#she makes me laugh every day even when I wake up feeling like committing a murder 🥺

[antiadvil]

Oh my god it's so embarrassing how that danisnotonfire guy shows up to like every amazingphil show and meet and greet... like calm down dude he's not gonna fuck you

[ame-to-ame]

:|

[spiderb00]

Nonsense - Megan Skiendiel

Megan Skiendiel X Reader 

Synopsis - Your muscles weren't the only things that grew these days, your girlfriend knows better. 

Genre – Fluff, smut (in the end)       Warnings – smut 

a/n - Idk, I just wanted to do it.  

The sloth left your body instantly after a steaming mug of coffee, and as much as you really wanted to get some more rest, you knew you couldn't. Being a 19-year-old actress, you had a very busy routine, you had interviews, red carpets, you had to memorize your lines, and now, with the second season of Percy Jackson ready to be filmed, you needed to work out and have a much healthier routine.   

From the beginning of the show, you were warned that your character would have to have a beautiful physique, as soon as the producers saw you, they said that if you had a few muscles here and there, you would be the embodiment of the character, so as a good professional, you committed yourself and immediately signed the contract for the role.   

You definitely noticed the change, even if it wasn't an exaggerated change, you noticed how your leg muscles became more beautiful and defined, as well as your back, shoulders, biceps, abdomen...   

Who had also noticed this difference was your girlfriend, and she was going crazy. Despite busy schedules, you and Megan always found a way to see each other, and the girl could swear she felt weaker every time she saw you again. Megan noticed everything, she noticed how your arms got bigger as you wrapped them around her waist, she noticed how your legs looked bigger when you wore shorts, she noticed how your shoulders looked shaped and for a few moments she even felt like biting the place. Damn, she noticed everything.   

It wasn't news to anyone that you and Megan were a couple of losers, you were really a couple of idiots trapped in hot bodies, so it was really funny for everyone around you to see how you reacted to each other, especially after your little transformation.    

Today was one of the moments, you had just left the gym, your intense workout made you feel exhausted, but not exhausted enough not to stop by your girlfriend's house. The gym was very close to the Kats' house, so you almost always stopped by after buying iced coffee and some muffins for all the girls.   

When you knocked on the door, you were greeted by a slightly sleepy Sophia, despite the sleepy face, she seemed excited to start the day, immediately pulling you inside and taking the bags from your hand.    

"At the gym again?" She asked, seeing you in gray sweatpants and a compression shirt.   

"yes, I had to go early today, I have some things to sort out today and Megan wants to go somewhere later." You said, taking off your shoes and putting your backpack on the ground.   

"Well, at least you'll do me a favor and wake Megan up, so I won't have a pillow thrown in my direction." The Filipino girl said, making you laugh as you made your way towards your girlfriend's room.   

Opening the door after you heard a little "come in." from Lara, you put your head into the room, seeing Lara doing her makeup and your girlfriend still lying in bed scrolling on her phone.   

"Special breakfast delivery." You say, pointing toward the kitchen and heading toward your girlfriend's bed.   

"Oh, thank you Yn, you're an angel." Lara said, leaving the room and closing the door so you and Megan could have more privacy.   

As soon as the door was closed, Megan stretched her arms towards you, you approached with a slight smile on your face, lying next to the redhead and snuggling next to her. You can hear her inhale and sigh slowly.  

"Oh my god, you smell so good." She says as she tucks her face into your neck, inhaling the perfume you always wear after showering in the gym's locker rooms.   

"Stop smelling me, you weirdo, it tickles." You say, laughing and going back slightly to look into your girlfriend's eyes.   

"I can't help it, you contaminated me." Megan said, her hands going down and up your bicep, her eyes not straying from your arms around her.   

"So, I was thinking, where do you want to go tonight? I was thinking about watching a movie, you know, Wicked is in theaters, so I thought it would be cool."   

You said, expecting a response from the younger girl, unfortunately, you only received a brief "Uhum", while Megan continued to run her hands over your body.   

"Meg, are you even listening?" You said, quickly being silenced as the younger girl climbed on top of you, placing each of her legs on either side of your body.   

"Shiii." She said, approaching and attacking your lips.   

You were surprised, putting your hands on the redhead's waist and trying to follow the clumsy and hurried kiss. Megan going down the kisses down your neck, started to run her hands under your compression shirt. The girl seemed lost, and before things could reach a higher level, you thought it best to stop.   

 "Megan, the girls are home, and Lara can come in at any time." You said, trying to move the girl slightly away from you.   

Hearing Megan moan in disagreement, you laughed and used your strength to stand up still with the girl clinging to you like a baby koala.   

 "Come on little girl, let's have breakfast." You say, laughing as Megan hides her head around your neck, lightly kissing her sweet spot, your heart still racing.   

Megan was chronically online, you could have sworn the girl knew every single trend of the moment. You, on the other hand, didn't know much, your Instagram only had five photos, four of the photos were promoting your work in Percy Jackson and Booderlands, and only one was a photo of you with your friends at Comic Con. You only went on TikTok to see funny videos, video game videos, and Megan edits. So when Megan asked you to record Trend with the song "Slim Pickins" by Sabrina Carpenter, you had no idea what you had to do.   

"It's simple, you just have to put me on your shoulders." Megan said, searching your phone for the audio she would use while you were lying comfortably in your bed.   

Usually, Megan didn't post the videos you recorded together, she kept most of them in her drafts, but today she was feeling a little daring. After seeing on TikTok some videos about how one of your Co-stars was clearly trying to hit on you, Megan got mad, she knew the girl knew you had a girlfriend, everyone knew you were dating, and to see that girl try to steal you from her, oh... She was furious.   

Determined, Megan rested her phone on the table where your computer was. The camera framed your room perfectly, you could see the white walls, some movie posters and music scattered on them. With the camera pointed in front of your bed, you could also see you lying down, black and red plaid pants, which you wore as pajamas, and a simple white T-shirt, like the one from the series "The Bear". 

"Come, let's practice first." Megan said, grabbing your hands and pulling you up from the bed, receiving a grunt from you.   

"Okay, you have to put your hands on my hips, get me off the ground and put me on your shoulder." Megan said, looking at you who had a confused expression on your face, Megan thought it was cute.   

Even then you nodded positively, placing your hands on the waist of the shorter girl and preparing to lift her. When Megan noticed, her feet were no longer on the ground, and she was sitting on the right side of your shoulder, she could have sworn she was teleported, it had been so smooth that she hadn't even felt it. 

"Did I do everything right?" You asked, putting the redhead back on the ground.   

Megan was red, she knew you were strong, but she'd seen guys struggle more to put their girlfriend on their shoulders before. She underestimated you. Looking at you with slightly wide eyes, Megan nodded in affirmation, going towards the phone and pressing the button to start recording, the timer went off and soon the music could be heard around the room.   

When the cue was given, you quickly picked Megan up again, placing her with ease on your right shoulder, taking one of your hands from the redhead's waist, you gave the camera a thumbs up with a fun smile on your face. Megan laughing lightly at how cute you looked. After the video ended, you lowered Megan from your shoulder again, making the girl go towards the phone, jumping for joy when she saw the result of the video.   

"It was amazing! Thank you baby." The redhead said, approaching and giving your lips a kiss, before throwing herself on your bed, getting ready to post the recorded content. Putting a caption that she thought would put away any girl who was trying to get something from you. 

“My girl is jacked and kind.” 

You've always liked video games, and now, with season two of The Last Of Us coming up, you've decided you're going to play the game again. Today was your day off, no recordings, no interviews, just you, your video game and a Megan, who was sitting between your legs, scrolling on her phone. 

In your defense, you didn't know that the redhead was free either, so when she showed up at your door you had already turned on the video game and were starting to get ready to play. At first, Megan had said that it's okay for you to play a little, as long as you pay attention to her afterwards, but now, she wished she'd told you to turn off the video game as soon as she arrived.   

The redhead put down her phone, sighing and raising her gaze at you, her head rested on your left thigh, which was covered by gray sweatpants, and she could clearly see your face of concentration and your hands moving quickly on the video game controller. You were shirtless, so Megan had a clear view of the volume of your tits, and that was no doubt making her a little horny.  

Rubbing your thighs discreetly, the redhead ran her hands down your thigh, before returning her hands to your knee. Seeing that it hadn't caught your attention yet, the redhead decided to call your name. 

"Baby, can you turn off the video game?" Megan said, once again running a hand down your thigh.  

"I'm already turning it off baby, just five more minutes." You said, still focused on the game.  

Impatient, Megan gets to her knees quickly, with her hand now on each of your thighs, the redhead raises her hands to the hem of your pants, trying to pull down. With a confused look on your face, you look at Megan, who looks at you with puppy eyes. 

"Let me at least make you feel good, baby..." The redhead said, leaving you mesmerized with the way her big eyes looked at you.   

Swallowing, you lifted your hips from your chair, letting Megan take off your pants and underwear, making the redhead's smile appear, seeing how wet you were already, without even her touching you.  

"Oh my god, baby. You're so wet." The redhead said, her smile widening as she pulled your hips towards her face.   

Taking the first lick, Megan moaned with your taste, looking at you with bright eyes.  

"You know, you're driving me crazy these days, all these muscles. My god, you look so hot, I can't wait to ride you until I pass out." Megan said, finally having all your attention focused on her.  

Letting go of the controller you grabbed Megan's hair, pulling the girl close to you, making her put her mouth back between your legs. 

"Please baby, keep going, if you're a good girl to me, I'll fuck you until you forget your name." You said, moaning loudly as Megan licked your pussy.  

The redhead's tongue seemed to hit all the right spots in you, and the room was filled with your loud moans. Your hands held the girl's red hair tightly under you, and though she liked it, Megan thought it was starting to hurt.  

"I love you, baby." Megan said, quickly taking your hands from her hair and intertwining her hands with yours, then dipping her tongue inside you. 

"I love you, Meg. Please don't stop, I'm so close." You said, your hands shaking the redhead's hand tightly as you threw your head back, drunk with pleasure. 

Everything was too much for you, Megan's tongue seemed to know exactly where you needed her, the sight of the redhead with her head between your legs wasn't helping your stamina either, and the fact that all this was happening to the person you love most in the world, made you see stars.  

With a loud moan, you came. Your liquids running down the mouth and chins of the red-haired girl kneeling between your legs. Your hands were still together, and Megan laid her head on your thigh as you both tried to catch your breath.  

"You know, if you wanted my attention so badly, you just had to say." You said, letting go of your hands and caressing your girlfriend's red hair.   

"I know, but I think it was better that way." Megan said, lifting her head from your thigh with a smile on her face. 

wow okay, I think by now you've all realized that I love established relationships and just daily events, anyway, that's it <3

[yourdarkcherry]

Feeling righteously yummy || J.M

Summary: you’re grounded and JJ is pleading you to come with him on another late night adventure, when you refuse he decides that he should just finger you in your bedroom.

Warnings: smut, fingering (r!receiving), nipple biting and sucking, lots and lots of dirty talk, fem!reader.

Divider by: @/cafekitsune

Your parents hate JJ Maybank. They hate the effect he has on you, it’s a visceral type of change that comes in and disturbs everything in your world. 

You don’t blame them at all, because when he comes knocking at your window, or more likely throwing rocks,  you would throw away everything and hop into his motorcycle, not caring where he takes you as long as he takes you with him. 

He returns you to your home just by dawn, sometimes he doesn’t drop you off and you simply sleep over in questionable places with him. You’ve never been caught when you commit the latter, but you were the previous day and you were grounded, your window shut and your mother guarding the front door.

But if JJ Maybank was anything, he was born with the kind of persistence that tires you out and makes you do whatever he wants you to do. He’s holding into a tree branch and leaning against your bedroom window, managed to climb it with the help of the massive tree next to your house. 

His hand is extended to you, inviting you to join him on another adventure tonight. Looking so handsome and so charming, as he’s leaning against the tree he reminds you of the apple that attracted Eve. 

“I can���t,” you tell him, slapping his hand away when he wiggles his fingers to you, “I’m grounded.”

“You can’t, or you won’t?” he asks, and you roll your eyes at him when he says, “because you have your legs and you have a free will, so I think you can but you just won’t.”

“JJ I’m literally grounded, and mom comes to check my room every five minutes so if she sees me gone I will be grounded until the day I die,” you argue, JJ laughs and you feel your heart flutters at the sound of his chuckle, “I think you’re being dramatic.”

“I’m serious, please,” you plead, “if my mom saw you here she’d kill me first and then kill you.” and then you try to loosen his grip on the windowsill, “I think you’re gonna kill me first!” he says loudly, and you instantly let go of him as you cover your face, afraid that your mother heard him shouting downstairs. 

But all you can hear is the muffled noise of the television, “come on cupcake, I bet she’s already sleeping, and I will drop you off before she even wakes up.”

“Yeah well, you told me that yesterday and I woke up at John B’s couch, and to a million calls from my parents.” You replied sassily, crossing your arms over your chest and glaring at him. You entirely blamed JJ for your punishment, because if he hadn’t coaxed you into drinking then you wouldn’t have gotten drunk and everyone knew you were a sleepy drunk, and he was an irresponsible drunk so it was easily a recipe for disaster.

You snoozed at John B’s couch, and he thought that he should let you sleep and your parents wouldn’t even realize you were gone because he would drop you at home early in the morning like he always does.

“This time it wouldn’t happen, scout’s honor.” he says, tapping his chest and you can’t help the smile stretching on your lips at his actions. 

“If I were to say yes, where are you taking me anyways?” you asked, sitting on the chair by your window. 

Truth to be said, you’ve never cared where he’d take you as long as you were with him. But your fight with your parents earlier, and the punishment you received afterwards slightly worried you. What if he takes you somewhere far away and you don’t get back home in time? If that were to happen, you would never be allowed to see JJ.

He wasn’t even your boyfriend, even though you’ve made out several times, but you were afraid to ask him what you two were because you knew JJ doesn’t do relationships. If you asked him to put a name on what the two of you have, then you’re scared he’d bail.

So, for now you’re content with what you two have.

JJ shrugs, “I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out eventually.” you roll your eyes at his words, then attempt to shut the window, “Then I’m not risking anything, JJ, go home.” He fights your attempt to shut the window, he wins because he’s persistent and you lose because you never actually wanted him to leave.

“I just don’t understand, you’re nineteen, you can do whatever the fuck you want.” he starts his usual argument, and you exhale as you answer with your usual answer, “because I live under their roof and they worry, a lot.”

“They have nothing to worry about though, it’s not like we do drugs or anything.” He says, you can't help but laugh and add sarcastically, “right, all we do is get drunk, smoke weed and skinny dip.”

He smiles, “come on, we don’t do anything wrong.”

“JJ, please.” you plead.

“No, you please. Come join me, I promise no crazy business and I’d have you back in an hour.” He tries, you shake your head despite feeling your heart relenting, but when you imagine your parents’ reaction you build your stubborn walls again. 

“I just don’t understand why your parents don’t like me.” He says with a shrug.

“Because you don’t use the front door, and you take me out during midnight.” you answered instantly. 

“I would say I use the front door pretty frequently,” he says with a wiggle of his eyebrows that makes your face heat up and your heart swoon despite him clearly using a nasty innuendo. If it was anyone else you’d have slapped them, but since it was JJ you laughed and tried to cool your hot face with your cold fingers.

“Come on…” he pleads, and you shake your head. He stares at you with those sapphire blues that captivate you. Neither of you speak, only you drowning into his entrancing gaze.

Then he sighs and nods, “fine,” you feel your heart drop at him giving up despite it being the best outcome. If you were found out, you’d be giving a harsher punishment.

JJ looks defeated for a moment, his shoulders slumping as he lets go of the windowsill. You feel a pang of guilt seeing him like this, but the fear of facing your parents' wrath overpowers it. “Alright, alright,” he mumbles, stepping back from the window. 

“I’ll…” you trail, standing up from the chair and walking away from the window and crossing your arms over your chest tighter, and staring at him, “I’ll see you tomorrow morning,” 

“Hell yeah you are.” He says, and you grin but your smile turns into confusion when he looks like he’s about to jump from the branch to your window. Your lips are frozen with shock, and you’re stunned when he actually manages to bounce from the tree and then inside your bedroom.

He walks towards you, his signature smirk on his lips and his big warm hands rest on your cheeks, “you thought I would just leave that easily, cupcake?”

You want to yell at him, and tell him that he’s fucking crazy for even thinking he can stay with you in your bedroom. If your mother saw him, then you could only kiss your freedom goodbye. But the magnetic pull he has on you. Despite the chaos he brings into your life, there's a thrill in being with him that you can't resist, and the only thing you could do is try to fight your growing smile but failing miserably.

You know you look crazy as you’re smiling and hissing at him, “JJ, are you insane?! What if my mom catches you in here?!” 

He grins, completely unbothered, and wraps his left arm around your waist, his right hand still cupping your cheek. “Then you’re gonna have to hide me, but I’m sure we can manage, what's the worst that could happen? It’s not like she would kill me or anything.”

You huff a laugh, but there's no denying the truth in his words. There's something intoxicating about JJ's carefree spirit, his ability to turn even the most mundane moments into adventures. 

He’s the devil, you think, or the most tempting sin ever. You lightly push against his chest, trying to create some distance between you two. “JJ, this is a terrible idea. You can't just waltz into my room like it's no big deal.”

He chuckles, his thumb rubbing soothing circles on your cheek. “Come on, cupcake, where's your sense of adventure? Life's too short to play by all the rules.”

Your eyes narrow at him, but you can't deny the fluttering feeling in your stomach. “My mom would kill me if she found you here.”

He presses a quick, sweet kiss to your forehead. “Then let's not get caught.”

As he pulls away, you can't help but sigh. JJ’s presence is a whirlwind of excitement and trouble, and though you know better, you find yourself giving in to his charm. The thought of spending the night sneaking around with him is both thrilling and terrifying.

He glances around your room, his eyes settling on the open window. “I would offer to go back out if it makes you feel better, but I’m afraid you’d say yes so I wouldn’t.” he smirks.

You shake your head, a mix of frustration and amusement in your voice. “You're unbelievable, JJ. Fine, but you have to be quiet and stay out of sight. If my mom finds you, I'm blaming this entirely on you.”

He grins, taking your hand. “Deal, cupcake.”

Slapping his chest, “I hate it when you call me that.” and you try to make space between you both, but he’s stronger and more stubborn than you, the space you make is insignificant. 

“Why not? You taste sweet just like frosting of one.” He whispers against your lips, leaning down to kiss you daringly, and slowly. Your heartbeat is fast, and then it completely drops to your pussy at his dirty words and his slow kissing. 

You manage to gather enough willpower to push him away, panting slightly as you scold him. “JJ, we need to be quiet, remember?” He holds both of your hands by your wrists, bringing them to rest on his chiseled chest, he pushes you towards your bed.

