#she takes off her blazer at some point and she just stays in a white tank and red pantsuit SHE'D DO IT FOR ME

[rescuefield-arch1]

ngl the idea of claire chasing a fucking lepotica all around tall oaks in pantsuit and heels because she was absolutely not there expecting to fight genuinely sends me ,,,

[earlysunshines]

like you used to

minatozaki sana x fem!reader ; angst

synopsis: it’s raining it’s pouring no old man is snoring and you've run into your ex-girlfriend (aka the love of your life) after a year.

warnings: reader used to have bad habits (smoking, alcohol) ; sana is a sweetheart ; reader is avoidant ; ex's to...? ; my attempt at angst, not my forte... ; anything else I didn't mention

a/n: hey! so all i do is lie (change my mind too often) anyways this one is short I just had a random burst of motivation :-p feeling edgy, don’t expect more this is spontaneous;-;

one thing about where you live is that there’s always unexpected surprises — in this case, the weather went from partly cloudy at 5pm to sudden thunder and lightning.

great.

no umbrella, a drenched shoulder bag, and soaked clothes cling to you as you dash for cover. when you finally find refuge at the bus stop, there’s another surprise waiting for you.

light brown hair dampened by the rain, a side profile more beautiful than flowers in bloom, and a soft smile that could captivate you for centuries: minatozaki sana.

“shit,” you mutter under your breath, running under the roof of the stop. 

patting down your blazer and pleated pants, sana turns and widens her eyes slightly. you meet her halfway, meeting her gaze and shrinking despite being a few centimeters taller. 

she gasps – almost. “y/n?”

“sana,” you tighten your jaw, feeling a knot in your stomach. “hi.”

“you’re drenched.” she points out the obvious, rushing to pull out a handkerchief in her purse. “come here.” she says, stepping closer. 

you flinch, stepping back a bit and sana frowns.

“it’s fine, it’s nothing.” you assure, feeling stiff in your place. “use it for yourself.”

“i’m not as soaked as you are.”

“it’s fine, sana.” you add firmly, clutching the strap of your bag and wiping water off your cheeks. 

even when you turn back to face the road, attempting to dry yourself with your wet blazer, sana continues to stare. you feel her eyes piercing through you, the same sweet eyes that would look at you like you were her world before you messed up. you want to shrivel up and disappear, every second beside her is grueling.

you make the mistake of glancing back at her again, she’s somehow prettier than two seconds ago – and after a year of avoiding her. 

sana’s wearing a white dress with a white cardigan on top; everything she has on is pretty damp, so you assume she got luckier and found cover quicker than you. she has on light makeup, nothing too crazy, but either way, she’d still have you staring. her hair – now slightly wet – is clipped up with a bow, making her look like some sort of princess. a small sigh leaves your lips as you break away from her.

“the rain won’t stop anytime soon, how will you get home?” she asks you, voice sweet and careful. 

“bus.”

“i heard they’re delayed for thirty minutes.”

“i can wait.” you reply, staring at the ground. “it’s nothing.”

she sighs, then steps closer to you and holds your wrist. she grabs your attention again, both your eyes meeting in eye contact that makes your heartache; she has that effect.

“y/n,” she stays sternly, “i called an uber ten minutes ago, you’re coming with me.”

“no i’m not sana.”

“yes you are.” her grip on your forearm tightens, making you gulp lightly. 

you stare at her through your overgrown, wet bangs that cling to your forehead, sighing softly. the handkerchief she had in her hand now draws closer to your face. she gently uses it to wipe away the water from your forehead, cheeks, and nose. her touch is tender, and her eyes focus intently on you, making your heart flutter in your chest.

surrender is your first option – your only option. 

“okay.”

–

sana’s apartment is as homey as you remember, the same couch you’d talk and makeout for hours on is still clean and fresh. 

she steps in first, kicking off her loafers and walking towards the kitchen island. 

“come.” she says, and you follow without a word, taking off your own shoes and hanging your bag up on the rack you used to.

you follow and sit down at the chair she’d used to sit at when you cooked for her, playing chef and cracking stupid jokes as you fixed her a simple pasta. her place used to be a haven from whatever you had going on, but now it’s dissolving you with every second passing by.

sana disappears for a moment, giving you a brief respite. you take this time to try and recompose yourself, staring at the marble counter in front of you. despite your efforts to push them down, memories you tried so hard to lock away from the light resurface, flooding your mind and making your heart ache with their intensity.

“here,” you jump at the soft sound of sana’s voice, looking up to see her handing you a towel – your towel.

“thank you.” grabbing it, you pat yourself down. sana hands you shorts and a t-shirt, also yours. 

“you never came back to get them.” she mumbles, sitting down next to you and searching for something in your eyes. “you know that?”

“i do.”

“mhm.” she looks even deeper, twisting you from the inside and out. “you should change.”

you nod.

–

by the time you finish changing, you find yourself staring at your reflection in the mirror for a moment too long, lost in a brief moment of reminiscing. shaking off the memories, you finally return to the kitchen, feeling all too much at once.

there’s a candle lit and hot ginger tea on the counter in sana’s favorite mug. she’s leaning against the counter near the stove, staring at her own cup.

you sit down and place both hands on either side of the mug. sana hums softly, “you should drink some, you’ll get sick.”

“it’s fine, i’ll get going soon anyway.”

“no you won’t.”

“and you’re the one who’s in charge of that?”

“stay the night, it’s not like you haven’t before y/n.” she sighs, looking at you with hurt in her features. “besides, i won’t let you go back. if you do, i know just seeing me will prompt you to drink and drink, maybe you’ll even light a cigarette or two if you’re sober enough to pull them out the pack.” she spits, sending a dagger through your chest.

you try to respond, but your throat dries up in the process. instead, you take a sip of the tea, not uttering a single word.

the air is weighed down with a palpable tension, like the elephant in the room sits on top of you two.

she sets her mug down, then walks over to lean against the counter in front of you, watching your head hang lower and hands run to the back of your neck.

“i’m sorry.”

“you should be.”

leaving with nothing but a note, a text, and then blocking her? sana deserves more than a sorry, but she’s grateful that you’re muttering it at all.

“i couldn’t face you.” you feel your throat closing in on itself again. “i don’t want you to be stuck on me.”

“y/n, i love you, nothing is ever going to change that even after you ghosted me.”

the whole reason you did all of that was simple: you’re an insecure, avoidant coward.

sana was and still is set up on a pedestal, one that would take lightyears to climb. she's beautiful, cunning, charming, and caring. you had never known anyone as loving as her. it was dangerous having a person so cozy and warm jump into your life when you've always been so cold and uneasy.

two years with sana were enough to create memories that would make you smile just thinking about them, but they could also send you into a spiral.

lingering in your mind were thoughts screaming for you to leave her, insisting you weren't enough and that she would be better off without you. it wasn’t jealousy of anyone else, you were too clouded with your flaws to care about that; it was the belief that you should dig yourself into a ditch so sana would realize she shouldn’t waste her time on someone like you.

she witnessed your moments of weakness. once a month, you'd drink until you couldn’t formulate a thought, and smoke to avoid confronting your problems and the personal hassles you hid from her. the monthly occurrence turned into a bimonthly thing, and then weekly nearing the end of your relationship. and still, sana would be by your side each time, making sure you were okay.

you were an asshole, and you had to pry yourself away from her somehow.

“just give up sana.”

“y/n,” you feel hands on your cheeks, cupping them and tilting your head up to meet her face sculpted by the angels above. “stop that.”

your brows upturn. “you stop that.”

“i’m not doing anything.”

“that’s the problem.”

sana rubs your cheeks like she used to, her long nail just barely grazing your skin in the process. you sink in your place, eyes avoiding hers.

“we don’t have to talk about it now, but stay. i want you safe, even if it’s just for tonight.”

“don’t do this to yourself, you’ll only hurt more.”

“there’s nothing that hurts more than knowing you’ll have a fever, it’s okay.”

without warning, she leans in, hugging you softly. sana’s warmth and softness envelop you, and you feel like you’ll freeze her, turning her rigid with your coldness.

sana feels your body go stiff, but when she rubs her back, you’re already sinking into her. she’s spent time to take care of herself, but nothing beats the way she cares for you, or just the feeling of being with you.

you had your flaws, but sana saw right past them and into your heart.

even if you didn’t think it, you were sana’s rock. sweet and caring, a sight for sore eyes, and the warmth she needed after a long day. she could talk to you about anything, and you’d be there to listen and soothe her worries, your smile easily easing the tension in her shoulders.

after countless tries (well, two, because sana couldn’t see anyone but you after that setup with momo’s friend on a whim), she had accepted that no one else could fill your spot in her life.

she feels tears soaking the material of her t-shirt, hearing you sniffle lightly into her.

sana pulls away, holding your face again. she looks at you with a mix of pity, regret, anger, and sorrow, maybe a little relief too. you’re back with her, she’s unsure of whether or not you’re still as vulnerable, but it doesn’t matter.

“it’s okay.”

“i’m an asshole.”

“you are,” she agrees, then wipes a tear from your eye. “but everyone has their reasons.”

she lets you stain her shirt with a few more tears before gently coaxing you to join her on the couch. it will take a long time to rebuild what you once had, but sana is willing to try, and you are too—especially when she holds you close, her hand rubbing your back comfortingly.

you’ve always thought you didn’t deserve her. 

but sana won’t let you let go so easily. she refuses to back down without a fight, and neither will you – not this time.

[a-casual-kpopfan]

It's a Date. - Karina

Shoutout to @capslocked for the little beta read. <3

I'm starting to get back into the writing groove, dropping small fics here and there. This was fairly short and sweet, I hope you all enjoy as usual. :)

~~~~~

You were one of the hosts to take Aespa around New York while they’re on tour; today was an off day and you were with the group and their managers going out to several shopping districts and trying desserts throughout the day. 

“Oppa, how come you’re not looking around for things?” Little Winter walking along next to you like a puppy, if a puppy can carry like 5 shopping bags with their paws.

“I live in the city Winter; this is my lifestyle.” You look around the shopping centre, it’s bustling and hustling as NYC would be normally. “Oh, come on oppa, there’s got to be something for you to do too, what about a girlfriend?” You had to think about it, it’s been a while since you were out with someone, let alone had a long-term relationship. “Ah, the last time I dated someone was back in college.” You gave a little smile to Winter as the two of you walked just behind the main group of members and managers.

Karina who’s walking along the main group takes a glance behind, seeing you and Winter laughing through your conversation. She excuses herself from the main group and slows down to the pace of you and Winter. “Ahh, what’s so funny?” Karina may be one of the most visually appealing idols and one of the most captivating people to ever walk this planet. But her looks don’t define who she is; Karina is actually a walking toddler.

Her cheeks are puffed up and lips in a pout. “Winter here is calling me a fossil, calling me old because I haven’t dated since college!” You were playing along with the act, acting a little whiny and childish which was alright, you’ve been with the girls a couple days already, they’re really playful and outgoing which is something you really appreciate seeing in Korean idols compared to a lot of Western stars you’ve hosted around every once in awhile.

Winter laughs uncontrollably on your left side, and is holding onto your arm, Karina is happy to see that there’s someone to trust outside of their group. “How old are you then oppa?” Karina tilts her head like a puppy, it really seems like Aespa as a group is a bunch of little puppies. “I’m 26 years old.” Winter pretends to be super shocked, exaggerating a dropped jaw. “Oh, my goodness, you’re a grandpa!”

“Yah, I’m only 3 years older than Karina.” Trying to defend yourself from Winter, but on the other side Karina is laughing at Winter’s reaction. “Oh, you’re not that old oppa, I just see the little white hairs appearing on your head.” Karina jokes around but catches you off guard making your jaw genuinely drop. “Ms. Karina!” Your jaw stays open but with a smile, you are putting your hand over your heart as if you got shot, but what really shot you is Karina’s smile and laughter.

Your walk through the mall was fun, it was all smooth going until…

“Oppa! Let’s go get you some clothes!” Giselle, the most fluent in English, pulls you into a local clothing shop. “Giselle!” The idol continued pulling your arm, you really didn’t have a choice. “Please, just call me Aeri.” With a reassuring smile that it’s okay to be on a first name basis at this point. “I feel like we’ll know each other a lot more after today.” Aeri with an excited smile, confuses you but you just go with the vibe.

“Oo, you'd be good with this… And this… We should try this too…” Aeri is picking out several pieces of clothing, going through different kinds of pants, looking at the blazers and some tops. “Giselle.” Aeri looks at you with a glare. “Aeri…” The glare changed to a smile, relieving you of possible stress. “Oppa, just try these on, okay?” Dumping a small pile of clothes into your arms, all you could do is sigh and accept it.

You went through multiple variations of outfits from all the clothes that Aeri has chosen for you. After spending about a half hour trying on clothes, there was a set that both you and Aeri found fond of. “Wah, oppa! You look so handsome!” You were wearing a short sleeve dark blue blazer, though worn open and on the inside, a nice grey, almost a salt & pepper style t-shirt, a black jean, complemented with a very dark brown leather shoe. “Wow, I have to hand it to you; you have great style Aeri.”

“Perks of being an idol~” You look through the mirror and watch Aeri pose with a V sign, making you laugh.

“That decides it, let’s go buy them!” You shook your head and looked at Aeri through the mirror. “I may be making decent money but buying all this is too expensive for me.” Your little shopping companion comes up to the mirror and looks you in the eye. “Oppa, who said you were going to pay?” And out of her pocket is her credit card from the company. “Yah, wouldn’t they be mad if you bought something not for you with this card?”

“This is the least that I can do being such a great host for us the last couple days.” You turn around to see a sincere smile and it doesn’t seem like she would take ‘No’ as an answer. “Okay, you win this round.” Aeri clapping her hands and you shrug in defeat as you make yourself to a change room with your original clothing.

Aeri kept to her word, now you’re walking along with Ningning and holding quite a lot of clothing. “Are you having fun with us, oppa?” It’s almost like each member is having their turn with you throughout the day. “Sure, I am Ningning, I get to spend time with very famous idols.” Ningning wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “What do you really like to do for fun?” You were confused as to why the idols are being really personal with you lately.

“Hmm, I’m originally from South Korea, but after moving here I really grew into North American culture. Watching basketball games, going out for bar food like wings and burgers with friends late at night. I do enjoy playing billiards, I’m always open to trying new activities.” Ningning now seems to be happy with that answer. “It seems that you’re very active.” You and Ningning kept the conversation going with each other, more and more you’re finding out the girls like to drink and eat a lot in the dorm, yet they seem so fit for the amount of food they consume and more Ningning is finding out your habits here in New York.

Once finding a restaurant to have a late lunch, you and the group were seated but you offered to sit separately as you would like to give the girls and managers their privacy.

“Nonsense! You’re sitting with us!” Karina was not happy with your suggestion. “You’re a part of us and you’re sitting with us.” The leader was standing firm, and wouldn't budge for anything. “Because you’re trying to bail on us, I’m making you sit next to me to keep an eye on you.” Karina poking your chest with her finger, you were given no choice. You couldn’t help but smile about it and shrugged. “Good, let’s go.” Karina grabbed your hand and dragged you in.

You were led to a large table fitting for 8 near the back of the restaurant, not completely private but obscure enough to eat comfortably. Karina sat on a bench with Winter and a manager beside her, one seat was left, and you were going to offer it to Ningning or Giselle, but you watch them already sit on the other side of the table with their other managers. “Nope, with me oppa.” Karina was sitting down, looking up to you with a smile.

“I really can’t get away from you, can I?” You finally gave up and sat down to the group’s leader. “Looks like someone has a liking for him.” Winter nudges Karina, shortly getting a slap to the leg to deny the teasing. “Yah…” You couldn’t hear the little whispers, you tried to ignore everything so the members can have a sense of comfortability and privacy, but then Karina can easily notice that you’re feeling uncomfortable.

“Hey… It’s okay.” Karina lays her palm on top of your hand and pats it. “Just be yourself, that’s all I ask for.” Her head is on a tilt, her smile, sincere. You nod your head and try your best to follow Karina’s asking. She’s always tried to make sure that her members were comfortable, that her manager was okay, but you being an outsider only have been with them for a short amount of time, Karina had always made sure that everyone was alright, she’s a great leader.

Lunch went smoothly, you and the managers had some good laughs, the members were having a good time, but alas all things must come to an end. The shopping is done, lunch is over, now you’re walking the girls and managers back to the hotel.

You bid your farewells, but Karina comes running back to you before you have the chance to leave the premises. “Oppa, I have a favour to ask you.” Karina's demeanour is off, hands behind her back, one foot balance on her toes, her eyes facing the ground, avoiding your gaze. “What is it, Karina?” You were curious, it’s not everyday you have a beautiful woman in front of you acting like a fool.

“I... Uh… Have this friend who’s coming to the city later tonight… I was hoping you could tour her around, like you did with us?”

“Oh… What could I have hoped for?”

“Sure, what time should I meet her?” You accepted without an issue, you wanted to be a good guy, you just spent a few days with the group and why should you decline? It’s not like you have a date to attend to.

“Yay! Thank you oppa, here’s her number, meet her here at 8pm!” Karina hands you a paper with an unusual phone number, not an area code you’re familiar with but you took in anyways. “Thank you oppa.” Karina bowed in respect before running back inside the hotel.

You would be a little disappointed, but this is a favour.

