#riding skyline drive in the fall

[ijustwant2ride]

Explore Skyline Drive: A Must for Motorcycle Lovers

If you ride a motorcycle you need to add Skyline Drive to your Bucket List! A few tips for Fall riding on Skyline Drive

[kassiekole22]

Joy Ride

𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐

𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐

Pairing: Brian O'Conner X Fem!Reader

Description: Brian finds you walking home late one night and offers you a ride, which turns into a night-long joy ride around Miami.

Warnings: Fluff, Speeding, Friends Or Future Lovers? (You Decide)

Word Count: 2.2k

A/N: Sooooo, I watched 2 Fast 2 Furious for the first time a around a month ago and this guy has been on my mind ever since. I have always really loved Paul Walker so this was bound to happen eventually. 😂 I don't know if I plan to write more for him or if this will just be a one time thing, but I have been working on this fic for quite some time now and I'm happy to finally be posting it. More to come from other beloved characters soon! Enjoy the fic and if you want more Brian O'Conner fics in the future, let me know in the comments or inbox! 🖤 (Also did any of you get the reference in the name? 👀)

Main MasterList: 🖤

Kassie's Angels: @mornandil, @lorebite.

(If you want to be added to the taglist, let me know in the comments! 🖤)

𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐

2002

The air is pretty cool for a night in Miami, but I don't mind. I walk with my hands in the pockets of my hoodie, protecting them from the slight chill. It's nothing too intense, but I haven't been used to being in cooler temperatures for awhile now.

I walk quickly down the sidewalk as a few cars pass from time to time. The sounds of their engines make my fingers and feet tingle a little, my body missing the feeling of the steering wheel gripped in my fingers and the gas pedal under my foot.

I wrecked pretty badly during my last race, resulting in my car becoming too banged up to drive. Most street racers have other cars to fall back on. Unfortunately for me, my girl was all I had. Now I'm left to walk on foot until I can get enough money to fix her.

The ambiance in the street is pretty calm until I hear the familiar rumble of a very specific engine approaching my side. To my surprise, that iconic silver and blue Nissan Skyline pulls up, slowing down to drive at my walking speed. But the slick paint job or glowing underbody isn't what makes it difficult to look away. The driver is none other than the man who beat me in my last race, Brian O'Conner.

I'm met with a kind smile as he rolls down his windows, his bright blue eyes glancing up at me from the shadows of the interior. There is just something about that man that draws me in. I could never tell what exactly it was, but it pulled me in his direction like a bee to a flower every time I was in the same location as him.

"Ey, need a ride?" He queries in a rasied voice, nearly shouting over the Skyline's growl.

Though it's tempting, I don't want to throw a wrench in any plans he may have. Knowing him, he has another street race or date to get to at this hour. So, despite the aching pain in my feet that is screaming in protest, I respond casually, "Nah, man. I'm good. Home's not too far away anyway, y'know?"

Even though it wouldn't take him too long, it would be pretty pointless to drive only a couple blocks anyway. He takes a mere second to let my words sink in and find an answer, his eyes hopeful as they are taken off the road and landing on me once more.

"We don't gotta take you home. The night's still—" He checks his watch, and his eyes widen slightly as he realizes the time. "—Well, middle-aged, but that don't gotta stop the fun."

I can't contain a faint chuckle at his dumb joke, rolling my eyes as I do so. The next thing I know, my feet are subconsciously coming to a stop, and he gently lays on the brakes. His car is also stopping right beside where I now stand, but the engine still purrs softly to alert all of its consciousness.

"Ah, c'mon, girl. Let's live a little, eh?" He flashes me that dangerous half-smirk that beckons me forward into mischief. It now dawns on me that he might not have the intention of taking me home, which is intriguing in a way.

I contemplate my options for a moment. The only thing waiting for me at home is a couple bottles of beer and some cold pizza left in the fridge from the night prior. It seems like I've been spending most of my time alone lately. Maybe it would be good to spend some time in good company.

"Alright," I give in with a subtle but still noticeable sigh, backing down in my mental debate.

He reaches across and opens the passenger door for me as I round the car, its headlights illuminating me for a brief moment as I cross in front of the bumper before hoping into the seat offered to me. It felt weird being in the left seat and not having a steering wheel before me. I could never get used to those foreign imported cars. 

But regardless, it sure is a beauty. The leather interior smells oddly fresh and calming, with a faint hint of exhaust filtering through the open windows. It's clear he just cleaned her up. Brian was always the type to take care of his rides.

I pull the seatbelt across my chest and lock it in securely, mentally preparing myself for the wild ride I know damn well he is about to take me on. He looks at me and flashes me that cocky yet proud smile as he revvs the engine for only a moment before taking off into the night.

With windows down and speed carrying us, I feel like I'm floating on air. The soft breeze I felt only moments ago is now a fast wind in my hair, and the soft ambiance of the nightlife in Miami is now disturbed by a machine growl.

I glance over at him, and it's as if time slows for just a minute as I take in how happy he is. He's a simple man. He doesn't need the fancy things in life, just a fast car to make the corners of his lips part into that iconic grin I have grown to love.

"Wanna get fuckin' nuts?" He asks me, his voice taking me out of my thoughts and putting me back into reality. That's when I notice that mischievous look in his ocean blue eyes, their pupils blown wide with adrenaline.

Hm... Blue and full of adrenaline, like the blood pumping in our veins.

"What?" I blurt out, not fully comprehending what he is asking, until my gaze wanders down to where his thumbs hovers over the nitro buttons.

I look at the road ahead, seeing that it is completely barren of all life, and I can't help but smirk at the thought of what he is suggesting. It's a dangerous game—playing with speed in such a way—but a thrilling one, for sure.

Taking my eyes off the road ahead to look back at him, I notice the hopeful glint once again in his eyes, only pushing my thought process toward wanting to comply. So without a second breath, I cheer, "Fuck yeah!"

With a simple click of two buttons at once, we are off like a rocket in space. Suddenly, the street lights look like comets, and the lines on the road are just blurs of colors. It's oddly beautiful in a way, and I marvel at how it ignites my soul with such a unique feeling, which I can't possibly seek from anything else. My fingers dig into the sides of my seat as my heart pounds against my ribcage like thunder, both overwhelmed but thirsty for more of this intoxicating rush.

Though Brian only lets this last for a moment, just seconds passed that will remain with me for an eternity. We laugh as the car slows to a semi-normal speed again. My smile is so wide, I can feel my face begin to hurt.

But I don't care. I am just so high on the thrill that my mind is lost in a cloudy space of euphoria. It's crazy how the night went from a quiet walk home to taking a joy ride with one of my rivals, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Once our laughter dies down, the soft purr of the engine is the only thing heard yet again as we both seemingly get lost in our own thoughts. What is he thinking? I wish I knew. The only thing on my mind is how happy I am. It isn't until a couple minutes later that he speaks his mind, taking a deep breath before his lips finally form the words he has been pondering.

"We should do this more often," he suggests in that nonchalant tone he carries quite regularly for someone with such excitement in his life. "Y'know, hang out outside the racing world? You're a cool girl."

I can't repress how my smile softens for a moment at his words as my eyes flick over in his direction while a million responses filter through my mind. This guy is a legend—a local celebrity, if you will. To have this opportunity is an honor. However, I don't necessarily get the vibe of entitlement from him. Instead, his atmosphere reflects something else—something friendly and inviting.

"And you're a cool guy. I'd love to hang with you more often." I reply, trying to sound chill but coming off way more sincere than intended. Though he doesn't seem to mind, in fact, he seems to be pleased with my response.

The next thing I know, he is pulling into a public beach. Its sands are abandoned by any human life due to the lateness of time, though the footprints of the visitors that day still remain like ghosts of the past, their memories carved in the sand until they get washed away by the waves.

He locks the car in park, unhooks his seatbelt, and gets out. I watch through the windshield as he rounds the side of it to rest back on the hood. My eyes study him as he lifts himself to sit on the hood, not once looking back to see if I leave the car as well. It's almost as if he expects me to.

So to fulfill his silent expectations, I swing my door open and hop out after freeing myself from my seatbelt, nearly stumbling as the ground is unexpectedly unsteady where I stand. My feet sink into the sand, and I'm grateful I chose to wear boots tonight over anything else.

Once out of my sticky situation, I take a moment to appreciate the freshness in the air—the sweet smell of the ocean before me for just a second. After approaching him, I rest beside him on the hood, watching the waves crash before us. It reminds me that life is quite like the sea. It's unpredictable, a little scary at times, but beautiful in many unique ways. I release a soft breath, my body relaxing in this calming moment.

"I remember the first time I saw you pull up in that black Trans Am to the race. Fuckin' engine and bass on your stereo roaring over the sound of the crowd." He chuckles while he reminisces about old memories.

"Buni," I correct him as I smile fondly, thinking about the beauty that's currently under a tarp in my garage, just waiting to be repaired and set free on the road once again.

"Yeah, Buni." He parrots me in an almost teasing way. I know he finds the fact that I named my car ridiculous, but I can see it in his eyes that it amuses him all the same. "You're something else, (L/N). A damn good racer, though."

My heart flutters at the compliment, and I feel my cheeks heat up with this familiar warmth that only he ignites in me best. The soft breeze blows through my hair as I think of a reply, running through my strains like an angel's fingertips. But it's not the breeze nor the location that has me in such a calm and joyful state.

I continue to study him—the way his blonde curls blow in the breeze, the corners of his lips turning up ever so slightly to show his contentment, his biceps flexing ever so slightly as he crosses his arms over his chest. It amazes me how all the different shades of blue in his iris reflect the scene before us. It's like I could literally drown in them each time I gaze into them to admire their beauty.

"Yeah? You and your Skyline ain't so bad either." I finally quip with a small bit of sarcasm dripping from my tone after forcing myself out of where my mind has disappeared to for a short time. He smiles softly at my words, because it's evident how I really feel about him. He knows, and I know that, but I don't really care anymore.

We talk until sunrise and watch as the black sky fades into orange and pink, blending with the stars to make them barely visible. Though they are out of sight, I know they still shine brightly above us, like angels waiting for us in heaven. It's quite special—maybe even magical.

The sea reflects the morning sun as it rises from the horizon, its golden rays shining upon us as we remain on the hood of the car. It's just us out here in our own little world. If I learned anything from last night, it's not the place that makes a moment special, but the person you share it with.

I don't know where this road will take us. I know it will be a long one—with plenty of traffic and bumps ahead—but the ride will be an enjoyable one with a new friend in the seat next to me as we speed through it all. And if we happen to get separated some point along the way, I know in my heart that I'll see him again.

𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐⭒𖤐

[hellishjoel]

ride

7.2k // pairing:dbf/neighbor!joel x f!reader Series Masterlist l Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

summary: Joel whisks you away to Houston for the weekend under the guise of a work trip. You keep a secret from him to try and keep your fling undetected from your parents. warnings: MA 18+ (minors DNI), no outbreak, dbf/neighbor!joel, smut, swearing, age gap (reader is in her early 20s, Joel in his 40s), pet names, fingering, oral (f! receiving), unprotected p in v (shower sex hehe), a little overstim if you squint

A/N: sorry not sorry this chapter took a month+, but I hope you like it! A little drammaaaa. and a reminder, they still have all day saturday and sunday together ;)

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You gulp. “Joel-”, it’s almost in a warning tone. “I don’t- fuck, it feels-”  “Uh-huh,” Joel murmurs against your core, nodding gently, grazing his nose against your clit in the process before his warm mouth tightens around your clit. And he suckles.  You cry out, walls clenching around his fingers as he milks an orgasm from you. You damn near crumble, but he tightens the hold on your hip to keep you afloat.  “There ya go, princess, come on my fingers,”

June 23rd 7:48 P.M. 

I’ve had some time to think about Joel, and how much I like to think about him, and how things aren’t an accident. 

Thinking about how unlikely it is that we sparked. 

How Joel could have turned left, and I could have turned right. But we didn’t. 

Instead of running away, I said yes, and so did he. 

The impossibility of us seems so incredible, almost unbelievable. 

I love that so many things had to happen for us to be where we are right now. 

I saw the sun melt his eyes into amber, and he liked the way I smiled in the moonlight. 

This feeling was radical, unnerving, scary. 

I didn’t know why it was called falling or crashing into love. Perhaps I do now. 

“You could sit there and read all day, huh?” Joel interrupts your thoughts as he starts to guide his truck off the freeway, passing a large aluminum Welcome to Houston! sign lit up by the truck’s headlights. 

Butterflies flutter in your stomach, cheeks squished from smiling as his hand settles on your upper thigh, thumb drawing lazy circles on your sweet skin.  

“I’m not reading anymore. Got too dark.” He’s referring to the novel you brought for the trip from your to-be-read pile that you started when you first got on the road. 

The drive from Austin to Houston was two-and-a-half hours long, so you decided to saddle the passenger seat with different activities and snacks to keep yourself busy and out of Joel’s hair, much to his behest. He said he enjoyed letting you ramble on about whatever you were thinking about; said it was like listening to a podcast.  

“But I am writing.” You hum quietly, penning in your last thought before it gets lost in the black of night. 

“What’cha writin’, then?” Joel's curious eyes wander to the nest you had made for yourself in the passenger seat as he tilts his chin up to try and read beyond your journal cover. 

You snap it closed and slip the pen in somewhere between the pages. “Keep your eyes on the road, old man.” Your tone is teasing, making you grin even more as he grumbles in annoyance under his breath as the truck slowly approaches a stop light. 

Once off the freeway and down to the local roads, you roll the window down. You watch the moon start to rise in the sky, feeling goosebumps grow on your arms and exposed legs while the wind lazily flows through your hair. The gentle night breeze is welcome to air out Joel’s stuffy truck. 

You were supposed to be his navigator once he got off the freeway, but you were a bit preoccupied looking around yourself. 

You and Joel left Friday evening as soon as he was done with work, and now you were lightly coasting the streets of Houston as the sun finished setting. You could see the diverse architecture of downtown, the skyline of skyscrapers and high-rises were all crowded together. As you moved further into midtown, Joel drove past small businesses and parks. You let your hand float out the window, surfing the wind like a wave. 

“Hey, space cadet, if you’re not gonna give me the directions to the motel, the least you can do is toss me a french fry.” 

Your head cocks back to him, curiously smiling as you reach your hand aimlessly into the fast food bag, retrieving a fry and bringing it up to his lips. You settled on McDonald’s before you left Danbury, partially because Joel felt like being a little cheap, and you agreed they had the best, saltiest french fries. 

You feed it to him, and he teasingly sucks the salt off your fingers. 

“Gross, Joel.” 

He sneers as he watches you wipe your hands on your thighs to rid yourself of his saliva. “You like it.”

He’s not wrong. You force yourself to look back out the window again to hide the heat creeping up the back of your neck. 

Joel smirks and squeezes your thigh to bring you back to him. When you look over to the handsome man donning his usual green flannel, the wind furles your hair in messy, unkempt streaks. 

He hesitates for a moment, but now that you’re no longer preoccupied with reading or writing, he holds your hand. You feel him test the waters, settling for just lightly clasping it in your lap, but it’s not enough for him. His thick fingers and calloused hand meets the heart of your palm as his fingers weave with your own. He lets out a little sigh and settles himself there. 

You feel like teasing him. You’re afraid to hold my hand but not to fuck my throat in your woodshed with a party right outside? But then you remember how difficult it was to kiss him. It still felt like a slip-up, you had to admit. Especially if this was supposed to be just a casual relationship. It felt intimate and emotionally charged. But it was just kissing, right? And this was just holding hands. 

Your thoughts wrestle around your head a bit. Joel feels it. You’re not sure how he always seems to know what you’re thinking, but he does. His thumb strokes a gentle line up and down the muscle of your thumb, a silent way of saying stop thinking for once.  It’s appreciated, the sense of care and thoughtfulness he provided without even speaking a word. 

Ever since he took you to that bar, Past Lives, all you could think about was Joel. Joel on repeat. Joel taking you away from the distracted environment of the lakehouse. Joel showing you the map, saying there was more to the world than Texas. Joel kissing you. Joel touching you. Joel fucking you. Joel protecting you. Joel saving you. 

As much as you’ve had time to reflect on Joel, you’ve also reflected on your parents. They were hardly bad people, but they didn’t respect your adult choices. You came to tearfully realize that your relationship with them had slowly deteriorated since leaving for university. You grew independent, and that was especially hard for them. Something you had trouble understanding, something Joel didn’t understand either. 

You called Joel Thursday night before your trip under the guise of asking if you should pack any specifics, but the conversation ended up landing on his relationship and parenting with Sarah. You told him how you appreciated the way he let Sarah grow and experience things, that it was good for her. 

“She’s a tough girl, and I trust’er. Nothin’ much left to say.”

“So, what-” you stumble and scoff over the phone. “My parents don’t trust me? Or think I’m not tough enough to tackle the world?”

“S’not what I’m sayin’, darlin’. I don’t know what’s up with your folks. But you don’t need their approval, you’re an adult. All you need is t’… t’ trust yourself. Sounds fuckin’ cheesy, but it’s true.”

You pause, twisting a strand of hair around your finger as your eyebrows furrow, thinking over his words. “Y’think if I act a little more confident about it, they’ll start believing it too?”

Joel’s chuckle is a little crackle-ey on the line as he wanders around his house talking to you, going in and out of good reception. “Gotta start somewhere, buttercup. At the end of the day, it’s about your happiness, not theirs. Don’t gotta be such a people pleaser all the time.” 

Yes, I do, you think. 

“Thanks, Joel.”

“Sure thing, hon’.” 

Dusk on the outskirts of Houston. The houses become few and far between. There’s more green grass and flourished trees. Joel slowly pulls into a small driveway, a large blue neon-lit sign designated that you were at your motel for the weekend. The entire truck is highlighted in a pale blue from the illumination, you nearly have to squint. There were no more than two or three cars parked outside. It was a two-level motel, with an outside staircase to navigate the different floors. 

“The Blue Swallow Motel.” Your attention strays to Joel with furrowed brows. “Why here?” 

Joel shrugs and navigates himself into a parking spot with ease. “Don’t know. Like blue swallows.”

Curiosity sparks you. 

“You like blue swallows? You’ve seen one in person?” 

He shakes his head and says nothing for a moment, but it almost looks like he can’t help himself to dispel some information. “They’re native to Africa, only ever seen the North American variants  ‘round here.” He lets the engine grumble down once he pulls the key from the ignition, but you’re still awestruck in his passenger seat.  

“I’m sorry- Joel Miller Bird Enthusiast?” The eager tone in your voice gives away your excitement, and Joel seems to despise it when you get too excited about him. He has to close his eyes and hang his head, wishing he never said anything. 

“Oh, Joel Miller, don’t even try to deny it, I’ve seen those bird guides on your bookshelf, you’re a birder.” 

His neck swivels, eyes wide and defensive. “I am not a birder.”

You throw your head back in laughter, and eventually, he cracks a smile. “They’re interestin’, okay?”

You playfully pat his shoulder with reassurance, nodding in agreement. The two of you settle down from your fits of laughter and look over the exterior of the motel once more. 

“Y’said you wanted somethin’ quaint? Small?” 

Being with Joel and having no other distractions was your goal for this weekend. Since this trip was coming out of Joel’s pocket, you insisted you didn’t need some fancy hotel. You’ve traveled to Houston a handful of times before, and the last thing you wanted was for your view outside some high-rise hotel to be Danbury in the distance. 

You squeeze his hand once more and nod, stars lighting up behind your eyes. “It’s perfect. Thanks for finding something simple.”

Joel teeters on your appreciation but ultimately ends up shaking his head. “Could’ve gotten something a little nicer for ya, maybe closer to downtown-”

You stop him right there and bring his rough knuckles to your plush lips, adding a kiss to each one. “I said it’s perfect, so it’s perfect. I like it, it’s got charm, chutzpah even. Plus, looks like we’ll have the pool to ourselves.” You hum with a devious little smirk. You hop out of the truck and open the backdoor to grab your things. 

“Pool, you say?” He retorts, an eyebrow raised with narrow eyes on you. You lightly shrug as you grab your backpack. 

“Might have forgotten my swimsuit, though. Shame.”

You brush past Joel, who is scoffing lightly under his breath in disbelief, duffel bag brushing against his calves as he walks with you towards the motel office. You would be the death of this man. 

“Damn shame.”  He mutters, a smirk hanging low on his lips.