“No,” he says and interrupting himself to kiss your lips, “No,” he repeats and this time he kisses your neck and your jaw slacks at the crazy sensation, “You need to be quiet.” He whispers hotly against your ear, and you actually have to hold onto his shirt to stabilize yourself or your jelly-like legs would expose how weak he makes you feel.

The hand on your cheek slides down to your neck, down your shoulder and then finally to your boobs. He holds a handful and squeezes them, you bite your neck to not moan loudly. You struggle to keep your eyes open, and you’re painfully aware of your unlocked door.

“JJ, the door.” You slur, his kisses lowering down to your cleavage, and when he bites the mound of fat on your chest you stifle a low moan with the back of your palm. But you lose your balance when he pushes you to your bed, you gasp at the drop and watch him with hungry eyes take off his shirt and toes off his shoes. 

He climbs over your body, and rids you of your own shirt, and doesn’t bother with breaking off the distance in order to take off your bra, he only pushes the cups under your breasts. Then lowers his head to swirl his tongue around your hard nipples. You shut your eyes, relishing in the feeling of his soft, hot and wet mouth around your nipple, he pinches the other one making you bite your tongue to stifle your noises.

Then he bites your nipple and you squeak, “JJ!” you hiss and pull his hair back but this only makes him more riled up. His hand travels down your chest, and then unbuttons your shorts, struggling to reach behind your thongs but when he does he easily finds the source of wetness.

His middle and ring finger slip in the parting of your pussy, then between the hot wet folds. He moans against your tits, making your body outstretch against his. You feel his hard cock prod the inside of your thigh when he comes to kiss your lips. 

“You’re always so fucking wet for me, do I turn you on that much, cupcake?” he whispers against your lips.

You reach for his clothed cock, groping the hardness and whispering back, “what about you, always thinking of fucking me that you get hard isntantly?” You feel his lips stretching in a smile against your own.

“Is it so wrong? Look at you, can’t believe the hottest girl in obx lets me fuck her whenever I want.” He says, his fingers parting your folds and going up and down over your clit. Your eyes instantly close at the sensation, feeling yourself grow wetter. 

“Do your parents know you let me fuck whenever I want?” he asks against your lips. You bring him to kiss you so you can moan freely against his mouth, you feel your mixing saliva dripping down your mouth. 

“I think if they knew they would hate me even more,” he says, his fingers prodding to go inside your cunt. You gasp at the sensation, but you feel more slickness seeping out of your pussy and it’s embarrassing the way your pussy makes noises in the quietness of your bedroom. 

“If you knew what I think of when I see you, I don’t think you’d go anywhere with me at midnight.” He whispers, his fingers coming out to stroke your wet clit, you feel your heart going faster. “Do you trust me this much? Letting me take you anywhere and letting me fuck you anywhere?” he kisses you, and you feel your walls tightening around his fingers.

The coil in the depth of your stomach feels like it’s getting tighter at everything he’s doing to you, at how he’s making you feel. 

“I can feel you getting tighter, are you going to cum?” he asks, whispering lowly and hotly in your ear and parting to stare into your eyes. Your voice betrays you, and you know if you speak you would only moan and whine, so you only nod whining lowly.

“You’re going to cum around my fingers? Please, I want to feel you cum around my fingers, please, baby?” he is basically pleading, at his last words the coil snaps and your vision turns white, he kisses you to muffle your moans.

His tongue twisting around your own and sucking your saliva, your hips buck against his hand as you’re riding out your orgasm. He doesn’t stop even when you’ve finished cumming, and only does that when you’re whining at him to stop with how overstimulated you were getting, your body jerking against his.

Embarrassingly, his fingers slip out of your pussy with a loud ‘pop’ that makes your face turn hot and makes his smirk widen, he brings his fingers to his mouth while maintaining eye contact with you. 

Your jaw slacks at the scenery, his pupils blown wide against his baby blue irises, and his cheeks flushed. 

He’s so beautiful, everything about him is magnetic. His tousled hair and rogue smirk only add to the allure. A walking embodiment of charisma, JJ’s heat is undeniable, a blaze impossible to resist.

“Let me give you a taste of your sweet pussy.” He states, and before you could respond he leans down to kiss you hungrily and passionately, it’s messy and sweet and overwhelming. Just like him. 

You’re the one that breaks the kiss, turning to the side to breathe in oxygen sharply. He lays on his side, staring down at you as you look back at him. Your smile widening at his infectious one.

JJ fixes your messed up hair strands, tucking them behind your ear and grinning. Resting on his elbow and looking down at you, then his hands travel to your exposed tits, meaning to cover them but not before pinching your nipples making you whine and slap his chest. 

He laughs, then when you look decent, he asks, “so, when are you going to ask me to be your boyfriend?” His laughter still lingers in the air, a playful melody that resonates. You raise an eyebrow, feeling your heart picking up its pace at your surprise by his candid question. “Boyfriend? JJ, you want to be…” you trail off, feeling your face grow hot at his question, his teasing smirk fueling the warmth. “Yeah, I mean, we’re practically inseparable, right?” JJ’s gaze holds a glint of sincerity beneath the playful facade. Your heart wavers between uncertainty and excitement. “I just never thought you were the type to do relationships, plus you’ve never asked to be my boyfriend” you admit, a smile tugging at your lips.

Then you wrap your arms around his neck, bringing him to kiss him, he kisses back with the same level of devotion, if not more. 

When you break the kiss you kiss his cheek, he parts away just a little to look into your eyes, “Can I be your boyfriend?”

A mixture of emotions swirl within you– uncertainty, excitement, and a tinge of fear. JJ Maybank, the perpetual rebel, is asking for something beyond the usual thrill seeking adventures. It’s a side of him you hadn’t anticipated, and yet, it feels like a natural progression.

“I would love it.” You answer.

JJ’s grin widens, and he pulls you into a tight embrace, as if sealing the deal. “Well, then, consider it official, cupcake.”

[sweetdispatch]

The healing - C. Caufield

Songs masterlist

song: The healing - Zara Larsson

pairing: Cole Caufield x fem!reader

summary: Cole fell in love with girl that survived hell in the past and wants to prove her that she deserves love

warning: mentions of toxic relationship

words: 1.1k

note: last track from songs masterlist☹️i"ll miss this but i can't wait for december!

---

Nobody told me love was a contact sport

Before she met Cole, she was stuck in a toxic relationship. At first, everything looked perfect. Her ex was caring and loving but after she moved in with him, it became a nightmare for her. She couldn’t do anything, always had to ask for his permission. Couldn’t have friends, couldn’t visit her family. He locked her in their apartment. 

She tried to fight for her freedom. It turned out to be constant arguments between them. Screaming became their form of communication. When she got on his nerves, he threw something on her. She was scared of him but deep down, she still loved him. She had trouble leaving him behind but after two years, she found bravery.

But can I be with you after the healing

She met Cole just a month after breaking up with her ex. He was incredible in every aspect. She hadn’t looked at him as a love interest at first, but he had a huge crush on her and wanted to be her boyfriend. Every week, he tried to take her out on a date. They were spending free moments with each other but she was scared to open her heart again. She thought that he might be just like her ex when things became serious. 

Cole wanted to make her his and couldn’t understand why she didn't want it. Everyone from their friends could feel the chemistry they have. He couldn’t picture his life without her and asked her to be his girlfriend. She froze, she started shaking. All the memories came back to her. He saw it and wanted to hug her but she was too shocked to hug him back. She wanted to be with him but she needed more time. 

The time before you wasn’t easy

After she calmed down, she told him her story. She admitted that she was a victim of mental and physical abuse from her ex. She didn’t want to admit this to Cole but she knew that he deserves to know the truth, especially when she also had feelings for him. It made perfect sense for him now and felt bad for asking her this question, hearing her story and knowing her troubles with commitment. 

This hadn’t stopped Cole from being supportive of her. He wanted her to heal and start trusting him enough to be his girlfriend. He made it his personal mission to show her that she’s lovable and deserves all the good things in her life. He was aware of the fact that it’s going to be tough to prove this to her, knowing her past, but he tried his hardest in this field. She was too important to him to leave her in that state.

And now I got some trouble sleeping

Cole invited her to his place one night. She was happy to do it after her tough day. They had a great laugh while cooking and watching tv. When she was ready to go back to her apartment, the storm had started. He didn’t let her leave in this weather. She tried to argue with him but she was in a lost position and deep down, she also didn’t want to drive in the rain and lightning. 

Cole insisted that she could sleep with him in his bedroom. She didn’t want to bother him, she was aware of her issues with sleep. All her memories were back during the night and most of the time, she was waking up screaming and crying. That was the last thing she wanted him to see. He let it go and agreed that she can take his guest bedroom. In the middle of the night, he heard her cries. He ran to pick her up and cuddle her. He wanted to cry seeing how fragile she is but he knew he had to be strong for her.

So no, it’s not your fault

That I can’t love you yet

Couple months went by, she and Cole were acting like a couple even when he knew that she's not ready to make this step. He waited patiently for her to be ready. He was the best thing that happened to her. One day, he was leaving her apartment and accidentally said “i love you”. Before he could process his words, she was crying. He didn’t expect this reaction and that scared him. He went and tried to hug her but she pushed him. 

Cole was shocked. She didn't want his touch and preferred to cry by herself. He didn’t push, let her do it her way. When she calmed down, she started saying that this is not working. She admitted that she can’t say those words back and he deserves someone who’ll have the bravery. He argued back, he said that she doesn't have to tell him if she doesn't feel it but he wanted her to know it. She froze and didn't know what to do. She was broken but he made her believe that she's worthful. 

But I wanna be with you after the healing

After the healing is done

She knew Cole deserved to be happy. She wanted him to be happy even if it was without her. It’s been six months and she was feeling much better. She started to believe she’s worth his love. That he won’t be like her ex. It was a long and tough process but she started feeling this. She loved him but couldn’t say those words yet. He already did it but hadn’t pushed her to say it back. 

One of the rare, free days that Cole had, he decided to hang out with her. It was a lazy day for them. They haven’t done much. Just watched a tv show and ordered food. They haven’t said much but their presence was enough for them. It was adorable that they could just lay and understand each other without words. He was laying on her chest when she said those three words.

Cole jumped and looked at her. Her cheeks turned red when he was looking at her with a piercing sign. He couldn’t believe what he just heard. He wanted to ask her to repeat but hadn’t wanted to pressure her. Instead, he pulled her into a tight hug and kissed her head. He was all over the place because he knew he did a great job and proved her that she’s worth the love. 

Before Cole had the chance to speak, she asked him if the offer to be his girlfriend is still actual. He stuttered, and couldn't say anything. He just nodded his head with a big smile on his lips. She knows that he's a great guy and wants him as her. He was grateful that she trusted him after all her experience she survived.

[angelic-sturniolos111]

The Right Words 🧸

Chris begins to question his opinions on commitment and relationships after being close friends with you for months. Chris’s feelings for you have grown stronger, but he can’t quite articulate his affection for you. Instead of using his words he makes a romantic gesture to show you how he feels.

chris sturniolo x fem! reader

warnings: none, just chris being super shy and fluffy

author’s note: kinda inspired by stuff he’s said ab relationships and how “too much love” kinda scares/intimidates him

not proofread lmao

Chris’s POV:

Matt had invited Y/N to come hang at our house while we record our podcast episode for the week. It wasn’t unusual for Y/N to always be around, she was our friend, but I hadn’t opened up to my brothers about how I truly feel about her.

She moved to LA a few months back and we all met her at some influencer party, and she hit it off with us immediately. First, it started with the four of us going out to record content, going bowling, thrifting, things like that. Eventually, we all grew closer with her and she started hanging out at our house a lot more, and often sleeping over. The first time she had slept over was after Nick and Matt had already gone to bed, and since she didn’t want to wake them she slept in my room with me. After that night I guess my room became the unofficial-Y/N-sleepover room because she has always spelt in my room every time since.

I immediately found Y/N attractive when we met— she’s a very pretty girl. I’ve always had closer girl friends in my circle, and even if I think any of them are pretty, my feelings never go beyond that— it’s always platonic. I know part of that is because they just weren’t the right girl for me, but another part of me knows it’s because I don’t let myself sit in those feelings. I’m scared of commitment, relationships, things of that sort. Sure I’ve hooked up with a few girls in my day, but I’ve never had any serious romantic feelings for anyone.

Until Y/N.

That first night she slept in my room we stayed up for hours talking about everything from our favorite hockey teams to deeper emotional stuff. That became our routine when she would sleepover… always the last ones awake, and always having long in-depth conversations with one another. What started off as friendly, platonic feelings for her quickly changed after many nights spent late night talking.

As much as I loved our late night talks I honestly wanted more. I wanted early morning talks, afternoon talks, and to just be with her every second of every day. I wanted to hold her, spoil her, kiss her, and call her mine. I thought I would never feel this way about anyone before, but she makes me feel things I’ve never felt— she’s everything to me.

I recently came to the conclusion that keeping these feelings buried was starting to drive me insane, and I had to open up to someone about it.

Matt and I were currently getting in his car on the way to pick up Y/N. Before Matt put the car in drive, I spoke up;

“Hey, can I talk to you about something that’s been on my mind a lot lately? I just really need someone to talk to about it.” I say sheepishly. Matt’s eyes leave his phone to meet mine, and he instantly put his phone down giving me his full attention.

“Yeah bro of course. You can tell me anything. What’s up?” He says concerned because usually this is the other way around. Matt opening up to me about his issues. It was rare that I ever had anything on my end to discuss.

“Well it’s just,” I pause, hesitating if I should even continue. Matt puts a hand on my shoulder comforting me enough to move on.

“I have serious, and I mean serious feelings for Y/N.”

I’m not sure what I was expecting in response, but it wasn’t this…

He started laughing. LAUGHING. In my fucking face.

“Okay why are you laughing? Is something funny about any of this?” I say now a little pissed off that he wasn’t taking this seriously.

“Oh man, no no I’m sorry I’m not trying to be rude. It’s just… SO obvious.” He says and continues to laugh.

“WHAT?! IS IT REALLY?” I yell. Oh god, I hope Y/N doesn’t know and I’m not making a complete ass out of myself.

“Yes! Nick and I talk about it all the time. You may not realize it but you NEVER stop talking about her. “Y/N said this funny thing last night,” “Y/N really likes this movie,” “You know one time Y/N” Y/N Y/N Y/N. I swear every god damn sentence you utter her name leaves your mouth.” Matt mocks, but before I can interject he continues;

“Jesus not to mention the way you stare her down whenever she’s in the room. Nick and I are always laughing about it— like when he’s editing our videos and we can see that you looking at her constantly whenever she steps behind the camera? Or when we went to the beach that one time!? You saw Y/N in a bikini for the first time, and we saw you grab the towel to cover your lap because—”

“Okay OKAY! Alright, I get it! I’m not as good as hiding my feelings for her as I thought…” I cut him off before he can continue to blabber about it any more. Matt comes down from his laughing fit.

“Hey, I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be mean. My point is is that we’ve never seen you like this with anyone before, and it’s really sweet.” Matt rests his hand on my arm reassuringly. “Well, we told her we were on our way to pick her up. If you want to I can text Nick and we can come up with some sort of excuse to leave so you guys can have some alone time together and maybe you’ll be able to talk with her about it?” He suggests.

“Yeah… it’s the talking that I’m scared of.” I look down and play with my hands in my lap. “That’s the problem. Like you said, I’ve never been like this with anyone before, and I don’t know how to put my feelings into words. If you haven’t noticed I’m not necessarily the most romantic person ever.” I say with a sigh.

Matt looks around the car seeing if anything might give him an idea. He sees the gummy worms in the center console from the last time we filmed a car video and picks them up to show me.

“Okay, candy? What about candy?” He says as if he just made some sort of scientific breakthrough.

“Kid, what the fuck are you talking about? Candy?” I laugh, completely confused.

“Yeah! We can swing by the store and you can get her her favorite candies and snacks, and you guys can watch a cute movie together or something? If you can’t tell her how you feel maybe you can show her through your actions.”

I thought about it for a second, and it honestly wasn’t a bad idea. I knew her favorite candy, snacks, movies, all that stuff. I know she loves comfy blankets for movie time. She also complains about not having a stuffed animal for her to cuddle when she sleeps over, and she usually steals one of Matt’s. All these thoughts came flooding into my head at once, and suddenly I had the best idea.

“Okay, I got it!. We’re going to need to stop at the store before we get her. You and Nick distract her when we get back to our place, and then find some excuse to leave. I have the perfect plan.” I say excitedly.

An enormous smile grows on Matt’s face. He clicks his seatbelt, and before he can back the car out of the driveway we see Nick striding out the door to the car. Matt rolls his window down.

“What the fuck are you two still doing in the driveway? I thought you were getting Y/N?” Nick says.

“Bro get in the car you’re coming with us we’ve gotta update you on Chris’s love affair!” Matt says jokingly making me laugh. Nick just rolls his eyes, and climbs in the backseat.

***

Y/N’s POV:

Chris had given me a call earlier to tell me that their manager, Laura, needed Nick and Matt for something at her house tonight so it would just be the two of us. She had apparently given them a call on their way out to pick me up so they were running late. Honestly, I was a little nervous that Chris and I would have the house to ourselves. I was always comfortable being alone with him in his room, and I’ve always hoping he’d take one of these nights to make a move. In my head I tried to convince myself he hasn’t made a move yet because his brothers were always home— worried they’d barge in and interrupt or something. I’ve had a HUGE crush on Chris, and I wasn’t super hopeful that he felt the same way because he’s never been a relationship type of guy. Plus, he always has girl friends, and I’m worried I probably just fall under the friend category in his eyes.

Finally, I see headlights shine through my front window and look to see Matt’s car in the driveway. I grab my purse and head out the door and open the car door to climb in the backseat. I was surprised to be met with Chris in the backseat, and Nick in the front with Matt.

“Fancy seeing you in the back. You’re never back here.” I say getting in my seat and clicking the seatbelt.

“Umm yeah, I— um.” Chris starts before Nick cuts him off.

“He was taking too long in the store so I hopped in the front.” I see Chris raise his eyebrows slightly at Nick, giving him a weird look.

“I didn’t know you guys went out. What were you getting?” I ask.

“Um just toiletries and stuff. Needed some, uh, shampoo.” Chris says shrugging his shoulders and breaking out eye contact. He seemed tense, but I brushed it off.

***

We pull into the driveway and I get out of the car making my way over to the trunk. The three boys get out and stand awkwardly behind the car with me.

“Did you want help bringing the stuff in?” I say and there was silence as the boys just awkwardly stared at each other, and then at me. “…From the store?” I continue.

“Oh no Chris’s got it. Matt and I wanna show you the updates we made to the podcast studio, come on!” Nick says grabbing my arm and leading me up the driveway to their front door leaving Chris behind to get stuff out of the trunk.

Matt, Nick, and I go inside and they immediately go upstairs to their studio, and I stop to hesitate at the bottom of the stairs.