~~~~~

You make it back to the hotel at the time Karina told you to be there by, you texted the phone number that you arrived in the front. Good thing Aeri took you to go shopping for new clothes, you must dress up a little for the New York nightlife.

You: Hey, I’m in front of the lobby.

Unknown: I’ll be right there!

That reply came quickly, you were on a look out for someone outside the hotel, but the results would surprise you.

“Good evening oppa.”

You spin around to Karina, a different outfit from this afternoon. Instead of a white sweater and a long skirt, the Aespa leader is changed into a thin back long sleeve, mesh-like material being near fully see-through, a black bandeau underneath, complimenting her large bust and curves, paired with blue jeans and to finish with black boots.

“K-Karina?!”

Shocked to see the leader alone, no supervision, not even anyone watching from the entrance. “I hope you don’t mind me taking off my extensions, I felt like the short hair for our date.” Karina plays with her hair then smiles at you, she has somewhat of a gummy smile.

“Wait, I’m sorry, our date?” You were extremely caught off guard, Karina? Aespa’s leader? A kpop idol? A date? With you? “You could have better options than this old man.” The idol slowly walked towards you, grabbing your hand with both of hers, it’s now you really took the time to see, Karina has baby hands. “Why not? You treated us well, made sure we were comfortable, this is the least I could do… And I want to get to know you more.”

“But I live here, you need to go back to South Korea soon.” The idol was only giggling, she probably has already thought about it, otherwise you wouldn’t think she would go through the trouble of setting up a date with you. “We can cross that bridge when we get to it. There is a lot of tour guides in South Korea that would like a bilingual tour guide.”

With Karina’s amazing smile looking at you the way it is, how could you deny her?

“Okay Karina.”

“Please, my name is Yu Jimin.”

You smile and chuckle.

“Okay Jimin, what would you like to do tonight?”

She pulled away one hand, but still held yours with one. “Hmmm…” Her facial expression turned to a pout, playfully laying a finger on her chin, exaggerating the fact she’s thinking. “How about we go to a bar, get some wings and maybe watch a basketball game if there’s any?” Your jaw was left open, how could she have known?

“Ningning?”

“Mhmm.” With a cute nod.

How would you survive spending the night with Kar- Jimin?

The two of you walked off in a direction where you heard was a good restaurant that had some of the best wings and flavours, Jimin couldn’t let go of your hand, she was basically latched on your arm at this point.

“Oppa, are the New York Knicks any good?”

“Oh man… Don’t get me started…”

[the-froschamethyst4]

Hi :> I really liked your fic "paper hearts" I have an idea for a sequel... So, what would happen if one day the reader and Barrage met up with Jake and the other high school bullies again? I want to see them shit their pants when they see that Calvin is no longer a nerd, but a huge, muscular and attractive military man, who also got married and had children with the reader *maniacal laughter* thanks in advance and I apologize if my English is incorrect. Greetings! 😄

“I’m not a Nerd anymore”

𖤐Pairing: Barrage x Wife! Reader

𖤐Pronouns: She/Her

𖤐AN: I got you boo! (In case you haven’t read it yet paper-hearts)

𖤐Warnings: fluff, wholesome, language, children, married couple, more use of Calvin, kissing, teasing,

𖤐Summary: After graduating their high school Y/n and Barrage go back for a reunion running into a few…familiar faces

————

————

Calvin's mission since his marriage with Y/n was to always make her happy, ever since that day in High School, Valentine's day, he's always had this thought to always put his girl first, and today should have been like any other.

"Cal, come on," Y/n calls from the stairs. He looks at himself in the slightly fogged mirror, he just got out of the shower and tonight was the first ever High School reunion.

He did not want to face all those people again, all those people who made fun of him, those people who were on Jake's side, the day where he was beat up for confessing to the girl he loves so deeply, he hated those people, he doesn't want to go, but Y/n...she wants to.

She wants to see her old friends again, she wanted to catch up with everyone, she wanted to go, she just needed her husband to join.

Now, Cal wishes he was stuck doing a mission far from home, and he sends his wishes to his wife, but no...he's stuck.

"Cal?" Y/n comes into the bathroom now, seeing her husband leaning on the counter still with a towel around his waist. "You're not even dressed."

"Baby please, I don't wanna go," he begs again.

"I want to go," she gives Cal those pleading, puppy dog eyes that he can't stand because he always folded.

"But-"

"No, you promised," she reminds him. He did though, he made a promise to her last week, she knew about this high school reunion and he promised that he will go with her, he'll ask his parents to watch the kids while they could go and hang out with their old friends and then the night before and day of, Calvin started to panic and start having those flashbacks back to his high school days.

"I know I did but I can't-"

"Cal for me...please..." He takes a deep breath and then just nods his head, Y/n knows it's hard on him, he had a rough time, she feels bad of course, but Calvin isn't a scared, scrawny, high nerdy boy anymore, he's a fucking buff, scary, tatted Military man, who still geeks out about a new Marvel movie or an new Anime show coming out soon.

As Cal was ready, he goes to Y/n to see if she has any details for him or that she might want to change.

She loosens his black tie, rolled his sleeves to his elbows and told him to carry the blazer just in case.

"Alright, you kids behave," Y/n says, bending down to her children who ran to her to give her one last hug and Calvin thanked his parents once again before leaving.

Calvin's hands were tight around the stirring wheel. Y/n could see his knuckles were white, she slides her hand onto his hand.

"Cal?"

"I'm just nervous."

"It's okay, I'll be there with you, the whole time."

Whole time his butt, the minute you entered the old high school gym that was decorated as if there was a Gala going on. Everyone dressed so nicely and either carried wine glasses, whiskey glasses or thin champagne flutes.

And like High school dances, Cal was off on his own, in the corner away from everyone. He looked at Y/n who seemed to having a good time laughing with some old friends and hugging old football players she use to hang out with.

He stayed in the corner, him and that corner were friends at this point. Then there was an uproar. People walked to the entrance and saw Jake...Cal's enemy and bully.

He was causing an uproar but the thing was...Jake looked awful, Cal could see the plastic in Jake's cheeks, nose, and Botox in his forehead.

"Goddamn he looks awful," a group near Calvin whispers.

"Money might buy you happiness but it can't buy you looks."

"He looks like a Ken doll, and not a hot one."

Cal sips his whiskey as Jake walks through the crowd, Y/n didn't even notice Jake whatsoever, she could care less, which made Cal very happy that she didn't give Jake a glance.

Unlike Jake, who was still eyeing Y/n up as if they were still in high school.

Calvin could feel his blood boil when Jake would eye-fuck Y/n. Calvin then starts marching towards Y/n his arm immediately going around her waist giving Jake the most scariest death glare he's ever given someone.

Jake just scoffs and walks away, guess he didn't know that, this guy was the scrawny little high school nerd, he use to bully.

"Something wrong?" Y/n looks up at her husband.

"Jake," Cal says, he looks down at Y/n giving her soft eyes.

"Oh he's here?" She sounded annoyed and disgusted.

"Oh Cal, how are you? You look-"

"Hot."

"Sexy."

"Different." Y/n's old friends said, jaws dropped, making Y/n giggle knowing her man is hot, and it kind of made Calvin awkward, but he scratches the back of his neck and gives an awkward chuckle.

"Uh thanks," he says with a smile.

Calvin stuck to Y/n's side and then when he finally decided to leave her side, he goes to the drink station, and had asked for a glass of whiskey and some champagne.

"Little nerdy Calvin," Cal knew that voice, he wish he didn't. He turns and sees Jake's plastic face.

"Jake," Calvin says, raising his eyebrows.

"Wow...you look good, Calvin...really good," he chuckles. "Say Y/n, she seems hotter...must be that pregnancy glow."

"My wife isn't pregnant." Calvin says, rolling his eyes, rich and stupid, dangerous combo.

"Wife?! So, she did marry you..."

"Listen Jake, I don't know if you're trying to get under my skin, about my wife and I, but I'm not a nerd anymore. So, if you are over here to make fun of me or shit, I am not interested-"

"Well, why is Y/n still friends with me on Facebook?"

"Maybe she feels pity on you, Jake...I don't care what my wife does because I trust her...she is loyal to me."

"She still likes me, I already know, you are infuriated by me," he chuckles.

"How so, Jake?"

"Because I have more money then you can even imagine."

"That may be true Jake, but I could careless. My wife loves me, I have two kids with her, and I'm not filled with plastic and Botox in my face to where anyone hardly recognizes me." Calvin then pushes past Jake and goes back to his wife.

"Hi." She says.

"Champagne," he says.

"What's wrong?" She knew something was up.

"Nothing." Calvin seemed pissed.

"Jake?"

"Yeah," he says, seeming annoyed with the damn name.

The night was coming to an end and Calvin is helping Y/n into the truck, Y/n was a bit tipsy, and Calvin found it cute that his blazer basically was swallowing her up.

"Cal, can we go home, I miss my kids," she yawns.

"We're going hon, but I'm picking the kids up tomorrow," he tell her.

"Can you fuck me when we get home?"

"Jesus, baby," he chuckles, shutting the door and getting into the drivers side.

"You're so hot, Kelly and Charlotte were right, and so damn sexy too," she smiles, biting her thumbnail.

"Calm down, baby," he says.

"But I want you-"

"Yeah, I know," he says, driving down the road. Y/n rolls on her side who looked at him, one hand on the wheel and the other biting the joint of his finger.

Her hand then goes to his muscular thigh.

"Baby."

"You're so buff...when's the last time we fucked?"

"Y/n."

"Oh first name, serious," she says, taking her hand back.

"No, no, not like that," he grabs her hand again and placed it back on his thigh. "Sorry, I'm just trying to focus." He says.

"So can we?"

"We'll see."

Getting home, like Calvin predicated, Y/n had passed out in the truck and Calvin was carrying her in bridal style till he reaches their shared bedroom, kicking the door shut, he placed Y/n on her side of the bed, taking his blazer back and he removes his tie, and shirt and unbuckled his belt and pants, but he left them on and walked back to the bed.

He helps Y/n up and starts removing her dress.

"You-You're a pervert...m-my husband will beat y-your ass," she mumbles into his shoulder.

"Baby, it's me, I am your husband," he chuckles. "I'm just trying to get you in comfortable clothes," he says. She just mumbles and whines, she just wants to be in her bed.

Calvin then puts a large t-shirt on Y/n, and laid her back on her side of the bed, Calvin then drops the covers on her and he changes into his own pajamas.

He snuggles closer to Y/n, kissing the back of her neck, resting his arm over her waist and the other moving her hair off her neck.

"Good night, love," he says.

"Good night," she mumbles back. "Thank you for coming w-with me," she hiccups.

"No problem," he says, kissing the back of her neck again, and snuggled into the back of her neck.

[kymerawrites]

friends to lovers to ...?

Shym, Simon’s closest friend - maybe even best friend. She were one of the few people he didn’t actually hate. Sure, they bickered over stupid things, but they stayed close either way especially after being friends since year eight, now in year twelve.

Simon leaned back against the wall of the stairwell in their high school as he waited for shym, holding a cigarette between his fingers.

“Bloody hell, where is she..”, he muttered, taking a long drag from his cigarette as he looked around for any sign of Shym. He knew she would probably tell him not to smoke and lecture him, but it’s not like he’d actually listen.

As he finished up the cigarette, he dropped it on the ground, stepping on it and putting it out before shoving his hands into his pockets. Simon always wore the school’s dark navy blue blazer and trousers, but today his shirt was an unusual colour being white instead of the standard dark grey one. He didn’t really care for most things, including his uniform.

And there she came, looking sad, angry, confused? He couldn’t place her emotions today

Simon’s expression softened slightly as he saw her, noticing that she didn’t seem herself. He pushed himself off the wall and approached her.

“Hey. You alright?”

He said as he came up in front of her, looking at her face to try and figure out what was wrong.

I just scoffed “it’s Mike.” Mike was my boyfriend, but lately we haven’t been on good terms since a party incident.

I laughed and said with venom in my voice “oh yeah he did, just because I once again did not want him to take my virginity in a random persons bed.” I rolled my eyes

Simon shook his head in disapproval as he leaned back against the wall once again.

“For the love of God.. when are you going to break up with him already.”

He said, clearly annoyed and yet a hint of concern was present in his voice.

“There’s no point of staying in a relationship when all he keeps doing is accusing you of cheating and pressuring you to do something you don’t want to.”

Simon said as he let out an exasperated breath, leaning his head back against the wall. He really didn’t understand why she hadn’t just broken up with that bastard yet.

His expression softened again as he looked at her properly this time, noticing how down she looked. He hated seeing her like this.

“It’s your choice to stay with him, but you know I’ll support you whatever you chose. Even if you do chose to keep a toxic prick as a boyfriend.”

"si.. I don't know how to break up with him."

Simon closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before exhaling slowly, trying to calm his annoyance of the situation.

“Just be straight forward with him. Tell him that you’re done and it’s over. Don’t let him guilt trip you back into staying because he “can change” or some bullshit. He’s an arsehole and you deserve better than that.”

i smiled and looked down at my feet, I sighed "to be honest, I wish that was the case, but that isn't the case you know?.."

Simon’s expression went from annoyance to concern at hearing her words, noticing the sadness in her voice.

“What do you mean?”

He asked as he pushed himself off the wall and stepped closer to her, looking over her as she looked down at her feet.

"he knows a lot of stuff, and I mean maybe even more than you.. he's the only person who actually understands and listens to my.. problems." I said softly

Simon froze as she said that, the concern in his expression quickly turning to anger that was poorly concealed.

“That’s what this is about.. he’s holding whatever secrets you have over your head to keep you from leaving him.”

He spoke through gritted teeth as he clenched his fists in his pockets, trying to stay calm but it was a struggle.

"si its okay, its no biggie!" I pushed him slightly on the shoulder, I noticed he got bigger, not fat but I felt more muscle.

Simon let her shove him as he tried to calm down, but it was obvious that what she said had angered him more than he was showing.

“No biggie? How can it not be a biggie? The guy is manipulating you into staying in a goddamn one sided and unhealthy relationship!”

He said as he clenched his jaw as he was struggling to keep his voice down.

Simon became really angry, I felt the heat radiating off "Simon I will be okay, relationships have their ups and downs, you know that right?"

“The downs shouldn’t include cheating accusations and manipulation.”

He said through gritted teeth, his anger towards her boyfriend only growing the more she defended him. She didn’t seem to realize how toxic their relationship really was, and it pissed him off.

I just sighed "can we please talk about something else?"

Simon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to calm down.

“Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

He said, his voice still edged with irritation, but it was significantly calmer than a moment ago.

i grabbed his arm and pinched it "look at those muscles! you really are taking the gym seriously"

Simon’s expression softened slightly when she changed the topic, but he frowned again when she pinched his arm.

“Oi, cut it out.”

He said in annoyance but still letting her pinch his arm as he looked down at her with an unimpressed expression, but he couldn’t stay annoyed at her for too long.

"since that one gym class in junior year you just start to make urself ready to enlist in the army, did those secret operation presentations caught your attention?"

Simon shrugged as he leaned back against the wall, his arms now crossed over his chest.

“Maybe they did, maybe they didn’t. What if I just want to get fit?”

He said teasingly with a smirk, glancing over at her.

"now lets not get it twisted!" I touched his cheek as a joke "looks were never a problem anyway for you" I touched his scar, the scar that made his face, and who did that? his dad. every time I see Simon I remember he survived abuse. and I tried to always be there and uplift him

Simon’s expression softened a bit more, the tension in his body slowly fading away as she touched his cheek and then his scar.

“You’re too nice to me.”

He said, a hint of amusement in his voice as he tried to make a joke but he was struggling to. The mention of his scar always brought up memories of things he tried to forget, but for whatever reason he didn’t mind when it was her who bought it up.

and then the bell rang, "it seems we got to go to our literature class!" I grabbed his hand and held it as I ran with him towards the classroom

Simon was practically dragged to class as she grabbed his hand and started to run. He was surprisingly able to keep up with her, his long legs able to quickly catch up to her pace.

