!" Sonia gaped at her. "Don't tell me you didn't know who he was?" 

 "He has a certain… reputation," Leon said slowly, pausing as though he was mulling over his words. 

 "What did he say?" Sonia asked. Her eyes sparkled with interest. "What did you talk about? Anything interesting? He offered you a drink- did he ask you to dance?" 

 "Um, we just introduced ourselves," Gloria said. "We didn't talk for that long." 

 Sonia sighed, deflating. "Aw, too bad. These functions get boring and tedious real quick without anything interesting to talk about." She took a long sip of her wine, and hooked her arm around Leon's, leaning against him slightly. He smiled at her warmly. "And the only thing interesting around here are the people, most of which I'd never see in person if not for Leon." 

 "So you've become a gossip," Hop huffed. "Never thought you had it in you, Sonia." 

 "That's Professor Sonia to you!" She rested her head against Leon's shoulder, peering at Hop with one eye open. "You might not be wearing your lab coat, but you're still my assistant! Don't make me fire you for insubordination!" Her lips, shiny with a coat of crimson lipstick, pursed into a pout. 

 Hop recoiled in shock, while Leon chuckled. 

 "Don't mind her," Leon said, his affection clear in his voice, "she gets a bit testy when she's had wine." 

 Gloria looked away. Their casual display of affection, the tenderness in Leon's eyes, made her chest tighten. She swallowed as a vice constricted around her throat. The conversation before her became a blur of noise, her concentration fading, and her gaze drifted past Sonia to the people standing on the opposition side of the room.  

Her heart stopped. She recognised him instantly across the grand ballroom, from the way he stood tall with confidence, the way he held his head high. 

 Bede. He was breathtakingly beautiful- even from a distance, the sight of him whisked the air from her lungs in a silent gasp. He wore a tailcoat coloured a deep lavender, his usually unruly hair parted to the side and smoothed down as much as his curls would allow, his fringe kicking up in parts that sat beside his right ear. Gloria couldn't breathe for a moment. She forgot where she was, who she was, what she was doing. Her feet moved beneath her, drawing her a single step towards him. 

 She froze, heart lodged in her throat. There was an arm linked around his. Desperately, Gloria glanced at the woman on Bede's arm. She braced herself. Every fibre of her body tensed, instinctively wincing, waiting for the pain. 

 It never came. The woman on his arm balanced herself with a dark, ornately carved wooden cane. Her floor-length dress matched the dark lavender of Bede's tailcoat, Ms Opal's outfit topped with a gorgeous, lavender headpiece. 

 He'd come with Ms Opal. Gloria stared at them, her heart plopping into her stomach in shame. Bede always attended events with Ms Opal, she'd accompanied him the before, it made sense that this year would be the same. Gloria had gotten herself worked up over nothing. Over less than nothing, and she cursed herself for being so stupid. Her feelings towards him addled her mind. She saw things, worried about things, that weren't there. It turned her into a lovesick fool. An idiot. 

 Gloria huffed and forced down the feelings welling up in her chest. The yearning, the longing, that she felt towards Bede tugged on her heart despite the creeping fear that always remained one step behind. A lump settled in her throat again. Heat washed over her eyes. She blinked it away and quashed everything else. Her fear would protect her. She wore it as a shield, wrapped it around her heart like a cloak, and refused to budge. She wouldn't give in. The distance between them kept her safe- a wedge, a dark rift, she refused to cross. Gloria would stay here, on the other side of the ballroom, and let the night pass without incident. Without pain. This way, she didn't have to pretend. She didn't have to lie. To herself, to Bede, to her heart. 

 If that meant all she could do was watch him in silence, then she would. To keep herself safe, she would. 

 You'll be okay, Gloria told herself. Soothing the ache in her heart. If you stay away from him, you'll be okay. It's for the best. 

 She sighed, and let herself glance at Bede one final time. Their eyes met. Through the mingling guests filling the space between them, he looked straight at her. 

 And took a step forward. 

 Gloria grabbed Hop's arm and yanked him towards the dancefloor. "We're dancing," she said- ordered. No room for argument in her tone. 

 Hop stumbled, almost tripping on his feet as she pulled him away from Sonia and Leon. Away from Bede. "What? Now?" 

 "Now." Gloria slammed her glass down on a table as they passed it, not slowing her pace in the slightest. Her heart thumped rapidly in her ears, silencing Hop's grumbles of protest, and she forced herself onwards, fueled by panic, by her nerves, by the fear spreading through her lungs. 

 Bede had stepped towards her. 

 Gloria pulled Hop amidst the dancers, not waiting for the current song to end, and turned towards him. She grabbed his hand, his shoulder, and they fell into step with the music. At this distance, she couldn't hide from Hop the shadows, the fear, behind her eyes. 

 "What happened?" Hop asked quietly. 

 He instantly settled into their dance, realising this wasn't just one of Gloria's impulsive whims. Their week of practice paid off as they turned in sync. 

 "I saw him." It came out as a whisper, as quiet as a gasp. "And he-" 

 Gloria clamped her eyes shut for a second, for a step of their dance, and she sucked in a breath. Tears blinked away. 

 "He saw me," she said. Knowing that somewhere across the ballroom, Bede was behind her. 

 "Your eyes met?" Hop stepped right, and she followed. 

 Gloria nodded. She tightened her grip on Hop's shoulder as the world threatened to crumble beneath her feet. Unbalanced no longer described how she felt- she wasn't stumbling, she was falling. 

 "It was bound to happen, Glo," Hop said gently. He didn't patronise her, he understood the roots of her fear, the grip it had on her, and remained realistic. "He's your friend, it makes sense that he'd be looking for you. It's normal to want to hang with people you know at events like this." 

 Gloria let his words wash over her as they slowed to a stop when the song ended. Some of the couples around them departed, new ones taking their places, and the music began again. 

 "I don't want to talk to him," Gloria said. Her heart squeezed tight. "Not yet. Not tonight."

 Hop gave her a rueful smile. "You can't avoid him forever, you know." 

 "I can try." She looked away, keeping in step with him as they followed the music. 

 "Is that what you want?" 

 Hop's words echoed the pain in her heart. The longing. The desire to risk it all. 

 "It doesn't matter what I want," she said finally. "This is what I need." 

 "If you say so…" Hop sounded unsure, but Gloria remained resolute. 

 She needed to avoid Bede. They danced for a while, until Hop's steps became sloppy and out of time, and Gloria decided to let him rest. They stepped off the dancefloor, and she immediately stepped into her role as the Champion, seeking out sponsors, esteemed guests, and patrons. People she recognised and strangers alike, anyone she could waste away time with.  She danced with a few young men, most of whom were heirs to their parent's companies or estates, until her feet began to ache. When she parted from the last one, her throat was dry and hoarse from talking. Her head spun from dancing too long. The endless names she needed to remember blurred together in her mind, leaving her nauseous again. She gave the tables of slowly diminishing food a wide berth, seeking out a waiter she could commandeer for a drink. 

 Someone stepped in front of her. Gloria stopped herself from sagging in frustration, her gaze following the waiter she'd been a split second from reaching. 

 "Sorry, if you don't mind, I was-" 

 A glass full of sparkling liquid appeared before her eyes. 

 "After one of these?" Elliott asked, holding out a drink to her. He held a partially empty glass in his other hand. 

 She smiled in relief at him. "Yes, thank you." Gloria accepted the glass and sipped at it slowly, letting the bubbly liquid ease the ache in her throat. "How come you always seem to have just what I need?" she asked, breathing a laugh. 

 "I'll admit, the first time was a coincidence, but I was looking for an excuse to talk to you again," Elliott said. 

 Gloria tipped her glass to her lips, drinking as she thought. "You were?" 

 "It's not every day one gets a chance to talk with the Champion of Galar," he said, smiling softly. 

 His comment made her feel slightly giddy, as though the bubbles in her drink had filled her lungs. "It's not every day I get to speak with the son of the richest man in Galar," Gloria replied. "I feel like you one up me here."

 She found herself relaxing further as he laughed. There was something about him, something comforting, and she ignored her sore feet when he asked her to dance. She felt like she was floating. Walking on clouds. She danced with Elliott, a smile on her face the entire time, and came out of it giddy and breathless. 

 "Okay, I think that's enough dancing for one night," Gloria said as they stepped off the dancefloor, gently fanning her face with her hand. Her cheeks were flushed with warmth. "Who knew dancing could be such a workout?" 

 "I'm impressed," Elliott said, turning his back to her for a moment to grab a pair of drinks off the tray of a passing waiter. "You turned down all offers to dance last year, so I thought perhaps you didn't know how. It seems I was mistaken- you dance like an expert." 

 He turned back to her, handing her a glass that she eagerly accepted. 

 "Thank you," Gloria said, sipping her drink to keep herself from telling him she didn't know how to dance until a week ago. "Do those doors open?" She nodded towards the glass balcony doors. 

 "Why don't we find out?" Elliott smiled at her, and she followed him over to the doors. With a simple push, the towering glass door opened, and Gloria skipped out into the cool night air. 

 "That's so much better," she sighed happily. Her body buzzed and tingled with warmth, and she welcomed the embrace of the cold air around her. She stepped over to the edge of the balcony, staring out at the lights of Wyndon. The Ferris wheel turned as a dark form on the horizon. 

 "I'll join you in a moment," Elliott said, "I'm just going to grab one of those cakes before they all disappear." 

 Gloria hummed her response, closing her eyes as a gentle breeze swept over her. She felt so light. So free, so uncaring. Everything she'd worried about had fallen off her shoulders, drifting away into the night with the wind. Footsteps sounded behind her, and Gloria turned with a smile. 

 "Back so soon? I thought-" She stopped. It wasn't Elliott behind her. Her mouth dropped open with a wordless gasp, and she reached for him without thinking. Time slowed around her as her fingers touched the soft fabric of his tailcoat. 

 "Bede?" His name fell from her lips in awe. He stared down at her, violet eyes full of longing, and his expression was so soft, so tender, that she felt lightheaded beneath his gaze. The tips of her fingers remained against his chest.  

"Gloria…" the sound of her name sent a tingle down her spine. "You look so-" Bede's eyes shifted from hers. "Nice," he said, clearing his throat. "You look nice." 

 Floating. Gloria was floating. Why had she avoided him? She couldn't remember. Whatever the reason was, it no longer mattered. He was here. 

 "You look nicer," she said, pouting. "How is it that you're so much prettier than me? It's unfair!" 

 Bede blinked at her, and she snorted a laugh. 

 "Y'know what? It doesn't matter," Gloria said. 

 Bede's expression softened. He searched her eyes for a moment, once again captivating her with his gaze. 

 "I see you found time to continue practicing how to dance," he said. A hint of pride showed in his smile. "You had me worried- I wasn't sure that you'd be able to keep up your practice since you were so busy."

 Busy? Had she been busy? She couldn't remember. Gloria found herself leaning towards him. Drawn towards him. Her palm flattened against his chest as she stepped closer. Something bloomed in her chest. Something warm, something powerful, and her heart felt full. The words were on her tongue before she could think.  

"Bede, I think…" She felt fuzzy, giddy. And light. She felt so, so light. "I think I-" 

 "Where did you get that?" 

 "What?" Gloria stared at him for a second. He was frowning at the glass in her hand. Bede reached for it, and she tugged it away from him. "Hey, get your own!"  

"Gloria, that's alcohol," Bede said with a huff. He looked at her incredulously, and she snorted. 

 "No, it's not," she laughed. "It's non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Arceus, Bede. I'm not an idiot!" 

 "Where did you get it?" Bede asked again. His expression turned serious. 

 She waved his concerns off with her hand. "The waiters are carrying them around. Elliott grabbed one for me." 

 "Elliott." The look on his face, grim with alarm flashing behind his eyes, sent a rush of cold clarity through her when he asked, "and who was it that told you it was non-alcoholic?" 

 Gloria's heart thumped slowly in her chest. "Elliott did…" 

 No.

 She stared at the glass in her hand, a few centimetres of the bubbly liquid remaining. The third drink she'd accepted from Elliott. 

 This isn't… 

 "But I…" Gloria shook her head. She couldn't think straight. Her mind was a blur, her thoughts fuzzy and clouded. 

 Oh.

 Oh no.

 Her heart plummeted into her stomach as everything fell into place. The way she'd been feeling, how comfortable she left around Elliott when she'd never met him before, how easily she mingled with sponsors and patrons without a worry. The strange confidence, the peace, that had overcome her. And now, the thick fog that had overcome her mind, the weightlessness she felt, carried an new meaning. One that made her feel ill. 

 Bede gently took the glass from her and turfed the remaining wine into the planter beside them. 

 "How many have you had?" he asked.

 Gloria reached for the balcony's railing, her fingers trembling around it as she tried to steady herself. The drinks Elliott gave her, one by one, flashed in her mind. She tasted the wine on her tongue. She'd been so stupid, so naive, to trust him, to accept those drinks. Disquiet settled heavy on her shoulders.

 "That was my third…" Gloria answered. Her mind clouded with disbelief. 

 Was this really happening…?

 "Have you eaten anything?" 

 She squeezed her eyes shut. Clenched her jaw to stop her voice from trembling. "No," she replied in a whisper. In shame. 

 Bede's touch on her arm almost brought her to tears. 

 "I don't… I don't understand…" Her voice caught. Fear loomed over her heart, crushed her chest, her soul. It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense. "Why would he…?"  

Footsteps made Gloria glance towards the balcony doors, Bede turning to face Elliott as he paused in the wedge of light streaming from the ballroom. He held a glass of wine in either hand. 

 "You gave her alcohol," Bede said firmly. He straightened, standing tall between Gloria and Elliott, and yet she still felt small. Vulnerable.

 Afraid. 

 Elliott shrugged. "The jig is up, is it? Shame. We hadn't even gotten to the good part yet." 

 Gloria stared at the floor, eyes wide and unseeing. She felt sick.

 "And what were you hoping would happen?" Bede asked. 

 "Does it matter?" Elliott breathed a laugh, remaining unperturbed. "Someone has to try and liven up these dull events. I thought that perhaps a drunk, underage Champion would do the trick." 

 Again, he shrugged. Everything he said, his calm voice, his laughter, fell over Gloria in a daze. It didn't feel real. Like she was somewhere else, watching this unfold. Witnessing a dream- a nightmare. One she couldn't escape from. Fear crushed her heart, paralysed her breathing, turned her blood into ice. Cold. She felt cold. 

 "You-!" Bede's hands balled into fists. "How dare you-" 

 She reached for him the second he moved, gripping the tails of his coat before he'd taken a single step. 

 "Don't-" A tear slipped from her eyes. "Don't go…" 

 The fury on Bede's face shattered as she began to cry. The fear she'd been holding back engulfed her all at once, buckling her knees and tearing a sob from her throat. Bede whirled on his feet, holding her arms gently before she could collapse. Gloria fell against him. Into him. Breaking into pieces once again. 

 Elliott snorted. "I suppose this will do," he said, voice flat with boredom. "At least it'll be amusing to see how she gets out of this." He shrugged and stalked back inside. 

 Gloria squeezed her eyes shut tight. She grit her teeth, grinding out her pain, her fear, her indignation. Outrage burned up her throat. She wanted to scream, to cry and wail. She wanted to tear after Elliott and shove his pretty little face into the tiles, to send her Pokemon after him and make him regret the day he chose to mess with the Champion of Galar. 

 But she didn't. Gloria pulled her face off Bede's shoulder and took a shuddery breath. She wiped at her tears with the backs of her hands before Bede produced a white handkerchief, lined with intricate lace details, and held it out to her. She blinked at it, at him, and somehow, it made her laugh. 

 "What are you doing with this?" she asked, her voice strained, yet soft with amusement. She accepted the handkerchief and dabbed away her tears as delicately as she could. Her makeup smeared across it.

 "Ms Opal insisted I carry one with me 'just in case,'" Bede said. His mouth twitched with the faintest smile, though it faded all too quickly. 

 "I'm beginning to think that Ms Opal can see the future," she laughed quietly before her lips began to wobble again with the threat of tears, and she grimaced. "Arceus, my makeup is ruined. I spent so much money on it, too…" Gloria sighed, lowering her hands in frustration. "Look at me- some guy I met tonight got me drunk and I'm worrying about my makeup!" 

 "Here, let me help." Bede took the handkerchief off her and gently dabbed it across her cheeks. "I wouldn't say it's ruined…" 

 Gloria huffed. "I must look like a Pangoro by now." She sniffled and closed her eyes, turning her cheek towards Bede as he patted away at the remains of her makeup. 

 "You look beautiful." 

 Her eyes snapped open. Bede's hand stilled by her cheek, the tips of his fingers brushing her skin. He looked right into her eyes. There was something in his gaze that stirred the very depths of her heart, and her lips parted with a silent, broken gasp. His eyes flicked down to follow the movement. 

 Bede looked away, clearing his throat. "A-Anyway, I wouldn't worry about your makeup," he said quickly. His voice hitched and he stammered, the sound of which sent a spear of heat through Gloria's body. "We should be able to it clean up enough that-" 

 Bede jolted when her fingers cupped his cheek, eyes widening in shock, and the handkerchief fell from his hand. He was beautiful. Stunned into silence, Bede's violet eyes searched hers, and her heart stirred again. Her heart, her soul, reached for him. She swept her thumb across his cheek. Her mind was fuzzy. Clouded. She wondered what she was doing, leaning towards him like this. Drawn to him like never before. Nothing else in the world mattered- not her fear, not her pain, not the Gala taking place in the hotel just metres away. 

 Nothing else mattered to her than Bede. 

 His mouth opened with words he couldn't voice. Concern, then wonder, filled his eyes as he slowly rested a hand over hers on his cheek. 

 He's beautiful, she thought again.

 Bede stole his hand away, his eyes flicking from hers. "Gloria, what are you-?" He fumbled over his words, a blush blazing across his cheeks that made her heart swell. "You- you're drunk." 

 "Mm…" She didn't care. It was Bede. 

 This was what she wanted. Her hand trailed across his cheek and into his hair, her fingers weaving through those platinum blond strands. 

 Bede startled at her touch. "I think we should-" 

 Silence. And warmth. A soft warmth that spread from her lips, through her body, her chest, her heart. It felt right. 

