#she runs to the sea completely naked and since she's running her hair jumps and you see her ass

[icharchivist]

i think there’s something so fucked up about the fact that when TV shows lose the rights to the various music they have in their shows, they’re contractually obligated to remove them from old episode that have already aired in future releases in streaming or DVDs

I’m rewatching an old show from the late 90s (not on any legal platform✌️) that has close captions on that also follows the background music, but clearly the video itself comes from newer releases of the show, because not only the theme song is absent from the generic (and i know they lost the rights to that song by the last season, but it was there in every season before that), but sometimes the subs of the lyrics of the song playing is just, not the same at all than the music playing. 

I also know it happened to like, Supernatural where they retroactively lost the rights to an AC/DC song and that i remember watching the show on streaming once and be really taken aback when the song wasn’t in an episode, and i looked through the DVD i own since the late 00s and io and behold, the song was on the DVD version of the episode

it’s like in the age of streaming in general we always risk stuff to get patched later but i genuinely think it’s fucked up how if a producer lose a license they have to remove it from material that has already been released, so now if you want to know what was exactly the vision on release you must have bought the DVDs when they first released. FOMO: the DVD edition.

[girlbossminerva]

Hear me out,

Little Mermaid Au, but not like it at the same time.

Where instead of falling in love at first sight and this shit taking only four or five days, which is odd considering some past Disney movies with romance.

Princess! Butch! Erza who casually goes on to fish after paperwork and meeting a mermaid, who saves her life, at first Erza is completely in shock at her, because Mermaids have always in myths and fables and one she meets has a beautiful tail and scales that reach on her face, and Erza is like, "Oh damn, she's pretty."

Erza going out to the ocean just to see her, as the mermaid complains about ugly male suitors her mom wants her to marry, "Erza! Help me! They want me to marry a ugly man! (Dramatically)"

"Most men are ugly." - Erza

Mermaid is kind of bored of sea life, but realizes that she does love it and doesn't want to go anywhere else from the safe abode of her home, but she loves Erza a lot, and instead of going to a very suspicious sea witch that you can see is very suspicious, she asks her mother to turn her human since she has that power, at first the mermaid is confused about how to survive on land, avoids humans even though she is like them, mind you she can speak, but when Erza is at the beach, the formerly bodied mermaid jumps on her, conversation being.

"Erza! I missed you, you red haired cutie!"

"(Whoever name) your on land?! With legs?!"

"Yep!"

" (Name) you're naked."

"Mhm!"

Mermaids don't have to wear fancy dresses for obvious reasons, they shine their tails and wear bright jewelry to attract attention, the mermaid did that to Erza of course because Erza didn't know of their customs, she was thinking that the mermaid was showing off her finds.

Ngl, the mermaid gives me Lucy vibes. Like she's the mermaid heiress that her father is trying to marry off but girl is the classic "i wanna marry out of love" and looks for a way out, so the fact she becomes friends (with feelings) for Erza is the perfect opportunity to run away.

What if instead of the evil witch or the mother helping with magic it was another familiar but to maintain some tension/urgency it could turn out that this magic has a bit of an expiration date because there is no way of turning a mermaid permanently? Imagine the posibilities.

I love the idea of mermaids courting by showing off their fancy tails and Erza being so oblivious as per usual.

[slytherinwh0re]

I’m yours

Draco Malfoy x Female Reader

Warnings: SMUT (18+ minors dni), this is kinda fluffy, swearing (I literally always cuss, it’s just a given at this point lol)

Summary: Where you go to the Malfoy’s for a party and you and Draco’s relationship finally takes the turn you both wanted.

Masterlist

Requested by anon, lmk if you like it (:

“You look beautiful (y/n), Draco’s inside waiting for you.” Narcissa says as she pulls away from the quick hug, greeting your parents in the same friendly fashion.

You walk through the large manor quickly, trying to find the familiar head of platinum hair that belonged to your best friend. However your search kept getting interrupted, many of your parents friends stopping you for boring conversations and of course trying to marry you off to one of their sons, because nothing was more important than pure blood babies in their eyes. You were used to it though, that’s basically the point of having these extravagant parties, but you’d be damned if you’d be forced into a loveless marriage for the sake of blood purity.

“You’ll adore him darling, he’s quite the handsome boy.” Says the woman whose name you didn’t bother learning as she rambled on about her son, you merely nodded as you let your eyes rake over the sea of people, finally locking eyes with the boy you’ve been looking for. Draco had already been looking at you and the thought made you smile.

“Sorry ma’am I actually have something important to attend to right now.” You say, already walking away from the frowning lady. His eyes trail your figure and you mentally pat yourself on the back for picking out this dress, the black satin material fits you like a second layer of skin, the high slit showed off a long tan leg, and the off the shoulder sleeves displayed your collar bones nicely. You looked good and you knew it.

“Where have you been?” You question once you reach him, giving the blonde a quick kiss on the cheek like you usually do when you see him.

“Sorry love, I got stuck talking to Mrs. Parkinson, you know how she is.” Draco says pulling you in for a hug. “You look fucking amazing in that dress.” He whispers in your ear making you shiver. The effect he had on you was something you couldn’t get used to no matter how much time you spent with him.

“Thank you.” You blush. “You don’t look too bad yourself Draco.” He’s wearing one of his signature fitted all black suits that made you weak in the knees.

You’ve been best friends since you were children but as you grew older there was no denying that the relationship was changing. Both of you now matured knew that whatever this was it was a lot more than just friendship. Why you hadn’t acted on it yet, neither of you knew. Maybe it was because of the impending war or maybe just the fear of losing one another but neither of you could hide the obvious feelings you stored for each other.

“Come on, we’ll both need a drink to get through the rest of the night.” He led the way to the table full of various types of alcohol, pouring you each a shot of fire whiskey, your favorite.

“Another for good luck?” You ask right after throwing back the first one.

“You read my mind (y/l/n).” He winks while handing you your second shot. The effects of the alcohol and the handsome boy in front of you immediately make you feel more relaxed.

“Let’s dance!” You exclaim as you watch others gather in the center of the room with a partner, before he could even respond you’d already grabbed his hand and led him towards the dancing people.

You knew he didn’t really like dancing but he followed you without complaint because as he had told you once before, he’d rather scoop out his own eyeballs than to watch some foul git put their hands on you, you take full advantage of that information any chance you get. This was one of those situations, because damn did you love dancing, especially with Draco.

You grab his hands, swaying both of you to the fast rythm of the music. The smile on his face as he spins you around the other dancers makes your heart soar with so much affection for the blonde that you can’t stop the giggles from spilling out your mouth.

“You’ll be the death of me (y/n) (y/l/n).” He says as you stumble into his chest, dizzy from all the spinning.

When the tempo of the music changes into something slower, Draco grabs the small of your back and pulls you into him so you’re chest is pressed to his. You wrap your arms around his neck and he holds your waist as you sway to the music, the atmosphere changing drastically, neither of you paying attention to anything around you.

“Take me upstairs Draco.” You whisper in his ear. You feel him go rigid as he pulls back to look at you, both knowing this is point of no return. Draco’s eyes search yours for any trace of hesitation, once he finds none he’s taking your hand and leading you through the crowd of people towards the staircase.

You could hear the blood pumping through your veins as you stepped into his familiar bedroom. He walks you over to the foot of his bed and grabs your chin, tilting it up to look at you and then his lips are on yours. Every emotion you feel for him is poured into the kiss, his lips caressing yours so gently it almost doesn’t seem real.

“Do you want this (y/n)?” He questions pulling away from the sweet kiss.

“I’m yours Draco.” Is all you have to say before he’s kissing you again, this time more urgently. He pulls away and turns you around so your back is to his chest and you face the mirror in front of his bed.

He grabs your hair and pushes it to the side as he litters kisses on your neck, his lips leaving a trail of fire on your skin. He had one hand flat on your stomach pushing you against him and the other running down the side of your body over the tight dress, your head was thrown back, loving the way his hands feel on you. 

He pulls back, looking at you through the mirror, moving the hand on your stomach to the zipper on the back of your dress. “Go ahead Draco.” You encourage as he looks at you for approval. He kisses the back of your neck before slowly unzipping the fabric, watching as the satin material falls silently at your feet, leaving your chest bare for him to see, the only thing covering you is the lacy underwear on your hips as you step out the dress.

“So beautiful.” He whispers as he moves both hands to massage your breasts, never looking away from your body in the mirror, making small moans leave your mouth. He has on far too much clothes so you turn to face him, pulling off his suit jacket and then his tie, tossing them carelessly, and then unbuttoning his dress shirt slowly, leaving a kiss on his chest every time more of his pale skin is revealed to you. 

The handsome boy watches your every move as you look up at him while you undo his belt and trousers. Once his pants fall to the ground he kicks them off along with his shoes, bringing you back to him for a needy kiss, your naked chests pressed together. 

“Jump.” You do as you’re told, wrapping your legs around his waist, his hands on your ass as he carries you towards the big bed and lays you down on the edge. His lips kiss down your body towards your soaked panties, kneeling in front of you and pulling away to unclasp the heels on your feet. 

Draco hooks his finger around your underwear and you lift your hips so he can slide them off, the cold air on your pussy makes you shiver. You prop yourself up on your elbows so you can watch what he’s about to do to you, a smirk rests on his lips seeing the state you’re in. 

“You’re already dripping love.”  He teases as he lifts your legs over his shoulders.

“Please just touch me already Draco.” You beg, making him dive right in. His tongue flat against your soaked center, devouring you in every sense of the word. Your hands find his hair tugging on it making him moan against you which in turn makes you scream out his name.

His lips wrap around your clit making your hips buck and you can practically feel the smirk on his lips as you throw your head back, filthy moans spilling from your mouth. Your grip on his hair tightening as he pushes a long finger into your entrance, curling it with every thrust.

“Draco.” You breathe out, not able to form any coherent thoughts as he completely ravishes you. Desperate whines leave your lips as you feel yourself about to release and that’s when he pulls away from you completely.

“When you cum, it’s gonna be around my dick.” He states as he tear off his boxers, watching you shuffle to the center of his bed. His dick slaps him on the stomach and you rub your legs together seeing the precum already leaking out his tip.

“Show me what I’ve been missing out on.” You say, making him smile as he moves to kneel in front of you on the bed, your legs once again wrap around his waist and his dick presses against your slick folds.

He guides himself to your entrance and with a final nod of approval he’s pushing into you. Both moaning as he moves his hips at a steady pace, your soaked walls clenching around him tightly.

Draco’s hands move up the sides of your body, making sure not an inch of skin goes untouched. He lower himself so he can kiss along your neck, sucking on spots that make you moan his name, surely leaving marks that will remind you of this night for the next few days.

Your nails scratch down his back making him groan as he thrusts into you faster. Suddenly he’s pulling out of you and flipping you over so your laying on your stomach. He lifts you hips so you’re on your knees and you arch your back, pushing yourself back on to him desperately.

“You take me so well my love, I always knew you would.” He says as he slams into you repeatedly, completely wrecking your body in the best way possible.

“Oh Draco.” The moans that leave your mouth are relentless once he hits that spot that makes your toes curl and your head feel fuzzy from the pleasure you’re receiving. When his hand wraps around your throat and pulls you up so your back is against his chest you know it was the beginning to the end.

“Who do you belong to (y/n)?” He asks while continuously driving into you.

“I’m yours Draco, I’m all yours.” You cry out as his other hand finds your clit, rubbing circles into you, making your head falls back onto his shoulder as his fingers tightens around your neck.

“Cum for me love.” Is all he says as you finally hit your high. Your walls clench around him and your vision goes white, the waves of pleasure wash over your body as you scream his name. Raspy moans fall from his lips as his release takes over his body, leaving both of you completely spent.

You fall back onto the bed and he lays next you so you’re facing each other. His hand caressing your cheek, his thumb running over your bottom lip.

“Every man down there had their eyes on you all night.” He claims.

“I only have eyes for one man and if he keeps fucking me like that I’ll have to marry him.” You tease with a smile on your face, making him laugh.

“I’ve known I would marry you since we were 15 (y/n), I’ve always loved you.” He admits.

“And I love you Draco.”

[navalcriminalimagines]

Going to the beach with Gibbs+ him seeing reader in a bikini for the first time

i’m sorry this took me that much time! i hope you’ll enjoy it!

warnings : smut

Mexico

you met Leyla and Amira when Leyla’s mother tried to get them back. You immediately hit off with Leyla, talking about difference things, mostly personal. Amira loves you and it didn’t take her long to call you Aunt Y/N. When she asked if you were Uncle Gibbs’ lover, Leyla saw something in your eyes, and she knew.

She is now the only one that knows, or actually the only one you talked about it with. Ever since they went back to Mexico, Leyla keeps telling you to visit them. Seeing the man you love flirting with some lawyer lady, you thought it was the right time to take some time off.

One night, before going home, you gave Gibbs a paper, “What’s this?” he asked, barely looking at the paper.

“I need you to sign it,” you said. “I’m taking a week off, now that our case is over,” Gibbs hummed in answer, and quickly signed the paper, before handed it to you. “Thanks,” you said and you were gone.

The flight didn’t take that much time, you couldn’t wait to get there. Leyla welcomed you with a hug at the airport without Leyla, “so good to see you, Y/N,”

The weather was amazing. Hot and sunny, it took you two days to get tanned. You were having fun with the girls and Mike Franks. The man probably knows something’s up, he keeps teasing you about Gibbs. “I thought he was coming with you,” “He sure is missing something,” he said when he saw you in your bikini.

“Shut up, Franks,” you just answered, with a smile. How do you wish Gibbs was there.

“He’s probably screwing over with that lawyer,” you told Leyla, on the third day. You two were on the beach at night, enjoying the beautiful view and the warm weather.

“I’m convinced he feels things for you,” Leyla told you. “Mike is too,”

Indeed, Mike does think so. That’s why he did everything he could to bring Gibbs to Mexico. On the fifth day, a friday, Franks went to the city and came back two hours later, with Gibbs. You were playing in the ocean with Amira while Leyla was making dinner.

“Gibbs, I’m glad you came,” she hugged him.

“Nice to see you, Leyla,” he smiled. “Where’s my goddaughter?”

“Beach with Y/N,” she winked at him.

Gibbs dropped his bag in one of the bedroom, figuring out just now it was where you were sleeping. There’s no other room in the house. Is he going to share a bed with you? He can’t do that and not making a move. He’s going to sleep on the couch.

He made his way to the beach, seeing barely your head and Amira’s heads out of the water. He saw her jumping on you, trying to drown you playfully. Neither you or Amira saw him coming, until he had his feet on the water. He only had a beach shorts on and sunglasses. Your heart almost stopped when you realized it was him. “Uncle Gibbs,” Amira shouted. He smiled. She tried to run in the water to get to him, he grabbed her and made her spin before hugging and kissing her, “Hey sweetheart! You having fun with aunt Y/N?”

“Yes, i’m trying to drown her! can you help me?” she asked with a big grin.

“I’m waiting for her to greet me first,” he spoke up, making sure you heard it. Your body was still underwater. You stood up slowly, reveling your perfect shaped body, and glowing skin. Gibbs’s heart sunk at this very moment. He watched you walking up to him, Amira still in his arms. He lost all his strength as he stared at you, he had to put the little girl down.

“Hey you,” you said when you were standing right in front of him. “Isn’t that a surprise?”

“H-Hi there,” he managed to say. “Mike invited me. Hope you don’t mind,” he did his best not to look at you from head to toes. You were so beautiful. Your bikini was only hiding what it has to hide. You didn’t have big boobs but it was perfectly shaped for your body. Gibbs imagined for a second what it would be like to touch, hold, caress and kiss them.

“Uncle Gibbs, are you coming in the water or are we going to just stand there?” Leyla said.

He smiled and grabbed you by the waist, putting you over his shoulder like a potato bag. One of his hands softly brushed your firm ass, sending shivers in your spine. “Gibbs! Not my h—“ he threw you in the water. Which was the worst idea. When you got back on your feet, you rise from water like the most beautiful mermaid. “You’ll pay for this,” you said playfully, Amira was still laughing. You looked at her and tried to grab her but Gibbs protected her from you, putting his arm around your chest. You had your back against his chest, skin to skin. You loved it. “Come on sweetie,” he invited Amira to drown you.

The three of you played until Mike called out for you. Dinner was ready, Franks offered a glass of bourbon to Gibbs and a beer to you. You had a really nice dinner all together. Amira quickly fell asleep in your arms, exhausting from playing all day.

Sun was going down, you had a little summer dress, with your bikini still on. The dress didn’t cover much more, Gibbs was enjoying the view. Leyla and Franks agreed to go back inside, leaving you two alone. “Are you having nice vacations?” he asked.

“Amazing. I understand why you wanted to retire here years ago. It’s beautiful and peaceful,” you said, like at the sea and the yellow-orange sky.

“I hope you don’t mind me coming. Mike had been bothering me since monday,” he told you, “I’m leaving on sunday and you can stay a few more days if you want,”

“I’d love to, but it has to stay occasional. Otherwise, I won’t enjoy it as much as I am now,”

A silence built itself between you. As you watched the sea, you thought about a midnight bath with him. How wonderful would it be? Your naked bodies in the water, touching each other, kissing, making out, making love... You were sad he put a t-shirt back on. You loved the early sight on your bare chest, haired as you imagined, strong and shaped like you love. Should you make a move? Is Leyla right? Is he interested? You looked at him from time to time. You noticed he was looking too.

“Water is at the perfect temperature at this hour,” you let him know.

He looked again at you and chuckled. “Need to check that by myself,” he stood up, and offered his hand. You took it and you and Gibbs walked to the sea, hand in hand. He watched taking off your dress, reveling your body again. He needs to get into water before you saw him getting hard. He followed your lead and the two of you got into water.

“It’s not midnight yet but feels like a midnight bath,” you said.

“We aren’t naked,” he answered.

“Yet,” you murmured but he heard and smiled. A short moment after, he showed off his shorts “I am,” he said.

This was no or never. “Give me a hand?” you turned your back at him. Your hair were tied in a messy bun, Gibbs softly went for your bikini’s knot. He undone the first on your neck and the second in your back. You felt his fingers brushing your skin. You felt like you were missing air. You held on your top for a moment, before letting it go on the water. You still had your back to him, and you took off your bottom. “I am, too,” you said.

Neither of you knew what to do for a long moment. Although he couldn’t see it, knowing you were naked made Gibbs semi hard. “You are beautiful, Y/N,” he whispered. You took a step back so your body was against his. it didn’t matter for the water. You felt his cock against your ass. You wanted him more than you ever did. Gibbs gently kissed your neck, shoulder and collarbone. You hummed in content. He made you spin around so you were facing him, he didn’t even looked at your breast, he immediately went to kiss you deeply.

You let access to his tongue in your mouth. One of your hand was in his hair and the other on his chest, while his hands were rubbing your back and ended on your ass. As he grabbed your ass’ cheeks, you moaned in his mouth which made him smile. Gibbs was getting fully hard, his cock slid between your legs. “Don’t want to ruin the mood but I don’t want our first time to be a quickie in the sea,” you said.

“Me neither,” he answered but stopping kissing and touching you was impossible for Gibbs. He grabbed your legs to make them around his waist. He started to walk out off water, until you both became self aware you were completely naked on the beach. The waves took your clothes to opposite sides. You laughed and Gibbs followed you.

After you recollected your things, you put your dress on and told Gibbs to wait for you. You ran to the house, took a blanket and went back to him. You grabbed his hand as you were running, not giving him time to realize he had to run too.

There was a hidden spot further on the beach. You put the blanket on the sand and took off your dress again. Gibbs didn’t give you another second, he picked you up again before laying you down, kissing you passionately.

His erection came back as quickly. “you sure about this?” he asked.

“More than anything,” you kissed him.

His hands were traveling your body. He grabbed one of your breast and caressed it for a moment before moving to the other. Then his mouth found its way to it, and you moaned. He loved the sounds you were making. While he sucked on your nipple, his right hand moved to your pussy, softly touching your bottom lips. He could feel how wet you were, “So wet already,” he smiled against your skin.

“Don’t want—teasing, Jethro. I need you inside of me,” you whispered to his ear.

“Let me enjoy the view first,” he got on his knees, in front of you. He looked for a moment at your naked body, laying there just for him. It was the most beautiful sight he ever saw. Your body was perfect in every way. And the way you looked at him was making him melt. You had love and desire in your eyes. So did he.

“FYI, I’m on birth control,” you let him know. With your hand, you reached for his hard cock but he didn’t let you.

“No teasing you said,” he intertwined his fingers with yours and lined himself with your center. He stoked his cock against your clit a few times before sliding inside of you. The contact made you both growled from pleasure. He laid on you, kissed you and started to thrust. Slow and deeply. He kept the pace for a moment, stopped at a moment when he was at the deepest inside you. You both stared deep in each other eyes, and he went back at it. You were out of words, the feeling was too much. Gibbs was making love to you. He started to go faster, and faster until he felt you were getting close. So was he but there’s no was he was coming before you did.

“I’m gonna cum, J,” you let him know.

“Cum with me, baby,” he said. Gibbs was fucking you as fast as you could until he felt your body tensed against his, your pussy tighten around his cock, and you were telling how much you were loving it, how good he was. That feeling and your words made him cum too. He whispered your name as he came inside of you.

Gibbs stayed for a moment on top of you, both of you catching your breath. He looked at you for a moment, before kissing you. He slid off you and lay to your side. You moved to rest your head on his chest, listening to his fast heartbeat. “Don’t want this to stay in Mexico,” you said.

“Me neither,” he answered.

You and Gibbs were in a such a happy state, you almost fell asleep naked on the beach.

[sweetestlamb]

Let's Play A Love Game

Author's note: this one is rated 😈 so yeah. There was originally more angst in my mind but once I got to that part I was over it lol I'm the worst at angst I much rather make it naughty. It's more rushed than I wanted but I don't really have time to write 10k fics right now. But hopefully soon.

Summary: it's just pretend, right?

She hadn't meant to push the event in the corner of her mind until she forgot about it completely, so much so that when the e-vite showed up in her inbox she stared at it in wide eyed shock not even noticing Mi-Seon creeping up behind her.

"It's already time for that? I usually know it's coming because you start buying expensive dresses you can't afford and crying at your credit card bill. Maybe country life has really changed you hm?"

False. Inaccurate. Utterly wrong to the every core.

She lets out a shrill scream letting her head fall painfully on her desktop.

"I'm an idiot! Just kill me now, I deserve it." She has nothing to wear, okay the mountain of boxes in her living room, bedroom and some hidden in the linen closet beg to defer but none of that is worthy of this event. The annual dentist convention in Seoul, it's a week long getaway. It's meant to be an opportunity to build connections and attend professional learning classes, but that has long been abandoned. Now it is a fashion show and chance to show off your success and this year more than ever she has to impress everyone. They all look down on her and her cute little practice. Those judgemental snarky bitches.

"Do we have anymore patients?" She absently asks her best friend, only friend already getting up and walking away.

"No that was the last one. Do you want to call it a day?" She doesn't give a verbal reply lost in her phone and the disease that is online shopping, in the span of three minutes she has already added seven dresses to her cart.

"Chief Hong is going to have a long day."

It's just as Mi-seon says the next day the nosy know it all shows up glaring at her over the handful of packages in his arms.

"Don't tell me you're doing this again. What more could you possibly have to order? How much things does one woman need?" His voice is an air warmer than the last time they were in this very same position, but she tries not to think too hard about it. Their relationship is too confusing these days, as temperamental as the sea.

"Are delivery men allowed to complain this much when they're doing a job they are getting paid for?" She snarks back, snatching her packages from his arms with a huff. Ignoring the grin on his face as she disappears into her house.

"That better be all you order. I'm not coming back."

He comes back. At least six more trips, more boxes each time on the last day he doesn't simply leave after making his delivery.

"I'm coming in for tea because of you I've been working too hard." She squeaks indignantly as he pushes past her, their shoulders brushing in the tight space of the doorway.

She should wait until she doesn't have an audience but she's too impatient so while he's making the tea in her kitchen (so rude and intrusive), she starts to open a few boxes pulling out the contents. Dresses, blouses, shirts, hair accessories, lipsticks in all shades and hues, and of course shoes; heels, flats and everything in between.

"Your house looks like a department store." She jumps at his voice glancing up at him, almost laughing at the hedgehog mug that he's drinking out of that Mi-seon gave her as a joke. Leave it to him to pick the most ridiculous mug.

"Hurry up and go so I can try everything on." She starts to take the objects out and organize them, putting together possible outfits lazily.

"Why not have a fashion show?" He slurps loudly at the tea, sighing and smiling down at the warm beverage. Acting like he's never had tea before, such a plebian.

"A fashion show?"

"Yeah, model all that", he motions to the new boxes littering her bedroom floor, "and I'll let you know what looks good."

She scoffs, loudly looking at his lackluster outfit; a simple white tee tucked into dark cargo pants with suspenders.

"What do you know about fashion?" She replies meanly, despite the little voice in her mind that reminds her that while his outfits are more practical than fashionable there is something distracting about the way his shoulders fill out his shirts and the way his long legs sit in his pants.

He shrugs looking down at himself, "I'm the town handy man I have no need to look good. But I'm still a man I can tell you what I think looks good on a woman."

Oh. It's a nonchalant statement said with no real heat but the implications make her skin warm up, she's never once thought that he saw her as a woman; nor considered looking at him like a man. (Lies.)

"I--why woul--why?" She stutters through an answer, tongue heavy in her mouth. He looks back nonplussed, sitting down pointedly on her couch.

"Never took you for the shy kind. You growing bashful now Ms. Dentist?" His eyes twinkle with mischief and she knows that she's being played but she wants nothing more than to wipe that smug look off his face. Slamming her room door, she pulls off her casual house clothes and grabs the first thing that catches her attention- a buttery yellow dress that grazes her knee, pairing them with white heels and a high messy bun. A swipe of lip tint completes the look and she confidently opens her room door.

Du-sik is staring aimlessly at his phone and doesn't notice her reappearance at first, so she coughs loudly folding her arms and when his eyes land on her, a chill runs down her spine at the look that lands on her body. It's been a long time since a man looked at her in this way, his eyes are undressing her even though he was the one who implored her to dress up in the first place. She hates it. At least she should hate it. But she can't ignore the satisfaction that washes over her at his dumbfounded look, that smug look obliterated by her very first look.

"Well?" She pushes harder, twirling to give him the full look. His gasp is loud behind her, she knows exactly why. The deep revealing plunge that travels all the way to the small of her back. There's no way she would wear this to the convention much too suggestive but that's her business.

"Wher-" his voice cracks and this time she can't contain her smile, dimples flashing now at her clear affect on him, clearing his throat he tries again, "Where exactly are you going again?"

She hums turning back around, gleeful at the vibrant blush on his cheeks. So he is just a man after all.

"A dentist convention." She answers cheekily and he guffaws loudly, eyes narrowing at her like he knows exactly what she's trying to do. They stare at each other for a long moment and she ultimately breaks the stand still, realizing what's happening. It feels a lot like flirting.

Collecting herself, she barrels back into the room.

"What the hell are you doing?" She whispers to her reflection, face too flushed for her liking.

A hard knock at the door pulls her from her self chastisement, "You didn't even wait for my rating."

She sighs loudly covering her face in embarrassment at her own action. She doesn't even have alcohol to blame this time.

"I don't care. This was stupid, let's stop."

Of course he ignores her.

"I liked it. But it's too...sexy for convention. You should wear that for someone special. I doubt anyone with a beating heart would be able to resist you."

What the fuck.

This isn't who they are, when did they become comfortable enough for conversations like this? They despised each other, right? Confused and annoyingly flattered, she peels the dress off her body trying her hardest not to think about the fact that only a door separates him and her naked body.

"I would love to see the others. But I have to go, but if you want my opinion. Red is definitely your color."

"What?" She replies, but she can hear the too loud click of the front opening and then closing and just as capriciously as he arrived, he leaves. 

Burying something that feels a lot like disappointment she flops onto her bed, head fuzzy like its been wrapped in cotton.

"What is going on?"

They don't see much of each other the next day and it's unusual given how much they see each other on a regular basis but she refuses to think about it or even consider that he's avoiding her. He's just busy and she doesn't care anyway, they have nothing to do with each other.

The convention is in two days now, she has her overnight bag packed with all her new purchases and the messages have been pouring in their group chat. She's mostly chosen to ignore them but on a whim she decides to check what they're so excited about, only to feel her stomach drop.

Why isn't Hye Jin answering?

Maybe she's busy with her mystery man 😉

Oh! She has to bring him, we need to interrogate him!

Yoon Hye Jin don't pretend you don't see these messages!!

That she had forgotten about.

"Why did you tell them that he's interested in you? Has living here altered your brain, you idiot." She berates herself.

"Who's interested in you? Why are you an idiot?" Mi-seon looks curious from the doorway, without waiting for an invitation she hops onto the bed with two cans of beer. She grabs one, drinking it in a flash.

"Oh it's that kind of night." Mi-seon says excitedly running to grab more beers.

"So let me get this straight, you told them that Chief Hong is interested in you and that he's been chasing you but you're not interested?"

She nods meekly, wishing the floor would swallow her up.

"Why did you lie?"

That's the brunt of the issue, she's a liar. She should have sent her initial message and told them that there was nothing between them but how could she when they were all calling him handsome and acting like she finally did something right? She'd spent that entire dinner feeling like her teenage self on the outside looking in, wanting nothing more than to be someone worthy of being included.

"I know I should have told the truth."

"Yes, you should have told them that you're interested in him too."

Huh.

Time stops as she processes the words that her best friend just uttered. There is static in her head as she tries to make sense of it.

"What are you talking about?"

Mi-seon looks at her unimpressed.

"You can both keep lying to yourself but the rest of us aren't as stupid. You're both interested in each other. It's mutual."

She wants to ardently deny the accusation but the words are caught in her throat and all she can manage are refusing sounds.

"You've been wearing red all week." Mi-seon says accusingly and she jumps up in huff, "So what? I'm allowed to wear colors!"

"You hate wearing red. You said it makes your skin look too pale. You hardly ever wear it. So color me surprised when I learned that red is the favorite color of a certain part timer."

That damn town chat. There has to be a way to get Mi-seon out of it. Maybe it was a mistake letting her live here. She was learning too much.

"Don't even bother to deny it. I won't believe anything you say. But I think you should ask him to go with you, you'll get some time alone to figure this out."

There's nothing to figure out. They are..... acquaintances who can admit that the other is vaguely attractive at times. His face isn't all that bad and she's pretty, so it's natural that there is tension at times, like he said they were still humans.

So she doesn't tell him about her fib, pretending everything is fine until it's the day of the convention and her anxiety has all but smothered her and her hands have a slight tremble in them as she starts to drive.

"It's going to be fine. Everything will be okay." She doesn't believe a word she's saying to herself, her heart is thumping in her heaving chest. She doesn't want to go alone. Convincing Mi-seon to leave was a failed endeavour, her and that police officer becoming inseparable. She knew what that smile meant when her best friend had realized that she would have the house to herself. She could barely get a word in as Mi-seon started frantically shaving her legs then pushed her out of the bathroom to "shave her wild cat".