“Should we wait for Chris?” I say. Matt turns around to look at me, and then shoots a glance to Nick.

“No he’s slow as fuck. Come on!” Nick yells. I laugh and make my way upstairs.

Matt and Nick start showing me decor and stuff around the studio. It honestly wasn’t anything that I haven’t already seen before, but I kept my mouth shut because it seemed very important for them to show me again. As they blabber on I see Chris run swiftly past the door, carrying a bunch of shopping bags, and going into his bedroom slamming the door. I became even more suspicious to his weird behavior.

Matt and Nick went on to me about the podcast episodes they were planning to film, but I was barely even listening since my thoughts were elsewhere. I’m snapped out of my daydreaming when Chris comes in and stands in the doorway.

“Okaaaay! You guys have to go to Laura’s, yeah?” Chris asks his brothers.

“Yes! Yes we do. Matt let’s get going!” Nick says to Matt and they eagerly start walking out of the room. Matt turns back and gives me a smile, “Have fun!” He says. Matt then gives Chris a pat on the shoulder before him and Nick make their way downstairs and out the door.

Why the hell were they all acting so weird?

I take a step towards Chris as he remains blocking the doorway.

“So, what do you wanna do?” I question, and a smirk creeps up on his face.

“I actually have a special movie night planned for us.” He says with that sweet smile of his I love so much.

“What makes it special?” I ask. He grabs my hand, making my breath hitch in my throat slightly at our touch. He leads me to his bedroom. Was this it? Was he making his move? I didn’t necessarily think he’d be so bold as to bed me right away, but I also wasn’t complaining. I thought to myself before he proves me wrong. He opens his bedroom door and leads me inside, and I smile big once I see what he’s done.

His bed is full of pillows from both his room and the spare bedroom, and they’re covered in a huge blanket. There’s another sherpa blanket on the bed with a cute teddy bear on my side where I usually sleep. On his nightstand is a bowl of popcorn, and bags of my favorite candies. He had turned his ceiling lights off and had fairy lights draped over his headboard illuminating the room. Also lighting the room was his TV which had one of my favorite Disney movies cued up ready to watch.

Chris steps back as I walk around the room taking it all on.

“Chris! This is so sweet!” I gawk as I jump into his bed and wrap myself in the softest blanket and he follows suit. We lay in his bed together in silence for a moment before he grabs the teddy bear and handing it to me with a smile. I take the bear from his hands and wrap it tight in my arms.

Chris’s POV:

“Chris, what’s all this for?” Y/N asks looking at me with her beautiful eyes.

I knew that she’d ask why I went all out. I had ran a couple scenarios of her possible questions in my head, and embarrassingly enough I may or may not have practiced what I was going to say with Nick in the car earlier…

“Well, it’s for you.” Duh? Chris I think that’s kinda obvious you dumb fuck. I don’t think any amount of practicing could’ve prepared me to face the prettiest, sweetest girl I’ve ever met in my life. I could feel my heart beating faster with each passing moment. She smiles, her eyes softening, and she scootches closer to me.

“You did all this for me? Why?” She asks sweetly. I knew she’d love the surprise, but also knew she’d be confused.

I really tried my best to prepare for this talk, but I was still so nervous. I didn’t know what to say.

I take a deep inhale before starting the conversation.

“I— I did this for you because I wanted to. Well I mean obviously I wanted to or else I wouldn’t have done this. What I mean is I want to show you what I think of you. Or, I mean, how I feel… and I— ugh.” I sigh and burry my face in my hands now completely embarrassed from my nervous rambling. “I don’t know how to use my words.” I mumble into my hands.

I feel a soft, gentle hand on mine pulling it slowly from my face, and I’m met with Y/N as her eyes lock on mine. When my hands are back down in my lap she reaches her hand up to gently cup my cheek, not breaking eye contact. Her eyes flicker from mine down to my lips, and back up to mine before speaking;

“Then don’t use your words…”

I bring my hand up to lay on top of hers cupping my cheek, and I lean in to her touch. I bring my other hand gently to the nape of her neck and pull her closer. Her face is mere inches away from mine. Our eyes breaking contact and moving to our lips. She slowly closes her eyes, and I pull her in fully and plant my lips on hers.

Her lips were soft. Sweet, even. They molded perfectly with mine as we kiss. The kiss is gentle and eager at the same time. I’ve only ever dreamed of this moment, and I can’t believe it’s finally happening.

We pull away from our kiss, our foreheads still touching. I open my eyes first to look at her, and when she opens hers a sweet smile creeps on her lips making me laugh softly.

“Hi.” I say in a whisper.

“Hi Chris.”

“I really like you, Y/N.”

“I really like you too.”

She pulls me in, this time with more force, and plants a passionate kiss on my lips.

We continue to kiss for a moment before I pull back.

“Will you be my girl?” I ask.

She smiles, nodding her head feverishly before bringing her lips back to mine and throwing her hands around my neck.

I’m in heaven.

**********

I honestly didn’t know how to end this and I’m kinda cringing but oh well.

Happy Thanksgiving y’all! 🦃

— Kay 🖤

[moodymelanist]

A Nessian drabble idea: Cassian waking up from anesthesia forgetting who Nesta is and is immediately starts flirting with her because she's so beautiful.

omg YES. this is so them thank you for sending this in I’ve always wanted to write one of these. I’ve also never had my wisdom teeth removed so sorry for any inaccuracies there LOL

Nesta had been hanging out in the waiting room for about an hour when someone finally called her name.

“Nesta Archeron?” one of the nurses called. Nesta quickly gathered her jacket and purse and got up to follow her.

“How’s he doing?” Nesta asked. Cassian had finally taken the plunge and gotten all four of his wisdom teeth removed in one go, and while Nesta knew this was a routine enough procedure, she was still a little antsy about her husband using anesthesia.

“It went well,” the nurse replied, leading Nesta into what looked like the outpatient area. “He’s recovering now. The anesthesia should be wearing off in the next few minutes if it hasn’t already.”

The nurse ran through a list of symptoms to watch out for and general tips to help Cassian’s healing process. Even though Nesta knew she’d be getting a thick packet with all these instructions, she still did her best to commit them to memory. This was her husband they were talking about; she wasn’t going to take any risks with him.

By the time the nurse finished explaining everything, they’d made it inside Cassian’s recovery room. He looked a little funny with his cheeks all swollen and a bandage wrapped around his face, but Nesta was too glad everything had gone well to really make fun of him.

That didn’t stop her from snapping a picture, though. Just because she didn’t intend to use it to tease him later didn’t mean she didn’t want one.

“Hey,” Nesta said softly as Cassian’s eyes fluttered open. “How are you feeling?”

“Hey,” Cassian said back, drawing out the word long and slow. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine,” she managed to reply without laughing. He was clearly still feeling the anesthesia, and she was going to enjoy him being loopy for as long as it lasted. “You ready to go home?”

“With you?” he asked, his face lighting up.

“Of course with me,” she responded with a fond roll of her eyes.

“It must be my lucky day,” he answered, trying to pull his lips into a smirk and failing miserably. “Going home with the most gorgeous woman in here.”

“We go home together every night, you idiot,” she told him with a huff of laughter. “We live together.”

“Then I guess it’s my lucky night every night,” he fired back, though some of the effect was lost by how drowsy he sounded.

Nesta and the nurse exchanged amused glances before they started to prep to get him out of there. Thankfully Cassian was still dressed, so they just had to get him to stand so he could sit back down again in the wheelchair.

“Come on, big guy,” Nesta said, pulling the blankets back from Cassian so he could get out the bed. “Time to come home with me.”

“But…” Cassian trailed off, his face twisting into the most adorable pout as he caught sight of her left hand. “You’re married.”

She stared at him a little incredulously. Was he fucking with her, or was this just the anesthesia? “Yes?”

“I’ve been flirting with a married woman,” he groaned, bringing his hands up to his face and immediately regretting it. “Oh, God, I’m a homewrecker.”

“Jesus Christ,” she muttered under her breath, trying and failing to hold back her laughter. She gently pulled his hands away from his face and tapped the matching gold band on his left hand before raising her voice to add, “Cassian, look. You’re married too.”

“That’s even worse,” he groaned once he noticed his own wedding band. “Holy fuck. I’m a homewrecker and a cheater.”

“No, you doofus,” she replied, still laughing. “We’re married to each other.”

Cassian’s face looked like Christmas had come early. “Really?”

“Really,” Nesta confirmed. “It’ll be six years this October.”

“Oh, wow,” he breathed, completely awed. He reached out and grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together with a dopey look on his face. “Let’s go home, then.”

tag list: @perseusannabeth | @bookstantrash | @charming-butt-insane | @oversizedbats | @melphss | @sv0430 | @podemechamardek | @autumnbabylon | @live-the-fangirl-life | @julemmaes | @that-little-red-head | @jmoonjones | @sayosdreams | @thewayshedreamed | @hiimheresworld | @brieq | @pearlfortears | @swankii-art-teacher | @nerdperson524 | @snickerdoodlechittybangbang | @imsointobooks | @nesquik-arccheron | @sweet-pea1 | @champanheandluxxury | @dustjacketmusings | @mrs-shadowsinger04 | @unlikelypersonalknight1 | @goddess-aelin | @arinbelle | @talkfantasytome | @simpingfornestaarcheron | @duskandstarlight | @letstakethedawn | @vidalinav | @c-e-d-dreamer | @dealfea | @katekatpattywack | @burningsnowleopard | @thatsowlmazing | @avidromancereader | @a-little-disguised | @kale-theteaqueen | @talibunny30 | @whyisaravenlike-awritingdesk | @fieldofdaisiies

[theloveoffootball10]

sᴛɪᴄᴋᴡɪᴛᴜ- ᴛ ᴡ ᴇ ɴ ᴛ ʏ ᴛ ᴡ ᴏ

s e r i e s m a s t e r l i s t / c o m p l e t e m a s t e r l i s t

ᴛ ᴡ ᴇ ɴ ᴛ ʏ ᴛ ᴡ ᴏ

"I don't want to go to work today" I say with a pout resting my head on Lando's chest.

"Don't go. Stay here with me"

"I wish I could but we have the big bosses in at work today for a meeting. I might come home on my dinner and work from home this afternoon so I can pretend to work but stare at your pretty face the whole time" I say knowing Lando loves it when I stroke his ego "your tan is ridiculously good it disgusts me"

"Sorry to be blessed with a pretty face and skin that tans incredibly well" Lando says with a laugh "I think you should work from home after your meeting then we can go out for dinner"

"I have an appointment after work but we can go out for food after" kissing Lando I drag myself from my bed to the shower. Lando has no reason to get up at the minute but I could get used to this feeling on a morning. It feels so normal to wake up next to him and continue with my usual routine.

I walk out of the bathroom dressed for work and don't see Lando in bed, I make my way downstairs where I find him in the kitchen making coffee. My mums car isn't in the drive yet so I know we're still alone.

"Hope you don't mind me helping myself but I thought after last night we could both do with a coffee and some food" Lando says placing a steaming hot coffee in front of me with a bowl of coco pops "we worked up quite the appetite"

"Thanks babe. I think last night was my favourite time we've had sex you know" I say sitting down at the island watching Lando make himself food.

"Why last night? I mean I know we've had incredible sex every time but why was last night different?"

"I don't know I think because we were in my bed and not a hotel it felt like what we have is even more real. Like a hotel room doesn't feel like home and it kind of made me realise being at home with you, we can make this work" I say with a shrug.

"I'm not going anywhere baby" Lando says walking around the island to wrap his arms around me from behind "I'm in this with you and I'm 100% committed to making this work. I think you're an amazing woman Lucía and I don't want to lose you"

"You're not going to lose me Lando" leaning my head back on Lando's shoulder I feel him kissing along my neck "don't you dare get me worked up now when I have to leave"

"I can't help that you're attracted to me and get turned on when I touch you" Lando says with a chuckle "I'll let you off but later tonight I promise I'm going to fuck you in your pool"

"That sounds like an excellent idea to me. What are you going to do until then?" I can't get into a conversation about sex or I'll never leave for work.

"I might do a work out in the gym as long as you're okay with me using it and then I might go for a run"

"You're more than welcome to use the gym. It was added in as encouragement for me and mum but I couldn't tell you when it was last used" noticing the time I quickly drink my coffee and finish the cereal Lando put in front of me. "I really need to go but I'll see you at dinner"

"Enjoy work baby" quickly kissing Lando I grab my keys and rush out of the door. The last place I want to be when Lando is here is at work but I need to push through a few hours until I can see him again.

"You look like you're in a better mood this morning" Joanne, one of my colleagues says as I sit at my desk getting sorted for the day.

"Lando turned up last night. We've talked and everything is sorted. We're back to normal" I can't keep the smile off my face when it comes to talking about Lando. I'm completely smitten.

"I'm pleased to hear that. It's really shown the last few days but then I think that just shows how much you like him" I like to get life advice from Joanne, as a lady in her mid fifties I feel like she's rarely ever wrong and she has a lot of life experience I can learn from.

The morning drags on and it feels like I've been at work forever. The minutes feel like they're going backwards every time I look at the clock. Sitting in the meeting I barely know what is going on, my mind is elsewhere. I just want to be at home with Lando making the most of being able to spend time with him. If I had known he was going to turn up I could've booked a few days off work but now it's too short notice. Hearing the top bosses close the meeting I shoot up out of my seat closing my laptop ready to bolt. Rushing back to my desk I pick everything up that I need as I bid a quick goodbye to everyone in the office and drive home.

"Lando? I'm home!" Wandering through the house I finally find Lando in the gym working out topless. I stop in my tracks biting my lip at the sight of the sweat running down his chest. I can't take my eyes off the view in front of me.

"Enjoying the view?" Lando asks with a cheeky grin on his face. He knows I've been watching him.

"I am actually, is that okay with you?" I say with a shrug.

"More than okay, it just means I have to flex for you" I watch as Lando walks towards me and as he gets closer, I pull him into me by the waistband of his joggers "how was work?"

"Meh it was work. I don't particularly want to work now but I have to. I keep thinking about your promise from this morning" biting my lip I look up at Lando fluttering my eyelashes. I'm not about to let him forget.

"You have to work but I stand by what I said. I'm going to fuck you later tonight" as Lando walks around me I feel a crack across my bum "back to work baby"

"You're a dick!" I groan in frustration as I drag myself to my office. The amount I want that man scares me. I have never had someone treat me the way Lando does.

Once I finish work I close my laptop with no intention of opening it until 9am tomorrow morning, I have an appointment for a lip filler top up then I plan to take Lando to my favourite Indian restaurant. I know the day is going to come when I don't have Lando with me every day but I don't dare ask him what day that will be.

"Lando are you ready to leave? I need you to come with me for this appointment then I'm taking you for tea" I ask walking into the kitchen where I find my mum and Lando sitting talking. It amazes me how much they get on, I always knew they would but it's like they have known each other forever.

"Yeah I'm ready. Are you coming Stacey?" Lando asks turning to my mum, he doesn't have to ask her but I like that he does.

"I'm at work again tonight, you two go and enjoy" my mum says waving us out of the house.

"Lucía can you please let me drive?" Lando asks looking over the car at me.

"Be my guest" I say handing the keys to Lando and walking around to the passenger side "is my driving that bad?" I ask with a laugh.

"No but I'm that bad of a passenger. It makes me nervous having someone drive me around" Lando says as I give him directions to where I need to be. As we're driving along I connect my phone to the car shuffling my music when we both start belting out the lyrics to 'All too well' at the top of our voices "where are we actually going here?"

"I'm going for my lip filler top up and you're coming with me" I say with a shrug.

"Why do you get lip filler?" Lando asks confused looking at me as he parks my car "you don't need it"

"I get it because I want it but you're saying I don't need it because I've had filler the whole time I've known you. Come on you can come in but Jen will kill me and you if I'm late" I say climbing out of the car "Hi Jen!"

"Well look at the boyfriend glow on you! It certainly looks good on you! Is this the man in question?" Jen asks looking Lando up and down. She's around my mums age and she became my go to for beauty treatments from the moment I met her.

"Yeah this is Lando, Lando this is Jen. She's responsible for making me look as good as I do"

"You don't need treatments for that" Lando says as he sits in the spare chair and my heart melts.

"Let's just call them enhancements. The mix of your mum and dad means you're stunning anyway but we use that to your advantage" as Jen carries out my treatment I notice Lando watching from the corner of my eye. He looks equally fascinated as he does disgusted, if I didn't have a needle in my lip I'd laugh "You know the aftercare rules and you might have a boyfriend but remember no kissing!" Jen says looking at me seriously before turning to Lando "I mean it, I don't want to see her with uneven lips next time she comes in"

"Are you serious? Like really serious?" The look on Lando's face is hilarious. He looks devastated.

"I'm completely serious Mr I drive fast cars. No kissing until this time tomorrow" I've known Jen for a few years now and I know she's not to be messed with "this is what happens when you turn up unannounced"

"I was being a good boyfriend" Lando says with a shrug.

"You were and I don't think I've ever known anyone do something like this for Lucía but next time plan your surprises around her treatments pretty boy" Jen says with a laugh as Lando and I get ready to leave.

"I have no words for what I have just witnessed. I know she used numbing cream but that was the strangest thing I think I've ever watched" I can tell by the tone of Lando's voice that he's so baffled by the last 30 minutes "however all I can think of is how good they'll look wrapped around my cock"

"Lando! You do realise they're swollen and won't stay this big right?" I can't help but laugh with Lando, he's a typical man sometimes.

"You already look amazing with your lips wrapped around my cock so with the enhancement I can only imagine, well I can find out in 24 hours time" as Lando starts driving I can't help but laugh. Everything with him is so natural, I feel like there was never a time I didn't have him in my life. As we're shown to a table in my favourite Indian restaurant that is close to home I turn when I hear my name being shouted behind me.

"Lucía!"

"Hi Noah!" Picking Noah up I give him the biggest cuddle. He might be Liv's brother but I'd consider him my brother as well "I've missed you"

"I missed you. Mummy said I couldn't come and see you"

"You can always come and see me Noah" turning to Lando I introduce him to Noah "this is Noah, Liv's little brother"

"Hi Noah. I'm Lando"

"You're Lando Norris. You're my favourite driver"

"Really? How old are you?" Lando asks with a genuine smile on his face. I've seen him with kids around the paddock but when it's a kid I know my heart explodes.

"I'm five!" Noah says holding 5 fingers up.

"Being five is the best!"

"Lucía I'm so sorry I told him not to come over here" Stacey says running over in a panic.

"Don't worry I've always got time for Noah. He was just telling me that Lando is his favourite driver" I say with a raised eyebrow.

"I thought Fernando was your favourite?" Steph asks Noah, as long as we can all remember he's said my dad is his favourite.