---

Room 135 was marked on the dark chestnut door, a small white plate with black numbering decked on. 

There wasn’t much to be said about the motel room itself. You tried to stifle a laugh when you and Joel both walked in to see two separate queen beds. The sheets were white, but the top cover was an extravagant red pattern that looked like it got lost in the 80s. A side table was resting against the wall towards the headboards with a beige telephone placed on top, resting over a few local restaurant menus. Two small lamps were attached to the wall above the beds, perfectly opposite of the television sat on top of a tall dresser. 

“Is this your idea of a romantic getaway?” You teased as you walked further inside over the beige carpet. “Two beds don’t exactly scream romantic.” You set your backpack down on the foot of the bed furthest from the door and closest to the bathroom around the corner. You assume this bed will just be used to hold both of your luggage, not a person. 

“No,” Joel said through a tight gruff as he strained to lift his bag of tools and luggage onto the edge of his own bed. “S’a work trip. Not a romantic getaway.” 

Your smile falters as you purse your lips and fiddle with your hands behind your back. 

“So, this really is a work trip?” You clarify, to which Joel looks at you a bit confused. 

“Course it is.” 

A light boil simmers through your chest. Maybe you will be sleeping in your own bed tonight. Joel could sense your flattened mood, and he quickly felt the need to sweep up the pieces of what he broke. He was bad with words, terrible really, but he tried to find the right ones for you. 

“I said that wrong. It’s a work trip but,” he trails off and falters as he saddles his hands on his hips for a moment and sighs, your doe eyes looking up to his own. “But I brought you here to spend some real time with ya. Didn’t wanna,” he shrugs and rolls his eyes. A classic Joel Miller sign that he wants to say something a little personally emotional. 

“What?” You probe him, a smile tickling your lips as you loop your hands to rest just above the ones on his hips. “You didn’t want to what, Joel?” You ask, setting your chin on his chest and looking up at him with a goofy grin. 

He sighs and rolls his eyes again, having a hard time looking at you. “I didn’t wanna go on this trip alone. Didn’t want to leave you at home when I could bring ya with.” 

Joel wasn’t a social man. In fact, if the world went to shit, you think he might really enjoy the solitude. But for him to admit that he would rather have you in his space than out of it, it’s quite endearing. 

Now you’re the one who's hiding a blush. You settle your cheek against his chest and sigh, soaking in his scent and his warmth. Joel’s hand comes to rest on the side of your head, gently stroking your hair away from your face as the two of you relax into a gentle hug. 

“Were you serious about that no bathin’ suit thing?” He asks after a moment of silence, causing you to roll your eyes and shove him a good distance away. 

“As serious as a heart attack.” You sneer as you round the bed to the bathroom, needing desperately to relieve yourself after the drive. Of all colors, it’s a beautiful mint green. Incredibly retro, you think as you use the toilet and stare at the shower absentmindedly. You roll your phone around in your hands once you finish washing them, a lump rising in your throat. 

Your mother’s words echoed in your ear. 

“If it gets serious, we want to meet this young man.”

There was no young man. The young man your mother referred to was really Joel. Panic was spreading through your body just at the thought of trying to fix this situation. They figured out you were seeing someone, they just didn’t quite know who. A few heavy breaths labor out of you, anxiety nestling in your chest. 

“You okay, buttercup? Been a minute.” Joel asks cautiously from the opposite side of the door, his knuckles offering a few polite knocks. 

Your chest surges. You didn’t want him to know you’d slipped up, half-told your parents the truth. You didn’t want him to end things out of fear of them finding out. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine, Joel. Just.. gimme a minute.” 

His feet don’t move on the other side of the door. He doesn’t want to leave you, feeling something slightly wrong. 

“Really, Joel, just- checking out the facilities.” God. 

He sighs before you hear him back off. “Alright. Lemme know f’you need anythin’.” 

You need to act, or else this feeling will eat you alive. Finally, with some accurate cell service, you text the first person you think of. Nathan. Remember that childhood crush of yours? You hadn’t seen him in years, and with how gorgeous he was growing up, there was a scary feeling that you might be texting a man who had a girlfriend. But he was your only hope to cover up the mess you had made. 

Growing up with Nathan and his parents being friends with your own always felt like a setup. Your mothers always cooed that you two just might end up marrying one another. At the time, you wished it was true, that all this exposure with him would lead to something romantic. But then you grew up, saw each other a little less over the summers, and grew apart. You still kept in contact via social media, but not often. You saw his life in pictures. One from a homecoming dance, a group picture of him and his friends, an action shot of him playing basketball, a high school graduation picture, and a similar one for college graduation. He was still alive somewhere out there, you just didn’t know him like you used to. 

Nathan was always kind, goofy, very golden retriever-like. Summers spent apart created a rift, but he was your childhood best friend and crush once upon a time. If he was willing to help you out, you owed him big time. So you shoot him a text and cross your fingers that this is still his number. The last thing logged in your messages was a silly conversation about cheetahs versus jaguars. You were team cheetahs, obviously. 

You felt a slight sense of relief once you came up with a plan. Talk to Nathan. See if he can act as your fake boyfriend for your parents. See if he doesn’t think you’re damn crazy for concealing your forty-something-year-old fuck buddy. 

You’re not really sure how to reignite the conversation, it’s been so damn long. You stare at the blank screen before you craft the brilliant message: 

Hi

A sigh leaves your parted, anxious lips, and you shove your phone away. 

---

You really did bring a bathing suit, much to Joel’s eagerness for the rumor to be true. You change into it with your back turned to him. You feel his eyes boring holes into you, sending a small dash of goosebumps up your arms. “I’m going for a dip before bed.” You say as you fiddle with the strings of your bikini top, struggling for a moment before you feel a warm presence step in behind you and fuss away with the strings himself. 

You hum softly as he fastens the strings, making a bow at your midback. Joel’s lips brush against your shoulder before they start sponging gentle kisses up your neck. The hair you tied up into a loose bun tickles his nose. 

“Such’a pretty girl.” He hums against your skin, a soft shiver trickling up your spine, lips parting in pleasure. “Too bad you’re not a very good girl.” Joel murmured as his hands slipped lower, past your hips, past the curve of your ass, until he was cupping both cheeks in his large palms. You gasp at the sensation, feeling his fingers squeeze at your flesh. A moan escapes your lips, you just can’t help it. You love it when Joel is handsy for you, the needy one. 

You swallow the lump in your throat and turn in his arms, eagerly kissing him as you cup his cheeks. He fights for control instantly, pulling you in at your hips so your back arches backward out of habit. You let your head dip back, eyes dipping closed as his lips trail down your neck, then between the valley of your breasts, all while his wiry beard creates scratches in his wake. 

“Do you have swim trunks?” You ask breathily, shoving him lightly by the top of the head further down your body. He drops to his knees and continues to trail kisses down your stomach. 

The question catches him off guard.

“Do I- what?” He asks breathily, looking up at you as he sponges kisses over your clothed center. 

“If you don’t have swim trunks,” you try to continue, “you can’t go swimming with me.” You say with a teasing smirk, stepping around Joel, who was awestruck kneeling on the ground, his hands still in place where he was cupping the backs of your thighs before he slaps them down on his own to show annoyance. 

He was probably thinking how you just up and disappeared when you were just standing in front of him a moment ago. Joel grumbles something, but you’re already out the door of the motel room. 

---

The pool is glowing in its blue hue, lit by dim lights around the perimeter and the silver moon in the sky. 

In a world so vast, you couldn’t help but feel a little lost in wanting to explore it. 

You take a breath in through your nose and test the water with a dip of your toe. A bit cold for your liking, but the warm Texas summers make your skin sticky and the air a bit stale. So you dive in. 

The cool water is a shock to your system at first, with goosebumps growing on your skin like wildfire. Your face breaks the seal of the water, emerging over the light ripples you created upon diving in, catching your breath. You take a few leisurely laps along the outskirts, feeling weightless, free. 

“Nice night.” Joel’s brassy voice breaks the gentle chorus of the summer cicadas. You hum as you carve your way through the water until you meet the pool’s edge. You rest your arms on the lip of the pool, bringing your breasts just above the surface of the water. 

“Get. In.” You say with an authoritative voice, despite your eager smile. 

He cocks his head a few degrees to the right, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “No. You look like a shivering chihuahua.” 

His joke elicits a giggle from you. 

“It’s only cold for the first few minutes. You’ll warm up.” You’re only half-lying, the pool was so fucking cold. 

Joel merely shakes his head. “You’re crazy, buttercup.” 

You hum as you push off the edge of the pool, moving towards the center, letting the water dance around you as your arms glide back and forth to keep you afloat. 

“Sounds like you need some motivation.” Your eyes lock on Joel’s as your fingers navigate to the back of your bikini strings, slowly pulling the tie loose, feeling the water aid you in floating the material off your upper half. The top strings around your neck are still tied, concealing the full reveal of your breasts. 

Joel’s once secure face fizzled, eyes straying and lips parting. A soft sigh escapes his lips as he kneels down, pointer finger curling towards him impatiently.  “Get over here.”

You shake your head disobediently. “Now.” His barking urgency makes you stifle a smirk. 

“Joel Miller afraid of a little cold water.” You shrug and move your fingers to the strings tied behind your neck, slowly tugging loose the threads. The material falls limp into the water, floating in front of you free from your body. 

Joel watches with impatience, the spill of your breasts making his cock twitch inside his swim trunks. The mesh material was forgiving, allowing him to swell at the sight of you. The cold water has your nipples taut, drawn into sweet peaks. You’re just out of his fucking reach, too far into the pool for him to grab you. 

He grunts quietly, jaw tight as you slowly swim closer to him. You shiver at his glance alone. 

“If you want me,�� your voice drops innocently, doe eyes making their appearance to reel him in, “you’ll get in the pool, Mr. Miller.” 

Just out of his reach once more, you swim back to the center and push your thumbs into the band of your bikini bottoms, down your legs, leaving you bare in the pool for anyone to see from the highway or their own motel rooms. You must admit, Joel’s desperate gaze filled with want makes you squirm with excitement. Disobeying him lights that explosive even more. 

He offers you his hand, one final offer.  “Last chance, angel, get out of the pool.” 

“Why do you even have swim trunks on if you aren’t going to get in?” You ask, eyes gazing over the tangled hair he has scattered across his chest. 

“I was hoping these would appease you alone. Now come here,” he juts his hand out as an offering one last time. 

You roll your eyes and swim closer, your breasts lapping in the water as you take Joel’s hand. And tug with all your strength. 

His feet skid to try and hold him back, but he ultimately summersaults into the pool. You cover your mouth with your hand, unable to conceal your laughs as Joel emerges, sopping wet, cold, angry. 

“Y-You-” He chatters his teeth, eyes screwed tight on you as he pushes his hand back through his soaked curls and down his face, grazing his wiry beard. “You’re gonna get it.” 

Joel’s threat makes you squeal. You attempt to doggy paddle away, but the grip he catches on your arm is iron.  He pulls you back to him, and your body glides through the water, arms securing on his biceps once you’re locked in his hold. He’s threatening, but not as much so when you wrap your legs around his waist and feel his half-hard length. 

You raise your eyebrow at him, and he half-chuckles. 

“Such a fuckin’ piece of work you are.” He grunts out, hands searing the flesh of your hips as he skirts his hand down lower, cupping the globes of your ass. 

A hum tickles your throat as you lean in and press your lips to his jawline in a tempting kiss, smiling as Joel’s nose playfully nudges yours, leaning in for more. 

It’s stomach-twisting how you feel so comfortable with Joel, how you sink into his body, and how he warms your core. You kiss him until your lips feel bruised, and he grips your beautiful curves with eagerness. The two of you kiss like hungry teenagers, finally outside the watchful eyeline of your parents. Joel’s cock is hardening against your naked core.

He forces himself off of you, groaning lightly as he strays from your eyes. Cupping his jawline, you angle him back to you, resting your foreheads together. 

“Makin’ me get all riled up like a damn teenager.” His warm breath puffs across your face, his words make your bundle of nerves tingle. 

“I like that I’m the one causing it.” 

Joel chews at the inside of his cheek before giving you a tight little nod. “Me too, buttercup.”

---

Joel decides pool play is over. He gets out first, snags your bikini pieces that floated to the edge of the pool and starts walking leisurely back into the motel room. 

He only hears your cursing and belligerent rambling after he returns from turning on the shower, piping hot. 

“Can’t hear ya when you’re chatterin’ your teeth.” 

Joel returns to the bathroom and strips his swim trunks off, still half-hard. He tests the water with his hand, giving you an affirming nod it was okay to step in. 

You’re still angry and seething, having to streak your way back to the room naked and freezing your bare ass off. He looks at your crossed arms and playfully tuts. “You’re the one that thought t’drag me in there with ya, princess.” 

Joel follows you into the shower, the water splashing searing hot droplets. It only feels that hot because you’re readjusting from the pool’s temperature. You find yourself huddling into Joel’s warmth. 

He finds it endearing, the way your head settles on his chest, your ear to his heart, too chilled to let him go. He angles the showerhead downwards, letting it focus on your body first. He could wait. 

You gently release your crossed arms, letting them wrap low around his hips. He had a few extra pounds of flesh low on his tummy and on the sides of his waist. You gently pinch the area and smile. 

“Stop that.” He hisses, eyebrows knitted together. 

“But I like it. You’re my favorite person to hug.” 

The sentiment splashed warmth on the back of his neck. Joel has picked up a few extra pounds from town barbeques, and beers tossed back during football games. He used to not like it, the way he had to loosen his belt after a big meal, or having to purchase his new t-shirts in a size up. He didn’t think about it much, but naked with you in the shower, feeling you admire his ever-changing body, was a comfort. 

You look up after a few moments of silence, setting your chin on his chest and feeling his chest hair graze against your skin. 

Joel wants to warm you up, get you to relax under the showerhead. He presses a nimble kiss to your lips, pitter-pattering kisses along the extent of your body before he is down on his knees, angling your back to rest against the shower wall. 

Tired after your car ride and melting under the shower’s sprinkling water, you ache for a relief that will come from your head hitting a pillow. But Joel had other things in mind, things that would make you forget you were tired in an instant. 

Now under his watchful eye, lips and wiry beard scratching at your soft skin, you lightly part your legs for his entrance. God, please don’t let me slip and embarrass myself right now. Let me have this one good thing, this man’s tongue against my pussy would make me a God-willing woman. 

Joel can feel your exhausted body, begging to find a bed. But he had you where he wanted you, and his mouth was watering to taste your sweet musky arousal. His hands settle themselves on the backs of your thighs, supporting your weight as his head leans into your warmth. 

He brings two fingers forward, parting your center, licking a slow draw up your core. His tongue flicks off your clit, your bundle of nerves twitches. Something flips in his stomach, and his cock grows heavy against his thigh. 

You taste sweet and serene, something he’s grown an appetite for. With several days apart awaiting your weekend trip away, he often found himself at night, spilling into his hand thinking about your young, beautiful pussy flushed against his mouth. He takes this opportunity to relish in you moaning his name, without any curious ears. 

His tongue sinks lower, swirling around your tense entrance. The swell of his tongue gushes more arousal from you, and he gets a proper taste that isn’t mixed with water from the shower. 

Joel’s grip on your thigh tightens, and he laps at your clit like a famished man. 

The constant flicks have you gasping for air in the all-too-warm shower. Your fingers weave into his soaking wet curls, still finding a grip as your thigh twitches against his hand. 

Joel’s two fingers parting your center gently massage at your entrance, wiggling in gently as he suckles on your clit, and you mewl weakly. 

His tongue and teeth lightly graze your sensitivity, feeling stars clouding your vision as his fingers set a gentle pace. 

“Ooh,” you sigh weakly, feeling his fingers hit the perfect spot, one that makes you shake. 

Joel knows that sound, knows the feeling. He looks up, admires the way your pretty lips are parted in bliss. The hand on your thigh is brought to your stomach, gently stroking over the flesh. 

You watch him a little curiously, a little fucked. His mouth returns to your clit, but his hand still falters on your lower abdomen. You whimper as he adds a little pressure, and quickens his fingers. It’s jaw-dropping, the friction and pressure, piling on top of each other.

You gulp. “Joel-”, it’s almost in a warning tone. “I don’t- fuck, it feels-” 

“Uh-huh,” Joel murmurs against your core, nodding gently, grazing his nose against your clit in the process before his warm mouth tightens around your clit. And he suckles. 

You cry out, walls clenching around his fingers as he milks an orgasm from you. You damn near crumble, but he tightens the hold on your hip to keep you afloat. 

“There ya go, princess, come on my fingers,” he grunts, jaw tight, and teeth clenched as he watches your cum-arousal mixture glide down his fingers in a sticky mess. He slowly stands, watching you pant for air, as he sucks his digits clean with an evil smirk. 

The temperature in here is too much, heat consumes your body as you weakly grip his biceps. 

“God damn, Mr. Miller.” You say breathlessly. You take him in a quick kiss, moaning weakly into his mouth at your taste. His tongue tangles with you, and he keeps his fingers on your core. His first two fingers start to slowly circle your clit again, but it’s entirely too soon. 

You whimper weakly into his mouth, your clit aching and still recovering from your oral orgasm. 

“Mmm- can’t do it, Joel.” 

Joel snarls as he swiftly turns you around, his foot hitting the insides of both of your ankles to spread your legs. Your face is plastered against the shower wall, watching him out of the corner of your eye with your jaw dropped. 

“Be good for me, baby girl, show how thankful you are.” 

You whine at his raspy voice, feeling its timbre bounce against the walls. 

“Please,” you beg in a whisper, inching your feet farther apart for him to take you in the shower. 

Joel strokes his cock, seething through his teeth at the desperate relief he’s feeling. His swollen tip vies for your attention. He lines himself up, his other hand on your hip as he notches himself inside. 

You visibly flinch away, Joel hushing you softly as he tries again. 

“Gotta relax for me, pretty girl.”

You sigh weakly and let yourself melt with the warm water, fluttering your eyes closed as you gently jut your hips back into this, needing to be filled. 

Joel tries again after lining his tip up and down your slit and gathering your arousal. He notches inside of you once more, causing your eyelashes to flutter. He slowly presses on. 

The drinks must have really loosened you up since the last time the two of you fooled around in his truck. He wasn’t so hard to take then, but now he feels thicker, rounder. You could feel the thick vein on the underside of his cock as he ruts his hips into your ass. 

Finally, you will yourself to breathe, moaning his name in desperation. 

Joel’s trying to contract his lungs, but you’re gripping onto him so tight, the heat of the shower going to his head. 

You hum and purposely grip your walls around him, squeezing for his last breath. 

Joel snarls and smacks your ass from below, watching the fatty flesh jiggle. It stings, but you like it, thinking about his large handprint marking you red. He winds his hips back up and presses in, groaning lowly as he fills you to the brim. 

He sets a decent pace, one that robs you of what air you have left in your lungs. Your entire body feels sensitive, your cheek growing sore from being fucked against the shower wall. But it feels entirely too good, a certain itch that only Joel Miller can scratch. 

Every thrust he makes, you moan his name like a broken record. “Joel, Joel, Joel,” you moan and grunt it so much, that it starts to sound like it’s not a real word anymore. 

You reach back an arm blindly, gripping his bicep and stitching your nails into his skin. 

Joel grunts out weakly, the burning sensation you caused on his arm making him go wild. He reaches for both of your wrists and plants them at the base of your back, forcing your face to be your only weight to keep you up against the shower. 

But it unlocks a new angle, one that has you crying out curses and his heavenly name. 

“Fuck me, Joel, fuck- fuck your favorite little pussy,” you mewl out, feeling his cock twitch inside you. 

“God dammit, fuck me good like that, like that,” your eyes clench close, panting heavily. “Right there, daddy, please, Mr. Miller, touch my clit, please,” you beg, the pet name rolling off your tongue. 

It makes him snarl. He sets a hellish pace. His chest puffs up, his broad biceps locking around you as his fingers stroke over your pussy. 

He loves the way you wind him up. Because you are his favorite young pussy, one he’s made his own, railing you so good that you forget about anyone else that may have had you before. 

All you know is Joel Miller. 

His thighs and lower tummy smack your ass cheeks, a distinct slapping sound filling the shower and pinging off the walls right back into your ears. 

Stars flutter behind your eyes, you feel light-headed. The water splashes warm across your back, allowing Joel even more slip. 