 This was it. 

 This was what she'd wanted all along. 

 - 

Bede couldn't breathe. His mind screeched to a halt when Gloria pressed her lips against his. She stole the words from his mouth, silencing him mid-sentence, and kissed him.  

And he let her. The delightful sensation of her lips gliding across his addled his brain, his senses. Bede had wanted to kiss her for so long, he'd fought the desire within him to do so for months, that he couldn't stop himself from reciprocating instinctively. A gasp died in his throat. Without thinking, he followed the movement of her lips in a nervous dance that left him dizzy. It was slow and tender, and her lips were soft, so soft and warm, carrying the slightest hint of something sweet- 

 The wine. 

 "Holy shit biscuits!" 

 A gasp from the balcony doors jolted Bede back to reality, and he snapped away from Gloria, slamming the back of his hand against his mouth, and turned towards Hop.  

"This- This isn't what it looks like!" Bede protested, his voice cracking, body blazing with heat. He burned from head to toe, his cheeks searing hotly with a dark blush he knew was obvious for all to see. He jumped as Gloria's head dropped to his shoulder.  His lips still tingled from their kiss. 

 "Sure, mate." Hop held up his hands, taking a slow and stiff step backwards. "Whatever you say. I'll just… leave you two alone now…" 

 "Wait!" Bede glanced down at Gloria, realising how limp and boneless she felt against him. Her eyes were squeezed shut. "I need your help." 

 Hop frowned, then saw what Bede had- Gloria's pained expression, her grip tight on Bede's tailcoat. He rushed over, his eyes widening.

 "What happened? Did you kiss her so hard she fainted?" 

 "N-No!" Bede snapped, heat shooting down his spine at the memory of what had just happened.  

Gloria had kissed him. 

 "She's drunk," he explained to both Hop and himself. Reminding himself that Gloria hadn't been thinking clearly. 

 "What?! How?" Hop gaped.  

A low groan came from Gloria. "I don't… feel right…" 

 Bede's heart squeezed tight in his chest. He gently rubbed her back, wishing he could do more. Now wasn't the time to get caught up in the fact that she'd kissed him, not when she was suffering like this. Not when someone had done this to her.

 "Elliott Murdoch," he said through clenched teeth. "Know the name?" 

 Hop nodded. "That's the guy who gave Gloria a drink earlier-" he stopped and blanched. "No… Was that…?" 

 "It was." Bede nodded grimly. "Elliott has been giving her alcohol under the pretense that it was non-alcoholic sparkling wine." 

 "That douchebag!" Hop huffed, sending a searing glare towards the doors leading to the Gala. "What's his problem?!" 

 "A lack of entertainment, apparently." Bede swallowed the putrid taste of bile that crawled up his throat. 

 Gloria's grip on Bede tightened. She pulled off him enough so that she was no longer sinking into him, and groaned deep in her throat.

 "I feel sick…" 

 "I don't doubt that," Bede said softly. He let her stand on her own, but kept close enough to her that he could catch her if she fell. Her gaze was unfocused, brown eyes glassy and distant. "You've had three glasses of wine on an empty stomach."  

"Not to mention that you're not exactly the tallest person around," Hop pointed out.  

Gloria made a disgruntled sound in her throat, leveling a pained glare at him. "Fuck off, Hop," she huffed. 

 Bede blinked at her, and she frowned. 

 "What?" Gloria asked, before realising what she'd said. "Oh, shit. Wait- I mean- fuck." She closed her eyes and huffed as Hop stifled a laugh. "Shut up, Hop! You're not helping!" 

She grumbled, and held onto Bede's arm for a moment as her expression grew pained. 

 "Yeah, I… really don't feel well," Gloria said weakly. 

 "Shit, Glo. You don't look well," Hop said, gently rubbing her back in circles as her eyes squeezed shut. 

 Bede couldn't begin to imagine how she was feeling, from the effects of the alcohol and the knowledge that this had been done to her deliberately. Her small frame seemed even tinier than usual as she clung to him. He dropped his hand from her shoulder, trailing his fingers down her arm to take hers, and stopped as he brushed a familiar bracelet. The one he'd given her on White Day. A silver bracelet adjourned with diamond stars that glistened a soft pink in the light. She'd worn it. His gift. It made his heart ache for her, more determined than ever to do what he could to help her. He couldn't ease her suffering, he couldn't take that from her, but there was something else he could do. 

 He could get her to safety. 

 "We need to get her home," Bede said. His mind worked ahead of him, already churning through their options.  

"She's drunk, can barely stand on her own, and if you haven't noticed, the ballroom is full of people!" Hop raised an incredulous eyebrow at Bede. "How on earth do you expect us to get her home without anyone seeing her like this?"

 "That was part of Elliott's scheme," Bede sighed. "However, we're not completely out of options just yet. Marnie came with her brother, Piers, correct?" 

 Hop nodded. "Yeah, I spoke with them earlier." 

 "Good." That could work. "From what I've heard, Piers is an expert at drawing a crowd. Do you believe he'd be willing to cause a distraction for us? Marnie and I can alert the staff to our predicament, and you should be able to leave through the back of the hotel, out through the staff entrance. It wouldn't be the first time that incidents similar to this have occured, and staff at the Rose of the Rondelands are trained to be discreet. We shouldn't need to worry about one of them leaking this to the press." 

 "Piers will definitely be on board once he hears what happened to Glo," Hop agreed. "Although you might have to restrain Marnie from going after Elliott herself. Even I don't want to walk away knowing he's still in there, getting away with this scot-free." 

 "Oh, I have a thought for how to deal with him," Bede said. He looked towards the ballroom, spying Marnie in a crimson dress next to Piers in a matching suit. He eased Gloria off him gently so that she could lean on Hop instead. "Wait until everyone's attention is on Piers. The staff should prepare a way out for you- head for it as quick as you can." 

Bede gave Gloria's arm a final, gentle squeeze. Her eyes were shut, her head resting against Hop's shoulder, and she gave no indication that she'd felt his touch at all. Shallow breaths sounded between her parted lips. He turned towards the ballroom, steeling himself. 

 "Wait, before you go-" Hop began, looking sheepishly away. "You've, uh, got some lipstick on your mouth." 

 Bede stiffened with a shot of heat. He furiously wiped at his mouth, his hand coming away with a slash of pink that matched the colour of Gloria's lipstick. He cleared his throat roughly. The blush on his cheeks sizzled in the cold air, and his body filled with warmth. The memory of her kissing him returned with force. He felt a ghost of her touch, a whisper of her lips, against his. 

 "Thank you," Bede said awkwardly. He fixed gaze on the ballroom beyond the glass in front of him as his nerves crackled alight at the reminder that Gloria had kissed him. The smudge of lipstick on the back of his hand. 

 In that moment, he hadn't noticed the glaze over her eyes. Bede knew very well that she had to be drunk, he'd told her himself, but when she'd reached for him, he hadn't been able to react in time. He'd been too speechless, too shocked, to stop her. 

 And she'd kissed him. Gloria, the one who denied herself love, who feared and despised the very thought of it, who swore she'd only kiss someone she was in a relationship with, had kissed him. He looked back at her now, standing only with the support of Hop, and his heart clenched with regret.

 He should have stopped her. How could he be happy about this when she'd kissed him under the influence of alcohol? Bede sighed and forced those thoughts away. He'd apologize to her later. When they could sit down and talk about this, when she was home safe and recovered, he'd ask for her forgiveness in letting his feelings get the better of him. It wasn't just that Gloria had kissed him- he had let her. He swallowed his guilt and met Hop's eyes. Hop nodded. 

 "Alright. Let's hope this works," Bede said and made for the ballroom, leaving Hop and Gloria, his feelings of regret, behind. 

 -

 It was like Hop had said- the instant Bede told Piers what had happened, he'd agreed to his part in the plan without another word. Marnie had glared something fierce, her dark eyes growing cold and sharp, and it was only the gentle hand Piers placed on her shoulder, the infinitesimal shake of his head, that stopped her from tearing after Elliott. Begrudgingly, Marnie played her part, waving over a waiter as Piers made for the band. Whispers spread through the crowd, heads turning, guests shuffling closer to the dancefloor and the band to get a better look. Bede swept his gaze around the room, and soon enough, everyone's attention was on Piers and the band as he began an impromptu live performance. The staff Marnie had spoken to waited by the staff entrance, and once all backs were turned to the balcony, Hop came through with Gloria staggering on his arm. Her bare feet were silent on the floor, Hop carrying her heels in his right hand, his left arm around her back. Marnie rushed over to help them usher Gloria out, and Bede turned from them. With the band playing, he needn't worry about his conversion being overheard. 

 As Hop and Marnie disappeared with Gloria through the staff entrance, Bede stepped up to Ms Opal. He offered her his arm, and she took it, meeting the intention in his gaze with a smile. 

 "What is it, dear?" Ms Opal asked. "What has that rascal Elliott done to poor Gloria?" 

 Bede's eyebrows lifted. He recalled Gloria's comment that Ms Opal was psychic, and wondered if she knew how astute that observation was. 

 "I'll get to that in a moment," Bede said, and Ms Opal nodded in understanding. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you're well acquainted with his father, Richard Murdoch? If so, then there's a favour I'd like to ask of you."

 Ms Opal smiled. Her eyes, keen as ever, sharpened with an intensity that made Bede stiffen slightly. "Ask away, my dear. I'll assist you in any way if it will help Gloria." 

 A weight eased off Bede's chest, and he nodded. Masked by the sound of the band, he told Ms Opal everything; from what Elliott did to Gloria, to his plan for retribution that would fall upon the scum who had dared harm the Champion. All the while, Ms Opal maintained her smile. 

 A smile that reminded Bede that she had once been the most powerful trainer in Galar. 

 "That can be done," Ms Opal said after Bede laid out his plan. "Since Elliott wished for entertainment so badly, I suppose we have no choice but to give it to him."  

The venom in her voice sent a cold shiver through Bede. 

 "Thank you," he said, grateful. 

 Ms Opal patted his arm. "No need to thank me. You've done your part in getting Gloria out of here safely. That's commendable in itself. Leave the rest to me." 

 Bede nodded to her, before sending a glance to the door Gloria had left through. The night wasn't over yet. Not for Gloria. He doubted she was experiencing the worst of it yet, and wished he could have left with her, wished he could be the one at her side. 

 He wished he could have done more. Perhaps, if he had gathered the courage to speak with her earlier, this wouldn't have happened in the first place, and Gloria needn't have suffered. Bede brushed that thought aside. There was no point in dwelling in the past. His regret and guilt had no place here, not anymore, not tonight. 

 Not when there was still hell to pay. 

[cottoncandy-jester]

✨lay down now darling its time for a dream✨

Little Cucciolo (leone abbacchio x male reader)

Yay my first jjba story! There are many many more in the works and as always requests are open

Honestly Im a fan of writing reader as a literal dumb feral beast cause it reminds me of one of my ocs and they are fun so expect more fics with this type of reader

This story contains: pet play, anal sex, use of the word master, degrading, praise kink(if you squint), reader being a dumbass feral animal, dumbification

Cucciolo= puppy

"whose such a good boy? Whose such an obedient pet?"

" ah- me! Me me me master, it's me!"

Your excited squeals as you sat on your knees under the table made leone chuckle before running his hands through your hair. As he poked his fingers through the muzzle you wore he had to pull it back fast since you tried to bite him with your sharp teeth. Usually he would punish such actions but he allowed it since you were whining about food before you all got here.

Honestly you were more animal than person but that was okay, abacchio was the one to find you in an alley way eating rotten meat. At first he was going to leave you be but when you reached for him and let out those helpless little whines he couldn't help but take you home. With lots of training, care, and love you became the perfect pet you are now.

"is the puppy hungry? Hmm? If I take the muzzle off you can't bite anyone okay? Understand?"

The male's stern tone made you nod before you nuzzled your face against his thigh clearly wanting to get your face in-between his legs but Leone quickly stopped you before giving you a light glare.

"not that, not now..later if you are good you can have a taste"

Leone sighs as he unbuckled the muzzle and placed it on top the table only to put a plate of food onto the ground watching as you ate messily as if you were some starved beast.

Leone glanced down at you with a smile before focusing on calmly drinking a glass of wine, wrapped around his hand was a black leash attached to a black leather collar with a shiny purple heart tag with the words 'belongs to leone abbacchio' carved on it in black letters. You were his and everyone knew, hell the others would rarely touch you besides giving pets on your head or quick pats on your back

Well everyone besides giorno who had no fear of abbacchio's rules and would often praise and pet you whenever you were close enough, like right this moment when he reached under the table and softly snapped his fingers to gain your attention which worked.

Leone felt a faint tug on the leash so he looked down to check on you only to see you were on the other side of the table your body settled between giorno's legs as he seemed to be feeding you cake lovingly while softly giving you praises such as 'good boy' or even beckoning you to eat more.

"say ahh.. careful not to spill cream on you would hate to get you all messy"

Giorno's hushed dominant tone seemed to piss leone off but it only got worse when the male saw the blonde gently pull you up before slowly leaning down to lick cream off your cheek while glancing at your so called master.

Leone snapped and yanked the leash roughly seeing you fall back to the ground along with hearing a gagging sound from you before you looked at the source of the tug flinching at the sight of a very angry leone.

"come here, now"

It didn't take long before you were crawling under the table returning to leone's side and gripping his leg kissing it and his shoes as a way to apologize. The male glared down at you in disgust before simply scooping you into his arms before eying giorno he will deal with that asshole later.

Leone calmly walked into the bathroom before locking it and dropping you to the ground. He yanked your leash tightly as he pressed his heel against your bulge, he could feel how hard you were and just the sight of you like this drove him crazy.

"tell me slut, what the hell was that?"

"i-i wanted cake..you were busy so giorno offered to share"

Your soft voice was one he rarely heard since he was far more used to your random feral squeals and squeaks but it made him feel special since you only spoke to politely to him.

"when the Cucciolo needs something..who does he come to no matter what?"

Leone leaned down glaring at you as you kept your head down now sitting on your knees avoiding eye contact, you bit your bottom lip only to feel leone softly pull your lip from under your teeth

"speak, pet. Who do you go to when you want or need something?"

"m-master..I go straight to master and no one else"

Leone gripped your face with his hand now squishing your cheeks together and forcing eye contact, he wanted you to know that he was angry with you that what you did was wrong.

"then why would you even dare go to that bastard?! It's like you want to be punished"

After speaking leone pulled back before unhooking the leash from your collar and forcing you to stand. He glanced at the bathroom counters before giving a short whistle motioning you to bend over, a motion you are fairly familiar with.

It took you less than a second to bend over on the counter before you got to work on pulling down your pants only to feel leone roughly grab your arms and tie them behind your back using the leash as a rope.

"did I tell you to do that? You are just being so fucking bad today"

With an annoyed click of his tongue leone simply yanked your underwear and pants down in one swift yank. Your ass was already still red from the spanking you had gotten a few nights prior for biting leone and the sight made the male suck in a sharp breath

"spanking is far too good for you, no no a slutty boy like you deserve a punishment that will make you think twice about even being near that stupid bastard"

The Anger in leone's voice gave you shivers but then you heard a ripping noise and before you could question it you felt something shoved into your mouth. You recognized this fabric..it was your very own underwear

"now, here's what's gonna happen whore I'm going to finger this slutty little hole and see just how many times you cum just from that, is that understood?"

Once he saw you nod leone licked two of his fingers before he shoved them both in with zero warning, the feeling made your body twitch as you shuddered and squirmed lightly now feeling precum dribble down your cock as you waited for leone to move his fingers with a needy whine escaping you.

When leone did move he showed absolutely no mercy, his thick fingers shoved deep into your hole before he scared to do a scissor motion while pumping in and out deeply enjoying your insanely slutty squeals and moans.

"you slutty mutt, I bet you wanted this eh? You wanted to piss me off so I would punish you. You're always so eager for my fucking attention even if it means me ripping your hole open like this!"

His cold words ended with him adding a third finger inside if you now roughly pumping his fingers in and out spreading them as far as they would go. Your muffled who and feral bucking of your hips as you cummed only made leone hard but he needed more, he needed to feel you climax more. It was like an addiction watching your lewd face from the bathroom mirror the way your eyes rolled back as you slobbered all over the underwear in your mouth was enough to give him shivers.

His gluttony to make you cum went on for so long that you were already slurring your words and acting like a total idiot. Your body shook as your babbling was just you begging for his cock to rip you apart, the underwear dropped from your mouth but leone didn't seem to mind and actually adored your sobs and crazy babbling. leone finally gave into your sobbing pleas since he himself was so hard he thought his cock would rip his pants.

"alright slut, I hope you're ready"

As you heard him unzip his pants you were practially wiggling your ass from excitement as your brain was already dumb just from leone's fingers. As you felt leone untie your arms you couldn't help but squeal and whine

"master's cock! Ah! Gimme gimme gimme gimme! Need it need it! My slutty boy parts are tingling! Nghhh-"

Your high pitched squeals were silenced by leone slapping your ass before he pressed his cock against your eager asshole. He was going to give you a second to relax before he pushed in but he gasped when you slammed your ass back forcing him inside you.

"ooohh~ m-master's thick sweet cock is filling me I'm gonna ripppp~"

Leone gripped your hips with a low growl as he started to roughly thrust in and out of you.

"fuck- you're so fucking hot when you are stupid and horny like this so..damn..stupid all you can think about is cock"

His low growling in your ear seemed to only excite you more as your loud rabid moans filled the room. You were drooling with your eyes rolling back as you excitedly stroked your cock with one hand while your other pulling at your own nipples before you pressed your face against the counter getting drool all over it.

"faster! Faster! Faster! Harder! Harder! Break me break me break me!"

Your dumb squeals only got worse as leone did exactly as you screamed. You started to trail your tongue along the counter now not even speaking a proper language and just making random sounds.

"fuck- you are really going crazy there eh Cucciolo? Who owns you?! Who is the only one who can fuck you like this?! Speak!"

It was pure sadistic for leone to demand you to speak knowing you were already too brain fried to form proper words but hearing you squeal what sounded like his name over and over was enough for him.