With a sigh she starts driving, the car too quiet despite what she'd told Du-Sik and the Gongjin grannies. Uncharacteristically she turns on the radio, kpop blaring from the speakers. She recognizes the tune, never before has something as mundane as butter seemed so interesting but the kitchen essential was given new life by the song. She bops her head to the catchy beat, trying to ignore the fact that she's driving to the lion's den.

Some time later, she pulls into the hotel a valet already coming over to get her car. Grabbing her overnight bag, she exits the car handing her keys to the waiting hands of the valet.

Everyone is here and none of them had come alone, she was the only one without a plus one. They haven't noticed her yet so she watches as they all laugh at a joke she can't hear, unnecessarily stroking at their husband's chests as if to show off their exorbitantly priced wedding rings. Everything was always a competition here.

She shouldn't have come. Their was nothing about her life that they would be envious of. She was going to make a fool of herself. Impulsively she starts stepping back but it's too late, Hong In-A spots her and points her out and immediately all eyes are on her, they all start walking over to her and she wants nothing more than to run far, far away. Get on a bus and go to the beach and never see any of them ever again. But she's no longer a child, no longer that scared little girl; worked too hard to shed that skin.

Fortifying herself she puts on a fake smile. Ready for war.

"Hye-Jin ah, there you are. We were beginning to think you wouldn't come. You never responded in the group chat." Ye-Ri states with an attitude, looking around her as if searching for someone and eyes brightening when she sees no one. "Did you come alone?" This makes all of them perk up, looking around like chickens with their heads clucking. She swallows the shame the question elicits, "Who would I be with? I told you in already, it's not like that."

They all look at her with pity, it makes her want to slap them all across the face. Who were they to make her feel like shit, she didn't need anyone that didn't make her pathetic.

Finally one of the husbands cracks the awkward tension by introducing himself, she tries her best to ignore the pervasive way his eyes run down her body. Instinctively she crosses her arms, feeling naked under his stare. Nobody else notices her discomfort and after all the introductions, they all walk away as if she's no longer worth their time.

Lump in her throat she walks into the hotel, determined not to show them that they've gotten under her skin.

There's a scheduled lunch and she tries to find a new table but Sung-Mi waves her over and she doesn't see anyone else she recognizes or wants to sit with.

He hadn't been wrong, she has no friends besides Mi-seon.

"You were looking around, were you looking for someone? Are we not good enough to sit with?" The question is asked with a bite and sneer as if the idea is laughable that she would ever be better than any of them.

She swallows her pride, "No nothing like that. I was merely looking around."

Sung-Mi looks satisfied as if putting her in her place has righted her world.

They begin a conversation that completely excludes her, regaling drama that she knows nothing about and doing nothing to bring her up to date or invite her to join. It's the polar opposite of her experience in the countryside and with shocking clarity she realizes that she wishes she were there, it's only been a few hours but she misses it. Nobody looks down on her there, no usually she's the only doing that she notes with shame.

"I'll find the restroom." She says to no one because none of them are paying her any mind except the husband with the wandering eyes and she would much rather not have that attention.

Thankfully the bathroom is empty and she has to stop herself from splashing water on her face, her make-up was done perfectly it would be a waste to ruin it. Pushing her hair behind her ears she takes a deep breath and then another until her head is clearer, the noise lessening.

"It's only a day and a night. You've suffered far worst."

With that lacking pep talk she exits the bathroom, almost colliding into a wall. Wait, no it's just a person- a chest to be specific. She looks up ready to apologize when a familiar face stops her in her tracks.

"What are you doing here?" She stares flabbergasted at him, more dressed up than she's ever seen him. In a white suit with a white vest, the tee-shirt peeking under the only thing that feels like him to her. And his white sneakers. She can't hide her surprise at his sudden appearance and without thinking she starts to pull him to the side, to avoid being seen but she's not fast enough and soon they are swarmed by her colleagues, before she even has a chance to talk to him.

"Aren't you the man from the picture?" Yoo-Jin asks blushing way too much for a married woman if her husband's cold stare means anything.

"The picture?" Du-sik replies, clearly confused.

"You're the guy that's chasing after her. She told us that you liked her and you were courting her." Sung-Mi answers for her, she wants to vanish. It would be better if she had never existed. Even non-existence would be better than this embarrassing moment. "I got a picture of you two last time, when you followed her."

His eyes ping-pong between the group and her and she realizes this is his chance to ruin her. After everything she's done, all her rude comments and snobby remarks about the town and people he cares for so much, this is his chance for revenge. He can laugh and deny any feelings for her, tell them all that she's a liar and he's never been interested in her, not even once. This is what is going to happen. She prepares herself for the fall out, surely after this she won't be able to show her face in Seoul again.

He starts to laugh and her stomach tightens, her palms are so sweaty.

Here it goes.

"Oh I guess she wanted to keep me a secret."

Wait. What. That doesn't sound like denial.

"We're together now. I finally bulldozed those walls and made her mine. Nice to meet you all I'm Hong Du-sik, Hye-Jin ah's boyfriend."

Her eyes widen as he bows and starts to shake hands with the husbands, the one that stared at her looking disappointed. Their handshake goes on for a second too long, eventually with the latter pulling away with a pained look. She's too confused to consider what that means.

"And you were so cold earlier saying you had no one. Did you want to make a fool of us?"

He answers for her, "It's nothing like that, my honey is still getting used to us. I'm sorry I'm so late I had something to take care of."

Her head is spinning too fast to keep up with everything happening and she's grateful when he excuses them and guides her outside with a large hand on her hip.

Fresh air is much appreciated and she takes in huge heaps of it as soon as they're free.

Then reality crashes down on her.

He knows about her lying.

He had called her bluff.

But he didn't out her.

"Why didn't you tell them the truth?" She finally manages to say, head still reeling.

But instead of answering he's staring at her legs, then slowly his eyes swivel upward cross her thighs curving around her hips, past her breasts (a bit too slow there) before moving to her collar and settling on her face.

"You look great."

She feels the heat rushing to her face. What was he doing to her?

It hadn't been in purpose but she finds herself in red again, an a line dress with criss crossing straps over her shoulder and a middle slit. It was conservative without being too formal or professional. She'd felt comfortable in it but now seeing that look on his face, comfort is the last thing she feels.

He was distracting her and she couldn't afford that with those harpies inside waiting for her downfall. They needed to get back on track.

"What are you doing here?" She tries again, but he responds with his own question, "Why did you tell them that I was chasing you?"

"It was a mistake. They thought we were together and I just....said that for no reason." It's half the truth.

"They don't seem like your friends. You looked like you needed someone on your side, so I just found myself saying we were together for no reason."

She looks at him blankly, heart pounding now. In her moment of weakness instead of kicking her, he'd lended a helping hand. What kind of person did it make her for expecting the former?

"So what now?" She asks still in disbelief that he's here and that he'd told people that there were dating, she would be angry and offended later that they had readily believed it. Perhaps it didn't seem too farfetched now with him looking like that right now.

"Well, don't look but they're watching us through the glass."

This time she finds herself turning to look and he's the one that has to stop her, he does so by suddenly grabbing her hand and tugging her into his body. She squeaks at the collision. Leaning down so his lips are level with her ear, he speaks, "We can give them a show. I'm happy to be your pretend boyfriend."

Why?

She yearns to ask him why he's willing to go this far for her? Why was he even here when she had never told him where the convention was taking place? But his words were hot on her ear and she's tired of being their source of entertainment so she nods looking up at him, "Just this once. I'm going to lean on you. Let me borrow your eraser and copy your homework."

He stares before a blinding smile graces his handsome face.

"Let's go then." His hand is heavy on her waist as he walks back towards the hotel, taking his role very seriously it seems.

He fits in perfectly. Able to talk about a plethora of topics to anyone he's introduced to and even she's impressed by him. Be it travel, philosophy or poetry he seems well versed in everything things that even she is ignorant to and it makes her regret the way she looked down on him before, he was anything but a country bumpkin.

She leaves him to his conversation to get a drink, a whiskey on the rocks. Needing something hard tonight.

Not that. Down brain.

"Yoon Hye Jin? I would recognize that face anywhere."

Twisting to face the voice, she sees a familiar face- old classmate. Rung Do-Bae, they weren't anything more than classmates despite his many, many attempts.

His eyes sweep over her hungrily. She swallows her drink, painting on a shallow smile.

"Sunbae, how nice to see you here."

Invading her space he grabs her hand, "There is no need for such formalities. You can just call me by my name, Hye Jin ah."

As if she ever would.

Gently she tries to extract her hand but he won't let go and she doesn't want to make a scene.

Suddenly she's warmed by a body pressing into her, she knows who it is without even looking, her body relaxes immediately.

"Sorry I got lost in conversation honey. Who might this be? Another friend of yours?" He thrusts his right hand out and Do-Bae has no choice but to release her hand to return his handshake. Scarily enough she's starting to become used to his nickname, barely reacting to him using it again.

"Yes, this is my sunbae from school. Sunbae this is Hong Du Sik my....."

She knows that this is all an act, they were doing this to help her but she can't bring her tongue to form around the word, boyfriend.

"Her boyfriend." He finishes for her, pulling her tighter to his body.

But Do-Bae looks suspicious now.

"Boyfriend? I thought you were still single. You never changed your status on SNS. I've checked."

"Why are you so curious about that?" Du-sik challenges in return, doing a great job of sounding like a jealous boyfriend. She's almost even convinced.

"Hye Jin ah and I have always had a very special relationship. Beyond that of a hoobae and sunbae. Isn't that right?" He directs the last bit to her and she feels Du-sik stiffen next to her, seemingly believing these lies. So she clears that up.

"I have no idea what you're referring to honestly. We have never had anything that would constitute as a "special" relationship. I would appreciate if you didn't spread such lies, especially to my boyfriend. Enjoy the rest of your night."

She tugs Du-sik away, not waiting for a reply from the other man. The conversation was over anyway.

When they get far enough he speaks, "You have a lot of admirers."

She raises an eyebrow at the non-sequitur.

"Are you surprised?"

He brushes a hand across her cheek, making her freeze.

"No. It makes sense."

She blinks slowly before laughing, it sounds fake even to her ears.

"You should have been an actor. Your acting skills are incredible." He doesn't laugh, doesn't move before they're pulled into another conversation and she tries not to think about how tightly his body is pressed against her own.

"How is he in bed? He hasn't left you alone all day, I bet it's passionate." As soon as lunch had ended they had invited her to a spa, she'd considered saying no but she knew they would talk about her even if she wasn't there so it was best to at least know what they were saying.

Du-sik looked sad to see her go, but she told herself that she wasn't good at reading his faces. They hardly knew each other.

"I can't remember the last time I had a passionate night of sex. Kids and a full time job, leave no time for that. I'm pretty sure he's cheating on me and I'm too tired to even care." Sung-Mi confesses and she's shocked when the others nod in agreement instead of threatening to castrate him, as she'd done when Mi-seon told her about her ex boyfriend cheating.

"I have no complaints. He's... attentive. He's always touching me and pushing his way into my space. He's gentle but passionate, and I like...that he's so much bigger than me." She knows she should stop, this is definitely taking the lies too far. But that night bleeds into her thoughts, making everything she's saying feel true. He'd been so gentle with her, those huge hands cupping her face. She wondered how they would feel on other parts of her body.

"Damn. Look at you getting horny just from remembering. I'm so jealous."

Jealous. There were envious of her, it was all she'd been hoping for but the happiness she expected to erupt never comes. Instead she feels cheap, like she'd used Du-sik for her own benefit. She had tainted that night. This wasn't what she wanted.

As the day had gone on she found herself looking at him too much, he'd come all the way just for her and regardless of her brain trying to minimize that, it was huge. He hated snobby people like them who based a person's worth in their monetary success and yet he put on a smile and chatted with everyone, letting them mock his way of life and call people like him useless dreamers. All while she did nothing to defend him and drank wine, happy that they were being accepted.

He was the perfect gentleman all day and he was getting nothing in return for this. It was all just to help her.

Would a friend truly go this far to help? Was she being naive or was it like Mi-seon said, was she lying to herself?

"I'm such an idiot."

Without another word, she flees the sauna rushing to the locker room and changing back into her clothes. Nobody follows her because they aren't her friends. Why had she wasted so much time trying to impress these people who aren't even truly happy in their own lives?

The drive back is long, and she doesn't know what she's going to say but she knows that she's tired of being scared.

Leaving the key in the car she rushes past the valet, into the hotel elevator pressing their floor and waiting impatiently.

It takes three tries to get into their hotel room but once the door opens, he's right there. Sitting in the seat by the window reading a book.

"You're back early. I thought you would be gone until three?" He looks up, dog earring his book and giving her his full attention. Her heart skips a beat.

"Why did you agree to do this for me? Why go through all this trouble for me?"

It's the same question he's been asking himself since he first met her. Why was he was interested in her and why did he keep wanting to save her?

It was the desire that led to him being here.

He had accidentally overhead Mi-seon talking to Eun Chol about being worried about her, the convention was overnight and everyone would be bringing someone and she'd be all alone. The thought of her alone and isolated, made him race to her without a plan. Only stopping at a store to buy his outfit so he would fit in with her crowd, he'd spent more in that shop then he usually did in a week. But it was worth it for her.

It was a miracle that she hadn't questioned his presence more, he knew it was shameless and deceiving but none of this felt like pretending to him. His jealousy had been real, he'd had to strangle the urge to kick the pervert husband with the wandering eyes and then the insistent sunbae who wouldn't take a hint. She was a vision in the red dress and it wasn't a surprise that men found her enchanting, he just didn't like them looking at her. But she wasn't his, never would be because he couldn't confess.

They weren't right for each other.

"Do you like me?"

That question again. Last time he had laughed it off, called it absurd. But it wasn't. Not liking her would have been absurd.

"I don't know why you're asking me that."

"Because I'm tired of us lying to ourselves. Don't laugh and don't you dare say it's absurd again."

He can't respond, he's stuck on the word "us". It wasn't just him, they were an us?

Hearing that gives him courage he had long thought had been most forever.

"I wasn't pretending today. Nothing was fake to me, I meant it all." It's terrifying, unchartered land for them and he waits to see which one of them will chicken out first. It's sure to happen.

"I'm going to kiss you." She says instead of running like he expected and secretly wished for.

And then she's crossing the room and leaning down to grab his face, she watches him giving him a chance to pull away but he does the opposite, this time he meeting her half way. As soon as their lips meet the kiss is already too much, she's sliding into his lap and he wraps his arms around her tugging her closer until their chests are squished together.

He hasn't kissed anyone like this in a long time.

Hasn't been this close to losing control in a longer time.

"You're dangerous." He whispers into her mouth and she giggles at the statement, wiggling in his arms and rolling into him forcing a punched out groan from his lips.

Carefully he lifts her shirt watching her face closely for any signs that she wants to stop but finding nothing but her palpable lust.

Her skin is unbelievably smooth and soft and he can't stop himself from stroking her, rubbing at her back his hands resting right above her butt.

"How long have you felt this way?" She asks softly seductively nipping at his neck and running a hand over his shirt to caress his stomach, he physically aches for her.

"I wanted you the moment I saw you. But I didn't feel this until you convinced grandma to get her implants. That was when it became more for me."

She looks surprised and he is too, that they're speaking so candidly about feelings they've always denied.

"What about you?"

She stops licking at his neck to look him in the eyes. He's nervous to hear her reply.

"I.... don't know."

He tries to hide his disappointment. Maybe she was starting to retreat back into her shell. Maybe he shouldn't have been so honest.

He's about to untangle them when she continues, "It wasn't at first sight but one day I found myself looking for you. Seeing you become the best part of my day, I started to count on you to be there for me. To expect it. Just like this, I've been scared to lean on anyone until I met you."

Now that's a confession.

Impulsively he stands with her still on his lap, forcing her to to latch onto him so she doesn't tumble to the floor. Not that this would ever happen because he would never let her fall.

"I could have fell!" She cries, clinging to his shoulders and wrapping her legs around his waist. Her half naked bra clad body so close to him is causing another biological crisis in his pants.

Walking to the large bed in the middle of the room he falls backwards, enjoying the view of her on top of him a little too much.

It's all probably too soon and they should probably slow down, but his body is strumming and he wants nothing more than to break her apart.

"I'm all sweaty. I should take a shower."

Instantly an image of her wet and naked under the downpour of a shower flashes in his mind and he has to twist away from her.

"Pervert." She accuses but he can hear how satisfied she is with his reaction. Damn tease.

"Do you want to join me?" She teases some more, having fun now that she knows her power over him.

He looks at her helplessly.

"Are you having fun? Remember what I told you before? I'm still a guy. You're sitting here in your bra taunting me, do you think I'm that much of a good guy? Do you think I don't want to throw you down, rip your clothes off and eat you alive? I'm so hard right now just seeing you naked would be enough to push me over the edge. So don't make propositions you can't follow through on."

She looks dizzy from his words, eyes hooded and glossy. He watches her gulp and then stagger off to the bathroom, without a word to him. It's probably for the best, everything is too charged right now.

A shower for her and many glasses of water for him later, she's back and it's almost time for dinner.

"I think they said dinner starts at 6. Should we head down?"

She glances at him, while opening her bag and pulling out skin creams and some fuzzy socks.

"Would you be opposed to ordering room service and staying here?"

It's the best offer he's heard all day, only second to her asking if he wanted to join her in the shower.

"What about your colleagues?" He asks to make certain that she's really okay with this.

"What about them?" She replies with a shrug and he grins picking up the room service menu.

They order too much food and not enough alcohol but neither of them want to forget this night. She tells him stories about her time in dental school and he's happy to get to know her better, chuckling at the funny stories and commiserating at the sad ones.

Before he knows it night has fallen.

And he realizes that they'll be sharing a bed. Unless she wants him to sleep on the couch.

She's wearing a big shirt and loose shorts and he still can't believe he gets to see her like this.

"Are you coming to bed?" She's already getting under the sheet and that answers his question, this is really happening. He starts to follow her lead, getting under the sheets but keeping a respectable distance between them.

"I'm cold." She announces suddenly and he starts to look for a thermostat in the room or an extra blanket, before realizing that she's looking at him over her shoulder, he stares back confused before she lifts an eyebrow and oh, he gets it. Carefully moving closer he feels her warmth surround him as they meet, forth to back.

"Took you long enough." She grumbles, pulling his arm over here body and settling back into him moving until she's comfortable.

She's so close and warm and her smell is all around him and he feels his restraint dissolving and when she presses back into him, her hip rubbing against his crotch he bites down on his bottom lip.

It's too much for him to resist and without warning or preamble, he's turning her to face him and swallowing her moan of surprise eagerly. He grabs her head firmly holding her in place and slips his tongue into her open mouth, her unique taste exploding on his taste buds. He's hungry for more. So he starts to tug down her shorts, heart beat thundering in his groin. She kicks the shorts away, and he groans at the sight of her panties she was trying to kill him, he was certain.

"You're the devil." He chokes out staring at red lace, he'll never be able to see the color again without getting a raging hard on.

"You haven't seen anything yet. Honey." The word drips from her tongue just like the real thing.

Forgetting all reason and logics he lunges at her, devouring her mouth and sticking his hand in her panties. She's so warm and fuck, wet drenching his fingers.

Simultaneously he thrusts his tongue into her mouth and his fingers in her wet folds, groaning as she melts like butter under his touch. There's no resistance, as he plunges two fingers inside her experimentally before picking up his place when she clutches onto him and grinds back on his fingers, begging the whole time.

"More, more, please!"

As if he could ever deny her anything, with one hand he grabs her ass and the other he thrusts into her opening over and over until her voice gets breathy and she starts to stutter, squirming wildly in his arms and he knows exactly what's coming: the beautiful end. So without warning he pulls back the sheet and slithers down her body, throwing her legs around his head and pushing his tongue in to the brim, hungrily drinking at her until she shakes and combusts in his arms. Sweet on his tongue, he swallows it all greedily.

He strokes her as she recovers from her high, climbing back up her body. So much for taking things slow, but he can't even think about regretting it when he sees the blissed out look on her face. He wants to imprint it in his mind. Nobody else will ever get to see this face but him.

"It's your turn." She says sounding loopy like she's drunk and he laughs as she reaches for the tent in his pants but misses his bulge and instead falls into him.

"You're tired. Go to sleep. That was enough for me, seeing you like that fulfilled every fantasy I've had. "

He truly means it. He's a giver. And it's not like he can't tug one out later in the bathroom with her face and moans playing on repeat in his brain.

She starts to argue, but her phone vibrating on the nightstand distracts her. Reaching over she picks it up before chuckling and flopping back into the bed.

"What?" He asks curious, jealous of whoever is making her smile like that.

Ignorant to his inner thoughts, she thrusts her phone into his face. The room is so dark it takes a moment for his eyes to adjust to the bright lighting of the phone, but once he can see he reads the message on her phone and starts to laugh too.

"Dusik is missing! Nobody has seen him all day!! We started a search party."

[dontloseyourpants]

Stripped on Stage

A commission I received from @gaystripstories! You can also find him on Twitter here. And you can support him by buying his stories on Amazon here.

I'll out the actual story below the cut. It's about a cocky young Broadway bound hunk who has an embarrassing incident on stage during his big debut. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!

Before the Show: 

Hey, just wanted to stop by and wish everyone a great show! 

A sea of blank faces stared up at him, but he kept plodding on to get the reaction that he  desired. Walking further into the crowded dressing room, he finally stopped right behind me. 

I miss the camaraderie of being packed down here with everyone… it’s so lonely having  that dressing room upstairs all to myself. I usually just spend time before shows lying on my  couch until first call. 

Looking up, I saw his face forcing itself into what he thought was a genuine smile. For  someone who was apparently a much better actor than our poor little show deserved, he really  had such a hard time hiding his true emotions. 

Roger Stilton had quickly made a name for himself on Broadway. A Julliard grad just  like his rich father, he headed straight to Broadway and began booking any role he wanted. With  leading man good looks, his slicked back dark hair, and a jawline that could cut steel, Roger  actually could have earned his roles without daddy’s donations. 

As I continued looking up at him, I realized two things. First, his blush was much too  heavy for a theater as small as this one. 

Roger, sit down- let me help you out a bit. Quickly standing up in my boxers and  undershirt, I let him plop into my chair before wiping a makeup wipe across that beautiful face.  Here’s a tip when you’re not sure how strong to make your blush- you have to see what it should  be naturally and then add two swipes. 

Quickly taking hold of the bottom of his t-shirt, I ripped it over his head to expose that  chest to the whole room. His perky pecs and six pack abs were to die over, but for some reason,  even with all of that narcissism, he didn’t like showing off his body. 

See- that’s the color you want. 

I saw his eyes connect with his reflection to see the blush covering his cheeks, and I  added a bit of my powder onto his face to match. Grabbing his shirt, he just awkwardly held it in  front of him before walking back out of the room with his parting words flung over his shoulder. 

Well, let me let you get back to getting ready… I just love having a great ensemble behind  me on stage. 

I wanted to hate him, but I couldn’t. At least not for another week. He’d joined our show  after workshops, and even if I wouldn’t admit it, he was the reason we’d gotten our residency at  our off-Broadway theater. He was already booked for his next role in a few weeks in one of the  larger theaters, but if I had anything to do with it, I wanted to put his name in the news for  another reason. It was time to confirm the second thing that I realized once Roger walked in  here. 

Listen up. Every head turned back towards me this time, but unlike Roger, I could tell  that they wanted to hear what I had to say. I had a couple of decades on all of the younger actors 

around me, and they looked up to me since I’d give them actual advice. We’re a go for tonight.  Raise a hand if you’re in. 

Smiling to myself as I saw every hand quickly raise into the air, I knew that this would be  one show that Roger or the critics in the audience would never forget. I don’t know if Roger  knew that we’d picked up on it, but there was a lot of info that he gave away. He was using us as  a launch pad for some serious acting cred, and we were using him just as much. And for weeks  of workshops and performances, we existed together, but the last month had been different. He’d  starters treating us as disposable ensemble members even if the small cast all had named roles.  So, tonight, on the most important night of his run, we decided to get back at him. Looking up at  the timer on the ceiling above us, I realized that it was almost time for our first phase of the plan. 

Act 1: 

Look at him- if he wasn’t such a huge ass, he could really be the next big thing. Sorry- all I heard you say was huge ass, and I got distracted. 

Playfully slapping Sam on the arm, I kept watching Roger act as we waited for our cue.  Our show was a new take on the classic murder mystery, and each night, Roger dramatically died  on stage. The twist, the reason that we’d made it out of workshops, was that a new killer was  chosen each show. The audience could return night after night and still get a new experience  since we improved a lot and only kept core scenes consistent.  

This was one scene that was always the same, so Roger felt confident enough to ham it up as he looked at the two women in Row 2: The New Yorker and New York Times. They of  course had names, but Roger only knew them as the critics that he needed to impress. And he  truly was acting his ass off… and that was quite a challenge. Those dark gray slacks were barely  

stretched over that ample peach of a bottom, and I was reminded again that I was happy with the  game plan. And as he placed his glass of water back on the table, it was time for round 1.  

Natasha and Joslyn entered from stage left as Sam and I appeared from stage right, and in  a flurry of motion, we began bombarding him with questions.  

Sir, would you like the dinner menu? 

Please. 

Sir, would you like a wine list? 

That’d be delightful. 

Sir, would you like your water glass to be topped off? 

Certainly. 

Bending down, I poured the contents of my pitcher into his glass and across his chest. Oh monsieur, I am so sorry- let’s get you out of those wet clothes immediately. 

Patting him down with the hand towel, Sam walked behind him and began unbuttoning  Roger’s shirt. In utter shock, Roger just sat there staring at the pitcher that I’d laid down in front  of him- the one that looked completely normal. In every other show, a special prop had been  used that only held half a cup of water, but tonight, it looked like I’d grabbed the wrong pitcher  from the props table accidentally.  

There we go- we’ll have this dried and steamed before you even get the dessert menu…  not that it looks like you eat dessert often.  

He tried to cover his exposed chest as we left stage, but the tiny menu couldn’t cover  much. If he pulled it down, he exposed his perky pecs with his dark brown nipples shining under  the harsh lights, and if he pulled it up, you could see the happy trail disappearing into his pants.  As we all stood offstage in one giggling group, we watched the switch flip over in his head. He 

had just made the choice- he could either be embarrassed about being half naked on stage, or he  could continue acting so that the critics would write about how he powered through adverse  conditions. And he chose the second option… at least for now.

Act 2: 

After improving some line about remembering that he had a spare suit in his car, he  quickly walked off stage with his muscular back facing the audience. Once he disappeared into  the curtain, he began quietly yelling for the prop master, but he was nowhere to be found. Also  gone was the random rack of clothes that had been hiding in the wings for decades, so as he  rushed around, Roger only had time to grab someone’s suit coat and walk back on stage. 

Darling! Is it my birthday already? I thought I wouldn’t get my present until tomorrow. 

With her quick change successfully completed unlike her costar, Natasha was in a skin  tight dress and now playing Roger’s girlfriend. Walking circles around him, she began to  massage his tense body, and it seemed to be having an undesired effect on his lower half.  

Can I unwrap my present early?  

I’m so sorry love, but the weirdest thing happened at dinner earlier. I had time to grab a  spot of food before coming here, and then…  

As he began to sit down, the small blazer completely ripped down the middle, and the  ruined fabric fell in two pieces down each arm. Natasha was really hamming it up now as she  jumped up from the prop bed to kneel in front of her blushing boyfriend.  

I was joking before, but what else is about to come off? Did you somehow trade outfits  with a stripper? 

That time in the gym must have really filled out my shoulders.  

Then flex for me, Romeo. Let me see that body that’s all mine.  

Doing as told, Roger stood up and began to flex his muscles as he faced the audience. His  tanned chest seemed to glow under the lights, and I heard the audience getting into it more now.  If there were any repeat customers here, then they knew what normally happened here. Natasha  would have her birthday party, and in the commotion, Roger would meet his demise. But that  always happened fully clothed. 

Roger’s biceps were glistening in sweat, and his trimmed chest hair was as well. He was  breathtakingly gorgeous, and if only he wasn’t so cocky, we would have all adored him. As I saw  that blush spread further across those beautiful cheekbones, I wondered if there was something  more human under there. Just maybe… 

Oh, I just can’t resist anymore- come ravish me!  

With strength that I didn’t know she had, Natasha pulled Roger towards her as they fell  into the throes of passion on top of that bed. The audience was losing it as Natasha’s legs  comically kicked into the air before wrapping around Roger’s ample ass. She was kissing him all  over as Roger tried to break free for his cue. 

Oh honey, that special suit jacket wasn’t the only birthday surprise that I had planned. In  fact…

And this is where everything went so, so right. Roger lunged into a standing position  without even feeling Natasha’s fingers hook into the two small holes that had come undone on  each side of his tearaway pants. I don’t know how he hadn’t noticed earlier that we’d swapped them out before the show, but they’d stayed together right until they were needed.  

In comical slow motion, the back half of his pants fell to the floor as the front stayed  gripped in her hands.  

You got me exactly what I wanted! 

As Natasha jumped to meet him, we all started streaming on stage, holding balloons and  shooting party streamers into the air. The only one that was still was Roger who was somehow so  very, very visible in the middle of all of this chaos. With his pants gone, he was now standing  there in only his shoes, his nylon socks held up with leather garters on those strong calves, and  an impossibly tiny pair of baby blue bikini briefs that were trying their hardest to stretch over his  large frame.  

We all took a cue from the audience and focused on Roger as he stood petrified on stage.  His hands hung limply at his side, too embarrassed to even move them to cover up his impressive  bulge and thick pubes that were showing over the stretched waistband. You could have heard a  pin drop in the eerie quiet before one camera flash went off from the audience followed by  several more. I saw our one underpaid usher try to stop the cameras, but it was too late.  

Finally urged into action as he saw how many photos of him would soon end up online,  Roger finally spun around to try to find his pants, his jacket- just anything to cover himself up  with. Seeing the bed sheet that had been flung into the floor, he reached to grab it, but I was too  quick and stepped onto it to keep him from getting it.  

Standing back up, he had rage in his eyes as he looked at me, and he had no idea that  even more photos were taken now of him. From the back, his tiny briefs had been wedged  between those glorious cheeks, and he was exposing almost every inch of skin that he could.  

It was you- you’re the one that did it! 

He was about five minutes early with that line, but Roger’s embarrassment had finally  taken over his need to impress the critics. That was usually what he said when he discovered who  the killer was right before falling to the ground, but now, he was saying it to me even though  Joslyn was the one who’d dropped the ‘poison’ into his pasta in the previous scene.  

What are you talking about? It’s me- your best friend! 

A best friend wouldn’t do this on the most important night of their life! 

Reaching forward, he grabbed onto my shirt and yanked it apart. Buttons went flying as  my own chest was exposed to the crowd. My mouth was trying to hard not to break into a smirk  behind my trimmed salt and pepper beard as I backed away from Roger. Following me back  under the lights, he just kept going. 

You’ve always been jealous of me- my career, my body, everything! Do you know how  hard I’ve fought for this? Do you?  