The harder he fucks you, the closer he moves in. Now he has his entire torso flushed against your back, flicking his hips up into you with precision. 

Suddenly he’s grabbing your leg by the underside of your knee, hiking it up, and planting it against the shower wall as he exposes a whole new sensation. 

You can’t last any longer. His fingers circle dangerously around your clit, and now he’s pounding you into the wall, forcing friction against his glorious thrusts. You whimper loudly as his tip kisses your cervix repeatedly, feeling your walls clench around him as you come. 

It’s jaw-dropping, heart-surging, mind-fucking how good he feels coming inside of you. It’s warm, warmer than the water still raining over you. It’s comforting the way his seed spreads throughout your core, his grunts filling the shower as he drops his last load inside of you. 

And goddamn, he loves how you milk him dry. 

You weakly slide down the wall, tiredly dropping your leg once he pulls out. 

“No ya’don’t.” Joel quickly says, snagging a strong arm around your waist and hauling you up. You whimper as he peels your face off the wall, blinking rapidly as he spins you to face him. “C’mere.” Joel embraces you, and you lean weakly into his front like a bear hug. 

“Water,” you whisper against his pec. He turns the shower temperature down, a more comforting heat surrounding you now. 

“You’re alright.” He assures. 

After time to recuperate, Joel reaches for the shampoo bottle, squirting a small amount into his palm and lathering it between his hands. You feel a little better standing, but you still stay wrapped up in his arms, in his hug. 

He massages the shampoo into your locks, gently massaging it against your scalp, before he gently washes the bubbles out. He gathers conditioner next, letting it soak into your ends.

You hide your smile against his chest, knowing that he probably had to learn this type of stuff for Sarah. Hair care, skin care, tampons and pads, all the sort of stuff single dads fear. You wonder whatever could have been in Sarah’s mother’s mind to leave a guy like Joel Miller. Sure, he wasn’t perfect, but he seemed to fit into your life like a glove right now. For however long that perfect fit would be.

A weak sigh leaves your lips as he strokes your head sweetly, his fingers then grazing your cheek. 

“Y’alright? Feel good?” 

You nod weakly and smile, letting your arms drop gently as you pull away. “M’tired.”

Joel stifles a chuckle and nods. “Me too, baby. Sit tight.” 

Once Joel is assured you’re not going to lose your strength standing up on your own, he shuts off the water and steps out of the shower, wrapping his towel low on his waist. You gaze at the lines around his hips, and how they dip down into his towel. 

You clear your throat as you quickly look away once he approaches you with two towels. He wraps one around your shoulders, gently moving his warm hands up and down the sides of your arms. 

You look so sweet, warm and cozy, cum-filled, at ease. The stress he usually sees you carrying around is wiped away. He hoped he had something to do with it. 

Joel leans down and presses a light kiss to your lips. Not hungry, not desperate, not chasing. Delicate. Assuring. 

You smile tiredly and shyly evade his eye contact, something that he hates to admit is goddamn adorable on you. 

Both of you towel dry off any remaining droplets of water. Joel forces you to show him how you even get the towel you wrap around your hair on your head. 

“This is girlhood, Joel Miller.” You say once you secure it on, watching him shake his head in disbelief. 

“A mystery to me.” He says with a boyish grin.

You both exit the steamy bathroom and search your bags for pajamas. You packed a few comfy shirts for bed. And only one extra pair of panties. You better be damn careful with your one last sacred pair. You toss it back into your pack for now, deciding that they would probably be taken off in the morning anyway. You slip under the covers of Joel’s bed, saving him a space you hope he fills. Of course, he does. 

Joel flips off the light switch, indulging the room in a black and blue hue. He grunts quietly as he slips into the covers. The both of you just melt into the mattress. 

You nuzzle into his side, and he wraps an arm around your shoulders. He makes gentle circles into your back as your phone buzzes on the nightstand. You sigh and turn your back to Joel to retrieve it from the charger. 

“Your parents askin’ if we made it okay?” Joel murmurs tiredly, eyes closed, waiting for you to return to his side. 

Your breath catches in your throat. It’s a text message from Nathan. 

Hey stranger

“Yeah,” you lie, your fingers gliding across the keyboard to configure a response. “They uh.. They’re tellin’ me to not bug you too much on the trip.” You awkwardly chuckle, your back still turned to him as you stare at Nathan’s message. 

Joel dryly chuckles as he reaches a hand out and settles it on your hip. “Quite the opposite.”

You feel terrible concealing this from Joel. But you don’t want him to think you were young and foolish letting your secret fling slip. This was to make things work, to keep the secret buried from your parents.

Another message from Nathan makes your phone buzz in your hand.

Heard you’re in Danbury for the summer with your folks. Wanna catch up? 

Your heart sits in your throat, shocked by his ask. 

You flip over your phone, opting to reply in the morning. You’re beat. You sigh weakly and return to Joel’s side, hiding your face in his shoulder as you gently kiss along the muscle. He was already passed out. 

As messy as this felt, being with Joel felt like being tossed a life jacket in open water. And you weren’t going to lose that safety, not if you could help it.

---

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[cre8inghavoc]

Can't help it...

Part 5

inumaki x f!reader

pairing: inumaki x f!reader

summary: Transferring to a new school is tough, but having your three best friends there makes it easier. Things get even more interesting when you start falling for the mysterious boy who rides his motorcycle to school every day. What will happen next?

genre/warnings: [18+] Characters are aged up. Story contains cursing, new friends, alcohol, college!au, no curse!au, dark humour, SMAU and written parts, fluff, smut.

You drove around together for another fifteen minutes, the city lights becoming a blur as you got lost in the ride. Finally, he guided the bike to a stop at an outdoor parking garage, driving all the way to the roof. As you arrived, you noticed it was completely empty, the perfect quiet spot. But that wasn’t the reason he brought you here. As you dismounted the bike and looked out, you understood—he wanted to share with you the stunning panoramic view of the city, the skyline glittering like a sea of stars against the dark canvas of the night. It was a sight that took your breath away all over again.

You both took off your helmets, setting them down carefully on the bike before making your way to the ledge, where the roof extended just a bit, creating a safe spot to sit with the floor of the parking garage right beneath you. The cool night air brushed against your faces as you settled down, you sat side by side, legs dangling over the edge. With the city lights twinkling around you, it felt like the world had paused just for the two of you, creating a moment that was as serene as it was unforgettable.

Minutes turned into hours as you found yourself completely engrossed in conversation with Inumaki. The words flowed effortlessly between you, each exchange filled with laughter, deep insights, and a growing sense of genuine connection. The city lights below seemed to dance in time with your dialogue, making the night feel almost magical.

“So, you’re telling me you’ve never been to an amusement park?” Inumaki asked, his eyes wide with disbelief as he leaned a bit closer, clearly amused by your confession.

“Nope, never had the chance,” you replied with a casual shrug, a smile tugging at your lips. “My family wasn’t really into that sort of thing. We were more about quiet weekends at home.”

Inumaki shook his head in mock disappointment. “That’s a tragedy. You have to experience the thrill of a roller coaster at least once. The rush, the fear, the way your stomach drops—it’s unforgettable.”

You laughed, feeling a warmth in your chest at his enthusiasm. “I don’t know if I’m brave enough for all that. Maybe the carousel is more my speed.”

“Carousel?” he repeated, pretending to be horrified. “No way. We’re going all out. I’m dragging you onto the biggest, scariest ride in the park. You’ll thank me later, I promise.”

You rolled your eyes, still smiling. “I’ll consider it. But only if you don’t laugh at me when I scream my head off.”

He grinned, clearly enjoying the banter. “Deal. But I can’t promise I won’t be laughing on the inside.”

The conversation shifted seamlessly from amusement parks to childhood memories.

“Did you have any pets growing up?” he asked, his tone softening.

“Yeah, we had a golden retriever named Max. He was the sweetest dog ever. Always there when I needed a cuddle, especially after a bad day,” you reminisced, the fondness clear in your voice. “What about you?”

Inumaki nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “We had a cat, Momo. She was the queen of the house. Independent, a bit sassy, but she’d curl up on my lap whenever I was upset. It’s like she just knew.”

You nodded, understanding the bond that pets could create. “It’s funny how they can sense when we need them the most, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, it really is,” he agreed, a thoughtful look crossing his face before he shifted the topic again. “So, what’s the wildest thing on your bucket list?”

You chuckled, slightly embarrassed to reveal it. “Honestly? I’ve always wanted to go skydiving. It’s terrifying, but I feel like it’d be the ultimate rush.”

His eyes lit up with surprise and admiration. “Skydiving? That’s intense! I wouldn’t have pegged you for an adrenaline junkie.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “I wouldn’t call myself that. It’s just something I want to do once, you know? Prove to myself that I can face my fears.”

He nodded, clearly impressed. “I get that. It’s like a way of pushing your limits. I’m not sure I’d have the guts to jump out of a plane, though.”

“Oh, come on,” you teased. “You’re dragging me onto roller coasters, but you’re scared of skydiving?”

He chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. “Okay, fair point. Maybe we’ll both conquer our fears together.”

The conversation flowed easily as you talked about dreams for the future, random thoughts that popped into your minds, and even shared some embarrassing stories that had you both laughing until your sides hurt.

“I can’t believe I’m telling you this,” you said between laughs, recounting a particularly mortifying moment from high school. “But it’s one of those things you look back on and just have to laugh at.”

Inumaki was still laughing, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. “That’s priceless. I had a similar moment in middle school when I tried to impress a girl by joining the school talent show. Let’s just say my magic trick didn’t go as planned.”

You gasped, eager to hear more. “What happened?”

“I accidentally revealed the trick’s secret in front of everyone,” he confessed, shaking his head with a smile. “The worst part? The girl I was trying to impress was in the front row. She never let me live it down.”

You both burst into laughter again, the shared stories only deepening the connection between you. The world around you seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you, caught up in the moment.

It wasn’t until you both instinctively glanced down at your phones that you realized how much time had passed. The soft glow of the screens revealed the time—midnight. Startled, you exchanged surprised looks.

“Midnight already?” you murmured, a bit incredulous.

Inumaki smiled softly, a hint of surprise in his voice too. “Guess time really does fly when you’re having fun. Feels like we just got here.”

You nodded in agreement, feeling a bit of disbelief at how quickly the night had flown by, but also a warm contentment in the connection you had shared.

“Oh, I almost forgot! I brought us some chocolate,” you exclaimed, suddenly remembering the treats you had stashed in your bag. You quickly reached in and pulled them out, a grin spreading across your face. “My friends got it for me the other day and insisted I try them. I thought we could maybe try them together.”

Inumaki’s eyes lit up with curiosity, his usual playful demeanor softened by the prospect of sharing something simple but special with you. “Sure, why not?” he replied with a warm smile.

You handed him a piece of chocolate, and he accepted it with a nod of thanks. There was a brief pause as he looked at the treat in his hand, then, with a swift and practiced motion, he lifted his mask just enough to allow the chocolate to pass through, keeping his mouth hidden from view. It was such a small, casual gesture, but something about it felt almost intimate, as if this moment of sharing something sweet had added another layer to the connection you were building.

You popped a piece of chocolate into your own mouth, savoring the rich, velvety taste as it melted on your tongue. The two of you sat there in comfortable silence for a moment, simply enjoying the treat and each other’s company. The night, with its twinkling city lights and cool breeze, felt even more perfect now, with the simple pleasure of sharing something sweet together.

“This is really good,” Inumaki commented, his voice slightly muffled by the mask. “Your friends have good taste.”

“Yeah, they do,” you replied with a smile. “I’m glad you like it.”

He nodded, his eyes meeting yours briefly before glancing back out at the city skyline. “It’s the little things like this that make moments like these even better, don’t you think?”

You couldn’t agree more. “Definitely. It’s like…everything just falls into place, you know? The view, the company, the chocolate—it all just fits.”

Inumaki chuckled softly, his gaze still fixed on the city below. “Yeah, it really does.”

“Hey, let’s get going. It’s a school day tomorrow, and we don’t want to be tired,” he says with a laugh, standing up and extending his hand to you.

You giggle softly and take his hand, feeling the warmth of his touch as he helps you to your feet. The butterflies that had settled in your stomach earlier suddenly come alive again as he walks you back to his bike, his hand never leaving yours. It’s such a simple thing, but the way he holds on, the way he doesn’t let go, sends a wave of warmth through you.

When you reach the bike, he grabs your helmet and carefully places it over your head. He’s done this before, and each time, it makes you lose your composure a little more. It feels so intimate, even though it really isn’t, but the way he does it makes you feel weak in the best way possible. It’s a small gesture, sure, but it carries so much weight, making your heart race every time.

After securing your helmet, he puts on his own and then gets on the bike, turning back to you with that familiar, comforting smile. As always, he helps you onto the bike, his hands steadying you as you take your seat behind him. Once you’re settled, you wrap your arms around his waist, and with a gentle rev of the engine, you’re off, the city lights fading behind you as you head back.

Damn… he looked so fucking good earlier… The thought hit you out of nowhere as you replayed the image of him leaning back on his motorcycle, his relaxed posture accentuating his physique in the most distracting way. God, his physique looks ughhhhh… The way the light had played off him, casting shadows that made him seem even more mysterious—and that’s kind of… hot…

Wait, what the fuck am I thinking?

As quickly as the thoughts arose, you shook your head, mentally chastising yourself for letting your mind wander in that direction. What the hell is going on with me? You tried to push the thoughts away, but they lingered stubbornly, leaving you feeling both flustered and confused. You couldn’t quite put a finger on why these feelings were surfacing now, but one thing was clear—you were in deeper than you had realized.

And just as you were wrestling with those thoughts, trying to push them out of your mind, Inumaki moved his hand back onto your leg. The touch was gentle at first, but then he slowly slid his hand up your thigh, sending a shiver through your entire body. He continued down to your knee and then further down to your ankle, his touch almost hypnotic.

The simple act made your heart race even faster, and suddenly, the thoughts you were trying so hard to suppress came rushing back with even more intensity. You could feel the heat rising in your cheeks, your mind spinning with thoughts you wouldn’t normally entertain—thoughts that were wildly out of character for you.

What is happening to me? you wondered, feeling the tension in your body build. His touch was driving you crazy, making it hard to focus on anything but the way his hand felt as it moved up and down your leg. You were more flustered than ever, your mind racing with ideas and desires you never thought you’d have. It was overwhelming, and you had no idea how to handle the sudden rush of feelings that he had unintentionally stirred within you.

Inumaki pulls into your neighborhood, the familiar surroundings slowly grounding you from the whirlwind of emotions. He stops in front of your place, and you hop off the back of his bike, taking your helmet off as you face him. “Thank you, Toge… today was really fun,” you say, feeling a slight blush creeping up your cheeks.

He quickly takes his helmet off and looks into your eyes, concern flickering in his expression. He gently places a hand on your cheek, lifting your head slightly to meet his gaze. “Hey, are you okay?” he asks, his voice soft but serious.

You blink, a bit confused. “Yeah, of course I am… what do you mean?” you respond.

“Your eyes… they’re super red and glossy,” he points out, his brow furrowed with concern.

You laugh, realizing what he’s talking about. “So are yours,” you retort, playfully pointing at him.

He chuckles lightly, but his expression remains thoughtful. “I knew it. I started feeling really weird while riding.”

You nod slightly, feeling a bit relieved to hear it wasn’t just you. “Oh, me too. I started thinking… weird things…”

Inumaki raises an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at his lips. “Oh yeah? What were you thinking about?”

Caught off guard, you stammer, “Oh… uh… NOTHING!” Your face turns bright red again as you quickly look away, embarrassed by your own thoughts.

He chuckles at your flustered reaction, but his tone shifts back to curiosity as he asks, “Okay… Y/N?”

“Mhm?” you hum, glancing back at him.

“What’s the chocolate brand you gave us?” he asks, his tone now serious.

You think for a moment, trying to recall. “Uhh, I don’t remember…? I think it started with a K… Kiva or something like that? Never heard of it, but it’s super good,” you say happily, oblivious to the significance.

Inumaki just stares at you for a moment, his expression unreadable. “What…?” you ask, curiosity getting the better of you.

“Y/N,” he says, his tone laced with amusement and something else you can’t quite place.

“Yeah?” you reply, still not understanding where this is going.

“That’s weed chocolate,” he finally says, deadpan.

“Wheat? Oh, are you allergic to wheat?” you ask, genuinely concerned.

He bursts out laughing, shaking his head in disbelief. “No, stupid, not wheat. I mean, like, edible.”

“Well�� yeah, it is edible. We literally ate it,” you say, confusion evident in your voice.

He just laughs harder, clutching his stomach. “God, you’re so innocent. No, Y/N. It’s cannabis chocolate. We’re high out of our minds.”

Your mouth drops open in shock. “Whaaaaaaaaaaaa?” you exclaim, completely floored by the revelation.

Inumaki just grins at your reaction, clearly enjoying the moment. “Yeah… welcome to the world of edibles,” he says, still laughing as you try to process what just happened.

“Wait, but how—what—” you stammer, still trying to wrap your head around the situation.

Inumaki chuckles softly, shaking his head. “Clearly, your friends bought it for you and wanted you to try it out.”

“Oh god, I’m so stupid,” you mutter, shaking your head in disbelief.

“This is hilarious, but I’m gonna head home. It’s getting pretty late.”

“Wait, what?! Are you crazy? I’m not letting you drive home high out of your mind, especially on a motorcycle,” you say, your voice rising in concern.

“No, it’s okay. I’ve done it before, and I was fine,” he replies casually, as if it’s no big deal.

You stare at him in disbelief, your worry quickly turning to frustration. “First of all, don’t tell me that because I’ll literally lose my mind! Second, why the hell were you stupid enough to do that? Do you have a death wish? And third, no way under any circumstance am I letting you ride high right now. Especially not because of me. So, get your ass into my apartment.”

Inumaki blinks, taken aback by your sudden fierceness. He opens his mouth to argue but quickly realizes there’s no point. Your tone leaves no room for negotiation, and honestly, he can’t help but admire how serious you’re taking this.

“Alright, alright,” he concedes, raising his hands in surrender. “I’ll stay. But just for the record, you’re pretty scary when you’re mad.”

You roll your eyes, but a small smile tugs at the corner of your lips. “Good. Now come on, let’s get inside before we both do something else stupid.”

As you turn to head inside, Inumaki lingers for a moment, watching you with a slight smirk. He then whispers under his breath, “And pretty hot too.”

You catch the murmur of his voice and glance back at him, puzzled. “Huh? What was that?”

He straightens up quickly, his expression shifting to one of feigned innocence. “Nothing! Lead the way!” he replies, a bit too quickly, trying to hide the slight blush creeping up his cheeks.

You narrow your eyes at him for a second, suspicious, but eventually shrug it off and continue leading him into the house, completely unaware of the quiet compliment that just slipped out.

You showed Inumaki around your apartment, pointing out the bathroom, the kitchen, and anything else he might need during his stay. As you finished the tour, he smiled warmly at you. “Your apartment is really cute. I love how the aesthetic matches your vibe,” he said, his compliment making you blush slightly.

“Thanks,” you replied, feeling a bit flustered by the praise.

He glanced around the living room before asking, “Quick question… where exactly am I going to sleep?”

You looked around, realizing that your couch was way too small for Inumaki to sleep on comfortably. Your eyes darted to your bedroom behind him, and you felt a sudden wave of nervousness. “I… haven’t thought that far…” you admitted.

Inumaki shrugged casually. “I could still go home, you know,” he suggested, though there was a hint of reluctance in his voice.

Before he could finish the thought, you quickly grabbed his hand and led him toward your bedroom. “Don’t be stupid, Toge, you’re sleeping with me tonight.”

Inumaki’s eyes widened, he smirked a bit as his face turning slightly red as he processed what you just said. You paused, suddenly realizing the implication of your words, and quickly let go of his hand. “UH… THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT… I mean, like, sleep in the same bed as me… wait, that still doesn’t sound better!”

You started to panic, fumbling over your words, but before you could continue, Inumaki smirked and placed his thumb over your lips and his hand was on your chin to gently silence you. “Shhh, I get it, don’t worry,” he said, his voice soft and reassuring. He chuckled lightly. “We’re sharing the bed, got it.”

He said it so casually, but the ease in his tone only made your face turn an even deeper shade of red. The fact that he noticed your intense blushing didn’t help either; his amused expression made it clear that he found your flustered state endearing.