"I like Nando mummy but Lando is my favourite"

"Okay you can tell Nando next time you see him. Say bye to Lucía and Lando we have to get back to our table" saying our goodbyes to Stacey I turn back to Lando.

"You're amazing with kids, I've noticed before around the paddock but seeing you with Noah who means the world to me kind of shows me how special you are" something about Lando and his personality makes me have no filter. I can't help but tell him everything that is on my mind.

"Kids are cute but if I'm his favourite driver I'm not going to be that person who ruins everything for him" Lando says as he takes his phone from his pocket when it starts ringing, I catch a glimpse of the screen and see Alesha's name. What the actual fuck. Lando cancels the call and places his phone screen down on the table when it starts ringing again almost instantly.

"Why is she ringing you?" I ask not able to hold back to the anger in my voice.

"I don't know. She has no reason to be ringing me now" now? She has no reason to be ringing him now? Call me crazy but I personally don't think Alesha has a reason to be phoning Lando at all never mind now.

"I think you should take me home right now before I cause a scene because I'm so fucking annoyed right now" I'm furious. Why does Alesha even have Lando's number and why does he have her number saved? Leaving money on the table for the drinks we've had I grab my bag leaving the restaurant. All of a sudden I have no appetite. Leaning against my car I wait for Lando to unlock it before I get in not saying a word to him.

• • •

Lando on Max’s stream tonight has got my brain running wild with the idea of a Lando X Max’s sister story. Let me know your thoughts!

This was supposed to be posted last night but me and my friend took celebrating Lando’s win too far 🙃

[the-type-a]

Duncney Week 2024

Day 1: No One Compares, You Stand Alone

“I love that woman.” Create a situation where Duncney face some dilemma but it turns out okay.

*Read under break*

—

Duncan and Courtney were an interesting duo to say the least. They never quite saw eye to eye, yet they supported one another to no end. They had their good days as well as their bad days. And despite their bad days, they always found a way back to one another. For some reason Courtney needed to be with him, and Duncan would say the feeling was mutual.

It just so happened that one day, Duncan decided to surprise Courtney in a way she never saw coming.

Courtney laid next to him gripping the sheets around herself as if he hadn’t already traced every part of her body.

“What do you mean?” She said as she scrambled her belongings.

“Pretty simple, Princess.” Duncan said as he made himself decent enough to climb out of bed without exposing himself.

“We have to stop fooling around and avoiding what’s really happening here.”

“And what is happening here, Duncan?”

“Come on, babe, aren’t you the smart one?” She didn’t make an effort to answer him so Duncan continued, “We’ve been messing around for years now. We're exclusive to one another regardless of whatever show we put on to the outside world. And to top it off, we actually enjoy each other's company.” He shrugged, “Tell me what that is.”

“It’s what it’s always been. Just two people—”

“Enjoying each other's company in order to—” Duncan interjected, ready to finish her sentence which only resulted in both of them speaking in unison, “Blow off steam.”

The silence in the room as they stared at each other was too much.

“We’re in a fucking relationship, Courtney.”

The shock on Courtney’s face couldn’t be concealed.

“And I speak very confidently when I say this.” He continued, “We’re in a serious fucking relationship.”

“You’re being ridiculous.” She laughed.

There was no way. This wasn’t what they agreed to years ago. And if she let her mind wander she would say that was a true statement three years ago but not today. Courtney shoved that thought away as Duncan cleared his throat.

“Maybe,” He frowned as he ran a hand over his face, “But figure it out because I’m kind of sick of not having all of you and I know you feel it too.”

Courtney left without a word. Duncan was being insane. A relationship? He truly thought they were in a relationship, a committed one at that. She wanted to laugh but couldn’t find it in herself as she went over the facts. Yes, they had agreed to fool around years ago and that clearly had been an ongoing thing. Yes, she was aware they were exclusive but it wasn’t like she was actively searching for anything outside of what they had. If she wanted a relationship she could get one. But that thought of not seeing Duncan anymore, of not waking up next to him or laughing with him, heck even watching his horrible movies with him, made her feel awful. And the thought of Duncan doing any of those things with someone else made her want to throw up. Shit. He was right and she needed to get herself together before it was too late.

It took Courtney a full 48 hours to muster up the courage to face him again. She wasn’t sure what she thought would happen. They had started out their agreement and stuck to said plan well over three years now. It was only a matter of time before one of them caught deeper feelings, she just wasn’t expecting the feelings to be unexpected, mutual, and terrifying.

She knocked on his apartment door and had just decided to turn around and ignore those feelings when she heard a lock turning.

“Why are you here?”

His question didn’t sting as he probably intended. If anything it sounded more like he was relieved she was there because if she was there it was to confirm what he was well aware of.

“Because,” she paused, the words refusing to leave her mouth as she looked at him.

His eyes softened as realization hit him. They reached for one another and closed the gap between themselves. Their lips molded into each other as they shared that moment together.

This kiss was different from the rest. There was a deeper meaning behind it. One that did not go unnoticed by both of them as they held onto each other before finally breaking apart.

A strand of brown hair was tucked behind her ear as he spoke, “Because you love me.”

Not a question, a statement.

Courtney nodded as her voice still didn’t have the courage to speak.

“Good,” Duncan said with a smirk as he pulled her into his apartment, “Because I love you too.”

—

[treedaddymcpuffpuff]

Beneath Miles of Stone - Part thirteen - John Wick x Plus Size Fem Reader

Summary: John has been in prison for nine months. He’s content to stay if it means appeasing the high table and keeping peace between the owners of each continental. However, he meets someone who erases that willingness. Peace be dammed.

TW: rape/non-con ; violence ; blood ; violence against women ; name-calling, bullying, and fat-shaming ; self esteem issues ; awkward, embarrassing situations

He doesn’t come back. From the time she wakes up at 5PM, she waits for him. Impatient, distracted, not knowing what to do to pass the time. Midnight peaks around the corner ominously, and she’s pacing back and forth in the living room when Michael walks through the door.

He smiles big, sets his bag down on the counter, and greets her. “What’s wrong?”

“I wanted to see him tonight,” she says, trying not to start crying like an idiot again.

“Oh, hun,” Michael sighs. He pulls her into a cold hug after hanging his jacket up. “Did he tell you you would see him tonight?”

She shrugs. “He said maybe.”

Michael motions for her to sit on the couch. His hair is still glittering with icy rain drops. “Well, at least he’s not lying.”

“I’m just confused. I don’t even know if he actually likes me.”

“If he’s kissing you and introducing you to his friends, then he likes you. Men are stupid. They think that things can be simple and clear cut, but they don’t factor emotions into their master plans.”

“So you don’t think I’m just a…fling?” She asks.

Michael cringes. “Honestly, I don’t know. On one hand, he sounds like he wants you in his life, but, on the other, he seems distant and secretive.”

She nods. “But I haven’t told him how I feel, either.”

“That’s the other thing; most men, like I said, emotionally inept. They need it spelled out. Maybe try telling him or asking him?”

She almost bursts out laughing at that, but just ends up snorting and rolling her eyes.

Michael laughs for her. “Why do you think I’m so bad at commitment? You tell a guy you really like him and suddenly you’re dog shit.”

“You tell anyone you really like them and suddenly you’re dog shit,” she clarifies.

“Men have broken my heart so much and disappointed me that I should be a nun,” Michael nods. “But, here I am, a slut.”

“You’re not a slut, Michael.” She glares at him for the first time since he’s known her. “Plus, there’s nothing wrong with having sex.”

“Well, if I’m not a slut, then I should be. Seriously, how many guys have smashed your heart into pieces? I’m betting the number is one or more.”

“Honestly,” she replies, turning toward him, “my worst heartbreaks haven’t been through relationships. Family and friends have fucked me up more.”

He pats her shoulder. “See, I envy you. You don’t need anybody. You’re strong.”

Now that, makes her burst out in laughter so hard she shakes with it.

“I’m serious.” It’s Michael’s turn to glare. “You’re self made. No one helped you get here. You clawed and fought your way to the top despite being hindered every step of the way. For Christ sake’s, you put yourself through nursing school. You’re a tough bitch and you need to start acting like it.” He pauses, collects himself. “Sorry.”

“You’re fine,” she tells him, holding back her protest.

“I’m just. Sometimes you talk so bad about yourself that it’s just kind of pissing me off.” Michael grabs her hand and squeezes. “I get that you think bad about yourself, and it sucks, and sometimes you can’t help it. But if you don’t value yourself, then neither will leather jacket man.”

Michael’s words sting. He’s making her realize that she’s falling into a pattern of self sabotage and loathing again— the depressing epiphany would be helpful if she knew how to fix it.

“Let me help you get more confidence,” Michael asks. “Come out with me more often. Go shopping with me. Get your hair done just for the thrill of it. You just said the other day about how you wanted to get a haircut.”

All of that sounds truly wonderful in theory, but what about reality? What about the fact that she has no idea how to style her hair once it’s cut or act with the confidence to sport it?

“When you were young, what did you do for fun?” Michael asks.

“Lots of stuff—movies, books.”

“Did you ever play a sport, go to prom, have a shopping spree, go to parties?” Michael asks, eyebrows pulled down in concentration; obviously, they’ve led very different lives.

“No.” She looks away, a little embarrassed by her trashy upbringing.

“Get your nails painted, make out with cute boys under bridges?”

“Nah, boys didn’t…I didn’t really like guys. Feeling was mutual.”

“Jesus,” Michael sighs. “Then we have a lot to catch up on, don’t we? Oh-“ he puts his hand out to stop himself from talking. “My mistake. We can cross the making out off our list.” He grins. “Unless he isn’t cute.”

She drops his hand, laughing sheepishly. “He’s…” she struggles to find the right word, but gets upset just thinking of his absence. “Very cute.” She finds herself sinking into the memory of high cheekbones and woodsy eyes and thermal skin and hungry, rough lips.

Michael waves his hand in front of the glassy look on her face. “Oh, god,” he murmurs. “You’re totally fucked.”

——————————-

Michael thrusts a lace babydoll into her chest so hard that it makes her stumble backward. “Here, is this your size?”

She looks around the room to make sure no one’s watching. Just other women minding their business and digging through racks of lingerie.

She glares at Michael, because he promised that if she at least went in to Victoria’s Secret, he wouldn’t give her any suggestions on purchases. And here he is, handing her a piece of fabric that won’t cover her palm let alone ass.

She sticks it back on the rack it came from. “I don’t think it will fit me.”

He sighs, rummaging through the underwear bin. “How do you know until you try?”

She picks up a tiny, silk thong from the top pile and shows it to him. “How can you wear this stuff? Isn’t it in you the entire time rather than covering you?”

Michael takes the panties from her and examines them, chuckling. “No, see, you’re looking at them wrong. This one my ass would swallow.” He tosses it back, and holds up another in its place with seemingly better coverage all around. “This one would be cute yet practical.”

“Hmmm.” She tilts her head, trying to understand what he’s talking about. “I’m pretty sure my ass would swallow all of them.”

Michael sticks his tongue out at her. “No need to brag.”

While Michael decides on underwear, she goes to smell the perfumes. Now this, she thinks, Victoria excels at. In fact, she just might buy a cotton candy scented bottle that’s half off and the lotion to match.

Michael is proud, grinning, patting her on the back as they walk the mall. “See, Vickie isn’t that bad.”

“Eh, she smells nice, I’ll give her that.”

They both share a giggle.

She asks Michael if they can go into the book store, and he rolls his eyes.

“Babe, no offense, but you go in without me and I’m gonna check out Sephora.”

“Ah, that reminds me.” She taps her face. “When are you teaching me how to do winged liner?”

“As soon as you buy eyeliner,” Michael replies. “Which is why you should come to Sephora. I mean, not to sound like a vapid bitch, but.. the book store? Really?” He’s smiling, teasing her.

“That’s why it’s here, right?”

She doesn’t want to mention the real reason she came in, which is to get a present for John. If she ever sees him again.

She goes right to the romance section and begins to peruse around for something he might like.

The Jackal and the Cat, One Foot in Santa Monica, The Clandestine Candle.

She tries to picture him reading any single one of these, but her mind comes up blank. Maybe he meant that he likes older romance books?

Classical it is.

Two men in suits standing by Agatha Christie’s showcase catch her eye and remind her too much of a certain well-dressed gentleman she admires. Both are tall, well built, fancy and stoic, looking very out of place here in Books A Million.

They unabashedly and suspiciously watch her, and it freaks her out enough that she ducks behind a case of Edgar Allen Poe and Shakespeare. Weird merging timelines, but a great safe haven.

A small elder woman with white, wispy hair, dark skin, and sharp grey eyes smiles brightly up at her. She wears a black pant suit and smells like flowers. Tasteful jewelry adorns her neck and wrists. She has a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo in her hands, flipping it over to examine the shiny hardback spine.

“Oh, excuse me dear, but could you do me a favor? I left my reading glasses at home and I’d really like to hear the summary on this. Can you read it to me?”

“Oh, yeah, of course.”

After she’s done stumbling over her words, the older woman looks entranced and astonished like she’s one of the best storytellers from this century instead of a fumbling oaf. “Oh, that sounds wonderful,” she says, folding the book into her weathered palms for safe keeping. “Thank you so much. Have you read it?”

“Um, yes, I think in high-school?” Her cheeks get a little warm with embarrassment from being visibly uncultured in front of this sophisticated looking individual.

“Ah,” the stranger muses, “and A Picture of Dorian Grey?”

“I, um, wrote my big book report on that one,” she chuckles, rubbing her arm.

“Anything specific you’re looking for?” The woman asks, ready to return a favor.

“Romance? Something cultured? Older?”

The woman puts a finger to her lips in thought, then her grey eyes light with an idea. “Come with me.”

She’s surprisingly light and quick on her feet for a woman of her age. She actually has trouble keeping up as the tiny woman floats through the store until settling at the back wall. A large sign above the shelves reads: ROMANCE.

The older woman, knowing exactly what she wants, narrows in to the right handed corner. She fingers through some hardbacks, pulls out a plain blue novel, and hands it to the waiting person behind her.

In Safe Hands by Jane Sanford. The inner synopsis promises a thriller romance with a great twist. Plus, it’s a beautiful book. Simple and hardbound, shiny Robin blue. Something that John would appreciate, hopefully.

“Have you ever read this one?” Soft white hair floats into view as she examines the book.

She looks up and smiles. “It’s not for me.”

The elder grins and the devilish look makes her seem years younger. A certain knowing reflects in her face. “Ah.” Her tone is teasing. “A love interest, perhaps?”

The accent wasn’t noticeable before, but now it’s apparent. Some kind of rich, articulated drawl that she thinks she’s heard before.

Her skin heats. “Yes.”

“My, you live in this moment and love it no matter what hardship it brings.” Her crinkled eyes run up and down over the expansive shelves of paper before she looks back up at her and smiles. “Love is rare, you know. At least the good kind.”

She chews her lip. “The good kind?”

The woman chuckles. “I can tell you have the good kind. You’re buying them a romance novel. It can’t be anything else but the kind of love that makes everything else seem dull.”

She wants to believe this desperately. The words resonate in her chest and pound true through the pulse of her arteries. Once again, she misses John violently. Misses the feelings he gives her. She rubs her fingers over the spine of his present and thinks of his wish to be a librarian.

The old woman pats her shoulder. “You have a great day, dear.”

Her attention is drawn back to the movement of her acquaintance. She never noticed the the two men from earlier standing behind, still staring daggers at her head. They tuck the tiny, waving lady between them, and disappear behind shelves.

She meets Michael at a pizza place near the exit and tells him about the weird encounter while they eat.

“You’re living in a romance mystery novel and you refuse to buy lingerie?” Michael rolls his eyes. “That checks out.”

She shrugs. “It’s more pathetic than that.”

“I got you eyeliner,” Michael tells her, taking a bite of baked ziti.

“Michael!” She admonishes. She grabs a bag from their feet and opens it to show him the eyeliner, lip gloss, and small eyeshadow palette that she purchased after leaving the bookstore. “Do you really have that little faith in me?”

Michael cringes and smiles all at once. “Yes, but I’m surprised and proud.”

She grins. “Thank you, I guess.”

They take Michael’s car to a little coffee shop on Wall Street Court that he promises she’ll love despite the hustle and bustle at the heart of the city. He gets a big iced vanilla latte and she orders a smoothie. They sit next to floor-to-ceiling glass windows that give an amazing view of the lavish cityscape.

Important men in business suits and beautiful girls in bodycon dresses flit in and out of crystal business doors. Expensive limos line the streets. It’s strange, to have this scene at her back door when she’s always felt so separate from it. She watches like it’s a movie.

“Do you want to go to the theatre?” Michael asks, tapping at his phone. “Emily and Syreeta are going and want us to join.”

“They want you to join,” she corrects.

Michael glares at her. “Were we not just talking about this self pity thing? They don’t hate you.”

It stings because he’s right, but climbing out of a pit of despair is harder than it looks. Every time she tries to get a hand on the ladder rung above her, the hating darkness bats her away and keeps her stagnant.

“They just didn’t talk to me in the club,” she explains.

“Funny, they said the same thing about you. Just be yourself, like you were with me. When you actually talk, you’re the easiest person to get along with I’ve ever met.”

She sips her drink and thinks about it. “Thank you, Michael, but you’re pretty easy to get along with, too.”

He sighs, puts his phone down, folds his hands, and leans over. “You coming or not? It’s the Nutcracker. Uh, hello, earth to -“

Her attention is totally and suddenly taken by something on the other side of the window, eyes glassed with that unfocused, enraptured look again, and Michael waves his hand in front of her face. “Babe?”

John Wick stands on a street corner, waiting to cross, hands in his pockets. He’s dressed in a black suit and red tie, hair fluffed back, looking as good as ever. Michael glances over at her center of attention.

“Oh my god, it’s him, isn’t it?” Michael is suddenly whispering, although she does not know why. “Which one?”

“Shhh,” she says, embarrassed, looking away, playing into the top secret thing despite no one in here caring about them or what they’re talking about. Welcome to good old New York.

“Listen,” Michael tells her, pushing his coffee out of the way so he can lean over the table. “If you want to go after him and ask him what the hell is up, I don’t blame you. In fact, I support this cause and am here to help.”

“He might be working, Michael,” she says, looking away from John reluctantly.

“Only one way to find out,” Michael grins. “Go after him. Show him that you’re serious.”

Michael’s suggestion is all too tempting. Mostly because she misses him dearly even though it’s only been around 24 hours since they last interacted. It’s obsessive behavior, borderline creepy of her. He’ll probably hate her if she walks up and talks to him, now, but on the other hand, he’s the one barging into her apartment without an invite and cornering her at clubs and waiting outside for her to get home. Isn’t it fair if she returns the favor, shows him she wants this just as much? She glances once more at his broad back—he’s getting away again—and makes a split second, dumb decision.

She gets up, grabs her jacket, tells Michael she’ll be back, and slides her chair in.