He truly believed the words that he was saying even though he’d never had to go to an  open casting call in a crowded building downtown. He’d never had to squeeze into a borrowed  pair of LaDucas and dance for hours just to be told that they’d gone in a different direction. Oh  no, Roger had never felt rejection like that which is what would make what happened next even  sweeter.  

He lunged at me, and we fell in a heap on the floor. The audience, even the return  viewers, probably had no idea that anything had gone wrong. Everything we’d done had been in  character, and only one thing would be able to prove to them that this show had gone off the  rails.  

Roger’s body was gyrating around on top of me, but he never landed a punch. He wasn’t  angry enough for that, but he was too flustered to even know what to do. He couldn’t handle this  humiliation, and he was just lashing out. And then, it all stopped. As we tussled, we both heard  the pop and froze. It could have been anything, but we both knew exactly what it was. 

The Final Bow: 

And the award goes to Roger Stilton! 

The cameras all swung towards him as he tried to duck down into his seat. This is not  how he wanted awards season to go. He had just lost the Best Actor award for his starring role in  Thoroughly Modern Millie, and he was about to go to the bar until he heard his name called  again. Looking up at the big screen, he saw the category that he didn’t even know that he was  nominated for- Best Quick Change.  

With the DramaDesk award in hand, the late-night talk show host who had no business  being here walked on stage. I was sitting on the side in the cheap seats, but I could still see  everything. The last time that I’d seen Roger was when I’d been lying shirtless beneath him. I  watched as he sat motionless in his chair, and he only got up once the screen started playing a  video from that night.  

He was kneeling on top of me, and as we wrestled, the tiny strap on the right side of his bikini briefs popped right off. With his ass aimed right towards the camera, his pendulous cock  fell into view between his legs, and he tried to cover himself unsuccessfully with his hands. As  he moved, the rest of his underwear fell apart and landed on my chest leaving him completely  

naked.  

Standing up, he kept spinning around, turning one way and then the other to hide his  embarrassment. His hands were clasped over his manhood which left that ass completely  exposed. His tight waist made his bubble butt even more impressive, and the untanned skin acted  as a beacon for everyone’s eyes and cameras. I’d watched this scene dozens of times from the  comfort of my own apartment, but as Roger walked on stage to confront the host, I realized that  he probably had tried to forget this ever happened.  

When Audra Macdonald won earlier, she serenaded us with a few bars. Roger, what do  you plan on showing off to this crowd? 

The crowd was going wild, but unlike that fateful night, the crowd was over five times  bigger and full of people that Roger wanted to impress. He tried to put on a fake laugh and grab  the award, but even from this far away, I could see how strong that blush was as the host kept  going.  

No seriously, I think we need you to show it off! What does everyone here think?  

I let my cheer join the crowd as we egged him on, but he still wasn’t budging. And then,  the host looked right at me, and I pinched myself to see if this was all a dream.  

Do we need your old costar to come help out? He knows his way around this stage since  he’s performed here a few times. Come on up! 

The spotlight hit me, and now it was my time to feel a little shy. I’d been a background  dancer here in a few awards show opening numbers, but I’d never been up there individually.  Would my big break come decades later than it should have? 

Stepping on stage, I saw Roger’s heart drop, and my nerves suddenly vanished. He let the  host turn him around, and I realized that he was petrified again.  

Make me change my mind, Roger. Why shouldn’t I expose you again for how you treated  us on that show? 

Tommy, please, don’t do it.  

I could have been nice and joked around with him as we walked offstage to pretend like  this was a planned bit. But, he messed up.  

Roger, you didn’t even learn the names of your costars. My name is David- Tommy  worked the sound board.  

And before he could react, I grabbed onto those tuxedo pants and yanked them to the  ground. The button ripped off easily, and they gave me no resistance before sliding down to his  ankles. He’d learned his lesson from earlier and was wearing a pair of black trunks, but I still had  a little bit of humiliation left to give him. I could and should have stopped there, but I didn’t.  Grabbing onto his waistband, I pulled his undies to the floor and stepped back to let him have the  spotlight all to himself like he desperately wanted.  

His half-naked body was projected onto the big screen again but in real time now. His  ample, untanned ass still jutted out from his athletic body, and as he tried to bend down and grab  his pants, it jiggled with every movement.  

Looking down into the audience, I somehow made eye contact with Jan, the critic that  Roger always referred to as The New Yorker sitting not too far from where I’d been seated. As  she began typing onto her phone, I realized that Roger would get that big headline after all.

[randominagines]

Hey can you do a nick clark smut with this prompt(Do it again and don't stop this time)

thanks for the request, I love this!

Pairing: Nick Clark fem!reader

Setting: S02, E03

Warning: smut, language, oral sex

P.s. if you find any mistake please correct me, English is not my mother tongue and I want to improve. Reblog, if you can, it helps a lot, thank you💕

P.p.s. gifs belong to the creators.

The Confession

Arguing with Nick Clark was kinda stressing for y/n: he knew exactly how to make her laugh or distract her. She tried to stay mad at him, but she simply couldn't. Anyway, that time, she wanted to be firm and make him understand that he couldn't always act so reckless. Her heart almost stopped when she saw him entirely covered in blood, walking among the zombies as if he was one of them. She couldn't even describe the relief she perceived as soon as Nick glanced at her to make her understand that he was just fine. As soon as they got back in the Abigail, she decided that she didn't want to see him for the rest of her day: he had scared the shit out of her.

She got out of the shower and squeezed her hair, then she grabbed a towel to dry herself. She quickly put a pair of underwear and a long t-shirt that happened to be Nick's. "Splendid." She mumbled to herself while realising that she had put it on. Her best friend used to share his clothes with her, it had always been like that and they had been best friends for a lifetime. She was about to tidy up her cabin when she heard knocking. She looked at the door. "Alicia?" She asked, Alicia used to go to y/n quite often, they were like sisters. "Not exactly." Nick's voice made her frown. She rolled her eyes and opened the door. Nick was standing there, all cleaned up with his long hair half wet and his usual joyful smirk on his face, while wearing a black shirt that suited him so well. She sighed. "What do you want, Clark? She brusquely asked. He laughed and raised his arms. "Whoa, someone is nervous today. Can I come in, y/l/n?" He asked while smiling at her. She chewed the internal part of her cheek but nodded and moved aside to let him in. He looked around and sat on her bed. "I love the fact that the world is totally changed, but the fact that you're messy stays exactly the same." He fooled her around while staring at her. She normally would have smiled, but she didn't. "I was about to tidy up." She simply said and started brushing her hair, they were almost dry. Nick raised an eyebrow. "Okay, spit it out, why are you mad at me?" He asked.

She turned and looked at him, her eyes scanning his. "You're so smart, Nicholas Clark, yet so slow sometimes." She said and he stood up, his long legs moving to walk toward her. She crossed her arms over her chest. "What happened? I'm behaving..?" He said, referring to the fact that he was staying out of meds. She shook her head. "Are you? An hour ago you were walking between zombies entirely covered in blood, making me believe for a second that you were lost, turned into one of them and almost causing me an heart attack. Is this behaving?" She asked, her eyes getting watery. He took a step back and frowned. "Y/n, I didn't think that..." She raised her hand. "You never think, Nick, you never think that you are literally the most important person of my life, that losing you would mean losing my heart for me. Yet here you are, being reckless, irresponsible, putting your life at risk. When I saw you there... I thought you were gone." She finally said, a tear running down her cheek. He looked at her, his eyes filled with sadness. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you worried. I'm just like this, you know, but I would never hurt you by purpose. Why are you so upset?" He asked, his hand reaching her cheek to wipe away her tears. She took a deep breath. "Because I'm in love with you, you irresponsible asshole!" She finally snapped, her eyes stuck into his. His hand stopped at mid air, his eyes widened and he stumbled back as if she had just punched him. He had been in love with her since forever, he couldn't even process those words.

She exhaled and ran her hands through her hair. "I know you don't feel the same, I know I just made this whole situation complicated, but I need to tell you because..." She couldn't finish her sentence because he had crushed his lips against hers. She initially widened her eyes in surprise, then she immediately closed them and kissed him back, her arms crossing over his shoulders. He grabbed her by her waist to pull her closer, their bodies attached while he lifted her. She crossed her legs around his waist and let him gently lay her down on her bed, his body moving to be on the top of hers. They didn't stop kissing while he gently caressed her legs, his fingers travelling toward her stomach and hips. He smiled on her lips. "For as much as I love the fact that you're wearing my t-shirt," he whispered on her lips, his hands lifting her shirt. "I want to see it on this floor now." He concluded and took it off her.

She was wearing only her underwear, her whole body exposed. He stared at her, his eyes worshipping her every curve and his smirk showing how much he was enjoying the sight of her. She felt incredibly loved. She put a hand behind his head and pulled him toward her to kiss him again. He grinned. "You're fucking gorgeous, y/n." He whispered before kissing her. Her hands started to unbotton his shirt, and he laughed on her lips, noticing how impatient she was. He took the shirt off and she caressed his chest, his white skin smooth under her fingers. He quickly took off his trousers as well, their bodies now both exposed. They had seen eachother almost naked many times: they grew up together, went to sea holidays together for years, saw the other getting dressed and changing when they were kids but that was totally a first time for the both of them. That was different, that was intimate, that was passionate. She started at him and caressed his cheek. "Nick, you are..." She was about to say, but he laughed. "Skinny and pale." He said, his insecurities popping out. She shook her head. "Beautiful, you're beautiful, Nicholas Clark." She concluded and he smiled, his lips on her neck.

She tilted her head back to let him kiss her, he left small bites under her jaw while his hands caressed her body. He licked her nipple and his finger squeezed the other while she moaned, her body shaking. He bit her nipple and smirked when she gasped, his hands removing her underwear. His lips travelled down her body, on her stomach, hips, inner thigh and he gently opened her legs. His lips were now on her clit, his tongue twirling on it while his fingers caressed her legs. She grabbed his long hair and pulled them when he sucked her clit, her eyes rolling because of the pleasure. "Nick..." She whispered and he smiled, he loved hearing his name coming from her lips. He slowly caressed her entrance with his finger, her body immediately responded: she arched her back and her legs shook. He slowly penetrated her with his finger while licking her clit, his tongue fast but his touch delicate. She closed her eyes and caressed his hair, her breath irregular. He suddenly rotated his finger while his tongue quickly pressed on her clit. She gasped and widened her eyes, her head lowered to look at him. "Shit, that felt heavenly. Do it again and don't stop this time," she said, she was out of breath. He smiled without stopping, his eyes staring at her to enjoy the sight of her pleasure. She closed her eyes and pulled her hair. "Please..." She whispered, her whole body shaking. He repeated his movements but faster, his fingers hitting exactly the spot she was hoping he'd touched. She arched her back, her orgasm crossing her like a wave. He grabbed her leg with his free hand, his tongue circling her clit. She moaned his name, her eyes closed while she desperately tried not to be too loud: the walls were thin on the Abigail. She rolled her eyes and he suddenly moved on the top of her, his fingers not letting her go.

He crushed his lips on hers while adding another finger inside of her, his movement now faster. She tasted herself on his tongue and grabbed his shoulders while he kept moving his fingers inside of her. She looked at him and he felt his heart skip a beat: she was absolutely vulnerable, totally lost in her pleasure, completely his. He couldn't believe how beautiful she was. She scratched his back, her nails embedded in his skin. "Nick, please..." She moaned on his lips, he smiled. "It's okay, come again, babe." He invited her and she let herself go once again. Another orgasm invaded her, her body attached to his and her fingers leaving scratches on his back. He bit her nipple, his eyes not leaving hers not even for a second. She exhaled as soon as the orgasm finished, her body immediately relaxing. He gradually stopped penetrating her and removed his fingers, his lips covering her cheeks, neck, lips and chest with small, tender kisses. She caressed his head while he smiled. "I love you too, y/n, since we where kids." He whispered, his arms wrapping her. She opened her mouth. "Really?" She asked, she never noticed anything at all. He nodded. "I've been trying to hide for so long that I had lost any hope that you could feel the same." He admitted and looked down, his fingers drawing figures on her chest and stomach. She caressed his cheek. "Well, I feel the same." She said and he smiled while kissing her again. She parted her lips to let his tongue in, her hands playing with the waistband of his boxer. He grinned. "Y/n..." He whispered on her lips, his eyes getting darker.

She smirked. "My turn." She said and he laughed. Before she could actually do something, she heard knocks at her door. They both jumped out of their skin. "Yes?" She asked while instinctively covering her breast. "Y/n, it's almost lunch time, have you seen Nick?" Alicia asked. They both immediately stood up: Nick quickly put his trousers and shirt on and y/n put her t-shirt without even wearing her underwear. "Yes, he's here. Come in." She said and Alicia slowly opened the door. She looked around and shook her head, that room was a mess. "What are you doing here? Are you two not hungry?" She asked while stepping on a shoe, she almost fell. "Uhm, Nick was helping me tidying up." Y/n lied and Nick nodded. "Yes, this room is unbelievable." He added while picking up a rubber band from the floor. Alicia nodded. "I agreed but now it's time to eat. If we're not sat around the table mom won't allow us to start so come because I'm starving." She said and they both nodded. "Okay, give us a second to pick up these last things." She looked around. Alicia nodded and walked toward the door. "Fine, and one last thing," she turned to face them. "Next time, not so loud, y/n." She joked. Y/n widened her eyes and covered her face in shame while Nick bursted into laugh.

Alicia smiled and winked at her best friend while leaving the room. "Oh my God, that's..." She tried to say but Nick looked at her. "Funny." He said and she shook her head. "Embarrassing! That's utterly embarrassing." She said and violently blushed. He grabbed her waist and gave her a quick kiss. "Nah, it's Alicia, it's okay." He said and picked up her underwear. He gave it to her and she took it, her cheeks still red. "We have been caught and I haven't even been able to..." She complained while putting the underwear on and grabbing a pair of shorts. He caressed her back and looked at her. "This isn't finished, y/n." He whispered, his voice low. She smiled on his lips. "Fine, but next time I'll be the one making you say my name." She provoked him and bit his lower lip. He licked his lip. "I can't wait, babe."

[horansqueen]

Stuck With You - Chapter 37

Chapter 37: Save Me

🡪chapter 1  🡪chapter 2  🡪chapter 3  🡪chapter 4  🡪chapter 5  🡪chapter 6  🡪chapter 7  🡪chapter 8  🡪chapter 9  🡪chapter 10  🡪chapter 11 🡪chapter 12 🡪chapter 13 🡪chapter 14 🡪chapter 15 🡪chapter 16 🡪chapter 17 🡪chapter 18 🡪chapter 19 🡪chapter 20 🡪chapter 21 🡪chapter 22 🡪chapter 23 🡪chapter 24 🡪chapter 25 🡪chapter 26 🡪chapter 27 🡪chapter 28 🡪chapter 29 🡪chapter 30 🡪chapter 31 🡪chapter 32  🡪chapter 33 🡪chapter 34 🡪chapter 35 🡪chapter 36

College Enemies To Lovers AU

characters // masterlist // instagrams // mood board

Loving you like I never have before I'm needing you to open up the door If begging you might somehow turn the tides Then tell me to I've got to get this off my mind

I never thought I'd be speaking these words I never thought I'd need to say Another day alone is more than I can take

Won't you save me Saving is what I need I just want to be by your side Won't you save me I don't want to be Just drifting through the sea of life

click here to be on the update list

DEVON

                                              When I woke up, my lips curled immediately. My cheek was pressed against Niall's chest and he smelled amazing, so good in fact that I inhaled until my lungs were full and ended up rubbing my nose against him gently. I could barely believe that I had admitted my feelings to him. I didn't regret it, it was becoming very heavy on my shoulders, but at the same time, I didn't know if I was ready for a relationship, and I didn't know if he was either. I knew we'd have to talk about it but it scared me and I didn't want to hurt him or be hurt. I just wished things were easier, that we both hadn't been hurt by unworthy people in toxic relationships before. I knew that we would be able to give ourselves completely to each other if we hadn't had our hearts broken that way, and I hated knowing that my relationship with Henry could ruin what I had with Niall.

I kept my eyes closed but moved my chin up, leaving a small kiss near his chin and I heard him breathe in deeply before I felt his arms wrap around me. It made me realize how cold I was and how good it felt to have him hold me close. I shut my eyes tighter and tried to cuddle him more as I shivered in his arms.

"'Morning." he mumbled, making me smile.

"Good morning." I replied, my lips brushing on the skin of his neck. "I'm sure we would have slept better in the bed."

He chuckled and pulled me closer to him. "Yea, I'd bet a blowjob on it."

I chuckled and my eyes fluttered open. "That early in the morning? Really?"

He laughed a bit and bent down to reach my lips, pressing his against them a few times softly and letting out a low groan. I brought my hand and slipped my fingers in his hair, caressing it gently as I focused on the way his mouth felt. My heart fluttered and I felt so stupid but I really couldn't help it. When Niall kissed me, even in a simple way like he was, I felt like the whole world vanished, leaving only us two. It was scary but it was also magic, as cheesy as it sounded.

"Yes, really." he finally replied when his lips left mine. "Having my girlfriend's body pressed against mine tends to do that."

My heart seemed to stop and I held my breath. We hadn't discussed about our status yet and I was a bit surprised that he just assumed we were now dating. I couldn't blame him and I was not mad, but somehow, it was stressing me and I was not sure why.

"G-Girlfriend?"

He moved his face away a bit to look at me and my lips parted, my heart skipping a beat as I looked at him. It seemed surreal that someone like Niall wanted to date someone like me and at the same time, I felt so lucky to be loved by such an amazing man. Was that how real love felt like? Was that what it felt like to love someone who loves you back?

"I mean, I know we didn't really discuss it but," he shrugged a shoulder and ran his tongue on his bottom lip. "It sounds good, doesn't it?"

My traits softened and I pressed my lips together, just looking at him. He was right, it did sound good and I liked it more than I should. But at the same time, I felt my heart sink in my stomach at that thought.

"Niall, I don't know-"

I stopped suddenly and jumped when we heard the key turn in the lock. I found Niall's hand and squeezed his fingers tight, a bit scared that it was an employee and not one of our friends, but when the door opened, my jaw dropped at who was behind it.

"You're welcome." Abby said, sending us an amused smile, shaking the keys and making an annoying sound. "Noah sent me. He drank too much last night and we just saw your message. Took me half an hour to find which closet you guys were locked in."

I got up and Niall did the same, grabbing his boxers as I took my underwear and when I turned around, Abby's eyebrows were raised. It was hard to know what she was thinking about but she ended up just sighing and turning around.

"Hey, Abby, thanks." Niall finally said, following her out of the closet.

She turned around and sent him a small smile that disappeared immediately when Niall grabbed my hand in his. His intertwined our fingers and I swallowed hard as my heartbeats accelerated. Abby's gaze turned to me and once again, I held my breath. She was looking at me as if she was ready to jump on me and rip my eyes out but after a while, she just raised her chin and eyebrows up.

"You're welcome."

I sort-of expected Niall to let go of my hand when Abby had left but he didn't, and I felt stupid for thinking that. Niall was not doing this to make Abby jealous, he was doing it because he wanted to. He wanted to hold my hand and be with me. Was I really going to ruin this?

We took the elevator in silence and when we finally walked back in our room, I squeezed Niall's hand tighter, scared that he'd just let go. He pulled on it and turned around, walking slowly backward with a smile on his face and bringing me with him.

"We should really take a shower."

"Together?"

He nodded and the smirk on his face made me chuckle. I let him bring me to the bathroom and closed the door with one of my feet. I hated the way I was feeling, a mix of fear and happiness that made my stomach twist but my heart flutter at the same time.

He let go of my hand and cupped my face gently, bending down to kiss my lips.

"Let me help you, okay?"

I nodded and he just grabbed the bottom of my shirt, passing it over my head and messing my hair at the same time. I chuckled and he did too, his mouth quickly finding mine again as he pressed his smile against mine.

"I just knew you were not wearing underwear and I like that." he added in a whisper, a smirk still spread on his lips.

"Pervert." I replied with an other chuckle as he worked on my pants.

I quickly reached for the back of his shirt and helped him take it off as I pushed my pants away, focusing on taking off his. I laughed a bit when he pulled on his socks, almost tripping, and when we were finally naked, he started the shower, waiting for the water to get warm. It took only a few seconds and I followed him, placing the curtain back and tilting my chin to look in his eyes. I loved this intimacy more than I could explain and when he took a step back to get under the stream, I smiled more. I loved looking at him naked, and this time, it was not even sexual. I could understand why he was a model and I thought about all the pictures I could take at this exact moment.

"Come here." I whispered, making him raise his eyebrows. "Just bend down."

I grabbed the shampoo and poured some in my hands before bringing them to his head, rubbing my hands slowly his hair and scratching his skull at the same time. He groaned and his eyes closed, making me smile even more as I let my hands run on his chest and shoulders to wash him. He turned around and my fingers traveled on his back and down his butt and when I was done, he turned around slowly and bent down to kiss me again.

He didn't say anything but did the same to me, rubbing his hands slowly but gently in my hair before letting them slide on my shoulders, breasts and stomach. He reached for my back while kissing me again and I smiled against his lips when his hands brushed on my ass.

"Are you done?" I asked in a whisper, making him nod slowly.

"Mmhm, yea."

I rinsed my hair under the water and he did the same and we finally got out grabbing towels and walking back in our room. I shivered slightly and sat in bed before yawning. He walked to the other side and pulled on the blankets before laying down in bed. I frowned but I did the same, shivering as I let my towel fall on the carpet.

"I can't believe Abby's the one who unlocked us." he finally said, shaking his head and chuckling again.

"And she was pissed, too."

Niall turned around in bed and when I turned my head to look at him, he was frowning.

"Really? I didn't notice."

He seemed sincere and it made my lips curl. I couldn't believe he hadn't realized that taking my hand had bothered Abby so much that she was not able to hide the annoyed expression on her face. I felt Niall's hand slide on my stomach and he pulled me closer, turning my body his way so we were facing each other. His fingertips ran up and down my back softly, making goosebumps appear on my skin as his eyes moved slowly on my face, making me blush slightly. He probably couldn't see it though, since the curtains were closed and despite the room not being completely in the dark since it was sunny outside.

"This is how we should have slept last night." he pointed out after a few minutes of silence. "We should nap."

"Okay."

I felt his forehead lean against mine and I closed my eyes, my lips curling slightly. It felt so good to be close to him and it made me think of all the days we had spent together at his apartment, making me want to go back there desperately.

I was almost asleep, my mind creating scenarios of us together, when I heard his voice.

"Devie..."

"Mm."

"I love you."

--

I woke up feeling Niall's hand run on one of my breasts before moving to the other. Somehow, I had turned around when I was asleep and we were now spooning. I could feel his hard cock press on my ass and I whimpered low, my eyes still closed. I loved knowing he wanted me and somehow, it made me feel desirable for the first time in my life.

"Fuck, I want you." he whispered near my ear.

I smiled more and grabbed my hair, moving it away from him, immediately feeling his lips pressed on my neck as he ground on my ass.

"I dreamed about you riding me." he added low, nibbling gently on my lobe and making my eyes flutter. "You're gonna have to ride me tonight baby."

"Mm, why not now?"

"Because I'm way too horny and this is going to be quick."

I felt two of his fingers slip inside me from behind and quickly, he replaced them with his cock. He pushed it slowly inside me as I felt my clit throb and when he was completely in, I squirmed a bit to feel him even deeper. One of his hands traveled on my side until my thigh and he started thrusting in and out of me slowly, his mouth leaving soft kisses on my shoulder and making me shiver.

"I love you so much." he murmured in-between kisses. "You feel so good, fuck."

I could feel myself throb around him and even if I was extremely horny, I tried to focus on his words and the softness of his kisses and caresses. I had never felt that kind of love, especially not while I was having sex, and I ended up wondering if it was what 'making love' was all about. His hand slid very slowly until my breasts again and my eyes fluttered when his fingertips brushed on my nipples. My lips parted and I let out a short moan, making his movements slightly faster.

"Jesus... fuck."

I felt him push himself hard against me as he leaned his forehead on my shoulder and the thought of him cumming made me feel dizzy. When he came down from his high, he was panting and he just moved away to lay on his back. I chuckled and did the same as we stayed in silence for a few minutes. After a while, he turned around on his side and I felt his hand slip down my stomach again to reach between my legs. Instinctively, I spread my legs and he sent me a smile, holding his head with his hand.

I felt two of his fingers slip inside me and finally go back to my clit, rubbing it gently at first and a bit faster after a minute or two. I loved that I didn't have to ask him to make me cum and when I felt an orgasm form in the pit of my stomach, my eyes shut tight and my back arched as I held my breath. I came hard, my body shaking as he kept touching me until I( relaxed on the bed.

I kept my eyes close until I felt him move on top of me to kiss my lips, making me whimper in his mouth.

"You make me happy, Devie, so fucking happy."

I smiled and looked in his eyes, moving my head to reach for his lips again. "You make me happy too."

I put my head back on the pillow, a smile still plastered on my face, and when he bent down to kiss me again, we heard someone knock roughly at the door.

"Okay you two! It's time to get out of there! We're going out for dinner!" I recognized Lewis voice and chuckled a bit when Niall grimaced.

"Yea, put your clothes back on, you two had enough sex for today!" Louis added, making me smile even more.

Niall peeled away from me with a sigh and got up, grabbing a pair of boxers in his bag and putting them on before doing the same with a shirt.

"We're coming!" I just yelled. "We'll be downstairs in 10 minutes!"

I got up and started dressing up as I heard Niall groan again near me. "They're so fucking annoying." he mumbled, making me smile.

"Hey, we're here to spend time with our friends, yea?" I pointed out, using the same words he had used with me the day before.

"I am!" he pointed out, making me laugh.

We went to a restaurant on the main street and laughed a lot. Niall didn't mention anything about us and I was thankful for that. I was not ready to share it with anyone if only because I was not even sure of what I wanted. Saying it out loud would also make if official and I wanted to have a discussion with Niall first, even if I was dreading it.

We ended up walking back to the hotel and I watched Mandy bend down to grab some snow, forming a ball with it and throwing it at her brother. I knew immediately where this would lead and not even a minute later, we were all throwing snowballs at each other. I heard laughs and a few screams as I tried to dodge all the projectiles thrown at me and when one hit me behind the head, I turned around to see Louis smirking at me and raising his eyebrows.

"Gotcha!"

I was about to throw one back at him but Niall beat me to it. The snowball hit Louis right in the face and my lips parted in surprise until Louis wiped the snow from his face, spitting some that had landed in his mouth. I started laughing as Niall smirked and Louis finally turned to Niall, clearly up for revenge.

"Touché!"

He started running after him and I laughed when Louis jumped on Niall's back, making him fall down. They ended up both laying on their backs in the snow and I moved over Niall, smiling at him and holding out my hand for him.

"Need help?"

He smiled but instead to let me help him up, he pulled on my arm, making me fall on top of him. I let out a small scream and started laughing when he wrapped his arms around me. I knew all our friends were near and I didn't know who was actually looking at us but all I cared about was the way Niall was looking at me.

"You said you'd try snowboarding with me." he pointed out in a very low tone.

"I'm better at snowball fights." I admitted, pressing my lips together and raising my nose up, still laying on top of him.

"Come on, please."

I sighed and gave in after a few seconds. "Alright, when?"

"Tonight! I'll show you the basics."

We stared in each other's eyes for a while and I realized that I couldn't tell him no, not when he was looking at me like that, and I finally nodded. His hand reached for my cheek and I felt his warm fingertips on my cold cheeks. His eyes fell on my lips before quickly looking back in my eyes and it made me smile.

"Come on you two! Or we're leaving you here!"

We laughed together and finally got up, trying to get rid of the snow on our clothes before to join our friends. I felt Niall's finger brush against mine as we walked and my heart skipped a beat. I loved him way more than I was ready to admit but I knew that eventually, I'd have to open up completely, no matter how scary it was.

[chuckbass-love]

The Owner | Ari Levinson

Summary: In which the reader has a crush on The Red Sea Diving Resort manager Guy/Ari

Disclaimer: My work is not to be posted anywhere else other than MY Tumblr, Wattpad and Ao3 without my permission. However, reblogs are welcome.

Pairing: Ari Levinson x Female!Reader

I address him as Guy in this since that’s what the hotel guests know him as.

Warning: SMUT. 18+

I was inspired to write some Ari smut by @shellbilee​ after reading After All This Time and Three Days. So thank you for the inspo and love your writing.

GIF NOT MINE. credit goes to @sheisraging as it states underneath the gif that this account made it! Full credit to them.

You feel the throbbing headache still very much present in your head as you awaken, you’d hoped it would have disappeared after some sleep but clearly not. You slowly open your eyes and look around, squinting at the bright view of the sun shining into your hotel room. Another day of adventure awaits at The Red Sea Diving Resort. You pull the covers off of your naked body and force yourself out of bed, onto your feet. Shower time.

Once showered, you start to change. Deciding on just a bikini for today, sunbathing is all you’ll be doing. You head out, making your way to reception to grab some breakfast before you properly begin your day and as you reach reception, there he is. The owner. Guy.

You take your seat and sip at your coffee, trying not to stare at the man before you. It’s a struggle to say the least. He’s tall, muscly and looks like he’s been sculpted by the gods. His shaggy brown hair is slicked back and wet, he must have been diving with some of the guests recently. 

You start getting lost in your thoughts, thinking of all the things you’d want to do to him and the things you’d want him to do to you but it’ll never happen. A girl can dream right? You take another sip of your coffee, trying to pull your lustful eyes away from his physique. 

Just as you go to look away, his eyes meet yours. They are blue with a hint of green, perfect just like him. He flashes you a shy smile before looking away to talk to his colleagues. 

You’ve been staying here for three days so far, since being here you’ve noticed the ladies fawning upon him whenever they see him. You can’t say that you blame them but you prefer to admire him from afar. Rarely talking to him. You’re too nervous around guys. You don’t do too well with the whole flirting fiasco. Not your scene whatsoever. You finish eating and get up from your spot, making your way out to the beach for some much needed tanning time.

You set up a pretty decent spot on the sand, laying your towel down and getting out your earphones for some musical entertainment. This is heaven.

You feel a sudden splash of what feels like ice cold water drip onto your torso, your eyes flicker open to see him. Stood over you, in his wet suit. You take your earphones out and prop yourself up onto your elbows. “Hi” he greets “Y/N is it?” a huge grin plastered across his face. “Hi and yes it is” you give a small smile, not wanting to look keen. “The next diving tour is in ten minutes if you wanna join” you shrug, sitting up properly “It’s a pretty irresistible offer but i’m afraid i’m enjoying this sun too much” a sad look washes over him and then you see his eyes widen, what is he looking at?.

“You’ve um, your bikini top seems-” you look down, immediately noticing that your nipple was poking out of your bikini top. So embarrassing. “Omg, i’m so sorry” you chuckle in hopes that he’d see the funny side. “It’s no worries, not a bad view actually” he smirks as he stands up and heads over to the group of divers. Did he really just say that? Your stomach starts to flutter with butterflies and the need to have him. Guess you’ll see what happens.