You nodded, feeling a mix of embarrassment and something else you couldn’t quite place. “Okay, yeah… sharing the bed,” you mumbled, trying to regain some composure.

Inumaki just smiled, the playful glint in his eyes never fading. “Don’t worry, Y/N. I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

His reassurance was meant to calm you, but it only made the butterflies in your stomach flutter even more.

Inumaki’s reassuring words lingered in the air as you both stood there, the tension between you palpable. You nodded again, trying to shake off the nervous energy that had settled over you. “Right… okay, so, um… let me just grab some extra blankets,” you said, quickly turning away to busy yourself with finding something to do, anything to distract from the situation.

As you rummaged through your closet for blankets, you couldn’t help but steal a glance at Inumaki. He seemed completely at ease, which only added to your internal turmoil. How could he be so calm when you felt like your heart was about to burst out of your chest?

When you finally managed to find a spare blanket, you turned back to him, forcing a smile. “Here, just in case you get cold.”

He took the blanket from you, his fingers brushing against yours in the process. “Thanks,” he said with a gentle smile, his eyes holding yours for a moment longer than usual.

You cleared your throat, feeling the heat rise in your cheeks again. “So, um, I’ll just… I guess I’ll change in the bathroom,” you mumbled, grabbing your pajamas and making a quick exit before you could embarrass yourself further.

Once inside the bathroom, you took a deep breath, trying to calm the rapid beating of your heart. Get it together, you told yourself. It’s just one night. You can handle this.

You changed into your pajamas, splashed some water on your face, and gave yourself one last pep talk before heading back out. When you returned to the bedroom, Inumaki was already sitting on the edge of the bed, his back turned to you as he adjusted the pillows.

He glanced over his shoulder as you entered, offering you a smile that made your stomach flip. “All set?”

“Yeah,” you replied, trying to sound casual as you crossed the room to join him.

You climbed into bed, feeling a bit awkward as you settled under the covers. The bed was big enough to give you both some space, but the reality of sharing it with Inumaki made the situation feel a lot more intimate than you’d anticipated.

Inumaki slid under the blankets beside you, his movements slow and careful, as if he were mindful of your nerves. He turned to face you, his expression soft and reassuring. “Comfortable?”

You nodded, though you weren’t sure if “comfortable” was the right word for how you felt. “Yeah, I’m good.”

There was a brief silence as you both adjusted to the situation, and then Inumaki spoke up, his voice low and gentle. “You know, you don’t have to be so nervous. It’s just me.”

His words were meant to be comforting, but they only made your heart race faster. “I’m not nervous,” you lied, though it was clear from your voice that you were anything but calm.

Inumaki chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Okay, maybe a little nervous.”

You laughed despite yourself, the sound easing some of the tension. “Fine, maybe a little.”

He smiled, the warmth in his gaze making you feel a bit more at ease. “Well, don’t worry. I’m not going to do anything weird. We’ll just sleep, and tomorrow we can laugh about how awkward this was.”

You nodded, appreciating his effort to lighten the mood. “Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, Toge.”

He gave you a reassuring nod before rolling onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. You followed suit, lying flat on your back with your hands resting on your stomach, trying to calm the flurry of thoughts racing through your mind.

Minutes passed in silence, the only sound in the room being the soft rustling of the sheets and your synchronized breathing. The initial awkwardness began to fade, replaced by a quiet sense of comfort in just being near him.

Finally, you felt your eyelids grow heavy, the exhaustion of the day catching up with you. Just as you were about to drift off to sleep, you felt Inumaki’s hand brush against yours under the covers. It was a light, almost accidental touch, but it sent a small shockwave through your entire body.

You glanced over at him, but his eyes were closed, his breathing steady and calm. It could have been an innocent mistake, but the thought that it might not have been left you with a small, secret smile.

As you lay there in the soft glow of the night, the warmth of the moment surrounding you, your gaze drifted to Inumaki’s face, your eyes lingering on the mask he always wore over his mouth. It had become such a familiar part of him, something you almost never questioned, but in this relaxed, almost dreamlike state, your curiosity got the better of you.

“Toge,” you began softly, your voice a little hesitant, “can I ask you something?”

He turned his head to look at you, his expression calm and open. “Of course.”

You bit your lip, unsure of how to phrase your question. “Why do you always wear that mask? I’ve never seen you without it… not even when we’re alone like this.”

Inumaki hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering with something you couldn’t quite place. Finally, he sighed softly and replied, “It’s not really a big deal… just something I’ve gotten used to. I was born with a mark next to my lips—it’s kind of like a birthmark, but it’s more noticeable. When I was a kid, people used to make fun of me for it. They’d call me names, say it looked weird, stuff like that. So, I started wearing the mask to cover it up.”

Your heart ached a little at his words, the idea of him being teased for something so personal tugging at your emotions. “That’s awful, Toge. I’m sorry you had to go through that.”

He shrugged, trying to play it off as no big deal, but you could see the lingering hurt in his eyes. “It’s fine. I got used to it, and now it just feels like a part of me, you know?”

You reached out, your fingers gently brushing against his arm, your touch soft and reassuring. “But it doesn’t have to be,” you said quietly. “Can I… can I see it? The mark?”

Inumaki hesitated again, his gaze searching yours for a moment before he slowly nodded. “Yeah… okay.”

With gentle hands, you reached up and carefully pulled down his mask, revealing the lower half of his face. Your breath caught in your throat as your eyes fell on the mark he had mentioned—a unique, almost intricate pattern beside his lips, dark and distinct against his skin. It wasn’t what you expected, but rather than seeing it as something to hide, you found it beautiful, like a hidden piece of him that only a few were allowed to see.

Without thinking, you reached out and lightly traced the pattern with your fingertips, your touch feather-light as you followed the lines. Inumaki tensed for a moment, his breath hitching at the contact, but he didn’t pull away.

“It’s beautiful,” you whispered, your voice filled with sincerity. “I love it. It’s so unique, like a part of you that makes you who you are.”

He looked at you, his eyes wide with surprise and something else—something softer, more vulnerable. “You really think so?”

You nodded, a gentle smile spreading across your face. “Yeah, I do. You don’t need to hide it, Toge. It’s a part of you, and it’s special.”

For a moment, the two of you just stared at each other, the weight of the moment settling over you both. You could see the conflict in his eyes, the years of insecurity battling with the acceptance and warmth he saw in yours.

Finally, he smiled—a real, genuine smile that reached his eyes. “Thank you, Y/N. No one’s ever said that to me before.”

You smiled back, feeling a deep connection forming between you. “Well, I’m glad I could be the first.”

With a small, contented sigh, Inumaki reached up and placed his hand over yours, still resting on his cheek. “You’re something else, you know that?”

“Maybe,” you replied, your voice light with affection, “but I think you are too.”

Your heart raced as you realized just how close you were to Inumaki. The sudden awareness of the proximity made you lean back slightly, a wave of self-consciousness washing over you. “Oh my god, I’m sorry—I didn’t mean to get up in your space like that,” you blurted out, your words tumbling over each other in your haste to apologize.

Before you could retreat any further, Inumaki’s hand gently cupped your face, his touch warm and steady. “There’s nothing to be sorry about, Y/N,” he said softly, his voice carrying a reassuring tone that sent shivers down your spine.

“I think it’s just the weed taking over me—” you started to explain, trying to brush off your actions as a side effect of the high.

But he shook his head, leaning in just a little closer, his gaze locking onto yours. “No,” he interrupted, his voice firm but gentle. “High actions are sober thoughts, you know? You just get the confidence to do things you wouldn’t normally do if it weren’t for your anxiety.”

You swallowed hard, his words hitting you with a truth you couldn’t ignore. Your pulse quickened, and you could feel the heat rising in your cheeks as you got even more flustered. “You’re cute when you’re nervous,” he added with a soft smile, his thumb brushing lightly against your cheek.

His words only made your heart race faster, your mind struggling to process the mix of emotions flooding through you. The closeness, the warmth of his hand on your face, the way his eyes seemed to see right through you—it was all too much, and yet, you couldn’t bring yourself to pull away.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” you admitted, your voice barely above a whisper.

Inumaki’s smile widened slightly, his expression soft and understanding. “You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. “Just be here, in this moment. That’s enough.”

For a few heartbeats, neither of you moved, the silence filled only by the sound of your breaths mingling in the small space between you. Then, slowly, he leaned in even closer, his eyes never leaving yours, as if asking for permission without words.

Inumaki’s eyes flickered with something intense yet tender, and you felt your breath catch in your throat. Every second stretched out, the moment hanging delicately between what was and what could be.

But just as he began to lean in, Inumaki hesitated. His gaze lingered on your lips for a moment longer before he pulled back slightly, his expression softening into something more thoughtful.

“We should sleep now,” he murmured, his voice gentle yet firm, as if he was convincing himself as much as he was telling you. “Gotta wake up early for school.”

The sudden shift in the atmosphere left you a little breathless, but you understood the unspoken reasons behind his words. He was giving you both space, not wanting to rush into something so significant, especially when the lines between your feelings and the effects of the weed were still blurred.

You nodded, offering him a small, appreciative smile. “Yeah, you’re right.”

Inumaki returned your smile, his hand still resting lightly on your cheek for a moment before he let it fall away. With that, he turned onto his back, settling into the bed beside you. The closeness was still there, the connection undeniable. You both lay there in the quiet, the earlier tension easing into a comfortable silence.

“Goodnight, Y/N,” Inumaki whispered, his voice soft in the stillness of the room.

“Goodnight, Toge,” you replied, a gentle smile tugging at your lips as you closed your eyes.

The room fell into a peaceful silence, the warmth of the shared moment lingering as you both drifted off to sleep, content in the comfort of each other’s presence.

By the time the first light of dawn began to peek through the curtains, your bodies had naturally gravitated toward each other. Your head rested near his shoulder, and one of his arms had unconsciously draped over your waist, as if protecting you even in sleep. The warmth of his presence seeped into your dreams, creating a sense of safety and peace that neither of you could fully comprehend but both embraced nonetheless.

As the first light of morning filtered softly through the curtains, you slowly began to stir from sleep. You blinked a few times, letting your eyes adjust to the gentle brightness, and as you came to full awareness, you felt the warmth of something—or rather, someone—beside you.

At the same moment, Inumaki shifted, his own eyes fluttering open. The first thing he noticed was how close you were, your head resting near his shoulder, your breaths soft and even against his skin. His arm was draped over your waist, a position that felt so natural and comforting that it took a moment for the realization to fully register.

You both froze, wide-eyed, as the reality of the situation sank in. Your faces were mere inches apart, your bodies comfortably nestled against each other as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Inumaki’s eyes met yours, a mix of surprise and something softer passing between you. For a moment, neither of you said anything, just taking in the closeness, the way your bodies had unconsciously found their way to each other in the night.

“Uh… good morning,” you finally whispered, your voice a little shaky with the mix of emotions swirling inside you.

“Good morning,” Inumaki replied, his voice equally soft. He didn’t move his arm right away, as if he was just as caught off guard by how right it felt to be close to you.

You both shared a small, nervous laugh, the sound breaking the tension in the air.

“Uh… well, that was… cozy,” you said, your cheeks flushed as you tried to break the tension with a small laugh.

Inumaki scratched the back of his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, really cozy,” he agreed, his voice holding a hint of amusement. There was a glint in his eyes that suggested he wasn’t entirely unhappy about waking up that way. In fact, part of him wanted to stay close, to let the morning laziness keep you wrapped up together just a little longer.

“So, uh, I guess we should probably… get ready for school,” you finally suggested, though your voice lacked conviction.

“Yeah… school,” Inumaki echoed, though he made no move to get up. He seemed almost reluctant to break the moment, as if he was considering staying right where he was, enjoying the closeness a little longer.

You both sat there in that awkward-but-sweet limbo, neither of you really wanting to be the first to get up. Finally, Inumaki let out a small, resigned sigh, breaking the spell. “Alright, I guess we should… you know… start the day.”

“Yeah,” you agreed, though you felt a similar reluctance to move. You both stood up, the atmosphere still tinged with the remnants of the unexpected intimacy. You glanced at each other, exchanging shy, almost guilty smiles, as if you both knew you had just crossed a line but weren’t quite ready to address it yet.

Inumaki reached for his mask on the nightstand, but before he put it on, he paused and looked at you. “Hey… last night was… nice. I mean, not just the sleeping part, but… you know, everything.”

You smiled, feeling the warmth in your chest return. “Yeah, it really was. And, um… about this morning… I didn’t mind it. Like, at all.”

A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Good to know,” he said, clearly pleased. He hesitated for a moment, then added, “Maybe we can… do it again sometime. Not the weird part, just… hanging out together.... you know?”

You blushed, but nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

Taglist <3

@madaqueue @mikko-mikko @arabella0001

[lovelykil]

「 Sex 」

kyle x reader older ver.

cw; sex word

note; sometimes I be feeling like I'm asexual but then again I'm DEFINITELY not, it's weird so I wrote this for no reason anyway..

"You know what I noticed when fucking girls? Their nips get hard when you rub, flick, or suck on them it's what ultimately helps them reach their climax if you were to mess and fuck her at the same time." Kenny picked at his tooth with a pic, laying back in his seat. Cartman scoffed while Stan looked down at his hands.

Questioning whether he had been giving his girlfriend a good time or not.

"Holy shit, have I been doing it all wrong?"

"Kenny you've sucked on tits before?"

"Hasn't everyone?" The blonde flicked his toothpick out the car window, smirking at Cartman from the other side of the car. Eric nodded his head in defeat at his accusation towards Kenny, giving it some thought.

"Can you guys stop talking about your sex lives? It's weird hearing the shit you say about girls when you're fucking them." After countless stories with Kenny bluntly talking about his sex life, Stan occasionally, and Cartman.. well we all know whatever comes out of his mouth is a lie so not really him, but him budding in was just as annoying.

Kyle looked back at the group of his friends in the backseat "Honestly." Kyle muttered, you could hear the annoyance in his voice, he was as fed up with their shit as I was.

We heard Kenny laugh with Cartman, they looked at each other before settling down. I rolled my eyes at the behavior of the two, getting ready to crush Eric with setting my seat down.

"Are you guys just sad that yall don't have one? I mean come on you've been together for a year now and it's clear you guys haven't done it yet." Cartman snickered, his words hitting me in the face. And just when I was about to obliterate him with my seat, I stopped to process what he said.

"Why does sex even matter? I don't see why we should do it just because everyone else does.. right Y/n?" Kyle turned his head to look at me for back up and agree with him, I met his eyes and wanted to agree, but I didn't exactly know myself.

Sure our relationship was pretty solid, nothing to bad about it except the sex part.. but I never thought about it.

Well occasionally I did.

I wondered how'd he feel inside me as our bodies collided together, sweat rubbing against each other as we let out lewd sounds in each other's ears, making each other feel good.

But he never mentioned it so I guessed it wasn't relevant to our relationship at least that's what I thought before.. now-? I guess it's a different story.

"I- I don't know." I looked away from Kyle's gaze, to focus on the swaying trees and the clear blue skyline.

"Wha-? Y/n-"

"Ohuhhhh Kyle you see? Sex does matter, it connects you with your partner! If you don't do it sooner or later your relationship will eventually fall apart. It's just scientifically proven." Kenny stated with a subtle shrug, proving his suppose 'point'

After giving Kenny a look of uncertainty and irritation, Kyle glanced at me his brows furrowing in hesitation to reach out for one more word, but he quickly gave up that thought and sat back in his seat. His hands rested on his steering wheel, breathing out a small sigh.

"Alright Saturday car ride is over.. I'm taking you guys home." The conflicted teen started his car, looking ahead. The boys groaned loudly, obviously not ready to go home yet. Kenny was going to argue but it's impossible to change Kyles's mind once it's made up so he shook off the idea, calming down, and talked to his friends as Kyle began to drive.

My eyes still remained on the window, watching the scenery pass me by in a flash my mind still wasn't made up.. I was confused.

My chin rested in the palm of my hand, thinking to myself as my arm rested against the window. I felt Kyle's eyes lay on me then the warmth of his pale hand softly placed on my leg. I quickly reacted, my head turning in surprise to his movement.

He gave me a faint smile, trying to cheer me up he even rubbed his thumb along my leg, caressing it. I couldn't help but smile back feeling bad for my reaction to him earlier.

Maybe sex just isn't for everyone.

. . .

"Annd finally homee!" I fell onto the couch, letting out a relieved sigh. Kyle joined me and sat next to me, a smile graced his face as he chuckled at my playful antic ."Home is nice isn't it?" He asked in a soft voice, looking at me. I sat up correctly, nodding slowly with a quiet smile. We sorta stared at each other for a bit before the elephant in the room came in.

"Hey.. the sex thing.." He took his eyes off me, rubbing the back of his neck nervously. My mouth hung open slightly, almost completely forgetting the incident, I mentally cursed to myself regretting what I said.

"Oh, that.."

"Yeah.. did you want to.. uhm.. like-?" He set his hand down, glancing over at me. I looked at him pausing for a thought.

Do I want to actually have sex with him?

Would it make me.. happy? Fulfill something I didn't know needed to be filled?

If we didn't.. would it change anything?

Shit..

I trembled, my mind racing with various thoughts related towards sex. More than the average teen male probably..

I felt my seat sink some bit as a warm body connected to me, a hand rested on mine and held it softly. I looked up at the ginger in surprise. He looked back at me with a sweet smile.

"Hey it's okay if you don't know, I don't mind if you do or not want to do it anytime soon. I just think it's kinda weird how you supposedly need sex for a relationship to work but really.. we just need each other." He kissed my head softly, explaining himself.

Once he looked down at me I held his hand tightly, feeling myself grow lighter from all this. I sheepishly grew a shy smile up at him "Wow that was corny." I teased, grinning slightly.

With a playful roll of his eyes, he let out a soft laugh and leaned in, gently rubbing his nose against mine. I couldn't help but scrunch up my nose in response, giggling along with him before pulling away with a content sigh. "No but really that makes me feel better I didn't know what to do or say..for now, I wanna wait.. if that's okay with you?"

"That's perfectly fine with me, sweetheart." His response caused a rush of warmth to flood my cheeks, the nickname catching me off guard. I leaned into his chest, wrapping my arms around him. Despite a brief moment of hesitation, he returned the hug, his arms circling me tightly creating a comforting warm embrace.

"Sex is overrated anyway."

"Agreed!"

[putschki1969]

2024/11/19 Blog post by Wakana Wakanaと母が行く！〜日光の旅のお話 その②〜

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Join Wakana and her Mum on a Nikko Trip ②~

There are many good things about autumn, but my favourite has got to be the clear, blue sky! What a gorgeous skyline in autumn🍁 I saw a line of birds flying up on top of a building, I was honestly surprised to see how high they can go🕊

Hello, this is Wakana(0￣▽￣0)／

Recently, the birds in my neighborhood have started to sing differently😊 I can imagine they're all talking about something, but I have no idea what they're talking about. Their chirping is different on sunny days and rainy days. I guess the changes in their singing depend on the season🤔 Anyway, they sound very energetic and cute 😆

Now, following the first part of my trip to Nikko Toshogu Shrine, I'd like to write a bit about our adventures during our Lake Chuzenji cruise the following day ＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／ On the way there, we were able to ride a big tourist bus, it was comfortable 🚌 The Irohazaka Winding Road was incredibly curvy but thankfully, I didn't get any motion-sickness. 😊 But whenever we took one of those sharp curves I squealed a little bit 😂 I couldn't help but imagine what would happen if we missed one of the curves and the bus plunged off the road😱 I literally almost made myself cry thinking about the height we were at. The large bus moved smoothly though. I'm in awe of the bus driver...!! 👏👏 Irohazaka is made up of a pair of winding roads, one of which is open only to downward traffic and includes a pit stop from where you can see two waterfalls. The other one is open only to upward traffic. Near the top is the Akechidaira Plateau, which offers an observation deck, you can get there via ropeway. I wanted to go there too but the fog was so bad that we gave up 🥺 What a shame 🥺 Here's a picture of our sightseeing map.

After getting off the bus, we went to see Kegon Falls before our Lake Chuzenji cruise! We followed the arrows to the elevator. There was an old-fashioned person who checked our tickets. So nostalgic. It's been a while since I experienced such a lovely throwback. It was nice! We continued onward, went through a long passage and up some stairs...Then there it was, the waterfall!!! The amount of water falling was very impressive!