When it came time for his climax leone digged his nails Into your hips as he slammed his hips harder before he heard a gasp coming from you, you knew exactly when he was going to cum and now came the point where your crazy begging for his cum started.

"need cum..! Insideeee! Dooo it inside! Fill fill fill fill!"

God leone loved how dumb you got cause of him. It was absolutely beautiful and was enough to make him slam his hips and fill your needy hole with his hot cum.

This action caused you to cum for what you think is the 5th time, your hips slammed into the counter as you cummed all on the floor and your body twitched and spasmed with the purest of bliss and euphoria before going totally limp.

Leone slowly pulled out and quickly held your waist so you didn't fall, he softly sat you on the found before pressing soft kisses onto youe face and sweetly, your eyes were drooped as your expression was zoned out, drool dribbled down your chin and you lightly swayed side to side.

He chuckled as he helped you get cleaned up and dressed before placing a soft kiss on your lips. He knew you more than you knew yourself so seeing you like this was nothing new though he did like to make sure you can somewhat talk.

"puppy, I love you"

"yummmmyy..cockkk~"

Yup.

He definitely overdid it.

leone calmly hooked your leash onto your collar before fixing his own clothes and scooping you into your arms feeling you nuzzle your face into his neck while still drooling so he softly rubbed your back now walking out the bathroom only see a line of people who urgently had to pee.

Leone simply smirked as he walked back to the table and calmly took a seat while you slowly took a nap cuddling into Leone while he petted your hair and planting sweet kisses onto your sleeping face.

"my sweet little Cucciolo, I love you more than life itself"

His sweet whispers into your ear earned him a sleepy coo as you felt into a slumber clinging to the man you love.

[whats-rambled-rambled]

Long Nights - playlist

You can find it on Spotify here.

Eddie Vedder - Long nights

I’ve already talked about it in another post a bit, so--

For the first time, I had a full series figured out even before I started writing. All the arcs, main plot points, even the final conversation! I even had a 3h long playlist with all the songs that would come in handy along the way, but still, none of them was the one (so basically same thing that happened with Smoke series)

I started thinking about the main theme and/or drive for our new Reader, and then it hit me. There already is a story with that vibe, and it has such an amazing soundtrack.

So I opened Spotify and browsed through the album.

And I found it.

The overall mood was not something that was going to be helpful at the beginning of the series, but oh my, those lyrics were it for all the things I had planned.

//Have no fear

For when I'm alone

I'll be better off than I was before//

That’s R, all right. Not afraid to be alone, she prefers it. Nothing can hurt her, unlike when she gets too invested. Commitment issues and whatnot.

//Long nights allow me to feel...

I'm falling...I am falling

The lights go out

Let me feel

I'm falling

I am falling safely to the ground//

Knowing what I was about to put R through, this looks only fitting, don’t you think?

Chapter 1: Sigrid - Don’t kill my vibe

I could see LN!R so clearly. I wanted to explore some of my favourite rogue tropes, and she was perfect for it. In my head, she was definitely younger than the other two from my previous series. A bold type, a joker, but serious when it comes to her craft. Not with the same heavy emotional baggage (not at the start, at least - I felt like, opposed to Smoke!R who was more about distracting herself when she felt too much, our new R would be more about denial, or hiding her issues behind her jokes).

I found this song on some random playlist, and I knew it was her.

//You shut me down, you like the control

You speak to me like I'm a child

Try to hold it down, I know the answer

I can shake it off and you feel threatened by me

I tried to play it nice but

Oh-oh-oh, ooh, ooh

Don't kill my vibe

Oh-oh-oh, ooh, ooh

Don't break my stride//

To me, that was that moment she gets dragged into the car. Not having the obvious lies TP feeds her, definitely finding them all and the stuff they throw at her hilarious, calling them out on their bullshit without thinking twice over it.

//Guess you're surprised I'm the puzzle you can't figure out//

That got me an idea for part 2 and the coffee situation - come on, you know I can’t resist that trope when it comes to Neil, I think it’s an excellent way to get to know the characters a little bit and tell something more about the dynamic.

Tom Grennan - I might

To me, it’s another character introduction song.

//Oh I love, oh I love, love my freedom//

....you already know what I’m getting at, right?

//Don't want no one taking up my time

Staying on my mind, changing up my life

Don't want no one messing up my bed

Fucking with my head, it's no lie//

That’s her. R hates to be manipulated, that’s why she’s mad at Mahir. I didn’t want to put all the angst here, but I knew there was something deeper hidden there, after his comment about her trust issues. I didn’t know what exactly, but I knew it would come in handy later.

There was one spin on the story I was playing with - where she actually lets them all lead her on for a while, a whole elaborate ruse to get her invested and onboard, but that was a lot of drama quite early on, and I wanted this to be a lighter series (oh shush, I am well aware how that played out in the end, I tried, alright? Not my fault I apparently can’t come up with a story without sprinkling it with a shitload of angst)

//But when you look at me like that

I might//

See, this is when I stopped. I didn’t think R would be falling head over heels for Neil right from the start. That’s why the heart beating faster at the end of the chapter was supposed to be about the lock and something finally sparking her curiosity, taking her out of the boredom of everyday life.

Kings of Leon - Find me

That’s more chapter-specific.

//I really wanna know your name

See your face, know who you are, who you are

How did ya find me, how did ya find me?

What are you looking for, are you looking for

How did ya find me how did ya find me

Up in the shadow, picking up my load//

I found it quite fitting the moment R meets Neil again and he drags her to a back alley, and then again, in the car. She isn’t scared, more like fascinated, she finds the whole thing exciting, even.

American Authors - I’m born to run

Oh my god, the vibe of this song! This is that need for freedom and carelessness I needed to tap into.

//I'm gonna live my life like I'm gonna die young

Like it's never enough, like I'm born to run

I'm gonna spend my time like tomorrow won't come

Do whatever I want like I'm born to run

I wanna see Paris, I wanna see Tokyo

I wanna be careless even if I break my bones

I'm gonna live my life like I'm gonna die young

Like it's never enough, like I'm born to run

All these things I've seen and done

I live my life like I'm born to run//

The Pretty Reckless - Prisoner

Another random song I found one day while I was cooking breakfast. I was like “oooh, I dig that!” and then I listened to the lyrics and I knew I needed it for this story.

//You could have my body

But you can't have me

I know I'm a criminal

Don't you tell on me//

That’s it. Her. I knew that would be handy for the moment Neil breaks after all the teasing. And that criminal bit. I mean - come on!

Missy Elliot - Work it

(This is technically part 2 but it was messing with the flow on the playlist and I’m leaving it here)

Okay, this is quite meta and corny, because this is probably one of the oldest jokes you can find for Tenet, and I’ve been battling with myself if I should even put it here, but I referenced it in the chapter, so here we are. I’ve loved this song for years, and when I was trying to think what would R listen to while she tries to clear her head while she works on the bloody inverted lock - that was the only thing that seemed appropriate.

//Come on

Is it worth it? Let me work it

I put my thang down, flip it and reverse it

Ti esrever dna ti pilf nwod gnaht ym tup i//

...you see what I mean?

Chapter 2: Praise you

God, okay, this song - when I heard it while I was working on the story, it brought a movie-like montage of scenes in front of my eyes. You know the type, when they try to show you how the time passes, how someone progressively becomes better at something. That was Neil, working on those locks. R giving him tips, then teasing him. The way he loses his cool, only to slowly gain confidence, and then how she ups her game, both of them getting their bits of satisfaction from the whole game.

//We've come a long long way together

Through the hard times and the good

I have to celebrate you baby

I have to praise you like I should//

Have I ever told you when exactly I got the idea for the series? When I was writing that hostage situation fic and the moment R remembers her lockpicking sessions. I thought - what if it was the other way around? What if that was Neil who was about to start learning about picking locks?

It had so much potential for ✨hand content✨ and how could I resist?

...And I knew that R would see what I’m seeing, and she would rather like it. And the image of a very flustered Neil while she teases the hell out of him? Yep, yep, yep.

Sam Fender - Start again

This one definitely starts that montage as well, the repetition of going over and over again. Even if the whole song is definitely heavier than I needed, I decided to keep it, mostly for this part:

//Let's start again

Let's learn to talk

Without the fear of being heard

'Cause everybody's listening to everything and everybody

Let's pull the cord

Move below

Let's start again//

Chapter 3: Billy Raffoul - Difficult

Ah, Billy. And when I found this one, I got goosebumps, because I instantly knew that if I had to choose one song for them, it would probably be this one.

//You never get lost in love, you only get lost in me

You never can get enough of whatever you think you need

No matter how hard I try I never can beat this rush

Ain't nobody get me high, feel lighter when we touch//

This fits them so well, innit? We know how R feels about this whole love thing, she enjoys a good shag, and I had a feeling that after such a build-up, that night together would be something quite amazing, for both of them.

//We never get lost in love, we only get lost in sheets

You'd rather just shut me off whenever we get too deep//

That’s the moment when they have a vibe check in the morning. They had fun. Is it gonna affect their dynamic? They’re attracted to each other, they understand one another. Can they keep it casual? We know that R can, or at least she thinks so, but what about Neil? We know he’s a soft idiot, but I specifically imagined a bit younger version of him for this story - he had to be, if he was just learning about lockpicking. So the whole “no dating, just sex” could be fine with him for a while, but would he catch feelings anyway? Probably, yeah. And sooner than later.

//And now I'm standing in the rain

And your hair, it's falling in your face

And I know we're doing the right thing//

Not the rain, but shower, kinda works too, right? And I already knew that the rain would be a pretty important factor a little bit further into the story.

//But I can't help wondering, who will take my place?//

Ouch.

//On and off, difficult

Too in love to let it go

Now, who's gonna hold me like you do?//

The emotions in this bit, dear lord. It’s this high that takes your breath away, sweeps you off your feet, scorches the reality, and leaves no survivors.

That being said, I don’t think they are really in love at this point. They really care for each other, though, that’s where the softness comes from.

//Hmm who's gonna hold you like I do?//

I literally gasped when I heard that last line. Hits right in the heart, just as I like it.

Rhys Lewis - Waking up without you

There’s something in this song that makes it incredibly sexy. It was great for the morning after vibe, where they don’t really have enough of each other yet.

//Skin on skin

We didn't finish what we started

Heart to heart

I'm missing your love//

Keir - Probably

The way it flows? How powerful the chorus is? It’s heavy, hot, and just makes my heart beat faster.

//Colliding were the walls

And I forget where I began

I wish I could remember love//

Holy fuck. It always makes me think of something awakening deep inside R, definitely not ready to be acknowledged at that moment in the story.

//Probably underneath

There's a remedy

Possibly in the air

In the oxygen I breathe

Probably//

And this part is just mind-blowing. There’s this longing there, and if that feeling isn’t perfect for something more steamy, then I don’t know what is.

Dermot Kennedy - Glory

This one just… expands my heart? I don’t know how else to explain it. Especially the chorus. And then when I think of it in the context of the story, I somehow place it in TP’s office, when Neil gets all protective and doesn’t want to risk taking Reader on a mission where something can so easily go wrong, only because he isn’t prepared enough.

//A set of eyes had pinned him

Became his version of a kingdom

She's everything the devil can't be

When she's singing to me "Glory"//

Maybe that’s when he starts to realize that he cares more than he thought.

Rhys Lewis - Living in The City

If the previous song was Neil’s perspective, we’re back to R. Just look at the lyrics:

//I've been living in the city too long

I've been given everything that I've got

Been a sinner and a saint

Crazy, and sane

I've been living in the city too long//

We’re kinda circling back to part 1, that need to skip town, right?

//There's a part of my soul that wants to let go

Wants to just run away

But the rest of my soul says I should stay

I should stay//

And now we’re back when she can say that the mission is not her problem, she did the best she could, and TP can go fuck himself. Is it just that she feels responsible for her student? Or she likes him enough so she has to make sure he succeeds and comes back? Or she sees a friend in need, something to open, and doesn’t think twice about it?

Chapter 4: Bastille - World gone mad

God, do I love this song.

//So this is where we are

It's not where we had wanted to be

If half the world's gone mad

The other half just don't care, you see

You don't want to fuck with us

British to the very last

When it feels like the world's gone mad

And there's nothing you can do about it

No there's nothing you can do about it//

It felt so accurate for the part when R gets to see all that inverted reality? There’s a slight heaviness of heart there, and it matches the mood when she feels overwhelmed. On the other hand, there’s a bit of hope, the feeling of not being alone in this mad world, and that’s all that matters.

Who’s Molly - Touch the sky

Badass. Pure and simple. It hypes you up, brings a smile to your face, makes you believe everything is possible.

//We can never see beyond that horizon.

And no one knows this road and where it's going to lead.

But there's one thing, one thing that's for certain.

We'll make it through.

If you were here with me.//

That softer bit with inverted guns. And later on, throughout the chapter. They both find comfort in each other’s presence on the mission, after all.

//I wasted so much time trying to find a meaning.

I never looked up, couldn't seem to turn around.

And then you crashed in, and you gave my life a reason.

You pick me up, so high and my feet won't touch the ground, no no no.

Never would have thought I could win this battle.

I was left for dead, every hope in tatters.

We're going to set the world alight tonight.

Cause we can touch the sky!//

That’s the excitement and fun they’re having on the training grounds, not at all stressed about what’s to come.

//Close your eyes, free your soul.

You feel it, don't try it, then you’ll never know.//

Ah, and we’re here at my favourite reference to feeling something, thank you Mr Nolan, sir, so useful.😌

Dermot Kennedy - Young & free

Another one by Dermot Kennedy, and definitely not the last.

//All that she said to me stays with me, never to die

Held me brand new in the silence that went through the pines

Like I said already darling, I don't want you looking back at all the ghosts left behind

Know you'll stay near me so road remains hopeful this time

We were young

We were free, come on now, let it go//

The little whiplash in the mud, where they share a short moment, before they follow with the crackheadery, maybe partly to push back from coming close to something more meaningful. Because it’s there already, kindling, waiting to be spotted and recognized.

James Gillespie - Don’t let me get me

Okay, so - the original song by P!nk was always something that resonated with me, so when Spotify recommended that one, I was like “okay, I’m not sure why but let’s try it.” And then it brought me to that scene in the container.

//I'm a hazard to myself

Don't let me get me

I'm my own worst enemy

It's bad when you annoy yourself

So irritating//

To be honest, I didn’t plan on R to have such a strong case of a mean brain. It was supposed to be a lighter series 🙃. But as you already know, those characters have minds of their own, and it kinda sorta happened. I knew it would be more of a simple panic than full-blown panic attacks that haunted StuckIn!R, topped with pretty loud intrusive thoughts causing her to spiral, especially when she was exhausted.

Ruelle - Oh my my

Listen to that one and tell me you don’t want to go on a sneaky mission, I dare you. I even had it noted as my title song, but then I switched to Bastille.

//I can feel it in my bones, in my bones

Hear it rumble like a drum, like a drum

Like a vapor in the wind, in the wind

You never see us creeping in, creeping in

Oh my my, oh my my

You never stood a chance

...

Ready or not, here we come//

The vibe is just amazing. The low-key hype? Is that a thing? It must be. And those drums! Even quite fitting for a patter of rain, one might argue.

Speaking of rain--

Chapter 5: Dermot Kennedy - After rain

The title alone is perfect for this chapter, but the rest of it - my poor heart. This chapter and the finale have some of the most beautiful and/or heart-wrenching songs I’ve ever heard, and this one is definitely one of them.

//But it's alright because

You cause lanterns to light

And force demons disperse

And if Lucifer may fear the swift drying of tears

Then, for evil, you could not be worse

But I see you now, yeah, I see you

And release me now, kinda like dreams do

And I see you now, was hard to see you

Just don't forget to sing

Remember everything//

So we have Neil storming off from the bathroom because he’s clearly going through something. The immense guilt brewing inside him, overflowing and backfiring, when he can’t cope with seeing her so battered, knowing that she may never fully recover, and just because he hesitated out there. The fear is there, but also other feelings he tries to keep in check now.

I had that image of R asking him to stay, then just breaking down in the darkness. I was aware it would only add to the issues Neil already had, but it would be nothing compared to the fact that she needs him, and he’d be ready to push everything that bothered him away to comfort her.

Humming a lullaby that he promised her in the container. And R recognized it (kind of), because he used parts of it to plead with her to stay with him after the fall, so she could one day hear the whole thing, because she took that rain check and she needed to cash it in, right?

...yeah, I like breaking my own heart, why? (should I write that part one day?)

//If you think just maybe it's her

Then promise me, young man, you're gonna let her know

You won't go lonely, yeah

It'll all be better in the morning

'Cause while you sleep, I'll build a wall//

Aquillo - Six feet over ground

Whenever I hear this song now, my mind goes to that scene in the bathroom.

//Today's the day I found myself alright

When I look ahead, pretend it never came.

I found a way to keep my head above

But the hardest part is to say 'No it's not'

Well I'm okay, and I'm still breathing

I'm still six feet over ground

But you don't need to know now

You don't need to know how I'm doing//

They both hide how they really feel. That they are not okay. They’re both scared, blaming themselves. Reader doesn’t want to worry Neil too much, but she also tries to convince herself that she is fine. And a moment of peace they share shatters as soon as she downplays what happened aloud, and when Neil goes off, she hides behind yet another joke, and then behind a blindfold.

Aquilo - Silhouette

The one for when R tells Neil goodnight and then can’t fall asleep. //Devil's on your shoulder

Strangers in your head

As if you don't remember

As if you can forget

It's only been a moment

It's only been a lifetime

But tonight you're a stranger

Some silhouette //

When he comes to check in on her, and something feels off. She’s lost, yet finds enough strength to ask him to stay.

//Just hold me//

Nathan Ball - Drifting

//I can see in your eyes

When you lie awake at night

You convince yourself you're fine, it's alright

To keep on drifting

With the drugs keeping you high

They catch you falling from the sky

I keep asking myself why

You stand by

And keep on drifting

…

So tell me what you hold inside

Tell the backstreets of your mind

You're still lonely as a child

Teary eyed

Kept on drifting//

Knowing our Reader a bit longer by now, I knew what would happen if she was to be left alone with her thoughts, in pain, and with Neil being weirdly distant.