“Bloody hell! Slow down will you? We ain’t late yet.”

Although he said this, he was struggling to hold back a smile, enjoying her energetic personality.

"Simon, I really do not give a fuck! today we get the information about our day trip to New York to see the play."

His eyes widened slightly as he remembered about the day trip.

“Bloody hell, I almost forgot about that day trip. You’re way too excited over this.”

He said, although his tone betrayed his actual interest as he let her drag him into the classroom.

"come on we'll see New York and everything! now lets get to class" as we walked in I sat next to mike until I saw Simon standing at my table staring daggers

Simon didn’t appreciate seeing her sit next to her boyfriend, his annoyance at the boy returning immediately. He stood next to her table, staring at the boy with a look that was filled with anger and almost contempt.

i kissed mike "baby I'm sitting next to Simon today alright? in gym we can meet up again"

Mike glanced up at Simon, shooting him an annoyed look as shym kissed him. However, he gave a small nod to her.

“Fine.”

He said bluntly, leaning back against his chair, his gaze briefly flicking to Simon who was standing next to them.

Once Mike agreed, Simon immediately took the chair next to shym. He slumped back against the chair with an annoyed expression before he leaned over to her, lowering his voice.

“You honestly could’ve picked a better seat partner.”

He said, his eye flicking over to Mike for a brief second.

However, before shym could respond, their teacher, Mrs. Smith walked into the classroom, drawing their attention.

“Alright class, settle down. I have important news regarding an upcoming day trip.”

The class immediately got quiet as they waited for their teacher to continue. Some students were more interested than others, but they gave the teacher their attention regardless.

Mrs. Smith looked around at the class before she spoke once again.

“Tomorrow, you will be going on a day trip into New York to see the play ‘Romeo & Juliet.’”

"we'll be going with the train you know" I whispered

Simon nodded slightly, leaning over even closer to her so that they wouldn’t be heard by other students. His eyes flicked over to Mike, noticing that he was still paying attention.

“Yeah, I know. But I bet it’ll be packed with a bunch of annoying idiots.”

He leaned back into his chair as Mrs. Smith continued speaking about the details of the day trip, things like when they’ll be leaving and how to organise themselves.

He leaned back into his chair, folding his arms over his chest as he glanced over at shym, not even pretending to pay attention to whatever their teacher was saying.

After a few more minutes of listening to their teacher, Simon zoned out as the conversation changed to a discussion about Romeo & Juliet with some of the students. He found the topic to be boring, instead he let his thoughts wander.

He thought about the day trip, how the train journey was going to be packed with teenagers with their loud voices and excited chattering. The thought of sitting for god knows how long next to annoying teenagers didn’t please him at all.

but at least he had shym

That was true. At least he would have one person who wouldn’t be utterly annoying while on the train.

His thoughts went from the train ride to the play itself. It was ‘Romeo & Juliet’ for god’s sake. Of course it’s the typical cheesy love story. It was too cliche and typical for his liking.

And he just knew that all of the girls in their grade would swoon over the male actors who played Romeo. He let out a scoff at the thought. He couldn’t understand why the girls were so obsessed over love stories like Romeo & Juliet.

"class dismissed." mrs smith said and Simon came back to reality

Simon was snapped out of his thoughts as Mrs. Smith dismissed the class. He stood up from his seat and stretched his legs, his body still a little stiff from sitting in the same position for too long.

I stood up and fixed my skirt "well si, I'll see you tomorrow on the station, you'll wait for me right?"

Simon looked at her as he nodded in confirmation.

“Of course I’m gonna wait for you. Wouldn’t want you to be late or anything.”

He said, folding his arms as he leaned against the table, the last of the students leaving the room.

the next day was chaotic and it resulted in Simon waiting on the station while the rest left already

Simon drummed his fingers impatiently against the side of his thighs as he waited on the platform.

He looked at the time on his phone, tapping his foot against the ground as he waited for the tardy shym. He was slightly annoyed but not overly so.

"SIMON RILEY." I screamed

His head immediately snapped around to look at the sound of her voice. He raised his eyebrow in a questioning manner when he saw her running towards him.

“About bloody time. I was starting to wonder if you’d ever show up.”

i slapped his chest lightly "why are you not on that train!?"

Simon raised his hands in defense as she slapped his chest.

“Easy there, I only waited because I was waiting for your irresponsible ass to show up.”

He said with a smirk, crossing his arms over his chest.

I just shook my head "so what now we take the next train? and miss the play?"

He let out a sigh as he thought for a moment.

“I guess we have no other choice.”

Simon checked the time on his phone and groaned in frustration.

“Bloody hell, we’ll barely make it in time before the play starts.”

i sighed "lets try at least." and waited for the train to arrive

“Yeah, better than nothing.”

Simon leaned back against the side of the platform railing as they waited for the next train to arrive. He glanced around the platform, noticing that majority maybe everyone of their peers had already left on the first train.

It wasn’t long before the next train arrived and they got on, with no seats available so they stood

As the train sped towards New York, Simon was leaned back against a pole, facing shym as he watched her struggle to keep her balance with the train’s speed. He looked her up and down with a smirk, before he spoke.

“You really aren’t good with train rides, are you?”

"yeah as if-" the train came to a sudden halt as we reached a stop

Simon was taken by surprise when the train suddenly came to a halt, causing her to fall forwards into his arms. His reflexes kicked in, his arm wrapping around her to keep her from falling down.

They ended up in a very close intimate position with her face only mere centimeters away from his. And for a brief moment, time seemed to slow down.

Their faces were almost touching, her eyes looking up at his. Simon’s breath hitched as he realised their closeness, his arm around her waist holding her tightly to help keep her balance.

He quickly looked away, clearing his throat as he loosened his grip on her, trying to ignore the pounding of his heart.

He could feel the warmth of her body pressed against his and it was causing his heart rate to increase. He was slightly annoyed at his reaction, but he couldn’t help it.

“You’re more clumsy than I thought.”

He said, trying to sound more nonchalant than he was feeling.

"uh yeah.. sorry.." I said laughing

He looked back at her, a hint of a smirk on his face at her laughter.

“Just try not to trip and fall all over me, yeah?”

He said jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. He still had his arm around her waist, holding her steady.

The train jolted as it continued on its journey towards New York. With the speed in which the train was going, Simon continued holding her to keep her from falling again.

He couldn’t ignore the fact that he was enjoying the close proximity of their bodies. Despite his usual cold and aloof nature, he couldn’t help but feel a flutter in his chest.

As they stepped off the train, shym was immediately in awe of the city. She took in every detail, her eyes wide with wonder.

Simon followed behind her, his hands shoved in his pockets as he glanced around. He was still trying to maintain his usual blank expression, but he couldn’t help but be impressed by the city as well.

They made their way out of Grand Central, to the hustle and bustle of the city filling the air.

"simon…" I said slowly

Simon glanced down at her, a hint of curiosity in his expression.

“Yeah?”

He asked, his voice neutral but his eyes giving him away in showing his interest.

"can we do this every weekend? maybe spend Christmas here?" I almost pleaded and I was excited the city looked just like the rom coms I watched in my dorm every night

Simon raised an eyebrow and his smirk widened slightly at her eagerness.

“Bloody hell, you really love this city, don’t you?”

He asked in amusement, before he continued to answer her question.

“But yeah, why not? We can try to come here every weekend or something.”

I looked on my phone and rolled my eyes "let's explore and not go to that play." and I started walking "We will be tourists today!"

Simon chuckled at her eagerness and rolled his eyes in mock annoyance.

“Bloody hell, you’re going to end up making us lost you know?”

He said, still following her as she started walking, looking down at her with a smirk.

“But fine, we’ll be tourists for the day.”

Simon found himself being pulled by her from place to place, her excitement contagious. They did almost everything they could that day, seeing time square, Brooklyn bridge, Empire State Building, and even making it to the Statue of Liberty.

Despite his usual aloof nature, he found himself getting caught up in the moment. He saw how happy shym was, and it made him happy as well.

"okay last thing for today and that's Central Park, after that I want to get food." I said excitedly

Simon chuckled as she mentioned Central Park as the last stop of their day. He could see how tired she was, but he was also exhausted himself.

“Yeah, I think we’ve done enough for today. Central Park it is, then food, sounds good.”

He said in agreement, stretching his arms as they began walking towards Central Park.

we saw the squirrels, went on a horse carriage and after we god some hot pot next door until we saw the time and it was 11 PM "uh.. Simon?"

As they finished their food, Simon leaned back in his chair with a satisfied expression, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

“Damn, that was some good food.” He said, before noticing the time.

“What is it?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"we missed the last train." I said irritated

Simon let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“God dammit, you’re such a pain in the ass…”

He said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“How the hell are we supposed to get back now?”

"we'll get a hotel. I know one and saw a good one night deal."

Simon raised an eyebrow at her suggestion, slight surprise in his expression.

“A hotel? Seriously?”

He said with a hint of amusement in his tone.

“And you’re sure they have a good night deal and they’ll let us check in this late?”

"ofcourse, I'm shym fucking medusa" I said sarcastically

Simon couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter at her sarcastic response. He smirked at her, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Oh yeah, cause that name will get us into any hotel no problem.”

He said sarcastically in return, chuckling slightly.

"come on lets take a cab to timesquare its next to it."

Simon playfully rolled his eyes at her as he stood up from his chair.

“Alright, alright, lead the way Medusa…”

He said sarcastically, gesturing for her to lead the way out of the restaurant.

as they went towards timesquare with the cab they successfully got into a hotel, the catch? it was a romantic couple get away with view on timesquare

As they arrived and walked into the hotel lobby, they were instantly met with the romantic atmosphere. The lobby had a warm and intimate ambience, with dim lighting and soft music playing in the background.

Simon looked around with raised eyebrows, silently cursing under his breath at the romantic getaway feeling of the place.

“Bloody hell…”

He mumbled, following her up to the receptionist.

i grabbed my card "hi can we book for 1 night only?"

The receptionist gave a friendly smile as she looked up from her computer screen.

“Of course, ma’am. Let me just check the availability.”

She typed something on her computer, looking for vacant rooms.

“We have one available room. However, it’s our special couple’s package room.”

The receptionist said, looking up at them.

I looked at Simon with a funny expression "that'll be great! thank you."

Simon’s eyes widened slightly as the receptionist mentioned the “couple’s package” room. He glanced at shym with a look that said, ‘you can’t be serious.’

“Are you sure-”

But he was cut off by shym accepting the room. He let out a small sigh, resigned to the situation.

“Alright, I guess we’ll take it.”

as they entered the room they were met with a bed full of rose petals and a jacuzzi, the blinds were still open and we had an amazing view of timesquare I walked towards the window and could only bring myself to say "wow."

Simon followed shym into the room, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. His eyes fell on the bed covered in rose petals, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

“Bloody hell… they went all out for this couple’s package, didn’t they?”

He said with a hint of sarcasm, walking further into the room. He saw her looking out the window at the view of Times Square.

and then I saw it a jacuzzi, "Simon, this is some VIP shit, and we are going in that jacuzzi. now." I said demanding

Simon chuckled at her demanding tone, a smirk on his face as he leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest.

“Bossy, aren’t you?”

He said teasingly, raising an eyebrow at her. The idea of getting into the jacuzzi was certainly tempting, but he couldn’t help but mess with her a little.

"aw come on! we went to the beach together in 9th remember? plus campus doesn't have this luxury bath.." I pouted

Simon chuckled at her pouting, shaking his head in amusement. He remembered the time they went to the beach together and how carefree they were back then.

“Bloody hell, can’t believe you brought that up…”

He said with a smirk, running a hand through his hair.

“But I guess you’re right, campus baths ain’t got nothing on this. Fine, let’s get in the jacuzzi.”

i undressed myself and forgot I was wearing red lace underwear today, me and Simon haven't also seen each other in this type of clothes since 9th, matter of fact he was wearing a hoodie that day so I never saw him undressed

Simon's eyes widened as he caught a glimpse of the red lace underwear. His face betrayed a moment of surprise, his cheeks slightly tinging pink for a second before he composed himself. His eyes trailed up her body, taking in the sight of her.

He remembered that day at the beach, how carefree and innocent they were. He hadn’t seen her like this since then. He quickly broke out of his momentary surprise and smirked, a hint of playfulness in his voice.

“Red lace, huh? Trying to impress someone?”

I started to blush "I was in a rush.." I walked towards the jacuzzi and sat in it waiting for it to start bubbling

Simon chuckled as he saw her blushing, his smirk widening. He found her flustered reaction endearing. He walked over to the jacuzzi and sat opposite her, the water swirling and bubbling around them.

“In a rush, huh? Sure, that’s why you chose the red lace.”

He teased, raising an eyebrow in amusement.

The warm water of the jacuzzi provided a relaxing atmosphere, the jets creating gentle waves around them. Simon leaned back, resting his arms on the edge of the tub, his eyes watching her.

He couldn’t help but notice how the water accentuated her curves and how the lace of her underwear stood out against her skin. It was a sight that stirred something in him, but he tried to brush it off.

I response I looked at him the abs he got were really noticeable and I bit my lip trying not to be noticed

Simon noticed her biting her lip, his smirk growing slightly as he caught her looking at his abs. He puffed out his chest a little, showing off his physique.

“Like what you see?”

He said in a cocky tone, jokingly flexing his biceps.

"I like what I see" I said teasingly

Simon chuckled at her playful response, his smirk widening. He splashed some water at her, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Oh, do you now? Didn’t know you were such a fan of the abs.”

He said jokingly, running a hand over his abs.

I splashed water back at him and it became a water fight, until I sat between his legs, I don't know how I ended up there but I looked in his eyes, those dark eyes.. they looked dreamy and I couldn't take my eyes off them. my breath became harder and I started to kiss him

Simon was caught off guard when she suddenly sat between his legs, the water fight coming to an unexpected end. They were face to face, their bodies pressed against each other in the hot tub.

He could feel her breath against his skin as their eyes locked, and her intense gaze sent a shiver down his spine.

As she leaned in and started kissing him, his mind went hazy. All his usual guarded demeanor melted away in that moment, replaced by a raw desire. He deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist.

The kiss became more passionate, their lips and tongues working together in a perfect rhythm. Simon couldn’t help but moan softly into the kiss, his hands roaming over her body.

The water in the jacuzzi sloshed around them, the heat of the moment building between them. He pulled her closer, wanting to feel every inch of her body against his.

Simon broke off the kiss for a moment, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He looked into her eyes, trying to fight the growing desire that was consuming him.

“Bloody hell… what are we doing?”

He asked, his voice hoarse with need. Despite the doubts in his mind, he couldn’t help but kiss her neck, his lips trailing along the sensitive skin.

"fuck I don't know si…" I whispered

Simon continued to kiss her neck, nibbling and sucking at her skin. He couldn't help himself, his body was responding eagerly to her touch.

"We shouldn't be doing this…"

He mumbled against her skin, but his words were contradicted by his actions. His hands roamed over her body, tracing the curves of her waist and hips.

He wanted her. The logical part of his brain was telling him to stop, to pull away and maintain the boundaries they had set. But the primal part of him, the part that had been there since the very beginning, was taking over.

"God…you have no idea what you do to me."

He whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her skin.

The passion between them grew hotter and hotter as they moved from the jacuzzi to the bed. Simon's hands eagerly roamed over her body, undressing her piece by piece until she was bare before him.

He couldn't help but admire her naked body, his gaze taking in every inch of her. He pulled her close, his lips trailing kisses down her neck and collarbone.

He wanted her, needed her. The feeling of her skin against his, the taste of her lips, it was like a drug he couldn't get enough of. He rolled them over so she was underneath him, his body pressed against hers.

"are you sure about this shym?" he asked

Shym looked up at him, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She knew this was a pivotal moment, something that couldn't be undone. But her heart was racing, her body was practically buzzing with need.

"I'm sure."

She breathed out, her voice shaky with desire.

He looked down at her, the raw emotion in her eyes fueling his fiery desire. He leaned down and captured her lips in a deep, hungry kiss. His hands roamed over her body, exploring every dip and curve.

He broke off the kiss, his voice coming out in a low growl.

"I want you. All of you…"

"si.." I whispered as he started to kiss my collarbone again traveling towards my boobs

Simon's hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs tracing circles around her nipples until they hardened under his touch. He gave each a gentle squeeze, feeling her sharp intakes of breath.

Moving his attention back to her lips, he kissed her deeply, letting her know just how much he wanted her. As the kiss devolved into a needy-feeling tangle of tongues, his fingers went to the waistband of his jeans, the zipper coming undone with ease.

i was met with a hard cock, it was huge and my mouth gaped open at the sight

Simon couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle at her reaction before moving to prod her lips with the tip of his erection. "Ready to experience it?" His smirk turned predatory, his eyes filled with lust.