You start packing up your bag and head back to your room for some chill time before dinner. Once you reach the door you notice Guy in the distance, he’s just coming back from the dive. His wetsuit zip is halfway down his torso, showing off his muscly hairy chest. Making you just want to dive onto him and kiss him. But you don’t have the guts. Instead you just stare in admiration and head into the room. You slip the bikini off of your body and head to the shower so you can freshen up. Once out you decide on a simple white sundress for dinner and some matching flats. It’s only dinner, no need to make a lot of effort.

You stroll into the reception area, by the tables, noticing Guy isn’t here. Everyone is but him. You wonder why. You continue with your evening, eating and laughing with the other guests. You’ve made friends with pretty much all of them, which is nice. When travelling alone it’s nice to make friends along the way. Just as you’re about to give up hope that you’ll see him tonight, he walks through the front doors, panting. 

“I’ll tell you what, i love the long route they have here, it’s great for a late night run” he starts gulping down some water as the other staff members laugh at his sweaty state. He turns round to check the guests out and his eyes fix on you. He shoots you a quick smile and a wink, making your cheeks heat up. 

You go back to the book that you bought down to read in between courses. You hear a chair slide across the ground, you look up to find him sat in front of you. “So how come a beautiful woman like yourself is on holiday alone?” you bite your bottom lip “Well it was booked for me and my ex boyfriend but i found him in bed with my best friend. So i decided i needed some me time” you explain, he looks at you with a sad look in his blue eyes. “I’m sorry to hear that, you didn’t deserve that” you nod in agreement and wave the whole subject off. If you’re finally able to have a full conversation with this man you don’t want it to be centred around your scumbag ex.

“What you reading?” he asks and you hold up the book before placing the bookmark in it and laying it on the table. “Catcher In The Rye, nice choice” you both just sit there for a few minutes, talking away and noticing how the other guests are starting to leave. 

“I best get back to my room anyways” you stand up, picking the book up and walking past him but you feel a hand grab a hold of your wrist “You don’t have to go you know” he pleads, you look back to see him staring at you with those eyes, almost like he’s looking into your soul. “Well i suppose another drink won’t hurt eh?” he shoots up, pulling you along to the bar. You both sit on it as you sip your drinks. He pulls out a cigarette, lighting it up as it sits in his mouth, god that mouth of his. Unholy thoughts come to your mind. 

You continue to talk about everything. From past relationships to books and even sex. Yes sex. You both share awkward sex stories. “I might have only had one serious relationship but i’ve had my fair share of awkward tales from the bedroom” you giggle after telling him the story of that one time during a one night stand that you’d had sex with this guy and afterwards he asked you to urinate on him and in his mouth. “Now i don’t discriminate but i think that’s more something you reveal about yourself with someone you plan to date, not a one night stand” he throws his head back in laughter, trying to stop himself from making too much noise, being that everyone has gone to bed. 

“I’m sorry but that is hilarious. Did you do it?” you shake your head aggressively. “I refused. Made out like i didn’t need to go to the bathroom, i was desperate to go but had to hold it in until i got home” he laughs even more, placing a hand on your leg. “How about you then?” you raise your eyebrows “got any mortifying experiences you’d care to share?” he starts to think, looking around the room.

“Ah there was that one time a girl tried to fuck me in the ass. Which you know, don’t get me wrong people like what they like but i’m not into that so i refused completely. She kicked me out after though” wow “Oh god” you say in shock “Yeah i was butt naked in the street, she didn’t give me the chance to get changed so i had to dress myself on her door step” now that would be a sight for sore eyes. “Poor neighbours” you chuckle, he nudges you slightly making you apologise sarcastically. “I’ll have you know my body is breath taking and as for my dick, that’s even more of a sight” you don’t doubt that for a second. “I bet” you say in a ‘sure’ tone. Earning yourself a glare from him.

“Gee thanks, you’re not so bad yourself by the way” you look into his eyes, wanting nothing more than to kiss him. “About that, i’m so embarrassed about that incident earlier” you cover your face with your hand, hiding the embarrassment. He pulls it away “Don’t apologise, to be honest. If it were only me on the beach then i wouldn’t have mentioned it. But i didn’t like the thought of other men ogling you” what does he mean by that? You furrow your brows, in confusion at his remark.

“All i’ve been able to think about since you arrived is kissing you and since i saw you on the beach earlier, in that very small bikini, your perfect nipples poking out. I’ve wanted nothing more than to have my way with you” shit. Is this about to happen? “I can’t say i haven’t felt it too” he’s in shock “Really?” you thought you’d made it painfully obvious. “You haven’t noticed me looking at you?” he tries to shrug but you can see he’s thinking about it.

“I mean looking back, i can see it now yeah” is he going to kiss you or are you gonna have to make the first move. And with that thought his lips come crashing onto yours, his body moving closer, closing the space between the two of you. He runs his fingers through his hair and then cups your face with both hands, deepening the kiss. He pulls away from you, your breaths are heavy. He jumps off of the bar, standing in front of you with hunger and lust in his eyes and a playful grin forming onto his perfect lips.

“Are you okay with this?” you nod your head and he picks you up off of the bar, your legs wrapping around him and he walks you both back to your room. Once inside, he wastes no time. Undressing himself and then you. Saving the best part until last, your panties. He slowly slides them down your legs, kissing as he goes along. They drop to the floor and you step out of them, leaving you naked at his disposal. “Such a sexy body Y/N” he mumbles, his speech distorted by his face being buried in your skin. Kissing every inch of you before laying you on the bed. 

He takes his boxers off to reveal his huge erection. SHIT. You gulp at the sight and thought of that going inside of you “Don’t worry baby, i’ll stretch you out nicely” he hovers over you, his arms either side of your head, leaning down to kiss you. He lifts your legs up and his body shuffles down the bed and towards your soaked pussy. You know what’s about to happen and you can tell he’s taking his time, teasing you. “Fuck” you moan out as he licks from your wet state to your clit, his beard scratching slightly. “Ugh baby, just like that” you tug at his long brown locks, a bit too roughly but you can’t help it. This feels incredible. You try to not scream as he inserts two fingers inside of you.

No man has ever had these tongue skills before and it’s taking you by surprise. Your hands, balling the sheets beneath you into a fist as the pleasure continues. “You like that baby? like it when i suck on your clit like this” he groans, doing it once again. “Please” is all you are able to get out “Please what” you roll your eyes into the back of your head and your back starts to arch, you can feel your forthcoming orgasm getting closer and closer. “Please, i’m gonna cum, don’t stop” the noises he’s making, bringing you closer. Slurping and sucking like a man starved, like he’s not eaten for days. “Cum on my tongue baby, come on Y/N” he encourages and that’s all you need to send you over the edge. Into a euphoric state. Seeing stars. WOW.

Your chest is heaving, you try to slow your breathing but it’s no use. He crawls back up your body, giggling at your reaction. “I would ask how that was but i think i have my answer right here” you slap his chest playfully. He leans down to kiss you, biting your lip to ask for entrance to which you gladly accept. He slides it in, beginning a battle for dominance with yours and of course he wins. You can taste yourself on him, making your clit twitch at the arousal he gives you.

He starts pumping himself a couple of times before resting his tip at your entrance, he peppers kisses from your lips to your neck before looking back to your eyes. “Stop teasing alrea- OMG” you immediately scream out as he slams into you. Not caring who hears at this point. “Such a tight cunt” he grunts “Oh fuck baby, don’t stop” he sits up, lifting your legs and resting them onto his shoulders, still ramming into you as he holds your ankles. “You’re taking this cock so well baby” your eyes roll back once again and all that comes out of your mouth are incomprehensible murmurs. He’s incredible, doing you like he’s known your body for years. 

You can’t hold it much longer, your second orgasm nearing. “That’s it, clench that pretty pussy around this cock Y/N. Cum all over me” his words are your weakness. Seeing his face as he fucks you and hearing his words fall off his beautiful lips. You can feel it inside of you, getting closer. “Fuck that’s it” he whispers, continuing to thrust in and out, showing no signs of slowing down. “Cum for me baby” seconds later, you tighten around him, your clit throbbing as he rubs at it quickly. “Good girl” he smiles down at you. “Such a pretty sight seeing you cum on my cock” you bite your lip as he lowers your legs, pulling out of your. He flips you both around so he’s lying on the bed.

You flick your hair to the side as you kneel in between his legs. You arch your back, making sure your ass is in the air, for his purpose only. “Shit” his eyes roll back as you lick the tip before taking all of him. He bottoms out in your mouth, reaching the back of your throat causing you to gag. “Is my cock too much for you sweetheart?” he grabs a fistful of your hair in his hands. Holding it out of your face. You look him in the eyes as you bob your head up and down on his big length, you can tell you’re doing a good job because he’s struggling to get his words out. “Keep going baby” he starts bucking his hips up into your mouth, fucking it. “Taking all of this cock in that tiny mouth of yours. Such a good girl” you continue to let him thrust into your mouth, making you gag once again. “I’m gonna cum baby” and with that, his cock twitches in your mouth, followed by his warm liquid filling you. You take your mouth off of him, swallowing all of his juices and earning a groan from him. “Swallowing all of me like a good little girl” you flash him a seductive smile and he pulls you down next to him,

You rest your head on his chest “That was certainly worth the wait” he pants “It was” you have no complaints. All of those hours spent thinking about how it would feel to have him between your legs and in your bed. Fucking you good. He definitely lived up to your expectations. “We are definitely making this a regular thing” you’re shocked. You expected him to just fuck and be over you. “That pussy is way too good to only have once” your cheeks heat up slightly but you can’t say you’re not ecstatic.

[possiamo-andare]

Midsummer pt.5: JJ Maybank (Finale)

JJ x Reader

MASTERLIST

word count: 9k

a/n: this final chapter of Midsummer is dedicated to @shawnssongs for being the kindest soul when I was writing this series.They always had something nice to say and uplifted my spirits when I thought I had nothing good to write. You were my inspiration so thanks buddy!! I’m so sad to see this series come to an end but it has been so much fun. the first part of Midsummer has over 1,000 notes and I am so happy with all the feedback I received. Thanks to everyone who commented, liked and reblogged. You are angels!

~

JJ rarely slept in his bed. He had these fleeting, but clear, memories of his mother with her caramel hair and blue eyes, reading the Giving Tree to him. She sat on the edge of the bed, petting his head and she read to him, changing her voice when the tree spoke. As a child, it amused JJ but now, he couldn't think of that book or his bedroom without getting emotional. It didn't help that his father erased any memories of his mother around their house. The books she read to him were burned. The family pictures of a once lovely but poor family were discarded in the trash. JJ's father forbade the mention of his mother's name to the point where JJ started to forget what she looked like or what her name was. 

The only time he ever slept in his own bed was when John B. couldn't have him over and that rarely happened. John B. knew his situation and always made his home available. When his father went missing at sea, he needed JJ even more than before and welcomed him into his home twofold. Loneliness was contagious in that household and as much as JJ appreciated John B.'s hospitality, he was suffocating. 

Then she came along. You walked through those double doors with your arm through Rafe's in that beautiful dress and JJ knew he was done for. You had made him feel something in Peterkin's office but he suppressed those feelings and soon enough, he thought they disappeared. He had chalked it up to just a crush and when it disappeared he thought he was right. Then, that night, he knew it was more than that. Then, you kissed him. He had kissed you first because he had that 'screw it' mentality but he never thought you would reciprocate those feelings. He had no idea why you kissed him but you did and you wanted to be around him. Most girls never saw JJ as anything more than a Pogue and he thought he was okay with that. Now, he knew he would never be the same. 

You stirred beside him as he reminisced over the last weeks. He had never slept so soundly in his own bed before. Slowly, as to not wake you, he tightened his grip and your body and pulled you close. He usually hated sleeping on his back but he never thought of how uncomfortable he was when you were so peaceful beside him.

"Hm?" You grumble, completely unaware of what JJ was thinking beside you. You rubbed your eyes and looked up from the crook in JJ's neck. "Morning."

JJ smirked, feeling terrible he had woken you up. "Sorry."

You smiled, shrugging. "I had to wake up eventually." You glanced at the clock on JJ's cabinet and squinted. It was 9am. "We were supposed to get up one hour ago!" You move away from JJ, pushing the covers off your partially naked body.

You hurriedly bend over, looking for your shorts and tshirt. Some time in the middle of the night you had put your undergarments back on but for your tshirt and shorts, they were still on the floor. As you pull your shirt over your head, you feel JJ move from behind you. You know what he's about to do before he even gets a chance to do it but decide not to pull away. Instead, you wait as he wraps his arms around your waist. You feel his lips against the nape of your neck and you smile, the gesture tickling you a little.

"Harry Styles?" He laughs as he points to the flip flops on the floor beside his bed.

You gasp, quickly flipping over the sole of your shoes so he can't see the embarrassing drawings on your old white flip flops. "I was ten!" It was a stupid drawing of a heart with an inscription of your favourite One Direction member's name. You had meant to get new shoes but you had never grew out of your old shoes and thought no one would see it, much less your boyfriend.

"Is that who I need to be for you to stay in bed?" He teased, poking your side. You jumped from your seat in his bed and squealed, his teasing embarrassing you. You pull your shorts up and zip them closed as JJ watches your flushed cheeks turn a brighter red.

"You could never be Harry. Sorry." You joked right back, finally slipping into your shoes. 

JJ finally sits up, his shorts him yesterday now on the bottom half of his body. "Rude!" His eyes go to his feet for a moment and you can hear him whisper "How does it go..."

"JJ!" You giggle, knowing exactly what he was going to do before he even had to do it. 

"Straight off the plane to a new hotel!" JJ screams, playing an air guitar. You cover your face, embarrassed for him. "Just touched down, you could never tell. Big house party with a crowded kitchen -"

"Okay!" You finally jump over the bed and reach for JJ's mouth so he can stop teasing you. 

He pulls away but stops singing. Instead, he reaches for your neck and pulls you close. You can see it in his eyes and you indulge him, letting him kiss you. Surprisingly, his breath does not smell and you feel a little self conscious since you know yours does. 

You are the first to pull away. "I have to brush my teeth."

JJ nods, smirking. "That bad?"

You gasp, slapping his shoulder. "Rude."

He chuckles but nods, guiding you out of his room and to the bathroom that is closest to the front door. JJ opens the door to a very small bathroom with not even a shower. He goes in first, looking under the sink for a clean toothbrush. Once he finds one, he hands it to you and exits the bathroom. It's so small that there can only be one person inside at one time. JJ gives you a chaste kiss one more time before you step inside the bathroom and close the door behind you. You turn on the facet and slowly your mind wanders as you brush your teeth. As much as you know you shouldn't be smiling just because you're brushing your teeth, you can't help it. You can't seem to believe you're in JJ's house, brushing your teeth and actually acting like a couple. Nothing about your relationship so far has been normal. From buried treasure to murder, your relationship was never as peaceful as it was now. You sang a little song as you rinse your mouth, the smile still on your lips. However, once you shut the faucet off, your little happy bubble popped. Just a few feet away, you heard yelling. In seconds, you peered out the door and looked for where it was coming from. You saw that the front door was open and, as quietly as you could, you tiptoed closer to the front of the house. The door was wide open and the closer you got, the more you heard.

"What are you doing?" JJ raised his voice, finally walking in front of the door. At first, you thought he was speaking to you but he wasn't facing you. Finally, you saw as his father walked past him, a wad of cash in his hands.

JJ had been getting dressed in his room when his father arrived home after a night of gambling and liquor. He had not entered his house, only sitting on the singular chair on the porch. JJ’s father rarely was inside his own home. It reminded him of his wife and he had suppressed all his feelings over her. The less time he spent inside, the less he would think about her. JJ had initially approached his father with a coy smile on his face, handing the man the money he stole from the drug dealer. His father seemed happy and, for the first time in years, actually praised his son. Now, his smile faded as he watched his father stuff the money into a canister.

"I'm gonna take this south and triple it..." He trailed off, his mind in all different sorts of places. It was clear he was still drunk.

"Dad, that's my bail money I owe you." JJ pleaded, his eyes filled with worry. Your heart broke as JJ's father walked straight to JJ, gripping onto his collar.

"What'd you say boy?" He yelled, pushing JJ away from him. "You are nothing! Always getting in trouble. Wish you were never born."

JJ had heard these phrases before. His father was a predictable man and used the same insults. Before, they rarely affected JJ, mostly because his father was drunk. Now, however, it was different. The words were the same but the feeling they gave JJ was different. It had been so long since any parental figure had shown him even a small amount of love and he was getting tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. This time, when his father called him nothing, it stirred a type of rage JJ had never felt before.

By the time JJ realized he was fed up, you had enough as well. You had only heard this come out of his father’s mouth once and yet it already affected you. You couldn’t imagine how JJ could handle all these years. He had more self control than you thought. You were about to step in and take the pressure away from JJ but before you could do so, JJ lunges at his father, pushing him through the screen barrier around the door. The sound of both of their bodies ripping through the material makes a loud noise and you gasp. Although that sound scared you, the sound of JJ's body hitting the grass makes you scream. You push the screen door open and run to JJ who is on top of his dad, punching him viciously. 

"JJ!" You scream, trying to pull your boyfriend off his father.

All JJ sees is red and he doesn't even hear your screaming. Tears stream down his face and he continues to punch his father. "I'm not a failure! You did this to me!"

He continues his assault on his father, only once allowing him to get the upper hand and giving him a few good punches to the mouth and sides. JJ had learned how to take the pain. For years, his father beat him and after a while he built up a resistance to the abuse. Now, he barely felt the punches his dad lay into him, only concentrating on punching his dad as hard as he could. 

Only when you grab onto his fist, blocking him from punching his father again, does his mind clear and he realizes what he's done. He falls back, watching as his father crawl away from him. You wrap your arms around his body, asking him if he's hurt but he doesn't answer. He looks down at his hands and looks in horror as he sees his father's blood all over his knuckles. 

"JJ, are you hurt?" You ask again, cupping his face. He only shakes his head, his eyes still on his father. His father has gotten up from his place on the ground and now moves in front of you and JJ.

"Get rid of her before anything happens." JJ's father taunts, a beer bottle in his hands. You gasp in horror and wonder if JJ’s dad tried to hit him with a beer bottle. He walks past the both of you, not bothering to make eye contact with you. "Us Maybank men only hurt our women."

You don't know what to do. You heard the horror stories. You knew, to some extent, how terrible of a father JJ's dad was but never this. You try to ignore the man and look back to JJ, who seems to be zoned out. He's grasping his hands together and whispering to himself. You're scared. JJ's never like this and now that he seems to have broken entirely.

"JJ..." You call, trying to wake up from this nightmare.

JJ shakes his head, pushing you off him. This action hurts you and knowing the words his father has said really has cut him deeply. JJ shakes his head, getting up from the floor without your help. He winces as he does so, his father getting in some good punches before JJ got the upper hand. You follow behind him and call out to him but he ignores you. He can't seem to shake the words his dad said to him about all the Maybank men hurting the women they love. That was more true the more JJ thought about it. His grandfather drove his grandmother to drink which ended up killing her. They were never perfect and constantly arguing. When JJ's parents gave him to his grandparents for the weekend so they could party, JJ thought it would be a break from all the fighting his parents did but he was wrong. And his mother... She was gone because of his father. All the women in the Maybank family had bad endings and JJ couldn't do that to Y/N. She deserved better. She was better. 

"Where are you going?" You asked as you watched slip on his sneakers. 

"Don't follow me." JJ grumbled, tears threatening to spill. Although he didn't want to leave Y/N, he knew it was for the best. He couldn't ruin her life. He never wanted his dad’s words to affect him so much but his father’s words had planted a seed in JJ’s mind and it was growing in seconds.

"Is this because of what your dad said?" You follow after JJ, watching as he clutches his stomach. Before he can walk farther away, you run in front of him and place your hand on his chest, stopping him from walking too far away. "JJ?" 

JJ can't bring himself to look at you. "You shouldn't have seen that."

You shrug. "It's okay. I did and I love you."

JJ's head snaps up, glaring at you. "Stop." He hates that you’re being so supportive right now. All he wants for you to do is to leave. 

Your face contorts in confusion. "JJ -"

JJ pushes you away and walks past you. "No, leave me alone."

You stand in awe, watching as he walks farther and farther away from you. Finally, you feel the tears bead down your face and you realize that JJ has just broken up with you. A hand goes to your temple, the confusion giving you a headache. JJ just broke up with you and you don't even know why.

~

Kie was the only person you could talk to. Sarah was with John B. and you knew the second you vented to Sarah with John B. around, it would get back to JJ. The last thing you wanted JJ to know was that you were getting advice about him to someone else. Kie was friends with him but you trusted her more with keeping secrets. You found her at the Wreck with Pope. The second they saw you enter, they knew something was wrong. You didn’t have to say much. The second you sat down beside Kie, Pope excused himself so the two of you could be alone. You had kept most of your tears from falling. Your entire walk from JJ’s house to the Wreck consisted of you trying your best not to look like a crying mess. The second Kie asked you what was wrong, however, you began to cry. You barely got two words out before you began to weep. Kie let you cry and only held you as you did so. When you calmed down, you finally spoke and told her what was going on. You told her about the fight and JJ’s reaction afterwards and she said nothing, not interrupting you once. When you finally finished, she took a few moments to think of the right response before speaking.

“I hate JJ’s dad.” Kie scoffed, making you smile.

“Yeah, he sucks.” You agreed. 

“JJ loves you,” Kie begins, holding onto your hand. “I know. He’s never been like this with any girl. If he’s got any sense, he’ll realize how stupid he’s been.”

You nod. “What about his dad?”

Kie shakes her head. “He’ll never change, but he should not be ruining his son’s life. He’s already ruined it enough.”

You place your head in your hands. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Be there for him. Even if he doesn’t think he needs you, he does. Wait it out for today. By tonight, you should talk to him.” Kie explains, patting your shoulder in an attempt to comfort you.

You stand up, looking to the kitchen where Pope is acting as if he heard nothing. You almost want to smile because of how adorable Pope is acting. You finally look back to Kie, nodding to her. “So, can I help you guys with anything before we meet with Sarh and John B. tonight?”

Kie stands up beside you, smiling. “Of course you can.”

All things considered, the tasks Kie and Pope had to do were not complicated. Kie would go to the nearest Home Reno store and buy all of the equipment she could afford, while Pipe would go to his father’s dock and get the more expensive equipment for free. You decided to tag along with Kie instead of Pope, the sole reason being that Pope would have to sweet talk his dad into giving him the equipment and you being there would raise a lot of suspicion. You and Kie drove to the Reno store in her parent’s car, listening to music and talking intermittently. After she had consoled you, things between the two of you seemed way more mellow. It seemed like you were closer and without Sarah around as often, you couldn’t be more happy you had another girl to talk to.

When you pulled into the parking lot, you and Kie were happy to see that the lot was virtually empty. It was still mid morning so you both expected it to slow, but you were still pleased it was so deserted. It would look very suspicious to see two teenage girls buying rope, pulleys, and hammers so the less people saw, the better. Too many people gossiped in Figure 8.

“Let’s get to it,” Kie smirked at you, walking into the first aisle. You followed after her, unsure of where to go since you had never stepped foot into this store before. You had been to the Home Depot only a few blocks away but that place was way smaller and the signs were easier to read. Now, you blindly followed Kie as she guided through each aisle, looking for the items you needed.

“How long do you think it needs to be?” You asked, extending your hands as Kie made you hold one side of the rope as she measured it.

Kie shrugged, grabbing a pair of pliers and cutting it abruptly. “Hopefully this is enough.”

Slowly but surely you both made your way around the store, now pushing a cart that held the long rope and hammers. It had been easy to find the large hammers; they had their own section. Unfortunately, the pulleys were not as easy. Soon, five minutes turned into ten and you realized that neither Kie or you knew where they were kept.

“Do we need them?” You asked, pushing the cart beside Kie as she glanced through the next aisle. 

She shrugged. “Last time, we pulled John B. down but our hands were burning. It would be easier if we had a pulley.”

You nodded, imagining a tired Kie pulling John B., who was definitely yelling at her to hurry up. The scene you conjured in your mind was hilarious to you and when you giggled, Kie looked at you with a puzzled look on her face. You could tell she was about to question what you were laughing at but before she could, someone spoke from behind the both of you.

“Y/N?”

Your blood turned cold, the hair on the nape of your neck standing up. With a defiant look on your face (scared to show that you were surprised), you turned around and came face to face with Topper and Rafe. Both were dressed like asshole frat boys, black helmets in their hands. You knew they both rode motorcycles, only adding to their ego. Last time you had seen Rafe, he had broken into your home and now, although you were scared, you were more angry. Although, in that moment when you were hiding with JJ, you never thought of punching him but now you did. The blood rushed to your face, thinking of grabbing the nearest hammer in your cart and using it.

“Hi.” You glumly said, watching as Kie stood beside you, defiant just like you.

“Where’s my sister?” Rafe asked, stepping closer to you and Kie.

You shrugged. “Off with her boyfriend.”

You could hear Topper scoff from beside Rafe. “That thing is still going on?”

You felt a surge of confidence, wanting to defend Sarah. “Hi Topper. Still jealous?” Topper glared at you, saying nothing. You both knew he was but he wasn’t about to admit that to you. You looked back to Rafe, your eyes narrowed. “What do you want from her?”

Rafe chuckled, glancing at Kie and rolling his eyes. “We know you idiots stole money from Barry.”

You frowned, pretending to be oblivious. You were not about to rat out JJ, even if you were on a break. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Topper scoffed again, this time speaking. “What are you guys doing with these Pogues anyways?”

You glared at Topper. “Maybe because they don’t dress as if they’re frat boys from the early 2000s.”

Kie chuckled from beside you, mumbling a thank you. Topper only rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. Topper was not quick witted enough to have a good comeback so he stayed quiet, looking to Rafe. 

“What’s this I hear about you and Maybank?” Rafe asks, stepping closer to you. Topper stayed put, knowing the both of you were about to have an uncomfortable conversation.

You shrugged, trying not to show how the mention of JJ hurt you. “Why do you care?”

Rafe scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. “Because a few weeks ago you were my girlfriend and now you’re with some nobody.”

This time you scoffed. “For a nobody, you sure are interested.” You pause for a moment and, without allowing Raf to rebuttal, you spoke again. “I’d like my key back.”

Rafe’s brows contorted in confusion but then shot up in surprise. You could see he was trying to control how he reacted but your comment had surprised him so much that he seemed flabbergasted. “How -”

“How did I know you were sneaking into my house like a stalker?” You cut him off, watching as his face turned bright red. Topper seemed just as shocked as him, clearly not knowing that Rafe was sneaking into your house. “I just do. Leave the key on my porch.”

You heard Kie giggle from beside you. You looked at her and smiled. She was the first to turn around and you followed after her, not bothering to look back at Rafe and Topper, both of whom remained quiet since you spoke. When you both were far enough away, Kie was the first to speak.

“What the hell Y/N?” Kie chuckled, pushing the cart into the next aisle. 

You pointed forward, finally spotting the pulleys laying on the shelf in all their glory. “I didn’t know I had that in me.”

You were right; you had no idea. But you were slowly realizing, with the help of your new friends, that you were capable of more than you thought.

~

Once all of your items were paid for, you took the liberty of driving back to the Wreck. Pope had said by the time you and Kiara drove back, he would probably already be there. He didn’t think it would take long to convince his dad to use his equipment, even if it was for one night. Pope had promised the two of you that it would be, in his words, ‘easy as pie.’ All Pope had to do was tell a small lie; a seemingly easy thing for a teenager to do. Yet, as you parked beside the Wreck, Kie pointed out what you already suspected.

“He’s not here.” 

You nodded, not bothering to unbuckle your seatbelt. There was no point to exit Kie’s car if Pope wasn’t here yet. Kie followed you, not moving to unbuckle her seatbelt either. “Should we go see if he’s still with his dad?”

Kie shrugged, watching the Wreck through her window. “Probably.”

You smiled, putting her car in reverse. “So much for ‘easy as pie.’” You chided, glancing at Kie and watching her smirk.

As you drive to Mr. Heyward’s dock, a place Kie said he usually was at, Kie and you stayed silent. It wasn’t an awkward silence like the ones you shared with her before. Now that she was friends with Sarah again, you both felt at ease with each other. As you drove, your mind wandered to JJ. You really tried not to think about him but every time you tried to divert your mind somewhere else, it went straight back to him. It was almost as if your brain was trying to tell you to confront your feelings head on. That was the last thing you wanted to do.

As much as you hated it, your mind went to a certain memory. The midsummer festival where you finally got to know JJ. You remembered how you felt that night. That night, you weren’t sure what it was let alone describe it but now you knew. Enchantment. You were completely enchanted to meet him. He was never your first choice for a boyfriend but the more you got to know him, the more you realized he was the only choice that mattered. He was more than anyone gave him credit for. So many people in Figure 8 saw him as a womanizing blonde with an ego the size of Russia, but he was more than that. He was caring. He cared so deeply about his friends, taking the fall so that Pope’s future wouldn’t be threatened. He was patient. He understood my caution and didn’t rush me. He seemed to care too much about what people thought of him, even if he would never admit it. He cared if Kie or Pope were upset with him. He cared that people saw you both as a weird couple since he was a Pogue and you were a Kook. JJ Maybank had more heart than anyone on OBX and you were so glad you gave him a chance. But now, it might be all gone because of JJ’s father. He had put that doubt in JJ’s mind and you could only hope JJ would soon realize he didn’t need to protect you from himself. 

“You okay?” Kie asked, breaking you away from your thoughts.

You pulled the car over, making sure the car was properly parked before you answered. “Yeah. Just distracted.”

Kie nodded. “I know you have a lot in your mind.” She started, waiting until you were both out of the car before she continued. When you met back up in front of her car, she spoke. “We’ll see JJ in a few hours.”

You don’t say anything, only looking across the boardwalk. You knew what Mr. Heyward’s boat looked like, seeing JJ and Pope drive it on the ocean a few times. Although you had trouble spotting Pope and his dad, Kie spotted them right away. In moments, she pointed to the left side of the dock. You followed her finger, your eyes finally landing on Pope and his dad who seemed to be in an awkward conversation. 

“Should we wait?” You cautiously asked, watching as she didn’t even answer your question and instead walked past you and towards Pope and his dad. You shrugged, following Kie even though you were sure intervening in Pope’s conversation with his father would only bring agony.

The closer you got to Pope and his father, the more you were able to listen to their conversation. At first, it was all mumbles but when you were six feet away from them, you could hear the confusion in Mr. Heyward’s voice. 

“No way Pope.” He grumbled, loading bags onto his boat.

“Hi Mr. Heyward.” Kie spoke politely as she approached the two men. 

Mr. Heyward glanced towards Kie and smiled. At first, he did not see you but the second you did you wish he hadn’t. His face instantly fell and he scrambled to wipe his hands on his pants. He seemed a little flustered and you were embarrassed because you knew why. Your father regularly picked up groceries from the trips Mr. Heyward went on all over OBX. Your dad spent a lot of money on Mr. Heyward’s groceries so you knew Mr. Heyward was confused as to why you were with Kie. You were even more embarrassed when he extended his hand, a polite smile on his face. To be kind, you shook it briefly.