Have you ever lied in bed, crying silently, trying not to wake up the person next to you but getting absolutely torn apart by the sadness roaring inside you? It’s a different kind of loneliness, not helping in the slightest when you’re biting back sobs. Anyway,--

//So take my hand and hold on

Take my hand don't let go//

That’s something that happened almost organically with these two. Part of their language, hand touches as a sign of support.

I gotta admit, I watched Shadow and Bone already being in the middle of writing the series and seeing how overused the hand-holding flashback was... it there made me slightly cringe every time it came up in the story I was writing later on. On the other hand (hah), it was so them. It had to stay.

Dean Lewis - Need you now - Acoustic

//Cold light wakes me in the morning,

Your side is empty I was calling out to you,

I was calling out to you.//

That’s the next day after R’s breakdown, but check out the next lyrics.

//But I don't need your love,

I just need your

Talking next to me when I wake up, wake up

Talking next to me when I wake up next to you,

When I'm hungover too.

Cause you're the only one who comes when I'm lonely,

You're the only one who comes when I'm lonely for you,

When I'm lonely for you.

All that I need is a sweet escape,

And all that I need is a sweet escape.

...

Cause I don't need your love

But I just need you now

And I don't need your love

I just need you now//

This, y’all, is R, still convinced that it’s not about love, and it’s so perfectly put into words, but the music and the vocals are dripping with longing, making it even more spot-on for the occasion.

RHODES - Breathe

The emotions captured in this… holy shit. They clench my chest and make me struggle for breath. This could have been a song playing in the background when R wakes up from a nap to Neil having a breakdown of his own.

//Mind break in two,

There's a light in the sky, there's a light

And it's all for you

Dawn colors all

Tell me how do you feel?

Tell me how do you need to heal?//

Looking for his hand, only to find a clenched fist. And when she realizes he’s been crying and she hears how broken he is, that’s enough to make her heart shatter, doubly so because he’s agonizing over something she feels responsible for.

//Breathe, release it all

Come on now, I'll keep you warm

Come on!

Breathe, release it all

Come on now, I need your love

Come on now!//

To me, every “come on”, repeated with urgency, is how desperate she is to make him stop spiraling down when she kisses him, and then again, more purposefully, until he gives in and comes back to her.

Circa Waves - Fire that burns - Acoustic

The one for ✨the moment✨.

//Comfort me, oh comfort me

I'm lighting up

To see the day you run for me

You run for me, my love//

Because they both seek comfort in the act, two broken people mending whole in each other’s embrace. Ultimately, finding there something more, whether they are ready to acknowledge it or not.

//But I've been tied up

For days

And I've been thinking of the things that you say

And I've been wound up

Each way

I need to let you know, to let you know today//

Neil already knows how important she is to him. And that’s what he tries to say between the choked-out words, that he thought he’d lost his chance to tell her how much she means to him.

//You call me a liar

You call me so innocent

But you lit the fire

You lit the fire that burns

The fire that burns inside us

I'm not innocent

I lit the fire, the fire, the fire

I lit the fire//

Oh yes, that bit definitely seeped into the chapter.

The XCERTS - Feels like falling in love - alternative version

//Keep yourself safe, keep yourself safe she said

You broke your own heart but there's no need to lose your head

Keep yourself sane, keep yourself sane he said

You gotta give up, give up, give up the dark

To start again//

You can see it, right?

Outlining the whole story, I knew that part 5 would be the part when they fall in love, or realize that they already might be.

//And it feels like falling in, falling in love

Yeah it feels like falling in, falling in, falling in love

Could save me tonight//

The 1975 - Fallingforyou

//According to your heart

My place is not deliberate

Feeling of your arms

I don't want to be your friend, I want to kiss your neck

Don't you see me I

I think I'm falling, I'm falling for you

And don't you need me I

I think I'm falling, I'm falling for you

On this night, and in this light

I think I'm falling (I think I'm falling), I'm falling for you

And maybe you, change your mind//

They’re so vulnerable there. Everything Neil pours into the act sweeps R off her feet and she opens up and to let him feel the extent of how much she cares for him, unaware that it might be shifting into something from the territory she promised herself not to venture into. Because that’s not important then. Nothing else is. Just them. So simple.

Adam French - Weightless

The light and softness in this song remind me of another Weightless I used for the finale of the Smoke series.

That’s the moment after. Softness. Closeness. Bliss.

//I told ya that you were the only weight on my shoulders

You see you're gonna make it alright

How you're gonna make it alright

When you're gonna make it alright, alright, alright

You say your body will

You say your body will

Hold me in the night

...

Only you can make me weightless

...

Closer is all I ever wanted to be

There for ya so you can be confiding in me

There to break the fall

Here for everybody to see

Weightless after all//

Chapter 6: Declan J Donovan - Perfectly imperfect

I had the moment they fall in love. I knew how it was gonna end, the conversation with Mahir and how it goes from there. I thought that we need some calm before the storm that was bound to happen, and what’s better than a little domestic fluff? A time when they can see each other in a different setting, get to know one another even better. Fall even harder.

And my god, this song.

//You live like you're a secret

One that only I could know

'Cause I said

You know what I want and

I know who you are

I know when I hold you and love you

You'll get up and go before you fall apart//

...that last line hits different when you know what’s gonna happen later, right?

//I'll bring you every colour that I find

In your eyes

You wake me up

And it breaks my heart

That you're perfectly imperfect

You're hurting but you're worth it

You don't know why

I would waste my time

But I'm falling and I mean it

I want you like I need it

There's nothing you could try to change my mind

'Cause I'm in love

So call me when you want me and I'll come running

Find me waiting at your door

So tell me if you're lonely and it won't last long

'Cause I'm in love with you (you)//

That light when the song gets to the part about being in love -- there’s so much tenderness there, and it resonated with the story so much. And the perfectly imperfect line, so so good.

Bastille - Survivin’

The way the song swings and the hopeful vibe is just what I needed for this chapter.

//And I'm not gonna lie

Say I've been alright

'Cause it feels like I've been living upside down

What can I say? I'm survivin'

Crawling out these sheets to see another day

What can I say? I'm survivin'

And I'm gonna be fine

I'm gonna be fine

I think I'll be fine//

As much as Reader didn’t want Neil to be there with her for so long, she really enjoys his company, making the boring and still rather painful recovery period easier.

Ella Henderson, Tom Grennan - Let’s go home together - stripped

Ha, this one! The humour when they tease other words always brings a smile to my face. That playfulness just fits our duo’s dynamic so well.

//Maybe you'll like me the way I am//

Crazy concept, right? And with Neil learning to spot the times when she hides behind a joke, and still being there--

//Feels like I know you so well

You could be everything that I've been missing

I'm coming out of my shell

And I never do that

How did you do that?

It's like I've known you my whole life//

That’s exactly how she feels like. She intently doesn’t think about it though, because if she starts overthinking it… we know what happens. She’s allowing herself to be in the moment, however. And happy.

//You seem like someone I could be myself with, no defenses

Maybe you like me the way I am//

That brings me to all Neil’s animated rants, and how much he appreciates that she always listens. He feels accepted, and I don’t know, it melts my heart a little.

//Baby, I'm in love//

🙃

INXS - Need you tonight

I know I used a cover of this song for another playlist, but the vibe was so different, and you just have to bear with me. It’s one of those songs that sparks the ideas and images, and usually, they involve Neil being a tease and having way too much fun. And as I was plotting the chapter, I thought of R missing out on his shenanigans, and how he could make her see what he was doing, and 😳 oh my. I knew the imagination would run wild. (That definitely might have something to do with a certain scene from a certain movie and a conversation I had with M about how Neil would handle it)

//So slide over here and give me a moment

Your moves are so raw, I've got to let you know

I've got to let you know

You're one of my kind

I need you tonight

'Cause I'm not sleepin'

There's somethin' about you, girl

That makes me sweat//

That’s one sexy song, don’t judge me.

Dermot Kennedy - Days like this

Oh, would you look at that, it’s Dermot again! This one is for that scene on the balcony.

That quiet contentment, like everything fell in its place and life is alright.

//When it's not always raining, there'll be days like this

When there's no one complaining, there'll be days like this

When everything falls into place, like the flick of a switch

Oh my mama told me, there'll be days like this

When you don't need to worry, there'll be days like this

When no one's in a hurry, there'll be days like this

When you don't get betrayed by that old Judas kiss

Oh my mama told me, there'll be days like this//

They’re in the moment, comfortable in the relationship that blooms between them. More casual and laid-back throughout the day only to get more soft and intimate in the evenings, when the inner demons’ voices grow louder.

James Bay - Chew on my heart - acoustic

The way the chorus explodes? It makes me beam widely and my heart is about to burst.

//Take your time

I'll be right here

I know no one could ever love me better

Take all night

You're the truth that

Is breaking me and keeping me together

Together

I wanna be in your touch

Sleep is so tough

You're burning up my mind

What would it feel like if you tore me apart?

Come on chew on my heart

...

I'm on fire

I'm a hot mess

I'm thinking things that I might start regretting

So hear me out

I need you now

I'm spiraling

I'm sinking down

Look for me I'm sending up a message

A message//

I think it weirdly fits those times at night when Neil checks the bruises. When their minds wander to that first evening, and they still feel bad about how it ended up, the closeness brings them back to the present and grounds them.

Picture This - Unconditional

This one just makes my heart sing.

//This magic, I don't know what it is but we have it

Even when we're sleepless and damaged

I don't doubt it

We're holding on//

That’s exactly it.

//Baby I wish we could take this feeling

And put it away somewhere safe

'Til we need it

Unconditional

I'm so afraid of losing your love//

They don’t need big words. But they feel it, all right. Whether they are aware of it or not. And they are afraid of losing each other, now that they know how easily that could happen.

//Shivers running down my back with your fingers

The smell of your perfume it lingers

And whispers

What I want you to say

Under your skin, underdressed under covers

We bring out the best in each other

Two lovers finding our way//

The kiss, the touch, the skin on skin contact - some of the most powerful reminders that, for now, they’re safe.

BANNERS - Start a riot

But it’s not always about going all the way, because sometimes you just need to be held. And this song just speaks to me of all that tenderness, all the feelings clenching the heart so much they’re unable to say a word, just want to keep each other as close as they can. Just to make sure they’re really there.

//I will march down an empty street like a ship into the storm

No surrender, no retreat

I will tear down every wall

Just to keep you warm

Just to bring you home

I will burn this city down for a diamond in the dust

I will keep you safe and sound when there's no one left to trust

Will you take my hand?

We can make our stand

If your world falls apart

I'd start a riot

If night falls in your heart

I'd light the fire

In the dark, when you sound the alarm

We'll find each other's arms

For your love, all you are

I'd start a riot//

The lyrics are so beautiful, and there’s so much longing there, and the promise to protect each other, to be there for each other, to face whatever life might throw their way together.

Yeah, it makes me emotional, I absolutely love it. Speaking of emotional--

Chapter 7: Stone Sour - Wicked game - acoustic, live

When Spotify recommended this one to me, I almost skipped it. I’ve heard it a million times in different versions and I thought that there’s nothing to be found there. Oh, was I wrong.

I knew what was going to happen in the chapter - Mahir is about to confront R, surprised by what he sees. And he can clearly recognize that they’re idiots in love, even if they’re trying to lay low in the company. He knows what happened to R, why she’s so cautious and reluctant when it comes to any relationships that are more than simple hookups.

//The world was on fire and no one could save me but you

It's strange what desire will make foolish people do

And I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you

And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you//

Because that’s how it started, right? With desire. One could argue that our duo had solid banter before that, respect and understanding, all those things, sure. But ultimately, that was all that sexual tension, sparked by the playful teasing, that pushed them into each other’s arms in the first place.

//No, I don't want to fall in love

With you, with you

What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way

What a wicked thing to do, to make me dream of you//

And when Reader finally lets the thought in and it dawns on her that she is, in fact, in love - she goes into full panic. Not because she feels it’s unrequited, god, she’s not stupid, nor blind (too soon?). But she’s mad at herself that she allowed this to happen. She’s afraid that she’ll get hurt, and to avoid that, she has to run away. And that’s gonna hurt Neil as well, and she can’t stand that, hates herself for that, but she’s so scared that she can’t think of any other solution.

Before we get to that, however, there’s a bit more softness to be shared.

Lewis Watson - Little light

//And all this shade is, illuminating

And all those love lines, are taking shape

And all my worries, disintegrating

And I've been waiting, I've been waiting

And all my days were young and wasted

When I was waiting, oh for you

And all the plans that I've been chasing are always fading

But ever since I found you

A little light is breaking through//

Gotta admit, I had this one hidden in the playlists of other chapters, because it captures that feeling when your chest is filled with light and you’re simply happy. It ended up here, because it’s this feeling when R is melting a little inside when she looks at Neil, when she’s in his arms. And how Neil feels, too.

X Ambassadors - Renegades

Funny, I had this song for both times the team appears in the story. There’s this sense of camaraderie to it that I wanted to capture, when you’re with a bunch of people who are like family to you. You can tease them all you want, but at the same time you’d go into battle with them, knowing that you can count on them to have your six.

//Long live the pioneers

Rebels and mutineers

Go forth and have no fear

Come close and lend an ear

…

All hail the underdogs

All hail the new kids

All hail the outlaws

Spielbergs and Kubricks

It's our time to make a move

It's our time to make amends

It's our time to break the rules

Let's begin//

I wanted R to have a taste of that. To let her know that she’s appreciated for helping with the mission. To get to know them all better, and to make amends with TP, of sorts.

I didn’t want to make his motivation clear. He wouldn’t tell her that he knows how the story ends. That he can’t help that, deep down, irrationally, he made her responsible for it. Even if she’s not the one to blame. (And I don’t believe he let’s that happen, in the end, because that’s too much angst, even for me - again, fuck you, Mr Nolan, sir)

Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl, Rick Nielsen, Scott Reeder - From can to can’t

Christ almighty, this one is so raw! The emotional progression in here just blows my mind.

//Under the water

It's cold and it's grey

My torrid autumn

Another season decays

Open up the Hollow

And my walls come down

I tell you it's a problem

Just when no one's around

But then

I know what's wrong

God, you complicated everything

I know you're gone, gone, gone

This is where I will draw my line

I will draw my line//

To me, it’s the scene with R having a breakdown in the bathroom, and then somehow finding the solution. She has a plan, and enough strength and determination to pull through, at least for a moment.

Chapter 8: Dan Owen - Hideaway

I found this song by accident, and I almost screamed at how perfect it is for the finale (and then screamed for the second time when my dearest friend @connie-nikas casually sent me this exact song one day saying that it sounds like something I’d enjoy). The intensity just tears your heart out and makes you struggle to draw a breath, there’s something desperate to it, and I knew that it would be my go-to song for the part where R sleeps with Neil, trying one last time to drown all the pain and sorrow in his closeness.

I could just paste all the lyrics, to be honest, because that’s exactly what’s happening in the scene.

//It's a long way down

I keep backing away from the edge

And it's a slow burnout

Like the fires that rage in my head

And it's a slow cry out

When you've got so many tears you could die

And it's a long time to wait

When you take all my tears away//

Oh, she’s on the verge of tears, all right. Knowing quite well that as soon as Neil picks on them, he’s gonna stop to make sure she’s okay. That once he starts asking questions, she’s gonna fall into pieces, unable to lie to him.

//My body is colder

Time is frozen

All these feelings have poisoned my soul

And in silence no I can't stand it

Please break these chains and hell I can

Hideaway//

She’s scared that if she’s left alone with her thoughts, they will break her and make her stay. What she fears most (besides that she’s gonna end up betrayed, alone and heartbroken) is how Neil’s gonna react to her actions. The last thing she wants is to hurt him. She just hopes that maybe if she leaves now, it’s not gonna be as painful as it would be if she stayed a bit longer. That maybe he’s not fallen in too deep.

//You're my one way out

And my tears won't save me now

Save me now

I can't stand it

All this loneliness I feel

I can't do this alone

I need someone to remind my feelings

That I've fallen down by the door

It's a long way down and my tears won't save me now

It's a long way down

I keep backing away from the edge

And it's a slow burnout

Like the fires that rage in my head//

Macy Gray - I try

One of the first songs that came to my mind when I was composing the playlist for the series. It may be a tad too upbeat for my liking, hah, but parts of the lyrics are spot on, and it had to be there.

//I try to say goodbye and I choke (Yeah)

I try to walk away and I stumble

Though I try to hide it, it's clear

My world crumbles when you are not near

Goodbye and I choke (Yeah!)

I try to walk away and I stumble

Though I try to hide it, it's clear

My world crumbles when you are not near//

It makes me think of the time when they’re in the car. She’s going over the plan, kinda skipping the moment she’d have to say goodbye to Neil. That’s the unbearable part. And when he asks an innocent question and touches her, she crumbles and jokes. Partly to distract him from prodding further, but mostly to distract herself. I didn’t plan on them getting all worked up there, it...happened, but I figured it made for a decent ground for what was about to go down in the hotel room.

Belle Mt. - Hollow - acoustic

//She told me she was hollow

That's far from what I see//

That feeling you get when everything is too much and it leaves you hollow because you can’t take it anymore. A safety mechanism of sorts. It kicks in with Reader, and of course, Neil can sense that something is off. He hopes it’s just her being tired, he knows how she feels after spending too much time with people.

//I told her she was special

She almost let me in

But she couldn't bear the thought of digging up the heart that she's been burying//

We already know it. The thing is - Neil doesn’t. They haven’t really talked about it. Well, they did after the first night, but with all the things that happened later… and with how much affection she shows him? He doesn’t have a reason to suspect something this big.

//Lonely is her favourite

If only I could change it

If I could only save her

But sometimes she's lost, sometimes she's broken

Sometimes she's closed, sometimes she's open

Sometimes she's stone-cold, times she's on fire

Mostly she's everything I desire

Lonely is her favourite place to be//

Galleaux - Tether me

I had it on repeat when I was writing that part when R collapses in Neil’s arms when they’re in bed. Did I mention that I didn’t want Reader to be this emotional in the first part of the chapter? I thought she’d be more distant. Numb, even, here and there slipping up but holding it together until the very end. And then she does that. But it was Neil’s reaction that left me all 🥺. Not only me, apparently, because she let out so much there. I think my heart broke a little when she gave me that make love to me/love me/ never let me go part.