His fingers slowly trailed up her thighs, stopping just before slipping inside her. "Are you ready?" He urged, his voice a low gravelly tone, the intensity of the moment causing his hands to tremble just a bit.

The tension in the room became almost palpable as Shym hesitated. Simon's eyes implored her, waiting for her to make a decision. Slowly, she nodded, her lips parting in a breathy, whispery, "yes."

Simon wasted no time. He gently parted her thighs, aligning himself at her entrance, and began to push into her slowly. The warmth of her body surrounded him as he claimed her virginity. The room filled with the sound of their breathing and the wet slick sound of their intimacy.

Simon's eyes bore into hers, the intensity of their connection making it impossible to look away. The feelings of both pleasure and pain flooded Shym's body as he thrust deep inside her.

It took him a few thrusts to adjust to the tightness, but once he was fully seated within her, the sensations were overwhelming. "Fuck... Shym..." Simon's grip on her hips tightened, moving at a slow, steady pace to let her adjust.

He leaned down to brush his lips against her neck, ravenously sucking and nibbling at the sensitive skin while he continued his rhythmic movements, lost in the overwhelming bliss of finally being inside her.

we went for a few more minutes until I started to reach my orgasm "simon.. I can't take it.. any longer" I huffed

Simon's eyes darted up to meet hers, the desire in his eyes burning hot. "Come for me, Shym," he growled, inching up the tempo of his thrusts.

With a final, powerful thrust, Simon let out a guttural groan, his own release following closely behind. He held her close, their sweaty bodies intertwined as they rode the intensity of their orgasms.

Eventually, the sensations subsided, leaving them both out of breath and trembling. Simon kissed Shym's forehead, pulling out and collapsing beside her, the weight of the moment leaving them both speechless.

"wow..." I felt hazy from the aftermath and closed my eyes, I didn't realize I was so tired I slowly started to fall asleep in his arms

Simon's hand stroked her hair, a small, satisfied smile on his lips as he watched his best friend drift off into the realm of slumber. His body was still reeling from the intensity of the experience, and the sense of contentment that came with knowing Shym was now his in a whole new way.

He closed his own eyes, giving in to the urge to doze off as well, knowing that no matter what the morning brought, he had found a new connection with her that no one else could take away.

Simon's hand stroked her hair, a small, satisfied smile on his lips as he watched his best friend drift off into the realm of slumber. His body was still reeling from the intensity of the experience, and the sense of contentment that came with knowing Shym was now his in a whole new way.

He closed his own eyes, giving in to the urge to doze off as well, knowing that no matter what the morning brought, he had found a new connection with her that no one else could take away. but the morning became a nasty fight.

Simon woke up with a disoriented haze in his mind, last night's experience still fresh in his memory. He looked over at shym, hoping to see her peaceful sleeping face, but instead found her side of the bed empty.

He sat up with a start, realizing she was nowhere in sight. The room felt oddly still, as if an argument or disturbance had taken place.

"Shym?" he called out, his voice laced with confusion and concern.

I came out of the bathroom trying to find my underwear when I saw Simon on the bed I instantly covered myself "what the fuck did we do si.."

Simon's eyes widened as he saw her come out of the bathroom, covering herself quickly. He realized the mess of the situation, the events of last night flooding back to him.

He ran a hand through his messy hair, still trying to process the reality of what had transpired.

"We.. we went to far.."

he said with a mixture of regret and disbelief in his voice. They were best friends, they weren't supposed to cross this line. But the memory of last night, the heat of the moment, still burned in his mind.

He sat up on the bed, looking at her with a conflicted expression.

"Bloody hell, what were we thinking…"

I started to stress "god this was a huge mistake!" I exclaimed, but Simon didn't appreciate that and I saw anger in his eyes lit up

Simon's eyes flashed with anger as she exclaimed that it was a mistake. He climbed off the bed and walked towards her, his voice rising with each step.

"A mistake? Seriously?"

He stopped in front of her, his body tense.

"Last night meant something to me, and you just want to write it off as a mistake?"

"no-no I don't mean-" but he already shushed me

Simon's voice cut her off, his anger still evident.

"Save it," he said, his tone harsh. "You obviously regret what happened last night."

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to control his emotions.

"We both made a mistake," he continued, his voice softer but still tinged with hurt. "but you didn't have to make it seem like it meant nothing to you."

He moved past her and began searching for his clothes, trying to put distance between them.

as we left the hotel room and went into the elevator he tried to apologize and kiss me but now I became angry "don't Simon.. don't."

Simon's apologies died on his lips as she rejected his attempt at a kiss. He looked at her, frustration and hurt mixing in his eyes.

"What do you want from me, then? You say it was a mistake, but now you push me away when I try to make things right?"

The elevator seemed to shrink as the tension between them grew.

"god just don't talk to me anymore!" I walked out the elevator and walked away from him "I'm going back to campus alone. don't follow me."

Simon watched her walk away, his heart tightening in his chest. He wanted to call after her, to convince her to stay and talk it out, but her words echoed in his ears.

"Don't follow me."

He clenched his fists, the hurt and anger mixing together in a tumultuous storm within him. He stayed rooted in place, watching her form disappear around the corner.

It took all his willpower not to run after her and pull her back. He wanted to shake her and make her understand how much he cared, how much last night meant to him. But the look in her eyes was clear she didn't want to be near him right now.

"Bloody hell…"

He muttered under his breath, punching the elevator wall in frustration.

[soprawrites]

Aerith Week 2025 Day 2: Aerith as Your Favorite FF Mascot/Summon

CW: sfw, no pairings

WC: 997

Notes: I wanted to write something for @aerith-week, even if it was just a little something! Decided to go with the alternate prompt for day 2 to see our lovely flower girl as a cute moogle!

It was a pleasant afternoon in Costa Del Sol; the sun was shining high in the sky casting warm rays of light on the earth. A comforting and warm breeze passed through the coastal town as people casually walked about, some dressed and heading for the beach while others browsed the various stalls and shops lining the streets.

Aerith was one of those individuals, having found herself alone for the time being. The others in the group had all gone about their separate ways at some point; Cloud and Barrett went off to restock on supplies, while Cid stayed by the Tiny Bronco to check the aircraft for any maintenance that was probably needed. Yuffie had gone off to scout for hidden materia that might be nearby and had dragged Nanaki and Cait Sith with her. Tifa had stayed back at the inn to sort through her gear and had told Aerith to go on ahead and that she would catch up with her later. As for Vincent, well, Aerith honestly had no clue where the quiet man had gone off to.

So here she was, wandering the streets of Costa Del Sol alone, eyeing stalls as she passed them by, unsure how she should spend her free time.

Just as she was about to head down to the beach to see if anything interesting was happening there, a voice called out to her.

“Excuse me, miss!”

Turning toward the direction the voice came from, Aerith spotted a young girl who looked to be of similar age to Yuffie. She was dressed in a fluffy yellow feathery dress that was quite reminiscent of a chocobo.

“You look like you’re free, mind helping me out with something?”

Tilting her head in curiosity, Aerith replies, “Sure! What do you need help with?”

“You see, It’s been my long-time dream to design an outfit on my own. I’m interning with Fran, Naomi, and Yorda, and they told me I could design something casual by myself this time. I’ve already got the design for the outfit, but no one to model it! That’s where you come in, miss. You’re the perfect fit for what I have in mind!” The girl finished explaining, jumping excitedly.

Aerith giggles at the way the girl talks animatedly. She reminds her of some of the kids back at the Leaf House in the Sector 5 slums. Her heart tightens slightly at the thought of home and the steel sky that she misses, but she tries her best to push it away. She’s gotta help this girl fulfill her dreams after all!

“That sounds exciting! What design do you have in mind?”

“Oh, you’ll see. I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I think I did a great job! Come on this way and I’ll get you fitted!” The girl takes hold of Aerith’s hand, ready to start dressing her up.

“Ooh, well now I can’t wait. Let’s go!” Aerith giggles again, pumpkin her hand high into the air as the girl whisks her off to a fitting room that’s nearby, all the while chatting about the outfit and design.

In the back of her mind, Aerith hopes that Tifa will be able to find her whenever she comes looking for her.

When Tifa finally made her way out of the inn, ready to relax and enjoy the rest of the day with Aerith, she wasn’t expecting to find her like this. 

The dark-haired girl had rounded the corner and found a small table set up in front of a fitting room, all sorts of colorful cloth in various sizes lining the table. It wasn’t that, however, that caught her attention. It was the sight of Aerith dressed not in her usual pink dress and red blazer. She wasn’t dressed in her usual swimwear either.

Twirling in front of the table, Aerith was dressed in a fuzzy white scoop dress that went down to her knees with her hair out of its usual braid. A white headband sits on her head with a small pink sphere sticking out of it. Tifa notices that the light brunette's nose was painted a light shade of pink as well.

As Aerith turns, Tifa spots a pair of small purple wings fluttering behind her. It’s with that, that Tifa finally realizes that her friend is dressed up as a moogle.

“Oh, Tifa!” Aerith exclaims, only just spotting her at that moment, happy to see her. “You made it!” She excitedly comes up to Tifa, the sound of her white healed sandals clicking as she grabs the red-eyed girls hands.

“Yeah…” Tifa trails off, slightly lost for words. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, right! I’m helping Fiona here model her design! It’s supposed to be casual beachwear, but, umm…” She trails off, whispering the last part quietly while scratching her cheek and smiling sheepishly. 

“Anyway! What do you think?” Aerith takes a step back, showing the outfit more clearly to Tifa with another twirl.

“It’s cute.” Tifa chuckles.

“Right!?” Fiona, the young fashion designer, interjects. “You’re right though, it doesn’t fit the beach…” Fiona says quietly, tapping a finger to her lips in thought. “Well, back to the drawing board!” She shrugs. “Thanks again, Miss Aerith! Feel free to keep the outfit.” And with that, Fiona runs off to her table, scribbling away at a sketchbook.

Aerith exchanges a look with Tifa before the two of them break out into laughter. 

“I never thought I’d see you dressed as a moogle,” Tifa notes as the two of them walk away, heading toward a small cafe. They had decided to stop somewhere to grab a small bite to eat.

“Neither did I! But…” Aerith stops in front of Tifa, bending at the waist slightly, her soft hair falling over her shoulder while bringing her pointer to the corner of her curled-up lips. “I make a cute one, kupo!”

Tifa chuckles into her hand at Aerith’s antics. “Right.”

[sebstanaddict]

Too Good To Be True

Sebastian Stan x Reader Story

Summary: A romantic comedy story where Sebastian Stan falls in love with reader but she is not who he thinks she is.

Against all odds, reader and Sebastian's 'girlfriend' stayed stuck in each other's body for the third day, the day the table read for a movie Sebastian and her were starring in. She couldn't be more ecstatic when she found out all the big Hollywood stars that were cast in the movie, which included Jennifer Aniston as her mom and Chris Evans as Sebastian's rival. Will her happiness last? Or will Sebastian's 'girlfriend' ruin it again for her?

Pairings : Sebastian Stan x Female!Reader

Chapters : 13/28 (Might add more)

Chapter list >

Warning : slight cursing, some very minor spoiler of Sebastian's potential new project Pumping Black, but I changed the character names and most of the plot details, so it shouldn't be a problem. I did take the first scene from the actual script and put it here though. Just a head's up.

Word count : 7.5k words

---

Chapter 13 - The Table Read

---

13320 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, California - Tuesday, July 11th 2023 - 7.00 am

—

“Y/n.. Y/n..! Wake up!” A harsh shrill female voice entered her consciousness and she felt her body being shook harshly.

She opened her eyes and found her own body looking down at her in annoyance from behind thick glasses. Relief filled her heart as she realized she was still stuck in Aurora's body.

“What time is it?” She asked, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

“It's 7! You have to get ready for the table read!” Aurora commanded and she sat up immediately.

The table read! Yes, the rehearsal and table read for Pumping Black was happening that day at 9 in the morning!

“Seb is coming in an hour.” Aurora reminded her.

“Yes, I know.” She immediately stood up and went to the closet to grab some clothes but Aurora pulled her hand back.

“I already prepared the clothes for you.” She pointed towards the bed.

“Oh, okay. Thanks.” She nodded.

“Stop..” Aurora said.

“Thanking people? Even you?” She asked, her eyebrows raised.

“Even me.” Aurora nodded and she shook her head in disbelief.

“Why though?” She asked as she grabbed the clothes from the bed.

“I just don't do that. I thought you wanted to make sure you behave like me so people won't be suspicious? I want to make sure you remember that.” Aurora stated.

“Okay, yeah, that's true. But it's not a bad thing to change that behavior.” She shrugged.

“Hmm.. we'll see.” Aurora said and she raised her eyebrows. Her behavior seemed off a little bit, but she decided to brush it off. She needed to get ready so she turned and went towards the bathroom.

When she got out of the bathroom Aurora was nowhere in sight. She assumed Aurora must have gone out and went downstairs. Maybe to the employee kitchen or her bedroom so Rosa and Gabriella wouldn't be suspicious.

She went to the closet and put on a black blazer over the white strapless mini dress she had worn in the bathroom earlier. Then she looked at herself in the full body mirror in the closet. Once again she felt like the dress was too short. She pulled the hem of her dress down and sighed. Well, Aurora did have slim and smooth thighs, she knew she loved to show it off. She was just still not used to it.

She went to the dresser and she found instructions from Aurora again on how to put on her makeup. She sighed as she realized that the make up Aurora had chosen was again too much for her taste. But of course she had no choice but to follow along.

Once she was done putting the makeup on she slipped on the black stiletto Aurora already prepared for her. She wobbled a little but finally got the hang of it after a while.

She grabbed her purse and went out of Aurora's room. She was about to go down the stairs when she heard faintly the voice of someone crying.

She stopped in her tracks and turned around to try to find the voice. It seemed the voice was coming from the living room on the second floor so she went towards it.

Moments later she found Gabriella in the living room. A piece of cloth was in her hand and she was down on her knees, cleaning the coffee table in the middle of the room.

Gabriella's hands might be moving back and forth across the table but her eyes weren't looking at it. She was crying and her other hand was wiping the tears from eyes.

“Gabriella?” She called out.

Gabriella jumped in surprise and sniffled, then she quickly wiped the tears falling on her cheeks.

“Miss Watson, is there anything I can do for you?” She asked as she stood up, her head bowed.

“I.. umm.. I was just wondering why you were crying. Is everything okay?” She asked, looking at Gabriella with her eyebrows furrowed.

“Oh! Umm.. e.. everything is fine Miss Watson.” Gabriella stammered.

“Are you sure?” She asked again.

“Y.. yes.” Gabriella nodded.

“Okay. Well.. if there's anything I can do to make you feel better, just let me know.” She said and Gabriella's eyebrows shot up.

“Really?” Gabriella asked.

“Yes, of course.” She smiled warmly and Gabriella's face immediately brightened.

“Umm.. actually.. There is something Miss Watson that you can do for me. But I was afraid to ask you about it as I'm sure you wouldn't give me permission. Even if you do, you'll just cut my pay and I can't have that. I'm already behind on some of my bills and..” Gabriella rambled.

“Sshhh.. Gabriella.. stop. I'm sorry, could you explain to me again? Much more clearly about what you want?” She asked, her eyebrows raised.

Gabriella took a deep breath and started to explain. “My mom and dad are both sick, with Covid. Thankfully I don't seem to have caught it and so far they don't need to be hospitalized but, you know my mom is in a wheelchair and needs help doing things everyday. Usually my dad helps her out but since they are both sick, it has been a challenge for my dad to help my mom. And I just wish I could stay home and take care of them. But I can't because you'll just cut my pay like last time when I had to take a day off to take my mom for her regular check up. I can't have that. I need the money to pay for everything. So.. yeah. I.. I just wonder if maybe.. I could..” Gabriella trailed, fear and uncertainty in her eyes.

“Take some days off to take care of your parents?” She asked and Gabriella nodded.

“But.. without cutting my pay… impossible isn't it?” Gabriella chuckled nervously.

“Of course not. Sure, go ahead. Take as long as you need. I won't cut your pay.” She smiled and Gabriella's eyes widened, the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

“Really?!” Gabriella exclaimed in disbelief.

“Yes, really.” She smiled.

“Thank you so much Miss Watson!” Gabriella gushed, her face brightened.

“No problem. I'll have Y/n replace you. Focus on your parents and yourself. She'll replace you until you get back.” She said and Gabriella nodded.

*Thank you again Miss Watson!” Gabriella said, her eyes shone with relief and happiness as she looked at her.

“You're welcome Gabriella. Now go!” She commanded.