“Hello Mr. Heyward.” You finally said, watching as a confused look crossed over both Pope and Kie’s face.

“Hello Y/N. What can I do for you?” He smiles, looking at Pope. 

Pope shrugged, glancing at you. “She’s hanging out with us dad.”

Mr. Heyward frowned, scratching his head. “I see. I didn’t know you were friends.”

Pope frowned. “She’s dating JJ.”

Mr. Heyward looked even more confused, almost startled. You got this a lot. In the weeks since you started dating JJ, you had told a total of two people including your mom and dad. They had the exact same reaction as Mr. Heyward. Although they were confused as to why you would date a Pogue, they dare not say anything to you. As long you were happy, they didn’t dare to voice their opinion. It didn’t help that their faces scrunched up like they just bit into a lemon every time you mentioned JJ though. 

“I see.” Mr. Heyward said cautiously, trying not to show his surprise but failing. “Now, Pope has told me that you plan to help him with his project for his scholarship and you need some materials. Is that true?”

You nod sweetly, glancing at Pope who was biting his nails. You wanted to roll your eyes. If he was acting that anxious as he lied to his dad, no wonder Mr. Heyward was so suspicious. “Yes sir.”

Mr. Heyward nodded at you and then looked at Kie who had the same fake smile on her face. “That true Kiara?”

Kie nodded nonchalantly, clearly better at lying than Pope. You figured anyone else was better at lying than Pope. “Yep.”

Mr. Heyward’s eyes narrowed, not entirely believing you all but deciding to do so anyway. “Fine, get it and go.”

Pope laughed, clapping his hands together. “Ah, thanks dad.”

You bid Mr. Heyward a polite farewell; you and Kie sweetly smiled until you both turned around. Pope followed slowly behind you, dragging the harnesses and helmets in a brown sack. As you all walked, he tried to call after you and Kie but you both ignored him. When you guys finally approached Kie's car, you were the first to turn around and watch as Pope continued to drag the sack behind you. After minutes of watching him struggle, he approached the both of you, his breath heaving. 

“Thanks for the help.” He grumbled, throwing the sack onto the floor in front of Kie who was now slowly turning around. You could tell she desperately wanted to laugh at Pope and she was trying so hard to control herself. 

“If you knew how to lie, we wouldn’t be here.” You teased, a smirk adorned across your lips.

Finally, Kie let out a breathy laugh and soon you joined in. Both you and Kie could no longer control yourself and soon you were both laughing hysterically at Pope. At first, he was not smiling but the longer you both laughed, the bigger his smile became. Soon enough, all three of you began to laugh together as if you hadn’t been lying two minutes ago. 

In that moment, you never felt closer to Kie and Pope. 

~

After the eventful afternoon you, Kie and Pope had, you all decided to head back to the Wreck for some food. You had promised each other that it would only be for an hour at the most. You had wanted to go back to John B.’s house where you knew JJ would be and you wanted to try and talk to him one last time. Unfortunately, you lost track of time and before you knew it, Kie was on her fifth story and this time it was about how she was almost bitten by a shark. The sun was setting and you had been there for hours, laughing and talking as your new friends entertained you.

“I swear!” Kie yelled, placing her hand over her heart.

You shook your head, indignant. “No way.”

Pope nodded along with you. “You might think you can fool Y/N, but I know that never happened.”

Kie chuckled, taking a sip from her glass that was half full of her third glass of lemonade. “I swear to you guys. That shark almost bit me. Got away within an inch of my life.”

You and Pope looked at each other and dramatically rolled your eyes. You spoke first, teasing Kie. “Are there even sharks in Figure 8?”

Pope nodded, pointing at you. “Y/N’s right. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a shark in Figure 8.”

Kie shrugged, taking a bite out of a french fry before speaking. “Well, it might’ve not been a shark -”

“I knew it!” Pope interrupted. Kie gasped at his interruption and threw the half eaten french fry at him. 

“Well it definitely looked like a shark!” Kie defended herself, reaching for another french fry.

You shook your head, laughing under your breath. As Pope and Kie lightly argued about Kie’s fabrication, you looked over your shoulder and watched as the sun set. The sky was a huey purple tonight with a hint of orange. You loved the sunsets in Figure 8.They seemed so peaceful and serene, something the other side of OBX rarely displayed. Although technically the other side of OBX was supposed to show people the lap of luxury, the atmosphere showed a different side. Yes, everyone was rich but they were also very unhappy. You envied Kie and Pope, although you would never tell them. You knew that they would laugh and ask you what there was to be jealous of when you lived in such a beautiful house. Although that may be true, your home never felt as cozy and warm as the places here. Here, there seemed to be a true sense of family. Neighbours seemed to look out for one another while in your neighbourhood, you weren’t sure if you ever met your neighbours.

“Hey,” Kie called out to you softly, touching your shoulder. 

You shook your head slightly, trying to break away from your thoughts to listen to what she had to say. “Yeah?”

“Let’s go see JJ.” Kie gave you a polite smile, almost trying to comfort you. You knew it was because JJ was still a sensitive subject.

Surprisingly, you didn’t protest. As much as you wanted to stay here for a little longer, you knew that you would have to talk to JJ eventually. Besides, when you all met up to get the gold tomorrow, you knew you had to talk to him then. He was unavoidable so you decided might as well get it over with. Kie decided it was best for her to drive to John B.’s house. Pope was a terrible driver and she could tell you were way too nervous to stay focused right now. You wished that it wasn’t true but you knew Kie was right. Even as Kie drove, your mind was in a million different places and you realized Kie was right in not allowing you to drive. Another thing you had to thank her for.

The sun had fully set and now was dark, making the drive to John B.’s house a little more risky. Thankfully Kie had made it there in one piece. You thought your heart would beat out of your chest as Kie parked in John B.’s driveway. With a deep breath, you opened the passenger side door and climbed out. Pope, Kie and you all congregated near the trunk of Kie’s car and started to whisper to each other. You weren’t exactly sure why you all were whispering but you didn’t bother to question it.

“Where are we putting everything?” Kie asked, peering over the trunk and looking at all of the equipment they had successfully retrieved.

“Sh.” Pope shushed Kie, only upsetting her.

“Excuse me?” She whipped her head around to Pope, glaring at him.

At first, you were going to give Pope an earful but then you heard it too and you found yourself shushing Kie as well. “Shh.”

Kie looked puzzled as you shushed her but when everything went quiet, she heard it as well. It was bubbles. The noise a machine would make when it was producing bubbles. You peered over the side of John B.’s house and found a trail of lights leading to the backyard. You didn’t know who was there but whoever was there, but it sounded as if they were in a hot tub.You didn’t know if John B. had money but you were sure he couldn’t afford a hot tub.

“What’s that?” Pope whispered, looking in the direction you were looking in only moments before.

Before anyone could give him an answer, Kie ran forward and towards the sound. Apprehensive, you ran alongside her while Pope was the last one to run. As he trailed behind, both you and Kie got closer to John B.’s backyard and, soon enough, entered his backyard. What you saw stunned you.

“What did you do JJ?” Pope asked first, standing in front of his friend. 

JJ was, in all his glory, sitting inside a hot tub. With small lights dangling above his head, he relaxed in a newly bought hot tub. It was the largest hot tub you had ever seen, bigger than the ones at pools. JJ had placed floaties shaped as swans and flamingos inside the hot tub along with floating glasses filled to the brim with champagne. He had a shit eating grin on his face but hid his eyes behind glasses. When you all stood in front of him, he finally slid his glasses down the bridge of his nose and smirked as he observed each and every one of you. When his eyes gotto you, you could instantly see how drunk he was. 

He chuckled, looking at Pope. “I got a jet going straight to my butt right now.”  Pope sighed, JJ’s response not really answering his original question. Just as he was about to speak again, JJ did instead. “Y’all should get in immediately. Ya hear?” JJ slurred his words, pouring himself another glass of champagne. He thought out a pathetic ‘salut’ before gulping down the glass of champagne.

You stood there dumbfounded.You had been to parties where JJ was shit faced but he never was like this. He was aggressive all the other times you had seen him drunk but now he just seemed pitiful.

Pope looked like he was about to have an aneurysm. “How much did this cost?”

JJ grabbed the entire bottle and chugged it before responding. “Uh, well, with the generator, the petrol and, oh hey, express delivery,” he started, pretending to calculate the amount in his mind. You watched as Kie’s shoulders dropped and her head tilted back in despair. He had used so much of that money. Your hands went to your mouth, hanging off every word and hoping that he hadn’t spent all of it. “Pretty much all of it. Yeah.”

Pope’s mouth hung open as did Kie’s. You refused to react, still in total shock. “All of it?” Pope angrily said back to JJ, confirming his worst fears. 

JJ smirked, avoiding eye contact with you. “Yeah, all of it.” He almost seemed proud.

“You spent all the money in one day?” Pope said in disbelief, clasping his hands together. 

JJ nodded, his head bouncing back and forth. He was hammered and everyone knew it. “Yeah. Burned a hole right through my pocket. But I mean, like, c’mon guys, like, look at this? Finest in jet based massage therapy. That’s what they told me.”

You looked to Kie but she was staring at JJ, her mouth still hung wide open. JJ seemed to notice her facial expression the same time you did because he turned his attention to her. “Kie what? Can’t a man have a little luxury in life? C’mon,” JJ asked, his tone shifting to anger. He took off his glasses before he continued. “All this scrimping and scraping, I mean guys, you only live once. Right?”

“JJ -” You said, the emotion evident in your tone. His cheek was black and blue along with his right eye. The beating he received in the morning was now turning to nasty bruises. 

“Stop!” JJ looked at you and yelled. “You always get what you want. Am I not allowed to get the one thing I want? Enough of this emotional shit, get in the cat’s ass.”

Kie finally spoke, her voice just above a whisper. “The what?”

JJ smiled at his joke, which made no sense to any of you. “The cat’s ass. That’s what I named her.” He stopped for a minute but then his eyes lit up again and he reached over the hot tub and grabbed something. “Oh, hey yo, I almost forgot.” He pushed a button and suddenly, a disco ball that hung from a strung above him turned on and water started sputtering out from all sides of the hot tub. “Huh? Yeah, that’s right, disco mode.”

“Are you kidding me?” Pope began to lecture, the most angry you had ever seen him. “You could’ve paid for restitution.”

“Or literally given it to any charity!” Kie butted in, just as angry as Pope was.

“Or better yet, you could’ve helped us buy some of the supplies to get the rest of the gold out of the well!” Pope added, pointing to the truck that had all of your supplies.

JJ rubbed the bridge of his nose, clearly distraught over Kie and Pope’s anger. “Ok! Well you know what?” JJ yelled over the sound of the jets, finally standing up. You gasped as you saw his abdomen but he continued to speak. “I didn’t do that! I got a hot tub!”

“Oh my god, JJ.” You whimpered, stepping forward to get a better look. If you had thought his face was badly bruised, his abdomen was a thousand times worse. There were nasty black and blue splotches all of his stomach where his father had punched him. You knew his father had gotten some good punches in but you never thought they would be this bad.

“For my friends. A hot tub for my friends. You know what? Screw friends. I got it for my family.” JJ softly said the last part, almost as if he felt weak. He looked to you finally and you saw the emotion in his eyes. “I got it for my girl.”

“JJ, I -” Kie started to say, all of the anger suddenly gone from her face and was replaced with worry.

“Look what I did.” JJ said, turning around in one spot and looking at the entirety of the hot tub. “Look what I did for you. Alright? Look at this.”

You looked to Kie as JJ’s back was turned to you and you saw her eyes brim with tears. As if she could read your mind, she looked at you and you both started to cry together. As the tears rolled down your face, JJ turned back around.

“JJ…” Kie started again, a tear sliding down her face. 

“No, stop.” JJ held his hand out, pleading with her to stop crying. “Stop being emotional, it’s fine.” But it wasn’t. The second he reassured Kie it was fine, he looked down to the water and you watched as JJ himself started to cry.

You couldn’t watch this anymore. Without allowing JJ to have time to push you away, you climbed into the hot tub and lunged at him, hugging him as tightly as you could. He instantly hugged you back, forgetting about the last day and weeping into your shoulder. Kie was right behind you and hugged him on the other side. Pope was after Kie and before long, you were all hugging each other. 

“I can’t take him anymore!” JJ cried into your shoulder, leaning against you. 

You stroked his hair and tried to comfort him the best you could. Kie and Pope helped you, patting him on the back and hugging him tight. No one spoke as JJ cried, not exactly knowing what to say. You stayed there for what seemed like hours. It was enough time for the jets to turn off automatically and then the only noise was JJ’s weeping. He weeped for a long time but no one stopped hugging him. You wouldn’t let yourself let go. You couldn’t let go. He was in so much pain and he had always tried to cover it up the best he could but now all his walls are crumbling. Finally, he seemed to calm down and stop crying. When you were sure he was calm enough, you all let go of him. Pope was the first one to exit the hot tub and Kie was the second. Finally, you and JJ exited together. Kie ran to her car to grab a towel to dry JJ off as you and Pope guided him to the hammock near the water. When Kie returned with the towel, you silently thanked her and wrapped it around JJ. It seemed like ages before anyone spoke. You, along with Pope and Kie, had I idea what to say to JJ. There seemed to be nothing good enough to say so, for a very long time, you all said nothing.

Finally, JJ spoke. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to apologize for.” Kie said, looking at you. 

You, Kie and Pope looked at him, almost surprised JJ was apologizing. Kie sat on the ground in front of JJ as you sat beside him and Pope stood beside Kie. 

“I do.” JJ mumbled, his voice hoarse. “I spent that money when I should’ve never stolen it in the first place.”

You rubbed JJ's arm, consoling him gently. “It’s okay. Besides, I like the hot tub better.”

Everyone seemed to smile as you joked. Even JJ gave you a small smile. As the giggled died down, it became quiet between all of you again. This type of quiet, you had never experienced. It was almost as if there was so much to discuss, everyone just decided it was better not to say anything. 

Finally, JJ spoke. “I’m kinda tired. Can we all just go to sleep and start all over again tomorrow?”

You looked to Kie and Pope who were already nodding. When you looked back to JJ, he was only looking at you. You nodded along with Kie and Pope. Although you still wanted to talk toJJ about what happened, you knew he deserved to rest.

As you all got situated for the night; Kie bringing blankets from John B.’s house to his backyard and Pope draining the hot tub, you couldn’t shake the feeling that this was not over.

~

You had not lay your head down for more than five minutes before you were woken by the sound of someone rustling around. Your eyes flew open, not at all tired. Although your day was tiring, you couldn’t sleep. There was too much on your mind. You sat up from your place laying on the blanket and looked around to see where JJ was. He was no longer beside you. Your heart dropped.Your mind instantly went to the worst case scenario as you imagined where JJ could be. 

You got up from your place on the floor and made your way inside John B.’s house, where you hoped JJ would be. The second you entered his home, you saw a light in his kitchen on and smiled. Your heart relaxed a little. You knew you couldn’t completely relax until you knew where JJ was. As you made your way down the hall, you kept your eyes out for any noise signalling where JJ could be. Finally, you heard a sigh coming from the last room on the right hand side of the hallway. Slowly, you opened the door to see a quiet JJ sitting on the edge of John B.’s bed with a book in his hands.

“JJ?” You whispered, trying not to startle him.

JJ looks to you and weakly smiles, closing the book in front of him and placing it on John B.’s nightstand. “Hey.”

You move across the room slowly and sit beside him, reaching out to hold his hand. “How are you?”

JJ shrugged. “I’m tired but I can’t seem to sleep. Does that even make sense?”

You smile, nodding at him. “Yes.” You both stay quiet for a moment but soon your curiosity has peaked and you need to know the answer to a question you have. “What’s that?” You ask, pointing to the book JJ had put on the nightstand. 

JJ smiles when he sees what you’re pointing at. It’s almost as if there is a memory tied to that book and you start to think there is. “JB’s journal.” JJ answers, watching as you smirk, surprised at the answer.

“Didn’t know John B. journaled.” You admitted, glancing at the book again before looking back at JJ.

JJ nodded, grabbing your legs and letting them drape across his. “Not anymore. Kid gave up after two weeks.There’s only a couple entries before he dad went missing and they talk about our stupid antics.”

You raise your brows, nodding happily. “I’m very familiar with those.”

JJ smirked, reaching up to cup your face. “Speaking of stupid,” he started, sighing a little before continuing. “I’m sorry for what happened this morning. I let my dad -”

“JJ,” You cut him off, not allowing him to apologize. “You don’t need to.”

“No,” JJ argued, now both of his hands cupping your face. “I do. I let my dad get into my head and ruin things for me.”

“But JJ, what you put up with is far too much.” You argue right back, making JJ smile at your stubbornness. “I want you to know you can come to me.”

JJ nodded, letting go of your face and standing up, your legs falling back beside the bed. JJ extended his hand out to help you up and you gladly reached out even though you didn’t need his help getting up. When you were standing, JJ did not let go of your hand and instead guided you out of John B.’s room and down the hall.

“JJ,” You whispered, letting him lead the way because you truly had no idea where you were going. “Where are we going?”

Suddenly JJ stopped and opened another door to another room. With only a smile on his face, he nudged you inside and followed behind you. When you realized what room you were in,you couldn’t help the smile on your face. You were in a closet. The deja vu hit you like a ton of bricks.

“Y/N…” JJ whispered, getting your attention. 

When you looked at him, he leaned forward and captured your lips in his. At first, you were taken aback and didn’t react but you quickly recovered and kissed him back. You thought back to the word you used to describe how JJ made you feel; enchanted. It was like the first time all over again. It was always like the first time with JJ. You wondered, years from now, if the kisses would feel the same. You knew they would because it was different with JJ.

Finally, when you pulled apart, JJ spoke. “I love you so much it hurts.”

You smile wide, your arms wrapping around his neck. “I can’t explain how much I love you.”

JJ smiled just as wide and you and pulled you close.He smelled wonderful. He smelled like home. “Promise me, no matter what, we’re gonna be together.”

You nodded confidently. “No matter what.”

You both were not aware of the future and what it would bring. You didn’t know of the things John B. would find out in the morning on his boat ride with Ward. You didn’t know about what you all would have to do for John B. tomorrow, including evading the police. But even if you did know, your promise would have never changed. Because in the end, it was always going to be you and JJ.

The End.

~

taglist; @teamnick @dolanfivsosxox @obxrush @bellakellyrose03 @belledutchess @sexualparkour @lueurglow​ @itsriasblog @maries110911​ @ebonyyyy-e​ @tangledinsparkles​ @sarahsmaybank @91912512​ @ssjiara​ @amarachoren​ @haute-shawn​ @blog-hannahnicole​ @xlittlemissydjx​

[searchingwardrobes]

Valentine Throwbacks: Day 3

This Valentine’s fic was also written for the Tumblr Valentine’s prompts back in 2018. This one was day 8: First “I love you.” I don’t know if this qualifies as canon or canon divergent. I think of it as “filling in a plot hole.” Dark Hook’s words to Emma in Broken Heart about how he always said it first made no sense to me. After all, from what we saw on screen, Emma said it first and Killian had only ever said it indirectly. I know some people explain it by saying the darkness twists the truth, but I got to thinking . . . In Operation Mongoose, all Emma said was that she never told him how she felt. Maybe he threw the “L” word around all the time. I know people have very strong feelings about this topic, but this isn’t me portraying Killian as “taking away Emma’s agency” (because that would imply a man can never say “I love you” first, which is ridiculous, or that saying the words at all are somehow manipulative, which is also ridiculous). This is just me doing what fanfic writers do - taking canon and going, I wonder . . .

Can you tell I had to delete a nasty comment about this fic back in 2018? I still love it, though, and wanted to share it again.

Summary: Three times Killian Jones tells Emma Swan he loves her, and one time he doesn't.

Words: 2k and some change

Rating: T

Also on Ao3

Tagging:  @snowbellewells​ @whimsicallyenchantedrose​ @kmomof4​ @let-it-raines​ @teamhook​ @bethacaciakay​ @xhookswenchx​ @tiganasummertree​ @shireness-says​ @stahlop​ @scientificapricot​ @welllpthisishappening​ @resident-of-storybrooke​ @thislassishooked​ @ilovemesomekillianjones​ @kday426​ @ekr032-blog-blog​ @lfh1226-linda​ @ultraluckycatnd​ @nikkiemms @optomisticgirl​ @profdanglaisstuff​ @carpedzem​ @ohmakemeahercules​ @branlovestowrite​ @superchocovian​ @sherlockwhovian​ @vvbooklady1256​ @hollyethecurious​ @winterbaby89​ @delirious-latenight-laughs​ @jennjenn615​ @snidgetsafan​ @xsajx​​ @itsfabianadocarmo​ @spartanguard​ @hookedonapirate​

One: The First Date

The sea always calmed Killian, and while calm was an odd way to feel when he was finally on a date with Emma Swan, it was the best word he could use to describe how he felt right now. Despite his worries over his supposedly cursed hand, despite the ice witch who was out there somewhere, Killian felt deliciously content in this moment. Emma’s hand was in his, he could hear the soothing beat of the waves beneath the docks, and Emma’s hair glittered like gold in the moonlight.

She let go of his hand to lean against the railing of the boardwalk, and as she did, he noted the elegant curve of her neck, the way her ponytail swished against her shoulder blades, the almost girlish way she popped her foot and dug her toe into the old, wet boards. She shivered, and he inwardly berated himself for not thinking of the dropping temperatures or her bare shoulders (aside from admiring her soft skin, that is).

He shrugged out of his leather jacket and quickly draped it over her. “Here love, you have more need of this than I do.”

Emma accepted it gladly with a soft thank you, slipping her arms into the sleeves and hugging her torso. She was uncharacteristically vulnerable tonight, and he hoped that was because she felt safe with him.

She shivered still as she drew the jacket tighter around herself, and Killian came closer to wrap his arms around her from behind. She sighed and leaned back into him. Words didn’t seem necessary for the moment as they simply stood there, wrapped up in one another, gazing at the stars. Killian lowered his head to nuzzle into her neck, the scent of her shampoo making his heart thud loudly in his chest.

“I love you,” he whispered. He wasn’t sure if it was the quiet, or her softness in his arms, but the words just slipped out.

She stiffened slightly, and he held his breath, fearful that he had spoken too soon. She turned, still in the circle of his arms, her face flushed, eyes shining and darting to and fro. The moment stretched out, marked by the undulating sound of the waves below.

Finally, she raised up on her tiptoes and kissed him. He kissed her back, knowing it was the only answer she could give. At least for now.

 Two: Valentine’s Day

“Swan!” Killian shouted, as he burst into the loft. His fear ratcheted up a few more notches when he saw that the place was empty. It had been weeks since the Crocodile left town, and therefore weeks since there had been a crisis, but Emma’s text message had him falling right back into that mode. He glanced down at his screen to read the message again.

Come to the loft. Hurry.

He heard a laugh from the top of the stairs, and when he lifted his gaze from his phone, he saw Emma standing there, a bright smile on her face. Killian let out a huge sigh of relief as he pocketed his phone.

“Bloody hell, Swan, you scared me to death!”

“I scared Captain Hook?” she teased, crossing her arms over her chest and cocking her head. “Yay me. Now get up here, pirate.”

Killian did as she asked without further complaint. Belle had teased him about being whipped, and when she explained to him what that meant, he couldn’t really argue. He’d traded his ship for this woman, jumped through a time portal for her. Anything else was a trifle, really.

When he reached the second floor of the loft, Emma stood in front of her bathroom door with her hands behind her back grasping the doorknob. She wore an eager grin and there was delight shining in her eyes.

“Do you know what today is?”

Killian scratched his jaw with the curve of his hook. “Aye, Valentine’s Day, a holiday which requires Granny to decorate the diner with tacky red hearts and naked babies with bows and arrows.”

Emma chuckled and shook her head. “Yeah, I know, it’s kind of cheesy. But you’ve done so much for me, I wanted to do a little something for you . . . so . . . “

With that she flung the door open, simultaneously grabbing his hook and pulling him through the door. The claw foot tub in the corner was filled to almost overflowing with big, frothy bubbles.

“It’s a bubble bath,” Emma explained, shaking his arm excitedly. “You were so thrilled with showers, and my parents said there were no bubble baths in the Enchanted Forest, not like this, sooo . . ta-da!”

Killian grinned at the thought she had apparently put into this. He approached the tub cautiously, dipping his hand in to find the water invitingly warm. It was difficult to keep water at such a perfect temperature back in the Enchanted Forest. He glanced around and also saw candles burning all over the room.

“Come on,” Emma said, yanking on his arm, “before the water gets cold and the bubbles disappear.”

She had already yanked off his jacket and tossed it on the floor. He was blushing, which was slightly embarrassing. “You, uh, talked to your parents about this?”

Emma rolled her eyes as she unbuttoned his vest. “Are you kidding? My dad would have a coronary. After he pulled his gun on you, that is. I just asked for a few hours without the baby. I think mom suspected something, but my dad seems to be a little clueless about that sort of thing. Or at least when it involves me.”

Killian’s vest was cast aside, and he watched Emma as she worked on the buttons of his shirt. Her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth as she worked them. “How do you do this with one hand?” She muttered. “These buttons are tiny.”

Killian cleared his throat nervously as he closed his hand around Emma’s, “I think I can handle it from here.”

“No way, sailor,” Emma corrected him with a heated stare, “that tub is big enough for two.”

His blush only increased as he gazed into her eyes. Not only was this a new step in their own relationship, but it was a level of intimacy he had never shared with anyone after losing his hand. Sex became nothing more than a rough, quick release with nameless, faceless women who craved a night to forget just as much as he did. While some women had seen him without his hook, no living person had seen him without his brace since that horrible, painful day on his ship so long ago. And he hated to admit it, even to himself, but he was ashamed.

“Emma,” was all he managed to choke out as he rubbed his thumb nervously along the inside of her wrist. He wasn’t sure how to put what he was feeling into words. He just stood there, staring at the floor and clenching his jaw.

“Hey,” Emma said softly, reaching up with both hands to cup his face. She eased his chin up until his eyes met hers, and what he saw there stole his breath. Understanding. Patience. And above all, acceptance. She ran her thumbs wordlessly across his cheeks for a moment, then her hands drifted down to finish the buttons. She eased his shirt off his shoulders and one arm, then carefully worked the other sleeve around his hook. Then she ran her hand over the leather straps, almost as if she were admiring them.

“It’s okay,” she whispered as she unbuckled them. Her voice soothed him, but he still closed his eyes as she eased the brace completely from his torso. He kept them closed as her hands mapped his chest, his shoulders, his arms. Then she was cradling his stump in both hands, running her thumbs over the scars. His eyes finally opened to see her do what he had thought was unthinkable. She lifted his arm to her lips and placed a soft kiss at the end of it. His own breath came out in a shaky hiss.

“It’s okay,” she said again, pressing his stump against her to rest between her breasts. She stepped closer, her free arm encircling his waist, her cheek pressed against his chest, his bad arm wedged between them.

Killian, almost overcome with the tenderness of the moment, brought his hand up shakily to run his one hand through her hair. He lowered his face to breathe in the softness of her hair. “I love you so much,” he told her huskily.

She lifted her head to look at him, her mouth agape. Her eyes were awash with intensity, and he waited with bated breath for her words to come.

But Emma’s expression changed to a smirk as she yanked at the zipper of his jeans instead.

 Three: The Cabin in the Woods

He stands there, simply gazing at her in amazement. He can’t believe she doesn’t know. Tears prick at his eyes. Is it that hard for her to believe she’s enough?

“Don’t you know, Emma?” he finally manages to say around the lump in his throat. “It’s you.”

The look on her face almost kills him. So shocked and full of wonder. They are drawn together slowly, tenderly, and as he kisses her, he can taste a tear in the corner of her mouth. He turns to kiss the salty path on her cheek.

“I love you,” he breathes against her petal soft skin.

She just buries her face in the crook of his neck and sighs.

 Four: The Loft

One moment, lowly deckhand Hook feels cold steel slice through skin, muscle, and sinew. He reaches his one hand out to Emma Swan, regretting that he hadn’t grabbed hold of the moment offered him earlier. That he hadn’t leaned down and kissed her. Because no one has ever looked at him that way before. And no one has ever looked as devastated as Emma Swan does right now as he falls to the ground, the life bleeding out of him.

The next moment, his eyes are opening and he’s on his back on a hardwood floor. He’s Captain Hook again. No, he’s Killian Jones, hero and the man who loves Emma Swan. He smiles. They did it. Henry and Emma did it!

Henry! He leaps to his feet, ignoring the groans of Snow and David still on the floor behind him as he races upstairs to be sure the lad is ok. He doesn’t even have time to look for the boy when Emma bursts in, “Hook!” the first word on her lips.

He can tell she’s frantic and distraught, so he plays cocky and comedic. It was the right choice, as her face lights up with joy. She comes racing up the stairs, his given name now spoken with delight as she tackles him with a hug. It takes him by surprise when she tumbles with him onto the bed, knocking the breath out of him in the process. But he delights in the weight of her pressing him into the mattress and he enjoys it even more when she pins his arms on either side of his head, propping herself up to grin down at him. He really wishes her parents weren’t right downstairs.

“Didn’t mean to frighten you, love,” he tells her, “when I woke, I came up here to check on your boy.”

“He’s fine, Henry’s fine . . . “ She trails off, her smile faltering, and her eyes getting a sort of far-off look.

Concerned, he sits up, his forehead creasing as he searches her suddenly pale expression. “What is it, love?”

“It’s just . . . when I saw you die . . . I was afraid I would never get to tell you . . . “

Killian thinks he knows where she’s going with this. He understands her walls, her fears, her insecurities. Mostly because he’s felt them too. He tries to encourage her, but feels he only succeeds in plastering a ridiculously broad grin on his face.

“To tell you . . . thank you.”

For a brief moment, his heart drops all the way to his stomach. He died for her, and still she holds back. But he swallows down the hurt and disappointment. It has to be on her terms, he only wants it on her terms, and so he smiles. He barely hears the rest of her babbling thank you.

“All in a day’s work for a hero,” he tells her when she finishes. She presses her forehead to his, burying her fingers in his hair. He wonders if she expects him to say it like he always does: I love you. But this time, he can’t.

Killian Jones is a patient man. One day, perhaps, she’ll simply say it. Those three little words he longs to hear from her lips.

[hookedonapirate]

Through the Rising Tide

Thank you so much for the beautiful graphic @itsfabianadocarmo​!

Summary: The Jones brothers are polar opposites. Liam's the safe and honorable one, straight-laced and straight as an arrow. The good son.

Killian's the dangerous one, the bad boy with tats, leather jackets, a motorcycle and a questionable past.

The only things they have in common are panty-melting sea-blue eyes, the flat they share in Storybrooke and a rare blood type.

Oh, and apparently their taste in women.

Or rather, one woman.

Feisty.

Blonde.

Gorgeous.

Green-eyed Goddess.