//In this space, do I belong?

It's dark out here in my own thoughts

Pull me back, out of my body

I'm tied to my limbs

They're spinning me out of control

Tether me//

And the way the music builds up only to blow up at 3:11, heavens, and those vocals! It just takes my breath away, fits so well there.

Nothing But Thieves - Lover, please stay

There can’t be a series playlist without Nothing But Thieves! And it’s another song Chels sent me. The way it broke me-- bloody hell. It’s that gentle guitar, it’s the raw emotions in the vocals, and those lyrics! It rips my heart out, in the best way possible.

It’s for that part where Neil falls asleep and R breaks down, fully realizing what she is about to do.

//Lover, I know you're weary

Eyes are tired from the night

Lover, come to the kitchen floor

Tiles are cold, so am I//

You bet your ass she’s having flashbacks to those moments on the cold tiles, but in her bathroom.

//Lover, I feel your sorrow pouring out of your skin

And I don't wanna be alone

If I am tonight, I'll always be//

Lonely might be her favourite place to be, but losing Neil by her own decision hurts more than she thought possible.

//So take from me what you want, what you need

Take from me whatever you want, whatever you need

But lover, please stay with me, oh//

You know what’s the worst, though? As if that scene was not heartbreaking enough, my brain decided to remind me how much it parallels part 7 from Stuck in reverse. Yep. ✨Pain.✨

Foo Fighters - Home

When she walks to her apartment. Crying. Broken. Missing him already.

//Wish I were with you

But I couldn't stay

Every direction

Leads me away

Pray for tomorrow

But for today

All I want is to be home//

About to leave for good.

This is the bit that prompted the final conversation. What even is home to her? Living the way she does, it never was something important. I struggled with that idea, I thought it’s too sweet. But Neil, the stubborn ass that he is, didn’t want to give me anything else, so it stayed - and in the end, I’m happy that it did.

BANKS - Someone new

Okay, this one is perfect with its sadness and longing, but it’s a hit and miss when it comes to lyrics. Take a look -

//I can love you desperately

Though your love ain't guaranteed

Oh, I wish you knew the deal

Gotta learn from far away

And I simply needed space

Space for me to be

And I think you need it too

Though I know you call me selfish for assuming

I did this for you too//

This, this, all of this! You see it, right?

//Everything I do, I'm gonna think of you

Don't know what else to do//

Well, one could argue that they could just talk it through without all the drama, but hey, where’s the fun in that? And running away really seems like the best option to R.

//And please don't fall in love with someone new

I promise one day I'll come back for you//

And here it’s off because I don’t think she plans on going back. So she wouldn’t want him to not fall in love with someone else, because why would she? He deserves to be happy.

//Oh, you say you hate me now and you burn me with your words

Calling me a fool

Saying that I've fucked up everything

And you'll never forgive me//

See, I have a few options for what to do when Neil finds her at the riverside. I knew one thing though - it would never be a full-blown argument and accusations. At first (and when I say first I mean before I actually started writing chapter 1, because I already had the last scene plotted out by then), I thought Neil would be calm, with a kind of “I know you love me too, silly, so what on earth are you doing?” vibe to him, to R’s annoyance. Then, the story became heavier, and I knew Neil would be worried. Lost. Confused. But never to the point of losing his temper, not after that one time in the bathroom. And that’s what happens in that scene. He doesn’t know what to do as he tries to make some sense out of it all.

Agnes Obel - Riverside

//Oh my God I see how everything is torn in the river deep

And I don't know why I go the way

Down by the riverside//

As I mentioned, I knew what I wanted for the final confrontation from the start. That’s why I tried to make that river quite important for both of them, weaving it into the story here and there. That’s why they instinctively go there.

Billy Raffoul - Dark four door

There’s this sad acceptance in this song that just breaks my heart. It makes me think about the moment when Neil wakes up and sees that she’s gone. How he doesn’t know what’s going on, and how his mind slowly connects all the things that felt strange, but he’s unwilling to accept it until he checks Reader’s place. And much it costs him to keep it together when he sees that the bag is gone.

//You got up, you felt you should

I keep trying to myself I would've done the same had I could

I never thought that you would//

Chris Cornell - Before we disappear

Whenever I hear this song, I think of Neil standing there with Reader, hurt, trying to understand what went wrong.

//So how hard can it be to share your life with me?

How hard can it be to rise with me each morning?//

Dermot Kennedy - A closeness

The last one by Dermot. If that isn’t their conversation--

//Keeping her bright eyes focused on the coastline, waiting for you

Isn't she all of us pining for that last kiss

A permanent truth, a means to get through//

Why does she stay up for so long in their spot? Does she subconsciously count on him to show up? Unable to let go, once and for all?

//Deep into the night, eyes closing

Heart swollen with my loving for you

A solid embrace, kind face

And then the hurt starts leaving the room, followed by goons

Sometimes it's open wide and lights the road at night

You've got a heart like the moon

Gather courage, if you're doing something, do it

'Cause she got to go soon//

And when Neil sees her, he wants nothing more than to hug her, he’s so relieved. But then she snaps at him, and he can’t believe that she’d actually think that he planted a bug on her to track her. It’s another wound he didn’t expect, but he waits for her to explain her actions before he lets out how much it all affected him.

Ryan McMullan - Outcry

I was close to making this one a title song for the chapter because as Hideaway sounds like it was written for the time they make love, this one is for the time Neil asks why she left.

//You came a long way to see me

So don't you run off, baby stop pretending that you're fine

What's the point that you're making

Tell me what it is that's going 'round inside your mind

If in doubt, don't fake it

I have known you long enough to know that you can't lie

If you're in love don't be ashamed of it

'Cause even angels fall for demons//

God, of course he saw that she wasn’t alright that night, but she seemed so sure about what she needed that moment that he decided not to push her - they had all the time in the world, he could ask her about it in the morning, right?

And Neil knows when she’s hiding behind jokes. That’s why he doesn’t want to play her game when she deflects what he says about the way she was in bed. He wants her to be honest. Especially since he knows what he saw in her eyes, in her actions, when they were together, and he’s sure it all must have meant something to her.

//I've heard stories, but they're jaded

So give me something more

I only know what I've been told

But I can tell that you're frustrated

And I won't ever pry, I'll only be a hand to hold

If you tell me you're hurting

I'm hurting too, yeah

Don't tell me you're fine - unless you're fine

I'll wait for the outcry

Whenever there is something weighing on your mind//

And Neil knows he can’t pressure her, that’s why he just stands with her and waits. Sweeping his mind over and over again for anything that could have prompted this whole mess.

//If you feel like leaving

Then maybe it's for the best

Or if you feel like you've given in

Oh, give yourself a chance

If you feel like crying

Oh please don't hold it in

If you feel like reaching out oh

Let me in//

His heart is aching when he hears her reason why she feels like she has to leave. That’s when he touches her. To pull her back from her head to something real. To remind her that nothing has changed. That he’s there, and not going to let her go that easily. That he loves her, because he needs her to hear it, so she knows for sure. And when she tears up, there’s only one desperate plea in his mind.

Gavin James - Hard to do

One heavy hitter after another, and this is another killer. The longing in Gavin’s voice clenches your chest and you just want to hide in somebody’s arms.

//Oh, I've been thinking that I don't wanna leave

This house isn't home to me

I'm tired of losing everyone I see

Now that you're here, it's a hard thing to do

Trying to hold on//

Does she really want to leave? She feels she has to, but god, if only she knew for sure her heart is safe, she would stay with him forever. The problem with life is - you can never be so sure. And when Neil shows up… it takes everything, even unreasonable anger, to keep her together.

//Maybe I don't believe that I don't wanna run

But two hearts are better than one

You say you'll stick around but I'll be gone

Oh, I'll be gone

It's a hard thing to do, trying to hold on//

Reader knows that it’s gonna be nearly impossible to walk away now. And she’s afraid.

//Oh, but I need you

Far more than I ever want you

It's such an unnatural thing we do

When falling in love's just so hard to do

Hard to do//

She can’t bring herself to look at him after she tells him what’s going on with her. But when Neil touches her and takes her hand, she can’t keep it inside anymore. Then he tells her that he loves her, and everything floods her at once. Fear. Guilt. Love. All that combined with his simple plea is enough to finally make her give in.

Damien Rice - I don’t want to change you

I had it on repeat since the moment Neil touched her. The softness of what happens there, melting the barriers once and for all.

//Wherever you are

You know that I adore you

No matter how far

Well, I can go before you

And if ever you need someone

Well, not that you need helping

But if ever you want someone

Know that I am willing//

He’s there for her. Always has been, always will be.

//Oh, and I don't want to change you

I don't want to change you

I don't want to change your mind//

Here. I think that’s what is really important about them and their relationship.

//I've never been with anyone

In the way I've been with you

But if love is not for fun

Then it's doomed

'Cause water races

Water races down the waterfalls//

Lucy Spraggan - Run

Ha, this kinda feels like an end-credits song, don’t you think?

//I just to run to the end of the world

Just to see if it's possible

I don't care what I've been told

I want to run to the end of the world

I'm going to run,run,run

Bye bye problems

Run 'til the road hits the sea

You better run,run,run

If you want to be free//

Granted, she didn’t run off without Neil, but found a way to run with him instead. There’s that heart-bursting light and freedom in this song, I think it captures that happiness they found, working it all out in the end.

//I wanna feel invincible

One more mile out of principle

I want to see the whole damn world

One cross road can change it all//

Travelling the world. Doing what they like most. Together.

------

Quite a journey that was.

Thank you all for taking it with me.

[ashintheairlikesnow]

Whumptober Day 14: Heat Exaustion

CW: Sick whumpee, heat exhaustion, pet whump, Box Boy setting, whumpee forced to eat food that sickens them

(Micheal belongs to @card-games-and-pain and is used with permission. Context: Karen and Peter spend some time with Avie’s Benjamin Leon, and one his employees pisses Karen off. So she brings that employee home to add to the family... whether he likes it or not)

It was too hot to be out in the garden for so long, but Peter couldn’t stop himself. He’d stripped his shirt off a long time ago, and the sun beat down with real weight and pressure on the sweat-shiny scars that layered his back, muscles shifting under the marked skin as he pulled up the tiniest, most inconsequential weeds with vicious intensity.

Everything was back to normal - and nothing was normal at all.

The thermometer on the side of the house, something Madam had installed for Peter at his own request, one of the few times she had ever simply told him yes when he asked for something, for anything, read 96.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

He glanced up at it, shading his eyes with one hand, smearing dirt across the damp skin. He hadn’t bothered with gloves, today. When he sat back on his heels, kneeling in the fresh, warmed dirt, he felt his stomach twist and flip, and had to arch forward again, groaning. Probably just breakfast - last night’s steak, served with eggs. He hadn’t been able to get away with just eating the toast with butter and jam - he’d tried, but Madam had caught him at it, and watched with her cool hazel eyes, Seb and Dex and her newest, Micheal, all staring quietly down at their own plates until Peter ate every single bite.

It sat heavy in him, afterward, the way meat always did. And it was Madam’s day off, so he couldn’t curl up in the dark of his room and wait for the sick feeling to pass. Instead, he’d escaped out here, to the lush, complex, complicated garden that was Peter’s only respite from her cane, from the pain. 

Except his stomach kept twisting, worse and worse, and it was starting to ache down in his hips, even, the cramping spreading. On top of that, his head was starting to hurt.

Peter shivered, feeling suddenly cold even though the sun was beating mercilessly down on him and when he touched the top of his own head, his hair felt hot to the touch.

He should go inside, he really should, but he didn’t want to. He didn’t want to go in the house with Madam inside, sitting cool as can be on the couch taking phone calls or working on her laptop, when there was always something Peter had done wrong, some reason he needed to be punished, and sometimes the reason was just Madam wants to keep her arm strength up.

It hadn’t been that long - just a few months, that Madam had spent visiting Senator Leon, with Peter along for the trip. It hadn’t been long at all, but somehow it had shattered something in Peter, torn open his determined contentment with his lot in life and reminded him that it didn’t have to be this way.

Except it did, because it was this way, and there was nothing he could do about it except make the best of it and work as hard as he could not to be noticed.

He missed them, the other pets - Lee with his curls and his willingness to so readily hug, and touch, and stand up for Peter even when it made no sense, and Marco that he had-... he had been forced to help Marco… train, at the end for a life Madam wasn’t even conscripting him into, just… she just wanted him broken. 

And made Peter help her do it.

He dug his fingers up to the knuckles into the earth. The world spun around him, and he thought at first it was from his guilt. He wondered how they were, now - them and the professor, who had been so kind to him. 

No one should be kind to him - it only got them hurt - but the professor had been.

Well, so had Micheal. Micheal had just been an employee, someone who worked for the Senator and who got paid and went home sometimes. Then he’d tried to do something nice for Peter and Madam found out, and now…

Now he was a pet, just like Peter.

Except Micheal got to remember that he had been something else.

Peter glanced over his shoulder, back towards the house. The thermometer had climbed a little more, reading 98.5 degrees Fahrenheit now, and Peter blinked as he shivered again, swallowing without any saliva. His mouth felt dry, and strange. Why was he shivering - how did he have goosebumps - if it was almost one hundred degrees?

As if he’d heard Peter’s thoughts, the side door opened and Micheal came out, wearing his weekend outfit of slim black slacks and a pale heathered gray t-shirt, what Madam allowed him to wear. He was carrying a glass of water with ice and a little striped straw stuck in the top. The black shock collar he was never allowed to remove - not yet, Madam said, not until Micheal learned how to be silent without needing encouragement, to her satisfaction - cut a wide band across his neck, the black box small and nearly perfectly blended in at the back. 

“Peter,” He said in a low voice - not quite a whisper, but just as quiet. “I brought you a drink, I-” He looked up, squinting towards the sky. “It’s hot. Should you be out here?”

Peter shrugged, wiping his hands off on his pants - but they were already streaked with dirt and he did nothing but somehow get both his hands and his pants dirtier. “P-probably. I still feel gross from breakfast, I thought… stay out here. But-” He shivered, again. “At least there’s a breeze.”

Micheal frowned, confusion written across his face, as he stepped closer to Peter. “Um, Peter? No there isn’t.”

He was barefoot - he was allowed that much, at least - and Peter blinked at the blades of grass being briefly crushed under his toes, only to spring back up again. He put a hand to the side of Peter’s face and Peter leaned heavily into it on instinct alone. 

Good boy.

“Shit.” Micheal whispered the curse. “Peter-...” His hand went up to Peter’s forehead, then pulled back, frowning down at him, his eyebrows furrowed. “Peter, you are caked in sweat.”

“Well, yeah, it’s really hot,” Peter side. He shifted into a crouch, intending to stand, and the world spun so wildly around him he had to stop, blinking, as little white dots sparked everywhere in his vision. “Oh, I’ve been kneeling too long.”

“No, you’ve been out here too long. Come on, let’s get you inside. You need to lie down under the vent to get some cold air on you.”

“I’m fine, I just-... you know, breakfast isn’t easy for me-” Neither is lunch or dinner or any other meal I’ve ever eaten. “-and Madam’s inside, it’s, I’ll be fine.”

Micheal only shook his head and took Peter by the elbow. His fingers felt so cool and dry, and Peter hummed as he was pulled to his feet. The world spun even more, then, and Peter tried to look up at Micheal to see the worry written across his face-

… and blinked, finding himself lying on his side on the living room floor, all three of his brothers circled around him, Madam herself standing slightly back in the doorway to the kitchen. All of them watching him.

Micheal had a cool, wet cloth laying over Peter’s forehead, and his arm kept trembling, jerking and twitching, and Peter reached up to touch it, feeling the muscle jump minutely under his skin. “M-Micheal? Are you… are you okay?”

“Fine,” Micheal whispered in reply, but even his whisper was raspy. “‘M fine, don’t worry about it.”

“He called us for help,” Seb said softly. He had another cloth, running it carefully over Peter’s neck, his collarbone, and down his stomach. “Set off his collar.”

“Yelled very loudly,” Dex signed, with a slight, concerned smile. His face was thin, shadows under his eyes, but he found a smile for Peter. Then he looked up at Karen, head tilted.

Dex had lived here for so, so long. Sometimes he didn’t even have to sign for Madam to understand him. Karen gave a quick, curt nod. “Cool him down. You may take the afternoon off.” She looked them over, her four boys - three Box Boys, plus Micheal, simply an unfortunate victim of Karen’s need to push the boundaries of what she could get away with further and further. “All of you. I have some work to take care of, but it’s nothing I need Micheal for.”

Dex signed a quick thank-you, and Seb and Micheal murmured theirs. Peter tried, but his lips were dry, and his tongue scraped against them like sandpaper. 

Seb and Dex looked right at Karen to thank her - Micheal, as always, turned his eyes down and towards the floor, to hide the simmering anger that still lurked under the surface. He hadn’t belonged to Karen long enough yet for the anger to have gone numb. 

She gave them all one last glance - lingering, maybe, between Micheal and Peter - and then walked away. 

Peter could have sworn he heard her Louboutins clicking on the floor, even though she was barefoot in the sanctity of her own home. She went upstairs towards her office, and the four of them were left alone in the living room.

Micheal’s shoulders only relaxed down from being hunched near his chin once she was gone. “Well, we’ve got the afternoon off,” He rasped, going for cheerful. “What should we do with all that time, Peter?”

“Peter needs to lay down,” Dex signed, his words sharp this time, slashes of palm and finger. “And drink water.”

Micheal had to stare at Dex’s hands - he was still learning sign language, after a few months here with Madam - but he picked it up well enough. “I can handle those things,” He said, giving a quick nod. One of his arms jerked, again, in an aftershock, and then steadied. 

“Can we read?” Peter felt absurdly young, even though he knew he was an adult, but they were all older than him, and acted like it, too. “Can I hang out in your room and read? With you?”

Micheal took a breath, and nodded, slowly. He slipped an arm under Peter’s back, and another under his bent knees, pushing himself slowly to his feet with Peter in his arms, Dex and Seb working to help him balance. “Sure, we can do that.”