“Right away Miss Watson.” Gabriella nodded and smiled then she left her alone in the living room, watching Gabriella's back as she walked away from her with a pang in her heart.

For the first time in months she felt grateful and lucky that her parents were well. She couldn't imagine how she would feel if they were sick and she was far away from them, unable to take care of them. She felt the least she could do to show how grateful she was about it was to allow Gabriella to take some days off even if Aurora would most likely cut her throat for that.

She sighed and braced for the worst as she continued to go down the stairs.

When she arrived downstairs she heard Aurora's, well, her own voice coming from the employee kitchen so she went there.

“What?! She allowed you to go?!” Aurora exclaimed out loud.

“Yeah. She was really nice. I don't know what has gotten into her but I better take advantage of it before she changes her mind.” Gabriella said.

“And she said she was going to ask me to replace you?!” Aurora continued.

“Yeah. That's what she said. I'm really sorry Y/n. I hope you're okay with it. If my parents weren't sick I wouldn't ask for this.” Gabriella said.

“There's no way I'm replacing you!” Aurora yelled.

“What?!” Gabriella asked in confusion.

“Y/n!” She entered the employee kitchen, her voice startled both Aurora and Gabriella.

“Miss Watson.” Gabriella bowed her head while Aurora looked back at her in defiance.

“Miss Watson, I'm sorry, but I can't replace her.” Aurora protested.

“Why not? You did a great job last week. I'm sure you can do it again.” She said, referring to the time when Aurora was punishing her after the whole incident with the interview.

“But I need to come with you today, to the table read. Remember?” Aurora reminded her.

“You don't have to come with me Y/n. I can handle it. Just stay home and replace Gabriella until she comes back.” She insisted.

Aurora glared at her but miraculously didn't say anything else.

“Why are you still here Gabriella?” She asked, turning to Gabriella.

“Oh! Yeah. I was just letting Y/n know about replacing me before I go.” Gabriella explained.

“Okay. Well I hope your parents will get well soon. And don't forget to also take good care of yourself. I don't want you to get sick too.” She said.

“Very well, Miss Watson. Thank you so much!” Gabriella gushed then she quickly turned around and left the kitchen, her handbag slung around her shoulder.

As soon as Gabriella was gone Aurora immediately turned to her.

“I am not replacing her!” Aurora insisted.

“Aurora, it's just for a couple of days. Well, maybe a week or two. If you don't want to, Rosa and Nelson would be suspicious. I mean, if I were you, I would definitely replace her with no hesitation. You refusing to do it would just make them more suspicious.” She persuaded her.

“I don't f*****g care! There's no way I'm replacing her!” Aurora hissed.

“Y/n?!” Rosa suddenly entered the kitchen, startling both of them.

“What are you doing? Why are you cursing at Miss Watson?” Rosa asked, her eyebrows raised.

“Oh, Rosa, you surprised us.” She said, chuckling a little and feeling relief at her intrusion.

“Gabriella asked to take some time off to take care of her sick parents and I asked Y/n to replace her but she doesn't want to.” She explained, making Rosa's eyebrows raised even further.

“Well Y/n, even if you don't want to, it's not a good thing to curse at Miss Watson like that. I expected better from you.” Rosa said with a slight disappointment on her face.

“Yes, it's not a good thing at all. And I should just fire you, Y/n. But I'm not gonna do it. I know you need the money. So I'm gonna let you stay but you need to listen to me and replace Gabriella.” She said sternly, hoping Aurora would play along.

Aurora stood there and didn't say anything but just stared at her. If looks could kill, she would have been dead on the floor.

“Anyway, Miss Watson, Mr.Stan is here.” Rosa finally said when Aurora didn't respond.

“Oh yes. Thank you Rosa. Well, I better go. Rosa, could you help tell Y/n what she should do around the house?” She asked.

“Of course Miss Watson. Come along Y/n, let's start by cleaning upstairs.” Rosa said, beckoning her head towards the outside of the kitchen.

Rosa turned around and thankfully, miraculously, Aurora started to walk and follow her. But she paused as she passed her and whispered.

“You are not getting away with this. And don't you dare ruin the table read.”

“I got you the role, remember? And I look forward to what you have in store for me.” She whispered back and Aurora looked back at her in surprise. She was surprised herself at how daring she was towards Aurora.

Aurora gave her a last condescending look then flipped her hair and immediately went out the door.

She released the breath she didn't realize she was holding then breathed a sigh of relief.

“Alright, table read, here I come.” She said, feeling excited yet nervous about her first ever table read for a movie. She looked forward to meeting the whole cast and hoping she wouldn't make a fool of herself.

—

Universal Studio Lot, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California - 9.30 am

—

Her eyes widened and her heart rate quickly increased as she stepped inside a big meeting room at Universal Studio where the table read was being held.

A huge circular table was in the middle of the room with chairs positioned all around it. She looked around and felt her hand sweat as she studied everyone sitting on the chairs.

She couldn't believe the number of famous Hollywood stars involved in the movie. She should have known, should have done some research before coming that day but she didn't have the time. She kicked herself mentally as she realized she should've at least asked Sebastian about it because she felt she wasn't ready to face these giant Hollywood stars.

She looked to the right of the room and felt like her heart stopped as she glimpsed a familiar face. Jude Law?! Jude Law was in the movie?! Then she scanned the rest of the table and her heart started to do somersaults.

Next to Jude was Rooney Mara. Next to Rooney was Jennifer Aniston and next to her was Joey King and Toby Jones. She tried hard not to gasp as she saw more celebrities sitting next to Toby Jones. Chace Crawford, one of Sebastian's best friends, was there. He sat next to three celebrities she never thought she would ever see to be in the same movie as Sebastian again. Anthony Mackie, Chris Evans and Tom Holland!

“Wow, this feels like a Marvel reunion a little.” She couldn't help but comment and Sebastian chuckled.

“It does, doesn't it? I swear I didn't vouch for them and I didn't plan this. It was all Maya's doing.” He said as they made their way together towards some empty seats next to Chris Evans.

“Chris!” Sebastian greeted Chris. Chris looked up and flashed them a bright smile.

“Seb, my man! It's so nice to see you again, man!” Chris responded and they hugged each other tight.

She wished she could whip out her cellphone and document their reunion. She knew the stucky fans would go crazy over this.

“Come here you Vanilla Ice, don't ignore me.” Anthony remarked, making them laugh.

“Chocolaccino, how could I ignore you? I could never even if I wanted to.” Sebastian commented as he released Chris and gave Anthony a brief hug, making them laugh again.

“Hello Sebastian, Aurora.” Tom Holland greeted them and she smiled.

Tom really seemed like a nice guy. She couldn't understand why Sebastian and Anthony loved to roast him.

“Hey there Spiderboy.” Sebastian greeted him and clapped Tom's back.

“It's Spiderman.” Tom protested, pouting, making everyone laugh.

She and Sebastian took the time to go through each seat and shook everyone's hands. She couldn't help but feel starstruck at each and every one of them. She also felt relief that Aurora didn't seem to have worked with any of them. Otherwise, they could probably notice if she was different from the real Aurora.

Moments later all the cast, screenwriter, producers and Maya the director had come. Maya smiled at all of them and cleared her throat.

“Thank you everyone for coming here today for the table read of the feature film, Pumping Black. I'm Maya Carver the director and before we start, I think we should introduce each other and our designated roles in this movie, just to make things clear. Let's start from my right. Hannah, please introduce yourself.” Maya turned to her right and nodded at a blonde lady next to her.

“Uh.. hi everyone. I'm Hannah Barton, the screenwriter for this movie. I just want to say, thank you to everyone for being involved in this movie. This is the first ever script of mine that got to be produced. So I'm really excited! And I'm open to any ideas you probably have about your characters and how a scene should play out. So, if you have any suggestions that can make the script thus the movie even better, please don't hesitate to let me know.” Hannah smiled at all of them and she nodded.

Well, she was glad she wasn't the only novice in a big Hollywood production. The screenwriter was a newbie as well!

Next to Hannah was the producer and casting director Donna and Harold she had met several times before. Next to them were the cast including herself.

“Hello, I'm Jude Law, just call me Jude.” Jude flashed them all a bright smile and she couldn't help but feel her heart skip a beat. He may be in his fifties but he still looked amazing!

“I play Alex, the coach.” Jude continued and nodded.

“Hello everyone, I'm Rooney Mara and I play Ava Lawrence, the doctor.” Rooney introduced herself.

“Hey everyone, I'm Jennifer Aniston and I play Mary Nichols, Celeste Nichols' mother.” Jennifer Aniston made a point to look across at her and smiled at her. She smiled back as she realized Jennifer Aniston was playing as her mom. She couldn't believe her luck!

“Hi everyone, I'm Joey King and I play Sarah Taylor, Mike Taylor's sister.” Joey greeted them all and looked to her right where Toby Jones was sitting.

“Hello, I'm Toby Jones, I play George Baker, the staff from UCI.” Toby smiled.

“Hey guys, I mean, everyone.” Tom said, his face reddened as everyone laughed.

“I'm..” Tom continued.

“Peter Parker!” Anthony interjected and immediately the whole room broke into laughter again.

“No, as much as I want it to, I'm not Peter Parker. I'm Tom Holland and I play Billy, Mike's teammate.” Tom said as he glanced at Anthony with a pointed look.

“Well that's a shame because I'm Anthony Mackie and I play Landon, Mike's real teammate and best friend.” Anthony remarked and Tom just shook his head.

“Hey everyone, I'm Chace Crawford and I play Daniel, the actual teammate and best friend of Mike's.” Chace said, making everyone laugh again.

“And I'm Chris Evans, I play Mike's teammate and rival.” Chris said, flashing everyone with his perfect white teeth.

“Hello. I'm Sebastian and I play Mike Taylor, the man all these guys are fighting to become his best teammate slash best friend. Newsflash, none of you are. But she is. Celeste is Mike's best friend.” Sebastian said, turning to her and smiling warmly at her. She couldn't help but feel warmth crawling from her neck up to her cheeks.

“Uh.. hi everyone. I'm.. Aurora Watson and I play Celeste Nichols, Mike Taylor's girlfriend and best friend, as Sebastian has said.” She smiled back at Sebastian and his face brightened.

“Alright, thank you everyone for the entertaining introduction. Now let's start the table read. I will narrate the script. So let's start.” Maya said.

She looked to the table in front of her and took the script with Aurora's name printed on it then opened the first page. She had the script already with her, but it was the one she obtained from before her real self auditioned. She wondered if there were any changes in the one in front of her.

“Exterior, Sunshine Canyon, Boulder, Colorado. Afternoon, super wide on an Alpine Lake, flanked by snowcapped mountains. A harsh blue sky punctured by a sharp sun. A thin ribbon of road before the lake. Breathless, stillness. Then.. The silence shatters as a team of pro cyclists rips across the frame.” Maya started to read the opening scene.

She listened as Maya continued to read the script and finally Sebastian, Jude, and the other actors playing as his teammates started to play out scene after scene and read their lines.

It was amazing to see all these professionals work. She took many mental notes as she studied their line deliveries and performance choices. Before long it was time for her very first scene with Sebastian.

“Mike! Are you okay?!” She shouted as Celeste Nichols. Her panicked voice traveled across the big room.

“I'm fine, Celeste. It's no big deal.” Sebastian as Mike Taylor, shrugged.

“Mike winces. A big open wound is seen on his right leg. He walks hobbling towards a chair and sits on it, prompting Celeste to come and attend to him.” Maya continued to narrate.

“That looks bad, Mike. What happened?” She asked.

“Just a little accident during practice. Nothing to worry about, sweetheart.” Sebastian responded, then he glanced at her and smiled at her warmly.

She couldn't prevent it when he did it, the butterflies started to fly around in her stomach as soon as she saw his warm smile. But she realized she was in a table read and she couldn't let herself get carried away.

“Nothing to worry about? You need stitches, Mike! I'm taking you to the hospital after I clean it up.” She huffed.

“Celeste immediately goes to fetch the first aid kit and starts to clean Mike's wound. Despite all the prodding on his leg, Mike's face stays impassive, as if he doesn't feel anything.” Maya continued to narrate.

“I'm so lucky. I don't deserve you. You deserve the world and you decided to stay with me? Why?” Sebastian asked, his eyebrows furrowed.

“Oh Mike, stop teasing me.” She replied, chuckling a little.

“I'm not teasing you, honey. I.. I really want to give you the world. And this year I will. I promise you that.” Sebastian continued with conviction in his voice.

“Celeste sighs, finishes cleaning Mike's wound then puts away the first aid kit. She looks up and stares at Mike softly.” Maya continued.

“I don't need the world, Mike. I don't need you to win the Tour de France or any other race. I just need.. you.. and I need you to stay in one piece until the end of this year's Tour de France, that's all I ask.” She said then she glanced at Sebastian, waiting for his response, bracing herself for what she knew would come next.

“You doubt me?! You think I won't survive this race?!” Sebastian yelled.

Even though she knew what he would do, she was still startled at his yelling. She could feel the vibe in the room changed as they witnessed Sebastian's anger being unleashed.

“Mike stands up and starts to pace the room.” Maya said.

“Why is everyone doubting me? Even you! You're supposed to have my back, Celeste. You're supposed to support and cheer me on but you.. you turned out to be just like all of them!” Sebastian shouted.

Her heart beat so fast in her chest as she heard Sebastian's words. Somehow she could feel herself being Celeste and the sadness and anguish she felt after witnessing his reaction prompted her to start crying.

“I'm..I'm sorry..” She said, wiping the tears from her eyes as she broke out of character.

“Wait, Aurora, don't be sorry. If this is your interpretation of this scene, I want to see it more.” Maya interjected.

“Oh.. okay.” She said, sniffling, not expecting Maya to ask her to continue to do some improv. She wasn't planning on doing it. She was just reacting to Sebastian's performance.

“Mike.. please don't say that!” She continued, tears streaming down her face.

“You know how much I love you. I.. I just want what's best for you..” She trembled, her bottom lip quivered and she let the tears continue to flow down from her eyes.

Sebastian didn't respond immediately. She stared at him as his face slowly turned from anger to regret then he sighed deeply.

“I'm sorry, sweetheart.. I.. I didn't mean to yell.” Sebastian said, his head hung.

She took a deep breath then wiped the tears falling on her cheeks.

“It's okay, Mike. I know how much racing means to you. I just.. Mike.. it's been 15 years. I just think maybe, it's time for you to.. to.. take another adventure, you know. See what life has in store for you outside of racing. With me, preferably.” She smiled and winked, making Sebastian smile too.

“Oh Celeste, I'm sorry. You really are too nice for me. I don't deserve you.” Sebastian said softly, once again making butterflies fly in her stomach.

“Mike goes back to sit on the chair and takes Celeste's hand in his.” Maya narrated.

“Celeste, I'm sorry for being such a dick. But I promise, this will be the last race, after that I'll stop.. I.. I'll retire.” Sebastian said slowly.

“Okay.. then we can travel the world like we used to want to do.” She chuckled.

“Even better, honey. We'll get married in Paris like you've always wanted.” Sebastian turned to her and smiled brightly, making her heart skip a beat.

“Oh Mike! I would love that! Is this.. is this a formal proposal?” She teased.

“Oh no.. no.. no.. you deserve something better. Consider this.. a pre-proposal.” Sebastian winked at her and she laughed.

“Mike stands up and takes Celeste's hands then guides her to stand up. Then he stares at her.” Maya continued to narrate.

“I love you.. Celeste Nichols.” Sebastian said softly as he gazed at her with love in his eyes, making her heart go wild in her chest.

“I love you too.. Mike Taylor.” She said slowly then smiled at him as she felt the blush rising in her cheeks.

“Alright! A little pause here.” Maya said, startling her. Her hand started to sweat as she waited to hear what Maya had to say about her little improv.

“Aurora, I must say that was impressive how you interpreted the scene. Make sure to repeat that during the shoot. And, you know, I had some doubts about the chemistry between you. Because, I know you're a couple in real life but I just never felt that vibe from you guys, if you know what I mean. But today, wow! The chemistry was through the roof! I'm so glad we cast you, Aurora.” Maya smiled at her and she couldn't help but smiled widely back.

“Oh my God. Thank you so much, Maya. That means a lot. It's all because of Sebastian, really. I mean.. your acting was so good I couldn't help but just react to it.” She turned and smiled at Sebastian.

“Oh Aurora, please, it was nothing. I mean, you were great! We sort of feed off each other, right?” Sebastian smiled and she could see him blushing too.

“Ahem.. now that we have witnessed these two love birds go at it and flirt with each other, maybe we can continue.” A male voice interjected, making everyone laugh.

She blushed as she looked to the left towards the owner of the voice, who was Anthony Mackie.