Michael yells after her as she walks out the door. “Don’t get kidnapped!! If you’re not home by midnight I’m calling the cops! You better text me! I’m drinking the rest of this smoothie!”

She’s too clumsy to be any sort of sneaky, but she doesn’t really care if he sees her walking behind him - trying to keep up - because he’s going to get a full view of her anyway when they’re face to face.

The sidewalk and streets are blessedly clear of ice and slush and snow, and if she didn’t know better she’d say that divine intervention was on her side, because if she had to walk this fast on slippery ground, she’d already be K.O.’d by the earth.

John turns a corner and she is practically running to catch up with his long legged stride. She murmurs sorry as she whizzes by nicely dressed street patrons a little too closely and receives glares and annoyed murmurs for her trouble. By the time he stops, she’s struggling to catch her breath. He stands on the steps of a large building constructed to take up two corners of the street. It’s center piece among the business district, bleached white by the sun.

A bellman dressed in silver and red stands at the door and waits patiently for the only visitor, John Wick.

Shes grateful that he’s stalled on the steps, staring at a phone that she didn’t know he had, too distracted to see her as she clears the busy street. Drivers lay on their horns, someone screams at her out of a passenger window, and, finally, when her feet hit the curb and she almost wipes out trying to get away from moving traffic, John turns.

“Are you following me?” He wears the exact opposite expression that she wants to see; hatred and anger slash his angular features into something to be afraid of.

She feels like a fox in a henhouse with the farmers gun pointed at her muzzle, head between her legs and automatically backing away from him. She misinterprets his own fear for disgust at and now just wants to turn tail and leave, but the doorman sees her, and he undoubtedly notices her connection to John, and it’s far too fucking late for that.

There is a point that needs to be made to protect the precious pumping blood inside her body and he can’t decide what to do to get that point across when adrenaline is binding fury and fear inside of him tighter and tighter. He feels the tick of his watch against his wrist and relates it to her dwindling innocence and safety. He stalks toward her, one step from him matching four of her own.

John grabs her up by the bicep and drags her along like a stuffed doll to his car.

His grip is hard enough to sink bone deep and make her ache, but she shuts up and lets him take her where he wants, too ashamed to argue with him now.

She’s not sure what’s happening when he hustles her into his backseat and makes her lay flat down on it with her legs curled up on the freezing bench, but she doesn’t resist.

He doesn’t bother telling her to duck into the safety of the vehicle, just handles her into a fetal position himself. “Stay,” he says, and the door shuts behind him, leaving her alone and shivering in the cold leather.

Charon is waiting at the front desk to greet him with a placid smile. John flips him a gold coin in greeting. “Charon.” He tips his head as the man catches his bribe.

Charon’s smile turns ardent. “Hello sir, nice to see you, what can I help you with today?”

“I have a guest in my car. Could you take them somewhere comfortable, safe, secluded while I do business?” John’s voice is poised but his eyes are pleading.

Charon slips the coin into his pocket. “Of course, sir.”

His tensed body relaxes while one of the few people that he trusts to protect an innocent woman takes his keys and leaves the building. She still won’t be safe enough for him to feel entirely calm, and he only has a second to regret not putting her under his arm - the only place she will be completely protected - before he’s walking into the dining hall to meet Viggo and Winston.

“John,” Viggo cries, standing and pulling him into his side for a brief embrace. “Three minutes late?”

Cool sweat forms under his collar at the comment while he tries to remain composed in the face.

Viggo looks suspicious. But John can’t decide if it’s because of a tell on his features or the fact that he’s never been late twice in his entire life.

Viggo motions for him to sit, still cheery. Winston stays tight lipped, formal, poised. John envies him for the mastered skills.

He’s so wound tight that he almost jumps when he feels the oncoming, light pressure of a hand on his shoulder. He’s never been like this in line of Viggo’s sight, and he knows that the man can tell he’s not himself, but he can’t seem to get the vision of her bloody, pulseless body out of his mind. And what he will do to everyone in this hotel as a consequence of it.

“Hello John, can I get you something to drink?”

He turns to the waitress and tries a smile. “Hello Rachel, nice to see you. I’ll have a Blanton’s. Ice, please.”

“On the rocks,” Rachel winks at him. “Got it.” As she walks away, Viggo talks business.

————————————————————

Charon is very nice. He introduces himself, assures her that she will be an “honored guest”, and lets her sit up front while he drives the car into the attached, Continental branded parking garage.

The section they settle John’s car into is filled with other expensive-looking vehicles. She recognizes BMWs and Jaguars from TV commercials. Charon insists upon opening her door, much like someone else she knows, and then guides her to a big silver elevator with neon, red and green buttons blinking in sequence on an expansive wall panel tucked to the side. She thinks he’s going to press one, but instead, he pulls a key from his pocket and unlocks the plain metal door beside the elevator that she assumes, at first, is unimportant.

The staircase is lined with soft blue paisley carpet and the walls are decorated with pictures of strange art pieces. She stares at distorted naked bodies and eyeless characters and blurred grey crowds and angels battling bloody demons on top of cotton candy skies as Charon leads her into the dim underbelly of the hotel.

“They are all painted by former and current members,” he tells her.

“They’re really amazing,” she says, not wanting to push questions in fear of offending the overly kind man guiding her to safety that she didn’t realize she needed until she was being manhandled into John’s back seat.

If she lives through this, she’ll have to get permission to take pictures and show Michael. It’s strange, to not know if she’s going to be alive tomorrow or not. Fatality that seemed so fanatical and far away two weeks ago now stands at her doorstep waiting like an expectant courier and she’s starting to get strangely used to its harrowing presence.

Charon lands light on his dress shoes off the last step, and waits for her to catch up. She stumbles a bit on the rough rugs, and he reaches out a hand to steady her shoulder while she smiles apologetically. “I’m sorry,” she whispers.

“Do not be sorry,” Charon tells her, patting dust off her jacket. “These floors need a remodel. This is our old entrance: The only people that use it are the ones who can navigate it blindfolded.”

He motions her into a doorway that leads to a drastic change of scenery. In here, everything is modern and brightly illuminated. There are grey leather couches seated around a large table in the center of the room. A bed with black, shiny sheets sits perfectly in the open floor plan, with bamboo plants flourishing on each side of the wide mattress. There is a room that she assumes to be the bath, because it’s the only part of this place with a door attached. Two glass coolers glow with rainbow assortment bottles of alcohol and seltzer waters.

She blinks up at the high ceiling, too distracted by the view to hear Charon ask her if she would like something to eat.

“Miss?”

She stops and looks at him. “What? Sorry?”

He repeats the question. Her stomach growls, but she tames it and tells him that she’s fine, not wanting to be a bother.

“Help yourself to the beverages,” Charon motions, referring to the large coolers. “And feel free to use the room as you please until Mr. Wick retrieves you. This is a private, isolated suite we reserve only for select guests. No one will bother you, but if you should need something, please just pick up the phone and I will be waiting on the other line to assist you.”

She nods at him, using the gesture of gratitude that John favors - already adopting his mannerisms - and gives warm thanks.

“It is my pleasure,” Charon says, “any friend of Mr. Wick is a friend of mine.”

With that, he leaves her.

She has a million questions, but none of them seem more important than keeping hold of John Wick, so she quells them and waits like an obedient dog for his return.

————————————————————

Viggo is leaned back, drinking sweet vodka, negotiating the terms of John’s re-employment.

“It has been different, without you, John.” Viggo rubs the just-greying scruff on his chin, eyeing his former body guard. “Winston, can we still smoke in here?”

“‘Fraid not,” Winston replies, taking his own sip of sour scotch and pursing his lips as if in distaste. “Only downstairs.”

Viggo grumbles. “Gav-no. Why didn’t we go down there?”

“I figured it would be easier for you to run and get to your men if John decides to kill you,” Winston shrugs.

His dry sarcasm and witty grin has Viggo belly laughing, clutching his chest.

John says nothing and takes a drink, trying futilely to calm himself with liquor.

“I think it was stupid that they put you in prison and didn’t expect this to happen, John.” Viggo bites into his ravioli, chews, swallows. “And if they want a war, I will give them one.”

“We did it to prevent a war,” Winston interjects.

“Bah!” Viggo spits. “The war is already happening - it has been for a long time - what’s a little more blood shed going to do?”

“A lot more,” Winston corrects. “Blood shed.”

Viggo comes forward, eyes determined, tosses the silk bib from around his neck onto the table. “So be it. I want you with me, John. And I will make sure no one makes one hair out of place on your head.” He leans back, done eating. “And your head too, Winston.” He nods at the older man, an afterthought.

Winston raises his eyebrows and looks at John expectantly. “Your ball.”

————————————————————

The bathroom is more of a sauna. Different height benches, numerous sprayers on the ceiling, vents that leak hot steam into the room at the push of a button. A toilet with a bidet behind another secret door. The sink is concave marble, adorned with freshly wrapped toiletries and beautiful smelling lavender soap that she honestly thinks about sticking into her pocket and taking home.

Just as she’s about to exit, she hears the loud slam of a door and laughing male voices clanking against one another.

She freezes, turns the lock back, steps away, looks around for an escape which there is none of.

Then, a female voice, pitiful and pleading. She presses her ear to the smooth wood, listening as the woman - language different from her own - becomes more distressed.

Her heart rises from her stomach to her ribs and burns in anger and disgust as she tunes in to the exchange.

“Look at her, all tied up and nowhere to go.”

“Fucking slut.” A hard slapping sound and then a scream of agony from the high pitched female voice. Crying, more despicable taunting from the numerous male visitors.

She’s not thinking of anything but that gut-wrenching yelp of pain when she pushes through the door and steps out into the room.

Five young men have a small woman, completely naked and bound in rope, prone on the cold floor. Their hands bruise her skin as she sobs.

As all their eyes turn to her, reality smacks her in the face like a burst of fire burning her eyebrows off. The woman’s eyes are red and sore, tears streaking down her face. One boot has her cheek pressed down while a hand grabs her hair and pulls taut.

“Hey,” she says, voice filled with venom, adrenaline in her body fire that smokes her vision. “What are you doing to her?!”

The only problem here is that she’s a lone woman in a hotel room with no weapons and these guys look angry for the interruption. Very angry. The one with the boot on the girl’s head gets to her maybe as fast as John can, and grabs her by the collar. “Блять,” he spits, “тебя никто никогда не учил не лезть в свои дела?”

Her heart plummets again as her angry glasses cloud with fear. She’s up on her tiptoes, choking at his grasp, and choking on reality.

He pushes his face down to her own and she smells the potent liquor on his breath. “давай преподам поросенку урок.”

One of his companions answers in English. “Tie her up and make her help.”

The group laughs—this is a joke to them. Isn’t it always a joke? For scumbags who hurt those smaller and weaker than themselves?

She’s so tired of this shit. Men. Thinking they can do whatever they want with no consequences. Hatred tastes bitter in her mouth, so potent it hurts her teeth.

And this guy is nothing like Benny. Benny who she couldn’t even fathom fighting because he was so massive. This man, she could fight. This man, she could hit hard enough to knock down, if it wasn’t for his companions ready to ambush her.

This guy is small, thin, barely taller than her. She knows she can hurt him, so she does, slams upward with her knee and makes squelching contact with his dying erection.

He drops her and she falls back onto her ass.

As his companions laugh, he grabs his dick and moans through his teeth, eyes squeezed shut.

The victory isn’t for long, because now all the rest are coming at her with wicked, delighted intent.

The redhead gets in front of her and crushes her back against the legs of the more muscled member. She’s stuck sitting between them, but she still has her hands and feet, kicks and hits furiously at any soft body part she can find. Redhead yelps in pain as she makes blunt force contact with his balls and screams for someone else to get on her.

Two grab both her arms and twist them at angles that make her screech in pain. It gets the point across, and she stills. Redhead and Russian have stepped away to lick their wounds, but two of the others still hold both her arms in a neatly breaking fashion and the other one has her neck in his hands.

He pats her cheek and squeezes her trachea to play with how much air she’s allowed to have.

“Ah, a wild bull.” His thick accent is hard to understand. “Maybe we should have some fun with you?”

“Disgusting,” the muscled one hisses.

“No, she can clearly eat well,” redhead growls. “Make her eat pussy.”

“Would you like that?” It’s clear now from the potent smell that they’re all very drunk. “You hungry, little pig? Want to get all sloppy at the trough?”

Her wild eyes catch the ones of her bound counterpart, and this woman almost looks bored, in sharp contrast to herself. The agony is gone from her face and she’s watching this scene and practically yawning she’s so uninterested.

She doesn’t have time to be confused before one man twists her arm back again, and she’s sure it’s going to break, so she screams.

The Russian claps a hand over her mouth and tells her what she thinks is the equivalent of shut up.

Charon opens the door, John catches her scared eyes, takes in the picture, and the last shred of his building anxiety snaps in half.

First, he charges the one holding her throat, and a defensive hand doesn’t have time to raise before John returns the favor, grabs him by the neck, and tosses him into a wall.

He’s ready for the others before they have time to realize he’s an enemy.

She watches the unfair fight play out, not because she wants to, but because watching John move is like watching a captivating, bloody ballet, and it’s hard to look away. A big, dumb part of her feels bad for these stupid punks while he wrecks their shit.

He’s just so much bigger than them that it’s insane they think they can counter him. He looks like a giant being pounced on by miniature people. Maybe it’s just the way he doesn’t even try to hit them that makes him seem so massive in comparison. Flipping someone over his shoulder looks like playground antics.

Two by two they fall, until the last one pulls a gun from his holster and aims it at John’s chest. John moves an inch, the bullet hits him in the shoulder, and he simply grunts, inconvenienced, like a bear being shot with a paintball, knocks the gun out of his hand, and moves forward, backing him up and glaring down at the man who is now visibly shaking in fear, head down to submit, hands in the air to keep the apex predator at arms length.

He grabs him by the neck and this guy is thick but John’s whole hand covers his throat. He lifts him completely off his feet with his right hand, and punches him in the face so fast and graceful that it doesn’t even look like it would hurt until she sees the blood fly out of his skull and his nose cave inward.

He’s done with them, so he goes right to her, pulls her up and holds her at arms length to make sure she’s not hurt.

She pushes against him. “John.” Her urgent tone directs him to the bound woman.

John releases her and they both go to help.

She starts working at the knot around her wrists and stomach while John cuts her ankles free

He moves her fumbling hands aside to slice through the rest of the half-assed binding job.

“bạn có nghĩ họ đang làm tổn thương tôi không?” The free woman addresses her rescuers.

John stops. “Đúng.”

John and the woman have a full conversation that she can’t understand.  Catching any word is truly pointless.

The woman sits up and pats her on the shoulder. Then, she rubs her bare breasts and yawns. She tilts her head at John, questioning.

“Can you tell me what’s going on?” She asks him. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine,” John says. “They paid her to have sex with them.”

“She was screaming.”

John shrugs. “That’s what they wanted from her.”

She feels so stupid it hurts. “I’m an idiot,” she whispers.

“She doesn’t think you are,” John says. “She admires you.”

She resists the urge to ask him what she really cares about, which is what he thinks.

They are sitting on the floor criss cross applesauce like in 5th grade reading class when Winston and Charon enter scene. Embarrassment, regret, and pure humiliation consume her as they assess.

“Jesus,” Winston says, looking over the mess. “Is anyone dead?”

“No,” John assures.

Charon starts profusely apologizing to John, but John shakes his head at the repentance and looks, instead, at the naked woman, asking her to tell the newcomers what happened.

Naked woman sighs, annoyed but agreeing.

Winston lays adoring eyes, flooded with realization, on the clothed woman sitting at John’s side, and smiles warmly. He comes and holds out his hand for a shake.

She gives him her own hand and he flips it over and kisses the back. He looks at John while she warms with embarrassment.

“You sure know how to pick ‘em..” Winston muses.

The muscled man tries to stand, but Charon pushes him back down with a shiny black heel. “Sir,” he alerts, motioning at the pile of men. “What should we do with them?”

“Probably something involving a doctor,” Winston says.

“Right away, sir,” Charon nods, pulling a phone from his pocket.

“Are you hurt?” Winston asks her, examining her closely.

She shakes her head no, but points at John. “He got shot.”

Winston looks over and John pulls his suit open to reveal a clean white dress shirt free of bullet holes.

She has to look twice and second guess her own eyes.

Winston sighs. “He wears Kevlar. Most bullets don’t pierce it. He’ll be alright. He’s taken worse than this, I assure you, my love.” He must see the worry on her face because his voice soothes and tames.

She looks at John with a million questions in her eyes, but asks none of them, which he’s thankful for.

Winston addresses the person in the room with the least clothing and they talk for a moment.

John puts his hand on her shoulder and slides over to talk low in her ear. “Did they hurt you?” He asks.

“Not as much as you hurt them.” She tries to comfort him.

“I’ll kill them if you want me to.”

“No you will not.” Winston switches from Chinese to English, turning on his heel to point a warning look and finger at John. “I’m already going to have enough trouble trying to make it seem like this wasn’t business, Johnathan. Plus, I don’t think Viggo will keep you employed if you kill his son.”

John sucks on his teeth and glares at the annoyance that is Winston’s rude interruption before focusing back on her. “My offer stands.”

“No,” she tells him, looking from him to Winston. “I don’t want you to kill anyone.” She grabs his hand and squeezes, pulling it into her lap.

She sounds like she means that, so he stays put, but he hasn’t decided for himself whether they’re going to live or die yet. Especially when they leave Continental ground and hunting season opens.

A loud knock brings the conversation to a small Asian man in a white suit and slacks entering the room. He wears a stethoscope and carries a brief case.

“John.” His set frown turns into a natural smile. “Long time no see.”

“Hey Doc,” John nods.

He sets to work like this is all completely normal. The smell of ammonia and iodine and salt is an affront to the senses as he opens his briefcase and begins waking and treating.

John tugs on her as if to escort her away, but Winston stops them. “Let me get you out of here so that no one else sees her.”

John settles, but he’s not taking chances, so he drags her into his lap with her head tucked under his chin and his tight arms wrapped around her protectively. Want her, go through me - the point is apparent

“John,” she grumbles, squirming to adjust, embarrassed by his parenting behavior but clinging to him anyway. She’s just happy he doesn’t seem to be mad at her, now.

Naked woman comes over and snuggles into John’s side, gripping his bicep to bulging, starring smugly at the groaning group of bleeding, bruised men.

John side eyes her, but allows it, reasoning that she must be weary of them trying to get their money back, and not one to deny someone - who is seemingly vulnerable - protection.

Viggo’s son sits up, spits out blood, and looks their way. He opens his mouth to say something, but the look on John’s face makes his snarl falter. “John,” he nods in greeting.

“Iosef,” John nods back.

The braver Russian man starts with venom, but Winston interrupts him. “If you think I can actually keep him from killing you or worse, you’re very wrong.”

He closes his jaw.