“Can I stay with you all night?”

Micheal’s lips thinned, and he glanced back towards the back of the house, where Madam had gone. “Maybe,” He said, a little more softly, then. “If you’re too sick to eat dinner.”

“I definitely will be.”

Micheal found a smile for him and carried him towards the stairs. 

--

@astrobly @burtlederp @finder-of-rings @slaintetowhump @moose-teeth @whumpiary @whump-tr0pes

[miss-kittys-magical-library]

In honor of Rob's birthday, can you write a Rob character of your choice with reader or an OC of your choice celebrating his birthday? Fluffy and maybe some light smut? Go wild. ;)

Your Song

Words: 1760

Warnings: Fluff turned smut

A/N: Just inserting Honey and Leon into random awesome points in music history. Cribbed from a scene in "Rocketman," directed by Nathan's freakishly short dad (Dexter Fletcher)

Leon and Honey stumbled and giggled down a path in the woods behind a house in the Canyon. They stopped to kiss under a Laurel tree, laughing when Leon’s hair got tangled up in some branches. Sometimes he seemed to forget how tall he was.

It was unusually warm for early January, but after a show at the Troubadour a party at Mama Cass’s bungalow felt like a serendipitous idea. They held tight to one another’s hands a bit drunk on elderberry wine. Maybe a brownie or two, their first since coming back to the States.

The couple hadn't been alone in several years, not really. Not since Selina was born. They had left her behind in Manhattan with Honey’s parents with an invite from Johnny (who somehow found himself doing far better in LA than he ever did in London.) Away from the snow and slush and post-holiday angry New Yorkers. The Bartucci’s back in their comedy club that Honey bought back and reopened at the start of a new decade. They really could use a vacation. Who turns down Elton John?

Suddenly, today, Leon found himself thirty years old. The 70s weren't much different than the 60s. Rock music got better, the clothes stayed almost the same. Still the same causes for Honey to throw herself into, Leon by her side but with a toddler strapped to his back. Maybe he would never actually be on the moon, but Honey certainly brought it down to him in their little girl.

“We've gotta get back to the house,” Honey lifted Leon’s hand up and brushed her mouth against his knuckles. “I worked a little something out with Elton.” She started to tug him along.

Leon dug his heels into the dirt, and his girlfriend’s arm nearly came out of its socket. “Honnn eeeyyy,” that sexy whine. “You've gone and brought Mr Elton John into it? Oh I'm not big on my birthday, you know that.”

Honey planted her hands on her hips, “Not everyone in our generation is gonna get to turn thirty. There's a piano in the house, and he thinks it's far out. Now c'mon, don't be a spoil sport.” She mimicked Leon's accent.

“Only if he says it's alright. Know how I am ‘bout doing things that aren't my bag.” Still he followed her down to the house, hands in his pockets as Honey literally skipped ahead, bits of bark in her hair.

It all felt unearthly, being surrounded by musicians whose records they had back in The Village. Or how short they all were. Save for John Phillips, the only person who towered slightly over Leon that night. Everyone called him Kubrick in jest, but his cheeks flushed all the same. He perked up straight away when Cass tugged on his vest. The one Honey made. He wore it now over a long sleeved thermal shirt and tight jeans that boot-legged instead of belled.

“Say this is pretty groovy. This is almost flashy enough for Elton to wear.” Her hands ran over the fabric.

“Honey made it. Our first Christmas together back in ‘67. London. Where I'm from. Well no I'm from Greece but,” Leon stammered.

“Relax man. We don't bite! That's Michelle’s job. Your old lady said you've got a kid back East. Me too. Owen, she's around here somewhere.”

You could tell she was whacked out on something. Everyone here was except Leon and Honey. Not really tipsy anymore both down from the brownie earlier. Looking around, the party goers were at the various stages of undress and sex. It was like the couple got rid of Renatis and replaced him with Mama Cass. Except she was so much cooler, her vibe felt truer and at ease.

“Yeah Selina. She's four I think?”

Leon scratched his head before noticing Honey sitting on the piano bench with a guitar. Topless. Elton beside her, also topless but still in his jeans. What a strange fucking life he and Johnny got into after coming here in 1970.

“Like the moon! I get it, Kubrick! Honey said you really love her. Cherish it man, they'll be us soon enough,” she winked. Then Cass affectionately pat his cheek like a mother would.

Leon’s heart would break a year later when she died. Everyone’s heart would. Always touching his face anytime he heard her sing.

For now she was alive and sat down in a chair. Leon leaned against the doorframe as Honey and Elton started to play. Lost in his own world, everyone else in the bungalow faded away except her. He wrapped a finger up in a stray curl that fell from his ponytail, smiling in her direction.

It took him a moment to realize these two people were singing TO Leon and not everyone else. He was so caught up in the way Honey’s fingers moved expertly over the strings. Was this why she asked for lessons? How he always fell in love just by looking at her.

So excuse me forgetting

But these things I do

You see I've forgotten, if they're green or they're blue

Anyway the thing is, what I really mean

Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen

And you can tell everybody

This is the song

It may be quite simple, but now that it's done

I hope you don't mind

I hope you don't mind

That I put down in the words

Later in a loft, Honey and Leon naked on the floor. Leon's lips making their way down Honey’s chest where he stops to take a nipple in his mouth. Sucking hungrily before teasing it with his teeth. Biting somewhere between playful and rough. Alternating between each of her breasts before continuing down over her stomach. Tongue dipping into her navel.

Honey’s back arches into Leon and she moans softly. Her hand lost in his hair as sexual instinct makes her urge him further down. But her brain says through her mouth,

“Wait, it's your birthday. Let me give you head.” The words breathless.

Leon is already diving into her. His tongue snaking deep inside like his fingers often do before going for her clit. Flicking at it a few times, circling it quicker. His hands spread her thighs so he has better access as he works her faster. His head moving up and down the whole time.

Then: “If I wanna go down on you for MY birthday, the only way you're gonna stop me is by saying no.” Leon paused, large eyes gazing up at Honey. His mouth glistening. “Are you saying no, then?”

“Fuck no, I love when you do this. I just figured you wanted to lay back and let me suck you off.”

He smiled and went back to it. Burying his face into Honey further. Then switching from his quick pace, Leon ran his tongue agonizingly slow along her cunt. The entire length of one side, sucking on it, plunging it in to work around Honeys clit then up the other side. Repeating this a few times, tongue manipulating her clit longer and faster.

Honey felt that heat build in her sex. That throb and the contraction. She cried out with that sudden swell of wetness before she came. She was so close but her mouth opened:

“Leon stop!”

Leon sat up and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, “What? What's wrong? Too much, love?”

“No no it was the perfect amount of too much. I don't wanna cum before we fuck.”

“Now THAT'S a bleeding birthday present. Time for me to get a toss over?” Leon's eyes shone with excitement. “Can we shag where someone might catch us?”

He stood up and helped Honey to her feet. Walking her to the railing that exposed the loft to the living room below where everyone had played their music before. A couple was already going at it on the couch not very silently.

Leon put his hand on the thick wood and yanked a few times to check its strength. It was perfect.

Honey situated herself in front of him, back pressing into his chest. She lifted her foot up on the bottom part and jutted her hips back into her partner’s erection. She anchored herself with her arms spread along the length of railing where he had just tested it.

Leon covered only one of Honey’s hands, his arm parallel to hers. The other hand taking the head of his cock teasing her with it. Then clutching the thick of her hip, he buries himself up to the hilt inside of her.

In his excitement, Leon began pounding into Honey madly. His hips hitting her ass every time created a rhythmic slapping sound. No longer needing to brace himself on her waist, he covered Honey’s mouth instead as her mewls of pleasure began.

Honey cried out into Leon's hand. Her body twisting slightly to give him better access. They had rutted this way enough that she knew angling her cunt downwards allowed him to hit her G spot. Something it took them both several years to figure out. Now that they had..

Leon lost himself in slamming into Honey with a speed he hadn’t felt since he did cocaine. The sweat created a shean across his cheeks, neck and chest from the heat they were building. Gut told him it would start forming on her forehead and stomach. What little he was grasping also told him Honey’s tits and ribs were crashing into the railing.

“Steady on, love.” Whispering huskily in her ear. “Yeah. I love being inside you. Never gonna get fucking sick of it. Your twat drives me barking.”

Honey kept on and kept up. That cataclysm in her walls, they flexed around Leon's cock suddenly. She squealed loudly into his hand as she came so hard her stomach muscles cramped. Her body still took to being rammed.

But not long, spurred on by the constriction of Honey’s orgasm, Leon exploded inside of her. Releasing completely but biting down on her shoulder to prevent from yelling out into the stillness.

Honey winced, but her gasp came out closer to another cry of pleasure. Her body cumming again unexpectedly. Leon would use that against her happily in the future.

They untangled themselves and were kissing in the dark. Then from downstairs came a humming. It soon turned into singing. The voice belonged to a tiny Englishman with diamond studded glasses.

“How wonderful life is while you’re in the world."

Tag: @robertsheehanownsmyass @badsext @joz-stankovich @elliethesuperfruitlover @nightmonsters

[kbmercer]

Ch.1, Pt.2/2: Long Time, No See

[Life’s A Journey]

Summary:

A lot had happened after they parted ways. Nevertheless, the threads that tie them together remained. From children to adults, a reunion that’s long overdue leads the trio to embark on another journey.

Just like old times.

Word Count: 2.5k+

(Y/n)’s day starts with a phone call. The trill of Rotom’s ringtone jolts them from their sleep. Groggily lifting themself up to assume a seated position in the hotel bed, (e/c) peek from cracked eyelids to view the screen that hovers in front of them. Seeing the smiling face of Sonia tugs as little smile of their own as they prompt the Rotom Phone to answer their childhood friend over the line.

“Hey-yo, Sonia! How’s it going?”

“Nothing much. Just wanted to call before I get to work. How are you doing? Are you having a good time in Hoenn?” (Y/n)’s smile grows into a lazy grin. There is a nine-hour time difference between Galar and Hoenn, so it was a given that Sonia would think it was later within the day for them. Shifting to note the time: 9:36am, the trainer pulls themselves from under the covers to get ready.

“It’s grand. Mauville is so large I could get lost in it and the hot-springs of Lavaridge are to die for,” they play along. Entering the restroom, they grab a cloth and lather it to clean their face.

“Oooh, sounds like a dream. A spa day sounds good right about now. Note to self, stop by Circhester when I’m free.” (Y/n) discards the cloth before moving to grab their toothbrush.

“Eh. Those are just the places I managed to visit in my free time. I wish I could’ve seen more, but that’s kind of hard when you’re traveling for work.”

“I guess that’s true. How is work, by the way?” (Y/n) groans.

“Same old. There’ve been a lot of interesting things we’ve come across, but it seems we’re walking in circles instead of a straight line.”

“That’s unfortunate.”

“Yes, quite unfortunate indeed. With that being said, my efforts in researching has come to an end for now…I have to get back to Unova soon to fulfill my duties there.” Their words were muffled by the toothpaste in their mouth, still Sonia understands their words just barely. Laughing at hearing bristles on teeth over the line, the woman reclines in the seat in front of her vanity.

“You just never know how to sit down, do you? I don’t know how you do it, y’know. Having work at home and then moving to do work elsewhere? Do you ever take a break???” A thoughtful and long-drawn hum leaves (Y/n)’s lips. Did stopping by Galar count as a break? Maybe, but it would be a rather short one considering they’d only be here for the next few days. Though they can’t tell her that. It’d ruin the surprise visit.

Damn. Sonia’s right.

“Now that I think about it…” silence follows. Neither of the two say anything for a moment before Sonia eventually continues.

“Take more care of yourself…OK?”

Their eyebrows furrow. Quickly muting Rotom Phone to rinse and spit, they unmute to reassure their orange-haired friend.

“Hey, don’t worry about me too much, alright. I’m doing fine. Sure, I may not be taking breaks like I probably should, but I’m not wearing myself to the bone either. I rest plenty, trust me.”

“…”

“Sonia?” (Y/n) hears her sigh over the line.

             “I believe you. It’s just that it’s kinda hard to keep a good work-life balance. Just wanna make sure you’re keeping it level.”

             “It’s as level as I can possibly make it.” They chirp before making a smug face. It’s clear that Sonia has something else to say. The undercurrent of her worried words are heartwarming, and (Y/n) dramatically press their hands over their heart in reverence.

              “You looove me,” they tease to which Sonia stutters a laugh.

             “Oh, hush,” the laughter they share eventually dies down into a comfortable quiet.

             “Well. I’m gonna turn in for the day. Talk to you later.”

             “Yeah. Talk to you later.”

Ending the call, (Y/n) promptly shuffles through their luggage for an outfit. Keeping it plain and simple they decide on a cozy white sweater and some black trousers before changing. In no more than five minutes they’ve grabbed their trainer bag and key card before heading out the door.

Meanwhile, after the line had cut Sonia slowly brought the barrel brush she held down her hair. As she continued to brush she takes a glance at herself in the mirror. A mildly forlorn look shone in her emerald eyes her brows twinged emphasizing her sadness. She wished she could say it—that she missed them. After they had left seven years ago it felt like their friendship had slowly chipped away, not just with her but also with Leon. Though, she supposed that the three growing older and separating to pursue their own endeavors would make that inevitable. Still, traveling the world without so much as an occasional visit left the ginger to question more apart from what she already questioned. Lost in her thoughts, she feels a tiny pressure around her ankle. Looking down, Sonia sees Yamper staring at her head tilted to one side with a concerned look. Sighing, she shakes her head and reaches down to pet the little electric type.

“Sonia, dear. We’ll be leaving soon.” She hears Magnolia outside of her room. Taking a deep breath, she lifts herself from in front of her vanity grabbing the grey clips and placing them on her loose pony before heading to the kitchen. She’d need to eat something for the long day she had ahead of her.

                Hop leisurely eats a muffin as he eyes his Rotom Phone. He had been waiting for (Y/n)’s message ever since he woke up this morning and was beginning to grow impatient. Though he trusted them to remember to notify him, so he stayed put.

“Hey.” His older brother’s voice draws Hop’s attention away from his phone. Leon was dressed in the usual battle tower attire as he takes a seat at the table across from him.

“You said you’d tell who gifted me these,” he grasps the Key and Mega Stones in hand. “A Key Stone and Mega Stone—very rare items to come across. Items highly sought after by skilled trainers, with most being possessed by the elite.”

“Ah. So, you do know what they are.”

“I almost didn’t remember. I likely wouldn’t if it weren’t for the books at my desk. Now, spill. Who gave you these?”

Before the younger can answer, Rotom Phone impedes his vision showing a new text had been received.

‘Morning, Hopscotch! On the way to Mag’s and Sonia’s. Don’t wait up!’

A bright smile shines on the teen’s face dismissing his device. Leon raises a brow. Whatever Hop saw on his phone has him super chipper.

“Well! When I was on my way to the lab yesterday, I was met with a surprise visit.” Amber eyes stare into his own as Leon silently urges him to continue. Hop takes in an excited breath of air.

“It was (Y/n)! They were in Wedgehurst last night and—”

“What?!” Leon exclaims. The ex-champion is out of his seat with an expression of both surprise and disbelief. After seven years of travel, they finally make their return to Galar? A surprise visit? Nobody was given any prior knowledge of this happening? It took Hop to be at the right place at the right time to meet with them?

“So that’s why you returned home late!?”

“Yeah! They gave me the Stones to give to you and told me not to tell until today. Sorry not sorry.” Giving a shrug, Hop recognizes the blank look that has since replaced his brother’s shock. It was easy to determine that the news he received had him thinking, reminiscing, and questioning. Yet, the younger doesn’t give Lee any room to get lost in his mind. With a push of the shoulder, Hop brings Leon from his subconscious.

“Lighten up a little. I’m sure you have a lot to catch up on but standing here isn’t going to help you.”

Having a lot to catch up on was an understatement. Perhaps it was foolish of him to think that (Y/n)’s travels wouldn’t stretch over such a long time span. Regardless he couldn’t help but miss them. Despite the occasional talks they would have with each other, their conversations were often short-lived. The man couldn’t help but to feel guilty about this. Being champion at the time was no easy feat; taking on heavy-handed tasks and putting on a smile for the people of Galar kept him busy—more than he’d like to admit. As they both became adults, it was clear that (Y/n) too had grown busy in their own regard. Listening to them speak about different regional cultures, the sights to see, the food to eat, the pokémon to meet, the events to partake, and their League experiences was something Leon took great joy in doing. Those calls have since been very few and far between. So, what happened? What new journeys had they taken throughout the time they hadn’t spoken? What new accomplishments had they made that he hasn’t yet been told about?

Running a hand through his hair with one hand he uses his other to grab the pokéball of his trusty Charizard before letting him out. With a firm roar, his companion gives an expectant look, having heard the conversation completely.

“We won’t be going very far. (Y/n) had yet to meet with Sonia and Professor Magnolia, so they’re on their way to their house.” Hop shows Leon the notification on his Rotom Phone. It’s proof enough to have the older on his way out the door.

“Then, that’s where we’re headed. Let’s fly,” he makes haste. The younger is at his heels chewing the remainder of his morning snack as they exit.

  The walk down Route Two was a rather slow one. (Y/n) had expected to get to their destination some time ago, but the nostalgia of traveling down the familiar path enticed them to lag. Some things just didn’t change; same trees, same bushes, same patches of tall grass, same gigantic lake. 50 years could pass, and nature would remain—a nice prospect to think about. (Y/n) could feel Poppy grow restless in his pokéball, so they move to release him. The Venusaur takes in his surroundings just as (Y/n) did and releases a joyful grunt.

“Man! All the memories are flooding in. It’s insane!” The trainer gives Poppy a pat on the head. “We’d train here all the time. Sonia would teach us about type advantages and we’d all practice how to throw a pokéball.”

Continuing forward (Y/n) makes out the familiar layout of a battle pitch before eyeing the house that resided behind it. (Y/n) could hardly contain their excitement and raced ahead and rapping their knuckles against the study door. They could faintly hear movement within the building.