Killian saw her first, but she chose his brother—the nice guy over the playboy. And even though she’s dating his brother, it doesn't make him want her any less. If that's not bad enough, she moves in with them and he has to pretend he's not completely in love with her. His life could not get any worse…

Until Liam dies in a tragic motorcycle accident.

Leaving each of them with one half of a broken heart.

Now Killian and Emma are left helping each other pick up the pieces.

Just as they're beginning to learn how to live in their new reality, another riptide pulls them further into the deep end when she finds out she's pregnant with Liam's baby.

Notes: 

Starts out as Jewelled Swan. Don’t like, don’t read!

Thank you @ultraluckycatnd​​ for looking it over!

This story was inspired by Baby Mine by Kennedy Fox, and I loved the book so much and thought it was very much underrated. I’ve wanted to write a fic like this for a long time now because it’s one of my favorite tropes, but after I read that book, I just had to write my own take.

The title comes from the lyrics of the song, Lay By Me by Ruben. The particular line goes like this:

"I hope you know through the rising tide

That I'll be here and you can lay by my side"

If you've never heard it, I recommend giving it a listen. It's an amazing song and very fitting for this story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFJbLzEtoZw

P.S. In case you're unable to read the shoulder tattoo in the picture above and are wondering what it says—

"There is no happiness without tears

No life without death

And no true love without heartbreak"

Rated: Explicit for smut (including sexual fantasies, masturbation, implied and detailed sex, etc.) and language (lots of F-bombs).

Also available on: AO3 FF.N

Catch up: Ch 1 // Ch 2 //

Chapter 3

One Year Later…

 With a sleepy groan, Emma shoots out her hand to silence the loud, annoying noise coming from her phone. “Ugh…” She drops the device on the nightstand and retreats underneath the covers, not ready to get up yet. She’s never ready to get up in the morning. She rolls over to her other side, seeking warmth from the body lying next to her. She wraps her arms around his torso and buries her face in his chest, not wanting to leave him. But she has to get ready for work. She hates the thought of leaving his arms, though. They fit so well together like this, like two puzzle pieces.

 She knows the longer she lies here like this, though, the stronger the urge to stay will be. She attempts to force herself out of bed. She kisses her sleeping boyfriend’s forehead and starts to get up. His strong arms pull her back to him, his hands latching onto her hips, pulling her on top of him so she’s straddling him. Emma emits a sleepy moan when she feels his thickness pressed against her core.

 “Where do you think you’re going, love?” he asks, his voice groggy with sleep as he wraps his arms around her to ensure she won’t leave him.

 “I have to go to work,” she groans, clearly not happy about it. When he tightens his arms around her, she wiggles in his hold and laughs, trying to free herself, but honestly, she’s not trying very hard.

 He caresses her cheek and pulls her in for a lazy kiss, his tongue sweeping into her mouth to taste her. She moans against his lips, her body tingling and molding to his as she rocks slightly against him, her arousal coating his hard length as he arches his hips into her, seeking more friction. Friction she desperately wants to give him.

 But as much as she wants to get caught up in the kiss, in the effect he has on her, as much as she wants to just give herself to him and ride him into the next world, she really has to get up and go to work. She breaks the kiss, as painful and difficult as it is. “Babe, you’re not making it easy,” she says breathlessly.

 He pouts as he looks up at her, his crystal blue eyes boring into her green ones, not making this any easier. No, the way he’s looking at her right now makes it ten times harder. 

 “Sure you don’t have time for a quickie?” he begs, releasing a small groan of desperation as he palms her naked breast, brushing the pad of his thumb over her nipple, making it hard. 

 “Babe, if you make me late—” Her pleas are instantly silenced when he moves his hands to her ass and squeezes, pressing her more firmly against him. 

 He flashes a devilish smirk, one tainted with mischief that she only witnesses when they’re either talking about sex, having sex or about to have sex. “Then I’ll get to fuck you for the next hour.” 

 Emma had actually planned on getting up, but when she feels Liam’s lips on her neck and his teeth nibbling her skin, when she feels the head of his cock at her entrance, all bets are off. A moan tumbles from her lips and soon, Liam is grabbing her hips and sliding into her. Emma sits up, placing her hands on his chest in total submission and rocks her hips back and forth, eager to have him completely buried inside of her. 

 “Oh, fuck, Emma. . .”

 He reaches for her breasts again and squeezes as she rides his dick. She’s so glad she’d set her alarm clock fifteen minutes early like she always does because she knows nine times out of ten, she’ll let Liam get his way. It's their morning routine.

 But she can’t help it. Her boyfriend is so irresistible. The way he flips her over, sending Emma to her back, the way he pounds into her so rough and hard like he can never get enough of her. The way he kisses her so deeply and passionately, making her head spin. The expression on his face as her walls grip his cock, the way he groans, setting her skin ablaze. And the way he’s kissing her after it’s over, both of them breathless. When he pulls out, the way he kisses every inch of her on his way to her satisfied core, his cum dripping from her entrance as she combs her fingers through his curly brown hair. The way he laps up both of their orgasms from her cunt until her walls are fluttering around his tongue. She can’t help but give in to all of it.

 Emma’s fingers clench around his hair as she screams through another incredible orgasm. “Fuck… Liam!” 

 And once she's able to reassemble herself and jump out of bed before he can talk her into cuddling or going for another round, she immediately hates having to leave him. But now she must.

 Emma throws on some clothes, making sure she’s dressed appropriately in case she runs into her other roommate as she heads to the bathroom. The big, blissful smile plastered on her face instantly vanishes, though, her nose scrunching in disapproval when she steps on something and looks down, spotting a red, lacey thong on the floor outside Killian’s bedroom. A thong that is not her own. 

 What the actual fuck? 

 She grimaces and kicks the fabric aside like it’s contaminated with a deadly virus. She’s not surprised though. Disgusted, yes, but not surprised. Killian is always bringing a different woman home with him, and she and Liam always have to hear the noises coming from his bedroom. Therefore, they never feel bad when they’re going at it in their bedroom, and don’t even bother being quiet. 

 Sometimes she thinks the two brothers are engaging in some sort of weird contest, trying to see who can make the woman they’re with scream the loudest. She gathers it’s a pissing contest between the two brothers to see who’s the better bloke in the sack or to see who has the bigger cock. So Emma always makes sure she’s extra loud to let Killian know just how good his brother is in the sack. And so far, none of the women Killian’s brought to his bed have outmatched her. 

 Emma grins at the thought as she continues to the bathroom to relieve her bladder. She also thinks about how much things have changed since she came here to Storybrooke. She’d never meant to start a relationship with Liam, or anyone for that matter, when she’d ran into him outside his bar the night they’d met. They had exchanged phone numbers and he’d asked her out the next day, to which she’d reluctantly accepted. She was reluctant, not because she wasn't attracted to him—because God, she was—but because she still had a strong fortress surrounding her heart from when Neal had shattered it to pieces. But when she’d learned Liam too was cheated on by an ex, they had bonded over their heartaches, and she thought they could help each other heal. But they did so much more than that. 

 Emma fell for Liam and she fell hard. He’s much like a teddy bear, only soft on the inside, not the outside. He’s kind and loving and warm and best of all, he makes her laugh. When she’d discovered how good he was in bed on top of all his amazing qualities, she thought he was too good to be true. He seemed like the total package. He is the total package. But still, she’d kept waiting for the other shoe to drop; it never did, though. Or at least, it hasn’t dropped. yet.

 Once she's under the shower stream, she’s wetting her hair and singing the first song that comes to mind. Titanium by David Guetta. 

  “You shout it out, but I can’t hear a word you say. . .”

 After nine years, she still sings this damn song. But it’s so perfect for the shower because the lyrics are ones she can easily belt out, the words echoing beautifully off the bathroom walls.

 She’s been singing in the shower since she was eight years old. Her brother would always pound on the bathroom door when she was taking a shower, and yell for her to stop. It was like that when they lived in the same house growing up and it was like that after she moved in with him and Mary Margaret. She has to admit, she misses annoying the hell out of her brother. 

  Bang, bang, bang.

 “Would you stop your bloody awful singing?!" Killian shouts through the door. “Some people are actually trying to sleep around here!”

 Now that she lives with Liam, she has his pain in the ass brother to annoy. As fun as that is, it’s not really the same.

 Emma doesn’t stop though. Instead, she grins to herself and lathers shampoo into her hair, closing her eyes as she makes sure to sing even louder and more obnoxious.

  “You criticize, but all your bullets ricochet. Shoot me down, but I get up. . .”

 Ever since she moved in with her boyfriend eight months ago, Killian has been a pesky thorn in her side. He’s been nothing but a nuisance. From leaving his dirty dishes in the sink to sleeping with a different woman almost every night to pissing her off every chance he gets. He’s always trying to bring her down, always finding new ways to push her buttons. She’s not sure exactly why it all started. Maybe because he’s held a grudge against her since she chose his brother over him. Or maybe because he thinks she’s trying to steal his brother away from him. But either way, she’s not giving him the satisfaction of letting him get to her. Or at least letting him know he gets to her. 

 Emma starts shouting out the lyrics, each word louder than the previous one, purposely trying to get a rise out of him, just like he always does to her. 

 “Shoot me down, but I won’t fall! I am Tit-aaaaan-iiiiiiiuuuuuum! Shoot me down, but I won’t—”

 The whine of the faucet interrupts her, and suddenly she's shivering, no longer feeling the hot water spraying her skin. What the fuck? One second she's rinsing her hair and the next, the bathroom door is slamming shut and she’s just standing there in the bathtub with shampoo dripping down her face and no water to rinse it out with. 

 That damn bastard turned off the shower!

 “What the hell?!” she screeches, her words garbled when the shampoo drips into her mouth. She spits it out and spins around, blindly reaching for the towel on the rack, yanking it off the bar and wiping her face with it. “You asshole!”

 She steps out of the tub, blood bubbling under her skin as she wraps the towel around her body. Okay, pounding on the bathroom door is one thing, but shutting off the water while she’s taking a shower is a whole different level of asshole for Killian Jones! And she won’t stand for it. She’s not letting him get away with this.  

 She marches out of the bathroom and down the hall, leaving a dripping wet trail of soapy water behind her. But she doesn’t give a fuck at the moment. She rips his door open and storms into his room without any sort of grace. She hurries over to his alarm clock, which he leaves on his dresser across the room so he'll have to get up to turn it off. He does it so he won’t be tempted to hit the snooze button and fall back asleep. 

 Killian’s in his bed with the covers over his head as Emma turns on the music and cranks up the volume. She immediately spins around and scurries out of his room, her heart hammering in her chest, but when she makes it to the doorway, she can feel his hand gripping her arm as he turns her around and presses her firmly against the wall, just outside his door.  

 She loses her breath.

 He doesn’t say anything at all; he just stares at her, a mixture of emotions written all over his face. She can’t tell if he’s pissed or irritated, or if the look on his face is just pure hatred for her. Or if it’s something else entirely.

 Emma loses a breath when he closes the gap between them until their bodies are pressed together, his face inches from hers. He still doesn’t murmur a word, just stares at her. 

 She gulps when his eyes flicker over her face, and it almost seems like he’s going to. . .

 No, no, no, that can’t be. She knows for a fact she’s just imagining things, because Killian would never try to kiss her. Not only because his brother is dating her, but because he hates her with every fiber of his being; he’s never said it out loud, but she knows deep down he does.

 Killian’s still staring at her and she’s so stunned in her spot, she can’t even move. As his eyes move to her lips, she swears she stops breathing, her heart pounding in her ear. He hasn’t looked at her with anything apart from hatred since the night they met.

 He quickly amends his stare, his eyes snapping to hers, regret clouding his face. “I’m sorry,” he whispers huskily and releases her, dashing to his room and slamming the door behind him. 

  What the hell was that?

 He may have been able to move, but she feels like she’s superglued to the wall. She can still feel his palms on her wrists like he’s still pinning her, but he’s not.

 “What the bloody hell was all that racket?” 

 The sound of Liam’s voice makes her heart jump into her throat, and she has to peel herself from the wall. When she does, she feels a million times lighter. She blows out a long breath. A breath she feels like she’s been holding this whole time. She turns to Liam and gets on her tiptoes as she wraps her arms around the back of his neck, kissing him chastely on the lips. “Nothing, babe, it was just your annoying brother hollering at me for singing again and telling me how awful of a singer I am.” 

 “Don’t listen to him. You sing beautifully,” Liam assures her sweetly, kissing the tip of her nose. “I love your singing.”

 Emma smiles at his compliments, but her face twists at the memories of Killian turning off the water on her. “I never do listen to him, but that asshole shut off the shower on me while I was in there. And I had shampoo in my hair and it got in my eyes and mouth.”

 She can see the anger spiraling through her boyfriend, his features appalled. “He did what?!” Liam lunges toward Killian’s door, but Emma moves in front of him and places her hands on his chest to stop him. 

 “It’s fine. I got him back.” She smirks. “I turned on his music and cranked up the volume. 

 “I know, I could hear everything,” he grumbles, his eyes focused on Killian’s door. Emma’s still standing in front of him so he won’t go charging in there, but he manages to pound on the door. “What the fuck, Killian?! You don’t go into the bathroom while Emma’s using it! She lives here, too, you wanker!”

 “I already told her I was sorry!” he calls through the door.

 Emma furrows her brows. She thought Killian had said he was sorry for pinning her against the wall and almost kissing her. Or at least, that’s what it seemed like.

 “Sorry, love,” Liam murmurs, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her forehead. “My brother’s a pompous arse sometimes.”

 She can’t disagree with that. This is far from the first time Killian’s been a jerk to her and it won’t be the last. She wishes she and Liam could get a place of their own. What she wouldn’t give to be able to get up in the morning and prance around the apartment half-naked, or even naked if she so chose to be, not having to worry about annoying roommates who only stir up trouble and tell her she’s an awful singer. She knows her boyfriend wants to be close to his brother, but still, how does Liam not get sick of Killian’s shit?

 “It’s fine,” she assures him, looking up into his warm blue eyes. “I just can’t wait until we get a place of our own. Just you and me.” 

 A serene smile stretches over Liam’s lips as he gazes into her eyes and caresses her cheek. “I can’t wait either, baby.” He turns her toward the wall, pressing her back against it, much like Killian had done a few moments ago. Emma moans when she feels Liam’s thickness digging into her thigh. “Then I would get to fuck you whenever I wanted without worrying about my little brother pounding on the wall, telling us to stop.” He lifts her up and she instinctively wraps her legs around his waist as he buries his face in the crook of her neck and gives her a few gentle thrusts. Emma tilts her head back and moans, loving the way his cock feels pressed against her center. He’s wearing boxers, but she can still feel every inch of him.

 “That would be amazing,” she murmurs breathlessly as he leaves a trail of kisses down her neck. 

 “But it might not be such a good idea because then I would never want to leave. I’d want to stay home and make love to you all day.”

 Emma laughs as his words vibrate against her skin. “You’re insatiable.”

 “Can’t help it, love. You’re so bloody gorgeous and perfect. And when you have something rare and precious, you hold onto it and never let it go.”

 Emma’s heart warms, a blissful smile curving her lips. Liam’s sweet lines, no matter how cheesy or sappy, are just some of the reasons why she fell in love with him. He always knows what to say to make her feel special. Emma fists her hands in his hair and pulls his face to hers, capturing his lips for a heated kiss.

 Killian’s bedroom door opens, and he barges through the hallway, bursting their cozy, quiet bubble. “I can’t wait for you two to get your own place either. Then I won’t have to hear you two fucking every goddamn second of the day,” he grumbles as he marches down the hall.

 “Oh, like we’ve never heard you fucking one of your many conquests!” Emma hollers after him.

 “Whatever, I’m taking a shower. I’m late for work and you’re taking too damn long.” 

 Emma’s eyes widen when he disappears into the bathroom, and she releases herself from Liam’s hold and follows Killian, but before she can stop him, he slams the door in her face.

 She’s seeing red as she wiggles the knob and is even more pissed when it’s locked. “You asshole! I have to rinse the shampoo out of my hair since you shut off my shower before I could!”

 He answers by turning on his heavy metal music.

 Emma lets out a frustrated scream and pounds on the door. So much for being at work on time today.

 She’s fucking pissed and about to kick the door, but Liam’s warm arms instantly put her at ease. 

 “Come on, baby, don’t let him get under your skin. Let me make you breakfast while you wait for the shower.”

 Emma relents and goes to her room to grab her bathrobe. She rinses her hair off in the kitchen sink as Liam starts the coffee.

 ~*~

 Killian’s still cursing to himself when Emma’s in the shower for the second time that morning. He tugs on his shirt, hating himself for what he’d done earlier in the hallway. He never should’ve pinned her against the wall and almost kissed the bloody hell out of her, but he’d reacted before he could control himself. 

 When he had pressed her into the wall, she was standing there, dripping wet in nothing but a towel. He can still see the wet spots on the carpet where her hair had dripped to the floor—in his bedroom when she marched in here to turn on his music and outside his door. He’d damn near drooled when he gazed upon the soft swell of her slick breasts, and couldn’t help but notice her pebbled nipples underneath the thin cotton. He could feel her taut nipples against his chest when he pressed himself into her. She was so fucking sexy, and he wanted to pick her up and carry her to his room and have his way with her. Or seeing that she was naked underneath the towel, he wanted to lift her up and just take her there against the wall. It would have been so easy to slide inside of her and just fuck her senseless. Neither of those scenarios was an option, obviously.

 Killian sits on the edge of his bed, sighing into his hands. As much as he pretends to and wishes he actually hated her, he’s unfortunately in love with her. After he found her in his kitchen wearing Liam’s shirt a year ago, he did everything he could to forget about her. He's tried sleeping with other women, he still tries that method, but it never bloody works. It only makes him wish those women were Emma. It makes him want her more. It makes him feel more lonely than he already is.

 Maybe he would've been able to forget about her if she hadn't kept showing up here. And it was bad enough when she and Liam had their sleepovers all the time, but then she moved in eight months ago because she was sick of living with her brother, and Liam was sick of not waking up next to Emma every morning. 

 Killian hates living here with Liam and Emma. He hates having to hear them fuck in the bedroom next to his; he hates having to hear them speak to each other like they’re so fucking in love. It makes him sick. 

 He hates having to witness every milestone in their relationship. He had to listen every time Liam went on about how he was falling for Emma and how she was his soulmate. He had to hear about it when Liam told him he had finally professed his love for her; he had to hear about it when Liam said he could no longer stand living without her, and how he wanted to ask her to move in with him. Liam sought Killian's approval, which he reluctantly gave, and had to hear about Emma’s reaction and how excited she was when she said yes.

 Killian’s had to listen to every conversation Liam and Emma have had when they’re all home at the same time, he’s had to watch them feed each other, he’s had to witness one of them going into the kitchen, grabbing a can of Reddi Whip and heading back to their room countless times. For the past year, he’s had a front-row seat to Liam’s and Emma’s relationship, and he’s hated every fucking second of it.

 In the beginning, Killian had hoped their relationship would be temporary. Emma had been cheated on, too, just like Liam, so they had that in common and it was something they bonded over in the beginning. Killian thought they both just needed to cleanse themselves from their cheating exes, and that they were using each other to do that, but nope. What they had in the beginning went beyond helping each other heal. And Killian can’t blame his brother for wanting something more with Emma. She’s the whole fucking package and Killian knows this just as well as Liam does. It’s the reason why Killian hasn’t been able to tame his feelings for her, even though he knows she’s completely off-limits. 

 He’s happy for Liam, he really is. He’s glad Liam found someone as amazing as Emma. He’s glad Liam is happy. He just wishes he’d never met her at the bar that night. He wishes he’d never set his sights on her so that maybe then he wouldn’t be pining for his brother’s girlfriend. Maybe then he wouldn’t be so head over heels for her. But then again, maybe he would still feel the same way about her, no matter how or when he met her.

 Maybe it’s his fault though. He knows his feelings for her would be so much easier to deal with if he didn’t live with her.

 There have been so many times he told himself he was finding another place to live, but at the end of the day, he talked himself out of it because why should he leave? This was his apartment long before Liam even met Emma. Hell, this was Killian’s apartment before Liam moved in with him. 

 Killian moved here after he graduated from high school and his first roommate wouldn’t leave after not paying his share of the rent for six months. Killian could have gone to court, filled out the paperwork and served him with an eviction notice, which would’ve given his roommate a month to move out. But Killian had another idea in mind that would speed up the process, and all he had to do was beg Liam to go along with it. He got the idea from watching an episode of Friends. The One Where Eddie Won't Go. Chandler couldn’t get his annoying, nut job of a roommate to leave, so when Eddie returns to the apartment the next day, the lock on the door has been changed, Chandler and Joey pretend they don’t know Eddie and they act as though Joey never left. 

 So Killian had something similar in mind. Liam showed up at his apartment and went into the roommate’s bedroom. Together, they gathered his things and started moving them to the front lawn. When the roommate returned later that day, the locks had been changed and Killian opened the door after he heard the incessant pounding and pretended he didn’t remember having another roommate besides his brother. When the guy refused to leave, Liam stood at the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest, and his intimidating height and size compared to the scrawny, short lad who stood in the hallway, finally left with his tail between his legs. 

 When Liam went back to his and his girlfriend’s flat that night, he walked in on her while she was banging some other guy in the bed they shared. Not wanting to be reminded of what he’d witnessed when he slept in his bed every night, he’s the one who left and never came back. Liam and Killian have lived together in this flat ever since then. And they never heard from Killian’s old roommate ever again.

 So, why should Killian be the one to leave? 

 Then again, if he stays, his feelings for Emma might become even more difficult to shake off. 

 Right, like he could shake them off. If he could, then he would’ve done that long ago.

 ~*~

 “Killian, can I talk to you for a moment?” Liam asks the next day when he steps into the apartment, shutting the door behind him. It’s Saturday, so neither of them is working, and Emma is out shopping with her sister-in-law.

 Killian’s carrying a mug of freshly brewed coffee as he leaves the kitchen, catching the serious expression on his brother's face and in his tone. He's a bit nervous if he’s being honest, certain Liam’s going to chew him out for shutting off Emma’s shower yesterday. Killian was out the door before Liam could say anything to his face about it. He supposes he deserves the lecture, though; he was kind of an arsehole to her. Okay, he was a huge arsehole. But she was being so loud. And yes, she has the voice of an angel, but it doesn't give her the right to wake up the entire apartment building. Prepared for an arse chewing, Killian raises his free hand in surrender. “I promise I didn’t see anything. I was only trying to get her to stop singing—”

 Liam shakes his head before Killian can finish, and drags a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. “That’s not what I want to talk to you about.”

 “Oh. Okay, what is it then?” Killian asks, noticing how nervous Liam appears to be.

 Liam motions to the living room, so they both head to the sofa and take a seat. He draws in a shaky breath and reaches into his jacket pocket, pulling out a velvet box.

 Killian’s eyes widen in horror as he stares at the object. 

  No, please tell me that’s not what I think it is. Please, Liam. Don’t make it so.

 Killian gulps thickly, unable to remove his eyes from the box. He’s never prayed for anything in his entire twenty-three years of living on this earth, but right now he’s praying that whatever’s in that box is not a diamond ring.

 But judging by the smile cracking Liam’s lips, he already knows the words on his tongue before he speaks them. “I’m asking Emma to be my wife.”

  Heart meet dagger.

 Killian feels like the wind has just been knocked out of him, all of the air in the room suddenly gone.

 Liam cracks open the box, showing Killian the ring. It’s a princess cut diamond with a white-gold band. “Do you think she’ll like it?”

 Liam’s waiting for some sort of approval, but all Killian can do is stare at the ring and feel a stab of jealousy. He knows he should be happy and supportive, but he still can’t help but want Emma to be his and not his brother’s. He knows Liam deserves a woman like Emma, though, and she deserves someone like Liam. He’s a good man, and if Killian were forced to pick someone besides himself, he’d pick Liam every time. And if he had to pick someone for Liam, there's no doubt he’d pick her. But that doesn’t make this any less easy.

 Killian clears the frog from his throat. “It’s stunning,” he says with a smile, trying to keep his tone even. “It’s stunning, just like Emma.”

 “That’s exactly what I think too, little brother.” He blows out a wobbly breath. “I’m so bloody nervous about asking her to marry me. We’ve only been together for a year. Well, almost a year, but I know she’s the one for me, Killian. I know it deep in my bones. I’ve known since the night I met her.”

 Killian wants to say he knows the feeling. 

 How is it even possible he and Liam felt the exact same way about the exact same woman that exact same night? 

 She made her choice though, regardless of the chemistry between her and Killian.

 He also knows how Liam feels because, apart from that first week he and Emma were together, he hasn’t exactly kept Killian out of the loop. So Killian’s known every goddamn step of the way how Liam has felt about her. “How will you ask her?”

 “Well . . .” Liam runs his hand through his hair nervously and stares off into space, as though he’s playing the scenario in his head. “For our one-year anniversary, I want to have a picnic on the lake where we went on our first date. Which reminds me . . .” Liam looks at Killian, appearing a bit skittish about something, “I wanted to ask you if I can borrow your motorcycle.”

 Killian furrows his brows. “But you hate my bike. When I first got it, you kept telling me how dangerous it was, and when I taught you how to ride it, you said you never wanted to be on it again.”

 “I know… but I want this proposal to be special, and I always catch Emma staring at your bike whenever we’re getting into my car.”

 “You do?”

 “Aye. And she’s mentioned she’s never ridden a motorcycle before, so I wanted her to have that experience. I want to do something with her she might enjoy before I pop the big question, you know? So she doesn’t think I’ll be one of those vanilla husbands who doesn’t know how to have fun.”

 Killian’s heart clenches. How many times has he dreamt about taking Emma for a ride on his motorcycle? How many times has he dreamt of having her arms wrapped around him, holding him tight as they rode his bike? 

 “Then after we eat and have some wine, we’ll walk along the beach, and when the moment feels right, I’ll get down on one knee.”

 Killian swallows hard. The scenario Liam is painting sounds absolutely perfect, and he knows Emma will love it. He knows Emma’s not a grand gesture type of lass, and what Liam has planned is the perfect combination of grand and simple. 

 “So, what do you say, can I use it?” 

 When Killian witnesses the spark in Liam’s eyes, he can’t help but say, “Of course. You can use it for as long as you’d like.”

 “Thank you, Killian,” he says appreciatively, clasping his hands together as he leans forward and perches his elbows on his knees. “I also have another favor to ask of you.”

 Killian quirks a brow as he sets his mug on the coffee table. “I’m afraid to ask.” He laughs, but he actually is afraid to ask.

 Liam chuckles. “Relax, I only wanted to ask if you’d be my best man. You’re not only my brother . . .” his face grows serious as he looks Killian dead in the eyes, “you’re my best friend, and I couldn’t imagine anyone else standing up there beside me as I marry the woman of my dreams. I imagine it’ll take a while to plan the wedding, and the earliest it would be is next year, but—” 

 “I’d be honored,” Killian cuts him off, swallowing hard. It feels like Liam just drove the dagger deeper into his chest. 

 As honored as he is for Liam to ask him to be his best man, he can’t stand at the altar and watch the woman of his dreams marry his brother. He just can’t. But he can’t possibly tell Liam that. 

 A big grin overtakes Liam’s face as he pulls Killian in for a big hug. 

 “I’m happy for you,” Killian expresses hoarsely, trying to ignore how crushed he feels. “You deserve it, brother,” he says genuinely. 

 “Thank you, Killian. That means a lot,” Liam says as they break the hug. “Now just hope I can grow some balls to get down on one knee, and pray she says yes.” 

 “She’ll say yes, I know she will, Liam,” he says sincerely, patting his brother on the shoulder. He knows deep down Liam and Emma are perfect for each other, no matter how much he wants to deny it.

 “You really think so?” Liam is asking hopefully. 

 And right now, Killian can’t help but smile. If Liam were proposing to any other woman, Killian would be so bloody happy for him. So he shoves away the fact that it’s Emma they’re talking about so he can just be there for his brother like Liam needs him to be. “Aye. There is no one more perfect for you than her.”

 Liam grins from ear to ear. “At least we can agree on one thing,” he chuckles. “I love her so bloody much.” His face suddenly clouds with something Killian can’t quite put his finger on, and once again, Liam appears to be nervous. “That brings me to the final thing I wanted to talk to you about.”

 “Okay,” Killian gulps. He has a bad feeling about what the next thing might be, though it can’t possibly be worse than telling him he’s proposing to the same woman Killian’s completely in love with or asking Killian to stand beside Liam as he watches Emma marry someone else.

 “I need you to be nice to Emma,” he says in a condemning tone. “She thinks you hate her.”

 Guilt clenches Killian’s heart, and as much as he knows he should be nice to the woman who will be Liam’s future wife, he knows agreeing to be nice to Emma is like agreeing to jump into quicksand.

 For the past year, Killian’s had to pretend to hate Emma because he knows if he and Emma end up becoming friends, then he’ll be tempted to act on his feelings for her, and he can’t let that happen. He can’t do that to Liam. So, there’s only one other option.

 Killian has to move out, and he needs to move out soon. Until that happens, he has to throw on a smile and pretend everything is hunky-dory. “I don’t hate her,” he manages, trying to shove all of his emotions down his throat. 

 “Good, then act like it. If she says yes when I propose, she’ll be your sister-in-law soon, so get used to that idea.”

 Killian tears his gaze from Liam, unable to look at his brother right now. He feels like his ears are bleeding. Like his heart is bleeding. Liam has no idea how much his words just gutted him. He could never get used to being Emma’s . . .

 No, he can’t even think about the idea. He could never consider Emma as his sister-in-law, and there’s no way he could ever be a brother figure to her. There’s just no bloody way. He’s wanked off while thinking about her for crying out fucking loud.

 “You don’t have to worry, I promise I’ll be nicer to Emma.” Even as Killian makes the promise, he can feel himself being pulled in by the quicksand.

 “Thank you, Killian.”

 When they stand, Killian tells him he’s going to the gym. He needs to relieve some of the pain bubbling inside his chest and figure out how the bloody hell he’s going to win this internal battle inside him, or if he ever will. He should have seen this coming though. He knows Liam has been serious about Emma from the beginning.

 He changes into his gym clothes, and once the cool breeze hits his face, once Liam is no longer near him, he can finally breathe, but even then, the surrounding air feels paper-thin. He’s barely able to suck in enough oxygen to make his heart not feel so heavy.

 He puts on his helmet and hops on his bike, driving out of the parking lot and trying to figure out how the bloody hell to get out of this predicament.

 As much as he loves Liam, he can’t fucking do this. Any of it. He can’t be Liam’s best man, he can’t give a best man speech and tell everyone how bloody happy he is for the bride and groom while he’ll actually be dying inside. He can’t live with them for one more bloody second, and he sure as hell can’t be her brother-in-law.

 Which leaves Killian with only one choice.

 He needs to get out of Storybrooke. And he needs to get out soon.