She feels like they’re in kindergarten and they have all just gotten into a fight so the teacher is making them sit on the floor and have quiet time.

Violent stares, instead of words, are shot back and forth until the doctor breaks a nose back into place.

Then, the only voice that has occurred in a while is the scream of this man.

John wants to make them apologize, because he knows she’s hurt by the things they said about her, but he doesn’t know if it would actually help her self esteem or harm it, so he stays quiet and promises death with his eyes.

“Now,” Winston addresses the room. “Unless you wish to forfeit the protection this hotel provides, you will forget this happened.”

“He beat us up,” the man with the thick accent argues.

“And you broke into a private room and assaulted a woman,” Winston tells him. “Sounds like you started it. If he’s in trouble, you’re in it bigger. So, nothing happened, correct?”

“We payed her,” Iosef growls, staring at the naked woman who clutches John tighter.

“That’s not the woman I’m referring to,” Winston says.

She looks up at John and it seems like he’s daring the other man to say something. She pulls at his shirt to get his attention, and he looks down at her, misreading the worry on her face.

“We’ll leave soon,” he says.

She sighs and leans her head on his chest, giving up.

Winston begins to say something, but interruption comes in the form of her phone’s vibrating ring.

All eyes focus on her as she digs it from her pocket, puts it on silent, and texts the frantic Michael that she’s fine and she’ll explain later.

John makes a mental note to beat the roommate into submission so that he’s a little less possessive.

“Uh, sorry,” she tells Winston.

“Quite alright,” Winston assures, smiling big at her like she can do wrong when, judging by this debacle, she definitely can and will.

John refuses to let her go until they’re in the back seat of an unlicensed black suv and being driven away from the building.

Even now, he keeps her tucked under his arm.

She looks up at him. “Sorry,” she says.

He keeps his eyes on the window scenery to avoid making her feel awful with his uncontrolled, cold expression.

He sucks on his teeth. “We will talk, not here.”

He pulls her further against him and she stays quiet.

[mandy-asimp]

Shut up and Dance!

Aaron Hotchner x fem! Reader.

No warnings (shocker I feel)

Just something slight

Hailey and Jack don't exsist for this

Heavily influenced by this songs

"Nah, listen. I want me a man who's going to give me everything. I want to be worshipped. I want to be adored. I want to be his every waking thought. Like I want him to think of cheating and then knowing how dumb that would be," Y/n sat at the dinner table.

"So you want a fictional man?" Emily came to the table, sitting on the same side as Y/n. The two blondes across sharing a look.

"Listen, finding the right man takes time. I didn't meet will till our late twenties. You still have time. Plus me and Will aren't even married." The blonde sighed. "I mean honestly, I get it's about finding the time, but I don't know if he's planning to propose ever."

"Kevin hasn't even asked me to be his girlfriend." Penelope huffed. "It's so obvious I want to be dating, but every time we go out and there's an opening, he misses it."

Emily took a sip of her drink with a smile, "told you, you're looking for a fictional man."

Y/n gave a head shake and let her head hang in defeat. "One day, there will be a man. But until then I'll be your single gal."

"Cheers to that!" Emily raised her glass. Listening as the others laughed and met her glass. Everyone downing the small fruity drinks. "And hey think about it, if you don't find someone, I'm sure Hotch would humor you!"

The joke made a small smile appear, "that's just wrong." Was all Y/n said. Thankful for when their phones dinged with a case. "So much for a break. This is what, the fifth case with no real break?"

"Serial killers never respect our time." Penelope frowned.

Each three down a twenty and got into their cars. Driving back to the bureau in a line, following Emily.

Once they got there, they started the debrief. "Sorry to call you all back. I know we haven't gotten a chance to breathe yet but let's keep focus." Hotch had walked in, the folders in hand before passing them around and taking his seat next to Y/n.

"Right so, this is Delilah Pence. She and three other woman were found with several stab wounds to their torsos. They have bruises from being physically abused." He began covering what he had memorized.

Reid furrowed his brows, "what makes this were we need to cover it?"

That's when the photos were revealed. "Oh...is that..." JJ and Emily were closely examining the pictures together.

Y/n looked over to Hotch, personally finding the M.O to be a bit obvious. "I'd say it's a woman or an insecure man."

"Either or, wheels up in thirty." He dismissed, hoping that would give everyone time to get their go-bags together.

~~~

The case was over within a week, but it was still tiring. Everyone was helping pack up the files and papers.

"I don't know about you guys, but I could use a night out. Really just release all of the work that's been building up." Y/n put the box on the table, watching as Penelope scribbled a name onto the cardboard.

The sheriff had walked in, "There's a good club in town. They're usually packed on Friday nights but I'm sure I could make some arrangements. A thank you. They're know for dancing though." She offered, taking it as a yes as everyone's face lit up. She nodded and left, making her phone call.

"Let's run back to the hotel rooms and change before, get a fresh feeling." Derek smirked while grabbing his coat and leading everyone out.

By ten, the team was at a nice table and on their fifth round.

"Oh this is such a good song!" Penelope geeked before dragging everyone to the floor. Hotch and Rossi somehow managing to stay behind.

Hotch hadn't really drank much, knowing she only would drink half of her drinks, he finished the rest. "So when are you gonna propose to her?" Rossi peaked interest in the two's relationship.

"We've been busy for a few weeks. We also always wanted to make sure we were stable before making any big commitments." He explained, his eyes never leaving her.

Rossi smiled slightly, "and now? What's the excuse? You're both stable financially, you're both still young. What if she wants kids? You're at the perfect age you two."

"Maybe soon. I have a ring, she sketched it in high school. It's crazy to think we went to same high school but met in college." He began to think of how Y/n and him met.

Rossi bobbed his head, "yes I've heard very lightly of this story. From both perspectives."

Hotch cracked a smile. "She loves telling it. She tells it better as well. She'd be a great mother with how she can tell a story." He felt a tug at his heart at the thought.

Y/n, the mother of his kids. A little family. He knew she wanted kids, she talked about it for years. Her eyes always sparkling with how she planned her future.

"She's good for you Aaron." Rossi finalized before going to order a few shots of whiskey. Not taking more than ten minutes to get back.

He had ordered a few for whoever came back to the table. Not being surprised when it was Y/n and Reid who came back.

"Genius, you're definitely taking a shot. It'll help warm up your body." Y/n giggled in her tipsy state. "I'll take one with you."

Reid was going to pass the deal, but he figured...one can't hurt right? "Fine."

And they both shot back the dark liquor and both made a face. Earning laughs from the other four as they came back to the table as well.

"Tired already?" Hotch joked as they all took their seats again.

The song had switched over, and Y/n concealed her excitement. Wanting to wait for the perfect moment before whisking Aaron away to the dance floor. Pleased when he hadn't noticed the song.

"No, we just saw a party of shots and wanted to get in on it." Emily pointed to the shots that were empty.

"Plus when someone couldn't keep up with us on the floor," Derek pointed towards Y/n. Making fun of how she was the first one to walk off.

Aaron smiled a bit more, "you're holding back?" He glanced over to Y/n who was already looking at him. Mischief in her eyes as she grabbed his arm and rushed him to the floor.

"Shut up and dance with me," she laughed as they easily fell into the song. Dancing like they did when they were young.

Meanwhile the team was abso-fucking-lutely baffled. "For how long?" Penelope almost screamed to Rossi. Growing a bit more upset when the man just took a sip of his drink.

And for the song they watched as the two danced around as if they weren't being watched. Watching as their boss laughed once the song ended.

"When they come back, you ask no questions. Let them just be open tonight on their terms." Rossi pointed to the children. "Especially you," he looked to Garcia.

"Oh, come on Rossi! They kept a little secret and we wanna know more, what's the harm?" Derek tried to reason, only getting a disapproving head shake in return. "Well drop it for now! But they better know they have a long list of questions, she's never even posted anything to give us a hint. And she post a lot."

"Maybe it's new?" Reid shrugged the idea out. The conversation dropped as they watched you both leave hand in hand. "Maybe it's not. Where do you think they're going?"

"I bet we'll find out in the morning." Emily wiggled her eyebrows and shimmied her shoulders. "I can't believe it still. Just before the case she was taking about being single!"

JJ stared at the table as she thought. Realizing there was only one glass between the two the entire night and nobody noticed. "They shared drinks all night..." she pointed out. Making everyone count the drinks.

"So we know they're sneaky, that means this could've been happening." Penelope frowned, desperate for more information.

Derek suddenly thought. "Do they live together?"

"Are you serious?!" Penelope shot her head over to Rossi, praying he'd let this one detail up.

He shook his head again, "if I buy the another round will you all drop it?"

They agreed and their night went on. While Aaron and Y/n walked through the city and took in the light.

She held on his arm, stealing his warmth as they moved. Her mind thinking of how this is what she waited for. To be walking with the love of her life at night. The violin player in the park leading them to an even beautifuler sight.

Aaron couldn't help how she made him feel. It was almost instinct to spin her around and slowly dance around.

Y/n let out a few laughs at the actions. "Let me record so I can show our kids one day." She had smiled through the sentence. Propping the phone up against her bag and hitting record.

And they continued to dance. Aaron could tell she wanted to kiss him right there, but she was fighting against it. She had to pick between kissing him or enjoying the dance a little longer. "You're holding back." Would bring her back to the reality of it all.

Her smile would grow instantly at him. "Shut up and dance with me," she would respond and they would dance. Moving together with each note and laughing.

Once the player ended, Y/n moved to get cash for them. Dropping a ten into the case and turning back to...Aaron?

He was on one knee and fidgeting with a black box. "I love you beyond words." He started.

"Yes." Y/n choked out. Feeling to euphoric to even let him get everything out. Listening as he let out that carefree laugh. The one that speaks nothing bad could happen.

"I want you to be the mother of our kids, my forever. Since the dance in college. You grabbed my arm and I could only think about you being my destiny. I didn't let you go from there on out. Marry me?" He grinned as she bobbed her head. Accepting the ring and pulling him into a long, tearful, kiss.

She sniffled, "does this mean I get my big wedding? And we can also tell the team? And we can have the dream nursery?" She looked up at him. Feeling so love and happy.

Aaron nodded, "all our dreams are in our hands now. And I think they're waiting for a post of where we went." He reminded her of the bar, watching as her eyes went wide.

"I love you," she sighed. Feeling so content with life.

"I love you too," he leaned down to place a peck to her lips. "Penelope is going to be furious."

She chuckled, then thought about it, then full belly laughed. Even while grabbing her purse and phone, she was laughing. "I'll send her the video before posting it," she planned. "Let's just enjoy what time we have."

~~~

Awhile had passed, and the two had sent out their invitations to family, but wanted to give the team their invites in creative ways. Especially with the wedding only a week away.

The two had managed to plan everything else out and still keep their relationship quiet. Had played it like they were only a month dating when the team found out.

They first started with Rossi. Y/n had went into his office first. "Hey you know how to tell if jewelry's real or not right? I mean I can I just want a second opinion." She held out her hand to Rossi. Showing the ring off and he just laughed.

"It was the night at the bar wasn't it?" He sat up to really take in the ring. Just then Aaron came in. "You did well; so when's the wedding?" The invite got slid over, both smiling. "I think I can get something together by then. Does Strauss know?"

"We got the entire day covered. If any case appears, it's redirected for a short time." Aaron informed. "You just have to show up."

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, congrats." He stood up. Exchanging kisses to both their cheeks.

Their next person was Reid. Who was with JJ at the time. They figured giving them both theirs wouldn't hurt.

Only Y/n did this one. "Someone looks happy." JJ felt her own smile form. That looks was familiar, and before y/n could even get it out, JJ already knew. She began to geek before the invitation was placed down.

"Wait, but didn't you two just start dating like six months ago?" Reid read over the paper. Enjoying how well put together it was.

Y/n bit her lip. "Listen. We met in college, and by my second year and his graduating year, we started dating." She confessed, trying to not laugh at how the jaws hit the floor. "Shhh! We haven't told Derek, Penelope, or Emily yet. But just know the day is already covered for us."

And they agreed to be there, talking about it even after she left them to continue the spread the invite.

It wasn't until the late lunch she went out with the two. Sitting across from them in the booth she could only smile. The entire time, she just had this smile they couldn't decipher.

"Alright listen, you've been smiling all lunch. So what is it? You and boss man finally said 'I love you'?" He made kissy noises. Gaining a laugh from Emily.

Y/n said nothing, instead she slid two even lips over with a straight face. It was hard as the two became mildly confused. They asked a few times what this was but once realizing they had to open it, they were shocked.

"But..." Emily looked up, eyes widening at the sight of the engend ring. "Holy shit! Boss man must really love you!"

Y/n was back to smiling again, "since college" was all she whispered. Her eyes shinning while looking at the ring. She couldn't help the scream of excitement, "I'm getting married!" She cried out. The restaurant laughing at her excitement.

Derek furrowed his brows while looking at the ring. "So you've been keeping him a secret?" He scoffed, really not knowing how they pulled it off. "How were you that sneaky?"

She winked and went back to eating. "We already have the day converted for everyone. It's gonna be good, promise."

The three talked a little more about the topic before heading back. Being greeted by an unhappy tech analysis.

"I would've liked an invite!" She stomped off. Feeling left out from the fun. She mumbled things to herself as Y/n followed. Letting it all out once the door closed. "I mean honestly! You guys are on cases together and I only get so much time with you all-"

"Penelope, I have something for you." Y/n cut her off. The pink envelop in hand now. "It's just something slight, nothing too extreme."

The blonde turned, almost glaring at the envelop. "It better be good. Not inviting me to lunch..." she shook her head as she opened it. There was a silence as she read over the car. "What?"

"Surprise!" Y/n shook her hands. The ring catching the attention. Her hand was yanked, "and another thing since we're laying out everything, it hasn't been six months. It's been seven years."

"Are you serious?" Penelope felt her mouth just hang open. "This is less than a week away, what about taking time off? What am I supposed to wear? Who's your bridesmaid?!"

"All of that is covered. We talked to Strauss awhile back when we had a date planned. And as for you, I was hoping as my best friend, you would be my bridesmaid? I have a dress picked and it's been tailored, but all you have to do-"

"Yes!" She screamed. Giving a home crushing hug. "But I swear to it if you get pregnant and don't tell me, we will be having issues." Her threat was serious and you knew it. But she pulled back and looked you in the eyes. "You're getting married."

"I'm getting married." Y/n repeated, a wide grin on her face as they jumped up and down.

~

Y/n stood behind the door. This was it. She couldn't help but beam. Glowing with severe happiness and an overwhelming sense of joy.

The music began and the doors opened. And she let one foot lead one after the other. She could hear gasps as she came down but she only saw one man. Her Aaron. Tears pricked at the corner of her eyes before she even made it down.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today..." the wedding officiants voice faded out as she and Aaron held a silent conversation.

Both coming back once it was time for the vows. "Aaron?" He handed over the floor.

She watched the tall man unfold his paper. "I knew from the first day we met you were going to be the one. You had saw me sitting there at the dance and a song had come on. It was fairly new at the time, but I could tell you knew that it would never get old. You ran over, grabbed my arms and pulled me to the dance floor and just started dancing around me. I was confused at first, shocked a bit more. How could someone be so care free in this world? You then stopped dancing and I made the joke you were holding back, and your response was something I never would forget." His voice wavered a bit as he looked up into her eyes. Knowing this was right. "You had said, shut up and dance with me. I swore in that moment that I would do anything to make you happy. I'm lucky it was you who kissed me first otherwise I would've dodged around it forever."

She laughed at this, "you missed every opportunity," her laugh was soggy. Tears snuck down her face the entire time.

Aaron shook his head with a smile, "even if I did, we got to where we wanted to be. I stand here today, with you, my best friend, the love of my life, the mother to my children one day, and mostly, my wife."

"Now Y/n," the mic was handed over.

She unfolded the paper, "The day I pictured finding my forever actually happened in the workplace. Where I would've found someone whose schedule lines with mine. And we would have all the time together. But then I met you in college. And I remember when you had said I was holding back, and I couldn't contain the adrenaline and just hopped you wouldn't think I was weird. Also because I was watching you for the entire night praying no girl would walk up to you before I could get the courage. After that night, we had seen each other almost everywhere. We got to talking and I thought, man. This man. You weren't like anyone I ever met."

"It was the beginning of college," he reminded. Laughing a little at the scoff and mumble.

"Yeah, but still. My freshman year I went quiet to focus on the basics, but by the second year I found you. My motivation, the one that kept pushing through to be a lawyer. We build each other up in the best ways. We kept each other going when we needed it the most and by the time we made it to the FBI , our life was set together for the best. Then it took you longer to still propose, but besides all that. You did. My love. My heart. My man. My husband. The father of my kids, I love you beyond what I can write. Also because I ran out of space, quite literally squeezing this, but I'm overwhelmed with love for you." She finished, wiping away tears carefully. Mumbling a thank you once Aaron handed her his handkerchief.

~

"Do you Aaron Hotchner, take Y/n L/n, in sickness and in health, to be you lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do."

"And do you, Y/n L/n, take Aaron Hotchner, in sickness and in health, to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

"I do."

"Them by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Cheers erupted as he did so. The two officially becoming Mr. and Mrs. Hotchner.

~

Everyone was on the dance floor now. Enjoying the company of each other and celebrating the newly weds. That's when the song came on again.

Aaron was over with his family as Y/n was talking with the team. But she was quick to leave them and run to find her husband.

Spotting him from the crowd already looking for her. Her toothy smile showed as she ran and grabbed his arm. Suddenly the room was just them.

They danced around each other as the music played. Getting closer once it slowed a bit more. "You're holding back," he looked lovingly down to her.

Her eyes twinkled with the same love. Tears came to her eyes, "shut up and dance with me," she whispered to him.

They shared one more kiss before the room came back to join them in dancing. Laughter filled the room almost instantly.

It was everything the couple had hoped for.

[mafiasliege]

I dare you to let me go

(This is part 7 of my fic. Enjoy reading!)

Part 6 ↓

AVERY

The next two months may have been the worst time of Avery's life. Poverty, attempts on her life, pressure of the world, nothing compared to this. She threw herself even more into her work, tried not to be in the house that suddenly felt so lonely. Jameson and her didn't spend every waking moment together, even before everything went to hell, but he'd always be there. Making mischief, speeding cars on the track, sunbathing in the solarium or jumping off of his beloved climbing wall. She could feel him being there, and that was a great comfort. Now it felt so empty.

Jameson was still in the UK. He had come home for Christmas and New Year's, though. But the Hawthorne House was big enough for him to never see her.

She had to do something. Just because he told her to go away doesn't mean she'd just obey.

The next day, Alisa was in her office with Gray.

"Alisa. I need you to research every loophole on this."

The next few hours, the for of them discussed every possible outcome regarding her… proposition.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Avery?" Grayson asked her, even though he jumped on board with the idea.

"Yes."

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

"Hey, Priscilla."