After that, we moved to Lake Chuzenji. I wanted to take a short break in this cute café but we had to get to our cruise ship... 😿 The altitude was twice as high as the day before. That means we were basically as high as two Skytrees stacked on top of each other.

We got on the boat safely! ＼(^o^)／ It was sunny〜🌞 It was a beautiful view😊 The surface of the water was sparkling✨Here is a picture of the cruise ship! 🛳 (I took this picture when we got off and the weather had already turned bad again) We had a great time😆 On the way back, we got on the bus again (the bus on the way back was a normal local bus🚌) and went down the slope. Once again I was amazed at the driver's driving skills as he beautifully navigated the big bus along the narrow and curvy road😂It's really amazing✨

We took a short break at Nikko Station and headed home〜☕️ (I was exhausted so I did something unusual and ordered a cup of coffee in the evening). I also bought these souvenirs😄 Wasabi soybean and gyoza sticks🥟

We really tried our best to make the most of our trip to Nikko Toshogu Shrine and we honestly had a great time! (((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o))) The hot springs and the food were amazing~😍 It was a wonderful time with my mother😊 But there were still places we couldn't visit so I definitely want to go to Nikko again!! ＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／ Next time I want to stay in a Japanese-style room! ＼＼\\٩( 'ω' )و //／／ I'm longing for in-room dining~😍We promised each other to go on another trip soon✨ Thank you so much, Nikko~☺️

All right, that's it for today! Until next time~☆( *'▽'*)/

＊＊＊Wakana＊＊＊

2024/11/25 Instagram post by Wakana

The weather was nice today, so I went outside with my manager and had some donuts 🍩 What a relaxing time... 🥰 Can't believe it's less than a month until Wakana Classics 2024 🧚 I'm looking forward to meeting you all ☺️✨(Source)

[tragidean]

Last Ride [6.1k] (ao3)

Somewhere between Mount Hope and Oak Hill, lost in the winding stretch of West Virginia Route 16 and surrounded by pines and clear-cut granite, Dean sees a man walking along the side of the road. No car in sight, no thumb out signaling for assistance, just a man, with the sunlight glancing off his white suit and hat, the black of his shirt abysmally dark. He lifts his gaunt face, his cheeks hollowed and angled, and Dean catches a glimpse of dark brown eyes right before he slams on the brakes, sending the Impala into a skid. Sam flies forward, throwing his cellphone into the footwell. Castiel braces a hand against the back of Dean’s seat, managing to not fall into the floorboards. “Dude,” Sam hisses. The moment the Impala careens to a stop, Dean wrenches around to look through the rear window, only to find nothing. Just more trees and rocks, the cracking asphalt of the highway, and a white cinderblock-walled building reading the Skyline Drive-In. A worn hangs from a pole, advertising burgers, barbeque and hot dogs—and Hank’s Last Stop. “Did you see something in the road?” Castiel asks, torn between Dean’s face and the spot where for a split second, a man stood. “Did—No one else saw that,” Dean says, eventually, once his higher brain functions return and the adrenaline unclenches his throat. “There was a—a guy.” “A guy?” Sam fishes his phone from the floor. “Dude, we’ve seen plenty of hitchhikers out here, and you’ve never tried to send me through the windshield for any of them.” Good thing I taught you to wear a seatbelt. “Just—Jesus.” Headlights flash from over the hill; Dean shifts back into gear and applies pressure to the accelerator, getting back up to speed. Skid marks paint the roadway, the only proof that he isn’t hallucinating. “I’m not crazy, alright?” “I’m not saying you are.” Sam straightens up and checks his lap belt. “I mean, it wouldn't be the first ghost we’ve seen on the side of the road, right?” Ghost. That’s what it was—a ghost. Just an ordinary, run-of-the-mill ghost in the middle of West Virginia, just out for a leisurely stroll and trying to give Dean a coronary. But he looked familiar, in a haunting way, like he might visit his dreams later tonight, wondering aloud why Dean never stopped to help him. Technically, he did stop, but ferrying the dead has never been part of his job description. It’s nothing, he thinks, scrubbing his face. Over the bench, Castiel pats his shoulder, giving him a light squeeze. The endless blue sky hangs overhead, the shadows growing longer and thinner through the trees as the sun begins to make its descent for the evening. “Just tired,” he mutters. “How far are we?” “We’re almost there,” Sam says. He pulls up the article he was reading and hands it over to Castiel. “Oak Hill, couple of teenagers reported seeing a nine-foot-tall man in the woods.” “Bigfoot,” Dean scoffs and rubs his eyes. “Really, we’re hunting bigfoot?”

continue reading on ao3

[tg-pilled]

Tokyo Ghoul Characters as MCR songs

This is for shits and giggles, please don't take this too serious. I originally wanted to cover Every album and compare Every song to a character from each album and then realized nobody cares that deeply so here is a brief version!

Kaneki - Famous Last Words - "Can you see my eyes are shining bright? 'Cause I'm out here on the other side of a jet black hotel mirror and I'm so weak. Is it hard understanding, I'm incomplete?"

Haise - AMBULANCE - "And we will wear our masks again, out after dark, 'cause we are up for everything it takes, and we are not the same."

Ginshi - Cancer - "But counting down the days to go, it just ain't living, and I just hope you know that if you say goodbye today, I'd ask you to be true because the hardest part of this is leaving you."

Urie - Sleep - "Don't you breathe for me, undeserving of your sympathy, 'cause there ain't no way I'm sorry for what I did."

Mutsuki - DESTROYA - "With duct-tape scars on my honey, they don't like who you are. You won't like where we'll go, brother, protect me now."

Saiko - The Kids from Yesterday - "All the cameras watch the accidents and stars you hate. They only care if you can bleed. Does the television make you feel the pills you ate or every person that you need to be?"

Arima - The Foundations of Decay - "Let the flesh submit itself to gravity. Let our bodies lay, mark our hearts with shame. Let our blood in vain, you find God in pain. Now if your convictions were a passing phase, may your ashes feed the river in the morning rays. And as the vermin crawls we lay in the foundations of decay."

Hide - The World is Ugly - "These are their hearts, but their hearts don't beat like ours. They burn 'cause they are all afraid. But mine beats twice as hard, 'cause the world is ugly, but you're beautiful to me."

Touka - The Ghost of You - "At the top of my lungs in my arms she dies, she dies. At the end of the world, or the last thing I see, you are never coming home."

Hinami - Cemetary Drive - "If you want, I'll keep on crying. Did you get what you deserve? Is this what you always want me for? I miss you."

Ayato - Thank You for the Venom - "I keep a gun in the book you gave me. Hallelujah, lock and load. Black is the kiss, the touch of the serpent son."

Nishiki - The Jetset Life Is Gonna Kill You - "Gaze into her killing jar, I'd sometimes stare for hours. She even poked the holes so I can breathe."

Eto - Give 'Em Hell Kid - "Some might say we are made from the sharpest things you say. We are young and we don't care. Your dreams and your hopeless hair. We never wanted it to be this way for all our lives."

Naki - The Only Hope for Me is You - "Because you're the only hope for me. And if we can't find where we belong, we'll have to make it on our own."

Takizawa - House of Wolves - "Tell me I'm an angel, take this to my grave. Tell me I'm a bad man, kick me like a stray."

Tsukiyama - Romance - There's no lyrics but the vibe is *chefs kiss*

Uta - I Never Told You What I Do for a Living - "It ain't the money and it sure as hell ain't just for the fame, it's for the bodies I claim and lose. Only go so far 'til you bury them so deep and down we go, down."

Renji - Headfirst for Halos - "And as the fragments of my skull begin to fall, fall on your tongue like pixie dust, just think happy thoughts, and we'll fly home."

Juuzou - Mama - "Well, mother, what the war did to my legs and to my tongue. You should've raised a baby girl, I should've been a better son."

Rize - Our Lady of Sorrows - "We could be perfect lovers one last night, and die like star-crossed lovers when we fight."

Akira - Skylines and Turnstiles - "We walk in single file. We light our rails and punch our time. Ride escalators colder than a cell. The broken city-sky, like butane on my skin, stolen from my eyes."

Amon - Save Yourself, I'll Hold Them Back - "For all of us who've seen the light, salute the dead and lead the fight. Who gives a damn if we lose the war? Let the walls come down, let the engines roar."

Feel free to add your own interpretations but these are songs that I think relate to the characters! :)

[assortedseaglass]

Come Back To Me - Chapter Eight

Billy Washington x OFC

[Masterlist]

Warnings: Language, Mentions of Racism, SMUT, Trigger Point (TV) Spoilers

Author’s Note: Thank you so much for all the support you have given me on this; I was so scared to share any writing before and you have all made me fall back in love with it! I was initially only going to do one more chapter, but I think it’ll be two, just to tie it all up! More notes at the end.

Word Count: 6.8K

“Are you sure you’re going to be ok on your own?” Sofia said, worrying her bottom lip as she leant against the kitchen door.

“Stop!” Ida laughed from the living room sofa. “I’ll be fine, and if I need anything, I’ve got gran and these guys.” She held up a battered copy of Lady Chatterley’s Lover.

Sofia wolf whistled. “Spicy. We really do need to get you a fella,” she joked. At that moment, Faisal popped his head around the corner.

“Taxi’s here, babe.”

“Promise me you’re ok with us going-”

“Leave her alone, Sofia!” Faisal cut in. “She’s a grown woman!”

“Thank you, Faisal,” Ida replied. “Now hurry up and get to the airport. And send me a postcard!” Sofia pecked Ida on the cheek as Faisal saluted, and in a moment, they were gone. Through the open balcony window, Ida heard Sofia and Faisal chatting to who she assumed was the taxi driver before the slamming of doors and the cab driving away.

The July heatwave had at last been broken by the first of the summer storms. Water thundered across the flat’s roof, fat drops dripping off the balcony awning onto the street below. The neon signs of shop fronts were reflected in by the rain-soaked roads, and from the window, Ida could see forks of lightning hit the skyline of the city ahead. This downpour had lasted for days, and Ida welcomed it. It was a week since the incident at Cranstead Fields, and she and Billy hadn’t spoken.  

In the days after Billy’s rescue, Ida retreated to the flat to be cared for by Sofia and Faisal. Those first few nights, Sofia slept in Ida’s bed, cradling her when she woke with fresh nightmares. Nightmares where she hadn’t reached Billy in time. These were only intensified by the writing of a report for EXPO, with the help of Lana, about that day’s events.

After that, Ida spent her time walking, miles and miles through London’s parks and backstreets. One day, she caught the tube to Chalk Farm and walked to the top of Primrose Hill. The notepad and book in her bag sat untouched as she watched couples entwined on the grass, children riding bikes and running around, singular old men and women walking their dogs against the backdrop of the city. When the rains eventually came, she nestled on the sofa of the lounge with a stack of books and blankets. Ida slept more often than not, and her waking hours were filled with the distraction of books. Romances, mostly. She asked Sofia and Faisal if they could leave the balcony door open; Ida had always loved the sound of heavy rain, and she needed the fresh, open air just to remind her she was alive. Gwen would occasionally stop by with food, soups and cakes usually, and news of the Washingtons.

According to her grandma, the only time Lana’s car left the driveway was to come and help Ida with her report. The Washington’s door was never closed such was the constant stream of visitors for Billy, “even that Becky girl came over.” Ida had tried to not let this affect her, but that evening she, Sofia and Faisal sank a whole bottle of vodka. Billy left the house rarely, though when he did it was always with his dad, and when Gwen had gone round for a cup of tea, he had barely uttered a word. “I think he’s been sleeping mostly, poor lad.”

Gwen said this aside to her granddaughter almost as a way to soften the fact that Billy had not spoken to her, as though she expected her to be angry. But how could she be? Ida herself barely wanted to speak to anyone after Cranstead Fields, and she hadn’t been the one nearly blown up. And after all, had she tried to speak to Billy? What could she say?

Hey Billy, we still haven’t chatted about your arrest for racially aggravated assault!

Hey Billy, remember that time you said I was perfect, then that you didn’t want me anymore while you pinned me to a wall?

Hey Billy, did your folks tell you that I called them a shit family?

Hey Billy, didn’t think the next time we’d see each other after our raging argument would be me dragging you out of a car filled with explosives!

Ida laughed a little at that thought and returned to her book. She’d picked it up in a second-hand bookshop not long ago, drawn to it by the annotations that adorned its pages. Ida was continually drawn to one such highlight near the beginning of the book;

‘The cataclysm has happened, we are among the ruins, we start to build up new little habitats, to have new little hopes. It is rather hard work: there is now no smooth road into the future: but we go round, or scramble over the obstacles. We've got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.’

She took a sip of her wine and, out loud to the rain, said “We’ve got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.”

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

Ida jolted and laughed properly this time. How typical of Sofia to forget something. She could see Faisal now, frantically checking the airport departure times and recalculating their trip. Springing from the sofa, she hurried to the door and swung it open, calling out as she did so. “What have you forg-”. The words died in her mouth. Stood in the dark doorway, head bowed, was Billy.

Droplets of rain clung to his sandy hair, which was shorter than the last time she’d seen him. His stubble was gone too, highlighting his sunken cheeks. He looked exhausted. The dark circles around his eyes only made them more fantastically blue, and God Ida wished he’d look at her. He took a few deep breaths and, speaking quietly to his feet, said “Saw Sofia and Faisal downstairs, and they, er, they let me in.” Then he did it. He looked right at her and something in Ida snapped. She flung herself at him, burying her face in his neck and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Billy stumbled, letting out a little hmph as her body knocked into his. There was no hesitation in his hands as he brought them to her back and nestled is nose into her hair.

“I’ve missed you,” he said, breathing in her scent. She pulled back to look at him, a brilliant smile on her freckled face, and took his hand to lead him into the flat. Ida dropped it as she hurried into the kitchenette, and Billy shuffled awkwardly a little as he looked around the flat.

It had been a while since he was last here. Faisal’s birthday, maybe? He could see evidence of Sofia and Faisal. Sofia’s trinkets from her travels, all brightly coloured. Faisal’s stack of games and house plants. Still, Ida was unmistakably sewn into the fabric of their little home. Fairy lights were strung above the windows and old sofa, which was covered with blankets. Her childhood teddy, patchworked and worn, sat atop them next to a small selection of books and her grandad’s Cork County Football Team mug. Frameless photographs of her friends were stuck to the walls. Looking closer, Billy saw many of them together. Mucking about in a field, painted faces at a church fair, drinks in hand at a bar in Spain, chatting conspiratorially at a table in Gwen’s garden. There were three of Sofia and Faisal that Ida herself had taken. They were lined up together, and in each one Faisal was gazing lovingly at Sofia, who’s blonde hair was illuminated by the setting sun behind her. Billy’s stomach did a little flip, and he turned to the open door of the balcony. The rain was coming down harder now, and he watched from the shelter of the awning as people scurried into shops to avoid the summer downpour. The air was thick with humidity, and he wiped his newly cut hair from his brow, certain that his nerves were doing little to dissuade the heat. When Ida joined him on the balcony with a glass of wine and a beer for him, Billy chugged a few mouthfuls then held the bottle to his neck.

Ida sat on the small balcony bench, feet outstretched. Billy joined her, sitting awkwardly, formally, at the other end. Neither said a word. The relief each had felt at finally seeing one another had faded, their recent history worming its way to the forefront on their minds.

“Warren’s-”

“Gran said-”

They spoke at the same time. Ida gestured for Billy to continue, picking her glass of wine up from the table to take a sip.

“Warren’s going on trial. I had to go down to the station for an interview, hours it took, and they managed to catch him. Fucking bastard,” Billy muttered that last part bitterly, and Ida grew hot with anger. This Warren bloke was lucky that the police got to him before she did. “I’ve got to go and testify. Will you be coming?” He looked at her hopefully.

“To the trial? No, they have my statement from the day, no need for me to be there really.”

“Right.” Billy took another sip of his beer and began peeling off its paper wrapper. “They’ve dropped my charges, dunno if Lana told you?” Ida shook her head. She wasn’t sure she wanted to hear this, she was still so angry at him. Her Billy would never have done what the one before her had. “Just had to pay a fine for the cost of the window. Dad and I went to help them put it in, thought it was the least I could-”

Ida cut in sharply. “But Billy, that doesn’t-”

“I know it doesn’t excuse what I did.” Billy replied tersely. He huffed a sigh as if to calm himself and wiped his face. “It doesn’t excuse what I did, or what I thought. I know that. Everything with John, with Nut dying,” he trailed off before continuing. “I was just so sick of not fitting in anywhere. All my friends have outgrown me, my family were sick of me hanging around and never achieving anything. But then everything-” Billy was gesturing with his hands but his voice died away. Ida knew he was thinking about Cranstead. How his new friends had used him as a means to a terrifying, bitter end. Billy sighed and relaxed into the seat. His hand found the hem of Ida’s skirt and fiddle with it, running his finger up and down the seam absentmindedly. Occasionally, his thumb grazed the skin of her calves and she shivered, despite the heat that the action caused to prickle at her cheeks. Billy noticed her stir and, realising what he was doing, retracted his hands and took another swig of beer. He changed the subject hastily.

“Been spending more time with Dad.”

“Oh, that’s lovely. Really, Bill!” Ida’s voiced sounded falsely cheerful and she mentally scolded herself.

“Think he’s scared you might come after him again.” Billy laughed and Ida hung her head in her hands.

“Oh God,” her voice was muffled by her palms. “Oh my God.”

“Don’t be embarrassed!” Billy was still laughing. “Lana told me all about it. I’m sad I missed it!”

“You would have been there if you’d turned up to your own birthday!” They laughed together, and Ida watched as the skin around his eyes crinkled. She suddenly realised how long it had been since she had seen him laugh properly, and she smiled softly at him. He caught her gaze, lips quirking in the corners, then turned back to face the rainy city.

“Becky came by too,” he said matter-of-factly, as though it was just a passing comment.

“Oh right?” Ida didn’t need to tell Billy that she already knew, or that this news caused an almighty night of drinking.

Billy caught her aloofness and laughed again. “Don’t worry,” he nudged her legs. “She won’t be around again. Talked some bollocks about how she hadn’t been able to sleep since she’d heard. As if she was the one who…who was stuck-” He recovered himself quickly. “She wasn’t happy you were there, either.”

“I bet she wasn’t,” Ida said under her breath.

“I’m glad it was you.” Billy said suddenly, looking directly at her. Despite the darkness of the evening, his eyes were bright and Ida felt that if she looked at them too long, he’d be able to hear her hurried and confused thoughts. She looked away. “Thank you, Ida.” Nodding awkwardly, she took a large gulp of wine and winced at the bitter taste.

“You didn’t know, did you?” Billy shifted on the bench so that his body was facing Ida’s.

“Know what?”

“That the timer was a decoy,”

“Lana and Has said it was-”

“But you didn’t know, did you?” Billy cut across her. “Not for certain.” Ida stilled, and Billy watched as her usually rosy cheeks drained of colour and her eyes widen. He continued when she didn’t respond. “Seeing you there. I-I can’t stop thinking about it. Every time I close my eyes, it’s your face at the window. You looked so wild, like an animal caught in a cage. Knowing now that you didn’t know for certain-” His hands were shaking as he put down the beer bottle. “Christ, Ida! You could have died!”

“And you would have died.” Ida had found her voice. What was I meant to do, Billy? Sit there and watch you die? All scared and alone in that car!?”

Billy turned away from her. “I think, sometimes, it would have been better if I had.” Ida felt like she had been slapped. She stared at him, open-mouthed as he let his last sentence hang dreadfully in the air. “I brought this whole mess upon myself. And Lana. And you. Mum’s been inconsolable since, and seeing dad try to be better...He’s trying to be a better dad, but I feel such a burden to be a better son.” Fat tears were filling Billy’s eyes, and he pushed the palms of his hands to them roughly, trying to force them back in. He moved to the edge of the balcony and Ida followed. “What’s the point of me, Ida!? I tried to stop fucking everything up and leave you all alone, only to fuck it up even more! I’m just a worthless-”

“How dare you.” Ida whispered and Billy turned like a whip. This time, it was he who looked like they had been slapped. “HOW DARE YOU!” Ida was shouting at him now, her voice tearing from the effort of keeping back sobs. “I risked my life for you! Have you learnt nothing!?”