“Oh look who's jealous.” Sebastian snickered, making everyone laugh again.

“I'm not jealous, Seabass. I just think there's a time and place to flirt with each other and that time is not now. We ain't got all day.” Anthony said. Despite his stern message he still smiled at Sebastian and Sebastian just shook his head.

“Alright, okay, thank you Mackie for the reminder. Let's continue with the next scene.” Maya said as she flipped the script in her hand to the next page.

It took them the whole day to finish the table read. They took an hour break during lunch and finished just before dinner time.

Her heart felt light and a smile was plastered on her face as they one by one walked out of the meeting room. The table read was long but she was quite satisfied with how she did it. Moreover, everyone was very nice, it was clear the whole cast could work together very well. She couldn't wait for her first shooting to start which was scheduled for the beginning of next week.

It was a rare occurrence for Sebastian and his Marvel co-stars to meet up with each other given how busy they were, so that night they decided to go out and have dinner together. In the end, almost everyone went out to dinner together and it ended up being an informal start of production dinner event, which she couldn't believe she could be a part of.

Being the shy girl that she was, she stayed quiet most of the time but ended up getting close to the women, especially Rooney Mara. Rooney Mara seemed to be a quiet person too so it was natural that she found it easier to connect with her. Joey King was a delight and Jennifer Aniston was so nice. She kept telling Jennifer how happy she was to meet her because she was a big fan and Jennifer kept trying to brush it off.

“Oh please, Aurora, you're as big of a star as I am. Don't be so humble.” Jennifer commented.

“No, I’m definitely not. You're so out of my class, Jennifer, there's just no comparison.” She commented, making Jennifer smile at her.

It was 10 at night when the impromptu dinner event ended. Sebastian took her home and they spent the journey back to Aurora's castle chatting about the table read.

“You know, I really don't know what you did but your acting and line deliveries were like one hundred and eighty degrees different from the last time I saw you act and from some movies I've seen you in. It's like.. it's like you took a magic potion or something and you suddenly woke up one day and became a talented actress.” Sebastian commented and her heart seemed to stop.

“Really?” She asked slowly. Aurora was right, Sebastian was really perceptive, she couldn't believe it.

“Yeah. I mean.. I'm sorry, I didn't mean that you were a bad actress but just.. different.” He quickly corrected himself.

“Yeah, I understand what you mean.” She replied, laughing internally and happy that she and Sebastian shared the same opinion that Aurora was a bad actress.

“Did you take a magic potion or something?” He asked, glancing at her.

She froze as she heard his question, not sure how to answer. But then his face broke into a smile and he laughed.

“I was just kidding, Aurora. Sorry. There's no such thing, huh?” He continued.

“Yeah, of course, no such thing as magic and potions. They're all just a figment of our imagination.” She chuckled awkwardly, relieved that she ended up not having to answer him directly.

“So, are you gonna tell me your secret?” He asked, a glint in his eyes.

“No chance, Sebastian. It's my secret method. You're already an amazing actor! You don't need my method.” She replied.

He laughed, then his face reddened a little and he smiled warmly at her. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” She smiled back, feeling the butterflies in her stomach again.

“Okay, here we are.” Sebastian said as he pulled up right in front of the gate of Aurora's castle.

He rolled the window of his car down but before he could say anything to the intercom, the gate opened slowly.

“Thanks Y/n!” He shouted to the intercom and he drove the car into the castle's grounds.

“Okay, so. I guess I'll see you next week?” She asked once he had stopped his car in front of the castle.

“Well.. I.. uh.. I have the weekend off. Maybe we could.. you know.. practice our scenes together if you want this weekend?” Sebastian suggested, biting his bottom lip nervously.

“Oh! Right! Yes! Of course. I'd love to practice with you.” She smiled and he smiled back.

“Okay, good.” He nodded. “I'll come over on Saturday morning.”

“Yeah, great.” She smiled.

For a moment they just gazed at each other. Her heart beat faster in her chest as she looked into his eyes. Even in the darkness they looked so gorgeous. She couldn't help but drown in them.

He gazed at her with something like love in his eyes and slowly but surely Sebastian leaned closer to her. He placed his hand gently on the side of her face, making her breath hitch.

Was he really going to kiss her this time?! She wondered as his face slowly inched closer to her and she could hear her own quickly beating heart beating in her ears.

But then she saw a shadow moving behind him and she jumped in surprise. Aurora was standing next to the car, right by Sebastian's window. She could see her face looming in the darkness, looking at her with wild angry eyes, like a demon, she couldn't help but make the comparison.

“What's wrong?” Sebastian dropped his hand from her face, startled at her sudden move.

“I better go. Y/n is right outside the car.” She said as she beckoned her head towards Aurora, who was still giving her a scary look.

Sebastian turned around and Aurora's face quickly changed into a smile. She waved a little at them.

“Oh hey Y/n.” Sebastian said, waving back awkwardly.

“So, I'll see you this Saturday then.” She said as she started to get out of the car.

“Yeah. Take care Aurora.” He smiled although she could see a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

She was disappointed too. She was really looking forward to him kissing her and Aurora kept ruining it for her.

“Thanks Sebastian. You take care too.” She smiled back and he nodded.

And with her last smile she finally got out of his car and stood in front of the castle, waving at him as he drove out of the castle.

“I told you there will be hell to pay if you touch him.” Aurora hissed as soon as Sebastian's car was out of sight.

“Aurora, I didn't touch him. He touched me! Besides, he's not your actual boyfriend, why do you care so much? And wouldn't it be good for you if he actually cares for you?” She asked as they turned around and walked up the steps together towards the front entrance of the castle.

“Well I care because he's supposed to be my boyfriend and not yours!” Aurora yelled.

“Well it didn't seem like you wanted to be his girlfriend much longer with what you told him before, about you wanting another gig and eyeing Harry Styles.” She commented as she pushed open the front door and got inside.

“D****t! He told you that?!” Aurora cursed and stood in front of her, blocking her way towards the stairs, her eyebrows raised.

“Yes! He did. So don't pretend like you care about him because you don't!” She spat.

Aurora didn't respond back and stared at her, the veins on her temple bulging and her jaw ticked.

She sighed as she realized she was going to be in so much trouble over that comment.

“Once we switch back.. and it will happen soon because I hired a private investigator earlier today. Once we switch back, you.. are.. so.. fired! And I will not pay you a dime. Got that?! So you can just enjoy the last seconds of your life being me because soon it will all be taken away from you and you will go back to being your pathetic self in your pathetic life with no one that cares for you!” Aurora yelled and she turned around and stormed up towards the second floor.

She heard a door slammed shut and winced. She sighed then trudged towards her own room at the back of the kitchen. There was no way she would sleep in the same room as Aurora that night.

She tossed and turned on the small bed, not being able to sleep. She was having so much fun being Aurora and she didn't want them to switch back so soon! She was finally a hired actress working in a big Hollywood production. She had.. well.. a potential romance with the Sebastian Stan! She had a body and face like a Barbie. She had a huge house and unlimited funds to buy and do whatever she wanted. All of that compared to her old life? Well, she would love to just throw away her old life into the dustbin and forget her old life and self ever existed.

Finally she decided to do something she knew she should've done much more often. Maybe it was the missing piece she needed to fix her life. She decided to pray to God that night that somehow she and Aurora wouldn't get to switch back so soon. She prayed to God so He would give her more time being in Aurora's body and enjoy having all the blessings God had given Aurora. She knew God must have a lot of love and blessing to give to all of His creations. She just wanted some more time to be at the receiving end of it.

So she prayed that night like she never had before, allowing herself to be both grateful for the opportunity God has given her by allowing her to switch places with Aurora and also certain that what she wanted was already in her hands because she knew nothing was impossible for God to do.

She felt somewhat more at peace after praying but it took a while for her to go to sleep. Deep down she dreaded sleeping because she might just wake up as herself again. But she was exhausted and the day had been very long so she finally fell asleep with the image of Sebastian's face gazing at her with love in his eyes, his hand touching the side of her face gently and his lips finally touching hers.

—

13320 Mulholland Drive, Los Angeles, California - Wednesday, July 12th 2023 - 6.00 am

---

She opened her eyes and found herself staring at the ceiling. The air felt stuffy and she breathed a sigh of relief as she realized where she was. She was still in her jail cell like room at the back of the kitchen. Her eyes could see clearly so she must still be in Aurora's body.

She sat up and grabbed some of her hair and saw that they were blonde. Then she stood up and took a look in the mirror at her small dresser and found Aurora's face staring back at her.

“Thank you, God.” She smiled then she went out of the bedroom to take a shower.

After she was done she quickly went upstairs to Aurora's room to change into Aurora's outfit. She didn't want Rosa to be suspicious if she was seen wearing her own clothes, even though she missed wearing some of her own clothes.

The door to Aurora's room was still closed so she knocked gently.

“Aurora, I just want to get some clothes.” She said.

Some moments passed by and she could hear the sound of footsteps behind the door then the door opened slowly, revealing Aurora who looked like she didn't sleep all night.

“Get in.” Aurora hissed and she scrunched up her nose as she smelled the telltale sign of alcohol from her mouth.

“Are you drunk?” She asked as she got into the room and watched as Aurora staggered back towards the bed.

“What if I am?” She huffed as she laid back down on the bed then closed her eyes.

“You need to stop running to alcohol, Aurora.” She sighed.

“It's not going to help you.” She continued as she went to the closet and started to pick up some clothes.

“Yeah.. yeah..” Aurora mumbled.

“Is there a specific clothes you want me to wear today?” She asked.

“No, I don't care. Wear whatever you want.” Aurora replied.

Against her own wishes she felt kind of sorry for Aurora. It must be hard for Aurora to experience being her.

“Are you okay?” She asked after she picked up a blue long summer dress she knew Aurora would like for her to wear.

“Obviously not.” Aurora replied.

“Well.. now you know how hard it is being me.” She commented.

“It's not that you idiot!” Aurora yelled and she sighed, bracing for another of Aurora's rages.

“I'm sorry.” She mumbled.

“He never looked at me the way he looked at you.” Aurora started to say and she felt like her heart stopped.

“What? What do you mean?” She asked.

“He never.. he never initiated a kiss. It was always me that started. And.. and I know sometimes he looked at me like he was interested in me but then he always looked away as if he's disappointed in himself. But ever since we switched, I saw a difference. Somehow he.. he allows himself to like me.. no.. you..” Aurora said as tears started to fall from her eyes.

She froze as she heard what Aurora just said. Was she hearing things?

“Oh God. What am I doing? I'm telling you all the juicy details.” Aurora sighed.

“I think you need some rest Aurora. I'm just going to leave you now so you can sleep. Okay? I'll come up with something to tell Rosa.” She said as she took the dress and walked towards the bathroom.

“You think I'm pathetic don't you?” Aurora said as she walked past the bed.

“Aurora.” She stopped and turned to face her. “I just think that you need to get some rest and don't say anything you will regret later on.”

“Good point. By the way, it's Wednesday, the day I'm supposed to spend with my mom. But she just texted me saying she's not in LA. She's in Shanghai with that bitch cousin of mine. I can't believe she still follows her around like a puppy.” She grumbled.

“Oh. I'm.. I'm sorry to hear that, Aurora. Well, hopefully by the time she gets back we already switch back into our own bodies, huh?” She said. Despite her own feelings of not wanting to switch back so soon, she couldn't help but say it to make Aurora feel better.

“Yeah, I hope so.” Aurora replied.

“Oh, speaking of appointments, today you need to attend the trial for breaking and entering the other night, remember?” She said.

“No, I don't. I already asked my lawyers to represent me.. well.. you.. today.” Aurora responded.

“Oh, okay. That's good. So, what are your schedule for today?” She asked.

“Nothing. But there's another photoshoot tomorrow for Givenchy and on Friday I need to do a video shoot with Paris for a dog food commercial.” She replied.

“Oh, right. Nothing for the weekend, right?” She asked as she remembered Sebastian asking her to practice their scenes together that weekend.

“Nothing so far.” Aurora replied.

“Okay, good.” She was going to tell her about Sebastian asking her to practice together that weekend but decided against it after knowing how Aurora felt about him.

“Okay, well I better change and go outside so you can sleep.” She said.

“Okay.” Aurora responded then she closed her eyes.

After Aurora unexpectedly blurted out about Sebastian and her earlier she couldn't help but feel happy about it. That meant Sebastian liked her! Well, she was in a different body but it seemed he liked her personality too and she felt like she was in cloud nine about that. She wondered if he would still like her if she was still in her own body but she realized probably not. The fact that he had never tried to get closer to her when she was still in her own body proved that.

Even though the last thought made her somehow sad, she was still happy she knew of that fact and decided to enjoy it while it lasted. She didn't know how much longer she would be in Aurora's body and she intended to enjoy the time that she still had.

It was three in the afternoon when she received the answer to her prayers last night. She and Aurora were doing some exercises by the swimming pool. Aurora had complained that she started to see fat around her belly and insisted for her to eat less and do some exercises.

She was huffing and sweating as they were just finished doing some HIIT exercises. She sat down on the ground and gulped a bottle of water while Aurora rested on a chair nearby and drank some green smoothies when the door from the kitchen was opened and Rosa came running towards them with panic on her face.

“Miss Watson! Y/n! There are some police at the door and your lawyers Miss Watson. They.. they want to talk to you and..” Rosa said but she was cut off.

“Y/F/N Y/L/N! You are under arrest for breaking and entering!” A policeman came through the kitchen door and announced, startling both of them.

“What?!” She and Aurora both stood up, her heart beating so fast in her chest.

Another policeman came out from the kitchen door followed by two men in black suits she assumed were Aurora's lawyers.

“What's going on? What happened at the trial?!” Aurora shouted as they walked closer to them.

“Miss Watson, Miss Y/L/N, we're really sorry but this is the best we could do.” One of the lawyers said as soon as they arrived in front of them.

“What?!” Aurora yelled.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“We tried our best today at the trial but the judge was a fairly new appointed judge and he.. he decided to sentence your assistant to one month in jail.” One of the lawyers said.

“What?!” She and Aurora shouted at the same time.

When she prayed to God that she wanted to stay longer in Aurora's body, this was not exactly what she had in mind.

Chapter 14 >

Taglist

@dhoruwolfie

[creativepawsworld]

Just Like Magic

Pairing = Neil Lewis (Watching The Detectives) x Reader 

Summary = Neil is following along with another one of Violets adventures. He is getting married. Can Y/n stop it before it’s too late. 

Warnings = Language, Grammar...

Word Count = 1264

Note- One shot that has been sitting in my drafts for a bit. This place is lacking in Neil Lewis content lol so here is a one shot... Enjoy

“Lucien where is Neil?” You asked rushed, hurdling through the glass door of Gumshoe Video. Lucien looking up from his spiderman comic book to look at me with wide eyes before returning to his relaxed state, eyes returning to the book in front of him like this was a daily occurrence for him.

 “He’s not here, Violet whisked him away. Leaving me in charge, again.” He muttered, lifting his right index finger to his tongue, dampening it and turning the to the next page, careful not to damage any corners.

 “Where did they go Lucien? Don’t you check your messages?” You question rummaging through the cash desk in hopes of finding something, anything that would tell me the address of the where they were heading but only finding old receipts, posters and mail that had been left unopened for some time.

 “No why?” He replied, completely unphased by my sense of urgency. A white brochure catching you attention next to his foot, bending down, your breathe hitched in my throat as you read over the tiny writing, finding the address you were looking for.

 “I need to take your car” You inform him standing to your feet and taking his car keys from beside the cash register.

 “NEIL’S GETTING MARRIED” You heard Lucien yell just as you ran out the door. The door closing with a bang as you jumped into Lucien’s beat up Ford Mondeo out front, speeding to the little church at the end of Maple drive.

 You had ran into every red light on the way here, the tears were falling from your eyes as you parked close to Neil’s car, hoping and praying you wasn’t too late.

 Running towards the wooden door, you inhaled deeply pushing it open but due to how light the door was, it flew from your hands, smacking off the concrete wall behind it alerting everyone, including the church mice that you arrived.

 “Oh god, I’m so sorry” You called to the pastor who was standing at the end of the altar, bible opened in his hands with an annoyed expression on his face as he looked at you. “You have really oiled them door huh?” You tried to joke lightly only for it to fall on deaf ears.

 “Y/N what are you doing here?” Neil asked wide eyes as he walked towards you, a shocked expression on his face. He was wearing that dorky light blue shirt with the ruffles down the front, accompanied with a blazer and navy pants. His statement converse on his feet.

 “You can’t do this Neil” You sigh, eyes pleading with him not to go through with this crazy charade.