             “I’ll get it,” the voice was no doubt their friend’s. They can’t help the megawatt smile that rapidly grows on their face. The ginger woman opens the door with a rather blank look, though her expression changes quickly upon finding out who it is. Her green eyes are wide—bewildered; she had halted in chewing the apple that she had in hand and stares. Seconds pass before (Y/n) casts a glance at their starter.

             “Poppy, I think I broke Son—” they are quickly cut off by a warm and strangling embrace. Was Sonia always physically strong, or was this just a special occasion? Giving a small laugh and returning the hug. It was so great to see their childhood friend again.

             “If you take this long to come back again, I’ll kill you,” she cries. The words are muffled by their sweater as she cries on their shoulder her embrace getting tighter. The sound of light footsteps behind the embrace draws their attention.

“What is all the fuss about, Sonia?” They both hear the professor query, viewing her granddaughter hold (Y/n) close. It isn’t until the veteran cranes their neck to show their face more clearly that the elder notices. An expression of surprise shows before it is quickly replaced with something softer and more welcoming. “Oh my, if it isn’t (Y/n)! Welcome back, my dear.”

“Hey-yo, Mags! How’s everything?”

“All is well, my dear.”

             Sonia had since released them from their hug, but not a moment passes before (Y/n) hears additional footsteps. The sound of feet on pavement was rapid as if somebody, or in this case somebodies, were running. Hearing shouts of their name, they turn around to face the culprits. Taking Sonia’s hand, they exuberantly wave down the path upon seeing Hop and Leon. The younger makes it to the two first, bringing them into another hug. The group of three becomes four a second later as the older joins completing the embrace. In contrast to the cool autumn wind that wafted throughout, the cozy warmth of having everyone huddled together was perfect. (E/c) glance at the ex-champion, his head laid atop theirs as their height allowed it. He looked comfy—relaxed; a rare expression for him to have and (Y/n) couldn’t help but feel touched to catch him like this. Giving the man a slight nudge, his eyes crack open to peek downward. Golden eyes meld into (e/c) as they playfully wink at him with a playful smile. Leon lets out a small laugh as he shakes his head. It’s nice to note that their vibrancy remains in full swing even after all this time.

“Ah, what a sight to see. It’s been such a long time since I’ve seen you all together in one place.” Magnolia’s reminiscent words pull the quad’s attention. “You were all so young and now have grown into fine adults.” With a hum, the elder looks to her granddaughter.

             “It’d be foolish to think you’d want to be in the lab upon (Y/n)’s return, no?” Of course, the ginger shakes her head at this. Magnolia chuckles. The group separates from their hug.

             “In that case, before you get settled make it known that the office will be vacant for the time being.” Turning her attention to Leon she quickly notices that he was already on his own phone telling Rotom to notify the Battle Tower staff that he’d be out for the day. While they were doing that, (Y/n) busied herself with giving Charizard friendly scratches behind the horns. The fire-flying type grunts before bumping his snout on (Y/n)’s nose; an action that he’d adopted starting when he was a Charmeleon. (Y/n) lets out a startled laugh, they forgot about this behavior, but it was a sign of recognition, nonetheless.

             “Been watching over everyone just fine?” Charizard gives a proud nod in affirmation. 

“Good.”

***********

There's so much more that I wanted to add to this part, but I ultimately decided to cut it and move it over to chapter two. It would have gotten too long otherwise.

Also, just a word of note: If at any point do I use 'he' or 'she' in reference to (Y/n), please notify me so I may correct it as soon as I can. I want to keep this fic gender-neutral.

[randomoneshotsblog]

𝗧𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴

Summary: Leon and Y/N want to explore new things 😏

Warnings: daddy kink, spanking, choking, lap dance, filthy stuff ( whichever Leon you want)

Words: 1977

Author's note: it was pretty late when I wrote this so pls dont mind the typos 😪

So, Leon and I wanted to explore new sexual experiences, but we were both afraid of what each other would decide.

Leon is my soon-to-be-husband and after all of this, our quote was: "Sex only after the marriage." But our sexual desires only grow. I'm always horny, I think I'm the horniest from this relationship. I laugh with all this thinking.

Leon had to go to work today to help Hunnigan. I was pretty sad because I was looking forward to spend the day with him. But well, duty calls.

While I'm watching TV - nothing important is showing at the moment - I think what I could do to make our desires better in bed, don't get me wrong, Leon is very good in bed, he has this dominant personality on bed but I wanted to do this for him, to cheer him up.

An idea passed through my mind, I guess all those times that I spent on my bed only reading fanfics was worth it.

I go to our room and dress myself: jeans, a black t-shirt, white jacket and sneakers.

Guess I'm going shopping.

When I arrive home, Leon is not there yet.

Thank God.

It's still 19p.m, he usually comes home at 20p.m, so I still have time. I put the shopping bags on my bed and then i jump into the shower.

I'm really hoping that Leon likes it, it would be totally awkward if he doesn't like it. Crap, now I'm nervous. That's not good.

"Okay, breath Y/N, breath." I prepare for the big night, I get out of the shower, I put my body cream and then I put this:

I stop in front of the mirror, staring at myself.

"Y/N you're looking great." I smile to the mirror.

I hear keys clicking, so I quickly take my robe and wear it.

"Y/N babe, where are you?" Leon's voice is muffled by the room closed door - yeah, I closed the door before I got out of the shower, I knew he would show up -

We live in a apartment, with 2 bedrooms but we only use one of them, so I thought in finally using the other one for my plan.

"Wait for me, on the other room."

"Why? Did something happened?"

"No, nothing just wait me there." I hear footsteps far away, then I know he went to the other room.

I tie my hair into a bun, then I put the mine's and his favorite perfume and some make up, not too much, not too heavy, heels too.

What? A girl has to be prepared

Oh God, it's happening. I'm finally doing it. It's not my first time with Leon but I'm afraid of his reaction, will he love it, be awkward about it, hate it? I don't know but I have to give it a shot.

I even prepared a song for it: (whatever song you like)

I get out of the room, nervous. I bet Leon can hear my heels clicking on the floor.

"Y/N is that you?" He asks.

"Yeah, it's me."

Now I'm standing at the door, hesitating to take the knob. A few minutes I opened it.

On the room, there's only a chair and a music player, that I put it there, I guess Leon bite the bait, because he's sat on the chair.

Reminder: I'm still wearing a robe.

I walk towards him, all of my feelings mixed but not showing. Leon's expression it's just confusion.

Leon can smell my scent from awar.

"Is there any event you're going today?" Leon asks while I go behind the chair to play the song, I shrug.

I can feel him, getting up from the chair, faster than the light I turn around and mention to the chair.

"Sit." My dominant part has come. I give him a hard, serious look, that makes him oblige.

I then go back to play the song.

"What are you doing?" Poor Leon, doesn't know what's gonna happen. I want to tell him, but no, it's only about him today.

I take the black towel that was beside the music player and tie his hands, to keep him in place.

"Y/N what are you doing?"

I walk to be in front of him, and give him a smile, I see his face relaxing.

"Just trust me, do you?" He nods.

After that the song starts playing and I go to the bathroom to take off the rope.

The bathroom is beside the chair that Leon is on.

The song starts in a slow and sexy lyrics and I open the door, to start leaning on the doorframe, I start to hear every single word that the music is saying, while I swing my hips slowly for him to watch.

His eyes are shining with desire and his lips and cheeks are red. I like that feeling, of being wanted.

I arch myself on the doorframe, my ass rubbing on the wall.

I give him a devilish smirk.

I'm loving it and he's loving it.

I start to walk towards the chair, without losing the charm.

I start to swing my hips while playing with myself, my breasts, all of my body.

"Babe, please, let me touch you." He pleads, suprising me but I don't show.

I shake my finger as a 'no'. He throws his head back, in frustration.

"Eyes up here, big boy."

I saw him biting his lip and I do the same, that drives him crazy, every single time.

I can already see his bulge, and I'm already horny.

My pussy is on fire, and probably a pool already but I cant and won't stop.

I turn around, him only facing my behind. I sit on lap and start to tease him but grinding my ass on his dick.

He starts to make small growls. I'm rolling and grinding back and forth in slow movements.

"Baby girl." He growls in my ear. I put my head in the crook of his neck. The song is still going.

He's enjoying this as much as I am.

"Please, untie me babe. I can take care of you." He bucks his hips up in my ass.

Ugh, I want him to touch me so bad.

I face him now, I put my legs on each side of his legs and look at his full of lust and blue eyes.

"You like what you see... Sir?" I ask innocently, while he stares at me and gives a smirk.

"I do, actually. You look so hot in that." The music starts to go sexier and I don't know what to do anymore. This man is driving me crazy.

I start grinding myself on his bulge, that's getting bigger and harder by the time.

"Fuck, babe." Leon moans. I noticed that he's eating me with his eyes, enjoying every single part of my body, the way my breasts are so big, the way I grind my hips, everything.

I put my hands on his neck and attack his lips, biting and sucking his bottom lip. Then I start kissing his neck, giving it a hickey, Leon's breath starts to get louder.

I'm loving it.

I pull on his hair, and all I see it's lust on his eyes.

I put my fingers under his shirt and feel his hard muscles.

Leon is whimpering right now.

I stop grinding and go lower to take his cock. Leon throws his head backwards again. I give a smirk. I love doing that to him.

His cock is so soft and tasty. "You're so big, sir." I moan as I start to rub my hands up and down his cock.

"Don't stop, babe." I start to grind myself again to ease a little the aching on my cunt, while I work on his cock.

The song is already finished, you can just hear our moans and breaths.

I decided that it was teasing enough, but I know that when I untie his hands, he's gonna be the dominant one.

I stop working on his cock, and go to his lips, I give entrance to his tongue, while he's kissing me with full desire. I raise my hands behind him to untie him.

Without stopping to kiss him, I feel big hands on my waist and I let out a relived breath.

"You liked that right? Teasing me. I bet your cunt is begging to be fucked right now." I'm wet. His dirty talk always drive me crazy.

He takes me to our bedroom, put me on the bed. Next there it goes his shirt and pants. I stay there, at his mercy. He can do whatever he wants with me.

He hovers me.

"You know you look pretty sexy in that lingerie. But I bet is gonna be sexier when you're cumming on my cock." He gives a smirk, then he starts grinding his bulge to my cunt.

I start moaning, loud. I cant take it anymore.

"Sir, fuck me already, please. No teasing." He kisses my upper lip.

"You're right no more teasing." He finally takes off my lingerie and his boxers.

He sighs when he started to tug on his cock. God, that was a sight.

Next, he hovers me again. I can feel him putting his cock in my cunt, it feels amazing. He starts to play with my nipples. Biting and sucking.

His thrusts are deep but slow.

"Fuck, Leon. Always fucking me so good!" I moan, while he's kissing my neck.

"This cunt is so tight and good, baby. When you got out of the bathroom with that outfit, I just wanted to fuck the life out of you." He says on my ear.

He starts going faster, the bed is cracking and my moans are getting louder.

"You want to be my little whore, right baby? You want me to fuck you all day and night so you cant walk on the next day?"

"Fuck, daddy. You're so good. I love your cock in my cunt." I'm desperate now, I need more, I'm so horny.

"I need more, daddy, please." He grabs my waist and turn me around.

"Ass up." He spanks my ass, I moan louder.

"Yes, scream for them to hear who's fucking so good." He spanks again.

He plugs my ass. "Fuck, your ass is even tighter. Your little whore." He spanks harder, my ass is red already.

"Fuck, daddy. I love when you spank. Do it, I'm a bad girl." Ugh, I'm so dirty. He's started to fasten his pace, I can feel my stomach about to explode.

He puts my face into the mattress, pounding my cunt. "Kitten, likes that right? Yeah, I know she does."

"Harder, please." He trusts harder and pulls my hair making my back to meet his chest.

My pussy is on fire, it's pulsing so much.

"Are you close for daddy? Huh?" He starts to circle my clit and going faster in his pace, while he puts his other hand on my throat.

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!" I scream, ready to explode.

"Cum, my whore. Cum for daddy." He says with a last pull of my hair and thrusting in my ass and I let go on his cock. He didn't come yet, so he keeps thrusting into me, while I'm rolling my eyes, enjoying the moment.

"Fuck, Y/N!" He growls while he lets go inside of me.

I fall beside him, and he takes the covers. I start shaking and he envelops his arms around me.

"All of that for this amazing thing that happened." He laughs.

"Yeah I wanted to do something different." I say while playing with his fingers.

"I love you." I say looking at him.

"I love you lots." He kisses my lips gently

[hayleysstark]

Doppelganger

Words: 2255 Warnings: Swearing Summary: "Merlin," Arthur says, "has split himself into nine Merlins." / "Jesus Christ," Elyan says blankly.

Read on Fanfiction or AO3. 

"Right," Arthur says, finally, into the absolute silence of Gaius' wrecked chamber—all the tables and chairs overturned, all the big, dusty books open on the floor, torn pages and stained papers still fluttering around and around in the air like tiny white birds. "So." He lets himself think, for one long and happy moment, of the moment he sees Merlin again. He can't wait to drag the idiot down to the kitchens and tell the cook to chop him up and serve him for dinner.

"Now, Sire," Gaius says, like Arthur has just opened up his mouth and actually said I'm going to chop Merlin up and serve him for dinner out loud, except, Arthur's really very certain he didn't, so maybe Gaius really can read minds, like Gwaine always wants to bet thirty pounds on, "—mustn't be too hard on Merlin, surely, you know that, it was merely an accident—"

"Right," Arthur says, again. It'll be a tricky thing to boil Merlin. He's all skinny and stringy. He'll get chewy very fast. "Wouldn't dream of it, Gaius."

And maybe Gaius really can read minds, because he sees through that in less than half a moment—damn it, Gwaine wins, doesn't he, Arthur's going to have to hand thirty pounds over to the drunken fool tonight—

"—Sire, please, Merlin merely misunderstood the intent of the incantation—I cannot deny, he ought to have proceeded with far more caution, and of course, he must shoulder some of the blame, but it is not entirely his fault—"

All right. No. Absolutely not. Arthur cannot listen to that any longer. "Not entirely his fault?" He doesn't mean to shout it. That just sort of happens all on its own. "He's gone and split himself into eight! This is entirely his—!"

"Nine," Gaius says, gently, and reaches over, and pats Arthur lightly on the back of his hand. "Actually."

"Oh! Right! Yes! Of course!" Arthur yanks his hand away, and he thinks he might actually still be shouting a little bit. Maybe. "Of course! Nine! Why didn't I think of that! Eight would be too easy, I expect!"

"—Sire—"

"And God forbid Merlin ever make anything easy! He can't just go and have magic, oh, no, he's got to go and be a dragonlord, and have a dragon, and be married to a lake, and be the king of the druids and split himself into eight!"

"Nine," Gaius says, again. It feels very unhelpful right now.

The door swings open, with a long, low creak—a good thing, because if Gaius had got one more word out of his mouth, Arthur would have actually exploded—and the knights rush in, with a great swirl and swish of scarlet cloaks, and a heavy clatter of silver mail, and Guinevere follows on their heels, her red velvet skirt bunched up in her fists so she can run.

"Sire," Leon bows low, and flicks his sweat-soaked curls out of his eyes with the back of his hand, "Gaius," he nods at the old man, "we all came as soon as we heard—what's happened, what is it, what's—?"

"Merlin," Arthur says, at once, because it's like when Gaius rips out stitches after the wound has healed, the quicker, the better, the quicker, the less it will hurt, "has split himself into eight Merlins."

"Nine," Gaius says.

"Nine," Arthur amends with a little huff.

"Jesus Christ," Elyan says blankly.

Percival nods fervently.

"Nine Merlins?" Guinevere echoes, incredulously, and her brows arch up a bit, and she looks at Arthur like she thinks this is all a joke he wants to play on them, like any moment now, Merlin will pop out from behind one of the overturned tables, or come down the dark, narrow stairs at the back of the room, and laugh his idiot head off and say not really!

Arthur should be so lucky. Arthur really, really should be so damn lucky. "Nine Merlins." He nods.

"Fuck," Gwaine says, frankly.

Percival nods fervently again.

"Thank you, Gwaine," Gaius says dryly.

"Well, there has to be a way to fix him," Arthur says impatiently—honestly, yes, all right, he knows this is a bit of a shock, but it really doesn't take that long to come 'round to Merlin is an absolute idiot and he lost control of his magic and mucked up and now we have to go fix it, sounds like Tuesday in Camelot, huh, "can't we just—I don't know—" he doesn't know, actually, he doesn't know very much about magic at all, because magic lives in the lovely little place he likes to call Merlin's Problem, Not Mine, but Merlin's not here right now to make it his problem, so it looks like it's going to be Arthur's problem instead, "—can't we just take all the Merlins and shove them back into one Merlin, or something?"

"Shove them back into one?" Guinevere whirls around to scowl at Arthur. "No! No, we are not going to hurt him!"

"If we can get all the variants of Merlin together," Gaius says, calmly, but he's already raising that damned brow, "there is, indeed, a spell that will—gently—" his brow jumps a bit higher, "merge the facets back into one cohesive whole. But I need hardly tell you, I do not possess the power to even attempt such a thing, Sire. Merlin himself must do it."

"Great," Arthur says flatly. "Why do we always need Merlin for everything?" It's not like the idiot doesn't deserve it—might even do him some good, actually, to clean up his own messes—but Arthur thinks, sometimes, he would give his sword arm just to have a crisis in his kingdom he can solve without magic, and gold eyes, and a whole lot of odd gibberish.

"Hey," Gwaine says, "question."

"Yes, Gwaine," Arthur snaps, "you have to help." If he can't get out of this, his knights aren't getting out of this. "I don't care how many taverns have got a half-price deal going, or if that barmaid finally lost her last rational thought and decided to roll in the hay with you, but—"

"'Have to help'?" Gwaine echoes, like Arthur's just said a truly obscene swear. "Try and stop me, Princess. It's Merlin." Like that explains everything.

(It does, actually, because Arthur feels the same—if Merlin needs him, that's it, that's just it, end of story, nothing else matters, so long as he's there when Merlin needs him—but he would cut out his own tongue and chop it up for dinner before he would ever, ever say that out loud.)