“Ida-”

“NO!” She thrust a finger aggressively into his chest. “Look at where this pitiful thinking got you last time! For fuck’s sake, Billy! I wish you could see yourself the way I do.” Billy scoffed, but Ida ignored him. “When your heart is high, God, you’re the best person to be around. You’re gentle and kind and light. It’s like staring at the sun. Everything about you is sunshine.” She laughed at how childish that sounded. “You don’t understand, do you? My life isn’t the same without you! These last few weeks have been agony.” Ida pressed a hand to her chest, where the dull ache that had been following her since their argument was reaching its painful peak. Billy watched with wide eyes as she continued to shout at him, tears streaming onto her cheeks as her voice shook. “Whether I had been by your side at Cranstead or not, I’d have died anyway! I can’t go on without you.”

Billy stared at her. She was gulping down air, her chest rising from the effort of shouting at him. When someone on the street below whistled up to them and shouted, “Lover’s quarrel?”, Ida gripped the edge of the balcony and screamed at them.

“FUCK OFF!” Billy took a step closer to her, but she wheeled around, a manic look in her eyes. “All I can see is you in that car. Your eyes…and I wake up in the night having dreamt that the bomb…that you-” She was rubbing her hands in panicked agitation, an unfocused look in her eyes as they darted everywhere but Billy’s face.

“Ida. Ida, I’m here.” Billy moved to block everything but himself from her vision, gripping her arms and holding her still.

“Billy?” Ida whispered, as though waking from a bad dream. Billy supposed, momentarily, that she had. Taken back to the same nightmare that he himself has been reliving these past agonising days. She curled her fists into the chest of his t-shirt, her breath slowing. Billy’s own caught in his throat and he had to fight to keep himself still. Her palms lay flat on his chest, and she looked up at him. There she was. Back with him. Ida’s breath was deep, and with every inhale she could smell what was unmistakably Billy. His cedarwood shower gel, jasmine laundry detergent, the faintest hint of fresh sweat and now, beer on his breath as it fanned across her cheek. She put her head to his chest and gripped him tighter, running her hands to his shoulders and back to his chest. She felt a deep hum rumble through his chest.

“Making sure I’m real?” He said, looking down at her with half-lidded awe. One of his arms wrapped tentatively around Ida’s waist, skirting the flesh beneath her top as he brought her body closer to his. The other brushed her wayward hair from her neck, letting his hand tangle at the back of her head.

Ida shuddered as he pulled her head back a little, the action causing her lips to part. She closed her eyes and whispered, “Please don’t joke, Billy.” His mouth was a feather’s width away from her lips.

“I’m real, Ida.” His eyes flashed momentarily to her parted mouth, and when Ida whispered his name against his lips all sound around him ceased but for the roaring of his heartbeat in his ears. Billy tightened his grip in her hair and Ida, finally, any fight or thought of resisting gone from her, gave herself over to him. Billy’s warm lips brushed against her own so delicately that she whimpered. Clutching at his t-shirt, she dragged him closer and wrapping her arms around his neck to hold his face to hers. Billy towered over her, his hand reaching her neck, one thumb ghosting over her cheek as he continued to kiss her. He pulled back, every so fleetingly, to look at her. Ida’s eyes were still closed, the smallest of furrows between her brow. Hers lips were pink and a little swollen, a sheen of moisture covering them from where he had kissed her. Billy ran his thumb over her plump bottom lip and dipped his head to kiss her once more, his tongue brushing gently against her bottom lip. He kissed her languidly, and she moaned when his tongue parted her lips. Fuck, he needed her. Billy walked her back against the wall of the flat, mouth never leaving Ida’s, as rain bounced off the balcony edge and pattered their skin with cold. Keeping his hand in her hair, he pulled her head back and left gentle, open-mouthed kisses against the column of Ida’s neck. He nipped at the skin with his teeth, and when she shuddered, he did it again. Unable to stop himself, he pressed a knee between her legs, the hand that had been holding her waist suddenly at her hip, pushing her into the wall and holding her in place. As Billy pressed his weight against Ida’s, she opened her eyes with a gasp as a memory invaded her thoughts.

“Did you ever stop to think, Ida, that I’m not shutting myself off from everyone? Just you!”

“Billy,” she croaked, placing her hands on his shoulders. He continued to kiss her. “Billy, please.”

She could see Billy towering over her, pinning her body against the wall of his flat. He had licked his lips and braced himself against the wall, leant towards her and pressed his weight against her torso. She could see him closing his eyes as he felt her beneath him. “Did you ever stop to think, Ida, that I’m not shutting myself off from everyone, just you?”

“Billy,” he looked up at her, his eyes wide and questioning. He watched as more tears came. “Don’t Billy. My heart can’t take it again.” Ida dipped beneath his arms and hurried back into the flat. Billy stood there, staring at the spot where Ida had been.

“Fuck!” he hissed, hitting the wall. “FUCK!” A few tears of his own fell this time, and he wiped them away furiously. Here it was again, that painful, humiliating voice at the back of his mind. You’ve fucked up. Again. He leant his head against the rough wall and listened to the rain. Focus on what’s around you. That’s what Lana told him to do when he got flashbacks of Cranstead Fields. Eyes shut, head against the wall, Billy listened to the rain, the laughter of night-time revellers on the street below. He stuck his arm over the balcony and felt the rain against his hand. He heard Ida slam her bedroom door, and his heart contracted painfully. Sometimes, Billy felt like he could read Ida’s mind and sometimes, it scared him. Like now. He knew that she had been taken back to their argument in his flat. As he pressed his body against hers, he had remembered it too. The way she had watched him lick his lips, and how she had cried when he told her he didn’t want her anymore.

You’ve fucked up. Again.

No. Billy remembered why he came here. Remembered how desperately he wanted to see her, so desperate that his body had brought him here before his mind had caught up. Billy needed Ida, and he needed her to know.

*

Ida stood with her back against her bedroom door, one hand at her heart, the other just below her stomach. On the opposite wall was a photo of her and Billy, at the beach on his birthday last year, and she stared at it. Her hand moved to her mouth, and she shut her eyes. She could still feel the ghost of Billy’s lips there. In the mirror, she caught site of a little red mark on her neck, and heat blossomed shamefully between her legs.

Fuck.

She was standing at a precipice, leaning forward ever so deliciously. Behind her was the Collected History of Billy and Ida, volumes and volumes of memory, all compiled to make the woman she was in this very moment; heartbroken, terrified, excited. Ahead, who knew? Ida wanted to lean over, to peak at was waiting. But that’s not how it works. Jump thrillingly into the unknown or turn back to the familiar. Could she and Billy go back to the way they were before? After all that had happened, all that Ida wanted to happen…

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. A message from Sofia.

Just arrived at the airport, all on time. Will message when we land. How are you feeling honey? xxx

Ida hastily texted back, a flush on her cheeks.

Horny and confused

Three little dots appeared immediately to signify that Sofia was writing.

Erm, what? xxx

As Ida’s hands hovered over the screen, she heard the balcony door shut and Billy making his way into the kitchenette. The taps turned on, and there was the clutter of glasses. A fork of lightning illuminated her bedroom, and Ida made her way to the window. Rain cascaded down the panes, London only just visible. A sliver of light from the hall cut the bedroom in two. She looked over her shoulder. Billy stood there, leaning against the doorframe and silhouetted by the light, watching her once again.

“Ida-”

“Everything’s changed.” She said simply. Another fork of lightning split the sky, and Ida was reminded of the book laying open on the sofa. “’We’ve got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.’”

“Pardon?” Billy crept into the room to stand at her side.

“It’s from Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” she replied, eyes still focused on the night beyond.

A small laugh escaped Billy; of course Ida had a quote for everything. He looked at her looking at the sky and said lowly, “Say it again.”

She looked at him looking at her. “’We’ve got to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.’” Another spark of lightning. His eyes were electric. Billy stared at her, unblinking, as though she would disappear if he did. Above the neck of his t-shirt, Ida saw his pulse quicken. God, how she wanted to run her tongue over the freckled skin there. Fuck. This was it. The jump.

“I- I-” She huffed at the disappearance of her confidence. Billy leant forward, his brow questioning, eyes hopeful, plush lips parted. Ida looked at them and in a breathless whisper said, “I wish we could go back to how we were before.”

“I don’t,”

“What?” Ida’s heart froze. “Why?”

Billy’s body relaxed. Everything he’d been through, everything they’d been through together, was leading to this. A great weight lifted from his chest and, looking at her with bright eyes, he said with a simple smile, “Because I love you, Ida.” He watched her lips part, and my God even though he loved it when she talked back, he continued before she could. “I can’t go back to how we were before, looking for some half-hearted attempt at love with someone who isn’t you. Being so near to you yet knowing you aren’t mine is torture. I can’t say when I started loving you, Ida, all I know is it’s easy.” Ida had Billy’s heart in her hands, and he paused, knowing his next sentence would change everything. “If…if…if you don’t want me, say the word and I’ll go, but I had to tell you. Loving you is what I’m best at.”

Ida’s face was unreadable. Just for a moment. Then, quite unexpectedly, she laughed, advancing on him at lightning speed. The last thing Billy Washington remembered of his old life was the sound of Ida’s rasped “Oh, Billy,” before her lips came crashing to his.

Billy’s disbelief didn’t last long. No sooner had her lips met his was he grabbing the plump flesh of her hips and forcing her backwards. She hit the wall with a thump and Billy’s body ground into hers. He grabbed her jaw and pushed her face away so that he might cover her neck with kisses. He saw the mark he had left on her not ten minutes before and licked languidly over the skin, causing Ida to mewl in pleasure. His lips skirted over the flesh of her exposed collarbones, between the clothed valley of her breasts and he sank to his knees. Ida’s hand instantly found his flaxen hair and he looked up at her, a giddy smile on his boyish face. She giggled and caressed his cheeks as, ever so delicately, so tantalising slowly, he lifted the hem of her top to place feather-light kisses on her stomach. Every touch, every moment that Billy spent worshipping her body only added to the heat rising in her chest and pooling at the apex of her thighs. She needed more of him, and reached down to bring her top over her head. Billy groaned as he looked up to see the curve of her breasts, the movement of her soft, pink nipples as her breath shuddered. Ida’s hips rolled involuntarily at the sound of him, and Billy grinned. That damn smile, Ida thought.

He continued to kiss her naked torso as one hand made its firm way up her thigh. Ida whimpered. “Please, Billy.” Nervously, Billy undid the tie of her skirt and let it fall to the floor.

“Fuck.” He could smell her. See her, the wetness of her underwear displaying her wanton need for him. Once more grabbing the soft flesh of her hips, he pressed his face to her arousal and breathed in her scent. Ida sobbed and grabbed his hair.

“Please,”

He wrenched down her underwear and there she was, completely exposed to him. She giggled again, though Billy knew her well enough to hear the nerves they hid. “You’re so beautiful, Ida,” he whispered, looking up at her. How many times had he imagined her like this? Here she was, wild haired and panting, her body illuminated by the city light, shadows of rain from the window caressing every curve of her. Her dark eyes were bright, teeth tucked between her bottom lip, simultaneously smiling while trying not to moan in pleasure. Billy watched her breasts rise with her breathing, and he reached up to run his hand over the sensitive flesh there. The moan was rent from her lips and her hips rose to meet his face. Billy made use of her body’s reaction and hooked his arm under her thigh. Ida gasped when she realised what he was doing. Laying her leg over his shoulder, Billy pushed her further up the wall as he brought his face closer to the thatch of curls above her centre.

He paused just a moment, waiting for her to stop him. When she didn’t, Billy brought his other hand to part her wetness and ran his tongue lazily over her pink centre. Ida cried out, and sank slightly onto him, desperate for more. Billy’s heart swelled with pride and he repeated the action, marvelling in the sounds Ida made above him.

“You taste incredible.” He rasped, continuing to lap at her pussy. Carefully, nervously, she ground herself against him, his nose rubbing against her sensitive bundle of nerves. She laughed, remembering all the sinful times she had thought about his nose.

“What?” Billy laughed too, in between kisses to her core.

“It’s good,” she whispered. “You’re so good.” Billy stood and brought his forehead to hers.

“I love you,”

“Billy,” she kissed him with urgency, tasting herself on his lips. She grabbed his hips and brought him closer to her. Gripping his shoulders, she rolled her hips against his and the hard fabric of his jeans. The bulge beneath them against her clit ignited a desperate need within her. Her mouth broke away from his and her hands frantically made work of his belt. Billy could barely contain himself. He watch as she needily undressed him, and he brought his shirt over his body as she undid the button of his jeans. Distracted by his naked torso, she pressed her bare chest against his and he moaned. Her hands raked over the plains of his chest. The lean muscle, the smattering on hair. Her nails dug into his shoulders and their tongues found each other once again, desperate to taste once another.

“I need you, Billy,” Ida moaned into his mouth. God he’d do anything for her. Taking her hands in his, he spun her around and pushed her lightly on to the bed. He could have sworn he felt his cock twitch as he watched her body bounce on the mattress. He unzipped his jeans and, hooking his fingers in the band of his boxers, slowly removed them, never taking his eyes off Ida.

Her mouth watered. Billy’s cock sprang free from his trousers, and she marvelled at the glisten of precum that adorned its tip. The way it curved upwards, the tautness of his balls, the size of him. She ached to feel him inside her. Billy smirked as she gawped at him. He teasingly ran a hand up and down his length.

“Stop-” she groaned. Billy did so once more before he knelt to kiss her legs.

“You look like that painting, the one we saw in Paris,” he whispered seductively before licking a stripe up her centre.

“God, Billy,” she half laughed, half moaned. They had gone to Paris for her 21st birthday. At the Musee d’Orsay, Billy had blushed furiously when he found Ida gazing at a painting of a woman’s naked torso. He had taken her hand and led her away, but not before looking back over his shoulder.

He crawled up the length of her body. Another pulse of arousal throbbed between Ida’s legs as he did so. The roll of his shoulders and his darkened gaze; she felt like prey. Billy brought a hand to cup her breast, the other reaching harshly between her thighs.

“Fuck!” she cried as Billy ran his long fingers between her wet folds. The sound of her sex was obscene, and Billy fought every urge to sheath himself fully in that heavenly spot between her legs. Slowly, he dipped two fingers inside her, and Ida arched off the bed. Billy caught her nipple between his lips and sucked lightly, ran a tongue over the sensitive flesh, then nipped at it with his teeth. Her pussy clenched around his fingers and he swore. She drove him crazy. Between the pulse of her walls, the soft flesh of her breast and the nipple he tugged between his lips, he could barely focus. He pulled his fingers out of her suddenly and she whimpered. Licking his fingers, he closed his eyes at the taste of her. Ida’s hands wound their way into his hair and tugged him closer. She kissed him. Slowly, deeply, and tasted herself on his tongue. He was intoxicating. Warmth burst in Ida’s chest. No matter how many times she had imagined him when only her hand would do, nothing could compare to this.

Using her hip, and the hand that had found his shoulder, she pushed him lightly so that he fell back onto the mattress. She leant down as though to kiss him, but as he raised his head she moved away. Billy’s frustrated huff died away when Ida bit the pulse point of his neck, when she kissed her way down his chest, hair tickling his abdomen as her fingers brushed over his nipples.

“Oh my God, Ida.” She edged closer and closer to his cock, and when she ran her wet lips over him, he saw stars. Nothing could have prepared Billy for the warmth of Ida’s mouth on him. The swirl of her tongue around the tip of his swollen length, or the way she wrapped her hand around its base as she took him in her mouth. Torturously she worked her mouth around him, sucking as she took him fully. He tasted delicious, but the sounds he made were greater. Wetness gathered on Ida’s thighs as she listened to him beg and moan her name incoherently. When Billy looked down, he saw Ida’s lust-filled eyes staring back at him, and she didn’t miss the way the muscles of his abdomen flexed. Releasing his cock and licking away the precum coating her mouth, Ida straddled his small waist and looked at him with awe. The tight scrunch of his brows, the sheen of sweat that decorated them. The curve of his beautiful lips and the way his Adam’s apple bobbed when she rolled her sex over his achingly hard length. She braced herself with hands splayed across his chest and he gripped her waist with bruising intensity.

“Ida,” he whined as she rubbed her slick across him. Her head fell back when she repeated the action. “Ida!” He was louder that time. Needier. Leaning down to place a tender kiss on his plump lips, idea took him in her hand. With foreheads together, Billy’s hand guiding her hips, Ida sank slowly onto Billy’s length. They moaned in unison, and a few tears of pleasure pricked at Ida’s eyes.  

Finally.

She looked down at Billy, her Billy, who smiled, love-drunk, up at her. He raised himself onto his elbows, one arm wrapping around her waist tightly to hold her secure. Ida whimpered as he shifted them to the edge of the bed, the movement causing him to thrust into her.

“Fuck,” Billy whispered against her chest. Feet planted firmly on the floor, his head was just below hers now. His other hand carded through her hair and she hummed with pleasure. Breath ghosting her neck, Billy placed more sloppy kisses to the skin there. Ida shivered and began rolling her hips. “Fuck.”

The rain continued to hammer on the windows of Ida’s bedroom, now joined by the sounds of their lovemaking. Breathless moans, whimpers of pleasure and the sound of skin on skin as Billy thrust into Ida’s tight heat, every sinew and fibre of him alive and alert to her body. Steadily, the pace at which he drove into her increased, his cock hitting the sweet spot inside her perfectly. He watched as she continued to ride him, transfixed by the bounce of her breasts and the way her mouth fell open.

“God, Billy,” Ida was crying now, the pleasure she felt as he fucked her overwhelming. “Don’t stop.” With a growl that almost sent her over the edge, Billy flipped her back onto the mattress and wrapped her legs around his waist. Harshly he rutted into her, one hand holding her hip in place as the other gripped her throat lightly. Her eyes fluttered shut.

“Look at me,” he pleaded, and with great effort she did so. Hair was sticking to his forehead and his jaw clenched as he pounded into her. His pleasure was so beautiful. Ida kissed his neck as he continued grinding his hips into hers. A hand suddenly flew between their entwined bodies as Billy sought to tease her clit. The pressure to her bundle as he continued his frantic thrusting was blinding, and Ida felt her orgasm build in her stomach.

“Billy, don’t stop!” She cried out, hand flying to his thigh and encouraging his thrusts. Billy’s hips snapped faster into her and the coil snapped. A guttural cry ripped from Ida’s throat as the world turned to white noise, feeling nothing but the shockwaves of her orgasm pulsing through her body. Billy watched as her body tightened beneath him, a flush covering her chest as her pussy fluttered around his cock. It was mere moments before he too came undone, crying her name as he came within her.

Neither of them knew how long they stayed there, bodies bound together as they rode out the high of their orgasms. Billy’s arms gave out on him, and he collapsed on top of Ida. She held him there awhile, feeling the shudder of his body as her legs did the same. When he began gently kissing the glistening skin of her chest, she lifted his head to look at her. Behind the fucked-out, peaceful glimmer in his eyes, she could still see his nervousness. The fear of rejection ever present.

“I love you, Billy. So much.”

Tears formed in his eyes. “Fuck.” Billy buried his face in her chest.

“I love you,” she kissed him. “I love you,” she kissed him again. Between kisses and whispered dedications, she held her Billy, willing him to feel how much her life depended on him. “Stay with me tonight. Please?” He rose to place a kiss to her lips, and nuzzled into her neck, breathing deeply.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

*

Billy woke to a faint stream of sun. Rain clouds still blanketed the sky, but the cacophonous downpour had faded. All that could be heard were the faint breaths of the woman beside him. Hair spread across the pillow in every which way, body relaxed in sleepy bliss. Ida. He reached out to stroke the curve of her exposed tummy, and she hummed.

Everything had changed.

Note: The painting referenced is L’Origine du Monde by Courbet. First ever smut so be kind! As I said at the beginning, I’ve decided to do two more chapters rather than one. See you for the next, thank you for all the kind words and support 😊

Tags: @jessssica1234 @anditsmywholeheart @bookwyrmsblog @phantomontheinternet @aemonds-wifey @slytherincursebreaker @valerie977 @i-killed-ramsey @greenowlfactif @yentroucnagol @schniiipsel @multiple-fandoms-girl @just-emmaaaa @tosiaf

[ebblogs]

Photographer's Eye: The Joys in My Life

Photographs are very important to capture memories in this time period. Photographs are memories and feelings frozen in time. When someone looks at a picture they have captured, those memories and emotions from that exact time start flowing back. The theme I have chosen for this topic is a few things that bring joy into my life. I have now realized that most of the things that bring me joy are those I have been experiencing and loving since I was a child. The photos below consist of things my family and I enjoy doing in our free time, along with some furry family members I can trust to bring joy into my day.