 “And why not Y/N? I love Violet, she loves me we want to do this”

 “What about me?” You ask unsure of the words leaving your mouth but this was your last chance. Neil’s eyes slide over towards Violet and the pastor before returning to your gaze, bewilderment obvious. “Why do you think I stayed late with you all those nights after work? Wore those stupid costumes with you Neil? Watched those terrible movies”

 “Because that’s what friends do?” He asked, shuffling between his left and right foot as he scratched the back of his head.

 “No because I fell in love with you. Don’t you see that?” You asked practically pleading with him at this point to at least acknowledge your feelings.

 “Everything alright here Neil?” Violet asked stepping towards us, a hop in her step as she linked her hands around his arm.

 Jealous coursed through your veins as you looked at the woman in front of you, she had given him countless heart attacks and almost got him shot, literally shot to breaking his heart all for her sick twisted messed up fantasy world and yet he stuck by her.

 “You what?” Neil asked, a concerned look on his face like he was trying to solve the worlds hardest maths puzzle. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

 “Because I’m a coward. I was afraid you would reject me” You tell him, leaning your feet outward no doubt ruining the sides of your converse as you stood in what many considered an uncomfortable position.

 “Neil come on the pastor is waiting” Violet began to tug on his arm now, her gaze flicking to yours with a glare.

 “I’ll be right there” Neil muttered towards her, shaking her hands from his arm before running a hand down his face. “You should have told me before now Y/N”

 “I know, I’m sorry” You retreated, heart breaking at his choice of words. You didn’t want to stick around and here the actually rejection, it would hurt to much so you began to back out of the small church. “Sorry again, about the…about the door” You called to the pastor again who this time, returned your gaze with a sympathetic nod, no doubt hearing what just happened.

 Nodding to no one in particular, you opened the door, gently this time waiting for it to close before you took off running towards the car. Inside where it was safe, you allowed yourself to lose it. Your hands slapped against the steering wheel and sides of the seat. You were too late.

 Deciding you didn’t want to stick around for them to leave, you put the car into drive, hitting every green light this time on your way back to the video store to return the cars to Lucien. The lights were clearly a sign from the universe that you shouldn’t have ignored, the red lights before clearing telling you not to do it but you didn’t listen.

 “Did you find him?” Lucien asked when you walked through the door, instantly clocking onto your tears. “I’m sorry Y/N, I honestly didn’t think he would chose her. He never shut up about you”

 “Don’t, don’t do that. It’s over I was too late” You huff putting the cars into his open expected hand. “Um I probably won’t be around for a bit, you know…with everything so see you around?” You stated, holding up your hand unsure of what to actually do with it.

 “You don’t have to do that, we are still your friends”

 “Yeah I know but it will be weird with her around. For me at least, I just need to lick my wounds” You reply backing away towards the door, opening the single glass door planning to make your escape for the foreseeable future when a car’s tyres screeching had you looking out to the street.

 “Y/N, Y/N” Neil shouted climbing awkwardly out the car door, almost falling out to the road with his clumsiness. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that”

 “It’s fine Neil, I’m happy for you. Truly” You respond willing the tears away to send the newly wedded grown your best.

 “Why?” He asked, an almost disgusted look on his face as he stared at you.

 “For your marriage, to Violet”

 “I didn’t marry her Y/N. It’s always been you”

 “What? No, Neil no, don’t say things you don’t mean”

 Instead of replying with words, he took two long strides forwards making his way to you and clasping his hands over your ears pulling your face close to his and placing a searing kiss on your lips. You had no idea so much passion and want could be construed through a kiss but somehow Neil managed it.

 “Does that prove what I mean?”

 “Not really, maybe one more” You grin wrapping your hands around the back of his head holding you close to you, lips working together just like magic.

[dc418writes]

|•Still Over It (Not)•|

✨Pairing✨: Ransom DrysdalexBlack Reader, Special GuestxBlack Reader

Summary🪄: Dropping your daughter off with her father always seems to come with drama

⚠️: angst, mention of divorce, mention of cheating, Ransom being usual Ransom, probably considered a toxic relationship (definitely don’t recommend, know you worth kings and queens), little bit of fluff, mention of death, likkle bit of adult fun times

A/N🎙: So when I first got the idea for this, I had just listened to Summer Walker’s new album and of course was put in an angsty mood, and I just hope you guys like it! (Now, will it end in fluff👀…? We’ll see. You guys know I’m soft lol) Also for those of you who saw a couple of my posts get re-uploaded by me a couple of times, for whatever reason those stories weren’t showing up in the tags and I was trying to fix it on my own. What I did didn’t work, but I did reach out to tumblr and they fixed it so hopefully it continues to work! Apologies though for the multiple posts😓

“Kaia, be careful! Watch out for that step.”

Giggles briefly stopping, she heeds your warning taking the three steps one at a time and making sure both her feet meet before moving on. “C’mon momma, daddy’s waiting!,” she smiles excitedly pointing at the seemingly see-through home from the lack of curtains or blinds on any of the windows.

At least one of you were excited to be here.

“Well I could move faster if someone would’ve grabbed her own bag,” you jokingly narrow your eyes making the six-year-old giggle some more as you placed her monogrammed, Gucci backpack on her shoulders. Reaching up to hold your hand, you two continue your journey along the concrete walkway until meeting the doorbell next to the front door, which Kaia couldn’t wait to push bouncing on the balls of her rainboot covered feet.

It doesn’t take long for her father to appear behind the glass brightly smiling at his baby girl who jumps up and down smiling just as big.

“How’s my KK, huh?,” Ransom grins easily picking up the little girl to rest on his hip after kissing her cheek. Taking in your high waisted, black mini skirt and milky white shirt under your black and grey blazer, his cyan eyes never leave your brown ones as his lips twitch into a smirk. “And where does momma think she’s going hm?”

“She has a-,”

“Kaia go put your bag in your room, and take off your boots and coat.”

She mumbles a quick okay, wiggling out her father’s strong arms.

“Hey, bring down that picture we did the other day so you can show mom,” he whispers returning her excited smile before hurrying upstairs.

“Here are her clothes and everything else she’ll need for the week. Yes I triple checked everything’s there,” you quickly state holding out her matching Gucci duffel bag—courtesy of her father of course. “Call me if there’s an emergency.”

There’s a brief moment of silence as he simply looks up and down your frame again. A quick, deep sigh slips past his lips as he takes her bag draping it over his broad shoulder. You can’t ignore the familiar tingle from his fingertips touching yours, but you dare not show him how it affects you.

“You can come in you know,” he states stepping to the side and opening the door even wider for you to enter. Your stubbornness orders your feet to stay planted where they are, but the familiar call of the once comfortable home, along with the remnants of his cologne wafting through your nostrils, is a bit stronger.

He never did spray a lot, but somehow the scent lingered long after he’d leave the room. Plus it didn’t help Ransom could hardly sit still.

One of the few traits he passed onto Kaia, even though he claimed not to know where she got her energy from.

“So, who’s the lucky guy? That barista from the cafe you swore didn’t have a crush on you?”

“I don’t think that’s any of your business,” you counter stood in the middle of the spacious living room with arms crossed over your chest.

“It is seeing it potentially concerns my daughter, and her being around some random guy.”

“Oh now that’s a concern for you? That’s funny seeing how you had our daughter in a car and being looked after by a total stranger.”

In your complete seven year relationship, Ransom had pissed you off more than enough times. But that day, knocking on your ex’s door to find a random brunette smiling in your face holding Kaia instead of him, you never felt more furious. He came back to find you lividly waiting on the couch with her bags packed and his “friend” long gone.

Similar to his reaction that day—well until you told him that Kaia’s month long stay would be cut short—he smugly grinned to himself crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“Like I told you many times sweetheart, she was my assistant.”

“Since when do assistants stay the night and cook breakfast for their boss Ransom?”

You always knew Kaia’s love of talking would come in handy.

Before either of you could continue what was sure to be another argument, little pats flowing down the stairs have both of you donning small smiles for the sake of the excited little girl holding a wide sheet of construction paper.

“Okay, this is you momma andd this is me and daddy!,” she explains pointing respectively at the slightly disfigured drawings. “And we’re at the beach with a giant sandcastle house.”

“I did the windows,” Ransom adds as if trying to charm his way back to your good side. Your brief glare shows it would take decades, if not longer, for that to happen.

“It looks great buggie, I love it!,” you state squatting to her level. “Now, be good and call if you need anything. Doesn’t matter the time okay?”

“Okay, love you.”

“Love you too,” you state giving her one final hug before kissing her warm cheek then moving to her forehead.

You stand to your feet nearly bumping into Ransom’s chest from him inching closer to the both of you. His innocent smile has you rolling your eyes as you turn to go back to your car. The heels of your leather booties tapping the entire way.

“What? No goodnight kiss for me?,” he asks leaning against the wooden doorframe.

“Bedtime is nine. No later,” you call over your shoulder just before entering your car. Taillights eventually disappearing down the road.

———

It’s the second set of steps you’ve had to climb tonight, but these bring more excitement than the first. You don’t even have a chance to ring the doorbell, or knock, before the light grey door opens revealing soft, blue eyes and that warm smile that always caused an eruption of butterflies in your stomach.

“Sorry I’m late. There was an accident so traffic was backed up a bit.”

“You don’t have to apologize. I’m glad you made it.” The gentle caress of his hand against your neck sends a slight shiver down your spine from the chilled temperature of his palm.

“Sorry, I just pulled the wine bottle out the fridge when you pulled in.”

“It’s okay,” you softly giggle playfully bumping your nose against his. You eagerly follow his pull bringing you towards his waiting lips as he manages to lock the front door behind you with his other hand before it finds your hip. Pressed against the door, neither of you can get enough of each other from your mouths seemingly being in competition of who could outdo the other. Your arms wrap around his neck while he brings your body closer; kneading the burning flesh of your lower cheek making a moan fall between you.

His slightly furrowed brows as you pull back causes you to grin, pecking his swollen lips once more. “Trust me Andy I don’t want to stop either, but I think something’s done in there.”

So entranced, he didn’t hear the alarm chiming on his phone in the kitchen signaling he needed to take the bread out of the oven. Or smell the light char progressively forming. Luckily it wasn’t too bad as he hurried to carefully pull the baking sheet covered in buttered baguette slices from the oven.

“Everything looks so good!,” you smile uncovering the pan containing the bubbling marinara mixed with vegetables and penne noodles.

“Thanks. It’s honestly one of the few things I know how to make so hopefully it tastes as good,” he chuckles handing you a filled bowl before following behind to pull out your barstool.

“Andy I know my way around your place. You don’t have to do everything for me.”

“I know you do, but I don’t want you lifting a finger,” he winks pouring you a glass of wine.

“You may not want it, but I’m helping clean up.”

“Do you really want our first fight to be about dishes sweetheart?,” he smirks over his shoulder, pausing from making his own bowl.

“No, and there won’t be a fight. Trust me,” you wink back taking a sip of your Merlot.

“So stubborn. What am I gonna do with you huh?”

“Let me have my way and be happy,” you grin sweetly pecking the corner of his chuckling mouth.

As always, conversation flowed easily between you two over the savory meal. You discussed how your respective classes were going so far this semester, before venturing to more personal topics. Andy asked about Kaia and her new ballet class remembering how nervous you were if she’d actually like it.

“And how was everything tonight? With Ransom,” he carefully asked just before drinking from his half filled glass. You hadn’t even started dating yet, still just colleagues, when Andy happened to pass by your office hearing your cries that afternoon. He didn’t want to anger you by prying, but he couldn’t just walk away. His soft knocks startled you into action, hurriedly grabbing a couple tissues from the box beside you trying to clean your face the best you could before letting him in. Although you insisted it was just your allergies to the dust and whatever else was lying around the old office when he questioned you, the words spoken by his gentle voice left a lasting impression that ultimately led to this very moment.

“Keeping things hidden can only last so long until what’s hidden forces it’s way out. Trust me when I say that Y/N.”

As you talked more and became closer, you confided in Andy about your divorce. How Ransom disrespected you and your relationship over and over all those years ago, yet still insisted he wanted you. How although you wanted nothing to do with him, you felt guilty separating Kaia from one of her best friends.

He understood some of your feelings having gone through a divorce himself, and soon became your listening ear and shoulder to cry on those nights you felt like you failed not only yourself, but your daughter as well.

“It was…relatively smooth. He didn’t try getting me to stay like he typically does.”

“But let me guess, he wasn’t thrilled about you going on a date.”

“Mm, he doesn’t exactly know I’m on a date. He had an idea seeing how I’m dressed, but when he tried to pry I told him it was none of his business. You can imagine the reaction from that answer though.”

“At least the drop offs are getting easier,” Andy smiles gently squeezing your thigh. He understood how you weren’t ready to tell Ransom about your new relationship, slightly nervous of how he’d react. But he still wished everything would come out already so neither of you had to hide anymore. He loved the private dates within your respective homes that led to cuddles or your bodies tangled together until the next morning, but he also wanted to take you to a nice restaurant. Maybe even the park without being afraid of word getting back to your ex.

“How are you feeling? I-I know the accident happened around this time.”

“Yea,” he sighs picking at the lone noodle left in his bowl. “I’m uh..I’m alright.”

Your soft hand caressing his cheek, thumb grazing back and forth against his warm skin, brings his attention back to you and your small smile.

“How are you really Andy?” For a former DA and highly esteemed lawyer, even he couldn’t fool intuition.

“It’s…tough. The pain isn’t nearly as strong as it used to be, but it’s still there. Then when I leave messages telling Laurie how I’m going to his grave if she wants to come, sorta reaching that cordial hand out, she acts like she doesn’t care. Saying maybe I shouldn’t go so often.”

Since his passing, Andy made it a point to visit Jake three times a year; his birthday, the day of the accident, and during the holidays. Sometimes he’d visit more in those times he just needed to get away from everything.

Was it a lot? Maybe to some, but that was his son who he had the right to visit however often he saw fit.

“Well, if she doesn’t want to go she doesn’t have to, and if you want to see him all those times during the year then keep going. Especially if it helps and makes you happy,” you softly smile as he leans into your touch.

“And if you don’t want to go alone, I’m here.”

God, if you only knew how badly he wanted to say he loved you. Only being together six months though, he was sure you’d run away. Even Andy himself felt foolish falling so hard so fast, but he couldn’t deny how you fully had his heart, his soul, his entire being.

At first, he thought only Laurie would hold that position, but life had it’s way of showing him different.

The hairs of his beard tickle your palm as he carefully kisses the center before bringing you closer to show the same attention to your lips. For now, it was the closest he could get to saying those three words without actually speaking them.

Trying to clean up after dinner was more of a challenge than it should’ve been with Andy’s mouth stuck to that special spot where your neck met your shoulder making you giggle and purr the way he liked. “You’re being distracting,” you stated biting your lip to hide your smile.

“You insisted on cleaning sweetheart,” he grinned against your skin.

“And instead of resting, like any other person would, you decide to do this.”

“Mhm, it’s more fun.”

That’s how you found yourselves in Andy’s room. Your bare bodies pressed together under his warm sheets moaning the other’s name, and falling asleep shortly after your respective euphorias wrapped in his strong arms.

This restful sleep didn’t last long though, with the loud vibrations of your phone on top of the wooden nightstand cutting through the quiet of the dark house.

Seeing Ransom’s name illuminated on the screen has you moving too quick for your still foggy mind giving you a slight headache as you sat against the headboard.

“Hey what’s wrong?” At your concerned tone Andy’s now more alert, rubbing gentle circles on your back as he tilts his head to look up at you.

“Kaia won’t go to sleep,” he sighs in frustration.

“Ransom it’s after midnight, why is she just now going to bed?”

“She went to bed at her bedtime, but she woke up an hour ago screaming about a nightmare. I tried everything I could, but she keeps asking for you.”

“Alright, let me talk to her.” There’s a few moments of rustling before you hear the little sniffles and hiccups as her little hands hold onto her father’s while he holds the phone to her ear.

“Mommy?”

“Hi buggie,” you smile, hoping through your voice she can hear everything’s okay. “Daddy said you had a bad dream.”

“Mhmm. Y-You l-left me in the store,” she explains. Tiny voice wobbling as fresh tears hit her cheek.

You hadn’t told Andy about this, but Kaia was another reason you were a bit fearful in this new relationship. She’d had you there all her life, and as her mother you always would be, but you were worried she’d view Andy as the guy taking her mom away versus a possible addition to their family.

And if she were any bit of jealous like her father, that was a strong possibility.

“Aww I’m sorry. You know mama would never do that right? I love you so much, and I’ll always be there.”

“Yes.”

“Good, now go back to sleep okay? I know daddy has fun stuff planned for you tomorrow, so you need all your rest.”