"Please, Sir Gwaine," Gaius says, "I fear there's not much time. If Merlin remains in this disparate state for much longer, the facets will, gradually, begin to fade, and the Merlin we know will disappear from this realm forever."

"Disappear?!" Arthur snaps back around to look at Gaius. "Why the hell didn't you come right out and say that before now?!" It hits like ice in the bottom of his stomach—disappear, forever, Merlin will disappear from this realm forever, the Merlin we know will disappear from this realm forever, and what will I do without him, what will I do without him, I can't, I can't, I need him, I need him here, I can't do this without him, I can't, we haven't done all the things we're meant to do, and I need him here, so we can do them, I need him here to call me a prat and trip over absolutely everything and cry when he sees baby rabbits and hold a sword all the wrong ways because he's rubbish with a blade and I need him here to smile too much and say good morning too loudly and talk about druids and dragons and magic for hours if I don't shut him up and just be Merlin—

"All right, all right, so, just—one thing, then," Gwaine hastily holds up a broad, black-gloved hand, "just one thing, yeah? So, if Merlin tried a weird spell, and turned himself into nine—"

"Yes," Arthur huffs—maybe he should chop Gwaine up, and serve him for dinner, then, "wonderful job, Gwaine, truly phenomenal, now, come on, we have to find him—"

"—wait, wait," Gwaine says, "wait, now, just hang on, Princess, if Merlin tried a weird spell, and turned himself into nine—"

"Gwaine, if you don't sober up and take this seriously, I swear to God, I'll have Percival toss you in the horse trough!" Arthur snarls.

"Um," Percival says, "actually, I would rather not toss Gwaine in the horse trough."

"No need to hide it," Elyan says. "We all kind of want to toss Gwaine in the horse trough."

"—if Merlin tried a weird spell and turned himself into nine, which one is supposed to merge him back?!"

Oh. A hard, heavy stone drops down in Arthur's stomach, right next to the ice. God, Gwaine's actually got a point—would wonders never cease, and all of that, but no, this is not the time, because Gwaine's actually got a damn good point, if Merlin isn't just one Merlin any longer, if he's a whole lot of Merlins all running 'round the castle, is there a way to get one of them to—to do it, to put him back, to put him right, to make him Merlin again—?

"Oh," Gaius doesn't look even half so horrified as Arthur feels, "now that is very simple, Sir Gwaine. You must find the one that is truly Merlin."

Gaius' idea of "simple" looks very, very different from Arthur's.

"Right, thanks," Gwaine says. "One more thing, though. What the actual fuck does that mean?"

"Gwaine!" Elyan reaches up and cuffs his friend, hard, 'round the head.

"I'm sorry," Gaius says, seriously, "I'm afraid I don't know that. I suppose you will know the true Merlin once you find him."

Great. Arthur's stomach sinks, under the weight of all that ice and stone. So he has to track down nine magical idiots, because just one apparently isn't magical or idiotic enough, and he's got to work out which one is actually, truly his magical idiot. Wonderful. Can't wait.

"All right, well," Guinevere bites her bottom lip, and turns to look at the others, a wrinkle in her dark brow, "well, then, we have to find him first." She shakes her head—her thick, brown curls bounce a bit, up and down. "Them. We have to find them. Where do you think they'd have gone?"

"Perhaps," Leon speaks up before Arthur's got the chance to even think about it, "perhaps he's gone to the king's chambers? That's usually where he goes every morning, so, maybe—"

Oh. The ice and stone in Arthur's stomach lifts a little. That's actually not a bad idea. No, that's—that's a good idea, actually, that's a very good idea, that is where Merlin goes every day, and where else does Merlin go every day? Where else would Merlin be at this time?

It hits Arthur hardly half a moment later. "The armory!" He glances over at Leon. "And the training field—he's usually down there with me right now, we usually spar 'round this time—"

"Spar?" Gwaine snorts. "No, you don't 'spar', you just hit him over and over until he can't stand up. That's not a spar. That's a beating."

"Shut up, Gwaine."

"Oh! The kitchens!" Guinevere's face lights up. "He goes there all the time to fetch Arthur's meals! And to steal food," she adds, with a little scowl, "honestly, you'd think he doesn't hear me at all, I've tried a hundred times to tell him not to—"

"What d'you expect?" Gwaine cocks a dark brow. "Princess hardly gives the poor guy time to breathe. It'd be a miracle if he ever got to actually sit down and eat a proper meal."

"Gwaine," Arthur says, "the horse trough is still very much on the table right now." Of course Merlin has time to eat. Plenty of time. Loads of time, even. The idiot knows how to talk—unfortunately—and he certainly knows how to whine and whinge if he ever gets too hungry.

"Oh!" Percival brightens. "Maybe that's where Merlin's gone!"

"The horse trough?" Elyan arches a doubtful brow at Percival.

"No, no," Percival waves him off, "the stables! He has to see to the horses every day, right? And he'll hang 'round sometimes to spoil his old nag, I've seen him at it."

"Excellent idea, Percival!" Guinevere beams at him. "Thank you!"

A tiny little bit of relief stirs in Arthur's stomach. Maybe this won't be nearly as hard as he thinks. "All right, everyone, let's all fan out. Sir Percival, you'll take the stables, since you thought of it, Guinevere, if you could see to the kitchens, Sir Elyan, the armory and the training field, Sir Leon, check the throne room, it's worth a look, and Sir Gwaine, get yourself down to the archives—"

"I really don't think there's a Merlin in the archives," Gwaine breaks in. "Pretty sure if he ever picked up a book that wasn't just magic cover-to-cover, Gaius might actually cry of joy."

"It is a long-cherished dream of mine," Gaius admits.

"Shut up, Gwaine," Arthur says, again, "just check the archives. Maybe he's there, maybe he's not, but we just can't take the risk. We can't miss one of him. We have to find all of them. Quickly."

[fletchphoenix]

You And I Have Good Chemistry

Hiya gamers - chapter three has arisen. As always, I love y’all and thank you so much for your supportive messages yesterday, it meant a lot. Anyway, enough of me rambling. Onwards with the chapter.

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  “You came back-” Varian said with a tearful smile, cuts littering his face as he sat on the hard oak floor of the library. The very floor Hugo was sprinting across to slide against and pull the younger boy into his arms. He didn’t want to let go of the boy in front of him, not now, not ever. He muttered apologies - for what, he didn’t know - he just knew he’d hurt the raven haired boy he was currently holding in an embrace that was being returned just as passionately.

  “Of course I did, Varian. I’m not..gonna leave you here.” he confessed, his hands fixing Varian’s teal waistcoat, the other gently pushing his hands down to stop him. Loving eyes met his, the crack in his glasses slightly obscuring his vision. That didn’t matter though - at least the younger boy was safe. 

  He wasn’t sure who’d started it, but sure enough they were both leaning in, extremely close. “Hugo…” Varian’s voice was barely a whisper as his hand moved to rest upon the blonde’s cheek. Only a little more-

  “HUGO!” Donella yelled as she opened the door, startling the emerald eyed boy, before he groaned in annoyance and pulled his sheets over his head as Donella opened his curtains, letting in the sunlight which broke him from his VERY riveting dream about an Eternal Library. His brain neglected to remind him of the fact him and Varian were extremely close and how his rude awakening had interrupted a very intimate moment between the two - probably for the best. 

  “Geez, Don. I was getting up.” He muttered as he pulled the covers back to grab his glasses, pushing them up his nose before checking his alarm clock. One glance. Two glances. “It’s 7:15am. I’m not even late. Why are you waking me up?” he moaned and laid back, his head finding comfort in the pillows and his eyes watching the grey haired woman roll her eyes and fold her arms in annoyance, though an exasperated smile on her features said otherwise. 

  “Well, you need to start getting up earlier.” she stated, heading towards the bed. “Besides, your phone alarm has been going off since half six and I’m sick of hearing that hellish ringtone of yours.” Donella used a cold hand to push back his fringe and place a gentle, motherly kiss to his forehead before ruffling his hair gently and heading towards the doorway. The slight click of the heels on her boots created a comforting tempo, syncopated with the ticking of the clock on his wall. “Get ready, okay Hugo?” 

  “Yeah, alright mom. Oh! My study partner is coming over tonight by the way. His name’s Varian. He’s new.” he explained, his voice crescendoing into a shout as his mother descended the stairs. Once he was sure she’d heard him, he began getting dressed, selecting his moss green hoodie, jeans and some random shirt to go with it. Not as if it mattered anyway - he didn’t plan on taking off the hoodie today. After all, the only time he’d take it off was for chemistry, and that was second period. Hugo pulled on his clothes, strolling to the mirror placed on his desk and fixing his hair and glasses.

  The start of the day was a breeze - Donella had dropped him off at the entrance and as he walked down the hall, he could hear the usual gossip. Something about a kid called Leon getting suspended for homophobic slurs against Mr Crick’s kid - oh well, at least it wasn’t him, he noted as he pushed open the door to Room 106, Mrs Crick’s room. “Morning Hugo,” Elora called, not even having to look up from her book to know it was him, “Take your seat, you’re late, as usual.” 

  “Sorry Miss, can’t say it won’t happen again though!” he called as he took his seat before Isla, who was literally bouncing up and down in excitement. His eyes trailed up and down her body in silence, his right eyebrow slowly rising. Wow. She looked happy to say the bare minimum. Hell, she was even wearing her rainbow socks - ones she’d specifically told Hugo she was wearing if she was feeling especially happy. “Uh..hey there, Isla. Are you okay?-”

  “Yes! I asked Nuru out yesterday and she said yes! I honestly can’t believe it!” she giggled in her sing-song voice, each word sounding like a melody to an undiscovered song. A grin moved onto his face. So Nuru and one of his best friend’s were dating, huh? What an interesting revelation, he’d thought as he leaned forward against his desk, propping his head up with his hand. He just knew he could use this for blackmail against Nuru...or some form of teasing. Well, he was gonna have fun. 

  “That's interesting, Isla..tell me more..”

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  “He did what?!” Nuru almost yelled, sitting bolt upright in her seat as Varian leant over to shush her. She couldn’t believe it. Hugo motherfucking Atkinson was simping over Varian Ruddiger? This was..a revelation! A hypothesis she just had to explore! The signs were obvious! Staring as Varian while he was talking, actually cuddling him after sharing their deepest traumas..it was just so unlike Hugo that she almost declared that Varian was faking it!

  “Please don’t yell.” Varian begged, sparing a glance over to Zander. The boy was clearly spooked, flinching away from the odd pair in his chair with a black eye on full display to them. Nodding gratefully, the other shuffled back into his prior position as Varian followed suit and sat back down. “But yeah, he was acting really weird and just..hugged me on my bed. It was..kinda nice if I’m being honest.” A slight flush dusted his cheeks, but it disappeared as soon as it came. No. No no. Hugo was his rival. His enemy. None of that.

  “Alright, but it’s almost unheard of that Hugo of all people would act like that. And I’ve known him for years.” she explained, her gaze fixing on Varian, “Trust me Varian, he’s up to something, I can just tell it. He isn’t the ‘good guy’ he makes himself out to be. I would know, okay?” her hand moved to rest on his shoulder, covering the small sun insignia of Eugene’s old Corona High hoodie that he TOTALLY didn’t steal from him. Silently, he nodded in agreement before the bell rang and the hallways flooded with people. “Well then, shall we?” She asked, her arm outstretched. Varian promptly took it and let her guide him through the sea of people in the corridors. 

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  First period went way too fast, Varian finding himself standing outside the chemistry labs alone before pushing open the door and entering. Greeting him was Hugo, already standing at their desk and giving him a smug grin and wave as he made his way over. Ah. Back to square one then. “Hey there, hairstripe. It's good to see my favourite nerd after such a long, strenuous day.” Hugo lamented as he threw his arm around the other boy, the steel of his arm feeling like a molten iron poker due to the relentless August heat. 

  “It's only been one lesson.” Varian complained, pushing Hugo’s arm off him (much to the other’s dismay, as evident from the displeased grunt), and pulling on the ivory lab coat along with his own goggles he’d fished out of his bag. They were the last thing he had of his mother’s belongings - apparently she was a legend in the scientific field, making advanced progress for it before her sudden death. He would’ve killed to have been able to meet her. 

  “I know, but one lesson is too much without my beloved hairstripe!” the other whined as Varian’s face took on a frown. Did he always have to be so dramatic? What had happened to the soft, vulnerable man he’d seen yesterday? Still, he sat down and began to listen to Mr Crick as he explained the experiment. It was simple enough - make a compound of your choice - right?

  Well, he was obviously wrong considering who his partner was.

  He thought they’d been fine, Hugo taking the lead and showing Varian what to do. It almost felt like the sweet boy he met yesterday was back, until the compound blew up in his face. His hair scruffed up as Hugo laughed, Varian rapidly moving his hands to fix the absolute rats nest that was his hair as his partner’s cackles sounded in the background. He’d ignored Hugo after that, a frown covering his features as he pushed the boy away and slumped in his chair, pouting and sulking at the embarrassment he’d been put through. 

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  Before he knew it, he was beside the blonde haired boy again and walking through town. He let Hugo ramble about something or the other, the blonde’s nimble fingers threading through his own locks as he ranted about some girl he liked. Varian didn’t pay attention, somehow a feeling of disappointment and something akin to jealousy bubbled in his stomach. He didn’t understand why - he hated the boy with his whole heart, so why was he jealous over some girl Hugo was frustrated about? He should be laughing because he was suffering so much, so why wasn’t he? He pushed that thought out of his head as fast as he could, his eyes fixating on the floor in silence.

  “You had your first kiss yet, hairstripe?” Hugo asked, it was an innocent question, but it caught Varian off guard. He didn’t want to admit to Hugo he’d never been kissed, all that would lead to would be relentless bullying about how he was destined to be ‘alone forever’ or how he just seemed to repel every girl in a two mile radius somehow. He pondered his answer for a minute, not even realising he’d stopped in his tracks. “You okay?” the blonde questioned.

  “Hm? Oh, i’m fine. And uh. Yeah, I’ve totally been kissed. By many, uh, many females.” he stuttered. Curse him for being so awkward. Hugo wasn’t going to believe him at all with a stutter like that. He knew he was a bad liar - but geez, this was REALLY depressing wasn’t it. It seemed Hugo thought the same, a look of suspicion taking over his face. “I swear I have!” he persisted as he jogged to catch up with the taller boy.

  “I never said I didn’t believe you.”

  “Yeah, but your face looked weird so I thought I had to clarify.”   “Your face always looks weird, but I don’t always clarify everything for you.” Hugo quipped, Varian gasping in offence and punching his bicep. Hugo let out a loud laugh before taking Varian’s wrist and guiding him along the street towards a small house. “Here it is. It really isn’t much, me and my ma aren’t exactly the most lucky people in the world.” Hugo added as he unlocked the door and pulled Varian up the stairs and along the hall to his room. “And this is where the magic happens.” He chirped, wiggling his eyebrows in a seductive manner, to which Varian responded with yet another punch to the bicep. 

  The room itself just had such Hugo vibes. Post it notes covered the walls with notes about chemistry along with little reminders on them (ones Varian couldn’t make out due to Hugo’s fancy yet unreadable cursive writing). An unfinished mechanical device looking similar to a mouse laid with his stomach facing upwards on the desk against the right wall with a wardrobe beside it, doors painted green and hiding the true color of the wood underneath. A bed pressed against the back wall sat against the left wall, the also green covers in a bundle on the floor, as though Hugo had fallen out of bed and forgotten to clean it. Slowly, Varian made his way towards the desk, before Hugo abruptly stepped in front of him to block his path. 

  “Ah. No working at the desk. There’s a surgical patient there at the moment called Olivia, so we’re gonna have to work on the bed. Lucky you.” He commented with a grin, taking a seat. Varian hesitated before perching beside him, taking the books out of his bag as Hugo’s eyes followed his every movement. As reassuring as it was to know Hugo was here, the staring was...really putting him off. It was excessive and happening everywhere - his room, the chemistry labs..hell, even the hallway today as they crossed paths while Varian made his way to math with Nuru dragging him along. It was strange and, according to Nuru, out of character for Hugo to be doing. Varian wasn’t sure if he wanted to know what was in character for Hugo, if he was being honest. Carefully he placed the books on the bed and the pair began to work on their presentation. 

  He hadn’t realised it, neither of them had, but by the time they’d decided to finish, Varian’s head rested on Hugo’s shoulder and had subconsciously cuddled against him on the bed. He flushed as Hugo brought this to his attention. “I’m sorry. I’ll just-” Varian apologised, trying to move away before a hand moved to hold him in place. Hugo’s eyes locked with his azure ones in a silent staring match, neither of them wanting to move until Hugo gained the courage. He tilted forward slightly before-

  “Varian! We’re here!” Rapunzel called from downstairs, the noise bringing both the boys back down from whatever alternate universe they’d created where it was just them. Varian moved away, Hugo letting him slide out of his embrace as he packed his books and their work into his backpack, slinging it over his back and rising to his feet. With his voice almost a whisper, he uttered goodbye before rushing out and down the stairs to meet Rapunzel.

  Hugo laid back on his bed, staring at the glow stars on the ceiling set out like constellations as his mind ran over what had just happened. What had gotten into him? What was the other boy doing to him to cause him to just..act like that? He let out a slight gasp at his sudden revelation. Oh no. No way did he have a crush on Varian Ruddiger. Absolutely no way would he have a crush on someone that was far too good for him in every way.

  He thought back to Zander and the rumours of him and his boyfriend. Of course he couldn’t risk that happening to him OR Varian. They had enough going on as it is, so the last thing he needed was for them to deal with that kind of torment at school. However…

  ..he couldn’t stop thinking about the other boy.

  The way that he couldn’t get enough of him. How he explained things so perfectly and not condescending in the slightest. The way he took care of everything around him and was gentle and careful when talking about potentially hurtful things. The way his blue eyes lit up the slightest bit when he smiled. The small snorts when he laughed. He really was falling hard for the other, huh. He was pretty sure his mom could tell too by the way she’d grinned at him from across the table at dinner in a way that told him that she knew whatever he was hiding, even though HE hadn’t known he was hiding anything at that point. 

  Huh. He really was in love. And this time, he didn’t hate it.