  Tagging people who have shown interest. Let me know if you would like to be added or if I missed you. @itsfabianadocarmo @resident-of-storybrooke @snowbellewells @onceuponaprincessworld @viajandosinalas @teamhook @captainswan-shipper88 @jamif​ @katielovesstarcrossedlovers @uhthreeyuh @lfh1226-linda @babyyouremyqueen @sthonour @julesep3026 @fairytalewhispersinmyheart @andiirivera @wefoundloveunderthelight @wickedsw4n @eleveneitherway @eherron14 @ouatpost @transparentclodsludgeweasel @stahlop​

[intricate-oeuvre]

On how to be deadly || Geralt of Rivia || part XI

Word count: 2.5k+

Summary: Axelia is Witcher experiment herself and has gone through same harsh Trials as Geralt, but she wasn’t so lucky with the outcome. Her vision didn’t become better. Therefore, she was rendered blind in the end. And because of that, she solely uses her Witcher senses to make her ways. Only potions can give her false sense of sight for limited time.Somewhere along the way she meets the Rivian. Who’s interested to know how she’s been killing monsters and hasn’t been killed herself yet.

Warnings: nakedness, bad grammar. angst, Geralt doesn't know what are feelings

A/N: I have certain schedule when I post updates. that is, the last part has to reach certain note count before I upload the next part. THANK YOU FOR READING!

part I || part II || part III || part IV || part V || part VI || part VII || part VIII || part IX || part X || part XI || part XII || part XIII | Epilogue

What? Axelia’s eyes grew big, small confusion settling in her. She looked around. Shit.

This was his room.

That’s why his shirt was there.

As she heard him drop his boots and unbutton his pants, she sat up straighter, her hands sliding to the edges of the tub.

Next second she was out of the bath, drenched like a rat in pouring rain and with swift hands grabbed the towel to press it against her chest. But Geralt was as fast- his hands encircled her waist and held her above the ground. Axelia let out a shriek and started kicking and hissing at him.

“Towel. Drop it.” He said to her.

“Geralt. Put. Me. Down.” Axelia hissed at him. He did put her down, but didn’t let go of her.

“Get back in the tub or I’m going to throw you back in with the damned towel.” He threatened her.

“You wouldn’t.” Axelia gasped. But then again, this was Geralt who they were talking about.

Next second Axelia was under water, alongside her towel. With splutter and angry grunt, she rose up, the towel all wet now and soaked as it rested on her head.

Axelia looked as some kind of a vile monster- her hair, spread across her back and shoulders like sea-weeds and the drenched towel on her head and face. She pulled off the towel and with stare that could kill, Axelia looked at Geralt, who was now in the tub opposite her.

“There you are, princess.” He teased her in mock sarcasm. Axelia opened her mouth as water poured out from it, making Geralt bark out a laugh at her. She hated that Geralt called her like that.

It had stuck with him when he had heard Eskel call her like that because she was the only girl around the school. They all were drunk at the time and picking drunken fights with each other and just primarily having great time. When fellow witcher had said that she should be treated as a princess, since she is the only female witcher, ever. She had smacked Eskel in head with a wooden spoon for that. And right after that Lambert also had called her a princess, which earned him- a smack of spoon on his forehead too, without a doubt. They all were too drunk to fight back. Of course, Geralt had to jump in on it as well. He had been sitting across her, and as Axelia had leaned across the table to smack him in the head with the spoon, he had leaned back, out of her reach. With grunt she-witcher had climbed swiftly across the table top, grabbing onto his shoulder and thus making both of them fall on the ground with laughter as she just had balanced the spoon on his forehead. But those were absent times now.

“You, complete arse.” She spat, and threw the wet towel at him. With smack it landed on his shoulder. Still chuckling, he pushed it to the floor.

Axelia stuck her tongue out at him. Geralt didn’t seem to notice that, now more content on getting himself clean as he scrubbed his arms with washcloth.

Axelia only huffed and dragged her hands upward her face, to get hair out of her mouth and eyes. Her hands staying on sides of her head, elbows raised.

“I’m getting out.” She said, more to herself than Geralt, as her hands flew to the edges.

“There’s no towel.” Geralt answered mater of factly.

“Yes, thank you for reminding me.” Axelia turned and hissed at him. With a grunt she rose from the tub and stepped out. She didn’t shy away from him. Nothing he hadn’t seen before and vice versa. With her bare back to the witcher, she stopped at the table and carefully picked up the rings. One at the time, and slid them on her pale fingers. Her skin felt soft and ample from the bath. Meanwhile, Geralt looked at her, shamelessly letting his eyes travel along her back, watching how water droplets were running down her figure.

Gathering all of her rings, she made her way towards the curtains and disappeared behind them, leaving witcher to bathe alone.

For some time, he enjoyed the bath, basking in silence when someone out of nowhere, emptied a bucket of water on his head.

“I said you need a bath!” Axelia laughed behind him, bucket still in her hands. With hands on both sides of the tub, Geralt turned to look behind him, at her, water running from his hair, down his face.

She was dressed in his black shirt which barely covered her bottom, leaving enough for one’s imagination; one sleeve rolled up as the other was left loosely dangling around her wrist. But other than that, the shirt itself was neatly buttoned up.

“Come here.” Geralt tried to reach for her, but she took a quick step back, dropping her hands at her sides.

“Bathe. Then we’ll talk.” Axelia said seriously, leaning down to put bucket on the floor.

“Hmm. Don’t trust your talk. You usually run away.” Geralt grunted, his eyes catching her movement a she pulled the stool and sat down on it. Hands length away from him.

“Where am I going to run- naked?” Axelia hummed in return as she put her elbows on her knees and placed her chin in her hands.

“In my shirt.” Geralt corrected, leaning back against the tub, his eyes scanning her form. Axelia hummed, and just stared at the edge of the tub.

“Thank you for having my back, I guess.” She mumbled.

“Hmm… You are an absolute idiot.” Geralt tilted his head back, looking at her down his nose as his hand was circling in the water, sending small ripples across the surface.

“I know. I though there’s going to be only couple of ghouls.” Axelia sighed.

“In old war crypt? Only ghouls? I thought that papa Vesemir taught you better.” Geralt raised his eyebrows as he ducked his head towards her, almost seemingly similar to a inquisitive way.

“Fuck off.” Axelia wasn’t having any of his jests. “I have made enough of a fool out of myself these past days.”

“Have you now?” He said, running wet hands through his hair.

“Don’t laugh at me. You, of all the people.” Axelia grunted and turned her whole body away from him.

“Axelia.” Geralt hummed defeated, his hand reaching for her knees to turn her back, facing him.

“I know I fucked up. Don’t lecture me.” Axelia looked at him.

“I’m not.” Geralt assured her, studying her features, and the fact that she was playing with her rings.

“Show me.” He extended his hand, waiting for her to take it, in a way distracting her thoughts. She putted her hands in his.

She had started wearing rings, when Geralt had brought one for her when they were younger and he had gone for his witcher travels and she had stayed back. The first ring he got her was a dainty one, because he hadn’t been sure, if she would like it. Simple silver band with three dark crystals on top, that was sitting on her left hand’s fourth finger. Another one of his gifts had been a much more colossal one- silver wolf head. Situated on her right hand’s pointer finger. He run his thumb across it, but didn’t dwell long on it. Third one, that he had gotten for her was another smaller one, this time with white rock that had translucent turquoise tone to it. It had reminded him of the mix of her old eye colour and the one she had now. This one was gracing her right hand’s ring finger. With two other rings he was not familiar with. He looked at the two small silver bands, simple, nothing on them, just adorning her left hands middle and pointer finger.

“All silver.” Geralt stated.

“Yes. Because you said you won’t let me have those silver wolf brass knuckles. These come as handy. Especially strangling wise.” Her statement made him look up at her with this weird expression, like he was repelled or something.

“Oh, don’t you look at me like that.” Axelia pulled both of her hands away, but Geralt was quick enough to grab one before she pulled away entirely.

“Experimenting, are we?” Geralt laced his fingers with hers.

“You know that I never slept with anyone else.” Axelia’s eyes narrowed at him.

“Jaskier?” he raised questioning eyebrow at her.

“Gods, no. Never went as far as kiss him. He gets… distracted, if you will…” Axelia’s own brows creased as she was trying to search for words.

“He loves everything that has two legs.” Geralt offered.

“But he’s a good friend.”

“Hmm.”

“You and Yennefer. She’s as mother to Ciri.” Axelia voiced her observations.

Another hmm.

“Thank you…” Axelia trailed off, when silence stretched across the room.

“Thank you for saving me, for not letting me die out there and thanks to Yennefer too, I would have probably bled out without her stiches. Thank you for all the best memories—” Axelia started quietly.

“Why are you-” Geralt couldn’t understand why was she saying this to him. Whenever they met, she never voiced such things.

“I’m leaving in the morning. This time I’m telling you.” She looked him in the eyes. The scorching amber. A tone that one could never catch in a pendant.

“No.” Geralt’s eyes grew big as he gently shook his head, his hold on Axelia’s wrist getting stronger, but not causing any pain.

“We should draw the line.” Axelia shook her head in return tilting it sideways.

“You think that drawing a line will stop us from running into each other?” Geralt said, his brows creasing and his tone gaining an edge of irritation.

With shake of her head, Axelia pulled her hand out of his grasp.

“Don’t you think it’s exhausting?” Axelia sighed, hugging herself. Her wet hair falling around her shoulders in clumps. Geralt didn’t answer, he never really was on for explaining emotions, his own or others.

“I told you it hurts. To an extent that it almost physically hurts.” Axelia whispered, her voice dropping, almost fading into nothing.

“Axelia…” Geralt whispered her name in return.

“Aren’t we cursed enough?” Axelia suddenly turned to look at Geralt. Her eyes brimming with tears and her mouth unexpectedly going dry. The look on her face making the male witcher intake a sharp breath.

Running her hand under her nose, Axelia got up and disappeared behind the thick drapes. As she was nicking around the room and choosing which pants should she take, she couldn’t will the tears away. With huff pulling on new pants and tying her boots, Axelia sat on the edge of bed. Her legs looking long for her small stature and her shoulders almost gaining a lanky look because of Geralt’s big shirt. Woman’s hands falling in her lap as she looked around the room, her lips pulling in a frown as tears anew streamed down her cheeks.  Her marble-like eyes stopping at the drapes and blinking rapidly, she silently chocked out a sob, her mouth falling open. With sniffle, she dug the heels of her palms in her eyes, her nails digging in her head as she groaned in fury. She couldn’t ignore her emotions for long, she will explode. Yet it was the only thing she knew how to do. Running her finger under her nose she got up. Seeing her corset draped over the chair she swiftly put it on. Axelia glanced out of the window at the light that was slowly disappearing, and grabbing her stuff she was ready to leave the room. In no way, will she be staying in that room. Not alone, not with him.

“Already running?” Came Geralt’s voice as Axelia tried to reach for the door handle. She froze, sigh escaping her as one tear run down her cheek to land on her forearm that was not obstructed by his shirt.

“Maybe.” Axelia said, her voice gaining unusual tone because of her stuffed nose.

“I stand by what I said.” Axelia was referring to what she had said back at the edge of the forest.

“Please. Don’t follow me.” Axelia closed her eyes, her hand gripping the handle tighter.

“You think I can control that?” Geralt said behind her, pulling on his shirt.

“But you must. For my sake.” Axelia whispered, not sure if Geralt even heard her.

“Just… promise me that you won’t come seek me out. Never again… even if your gut is telling you otherwise.” Axelia looked over her shoulder at him, half hiding her tears.

“Gut? You really think it’s my gut telling me to look for you? No instinct, no witcher senses are telling me that.” Geralt spat at her, growing tired of her running.

“Then what is?!” Axelia swiftly turned around to look at him. Geralt grabbed stepped closer to her, kind of expecting for her to step back but she didn’t even flinch. Her eyes only following his movement. Then he grabbed her right hand and pressed to his chest, right where his heart was.

“This is.”

Axelia’s eyes stayed trained on his chest, on their hands. His hands always seemed warmer than hers.

“Yennefer… it’s all magic… djinn.” Geralt explained, his eyes searching her face.

Axelia’s furrowed, she wasn’t sure that she was understanding him. Did she hear him right?

“W-what?” she mumbled, her eyes closing for a second.

“The last wish,” Geralt choose to stay vague. “…to save her.”

For a second, Axelia’s nails lightly grazed his shirt. And then her eyebrows slowly rose up.

“It’s not real…” Axelia mumbled, and gently pushed herself away from him. Geralt tilted his head, not understanding her actions.

“But you love her…” Axelia looked up at him.

“But she’s not my soulmate.” Geralt narrowed his eyes at her.

Did he really think that after all this time of being completely alone, she will just run back in his arms?

“Took you a really long time to realize that, Geralt.” Axelia smiled bitterly at him. Now, when she thought that she will be finally ready to cut things off and fight this feeling of love, he comes prancing back, confusing her.

“Why now?” she looked warily down at her own hands.

“I could let you go only so many times. And every time I did… I regretted it. Didn’t matter if Yennefer was there or not nor Jaskier’s constant babbles of me being and stupid arse.” Geralt’s eyes were jumping from one item to another all around the room.

“It’s funny how fate has made us like this… You could break my heart thousands of times, Geralt. And I still would pick of every single peace and put them back into your hands. But I am not sure, if those pieces haven’t turned into sharp daggers.” Axelia hummed, her fingers toying with her rings.

“I rather be spitting blood and bleed out myself, than rather watch you leave one more time.” Geralt looked down at her.