Pets:

No matter what part of my life I am talking about, I have always had a pet. My pets are a big part of my life and are considered family to everyone. I have a cat that is 16 years old, along with two dogs who are 8 and 10. Before my current dogs, I had a dog in the family before I was born. It lived up to 16 years old and sadly passed away when I was 7. The point of this section is every single one of my pets throughout my life has always been able to produce joy in my life. I tend to take pictures of them when I think they look cute or silly.

Disney:

For as long as I can remember, my family and I have been going to Disney. My parents joined the Disney Vacation Club before I was born in 1999, when it was “cheaper.” When I lived in New York, we would come down to Florida and visit Disney once a year. Now that we live in Florida, we visit two to three times a year. I love going to all the parks and riding all my favorite rides. I used to love meeting the characters and getting their signatures when I was younger, but we don’t do that much anymore. We meet friends and family there too.

New York Yankees:

My family has been a Yankees fan for my whole life. I remember walking into the house, playing outside with my friends any day with a game from spring to fall, and seeing a Yankee game on. We went to several games when we lived in New York and plan on seeing a World Series game if they end up making it. I’ve been to games on my birthday and even on holidays. They are my favorite team throughout any sport, and whenever the baseball season starts, it is a very exciting time in the family.

Video Games:

I was born into a family that enjoys video games. I have been playing video games for as long as I can remember and loved watching my brother and dad play video games. When I was a kid, we had the original Xbox, Wii, Xbox 360, DS Lite, and this console called the V.Smile consisted of video games but was more like an educational video game console for kids. As I was growing up, my brother got the PlayStation 4, and I got the Xbox One. Now I have a PC, a Nintendo Switch, and a PS5. I continue to play video games; they are how I keep in touch with many of my friends back home in New York. A lot of my favorite memories consist of having video games in them.

New York, Hometown, and Childhood Home:

Last but not least, everything in New York, my hometown, and my childhood home. I grew up about 20 minutes away from New York City WITH NO traffic, which was very rare, 45 minutes to an hour away realistically. I moved away when I was 15. It was all I've ever known where all my friends and family are. So many unforgettable memories were made that I could never forget. I last visited New York for the first time in three years in June for my friend's graduation at my old high school. The pictures shown below are some pictures I took while driving to my hometown, such as the city skyline and the highway sign stating my hometown. The photo on the bottom left is of my childhood home on moving day, so it may look a little dull, but so many memories that were made there. My family lived in that house for 21 years.

(I took all of these photos)

[concreteburialplot]

VIRALITY // 04

04 - Rained In

summary/masterlist: here

word count: 2.4k

crossposted: ao3

pairing: nicholas ruffilo x fem!oc

a/n: don’t be mean for no reason & let others enjoy things thnx :)

VALLIE

A slight chill of autumn seeped through the cracked windows of Nicholas' beat-up Ford Focus. The air in the car was awkward and quiet and I spent the first half of the car ride watching the trees as we passed them. Finally, I spoke up with a question that had been bugging me.

"So, is he always like that?" I asked obviously talking about Noah.

He hesitated and kept his eyes focused on the road, "No."

"Then what's his problem?"

Nick let out a long sigh, "You're like, like a threat or something, and he's just overly protective of the band." His right hand rolled in the air matching his syllables.

"Right." I nodded. My eyes wandering up to the messy bun he'd thrown his black hair into. "And that's because...?"

He breathed out in defeat and readjusted his hands on the steering wheel. "It's all he really has." He paused, maybe contemplating further disclosing to me. "The rest of us have other career paths we could fall back on. We all have back-up plans, but this band is all he has." He chose his words carefully.

"Oh." I replied quietly. This new information began to dissolve the distasteful words my brain had logged for him. I rested my arm on the door ledge and watched the fluffy clouds beginning to tint with charcoal. He had somehow found some back road I didn't know about. The route was quite scenic with tall pointy trees and distant mountains, it was extremely refreshing compared to the usual overcrowded LA skyline.

"What about you?" Asked Nicholas, snapping me out of my daze.

"What about me?" I furrowed my brows and straightened up in my seat defensively. 

He glanced over at me briefly then back to the darkening road, "Are you always like that?" Flipping the question back onto me.

"Am I like what?" I replied sharply. Just because he was kind enough to drive me home didn't mean that he had just thrown out all his own feelings about the situation.

He rolled his eyes jokingly, "You know what I mean. Are you always, ya know" He stiffened his arms and facial features to mimic a... robot?

I couldn't help but grin and roll my eyes at his nonsense, "No. I'm not." I leaned back to my spot at the window, the grey sky was now nearly black. "You all are just kinda...mean."

He feigned offense with a gasp and a hand on his chest, "You think I'm mean Vallie?"

Nicholas was the first one out of the lot to actually call me by my name, it was nice.

I chuckled and lightly smacked his arm. I normally didn't let my personality show much with clients, especially so early, but his playful energy was contagious. With the way everything happened, I didn't really expect to get along with any of them, nonetheless have fun. But Nicholas made me feel comfortable already, he made it easy to settle in to the less-than-ideal circumstances.

When we arrived at my temporary home, it was pouring rain and it was only getting worse. "Fuck," I breathed out, trying to analyze the space between the car and my front door. "I can barely see a foot away." I said as I watched the sheets of cold rain come down blocking any visibility. I looked over at Nicholas who was doing the same as me, looking at the rain in extreme apprehension. "You can't drive home in this."

He feigned confidence, "Oh," blowing away the caution. "I'll be fine."

"Nick, you literally can't even see in front of you." I pointed to my hidden driveway. "Just come inside until it calms down?" I offered. "It's the least I can do for letting you take me home."

It didn't take much more convincing before he immediately turned the car off and reached behind for an umbrella, "Let's get the fuck out of here." And jumped out of the car, popping open the umbrella and quickly made his way around the car to get me.

We booked it towards my front door but with his longer legs than mine, he ended up way ahead of me. "Hey!" I call over the loud roar of the storm. He glanced over his shoulder at me then reached behind to grasp my hand. It wasn't until that split second that I noticed his eyes, they nearly blended into the blue-gray translucency of the rainy background.

Once finally in my foyer we were soaked, freezing and dripping rain everywhere. "I don't suppose you have a towel?" He chuckled, hugging his own body for warmth.

I found myself grinning at his endearing laugh, "Yeah I got you."

-

I returned with a towel for him while I used another to squeeze the water out of my hair. "I thought it wasn't supposed to rain in California." I commented peeking out the thin window next to my door.

"You say that like you're new here?" He observed as he mimicked my actions on his similarly long hair. My eyes lingered on him, completely drenched with his black shirt clinging to his abdomen and strands of wet hair framing his tan face.

"Nah." I shook my head to break my stare. "Well, I guess new now, I used to live here a long time ago. I flew in from New York a couple days ago for the meeting with you guys. Seems I'll be staying much longer now."

"Ah, that makes sense." He nodded with a poorly hidden playful smirk.

"What does?" I questioned with a propped brow.

"You would be from New York." He teased.

I lightly smacked his arm with feigned offense, "What does that mean!"

He chuckled, "The designer bags, the business casual vibe, the boots. I don't know, you just have a New York vibe." He shrugged.

"That's a tad pretentious don't you think?" I rolled my eyes and started walking away towards the hallway.

"Me?" He scoffed, "If anyone is pretentious around here it's you."

I glared at him over my shoulder, "You're awfully rude to someone who's providing a dry safety right now."

He put up his hands in defense, "Alright, alright." He laughed, "You don't happen to have some like, spare ‘male’ clothes? I mean I'm pretty skinny so I could probably fit into any-"

"Yes, I got you." I chuckled and motioned him to follow me to the guest bath. "Be right back."

Once in my bedroom, I dug through my suitcase to find an oversized tee and some sweatpants. I spun on my heels with the clothes folded perfectly in my arms and headed back to him. When I stepped into the doorway, I was thrown off to see him already shirtless. My eyes dwelled on his tan tattooed skin longer than they should've, trailing down his abdomen to his jeans unbuckled just enough to show the band of his boxers. I quickly blinked and jutted the pile out to him. "Here."

I was relieved to see he hadn't noticed my wandering eyes. He just gave me a wide smile, it was so bright and happy, you would've thought I handed him a kitten. "Thank you so much." Taking the stack with one hand on the bottom and the other on top and placing them down on the vanity. I caught my gaze lingering again, this time on his large, tattooed hands – with such long fingers. "Are they your boyfriend's?" He asked.

I nearly busted out laughing, "God no – exes."

"You keep your exes' clothes?" He questioned with a propped brow.

"What! They're comfy." I crossed my arms with a playful huff.

Nicholas pulled the black cotton shirt up by the shoulders and let it unravel in front of him, "Well, your ex has good taste." And turned the oversized band tee to me.

"Oh," I brought a hand up to mouth to cover a grin, "That's actually mine. But you can still wear it, I don't mind."

"You like Dayseeker?" He asked, doing very little work to hide his shock.

"Yes? What did you think I listen to?"

"I don't know... I figured something like Harry Styles, since you manage him." He replied completely serious.

I giggled and lightly smacked his arm, "What is it with you guys thinking I work for Mr. Styles?"

"Well don't you?" He inquired earnestly.

I gave it some thought before deciding to play into it, "Hm...well I'm legally not allowed to say." Giving him a suspicious eyebrow wiggle.

"See! I knew it!" He practically jumped with victorious fists.

I rolled my eyes at him, "I'm gonna change too, then I'll be in the kitchen when you're done, I'm starving."

As I was walking away, he called from behind the cracked bathroom door, "You know we toured with Dayseeker!"

"Maybe I'd actually go to that show then!" I teased from down the hall.

A laugh boomed from the bathroom, "You're pretty funny Val."

I felt an unexpected warmth bloom on my cheeks accompanied with a small churn in my stomach. I shook my head of the feeling. I must've just been really hungry – or majorly under-caffeinated.

After throwing our clothes in the drier and practically raiding my entire pantry. We sat crisscross on my Airbnb's stale modern couch facing each other from each end. My outfit was nearly identical to his, oversized shirt and sweatpants with even my dark hair matching his in a messy bun. I pulled a Dorito from the bag then handed it over to Nicholas while he handed me back the cheese doodle bag in exchange.

"Bet you didn't expect to be rained in with your new scary manager," I gave some spooky finger exaggeration to the words, "While sharing Doritos... and cheese puffs."

"No, dude, you're so much more chill than I thought you'd be." He took two sandwiched Doritos into his mouth with a big crunch. "The guys just need to get over it and get to know you better." He continued, covering his full mouth like a true gentleman.

I smiled softly and looked down at the chip bag in front of me. I guess I hadn't realized until just then that maybe them all instantly hating me had impacted me more than I thought. It was a risky career decision that I made for mostly their benefit and I was only met crude behavior. It's hard not to feel something when complete strangers immediately hate you, especially when you have to work with them. While I had made a name for myself in the industry, I still hadn't gotten used to the cutthroat business of it. I was navigating my career on my own, just like them.

"Hey," Nick spoke up gently breaking me out of my haze. "They'll come around, I promise. Especially when Noah does, the other two will follow."

"Yeah." I said softly, smoothing out the edges of the chip bag. It was something I always did when I got lost in my mind, I'd just fold or organize things to distract myself.

"Look, hey," He leaned over and placed his hand on my own, "I'm sorry for the way we acted, especially Noah. It's not cool or... or professional at all." His hand on me felt like a jolt of lightning that spread warmth over my entire body; in some odd way, it comforted me.

My eyes met his over the kind gesture and I was once again amazed by his almost silver eyes. "Thanks." I said quietly giving him a tight-lipped smile. His eyes seemed so genuine, I wanted to believe him.

"Hey, what about," He began excitedly with gears visibly turning in his mind, "What if we host like a party or like a get together or something, for just the five of us? To like get to know each other a little? Ya know, break the ice."

It was like a lightbulb moment in my head, a dim one, but a lightbulb nonetheless. "That... that could work. I guess that wouldn't be so bad."

His wide grin held the same authenticity as his eyes did. "Great! I'll get with the guys, maybe this weekend?"

I nodded, "Sounds good to me." It was only then that I noticed the way my hand was still tingling from where his hand was.

"Cool." He grinned and reached out to swap bags with me again. He leaned backward a little to peek out the window checking the weather. "Well, it doesn't look like the rain is stopping anytime soon. You wanna watch a movie or something?" He suggested, "A scary movie is perfect for this type of weather."

-

I usually liked scary movies, but Nicholas picked out some indie one with such an unnerving tone. It was definitely a choice for a movie night with someone you barely know, nonetheless a colleague. Regardless, something about the unsettling movie, the dark storm outside, and my freezing cold AC, we somehow ended up sat next to each other crisscross in the middle of the couch.

Nicholas' eyes were glued to the flat screen, the movie was evidently affecting him the same way as it was me. He glanced over to me, "Oh, we can stop if you want!" He offered over-enthusiastically.

"No, actually I'm fine." I declined with a hint of competition in my voice, "Why are you scared?"

"No, no, I'm fine." He replied quickly, straightening up beneath his own blanket.

"You look pretty scared Nick." I teased, nudging his blanket-covered shoulder with mine.

"Me? Oh no, I'm not." He said confidently, "You just look scared is all."

I chuckled with a slight chatter in my teeth, "No, I'm just cold."

"Oh, you coulda said something!" He grinned at me and suddenly the fear in his grey eyes vanished. "Here." He scooted closer and overlapped half his blanket over my own. The added warmth of the layered blanket and his body next to me helped to ease my own fear.

"Thanks." I smiled softly, purposely avoiding his eyes. There was a short uncomfortable lull in the air until I readjusted under the blankets and ended up even closer to him. Somehow our knees meeting in the middle relaxed me. As I leaned into the comfort, I was met with something else entirely. My heart rate was rising, and a funny swirling pit plummeted into my stomach.

I felt paralyzed next to him, utterly terrified of the heat that spread through my body and pooled in my core. Whatever the feeling was, I needed to snuff it out.

Next Chapter -> 05 - Trust Building Exercises

thank you so much if you took the time to read this! i didn’t see many bad omens fics, so i wanted to contribute. lmk if you liked it 🖤

[orionsces]

"Ghost loved him and that was enough."

Johnny Ghost, Paranormal Investigator Extraordinaire attempts to make the perfect dinner night for his husband Johnny Toast, but literally everything goes wrong in every way imaginable.

-----

Soft skies painted with gentle pastels with a kind brushing of pinks and yellows. The clouds hung as if they were going to kiss the skyline, and the blossoming from trees fluttered charming the ground with its gentle fall.

The warm wind flowed through his hair as the sounds of the cicadas creaked and chirped on the leafy trees surrounding the stoplight. An hour away from Toast's house after running some errands in the next city over for specific supplies for their future investigations.

Sipping from his Starbucks while he waited for the lights to turn bright green, he smiled as he hadn't had a sweet coffee in a while.

The city light accompanied him as he started to drive back home, glowing lights fading into the background as he thought about his day.

Visiting various stores with quickly written lists for each was troubling, to say the least, but he did get his special treats from Starbucks so it mellowed out.

Ghost wasn't able to join him due to his important appointment of 'staring into space for two hours.' which he was unfortunately unable to cancel. Toast didn't mind about his husband's quirks since that just meant he could take his adorable Barbie branded ride around without judgment.

Humming along to the radio to Dancing Queen from ABBA as he tapped along to the beat of the song onto his driver's wheel, he felt peaceful on that drive back. Happily thinking about the trashy pizza they'll order again then cuddle to sleep to some weird paranormal soap operas that Ghost enjoyed for background noise. Ghost anxiously was rushing around as if he was held at gunpoint to set up the perfect date for his husband, the anxiety that he pretend that he didn't have was getting to him with smooth charm.

Mixing, grabbing various ingredients, and putting them in without measurement needed as he followed a recipe online showing him a good recipe for pasta and salad.

Rushing through Cindy's background story about her family and heritage to figure out how to boil water.

Ghost didn't fancy himself a cook because he wasn't.

Jimmy observing all of this in their mind-scape just scoffed at him, ridiculing him while he critiqued things Ghost was doing wrong. The alter watching this anxious mess run around, facing the consequences of his actions for starting food late.

On the other hand, the wee optimistic voice of his alter softly encouraged him to keep going. Gregory hyped up Ghost's culinary skills while Jimmy gave some sarcastic stabs at Ghost's already wounded self-esteem.

"Don't be…b-be a mean- uhm… meanie Jim! You promised…" Gregory pouted as Jimmy felt a knife of guilt stab into his heart that he had, with a small grumble back to the child he attempted to be friendlier. Knowing that Gregory's version of being nicer was too pure, he did his best to oblige the little alter's whimpering plea. His pasta almost bubbled over while he dissociated listening to the two squabbles with each other, pouring the steaming liquid down the drain of the sink as the cold water caused the steam to nearly blow into his face.

"Did you even make the sauce or cook the meat yet Ghostie~?" Jimmy slurred to piss off his host, Ghost facepalming as a reply because his foresight didn't count for him being an idiot.

Doing his best to hide the snickering, Jimmy did his best to the front to help Ghost continue. Finding it odd that he was out to cook rather than murder people, he pressed on with a simple shrug and Gregory cheered him on and helped Ghost.

Knowing that his host was mentally drained and was going to freak out anyways at the sight of blood, he took a deep breath before washing his hands carefully. Looking at the helpful sign that Toast put up for him, thankfully Jimmy was able to read the recipe that Ghost left open on his phone.

Glancing at the amounts with time and the ingredients in front of him, he knew he could do this while Ghost recharged himself. He cracked his fingers in preparation, huffing out an exhausted breath as he wasn't ready to be romantic with Toast nor cook a dinner, it'd been a while since he had last cooked one after all. Fully aware that Ghost takes a while to come back to the front, he mentally tried preparing knife-related flirts for their toaster.

Quickly he poured the cooked pasta noodles into a small bowl, putting them into the microwave for them to keep their temperature while he took a glance at the raw meat. His mouth watering at the sight before snapping himself back.

"Alright, you got this, you got this Jimmy! This is easy, you just gotta cook some meat in a pan above a fire for…." He paused before looking back at the recipe.

"10 minutes or more depending on the oven…? I thought all ovens were the same- whatever."

He stopped himself from talking more to himself before he ground the hamburger with his hands, grinning with mania as he plopped the bloodied meat onto the warm pan.

Humming to a song while he cooked, he did his best to check if Toast was nearby since he could come home any minute. Trying to think of all the plans that Ghost had for the dinner with the help of Gregory he made a list of what he needed to do before Toast came back home. Stirring the sauce and meat together before he grabbed the noodles to mix them all, wiping a single bead of sweat from his forehead as he turned off the stove top and placed a lid on his pan.

"Okay, decorate the table and throw rose petals everywhere, get those stupid fake candles out of the Halloween decorations, make a bouquet and finally make dessert? I ain't doing that-"

Jimmy rolled his eyes as he walked around the house, narrating all his actions while grabbing various items from different places. Decorating the entryway for Toast with cheap-looking rose petals guiding them to the table, setting a table blanket and the candles on it.

Flicking them on with the switch, before he swiftly took in the canvas of his masterpiece. While his dessert was cooking in the oven, gently the scent of sweets wafted in the air slowly.

It looked horrible but he didn't care about how saccharine the scene before him was. All that mattered was knocking that toaster oven off his feet with his charm and grace, Gregory gagging at the two before him gushing over someone and saying they have cooties. "Hello! I'm back!"

The British voice called out through the broken silence, Jimmy turning his head to look behind him at the swung front door with an awkward greeting.

"Hi…?" Appalled by the fact Toast back way earlier than expected, he crossed his arms towards his partner who tilted his head like a confused dog.

"You're back super early! I thought you'd be out longer and stuff…" He became gloomy and whined like a small child, Toast chucking at him with sincerity before apologizing.

"Did you need me to come back later or something?" Out of habit, he rubbed the back of his neck before taking in the fact that Jimmy was standing in a romantically decorated room.

He looked around in a frenzy before ricocheting a stare back at Jimmy again to confirm it who nodded in a silent answer.

"Oooh, I'm so sorry sir!" He blushed embarrassed, knowing that he put a lot of effort into this.