"Oh dear! Get inside, you all."

"That's okay. Is Jameson not home?" That was Xander, peeking in.

"Oh no, sweetie. He's in London. He had been since his mot was here two weeks ago."

Avery frowned. "A mot?"

"The blonde one."

"What's her name?"

"Don't know, girl. Mario tells me she's the Countess of Caithness. Real charmer."

Mario was the security at the front gate. No doubt they'd talked around. Even the media had gotten the hint they weren't together anymore. Their theories only made her feel worse.

Avery tried to mask her disappointment. He was flying around the globe like it was a ball, but he'd only come home for the sake of holidays. Just when she'd tracked him down, he was in London.

She was nervous on the flight there, and Xander tried using his distraction skills to it's best.

"What do you think he's doing in London? You know, other than getting into trouble."

Avery ignored that and voiced her fears thoughts instead, "do you think he's dating someone?"

"Probably." Said Lyra, casually sipping on her Manhattan. "What? It could happen. He's single and a Hawthorne. It could even be that blonde." She shrugged when Grayson glared at her.

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

Jameson was not in his apartment, not at the mercy, and not with Simon. Max had stumbled into a famous bookstore. After Avery started panicking again, Lyra tried to redeem herself for her previous taunting, and dragged them to her favourite bar place in the city.

"You need to chill. Come on, the Manhattan on the flight has started losing its effect, anyway."

Inside the club, called The Onyx, Avery realised how fucked up a sense of humour life had, when she saw Jameson… with a girl.

"We did not go through so much trouble with Sheffield Grayson just for you to commit murder yourself," Grayson said, warning Avery, her dagger eyes on Jameson and the pretty blonde sitting together. He proceeded to say something that made them both laugh a lot and she touched his arm. It was his real laugh, which only made her more jealous.

"Gray's right. Max says it's harder to hide bodies in winter." Why Max knew that, no one knew. "Besides, don't you need to, you know, be married to be Countess?"

"Caithness is in Scotland, Xan. Some women there can just inherit the title. As a matter of fact, she's on google. Unmarried." She showed him a Wikipedia page.

While Lyra and Xan kept chattering, Jameson had spotted them. She waved at him. They got up and came toward them.

The blonde put out her hand, "Bridget. Nice to meet you." Avery put aside the most vivid fantasies she had sitting there of pulling the hand that touched him and burn it, and shook it instead. "Avery."

After initial introductions, avery excused herself to the bathroom.

Stay cool, calm, and collected.

"Heiress."

Avery turned around to see Jameson standing there. She turned around slowly to face him. He looked so beautiful, it hurt. His eyes seemed brighter, somehow. And his face and posture looked more relaxed, like when you water a drying plant. She felt equal parts guilty and ashamed that it took him leaving her to feel like himself again.

"I have to tell you something." He just nodded. Her heart was thumping rapidly in her chest.

"I gave up the Hawthorne foundation. It officially belongs to Grayson now." Jameson was shocked. He blinked twice, as if it wasn't real and all in his head.

"How? I thought you couldn't-"

"I told you, I'm not letting you go. Not now, not ever. But i had too many expectations from too many people. I had to release some of it. So, I researched every loophole the past couple of months, and made it official, it can't be undone now. And i wouldn't have it any other way." She always knew the Hawthorne foundation was what Grayson really missed about losing the inheritance, and she had her own foundation, her own purpose.

She kept talking, if he wasn't going to.

"So, your girlfriend's nice." The best way to cut out the awkward parts, according to her, was to rip off the bandaid asap.

“I'm not here on a date. Bridget's just a friend,” Jameson said in a small voice.

“Then why…”

"Why did Priscilla say-" his eyes glittered with emotion.

“Because I knew you'd ask her. Because I'm afraid of getting too attached again. I've been fighting against my still-consistent longing for you, and I almost gave in. I don’t…” He inhaled a shuddering breath.

“I’m scared I’ll go back and lose myself again. I’m scared you’ll get comfortable and take back you're words. I can’t go through that a second time, Avery. I can’t.” Avery put her hands on his neck.

"I won't, Jameson. I'll never take us back to that time." She pressed her forehead against his.

“Give us another chance,” she said. “One last chance. I promise I won’t hurt you. I know my promises don’t mean much to you anymore, and that's entirely my own doing, but tell me what you want me to do, and I’ll do it.”

This time, it was her who waited. Waited for so long, she wasn't sure he'd even heard her. When it became clear he wasn't going to say anything, she turned around.

"Heiress."

She hadn't even turned around halfway before Jameson grabbed her hand to gently pulled her toward him…

And kissed her.

[persephonememes]

* (  GOOD RIDDANCE BY GRACIE ABRAMS /  SENTENCE PROMPTS.

These may have been edited for clarity or length or to better apply for roleplaying.

❛ i was bored out my mind ❜

❛ you're the worst of my crimes ❜

❛ i never was the best to you ❜

❛ i used to lie to your face twenty times in a day ❜

❛ it was my little strange addiction ❜

❛ i destroyed every silver lining you had in your head ❜

❛ we were too different ❜

❛ you were so sensitive ❜

❛ now i feel terrible about how i handled it ❜

❛ now i bet you resent all of me ❜

❛ i don't forget all of my fault in this ❜

❛ i deserve it though ❜

❛ you were there all the time ❜

❛ how am i supposed to put that gently? ❜

❛ down the road you will love me until you resent me ❜

❛ what if i'm not worth the time and breath i know you're saving? ❜

❛ the whole facade seemed to fall apart ❜

❛ part of me wants to walk away till you really listen ❜

❛ i hate to look at your face and know that we're feeling different ❜

❛ cause part of me wants you back, but i know it won't work like that, huh? ❜

❛ why won't you try moving on for once? ❜

❛ i know we cut all the ties but you're never really leaving ❜

❛ i'm thinking everything you wish i wasn't ❜

❛ the call was tough but you're better off ❜

❛ so won't you stop holding out for me when i don't want it ❜

❛ won't you stay for a while ❜

❛ i wish that you'd never leave ❜

❛ i know i know better ❜

❛ if you asked me to run away i'd go easily ❜

❛ i'm codependent but trying hard not to be ❜

❛ do you think we could talk? ❜

❛ yes, i know that he's my ex. but can't two people reconnect? ❜

❛ i'll always choose you ❜

❛ where do we go now? ❜

❛ there's nothing left here ❜

❛ i wasted my breath when i tried to console you, didn't i? ❜

❛ i know that i should hate you ❜

❛ i pulled the knife out my back, it was right where you left it ❜

❛ i just drank something strong to try to forget, but it wasn't right ❜

❛ i almost crashed my car ❜

❛ all i ever think about is where the hell you even are ❜

❛ i swear to god i'd kill you if i loved you less hard ❜

❛ after all of this time, i still get disappointed ❜

❛ it's kinda funny when it goes from all to nothing ❜

❛ you have to laugh before you start to cry ❜

❛ now i stop myself from holding on to something that makes me feel a little less alive ❜

❛ i see through you ❜

❛ where did you go? ❜

❛ why'd it feel louder when all of it went unspoken? ❜

❛ all i can do is hope that this will go away ❜

❛ she doesn't know i'd let her ruin all my days ❜

❛ i'm just scared of that commitment ❜

❛ i really think sometimes there's something that i'm missing ❜

❛ i should probably go back home ❜

❛ i hope i wake up invisible ❜

❛ i guess i'm just difficult ❜

❛ you were everything to me ❜

❛ i've been drinking and staying up too late reliving bad decisions ❜

❛ what am i supposed to do when you used to be my lifeline? ❜

❛ i've counted all the days since you walked away ❜

❛ i never could've seen you coming ❜

❛ i think you're everything i've wanted ❜

❛ you make me really nervous ❜

❛ i've never felt this close to someone ❜

❛ what if you're my weakness? ❜

❛ i feel homesick ❜

❛ i'll say whatever you want, but i've become such a liar ❜

❛ i used to follow my gut, but now i'm just getting higher ❜

❛ i've been thinking way too loud ❜

❛ i wish that i could block me out ❜

❛ i think i'm burning alive, but nobody sees the fire ❜

❛ 'cause when i open my mouth, i seem to be stuck in silence ❜

❛ i thought of leaving tonight, but i couldn't drive this tired ❜

❛ plus after all of this time, i should be a pretty crier ❜

❛ in my head, i make a mess of it ❜

❛ i'm getting tired of feeling delicate ❜

❛ i used to try, but nothing's helping it ❜

❛ it's not their fault, but i've found that none of my friends will call me ❜

❛ every voice in my head is trying its best to haunt me ❜

❛ i should be cool but i panic ❜

❛ words seem to cut so much deeper right to the bone ❜

❛ it's a sort of funny quiet feeling ❜

❛ lately i don't know what to believe in ❜

❛ i drove 100 miles an hour to forget you ❜

❛  how'd you walk away so easy? ❜

❛ you won't even look at me ❜

❛ i hate the fact that i miss you around ❜

❛ why's it feel like you don't even know me? ❜

❛ how are you looking at me like a stranger? ❜

❛ i took up walking to turn it all off ❜

❛ it doesn't feel bearable guess i thought when i left it would all stop ❜

❛ did i fall out of line when i called you? ❜

❛ when i told you i'm fine you were lied to ❜

❛ how could i think that all that i gave you was enough? ❜

❛ cause every time i get too close i just go mess it up ❜

❛ i heard that you're happier ❜

❛ i hope that you're sleeping well, knowing i'm not ❜

[sumeruin]

♫♪: idée fixe

♫♪: warnings: written by a minor, modern au, yandere, dubcon but both people are into it, sorta blackmail? not explicitly but it’s kinda there, slight dacryphilia, i think that’s it but if i missed anything let me know <3

♫♪: pairing: yandere! heizou x yandere! reader

♫♪: a/n: this idea has been bouncing around in my brain for weeks i needed to get it out of there. not proofread because it’s 6am <3 might write a part two to this later but right now this is all you guys get!!!

♫♪: minor writing smut, dni if uncomfortable!!!

heizou knows what you’ve been doing. he knows that you like to follow him around whenever he does anything, knows that you have a habit of taking his things without asking, knows that sometimes, when you’re sure he’s not home, you go into his room and lay down on his bed while cuddling into his blankets. he thinks it’s adorable, really, though if you were anyone else he might not take as kindly to it, he always feels slightly giddy whenever he looks over the security camera footage in his home and sees that you’ve come over and taken another small, easily replaceable thing from his desk, or another piece of dirty silverware from his meals. he just loves all your sweet little tendencies.

he knows that you have some secrets he hasn’t yet too, and he’s determined to find them out, which is why he’s picking your lock and quietly letting himself into your bedroom in the middle of the night. he knows it’s risky, that even stepping on a single creaky floorboard could be enough to wake you up and blow his cover as the nice, charming detective that would never commit any crime, but he just can’t resist. he’s getting curious about that little notebook you always seem to be writing in, and he needs to find out what’s in it that you’re so protective of.

he’s careful not to walk too loudly as he makes his way over to your desk, his eyes lighting up when he sees that you already have the notebook he’s looking for set out on the surface.

you just make it so easy, don’t you?

he slowly reaches for it and gently paws through the pages, his eyes widening at the hastily scribbled, almost maniacal words that covered every page. he noticed they started out like how a schoolgirl would write about her innocent little crushes, but the longer time went on the more obsessive the entries looked. the first one stood out to him in particular, he could remember it as the day he finally gathered the courage to talk to you and become friends.

“february 2nd, 2020.

valentine’s day is coming up! i can’t wait to give out treats to everyone. someone new talked to me too! i think his name was heizou? whatever his name is, he’s super cute. i think i’ll try to get to know him better later.”

heizou kept flipping through the notebook entries, coming across one with a picture of him taped in it. he took note of how much more disorganized and frenzied the handwriting seemed.

“september 20th, 2020.

today i saw heizou eating in the park, he looked at me and waved and i almost fainted, he actually looked at me! he likes me enough to recognize me! i’m sure he feels the same way as i do.”

he felt a smile creep on his face. why would you want to hide this from him? he thinks it’s so cute how much you love him. unable to resist, heizou keeps flipping through the pages, around the halfway mark he notices that they go from slightly crazed, but still mostly innocent, ramblings to much more explicit, detailed wishes. he also notices that you stopped dating them at some point. he makes a mental note to ask you about later.

“heizou went to a new coffee shop this morning. he got a different order than what he usually gets, i wish i had managed to hear what it was, but the barista was being too loud. she didn’t deserve to talk to him. she took his presence for granted. if i had the chance to make heizou a drink i’d be much more grateful than she was. i hate her.”

he laughed to himself. you’re just so cute. his smile was replaced by a look of shock at the contents of the next entry.

“….i would give anything to be with heizou. i belong to him, everything that i am is entirely his. i wish i could tell him that, but i don’t want him to think i’m just a creepy stalker. what i’m doing isn’t stalking, i’m just making sure he’s safe! i’m sure he wouldn’t mind if i told him.”

heizou had finally found the incriminating evidence he needed. while it wasn’t the point of this trip, he couldn’t deny that he felt himself getting worked up at the thought of finally having you to himself. and judging by your journal entries, you’ve been waiting just as long for him.

he quickly walked over to your bed, notebook still held tightly on his hands, and gently shook you awake.

“what- heizou? what are you doing?” you looked up at him in dazed confusion, your voice slightly groggy with sleep.

“would you like to explain what you wrote in this little notebook? stalking is a crime you know, i could have you arrested.” heizou reached over to cup your cheek as he spoke, laughing at the shocked expression on your face.

“i- i just really like you a lot and i didn’t wanna tell you cause i was scared y-you wouldn’t like me too and so i started following you so i could find out more about you and th-then it got kinda out of hand but i didn’t wanna stop cause i like you so much and i’m so sorry please don’t hate me!” you squinted your eyes shut, waiting for him to reject you while trying your hardest to ignore the burning feeling on your face.

heizou hummed as he examined your features, the tears threatening to spill past your waterline, the way you leaned into his hand on your cheek, practically cuddling it, the embarrassment he could almost see radiating off you in waves. “do you wanna make it up to me?”

your eyes snapped open. “yes! i’d do anything to make it up to you, please let me!” he cooed softly at how eagerly you begged him, unable to deny how much he liked being in this position of control over you.

“if you wanna make it up to me you have to do everything i say without asking questions, ok?” heizou moved his hand from your cheek to firmly grasp your jaw, smirking to himself when he felt you try to nod against his tight grip. “good. get on your knees on the floor.”

as you were moving positions he sat down on your bed, spreading his legs to make room for you in between them. he reached for the waistband of his pants and released his aching cock from the tight confines. “now, you’re going to suck my cock, and if you do a good enough job, i’ll forgive you. got it?”

you vigorously nodded, already leaning in to press a light kiss against the head. you opened your mouth and slowly started to take him into it, making sure to use your hands on the parts you couldn’t quite get to with your mouth yet. you felt his hands come down on your head, harshly pushing you to take him even deeper and making you gag and choke around him, tears starting to bubble up in your eyes.

“c’mon, i’m sure you can do better than that. you do want me to forgive you, don’t you?” heizou knew he was being a little mean, but he couldn’t help it. you just looked so cute below him, so eager to please that you’re choking on his cock and refusing to come back up for air. he knew you’d do it, but he didn’t think you’d be this enthusiastic about it.

you made yourself suck more of him in at the empty threat in his words, his tip hitting the back of your throat and your nose finally hitting the hard muscle of his abdomen as you tried to remember to breathe. the soft, breathy moans heizou let out when you managed it made it all worth it though, and you started bobbing your head with a newfound determination.

heizou couldn’t wait to fuck that determined little look off your face.

[jeffannieftw]

If you had to pick an episode for Jeff and Annie to get together, which one would it be?

Hmmm excellent question

I think that, because it’s community and the focus has never been on relationships too much, I would’ve liked them doing relationship stuff on the sidelines. Like—

Maybe have them just hook up in season 4

add a scene at the end of the Christmas episode where everyone else has gone home and they are laughing about the day and Annie is helping clean.

She says something like “sorry if I made that get out of hand. I know I can be… dramatic… and too much”

And Jeff can say something like “cmon Annie. You’re never too much. You’re a perfect amount and make every situation better even when you make it worse”

He goes to move into the kitchen, or tries to ruffle her hair but she catches his hand, looking gobsmacked, and they look at each other

End episode

Then the next episode is the body switching episode (a lot of people say the best ep of season 4 and that’s fair, except troy treats poor Britta like crap)

Start it with Annie waking up in Jeff’s bed and sneaking out

Maybe they are kind of avoiding eye contact that day

When Jeff has his speech to Troy about how he wishes he was brave enough to commit to a relationship, maybe a line about how knowing troy makes him feel braver? Implied he’s thinking about Annie

At the end of the episode he goes to talk to Annie and it’s obvious he’s going to suggest they actually date but before he gets there she cuts him off and says:

“Jeff, knowing you has really helped me relax. I love that I don’t always have to be thinking of the future! I can just live my life and see where things go. I guess I’m more mature now!”

As she wanders off, it’s clear that Jeff is devastated

Then never address it again in season 4

In season 5, maybe one glance in the first episode that makes it clear that they aren’t sure where they left off

In the polygraph episode just add a line where pierce conveys to the gang

“did you know Mr. Winger and Ms. Edison have been seeing each other since they got back to greendale?”

Everyone is shocked

Jeff cries out “how could he know that”

Annie is like “pierce promised our monthly coffee catch ups were confidential!” Or something

Then when questioned, both insist “we’re casual! It’s casual!”

The rest of the season, their interactions are a bit different. They hold hands when people aren’t looking, he’s shown holding her food or bringing her coffee.

Season 5 finale

in the show has the Jeff-Britta engagement. If we really need to keep that we can have Jeff/Annie say they’ve ended things at the start of the episode.

But I say we get rid of the subplot.

Maybe instead he and Annie are talking about ending things in their casual relationship since it’s ~casual~ and they are going to have to separate when the school is closed.

And maybe she’s like “it works out; Abed wants to downsize to a cheaper place anyway; I’m going to transfer out of the city because city college doesn’t have forensics so I guess I’m moving.”

Both are sad

After Jeff’s burst of emotion that opens the door, Jeff stops Annie at the end of the episode

He says “I’m tired of pretending not to have emotions. I don’t want us to be casual, we saved the school so you can stay” and she’s like “but abed already found a one bedroom”

He’s like “move in with me.” She agrees.

Then in season 6, they just are together but it’s only shown in a few throwaway lines an episode

She can even still leave him for her job in the finale if they want it to be sad, but I’d prefer if in their last scene together, he’s like “I’ve never left Colorado but I’ve always wanted to travel, can I come with you?”

Because I hated that Jeff never got to go anywhere in his life

I think this way would lead to minimal changes, like max one subplot would need changing and like one minute’s worth of scenes for every episode I mentioned.