Axelia looked at him. Unsure of what to do. Not knowing any better, she took one swift step and crushed into his chest. Missing his warmth dearly. With a small grunt from Axelia’s sudden movement, Geralt wrapped his hands around her, planting a small chaste kiss on her forehead.

~~~~~

part I || part II || part III || part IV || part V || part VI || part VII || part VIII || part IX || part X || part XI || part XII || part XIII | Epilogue

tags:

@boiled-onionrings​ @fandomwithnolifesblog​ @901seconds​ @kingniazx​ @shesakillerkween @your-dreams-are-strong​ @stitchattacks​ @ayamenimthiriel​ @stormfire6​ @mr-illegal-king​ @stretchkingblog97​ @mikariell95​ @geralt-of-motherfucking-rivia​ @martian-m​ @republicansithlord​ @notso-fetch​ @lizliz3107 @godlydolans​ @arsaky-lou​ @eternallyvenus​ @le-reina-asesina @alwayshave-faith​ @writingmi​ @staringmoony​ @kenai731 @holychic​ @dramaticturnaway​ @ihopeyousteponarosepetal​ @seouldesire​ @runs-with-sciss0rs @yes-captainstark​ @fandomhell97​ @newtdisneywho​ @ekaymnslvs​ @deansbbyblog @hopplessdreamer​ @dejewskoo​ @sleepy-bunnie​ @strangerliaa​ @puffedchoco @mommableaubear  @secretsthathauntus​ @sailor-moons-butt​ @sageandberries-png​ @star017​ @rahdaleigh

a/n: pardon, if Tumblr doesn't let me tag you

[takerfoxx]

Blood Island, Chapter 3

For once luck was with Nuriel, or at least the poor fortune that had been dogging her for days had decided that nearly walking into a tomb infested with giant spiders was enough for now and gave her a bit of a break, in that despite running blindly through the jungle with little thought to stealth and awareness of her surroundings, she didn’t encounter anything trying to eat her, smash her, or infect her with something exotic and horrible.

When enough of her senses returned to her to at least take stock of herself, she was standing in a part more brightly lit than most, due to the trees overhead not being as thick so as to blot out the light. Where she was in relation to the tomb, the grove, the path, or the field, she couldn’t even begin to judge. But her heart was still pounding, her hands were shaking, and she was jumping at every sudden noise.

Nuriel anxiously looked around. No, nothing was stalking her, nothing was crawling toward her, nothing was crawling on-

Wait.

The second the thought entered her mind, Nuriel frantically slapped herself all over, searching for any disgusting stowaway that might have picked up a ride. It took searching herself twice over before she was convinced that there was no spiders clinging to her ass or slugs crawling up her legs.

All right.

Nuriel slowly inhaled through her nose and exhaled out her mouth over and over. She was safe. She was good. She had gotten away.

She stood there, still and alone, staring off into space.

Then she began to shake. It started small, just a tiny trembling of the fingers, but from there it spread to her wrists, up her arms, and from her shoulders it went both down and up, until her whole body was shaking.

Don’t scream, said that small voice of rationality, the one that always became the most insistent whenever she was in trouble, which was often. Let it out if you must, but do so quietly!

She listened. She bit back on the shriek she felt forming, clenching her jaw tight and refusing to let it out.

But she did everything else though.

Her vision misted over, and she attacked everything that was near, kicking tree trunks and pounding the ground with her fists. She tore up ferns with ripped them to pieces. She slammed her knuckles into a large boulder until the skin threatened to break.

From there, she grab up everything she could get her hands on, from stones to leaves to handfuls of dirt, and threw them as hard as she could. She did everything she could to channel her rage out while making as little noise as possible.

And why shouldn’t she rage? Everything about her current situation was completely and absolutely unfair! Sure, she was a thief and a bit of a liar, but that didn’t mean she deserved to be blamed for a hurricane and thrown overboard to drown, end up marooned on an island full of monsters, get attacked by bugs at every turn, and now have to deal with vengeful ghosts! It wasn’t right at all!

In time her anger burned itself out, leaving her feeling drained, but just a little bit better. After all, she was still alive. Nothing had eaten her yet, she had suffered no serious injury, nothing had really focused on her yet. She was, for the time being, all right. She just needed to keep her head on and her wits about her.

Nuriel slowly breathed out. Fine. She was fine. She could do this.

Then, as she continued to calm down, another piece of good fortune made itself known to her. She heard the distinctive trickle of water coming from somewhere nearby.

Heartened by this, Nuriel followed the sound until she came across a small creek running through the trees. She almost dove right at it, only for a sharp memory to force itself into the forefront of her mind.

A deal had gone south, and she and Father had had to flee the city for a time, taking refuge in the woods. And nearly a solid day of walking, Nuriel had been hot, tired, and thirsty, and upon finally coming across a small stream much like the one she just found, she had darted for it just like she was now.

Only that time, Father had seized her by the bicep and roughly yanked her back.

Are you mad? he had demanded. Do you want to be heaving your guts out? That little trickle’s flowing so slow, and you could piss in it a mile away, and it would still flow back into your greedy tongue!

That had stunned her. Sure, the water from the canals in the city were filthy, but this had been out in the wild! Surely the water had to be clean out there!

But when he had calmed himself some, Father had explained that small, slow-flowing streams moving through the dirt and mud were likely to be full of animal shit and pieces of animal carcasses and whatever else they picked up. Larger, faster rivers were better, and water that flowed through and off rocks was the best, which did come to make sense once Nuriel had thought on it some.

Nuriel followed the creek. It seemed to be getting bigger. Soon the green-covered soil gave way to rocky ground, and other creeks were running in to feed the main channel, turning it into a proper river.

What was more, she could hear the sound of a waterfall up ahead.

Now it should be safe enough to drink. Nuriel knelt down next to a large stone that divided part of the river into two, cupped her hands to catch the water flowing across it, and drank. Once her thirst was finally quenched, she began rubbing the water all over her, essentially giving herself a quick whore’s bath to wash off the film of dried juice and sweat.

When she was done, she felt a whole lot better. Sure, those fruits hadn’t exactly stuffed her, but they were something at least, and where there was one kind of fruit there was probably more somewhere about. And now the flies would leave her alone at least. And hey, the spiders hadn’t gotten her! That was a definite point in her favor.

As Nuriel rose up, her gaze fell upon a relatively gentle pool that sat near her feet.

Her reflection stared up back at her.

It had been a long time since Nuriel had seen her own face. The last port she had taken ship hadn’t left her much time for anything of the nature. She had just enough time to pawn what meager findings she had managed to scrape together, get herself a meal, pick a few pockets, and find a new ship to set sail on.

But now…she looked different from what she remembered. Her pale woolen hair, normally cut short so as to make passing as a boy easier, was now past her jawline, while her freckled elfin face was thinning out, the baby fat in her cheeks disappearing.

Nuriel sighed. She was getting older. In times past stowing away in a ship or passing as a boy had been so easy. She just had to find a ship looking for a cabin boy and join the crew. Then she would have a designated place to sleep, semi-regular food, and didn’t have to worry about being caught. Granted, she would sometimes find herself having to ward off members of the crew who were growing lonely at sea and frankly didn’t care about her sex, but she had learned a trick or two to quickly divest them of those notions when it happened.

But lately it was just getting more and more difficult. It didn’t matter that she was binding her chest, it didn’t matter that she was cutting her hair and dressing up in man’s clothes, it didn’t matter that she had no voice to give herself away, they were starting to notice more and more. If she kept growing, even that would be a problem, as she wouldn’t be able to fit into the same spaces that she used to. She had always been small for her age, but that only went so far.

Then Nuriel glanced up. Well, at the very least she didn’t need to worry about any of that here. The locals didn’t care what was between her legs; they would eat her just the same. It was kind of refreshing in macabre sort of way.

Furthermore, there was one other thing she no longer had to do.

Nuriel unbuttoned her shirt, starting from the top and working her way down. Then she shrugged it off her shoulders and carefully laid it on a rock. Now with her shoulders and stomach bare, she knelt down to yank out St. George and used him to slice the strips of linen she had used to kept her bosom bound.

Her breasts had never been much to speak of, and honestly, given how baggy her shirt was, she probably didn’t even need to bind them down, but it didn’t pay to take chances. Still, she felt a measure of relief once they popped free. If there was one advantage to being marooned on an island of monsters and ghosts, it was that she no longer had to care much about societal conventions. The monsters didn’t care if she was a boy or a girl; they would eat her much the same.

It wasn’t much of a relief, but she would take what she could get.

As she straightened up, she glanced around and saw nothing. Then she looked back down at the stream and shrugged. Oh, what the hell.

She untied and pulled off her boots. Then she undid the ties of her trousers, stuck her thumbs into the waistline, and shimmied them down her waist and stepped out of the legs.

Now as naked as everything else on the island, Nuriel stepped into the shallows of the pool and knelt down. It made for a poor bath, but she was able to scoop water up with her hands and clean off the worst of the sweat and dust. Bathing was never very high on her list of priorities, and she didn’t get many opportunities to clean up, but she wasn’t one to snub the chance when it came by.

When she stepped out of the pool again, she felt even better. At the very least those flies might leave her alone now. She dressed again, finishing up by sliding St. George back into his home and stuffing the strips of linen into the back of her trousers, just in case if a situation came up that needed something wrapped. Then she headed off again.

There was a break in the foliage coming up. Nuriel sidled up to the last tree before the boundary and concealed herself. She listened for any sign of one of those animals, but could hear nothing more than falling water. Then she peeked out. There was no sign of movement beyond the last of the fronds.

Satisfied that she was alone, Nuriel stepped out of the jungle.

Beyond, she found herself standing on a jutting triangular shelf of rock that had thrust herself up over a steep cliffside. The river ran all the way across to pour off of the tip down into a lagoon far below.

A lagoon that drained out into the sea.

She had come to one of the island’s borders. Here, it was divided into a labyrinth of smaller islands and peninsulas, connected by natural stone bridges with their bottoms worn away and separated by shallow green water. The place was lush with vegetation, and Nuriel could see several of the strange animals moving around, though these were considerably smaller than most of the ones back at the field.

Furthermore, she was pretty sure she saw the mast of a ship, poking over the hills near the far shore.

Nuriel’s breath caught in her throat. If there was a mast, then that meant that someone had come ashore, perhaps merchants stopping to water and search for provisions before setting off again! Maybe even the Royal Navy! They surely would have no problem giving a poor, stranded girl a lift, would they?

Then again, it could be smugglers, or something even worse, like pirates. She wasn’t exactly having much luck with those sorts.

Still, it was worth exploring. Nuriel looked around until she saw that the cliff merged into a nearby hillside that would take her down to the lagoon. And from the lagoon, she ought to reached where the ship sat anchored.

Nuriel hurried over to the hill and began her descent. At first it was steep going down a grassy slope, and she had to sit on her ass and scoot her way down to avoid slipping. But then it evened out enough, allowing her to stand again.

Soon after, the ground straightened out into a wide shelf covered with grass and a few scattered trees nestled between two high walls of rocks. Beyond that was a short drop-off onto another shelf, which led to another, and another, all the way down to the ground. Nuriel ran to the edge and lowered herself down.

As she readied herself to run to the next ledge, a gruff snort told her that she ought to have been paying greater attention.

Nuriel froze. Swallowing, she slowly turned her head.

Standing nearby was one of the monsters. This one was closest to those chicken-legged, long-necked lizard things, in that it was roughly the same size and stood on two feet, with its arms held close to its chest and was balanced by a fleshy tail sticking out the back. Its rough skin was covered with dark brown scales. However, that was where the similarities ended.

Most of the creature’s body, when compared to the long-necked lizard, was both shorter and thicker, from its stumpy, yet powerful looking legs, to its meaty tail, to its normal-sized but heavily muscled neck. Its head was much larger, with two green eyes on either side and a stubby horn on its snout.

And the top of its head was taken up by a thick dome of bone, surrounded by spikes. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what that was for.

The dome-head rose up and croaked at her in agitation. It clearly wasn’t happy that she was here on its shelf, and it wanted her gone.

Well, Nuriel was more than happy to comply, but given that this thing seemed made for short bursts of acceleration, she didn’t trust it to not charge the second she showed her back.

When Nuriel didn’t immediately flee, the dome-head then lowered its head, lining up its neck, spine, and tail in a straight line right to the dome. One foot tipped with thick, blunt claws pawed at the ground.

Oh shit.

With one last gruff cry, the dome-head charged. Nuriel leapt to the side, barely missing having her chest caved in.

The dome-head kept going right past where she had been standing to slam into the thick trunk of a sturdy-looking tree. The whole of the tree shook upon impact, and it was forced noticeably a few inches forward.

Nuriel gulped.

Despite the knock it had taken, the dome-head seemed none the worse for the wear. It backed up, shook its head, and turned around to face her again. It bellowed again.

Nuriel took off, legs pumping as fast as possible, desperately focused on the nearby ledge. If she could just reach that, then maybe she’d be safe.

Behind her, the dome-head charged again, the gruffness of its growls and snorts coming closer alarmingly fast.

Faster, faster, faster, Nuriel’s mind begged her legs. Must go faster, must go faster, must go faster-

She was at the ledge! With no other choice, Nuriel took a flying leap, all the while praying that the drop on the other side wasn’t too high.

As it turned out, it wasn’t high enough to be lethal, but still higher than she would have liked. The ground rushed up to meet her, and she landed hard on her side, forcing a pained gasp from her lungs.

For a few seconds Nuriel lay stunned on her side, convinced that in her desperation to escape getting smashed to pieces she had ended up smashing herself. She was almost afraid to move, for fear of finding herself full of broken bones.

But she had to move. Grunting, she rolled over onto her back and made a quick self-examination.

Well, her side was throbbing, especially her hip, but nothing seemed to be broken. That was fortunate, though she really needed to stop dropping from various heights, as sooner or later her rash of bad luck would take notice and start interfering with that as well.

Then, as she gingerly sat up, she heard a hoarse growl of annoyance.

Nuriel looked up. The dome-head was peering over the ledge down at her. It chuffed and growled, but it didn’t follow. Apparently it was just too steep and too tall for it to risk, so it had to content itself with glowering.

Nuriel glowered right back. Then she shot it a rude gesture and stomped off, leaving it to bellow impotently at her.

The rest of the descent wasn’t nearly so eventful. The bruise on her hip slowed her down some, but she had dealt with worse, and soon she had touched down onto the soft sands at the bottom.

Nuriel took a moment to catch her breath. She checked to see if the mast was still visible. It was, but she couldn’t hear any sign of the crew, no voices in conversation and no sound of them going about their work.

Frowning, Nuriel slowly made her way around the bank of sand, sometimes sloshing through warm, shallow water from one bank to the next, keeping the mast in sight. As it grew closer and its condition became apparent, her heart started to fall.

Finally she turned the final corner, and all hope died.

It was just as she had feared. The ship was a wreck, beached on one of the many sub-islands that made up the tropical labyrinth and long abandoned by its crew. It seemed to be a brig, a smaller sized vessel favored for their speed and maneuverability. This one had apparently been privately owned, if the custom ornate trimmings were any indication. Nuriel tended to avoid them, as smaller craft made it harder to divert attention, but she had seen many of its like in ports. However, they had all been in much better condition than this. Though the hull seemed mostly intact, it was still battered and cracked, the sails torn from the mast, and the railings in ruinous condition. It clearly had sailed its last voyage.

However, there were two things that quite frankly did not make any sense at all. For one, the island it had run aground upon was well within the chain, a fair distance and several other chunks of land between it and the ocean. For it to have gotten this far in, the crew would have had to have navigated the network of natural canals, which didn’t make much sense at all. Why hadn’t they simply laid anchor on the outside and trekked in by foot, or at least come in by rowboat?

The second was that the ship wasn’t actually aground, but rather…atree. To be specific, it had somehow gotten thrust up into the branches of several beech trees, which were now growing around its hull, forming a sort of vise that locked it in.

Now, how in the hell had that happened? Had some great sea giant plucked it from the water and thrown it, like she had to the Santa Lillian in her dream the previous night? It made about as much sense as anything else she had seen so far. Or had it be carried off by a massive storm, hurled over the surrounding bits of land by a monster wave? For a wave to throw a ship that size that far, she honestly had a better time believing the sea giant theory.

That having been said, while the ship clearly wasn’t going to provide her with a means of escape, that didn’t mean it was useless. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more it seemed to be ideal as a sanctuary. It was far enough from the main island to keep all but the most adventurous of the monsters away, it was held high enough to deter those from that latter category, spiders weren’t likely to be nesting this far from the jungle, there was a fresh water source within walking distance, there was probably several food sources nearby as well, and it would shield her from the worst of the elements.

Hmmm.

Nuriel walked over to the beech trees and looked the situation over with a critical eye. From there, she could see the words Carmilla’s Fancy (whoever that was) inscribed in gilded letters on the ship’s side, but more to the point, she could also tell that the trees were climbable. She spat in both palms, rubbed them together, and set to work, leaping up to grab onto the lower branch, hoisting herself up, and ascending up to reach the ship itself.

She paused as she reached the cannon ports, which were all snugly sealed up. That might actually be a good sign, as it meant fewer places for local critters to crawl in. If the wreck turned out to be monster-free, then it might make for an ideal hideaway so long as she was trapped on the island.

Finally she reached the deck. She hauled herself up and stood up straight. The boards creaked a bit, but they had been made to last, so they held.

In fact, while it was clear that the ship had taken a beating, it did seem to be in pretty good shape. It might even still have been seaworthy, with the main problem just being how to get it out of the damned trees and back into the water. Granted, even if she did have the means, Nuriel wasn’t about to test that theory without a very close and very thorough examination, but it was good news.

Then she looked down the deck sternward, toward the captain’s quarters.

One of the two wooden doors lay open.

Nuriel frowned. Well, after they had found themselves stuck, the crew had probably just taken what they could use and abandoned the ship. There would be no need to close and lock everything up, right?

But why abandon the ship at all? Why not work to get it down? If there had been a full crew, they could have probably worked something out with ropes, saws, and whatever tools they had on hand, and the ship would provide better shelter than anything else until the task was done. Why leave at all? There didn’t seem to be any reason to.

Unless they had been chased out.

Nuriel swallowed. She pulled out St. George and cautiously made her way across the deck, headed toward the door. In the dying light it had a rather eerie look, like the open mouth of a slumbering monster. In all the stories that Father had told her, the monster always made their homes with ominous entrances.

Nuriel reached the door. She lifted her hand to push aside the one that was still closed, but then hesitated.

It hadn’t been too long ago that she had disturbed human remains. What if it happened again? What if she found the corpses of the crew inside, maybe even the captain himself? Ghost ships were nothing to fuck with, and if she ended up angering their spirits, then she was probably going to wish that those animals had trampled her that morning.

Swallowing, Nuriel glanced inside. The sun was setting behind the Carmilla’s Fancy, so there wasn’t much light getting in through the door that was open. She couldn’t make much out besides what looked like to be a leaning table with a broken leg.

Nuriel closed her eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, and shoved the remaining door open with her shoulder.

As expected, the room beyond was a wreck. She could see the remains of smashed barrels, destroyed furniture, and unidentifiable rubbish. It also smelled quite awful, a thick, musky scent that reminded her a little of chicken coops, only so, so, so much worse.

She took a step inside.

Something cracked under her foot.

Turning her foot, she saw the what looked like the leg bone of some kind of small animal. It was shattered, but not by her boot. Actually, it looked like something had already ripped it apart.

Oh no.

Then something let out a cackling cry of warning. One of the shadows moved, and Nuriel found herself locking gazes with a pair of luminescent golden eyes.

A moment later Nuriel found herself tumbling backward as a musty, feathery, shrieking something threw itself at her. It hit her full in the chest and sent her sprawling back onto the deck.

Chaos enveloped Nuriel’s world. Her vision was taken up by nothing but swirling grey feathers. Cackling shrieks filled her ears, while sharp blades swiped at her clothing, trying to reach the soft flesh beneath. Gasping with fear, tried to push the thing off, but it dug in its claws and stayed put. White-hot pain erupted where her flesh was punctured.

In pure desperation, Nuriel shoved her forearm up against the thing’s throat and pushed back. Her vision cleared, and she saw herself facing the most terrifying bird she had ever seen. It was an ugly thing, with feathers the color of both old iron and fresh blood, its murderous eyes bright yellow, and its beak long and…

Toothed.

The fucking bird had teeth!

One hand still wrapped in a death-grip around St. George’s handle, Nuriel quickly scrambled to her feet. The bird was now perched on the deck railing, wings outstretched as it cackled angrily at her.

It was an ugly thing all right, though surprisingly not as large as it had first seemed, barely larger than a raven in fact. But that didn’t make it any less scary. It seemed to be an unholy amalgamation of bird and lizard, with three sharp little claws extending out of the bend of its wings; scales around its eyes and talons; and a long, stiff tail. Both of its legs were covered with wide feathers, almost like a second pair of wings.

Nuriel stared at the beast. Her whole body was shaking with fear and anger. It was the first thing on this damned island to actually take a piece of her. She could see her own blood smeared around the tip of its beak and on its talons.

But she had taken a piece of it in turn. Salty blood was dripping from its chest feathers, blood the same color as the smear on St. George’s blade.

The bird raised its head and shrieked at her again. It crouched down, as it readying itself to hurl itself at her again.

Before it could, Nuriel rushed it, slashing at it wildly. Apparently it had not expected this sudden aggressive response, as it jerked back and tumbled off the railing.

Nuriel looked over the side. The bird had landed in an awkward heap in the sandy grass below. It flopped about until it got its wings situated and its feet underneath it. Then it angrily hopped away, flapping as it went. Each hop took it higher and higher, until it managed to get airborne.

Nuriel watched as the terrible thing flapped away. She noted with grim satisfaction that it was having trouble staying up, on account of the wing closest to its wound being out of rhythm. Good.

As Nuriel stood there on the deck, gazing out into the distance, the haze of anger and fear slowly lifted from her mind, and she began to take notice of things, things such as how the ocean breeze was chilling her sweat-drenched face, how her arms and legs were starting to shake, and how points of hot pain were making themselves known.

Nuriel looked down. Her shirt was torn around the belly where the bird’s talons had ripped through, and tiny dark rivulets of blood were starting to seep into the fabric.

Then she looked over to her right hand, where St. George was still held tightly in her fingers. Dark red blood dripped from the blade onto the weatherworn deck.

Then she lifted her free hand to her ear, which was burning hotly. The pain flared up at her touch, and when she moved her hand away, she saw drops of her own blood on her fingertips.

Nuriel rubbed her fingertips together. Oh, this was not good.

Then suddenly her upper body pitched forward. Nausea twisted her guts, and she heaved once.

Realizing what was happening, Nuriel dropped St. George, wrapped her arms around her aching stomach, and clamped her jaws shut like a vice. No! She was not going to let this happen! She had worked too hard to get those fruits into her belly to just let them just spew their way out now!

Her stomach lurched and heaved, and hot bile leapt into her throat. Still, Nuriel refused to let it win. She sank to her knees, arms still hugging her stomach, head bowed and watering eyes squeezed shut as she gritted her teeth and waged war on herself. She wasn’t going to let it win, she wasn’t going to let it win, she wasn’t going to let it win…

Finally the worst of the nausea passed, and her stomach finally stopped rebelling. Nuriel crawled over to the edge and spat out the mouthful of saliva, mucus, and what little bits of stomach acid and fruit that had managed to make its way past her throat. It fell down, down, and down to plop onto the sand below.

That done, Nuriel finally allowed herself to curl into a ball and collapsed onto the deck of the ship. Her whole body was trembling now, her wounds were still bleeding, and now she felt sick inside. And she had only been here for a little over a day!

It was official. She was going to die.

[poisonous-widow]

Good enough?

Adult katsuki bakugou / Pro hero x Adult Female Pro hero / singer

Summary: You were cheated on and it broke you down. But things never last forever. You pack your things and you leave with your kids, bakugou is filled with guilt and regret when he realises your truly gone. 

Content: Angst, Crying, Depression, Cursing

WARNING NOTE: If you don’t like reading these types of genres then please DO NOT READ! However, if you are determined to manage through it then i wish you luck. Please be sure to have some tissues, a cry pillow to hug, blankets and water for hydration for the water fountains to come!

P.S: IDK if i’m good at these, first time so i expect this to be bad lol. Enjoy though! (づ^ω^)づ  and please don’t hesitate to comment about it and if i should make a number two, byeee.

__________________

One 

I am, the diamond you left in the dust

How many times has it been..Since you two once said those three sacred words, “I love you”? 

Your Beautiful E/c sea foam hues wandered the beautiful decor of your walls of your- Both shared bedroom. This very room, Four years ago was a cave of love, a sacred place you could never live or feel whole without the other. You let your mind reminisce the memory of the night when you would hold your other half to your bare chest and let your soft slender fingers coarse through his hair lovingly, his arms tightly secured around your naked waist with his forehead to your chest, eyes closed with relaxation and exhaustion from the previous events that happened. Making the bed, usually a mess. 

But now..It felt like a lost,floating memory in your body. 

You released a breathless sigh as you dropped your bag on the plush bed, tossing the keys on the small lamp desk beside the mattress frame, “I’m home”, Your voice whispered. Oh how you wished he would answer you back with a warm welcome, anything that could lift the heavy weight which pushed on you...but no. 

How could something like that ever happen..? 

When you graduated from U.A, Katsuki Bakugou proposed to you and of course, you happily said yes. He was your husband and you, his loyal and up-most beloved wife. You two still continued as heroes but time to time, you wouldn’t show up. That was because you were the head lead singer of the famously known band “koi”. You told your Husband about it and he agreed to keep your singing identity hidden, as long as he got free access to your performances and that he was able to see you in the best views. Singing was your second love and you wanted to have that in your life still, so having your identity hidden and your lover keeping it a secret was a good thing.

However, time passed by, you noticed that things began to change. Katsuki had started his own Hero agency and was never home much. texts and calls never answered. It frustrated you. You could understand the amount of hero work he would get and the amount of events he’d have to present himself to. But you knew when someone needs to take breaks. Shouldn’t he too? You love katsuki so much that you wished that he would take better care of himself. To be home with you and just relax, hearing you sing a sweet tune or be there when you had your...little breakdowns over the littlest things. Katsuki was your rock and would listen to you when you vent out your problems about the band. he would always be there when you needed it. But now he wasn’t. 

I am, the future you lost in the past

VRRR, VRRR, VRRR

What was that..? 

VRRR, VRRR, VRRR!

SHIT, CRAP, IT’S YOUR PHONE! Scrambling around the bed for your bag, making it fall, trying to catch it and end in a miserable failure, you followed suit and plummeted to the floor. Hissing from the pain, you quickly pressed it aside and slammed your hand onto the vibrating mobile, sweeping it to your ear as your thumb slid the phone icon to the right, answering it. 

“Katsuki, finally! you answered your phone for O-” 

“U-uhhm...Y-y/n-sama?” 

You paused and looked at the phone. That wasn’t the low-toned, gruffed voice of your husband. It was your babysitter.

“Ah, I’m so sorry Uraraka” Your cheeks tinted a light pink from the embarrassment you made of yourself to your friend. She giggled over the phone. “It’s okay Y/n” You could feel her smile through the phone “But...are you okay?” She sounded worried now. “Is there something wrong with Bakugou?” This time, Tsuyu’s voice came through the phone, her small ribbit not going unnoticed.

Uraraka and Tsuyu were some of  the few who you were still in touch with and sometimes with bakugou. But through it all, They were the caretakers to your two 4 year old twin boys, Mistuki and Tatsumi. After the wedding and the honeymoon, you wanted to take things to the next level, there is when you’re two balls of lights blossomed into both your lives. While you and katsuki were too busy with hero work or your secret singing career away from the hero agency, they would come and take them for the day. They were two balls of sunshine and mischief and the girls loved them. They both looked like their father but Mistsuki had your sweet motherly and cinnamon roll innocence and the sharp fire of determination, along with the sheer wildness of their father. Tatsumi, was the replica of katsuki himself. He had everything thing equal, to his fire and wild, the ranting (and...katsuki, i-it’s just katsuki! that’ll all! you gave birth to a katsuki Jr), but he did have your sense in some manner. 

“Y/n? You never answered my question” Tsuyu ribbits into the call, snapping your thoughts back to the conversation. “Sorry Tsuyu. I thought it was him. He doesn’t read my texts or voice mails. He doesn’t pick up his phone in particular anymore!” You scoffed. There was a small silence after your little rage. “Guys?” You called out, you heard a slight of shuffling “Oh, right! You shouldn’t worry about it and all Y/n. Bakugou runs his own agency and with his position, it’s difficult for him to attend anything like a break. Business seems to catch him quicker before he can reach a single ounce of rest”

You silently nodded, twirling the sealed bond between your free hand as the small rope tickled your neck. That had to be the reason, you were sure of it. 

Sucking in a small breath and stood up, grabbing your keys and bag while you turned your phone on and tapped the screen so you could hear your friends on loud speaker. “well, I know that you two didn’t call to see me okay, so, want me to come pick up my babies to give you two some relief?” 

Uraraka giggles, this time your mind could visualise her sweet adorable smile she’s always had, her brown hues gleaming. 

“As always, you are straight to the point” Your lips twitched upwards, a small smile appearing. “Ribbit, actually we called to tell you that the band was approved to continue on.” 

You were silent, a smile crawling it’s way to your face and it stretched beyond the cheekbones. This was the greatest success you’ve ever gotten; everyone was waiting for the conformation of it. All your hard work and your amazing band and crew really paid it off. The girls knew about your side career because you told them, you trusted them. 

“This is great! I have to tell this to katsuki, he’s going to be thrilled!” You bolted from the bed and to the wardrobe. “I gotta go guys, I’ll pick up my babies after visiting kastuki. I’ll be there in 20 minutes, bye!” 

“wait Y/n, Don’t you thi-”

You cut them off by hanging up, putting the mobile on the desk you scavenged through the pile of neat hanged clothing until you spot it; the dress you wore on your honeymoon all those years ago. The dress was simple and casual but beautiful nonetheless, it showed every aspect of yourself and not a single wrinkle in sight! i looked completely new. Yes, you were going to be just you; no make up, no formal clothing, nothing professional or superficial. It’s just you as your born self: The girl katsuki bakugou had married. 

__________________________

Seems like I never compared

Wouldn’t Notice if I disappeared

You made it 5 minutes before Katsuki’s break. E/c hues beamed excitement and your body jumped with fresh bolts of motivation, your band, approved and ready for the big leagues! Katsuki was going to be real proud of you, you were positive and sure of it,of course. 

As you walked down the hallway, some people recognised you, the famous hero-wife of the one and only Ground Zero. Making your way through a small litter of crowds, you tapped a formally-dressed woman on her shoulder, making her turn. You gave her a sincere smile. 

“Sorry to bother you, do you know where i can find Katsuki Bakugou? I-” 

“OMG IT’S HER!!! SHE’S HERE!!! OMG OMG OMG!!” 

Your ears were ringing now, it hurt but you manage to keep a calm face. And since Curiosity just couldn’t poke you more, you turned around and a female was in front of you, squealing and red. She looked like she could explode. 

“H-hello there..” You moved your hand a little, a small gesture of a wave. Her eyes blew up like stars behind her glasses.

“GOD!, I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU ARE REALLY HERE! AMI IS GOING TO FLIP WHEN SHE FINALLY MEETS YOU!” 

‘Ami?, who is that?’, you asked yourself. You subconsciously tilt your head

“I...err..see. I guess you and Ami are new here?” The girl nodded freakishly fast, you were more worried about her neck snapping. 

“YES! BOSS IS SO INCREDIBLY LUCKY TO HAVE YOU AS HIS BEST RIGHT HANDED FRIEND AND SIDE KICK! He speaks so softly about you, it’s really rare to actually see him smile! Ami and I were pretty curious about who you were..” The girl seemed to drift off on the last past. 

Your brows furrowed at some of her words, ‘FRIEND!? I’m his wife. and SIDE KICK!? I know that i work with him but the only side kick that man is gonna get is the one from my foot!’, You were practically fuming in your mind. 

“Your very pretty though, miss!” Her words seemed to cut you out of it. You smiled a little “thanks...” You rubbed your shoulder. “By the way, what position does your friend Ami have?” Curiosity was clouding over you now. “Oh! Ami is Ground zero’s Strategic Assistant. They basically go everywhere together” 

‘They basically go everywhere together’

Your heart felt like it got crushed by an invisible amount of weight. 

“W-where...where are they now?” you sternly said, eyes clouded and the girl just mistook it as exhaustion. “Down the corridor and turn right. go down the hallway and it’s the large door at the end on your left” She smiled and points you in the direction to go. You scrambled to escape from the secretary and towards the directions she gave you. 

You stole, the love that I saved for myself

The more you carried on down the hallway as instructed, the more eerier it gets and you feel a shiver crawl up your arms, you rub them to create a friction of warmth. It’s too silent down here. 

Then you hear him. Her. Them.

When you make it to the large doors on your left, your hand reaches for the handle but a moan causes you to freeze your movements from opening it with brutal strength. 

“G-GROUND ZERO! AHN~! SO-AHHN!”

Her voice was loud, nobody would EVER call that a whisper. And to make it worse, she was crying in moans to his name. YOUR husbands name. Palm to your mouth, you stared at the coloured oak doors, frozen. Your body trembled lightly, feeling an absurd amount of weight plummeting on you; Truth was plummeting on you. 

Silence took over her cries whilst you stood outside, still shaken by the current events that are happening and are still winding in your head. Although you can’t hear anything much more. Is that room sound-proof or some-!

“Fuck!! Assistant” 

Ears perked up, that rather loud and clear moan. Your Husbands moan. Irises trembled along with your body, shock piling over each other within you. Your fingers felt cold as they trembled against the handle on the door, your tried your best to steady them as you opened the wood which stood in your way from the truth. Loud rumbles and shuffling occur as you allowed the door to freely open it’s way for you, Her scream of panic, His body trying to straighten itself. 

And I watched, you give it to somebody else

Her legs were tangled around his waist in a lock. Blood ruby eyes trail from the bare figure of the girl Ami. She’s laying on the desk, looking up at the door, to you. He’s over her, muscular arms that once cradled you are now to the sides of her head. The panic and shock in his eyes are visible. 

“Y-Y/n” 

He’s trying to find words for this event which unfolds before your eyes. Ami hides her face. Her face was obviously red from being caught, Getting FUCKED by your husband and your husband FUCKING her. 

“G-Ground Z-zero, I’m so sorry y-your si-side-kick had to s-see this! THIS IS EMBARRASSING” she squealed through her hands. 

But these scars, I no longer hide

Firstly, you didn’t know how to react. 

You knew something had changed, you felt it coming after he got the agency. But like a fool, you ignored it. You thought of it as something small and easy to fix...but nothing as far as this. face giving it’s all, you tried to express your anger to him, to shout our your fury to demonstrate the rage within you. 

It never happened...

Water splattered the ground beneath you. All that was visible were the tears, the depression and anger somewhat showing but the walls you built to sustain the flow of water was cracking and crumbling at the scene. 

Those lonely nights alone with him at work. 

His sudden change of mood, the built up frustration, annoyance and anger. The sudden distance between you both. It was all because of this. Because of her. 

Let’s just get this over with...

“I came here to tell you that the band was approved.” You looked down and rubbed your left arm. Your walls were coming down harder and you could feel your eyes sting from trying to hold back the water flow. However, his eyes glued to your crumbling frame. 

Then a small heartless laugh came out of your lips, “You know, it’s hilarious to think..” You began, gripping your bare arm, the feeling of your nails digging into your flesh was a punishment to yourself. “My career for being a hero with you all this time was to represent that I would always be there, just you and me together on the battle field and in each others arms, but my Singing..” You let out another laugh, it was cracked but all of this was too much for you “My singing and my songs were all inspired from you because you’ve been my inspiration, my motivation and my absolute everything...ever since the day we met” 

Couldn’t love me, if you tried

Because let’s face it...

“I was never good enough was I...”  beautiful E/c sea foamed hues washed away to a rainy grey, red stains of tears lining pathways down your cheeks.

You took in a breath but you never rubbed your face from the tears, you let them slip out. You were already over-flowing with all these emotions, why should you stop them now. Turning around you were about to leave the room, but you halt for a second. 

Katsuki had slipped out of his assistant and was arranging his clothes back on his body as quickly as he can, checking every now and then if you were still in his line of sight. you were leaving. He began to panic, the girl he just fucked erased from his mind. 

Am i still not, good enough? 

Am i still not, worth that much?

“Y/n!!” He yelled, even though you weren’t that far from each other. His arm was reach out, but your back was still in his face. It was only then your head began to turn itself. “You want to know what i’m most relieved about...?” you turned around, a smile gracing your lips.

Sorry for the smile i’m wearing now

“I’m glad Mitsuki and Tatsumi were never here to see this, their back-stabbing, unfaithful and disgusting ass hole..you truly are” Angry tears pouring from your eyes, you let them fall as you flicked the envelope you pulled from your bag into their air, soon falling flat to the ground where his shoes were. 

You were gone when he looked up. 

Bending down he gripped the envelope and trailed the neat cursive writing on the front, his name beautifully designed and full of love. He un-sealed it and opens the letter within. 

To my beloved, 

My love, my life, My Inspiration and the father to our two blessed sons, thank you for supporting me throughout the years and for taking me as your lover. You gave me a brighter world and all the drastic adventures ahead, thank you for loving me with everything you had. 

I’m grateful to whoever blessed me to be fate with you, you and our children are all I need now, the next and from the previous life. With our family together, all is okay and we are strong. You are my everything and that is all i need. 

I love you with every being of my self that i gave

Sincerely, 

Y/n. 

His body trembled erratically when he finished reading your letter, his hand resting on his eyes as he could feel the pain of tears about to flood him. 

“What the fuck have I done..” 

Guess I’m still...

No, wait

It was you that was never Good enough. 

[5-falsehoods-phonated]

This story takes place during the Sanders Asides Are There Healthy Distractions Episodes, suggested by @heavy-metal-papillon . The idea comes from Logan voicing Deciets line when he pops up to grab his hat from Logan, so in this story Deciet and Logan switched places in the episode.

Switching Sides

Summary: Logan wants some time to himself and Janus wants to enjoy a movie with the other sides in peace. They support and respect eachothers wants and needs, agreeing to switch places for movie night. In doing so, they both gained a bit more than they bargained for.

Warnings: none, but if you see any just say something!

Ships: platonic Lociet, past platonic Anciet

WC: 2, 305

Janus adjusted the his tie one final time, giving himself a once over in the mirror. His hair was combed back smartly, hat tucked away safely in his room for the time being. He had gotten the type right this time, and the white embroidered brain logo stood out against the plain black polo. The stiff dark Jean's were a little uncomfortable but the dress shoes fit nicely so he couldn't complain too much. This had to be perfect, even if it was a somewhat casual setting, he couldn't afford to-

"You know you could've just asked."

Yelping, he whirled around to face the real logical side currently sizing him up with a less than impressed expression. "We aren't discussing anything important today, why are you replacing me again?"

Janus sputtered. "I wasn't!"

Logan's eyebrow raised even more. "So my choice of clothing is just that comfortable, right down to the glasses?"

"...yes."

"Janus."

The deceitful side snapped his head up to glare at the other. "Not so loud! You dont know if one of the others would hear!"

Logan cleared his throat. "No one is left in the mind scape currently except us. Even Remus is currently hiding behind the couch. I assure you no one will overhear us, though of course I will call you Deciet if that would make you more comfortable."

Narrowing his eyes, Janus took a careful step back. "Why aren't you angry at me?"

Logan shrugged. "Why are you disguising yourself to simply watch a movie?"

"Because I-well in case...just in case something comes up that....hes using this to distract himself and that's sort of like lying to yourself so it stands to reason i would want to be there." Satisfied with jus excuse he glared at the other, daring him to argue.

But Logan simply nodded. "I've been meaning to get more work done anyway and would rather do that than watch Roman rig the vote multiple times only to complain about the plot of the movie he picked out. Straighten the tie and be careful."

"Just...just like that? You don't even care?"

"I require time to....gather my thoughts, after the more recent dilemmas Thomas seems insistant on making harder than they should be. Peace and quiet would be nice right now and if you're willing to take my place then I wont argue." Nodding more to himself, Logan reached out to hand him a thermos. "Caffiene helps stave off the inevitable headache. I highly recommend it."

Dumbfounded, Janjs could only clutch the thermos go his chest as he watched the logical trait walk back to his room and quietly shut the door behind him. Something he couldn't quite identify tugged in his chest but he brushed it off quickly and sunk down to the apartment below.

Patton was the first to notice him as he settled down stiffly on the couch, waving excitedly and almost spilling what looked like cocoa all over the floor in the process. Nodding he looked up as Roman began to speak.

"Finally! Now that we have our resident nerd here we can vote." Janus watched curiously as little slips of paper were passed around, narrowing his eyes at the clump that Roman hid in his sleeve but decided not to say anything. He looked over as Thomas cleared his throat, taking the paper offered to him with an excited smile which he quickly dropped in favor of Logans usual impassive expression. He didnt expect to win the vote, but maybe since it was movie night they'd watch all the suggested films to make it fair. He didnt really know how this was supposed to work, Remus and....well, nobody ever watched movies together in the part of the mind he resided in.

Quickly jotting down his selection he waited rather impatiently for the rest to finish, gripping the paper tightly as a hat was passed around.

Wait.

He could only stare as the collection hat got to him. How had they gotten his hat? When did they even get it?....How often did they sneak into his room without him knowing? He wanted so badly to yell, take his hat and sink out, but that wasnt who he was right now.

"Hey L, you good?"

His head snapped up so fast he felt his neck creak. Virgil had never....not for a long time....that tone of voice wasn't for him. Virgil stayed with the "light sides" now, he only showed concern for them. Swallowing around the lump in his throat he reluctantly handed the hat back to Thomas to give back to Roman.

"I'm adequate thank you."

His hand shook slightly as he raised the thermos of coffee to his lips, but if Virgil noticed he didn't say anything.

Swinging his attention back to the current conversation he caught Pattons response to whatever had been said. "...voted for Frozen Roman but I'm still rooting for-"

"Oh my gosh! One hundred percent of the votes went to Frozen!"

He scowled as Patton cheered. "No, fu - falsehood, I did not vote for Frozen!"

"You didn't get a vote because you didnt wear a onesie!"

Taking a preemptive swig of coffee, he mumbled out, "I don't wear those anymore, they're too childish."

"No onesie, no vote, like our founding fathers believed!"

Janus snorted quietly, covering it up with an exasperated sigh as he settled more into couch. While the movie was being set up he glared again at the stolen hat on the floor, bringing out his phone discreetly.

Dee: I know I don't have much right to ask you this, but might I request a favor?

Logan: I assure you it's fine. What do you need?

Surprised at the quick response he continued to type, glancing up every now and again to be sure no one noticed his silence.

Dee: Roman stole my hat somehow, I was wondering if it would be possible cor you to get it back? I know you don't like shifting but I'm not sure how discreet it would be for me to try and get it as you.

Logan: It isn't that I don't like it, I'm just not equipped to be good at it. It does not make logical sense to disguise oneself, therefore I am at a disadvantage when it comes to such things. However, I can replicate your scales if I may have permission to 'raid your wardrobe' so to speak. Only with your permission of course.

Dee: Thank you and it's fine. Just dont go snooping around. You may not like what you find.

Logan: I will not. I have no reason to do anything other than procur clothing and so that is all I will do.

Sighing in relief, Janus settled back somewhat comfortably to watch the movie, letting the other sides' idle chatter wash over him.

----

"Fear will be your enemy."

Janus snuck a glance at Virgil at this line, glancing back away quickly at the look of panic that flashed across the anxious sides face. He wondered if Virgil would ever open up about his true nature....though perhaps until things truly calmed down it was for the best he remained determined to be closed off.

----

He nearly jumped out of his skin as Remus popped up suddenly behind him, clapping his hands at the prospect of Anna and Elsa's parents dying at sea, seemingly completely naked and comfortable enough to showcase go the entire living room. Janus shot him a warning look as Remus peered at him curiously, thanking God that for once Remus seemed content to keep his mouth shut.

----

"Wait, Hans is tricking Anna making her believe hes in love with her, but shes not around...why make that face?" He had watched the movie before of course but now that he had people to discuss it with that weren't making sexual innuendos every other sentence he felt much more comfortable speaking out.

"Yeah your right...."

Janus promptly turned out the rest of Roman's sentence, discreetly entering the date into his phone that Roman had admitted he was right in something, even if he didnt know who he was speaking to.

----

"Do you think this place has a lavatory?"

"Ice toilet!" Patton giggled.

"Or a bed?" Roman countered.

"Ice bed!"

"This place sounds awful." His nature made his blood run colder than normal anyway and the thought of sleeping on a freezing cold bed on top of a mountain surrounded by walls of ice made him very much wish he had in fact worn his onesie.

----

Janus chugged another mouthful of coffee in irritation. "You meddled with the vote to ensure we would watch this and yet you're the one constantly making fun of it."

"Look, this is how I show my love!"

Janus rolled his eyes and settled back into the couch wondering if Roman showed his love this way with the others just as much as he did with his beloved disney films.

----

Janus watched as Virgil voiced his thoughts on the matter that had made them all plan this movie night in the first place. A familiar kind of second hand hurt tugged in his chest while the others' thoughts spiraled further and further, unconsciously blanketing the room with an ever more suffocating blanket of anxiety. He watched as Roman grimaced from across the room, Patton fidgeting in place and gripping his mug ever harder and Thomas dragging fingers through messy hair as Virgil only continued talking faster and faster, becoming more and more worked up as the literal word vomit consumed any rational thoughts left in the room.

"Thomas, Virgil?" He waited calmly as Thomas peeked out from his hands and Virgils panicked face snapped towards him. Pushing down the old familiarity he continued on. "Please do me a favor and name me five things that you can see."

"Staircase." Thomas sighed.

"Impending doom." Virgil quickly countered.

"Olaf."

"A future without friends."

"Lamp!"

"Blinds."

"Pants."

"Now four things you can feel."

"Pants."

"A bad feeling."

"The couch."

"Wall."

"Hair."

"Three you can hear." He smiled in relief as Virgil began to participate more, visibly calming as his mind was brought back to the present.

"Olaf."

"The fan."

"The ice machine for some reason."

Thomas really needed to fix his appliances. "Two things can smell."

"Clean shirt."

"The deodorant Thomas put on because....he was gonna go out tonight."

"And one thing you can taste."

"A sour taste in my mouth probably leftover from those reheated tai noodle leftovers."

Both variably more calm, Janus tried gently explaining the technique he had used, though he knew they both already knew it seemed like a good idea to remind them that they were allowed to use the technique whenever they needed it.

"Thank you, Logan." Thomas breathed out as he leaned forward tiredly.

Janus smiled, going to take another swig of his dwindling coffee when he caught site of a figure dressed in black and yellow on the stairs, nobody having noticed his presence yet.

Allowing himself a smirk behind the thermos, he responded. "No problem. Just your cool teacher being his cool self."

He smiled slightly wider as he heard a quiet scoff from the figure, just loud enough that he could hear it. He hoped Logan didn't think he was making fun of him, this was a rare day where he hadn't lied once around the others.

----

Logan settled quietly on the stairs til the end of the movie, seeming content to join them quietly until Roman brought Janus' hat back out.

After they had discussed the movie's ending, with Virgils anxious thoughts still persisting, he realized they needed to do something else that more actively distracted them all from the situation. As Roman brought out his hat to vote on another activity Logan stepped in quickly, Virgil hissing at him much to Janus' amusement while Logan snatched his hat back without a glance in his direction.

"I was looking for this! Don't touch my shit!" Janus bit his lip hard to keep from busting out laughing at the reality of Logan swearing at Roman for him, a warm feeling enveloping him as the others continued with whatever conversgion they had moved on to. His focus came back as the ending of some kind of Frozen fix it fanfiction was being discussed, making it very hard not to feel smug as his suggested was acted upon and Thomas definitely seemed happier than he had previously. Not being needed for whatever ridiculous story was sure go come out he sunk back down into the mind scape, startling slightly when he appeared right next to Logan who was currently fixing a spare tie as he left Janus' room.

"Ah, you're back. I left your hat on the bedside where I assume it was taken in the first place. I'm the future know that with a little concentration we are able to keep certain sides out of our rooms. I would suggest you utilize this to prevent future thievery."

Janus shook off his disguise and held out the stolen tie. "Thank you...for letting me, well you didn't have to allow me to ho in your stead. I....appreciate the trust."

"Keep it." Logan gestured to the tie before turning away. "Just in case."

Janjs watched in confusion as Logan returned to his room to lock himself away again, finally sighing and turning to his own. Smiling a little he laid the tie carefully in a drawer before plunking his hat back on his head, shoulders sagging in relief at the familiarity.

It was nice to pretend to be someone else and talk with fake friends. But maybe, in allowing himself vulnerability, he had found himself another real one.

This work is also available on AO3!