"I love it! It's so… cute!" He gushed before going over to engulf his beloved in a bear-hug as he grumbled out insults and flirted in response, aware that Ghost is co-fronting beside Jimmy now. His face was covered in kisses and blush because of Toast, they hugged him back as they laughed at the situation. "I'm glad you like it, I…no no wait we worked super hard on it!" Patting themselves on the back before the smell of burning sprinkled into the air along with the smoke. Toast lifted Ghost down as he rushed to the oven, opening it to smoke and coughing in the process.

"My fucking��. muffins… Goddammit."

The fire alarm blared at the two, as Ghost threw the pan of his burnt object resembling muffins out the window that Toast opened to let out the smoke. Maneuvering around as he seized the fire extinguisher and fumbled with it, Toast cut off their effort with an uncomplicated spray of foam onto their oven.

It wasn't long until the fire department came to their house, nothing was burnt or damaged except Ghost's dignity as they sat both outside. Ghost brings out the tablecloth for them to sit on like a picnic blanket, leaning onto Toast for comfort who held his hand to ease his anxiety. "I'm so sorry! God this fucking stinks…" Ghost flopped over on the blanket, looking up at the night sky above them. Crossing his arms as he took in the stars then looked over to Toast with shame. Toast rested beside him, holding his hand again before giving Ghost a gentle smile.

"Hey, I still loved it! Don't be so upset sir, it was adorable while it lasted, and hey, at least I can see your adorable face again." He placed his hand on Ghost's cheek which heated up slowly with a blush while his beloved's frown turned into an exhausted smile.

"Yeah… I guess you're right, at least we have this sky to look at while our house clears out of smoke." Joking around the best he could, he eased more into Toast before they cuddled each other.

They never did eat that spaghetti and Jimmy never made that salad but it didn't matter to Toast, he loved Ghost despite everything that happened. The idea of him caring that much for someone like him, made his heart race and he looked at his beloved beside him as if he sewed the stars in the sky they were gazing at.

Ghost loved him and that was enough.

[minnow-doodle-doo]

THE BATMOBILE HAS LOST ITS WHEELS (speaking of i need to read this one again i love it so much)

I'm so glad you love it!! Tho I don't ever really think I'll finish it. But I can tell you how the middle and end would go.

Chapter 4: they go to the batcave, which Wayne manor is owned by Alfred, whole also lives in Birmingham, and from there Bruce gets Jason cleaned up, and explains that he knows about the situation. Jason defends himself, he's not a snitch.

Bruce says that he knows but that doesn't change the fact that everyone is looking for him for that. And then Bruce gives him an out, he can find a way for him to be fostered with him, under a new name and he can go to school and heal and he can decided what h wants to  do when his leg is healed. 

Jason says he’ll think about it and Bruce lets him sleep. He thinks and thinks it seems like Bruce means him no harm, he's batman, and bruce wayne, who’d a thunk that. 

As jason sleeps, Bruce is having a hard time being back in the cave, and tries to push out the thoughts that he's not batman anymore and that dick isn't there. 

So he sleeps too, back in his old chair. 

Jason is the one to wake him up, as he hobbles to Bruce and pokes him and he starles harshly. He says that he’ll come with him, only if he gets to go to school. 

Bruce smiles slightly. 

The drive back is quiet and awkward, but they leave gotham and Bruce watches Jason watch the Gotham skyline get smaller behind them.

Cut to Tim, he’s out taking pictures of the manor, he likes to do that when he’s anxious, and he sees Bruce leave with Jason. Now he knows that Batman is alive. He takes a picture of the license plate of Bruce's truck.

Chapter 5: They get back to Bruce’s new house in the woods and Alfred has already set up the room. They all talk about guidelines and rules, Alfed makes dinner and it's a little less awkward than the car ride. 

Alfred has already got materials for him to get ready to start 8th grade in the fall. His birthday is right at the cut off. They have the whole spring and summer to get him ready.

The rest: So Jason is falling into a rhythm there and he is bored but Bruce starts to bringing him books and they have his ID set up so he goes to school as Bruces 'cousin'

Now Tim finds them and gets caught stalking them (he's been talking the bus/ubers) out in the boonies but he keeps coming back and they just kinda keep him when his parents are out of the country.

Jason and Tim become fast friends and months and months go by and life is alright, Bruce thinks of him as his boys. They bring up Robin a couple of times.

Anyway cut to like a year later, Barbra finds the tires at an auction and tells Bruce so everyone goes back to Gotham for a little trip and he buys the tires.

But the joker who killed Dick is watching and follows them and then tries to reenact what happened with Dick. But Jason gets loose and beats Joker to death with his tire iron, partly so he doesn't hurt his newfound family and partly to get revenge for Dick, even tho he had only met him once.

After that Alfred says he's clean it all up and tells Bruce to run to a safe house with his boys and so they drive having to start all over again. (They just kinda steal Tim)

the chapter bits are below the cut

Everything came back in small pieces laid out over blurry vision. Except the pain, which hit him like a truck.

Jason sucked in a breath, and more things came into focus. The ceiling, if you could call it that, was stone stories above him, as if he were in some cave.

It took a couple of moments to realize he was in a cave.

Adrenaline was the only reason he was able to sit up and look around, which confirmed further that he was in a cave, a cave with high tech equipment and huge computer monitors. In a black swivel chair sat a man. 

The day's events came back to Jason full force. 

The man was Batman. Alive. Real. And apparently very asleep if the closed eyes and the deep breaths were anything to go by.

Jason could take this opportunity to run, but with his fucked up leg, he couldn't get far. The last time he had broken his leg, thanks to dear old dad, it had taken eight weeks to even get the cast off. Eight weeks of crutches and hopping around, at least he had his mom to lean on sometimes.

And he had been stabbed on top of that. 

“You're awake.” a deep voice broke the silence of the cave.

“So are you now.” Jason said and tried to not let fear leak out into his reply.

With the help of the cane, Batman pushed himself up and walked over to his bedside. 

Jason was keenly aware he didn't have a weapon. The fear must have been obvious as Batman again dropped a knife into Jason’s lap.

“It's yours now.”

Jason didn't need to be told twice, the hilt in his hand steadied his breathing.

“How did you know I was Batman?”

Jason should have expected this question, no one knew Batman’s face and how 

“Your teeth were too white and straight to be from the area

“You broke your leg pretty bad. Dr. Thomkins was able to fix you up though.”

“You said-”

“She came here, she’s not gonna tell.”

Jason knew this. He had been to Dr. Thomkins too many times over the year, most everyone in Crime Alley had. She was one of the only universally trusted figures there, she helped people, every single one.

The woman from yesterday must have been her then, the blurry figure in his memory did look like her.

“I know what the police are trying to do to you.” Batman said as he watched the monitors Jason was hooked up too. “It isn't right.”

Of course Batman knew that. “Yeah so it isn't right, they do that shit all the time.”

“Language.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “What does it matter? That if I snitch for real to the police that I’ll still be shipped off to a foster home, if I live long enough for that to happen. Both of those options are no-gos.” the more he talked the more angry he became. “I’m not the first and I won’t be the last.”

“That’s why I wanna offer you a chance to have a foster home outside of Gotham. I can get you into good ones, with a new name, away from the gangs and police.”

“No!” Jason snapped, raising his knife in threat, even if it visibly shook. “No more foster homes!” He had gotten lucky with the Dick Grayson Orphanage, but luck was never on his side.

Batman studied him, still not bothered by someone pointing a knife at him.

“Another option is that you can stay with me then.”

Jason blinked, that was the last thing he had thought would happen. “What-Why?”

“You need help.”

“I don’t!” 

Unfazed, Batman continued. “You’d get a new identity, away from all this. You’d get to go to school again, be a kid.”

“Not a kid.” Jason hissed, still trying to comprend what the fuck Batman was going on about.

“Think about it. We can find other options too. Dr. Thompkins will come and check on you in a couple of hours.”

Those couple of hours were filled with tense silences, only interrupted by the MRE’s eaten between them. Jason couldn’t even relax as he scarfed down the beef ravioli and the rest of the meal, thank god that it had been sealed being opened or else he would have refused. The knife never left Jason’s side.

Batman’s words bounced around his mind, it couldn’t be that simple.

Finally Dr. Thompkins walked down the winding stairs, and Jason let out a breath of relief. Her and Batman talked for a bit, out of earshot and backs turned, but when the doctor turned she smiled at him.

“Jason, it's good to see you awake.” She said as she came up to his bedside. “You’ve really got yourself in quite the predicament.” it wasn’t quite scolding but it brought back memories of her making him take his shots.

Jason shrugged his shoulders. 

“Batman, you don’t need to be here for this conversation.” She waved her hand and Batman actually listened, making himself scarce. Jason hadn’t realized she had that kinda power, it was kinda awesome she could just dismiss Batman.

“Broken nose in multiple places, broken leg, a stab wound. Jason, you almost died from blood loss. You're lucky I knew your blood type already and had a transfusion ready.”

“It wasn't even that much blood!”

She shot him a look which shut him right up, “Anyways, I’m going to do some tests.”

A nagging question slipped out of Jason's mouth as Dr. Thomkins checked over her handiwork on his broken nose. “Is Batman a good person? Can I trust him?”

“Yes.” Dr. Thomkins said without hesitation. “I’ve known him since he was a child, just like you. He always tries to do what he thinks is right, for no other reason other than it is right.”

“Like dressing up in a bat suit and beating up criminals?” Jason snickered, imagining a child Batman with a too big costume, eyepatch and all.

“Even that. I didn't say anything about being…unconventional. Batman does want to help you, because that's the right thing to do.”

Pursing his lips, Jason thought of Dr. Thomkins words.

“He told me what he offered you.” 

Surprised, Jason studied her face. “He did?”

“He did. He did that for his previous ward, more or less.”

Robin died though, probably by the same thing that fucked up half of Batman’s bodywent unsaid “Does he really mean that I would be able to go back to school?” tentative hope slipped through into his tone. 

Dr. Thomkins smiles softly. “Yes. You deserve to go back to school Jason. You deserve a second chance.”

Jason didn’t reply, only ghosting his fingers over the blade in his hand. 

The rest of her visit was thoughtfully silent.

Tim liked to photograph Wayne Manor. It was as if he could pretend that Batman and Robin were alive and well. Maybe they’d be getting ready for patrol, looking over evidence together, or eating a snack. Normal, not dead things. 

So that was why Tim found himself sneaking onto his neighbors property, ignoring that it was private property and that it was a school night. He had taken this route through the woods a number of times, he obviously wasn't just gonna walk up the driveway.

A black pickup truck, a newer model, sat next to a cave entrance. It was too clean to have been left there for long periods of time. The tread marks were deep with speed and more importantly new. 

Tim made sure to stay hidden in the trees, as he took a picture of the license plate. This was gonna be so exciting for him, like a real stakeout, like a real detective. 

Hours went by but Tim stayed strong. Batman would’ve stayed, and so would Tim. 

Finally someone was coming. Two someones, to be more exact. Both hobbling through the shadows till they came out of the entrance, a child on a pair of crutches and a tall scarred man with a cane.

Tim took a lot of pictures for evidence. Who was this man, he was so familiar, but it was hard to tell anything with the scars. The boy at least was a total mystery, (a mystery with a broken nose and foot if the cast and gauze were anything to go by.)

They loaded themselves into the truck without saying a word, and the man turned the truck around tightly and left the way they came. 

Tim smiled to himself, as he flipped through the pictures, zooming in on the man's face. His scar side had been facing Tim most of the time. One photo though, has his face turned slightly, enough to see his one blue eye. 

Tim tried to not to hyperventilate, as he stared harder at the pixels. The bridge of the nose was the same, the eyebrow, the jawline; everything.

That was Bruce Wayne.

Batman. 

Alive. 

Tim promptly burst into happy tears, and quickly wiped them even if there was no one around to see. A big grew on his face as he stood up.

He had a license plate to run.

“He’s not spooky, you're just a pu- uh…scaredy-cat.”

[sinsofthefather-kulemi]

Methods of Transportation

Despite most of the characters living in areas with reasonably reliable public transport, or could simply walk to their destinations, not all of them do so. Let's dicuss!

Note: The story begins in 1989 (I shifted it a year ahead of canon for purposes.)

Goro, of course, is more likely to stroll his way from Point A to Point B but when he can't be bothered (or he's trying to get someone off his trail) even he will hop in a taxi from time to time. If he were able to go out of Sotenbori, he would use the train to travel long distances. No doubt about it. He tries to be environmentally environmental conscious when he can.

Arika is a lot like Goro in that she doesn't turn her nose up at the idea of walking where she needs to go. She does alot of long distance travel though, and so the subway is a godsend for getting her to and from work. On the rare occasion that she can talk her father out of picking her up so that they can fly out to Okinawa, she takes the train and then a short taxi ride to the airport. Back when she was in college, she'd even bought herself a bike to help get her around despite both Hiroshi and Kenjiro offering to have someone chauffeur her around when needed.

It's not everyday that Hiroshi drives but when he does it's typically because he's given his chauffeur the day off (or he's sent him home for the day). He does prefer to be the driver when he's spending quality time with his family (work and events when his family is also present is a different story). Family Man Hiro loves to be behind the wheel playing the respectable but fun loving husband and father. Can't sell that feeling with a large, brooding gentleman with muscles on his muscles in the driver's seat, right?

He owns three vehicles: his personal, which is something very recent, that only he drives, the family vehicle and then there's the one for work that only his chauffeur is authorized to operate. His personal, the MR2 was a bit of a flashy splurge. When he and Arika have non-Edna related plans he likes to pop up on her in it simply because he knows that she gets wildly embarrassed by it. The Skyline was the source of inspiration behind a purchase Kenjiro later made as it was the vehicle he used to drive the girls around when he was a resident of the Namikawa home.

In order from left to right (recent personal, family, work) [1988 Toyota MR2/ 1980 Nissan Skyline 2000GT/ 1980 Nissan President Sovereign]

When most people think of Kenjiro Hara, they think of a few things; his looks, that damn club or that freakin car. He'd prefer it if people talked about the car and nothing else. It's his baby. Before working as a chauffeur for the Namikawa women, he never cared much for cars. He walked just as much as the next guy but just being in proximity to that family afforded him luxuries he would have never dreamed of back when he was just a punk kid on the street. One of those things being the ability to ride stylishly to and fro whenever his heart deserved (so long as he made sure the girls were sorted first, of course). After Arika moved to Osaka for college, Hiro had Kenji live in Kanto for a while and he tried the public transport thing. He did. But he couldn't stand it.

He bought himself something nice but it wasn't something that he saw himself in for long. Just until the right thing came along- it got him where he needed to go. Naturally, it was cool- of course. But then, in 1989, the right thing did come along and he was first in line with cash in hand. The only way Kenjiro would step foot on a bus or train is if he's on a mission that calls for it. Otherwise, he's spent too much damn money on his Skyline to not ride it until the wheel falls off-- Not that he'd ever let that happen. After all, that's his sweet girl.

[ 1989 Nissan Skyline GT-R]

Edit: Edna is left out intentionally. This post will be updated at a later date!

[seattlebeyondtheneedle]

A Trip Outside of the City for a Day

The city is amazing, but sometimes you just want a quick escape from city life. Luckily, the Seattle area has tons of day-trip options, from mountains to islands to historic towns. Here are some of the best day trips that’ll let you experience the Pacific Northwest in all its glory.

1. Snoqualmie Falls 🌊

Just 45 minutes from Seattle, Snoqualmie Falls is a stunning 268-foot waterfall that’s worth every second of the drive. There’s an easy viewing platform if you just want a quick look, but you can also take a short hike down to the river for an up-close experience. Plus, there’s Salish Lodge right at the top of the falls where you can grab coffee or even brunch with a view. It’s a great spot to breathe in some fresh air and enjoy Washington’s natural beauty.

2. Bainbridge Island 🛥️

Hop on a ferry from downtown Seattle, and in just 35 minutes, you’ll be on Bainbridge Island. Once you’re there, explore charming shops, art galleries, and local eateries in the downtown area. The island is also great for biking if you’re up for an active day. Check out the Bloedel Reserve, a serene 150-acre garden that feels like stepping into a different world. The ferry ride itself is also a highlight, giving you amazing views of the Seattle skyline and Puget Sound. I love the ride back at night - the view of the city is unbelievable.

3. Leavenworth 🏔️

If you’re in the mood for a change of scenery, head two hours east to Leavenworth, a Bavarian-style village nestled in the Cascades. This place looks like something straight out of Europe, with its alpine buildings, beer gardens, and endless pretzels. Each season brings something special—snowy magic in the winter, colorful festivals in fall, and river tubing in summer. It’s the perfect day trip for trying German food, shopping for unique souvenirs, and taking in mountain views.

4. Mount Rainier National Park 🏞️

This one’s a bit of a drive (around two hours), but if you’re up for a nature adventure, Mount Rainier National Park is unbeatable. The park has endless hiking trails, wildflower meadows, and viewpoints of the towering Mount Rainier. In the summer, Paradise Valley is covered in wildflowers, and in the winter, the snow transforms the park into a winter wonderland. It’s a must-visit for any nature lover and a great way to experience Washington’s most iconic peak up close.

5. Whidbey Island 🍃

Another island adventure awaits with Whidbey Island, which is accessible by a quick drive and ferry ride or via the scenic Deception Pass Bridge. Known for its small-town charm and rugged beaches, Whidbey is perfect for a laid-back day trip. Check out Ebey’s Landing for a coastal hike with amazing views, or wander through Coupeville, one of the oldest towns in Washington, with cozy cafes and waterfront views. It’s the kind of place that lets you slow down and soak in the scenery.

(Blog #6)

[texasproauto]

Shine Bright: Why Your Car Needs a Professional Polish in Dubai

When you think about Dubai, you envision the stunning skyline and luxury cars gliding down perfect roads. If you own a car in this bustling city, you want yours to shine just as bright. Professional polishing not only enhances your vehicle’s appearance by removing imperfections but also protects it against UV rays and contaminants. This investment can significantly increase your car’s resale value while ensuring long-lasting results. Choose our best car polishing service in Dubai, and give your vehicle the care it deserves!

Keeping Up with the Dubai Glamour

Dubai is known for its glitz and glamour, and your car should match that vibe. A dull car can easily get lost amid the vibrant lights and shiny vehicles. Think of your car as a reflection of your personality. If you want it to stand out, a professional polish can give it that eye-catching sparkle.

Protecting Your Investment

Your car is more than just a mode of transport; it’s an investment. Every scratch or blemish can decrease its value over time. Professional polishing helps to create a barrier against harmful elements like dust, dirt, and UV rays. Just like wearing sunscreen protects your skin, a polished surface helps guard your car’s paint.

Reviving the Paint Job

Over time, your car’s paint can fade, especially under Dubai’s intense sun. A professional polish can breathe new life into your vehicle’s appearance. Imagine the difference between a faded photograph and a fresh, vibrant image. That’s the power of a good polish. It restores color, depth, and shine.

Removing Those Annoying Scratches

Those little scratches and swirls may seem harmless, but they can add up. A professional polish can effectively remove them. Picture your car’s surface like a smooth canvas; even small blemishes can distract from the overall masterpiece. Let a pro come in and smooth things out for you.

Saving Time and Effort

Taking care of your car can be a hassle. Between work, family, and life, who has the time to polish their car thoroughly? Hiring a professional means you can enjoy your free time while experts take care of the dirty work. It’s a win-win!

Enhancing Your Driving Experience

A clean, shiny car isn’t just for looks. It can also enhance your driving experience. When your car looks good, you feel good. You’re more likely to take pride in ownership and enjoy the ride. Plus, a polished car often feels smoother on the road. Who doesn’t love that?

A Professional Polishing Service in Dubai

Now that you know how crucial professional polishing is, finding the right service is next. Look for companies with great reviews and experience. You want someone who understands the unique challenges of maintaining a car in Dubai’s climate. A trustworthy service will provide quality care that leaves your vehicle gleaming.

Conclusion

In a city known for its luxury and beauty, don’t let your car fall behind. A professional polish from Texas Pro Auto Detailing is more than just an aesthetic upgrade; it’s a way to protect your investment and enhance your driving experience. With our expert services, you can restore your vehicle’s shine and safeguard it against the elements. So go ahead, give your car the love it deserves, and watch it shine like never before with Texas Pro Dubai!