In conclusion:

hook up in season 4 Christmas ep; get outed in the polygraph episode; make it official in season 5 finale

[nevada-wrytes]

I promised the second part of this little fantasy/heist story I've created, so here it is. Like I said before, I won't be actively contributing to this story anymore, but I wanted to edit what I've written so far in order to share it.

Hope you enjoy <3 (also read the first part here)

content warning for gore and suicide mention

Ezra

“Hey Ezzie.” The door squeaked shut. Ezra ignored the shuffle of footsteps and scowled.

“I told you to stop calling me that.” She reorganized the vials and medical serums covering the table, again.

Lenny stopped to perch at her side. “Is she...doing any better?” 

Ezra stopped her mindless idling and sighed. “Tomorrow’s the last day,” she said in a small voice.

“Oh,” he replied in an even smaller voice. 

Ezra sniffed, suddenly overcome by the enormous effort it took to keep tears out of her eyes. “What if I can’t save her, Lenny?” Her voice broke and she stifled a sob. Then another.

As soon as that happened, there were comforting hands on her shoulders, pulling her into a hug. Lenny shushed her. “Don’t think like that, Ez. You’re the best healer I know.”

Despite her feelings, Ezra chuckled weakly, healer my ass.

She felt the walls inside her crumble, tears flowing out of her eyes like a raging river. She sobbed into Lenny’s shirt, deep, ugly wails. Lenny’s hands made soothing circles down her back, and, eventually, she felt herself relax.

“Lenny, if I don’t wake her up, do you think James would throw me out, too?” 

Lenny pulled away and scowled. “If James wants to continue being the asshole he is and throw you out next, then poison him good, alright?”

Ezra laughed, “Lenny! What if he hears you!” 

“What would he do? Throw me into the dungeons for committing high treason against his Royal Highness?”

Ezra laughed again and wiped her eyes. She sniffled. “You should go to sleep, it’s going to be dawn soon.”

“And what about you?”

She shook her head. “I need to save Luna first.”

“Ezra-” Lenny cut himself off with a sigh, “just don’t overextend yourself, okay?” 

She nodded as he left the room, and Ezra followed to make sure the door was shut tight. Once the hardwood was locked, she slid down onto the floor, too exhausted to stand.

Ezra wanted to scream and cry, out of despair yes, but mostly frustration. Luna had, at best, forty-eight hours to live, and she would work tirelessly through every one of those in order to get her back.

James

James snuck back into the abandoned manor house, simultaneously grateful to not meet anyone on his way, but also disappointed with the patrolling work of his gang.

He was barefoot, his trousers ripped to the knees and the remnants of his shirt laying in tatters across his chest. He didn’t even know what had become of his jacket. He found his was to his office, a room no one else would dare to enter, and collapsed onto the floor.

He was cold, tired, and bleeding heavily through multiple wounds on his legs and chest. It was a pain to even pull himself up, but he knew he had to do that. Using a broken mirror and some towels he’d acquired from a nearby bathroom, he was able to examine the extent of his injuries.

Up and down his legs were vertical slashes, the worst gouges an inch deep, and probably requiring stitches. His arms had been sparred of anything besides minor scratches, but when he cleared away his shirt, what he saw caused him to shudder. Three identical scratches across his heart, like a taboo. They weren’t deep, but they were worrying. Apart from those, his upper body was mostly intact, so he moved on the bite in his neck.

There were two gouges where the teeth had sunk in, but the most worrying was that the skin around the wound had puffed up and was oozing a dark liquid, not blood, but something stranger. In the dim light, it seemed black, but when he held it up to a candle, it was inky blue.

Are myryad bites poisonous? he thought. No stories had mentioned this before, so James was operating under the assumption that it was an infection, not a poison, and he needed to act fast. He did not have the medical supplies with him to patch himself up properly, but he dreaded making the climb down to where Ezra help camp, and much worse, the chance of seeing Luna.

To stop the bleeding, he cut strips of the towels and wrapped them around his legs as well as he could. Halfway through, he realized, with mild panic, that he was simply too exhausted to do this on his own. His vision swam again, and he panicked, thinking he was underwater and unable to breathe.

James needed help, but he refused to admit it. He couldn’t tell anyone what he just saw, who would believe he had an encounter with a creature of myth?

No one, besides Luna, he thought. And it was true. The one person who would believe any word that came out of his mouth was dying, and it seemed he would die with her.

…

James woke in a panic, limbs and joints protesting after having fallen asleep in a twisted position. Although he couldn’t hear the rain outside anymore, it was still dark, and now wind wailed through the old house loud enough to wake the dead.

He’d bled through his makeshift bandages, and now the congealed blood caked his legs like a second skin. James felt sick. He hadn’t eaten or drank anything since running away, and now his head spun, which could have also been from the blood loss. He staggered up, body and mind both feeling sluggish. He lit a candle and used the fractured mirror on the desk to check his other wounds, but almost screamed. The bite on his neck and swollen to the size of an egg in his sleep. The skin around it looked black, and it continued oozing that blue stuff. What was worse, was his face. His eyes were red and puffy, surrounded by dark circles from exhaustion, but splitting his face like a scare was a vein of darkness.

James wanted to throw up. The rational part of him knew it was only the infection causing this, but he was too tired to be sensible anymore. He looked like a monster, and it was all his fault.

Ezra

“Ezra!”

Ezra woke with a gasp, disturbing the vials balanced precariously on the table. She hurriedly looked where Luna lay, but she was still unmoving. A moonlit sleeping beauty. If she hadn’t been the one who spoke then who..?

Her questions were answered when a loud whisper repeated, ““Ezra, over here!”

Ezra rubbed her eyes. In the corner, just where the light of the fading candle couldn’t reach, stood a person, but why weren’t they coming closer?

“James?” she asked, coming to her senses.

“Yes, it’s me,” he said, “Listen, there’s been a sort of...accident. I- ugh. N..need some help.”

Confused, she stood up , dusting herself off, “What do you mean ‘accident’? Did you hurt one of the crew?”

“What? Gods, no. I- it only happened to me.”

Ezra hmped. “Sounds a little like karma,” she said as she folded her arms across her chest.

James sighed in frustration, “Look, if you don’t forgive me for the thing with Cee, that’s fine. Just give me some bandages and I’ll be on my way.”

Ezra chewed her lip. “Do you have a fever?”

“No, why would you assume-”

“You said, ‘Gods, no’ earlier. For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve repeatedly shown little faith in anything other than yourself.”

James made another noise of annoyance. “Could you just give me some damn bandages?”

“Why? To wrap you broken ego-” She caught herself off in the middle of her tease as the light shifted in the room, revealing something scarlet blooming across James’s legs. She gasped, “Good Goddess, James! You’re actually bleeding!”

Ezra rushed over, but he held her away at arms length, far enough she couldn’t see his face, still covered in shadow.

“I need you to keep this between you and me,” he said, “No one else knows.”

Ezra’s eyes widened, but she nodded. She stepped back to give him space, and after a moment of hesitation, he followed her into the light.

Her jaw dropped, “James! I- what happened?” Blood seeped through poorly done bandages on his legs and a lump of swollen skin pulsed with some sort of darkness, the infection already spreading to his face. Dark veins stood out on his pale face, eventually spilling even more darkness into his eye. Ezra wondered if he could even still see.

James didn’t answer at first, only cast his eyes to the floor. As Ezra got him seated in a chair, he mumbled, “I was hoping you would tell me.”

Ezra huffed, hands on her hips. She saw through his obvious lie, having been around him enough. “You have to tell me what bit you if you want my help, James.”

He stared up at her in surprise, “How’d you know it was a bite?”

“The two very obvious puncture wounds, plus it seems to be excreting some sort of venom, a poison, maybe.”

James hesitated, “Do you...do you know about..the sea folk?”

“Uhm,” Ezra thought for a minute as she took the bloody bandages off his legs. His flesh was torn up from ankles to thighs, numerous deep vertical slashes. “I think I remember a story Cap told us once. Like mermaids but- ugh, what were they called?”

James gulped. “Myryads,” he whispered.

“Oh yeah, I remember.” She worked quickly and efficiently on his legs, cleaning and disinfecting the wounds as best as she could. James, for all his part, didn’t flinch or wince away much. She looked around her medical supplies for a sewing needle and thread, and got to work disinfecting those.

“So the mir-miryad, what about them?”

James hissed when the needle first punctured his skin. She handed him a bottle of whatever leftover alcohol she had used to disinfect her supplies and he chugged it gratefully. Only when he set the empty bottle down did he continue.

“I think I was bit by one.”

Ezra paused in the middle of a stitch. She laughed, nervously.

“James- you sure you don’t have a fever? When was the last time you ate something-”

She searched his face for signs on the joke, but he looked dead serious. Ezra stared at the bite on his neck, “You don’t mean-”

He nodded, “It’s true, look.” He moved part of his shirt away, revealing three distinctive claw marks directly over his heart. The rest of his chest was untouched, so it almost seemed as if- as if they’d been done on purpose.

Ezra was staring, wide-eyed in disbelief, as she went back to working on the stitches. “It- it couldn’t have been something else?” she asked, “like a snake or..?”

James shook his head. “It happened last night. I was walking by the beach and- one pulled me under-”

Ezra scoffed, “You followed one to the beach? Were you feeling suicidal? Don’t you know the stories?”

James huffed, “More than you, but that’s besides the point-”

“How did you even manage to escape! Actually, no, how were you stupid enough to follow her into the water in the first place?”

“Well obviously I didn’t do it willingly.”

“Then-”

Ezra looked up to find James staring at Luna across the room. A faint blush spread into his face, but that could have just been his very probably fever. Still, Ezra knew that look. She rolled her eyes, men.

“So she tricked you, and you got attacked? But you got away? Okay-” Ezra finished the last of the stitches and took out a roll of bandages- “but what do you plan on doing now?”

James scowled, “How should I know? You’re the medic so,” he gestured to his neck, “fix it.”

Ezra shot him a glare and tied the last bandage extra tight. He yelped and she patted his leg, rising up.

“It’s not like I have magic hands, James. I don’t know a thing about myryads.”

“Ask Cap then, Ezra. Besides, aren’t you a poison specialist?”

“Real poisons,” she crossed her arms across her chest, “Not poisons from fantasy creatures-”

“Please, Ezra?” James bit his lip, “Look, I know I may have said some things and been a bit rude-”

“A bit?” she raised a brow.

“Okay, I was an asshole. I know you don’t forgive me, but-”

Ezra raised a hand to stop this awkward apology. “I don’t want to hear your excuse. I know it wasn’t right for you to kick Cee out like that, but I guess this is your gang. I’m not forgiving you,” she sighed, “But you know I’ll try to help.”

He smiled, “Thanks, Ez. You’re-”

“Save your forced praise,” she interrupted. “I’ll go talk to Cap. In the meantime, get something to eat and drink, oh, and here,” she handed him a small vial, “this should reduce the swelling.”

He nodded and risked a glance over to where Luna slept.

“James, about her-” Ezra started, but he shook his head to stop her.

“I know you are doing your best,” he said and hobbled out of the room. 

Ezra sighed. She walked over to Luna to check on her, but again, she hadn’t moved. Ezra straightened the blankets on top of her with a chuckle, “This blasted wind, am I right?”

She looked around to make sure she was alone before giving Luna a kiss on her forehead. Ezra sighed wistfully, “What has James gotten into now, Luna?” The girl’s hand was soft when Ezra picked it up, but growing colder. It was a harsh reminder of her impending fate.

Someone knocked on the door. Startled, Ezra dropped Luna’s hand and moved away from her.

It was Lenny, “Ez?” He asked through the door, “I brought you some food, thought you might like some.”

Ezra shot one last lingering look at Luna before going to the door, “You’re the best, Lenny,” she said as she unlocked it, “Come in.”

***

After eating, Ezra left Luna’s sick room after what seemed like weeks, but could have only been a little more than a day.

She was greeted by the rest of the gang sitting quietly in one of the living rooms, playing cards. They paused when she entered the room, no doubt she, too, looked like a fright from not sleeping for days.

“Bonsoir, Ezra. Is everything alright with Luna?” Jacques asked

“Same as before, Jacques,” she huffed. “D’you know where I can find Cap?”

“Check the porch in the back,” answered Shaemus, Cap’s second.

She nodded and bid them a goodbye before heading outside. The storm wasn’t quite over yet, as a fierce wind blew in from the ocean. Ezra shivered, wishing she had worn her jacket.

“Hey Cap.” She sat down on the bench the old sailor was using as his footrest once he’d made room for her. 

“Hello, lass.” He took his pipe out and smiled at her with crooked teeth. Ezra liked Cap, he’d always been kind to her, even when she had been a rebellious teenager and had done everything in her power to become hated by everyone around her. It helped that she was his favorite, too, out of the rest of the kids here.

“Have you been getting enough sleep?” He asked, “Eating? It ain’t good to focus yourself too much on the lovely Lady.”

“I know Cap, thank you.”

“Aye, don’t mention it.” He coughed, “Someone has to look after you all from time to time.”

Ezra smiled, and they sat there in comfortable silence as he went back to smoking from the pipe and she looked off into the distant sea. 

“Cap, do you know anything about..mir-myryads?”

His brows furrowed. “Aye, had my encounters with the sea-beasts. Why do you ask?”

She shrugged. “Just came to my mind. Must be the weather.” 

Cap nodded. “Well, I’ll tell you, they’re nasty little devils. Drag you down and drink you dry, as my buddies used to say. No compassion those sea witches-” he quickly added, “No offense to your lot of witches, of course, just ‘em are bastards.”

“None taken,” sighed Ezra, “So they bite humans? But what if one escapes?”

He shook his head, “No escaping the sea-folk once they hook their little claws in you.”

Ezra frowned. “Surely someone had to have escaped once.”

Cap sighed and leaned closer. “Don’t say this to anyone else, but I knew a fella who got bitten by one of ‘em. One of my crew, actually, a long time ago. We managed to haul him up before the fool was bled dry-”

“And? What happened? Was the bite poisonous?”

“Well, know that I think ‘bout it, sure enough I might’ve been. By come morning it’d swollen to the size of an apple. All black with the sea folk’s blood too.”

“Did he.. did he survive?”

Cap shook his head. “We lost him the next day. Some poison I tell you, spread through his veins like fire.”

Ezra gulped. “Was there… any way to cure it, you think?”

“Not that I know of,” he must have seen the disappointment on her face because he added, “Aye but don’t worry, lass. Sea folk don’t come this far inland. S’long as you don’t go strolling by the beaches you won’t get bitten.”

Ezra laughed, if only to lighten the mood. “I promise I won’t, Cap.”

“Aye, I know you’re smarter than that, Ezra.”

Without another word, he went back to his pipe, watching the dark sky. Ezra went back inside, wondering how she was supposed to tell everyone both Luna and James were fated to die by tomorrow.

Shaemus spotted him approach the group first. He slurred, “Ey Lenny, where ya been?” It was obvious they’d all found more liquor reserves in the cellar.

Lenny

“Here and there,” Lenny shrugged as he sat down next to the group playing cards.

“Any words from le capitan?” Jacques asked.

Lenny shook his head. “He’s probably still hiding in his room, too scared to face us.” They all laughed. 

“After what he did-” someone started.

“I’m sure he had his reasons,” Lenny shut them down, quick.

“To throw a little girl onto the streets?” Jacques scowled.

Lenny shrugged “Well, we aren’t all highly virtuous.” This brought on another round of laughs. 

“Have a drink with us, play a round, Lenny.” Shaemus swung an arm around his shoulders. He poked a finger into his chest, “You’ve been too tight since we’ve come ‘ere.”

Lenny shook my head, “Have you all forgotten ‘bout the Hits?”

Most of them shrugged. Rai said, “It’s dark and cold, with another storm coming. Doubt even the Hits would stay out in weather like this.”

Lenny looked around at their expecting faces, all eager to get back to drinking and gambling. To them, he had always been the carefree one, the one to pull the others into a game, the one that lounges around, drink in hand, singing old ballads about fair maidens and riches.

Lenny hated himself for making them believe that’s who he was. Still, he gritted his teeth and smiled.

“Alright, alright, but just two rounds and a toast.”

“Why not three?” They laughed.

“Three toasts? Bring it on!” He flashed them a grin as the first shot of rough liquor went down his throat. It burned but he pretended he liked it, already in line for more.

I wish James was here, he thought miserably.

Cee

Cee couldn’t leave the island because of the storm. Them and Sarj wandered as close as they dared to the abandoned manor, trying to find shelter. Eventually, they found the remains of a tiny fishing village, hardly more than a few houses and a broken dock. It, too, was abandoned like the rest of the island, its inhabitants long gone. 

They chose the house that looked the safest, the walls and roof still intact. Inside, it was dusty and predictably empty. Sarj found some wood in the back and coaxed a small fire in the cold fireplace. Soon, the cottage, and it really was more of a cottage, glowed with a warm light. Cee settled themselves on a pile of straw next to the fire and drew their knees to their chest. 

“Sarg,” Cee looked up to the giant of a man sitting across from them, “Why is this island abandoned?”

“You don’t know the story?” he asked. They shook their head. 

“Oh, well some time ago, this entire island was the property of a really important man, a Lord, actually. He welcomed many people onto his lands to fish and farm, until he effectively created his own little kingdom.

“Everything was running smoothly, until one night, where he turned mad. Some say it was because his Lady died, a broken-heart, others say it was from an illness. Regardless, he terrorized the people on the island, even his own daughter, kicking her out of her childhood home. Except, anyone who tried to leave,” Sarj pantomimed slicing his neck, “you get it.”

Cee nodded, sullenly. “His Lady died.. like Luna? Lady Moon?”

Sarj shrugged, “Guess you could say that.”

“So then what happened to the Lord?”

“Oh, well,” Sarj laughed nervously, “Eventually, he couldn’t take it anymore, and- ugh, he jumped off the cliff by the manor. Legend goes that his spirit now haunts the entire island, welcoming visitors, then stopping them if they ever try to leave."“

Cee shivered.

“Oh, but don’t worry! It’s just a story. The only reason no one’s ever come back to this island is because the weather’s so piss poor. Ghosts aren’t going to hurt ya, much less stop you from leaving.”

Cee nodded. “I wasn’t worried,” they said, even though they were, in fact, a little worried. A lot worried. This island made them feel trapped, just like the lab.

“So how are we gonna get off if the entire island is abandoned?”

“Ah,” Sarj began, “I didn’t say the entire place was abandoned. There’s still a lighthouse on the Southern end, meant to keep ships from crashing into the rocks near the coast. I reckon someone’s up there, and we could wait ‘til I supply ship comes for them and then barter our way onboard.”

“And what if we can’t do that?”

Sarj ruffled their hair. “Don’t think like that, Cee, we’ll be able to escape.”

Cee smiled, weakly, “Thanks again, Sarj, for deciding to come with me.”

Sarj smiled back. “No problem, kid. It’s the least I could do.”