“Are you coming back?”

“What, to go with you guys? No honey, it’s daddy daughter week-,”

“Noo, back here! I can’t sleep without you.”

“Um…well it’s pretty late Kaia. What if I meet you both for lunch tomorrow while you’re out?”

“But…but I want you here now momma,” she cries only further breaking your heart.

“A-Alright, I’ll be there in a few minutes. Go ahead and lie down though, try to relax.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“Love you too buggie,” you smile as your ex husband’s hushed voice returns to the phone.

“Thanks Y/N. It is late though, and you shouldn’t be out on the road by yourself. I’ll get you an Uber-,”

“No! No, that’s okay I’ll be fine. See you in a few.”

“Alright, see you then.”

“Everything okay?,” Andy asks mid yawn, as you hang up your phone tossing it on the comforter in front of you.

“Yea, Kaia just had a bad dream and can’t go back to sleep without me there so I have to go. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, it’s okay I understand. I’d do the same thing if it was Jake,” he smiles sitting up to sweetly peck your cheek. “It’s late, need me to drive you?”

“No it’s okay, plus I don’t need any questions from Ransom.” Sliding out of bed, your quick to grab his shirt from the floor before pulling it over your head until you can get to your duffle bag in the closet.

“Text me when you make it.” Taking in his soft eyes and messy hair sticking up every which way, you’re quick to crawl up the bed between his legs until your mouths connect one more time in a mix of passion and playful from your short moans and giggles.

“I will, and I promise I’ll be back.”

“Take your time. I’ll be here.”

———

“Is she still coming?”

“Yes KK, she’s on her way,” Ransom sighs sitting on the edge of her bed. “Nice touch with the tears by the way. Who taught you how to cry on command?”

“I dunno,” Kaia shrugs. “I just thought of something sad and they happened.”

“Huh, looks like I have a future Oscar winner on my hands,” he smirks tickling her sides.

“What’s that?”

“I’ll show you later, now lie down. That sounds like your mom outside.” Sure enough, there was the chirp of a car locking followed by the chime of the doorbell.

“Some date that must’ve been,” he silently grinned to himself fixing his hair in the mirror of his daughter’s vanity. You were in those same old sweats with the dotted bleach stains you typically wore during your period. “Poor guy was definitely in for a surprise if he expected something tonight.”

“Are we still goin’ to Lolli’s Party Palace tomorrow?! I want the new Lolli doll and one that looks just like me.”

“Yes, and I promise to buy you anything else you want but what was our agreement?”

“Be good, don’t tell mama about your plan, anddd…tell you everything I know about her new friend.”

“That’s my KK,” Ransom smiles kissing his giddy daughter’s forehead as she settles under the covers.

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[erodasfishtacos]

#HendallReunited

prompt: request was to write broad but to write something angsty

Word count: 5.2k

Warnings: language, sexual content, angst

Harry always had issues with saying ‘no’ to people. He never quite grew out of his manners even when he should have.

He said ‘yes’ to way too many things- signing autographs for rude fans and paparazzi, and agreed to way too many things Jeff suggested.

Saying yes to everything didn’t make his life any easier is the thing. Especially when it came to his wife. She was usually left with the aftermath of him being too nice.

The media painted Y/N in a negative light occasionally and so did the fans because she would stand up for Harry and not let him say ‘yes’ to every single request.

She would tell disrespectful fans he’s not signing autographs because of the way they were screaming and interrupting his work.

Harry wished he could do it himself - admired that his wife didn’t give a fuck what people thought about her. He cared entirely too much what the world would think.

The couple didn’t fight about much - no, not really. Normal couple stuff for the most part. But this was the exception, this is where Y/N found most of their turmoil.

Every few months it would rear it’s ugly head and they’d find themselves in the same position over and over again.

This time - it was really fucking bad.

The couple had been staying in their Los Angeles home for the last few months whilst the singer finalized his album and began promotion.

It was boring meeting among boring lunch outings to get all their ducks in a row. Jeff - his manager the main orchestrator.

He was a great manager and a good friend, but it was also business too which Harry didn’t always comprehend.

At the end of the day, Harry was making Jeff millions upon millions of dollars. But Harry didn’t think that way.

**

Harry was in a stuffy conference room at the The Late Late Show to work on the script and ideas for the show. Promo had been nonstop.

He was a bit tired as it was nearly just hitting eight in the morning and he had been up late with you - having some late night loving in the hot tub.

“As for guest - Kendall Jenner,” James Corden’s producer states. All the men agree but Harry is taken aback.

“Why...why would we have my ex-girlfriend as one of my guests?” Harry interrupts, confusion knitting his brows.

Kendall and him didn’t end on a bad note - not at all. They hooked up a few times after their ‘break-up’ but once he’d met Y/N she was understanding when he cut it off.

Y/N wasn’t necessarily jealous of the model, but didn’t love when they’d run into each other at events. She was still overtly flirty with Harry without much shame. 

Harry also didn’t have an desire to see her or host her as a guest on the show. She was nice but he wasn’t interested in being friends with her. They didn’t have much in common and he was head over heels for his wife.

“The media will eat it up, dude. Harry Styles and Kendall Jenner reunited on a show after four years?” Jeff smiles, the others nodding in amicable agreement.

This is one of this times where Harry needs to say “no,” that it’s disrespectful to his significant other to use an old flame for promo for his album.

He already knows ‘hendall’ will be trending within minutes and he can’t imagine how that would make his parter feel.

“I just...this doesn’t seem like a good idea?” Harry begins hesitantly, making it sound more like a question than a statement. 

“Why not?” Eric, one of the writers asks.

“Y’know, I’m married. I don’t think m’missus would appreciate if I did somethin’ like that just for promotion,” he states, scratching at his jaw uncomfortably.

“Look Styles, we’re not asking you to fuck the girl. It just a interview, c’mon,” The executive producer gruffs - wanting those guaranteed views.

Harry swallows - looking at his manager and then at everyone else at the table looking at him for an affirmative answer.

“Uh-sure,” Harry fumbles, feeling anxiety rise into his throat. Fuck, he’s such a god damn pushover.

He’s trying to find his voice to go back on his agreement but the meeting wrapping up and people are leaving with final handshakes.

**

Harry doesn’t know how to tell Y/N what is going on. He’d been keeping in stored in the back of his mind, not ready to have a blowout.

He never found the perfect time to bring it up and now it was too late. It was the morning of the show and he was due to be at the rehearsals this afternoon.

Harry had finally decided he was going to tell her this morning over coffee but forgot that she had a girl’s day planned with a few friends.

She was already out to breakfast with them when he woke up. His phone had one text from you.

Hi baby. I’m out with the girls. See you at the show tonight. I’ll meet you there around six! Love you!

He was fucked royally and he had no one to blame but himself. Maybe it’d be okay, maybe she’d roll her eyes and tell him he’s an idiot.

Realistically he knew that was just a sweet dream at this point.

—

Harry was fidgety and kept mucking up his lines during rehearsal as it got closer to the showtime and his missus arriving.

Kendall had arrived for hair and makeup without seeing her ex-boyfriend yet. He dreaded seeing the model.

Kendall and Y/N had met a few times at different events. It was always cordial. Kendall was always casual - their relationship was never more than a couple fun dates and sex.

They were kind to each other when they met but he couldn’t deny how much harder his partner kissed him on the mouth afterwards.

Before he know it, his wife is hugging him from behind as he talks to a producer about which cameras to look at.

Y/N noticed the way he tensed up at first and thought about how unusual that was for him. Normally, he’d lean back into her with his full weight causing them both to stumble and laugh.

He slowly, cautiously turns around and his face  relaxes a little bit but not completely. “Hi baby,” he hums, leaning in for a kiss.

“You look so handsome,” she replies, admiring his brown pinstriped suit and her pearl necklace that he’d snagged awhile back. She thought it looked better on him anyways.

“You look even better, s’fuckin’ pretty, love,” he gushes, coming back in for another kiss - a little too sensual for the setting.

She was donned in a cropped white shirt, showing of the smooth expanse of her tummy. An oversized blazer of Harry’s, ripped jeans, and heels. 

Harry thought fleetingly he couldn’t wait to fuck her after the show. Then remembered that mostly wouldn’t happen.

Reggie, the musical lead, slides up to you two. He smiles wide at you, saying, “Can’t believe you agreed to the guest this evening.”

Her eyebrows furrow in confusion, Harry’s raise nearly to his forehead, but when she opens her mouth to ask him to explain they’re interrupted.

“Harry!” The leggy model trots over to the little group. Dressed in an interesting one-piece suit that has sewn in heels. She looked beautiful as ever, of course she was a model.

Both of them turn towards the oblivious girl, “Kendall,” Harry replies with a twinge of anxiety - eyes repeatedly looking at his significant other’s profile as multiple emotions flash.

“Hiya, you’re Y/N right?” Kendall smiles kindly, offering her manicured hand.

She accepts, “Yeah, uh-good to see you again.”

Harry knew she had connected the dots quickly in her head. The hurt, confusion, had hit her eyes before narrowing into full-blown rage at her partner.

“I promise I’ll go easy on him,” Kendall jokes before pinching at Harry’s cheek teasingly. The model was a natural flirt with everyone she got along with.

“Oh, sure,” she replies lamely, attempting to not let her feelings burst out in that moment with her husband . She knew it wasn’t Kendall’s fault.

“I’m going to go grab a bite to eat. I’m probably gonna puke when we do ‘spill or fill’. See you guys soon,” the model waves before trailing off with her assistant.

“Did you kn- of course you knew she was your guest,” Y/N seethes, turning to fully face the guilt-stricken-singer.

He rubs the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact, “I did.”

“How long have you known for?” She demands to know, keeping her voice at an angry whisper to not draw attention.

Harry wasn’t going to lie to his love, “About two weeks.”

Y/N replies with a laugh, “let me guess, you let Jeffrey talk you into this bullshit, again.”

His silence is all she needs to know it’s true.

“For Christ’s sake, of course,” She huffs bitterly, “what’s even worse is you didn’t fucking tell me. What the fuck?”

Harry bites his lip, not able to rasp out anything but a pathetic, “m’sorry, love.”

He wasn’t usually good at taking responsibility during a fight. He was stubborn at best but he couldn’t deny his way out of this.

“You will be, you-“

They were cut off by the staff, the audience was trailing in and Harry needed to get mic’d up now.

“This conversation isn’t over,” she points her finger at his chest before storming off to the side of the stage where she’d watch from.

Fucking shit.

**

Harry was a performer. It’s easy for him to push things to the back of his mind so he can entertain a enamored audience.

But tonight, he was struggling. Eyes flicking over to the teleprompter more than usual, his demeanor not as vivid and carefree.

Not when his wife was glaring daggers at him from stage right. Her hand constantly at her mouth, biting at her nails - a nervous tick of hers.

“Next up, the one, the only, the beautiful model and one of my good friends, Kendall Jenner!” Harry introduces when she walks out and waves at the crowd.

They hug and when they pull apart they step over to where they were playing the game. Either answer the question or eat a nasty food picked out by the other.

They weren’t allowed to see each other’s questions before the game started- both going on blind which put Harry more on edge.

“Okay, Kendall. Rank the members of One Direction on most to least attractive or you will be eating...” Harry spins the table, “Cow tongue.”

She flinched at the disgusting plate, smirking up at Harry before considering her course of action, “I think I can answer this one.”

He wasn’t looking forward to her answer. Neither was Y/N by the way she nearly shaking her foot off her leg.

“Okay, I got this. You - the most attractive, then uh- Zayn....Louis...Niall...Liam,” she laughs, “but all of you are hot!”

Harry fake laughs and acts like he’s impressed by her answer as the crowd roars and cheers. 

When Kendall picks up her notecard - she laughs in surprise at the question before looking at him with bright eyes.

“Okay, um, bull penis!” She giggles before starting the question, “I’m dying to know this answer. So...your first album HS1 was released four years ago, correct?”

He nods, apprehensive.

“Which songs were about me? Especially was only angel?” She laughs at Harry’s pale expression before without another thought he shovels the rancid food into his mouth.

Harry looks off to the side to see that his missus is no longer sitting there. Just Jeff - who gives him a thumbs up.

**

The first thing he did when the show ended and the lights dimmed was bolt off to Jeff - ignoring Kendall who was about to say something to him.

“Where’d Y/N go?”

He thought she might have went out to get a breathe of fresh air but for the next hour and a half he hasn’t seen her once.

“She said she wasn’t feeling very good. She told me to tell you she’d meet you at home,” Jeff shrugs unbothered.

“Damnit!” Harry curses loudly, ripping out of the microphone and the little pack in his back waistband.

“Harry,” Jeff scolds at his unprofessionalism that was abnormal for him.

“No! Don’t fucking ever ask me to do shit like this again. You fucking knew what questions were on those notecards and you said it wasn’t anything about our previous relationship.”

“Harry-“

“Don’t fucking talk to me. You’re a real shit manager sometimes, you know that? Do not contact me tonight or tomorrow for that matter, you douchebag,” Harry barks before storming off towards the dressing rooms.

All the employees were standing around in shock, staring at the popstar as he ignored everyone around him.

Harry was famously known for being a kind, amicable guy. So it took everyone by surprise to hear him speak like that. Even Jeff was shaken up a little.

—

The house was pitch-black as Harry pulled up. The house’s first floor was lined with large, bay windows and not a single light was on.

He could find one room illuminated which was your bedroom. A dim side lamp must have been flicked on. He imagined her purposely turning off all the lights on the trek up the staircase.

Harry didn’t want to admit how much he was trembling with awful nerves and anticipation as he slowly turns the knob of the shared bedroom.

Y/N wasn’t laying in bed as he expected but found the bathroom door shut tightly. He noticed a little yellow bag with tissue paper off to the side by a dresser.

He knocks on the oak door, not daring to enter without permission.

“What do you want?” Y/N answers, tone flat and emotionless. 

“Can I come in, baby? Please...” He wasn’t ashamed to beg for forgiveness at this point. Hearing the emptiness in her tone scared him shitless.

“I really could care less,” She replies coldly from her spot in the scalding water decorated with bubbles.

Harry had never felt more unsure in his life as he enters the bathroom.  Y/N had gotten proper pissed at him or vice versa before - right before a concert, an award ceremony but she’d never left without him.

Her head was laying against the foam headrest and her body was covered by the soap water. She looked tired and her eyes were puffy from crying.

Harry kneels next to the tub, “look at me, please pet.”

 Y/N takes a moment before turning her head and opening her eyes. They were distant, disappointed in the man in front of her.

“I should have told you about Kendall. I should have put up more of a fight to get someone else on instead,” Harry admits, his hands desperately wanting to reach out for her.

She shakes her head with a heart-wrenching sniffle, “it’s not just tonight, Harry. We’ve had this conversation continuously for three and a half fucking years. You try to please everyone, despite them giving no fucks about you.”

“Are you that much of a pushover? You let your ex-girlfriend flirt with you in front of millions. Do you know how embarrassing and unfair that it to me?” She wipes at her eyes to stop the tears spilling over.

Harry hadn’t thought of it like that - to be honest. But he agrees, it wasn’t fair and downright cruel to do that to her.

What? All because he couldn’t say ‘no’ because he didn’t want people to be mad at him? It was pathetic and ridiculous.

“I-I won’t let it happen again, lovie. I mean it, I truly do,” Harry whimpers reaching over to cup her cheek and wants to cry when she pushes him away.

“You’re a broken record. You’ve said that a million times before but don’t change,”  Y/N points out, eyes boring furiously into his wife’s.

“I’m goi-“

She cuts him off with a sharp edge in her tone, “Just leave me alone, get out.”

The man’s face crumbles and for a second, she wants to just end the fight and makeup but then nothing would change.

“Baby-“

“Get out!” She finally bellows, tears streaming down her face steadily.

He obliges, head hung in defeat as he closes the door behind him. He stands there’s blankly for a second before going to the walk-in closet.

He’s pulling out a fresh pair of cotton underwear and a large sleepshirt for his partner, laying them neatly on the bed.

Harry doesn’t know what to do with himself while he waits so he pulls out his phone to mindlessly scroll.

He throws it against the wall when he sees #hendallreunited is trending number one on Twitter at the moment.

The singer strips down to his briefs and sits with his back against the tufted headboard, staring blankly at the wall.

His eyes catch a neon pink pair of his swimshorts tossed carelessly on the decorative vase in the corner of the room from the night before .

“Fuck, baby - no need to rush,” Harry groans into Y/N ‘s mouth as she pushes him until he’s sat on the edge of their California king.

She reaches impatiently for the tie on his neon pink swimshorts and yanks them off his slim, peach-fuzz thighs before throwing them onto the vase without a care that it was worth over twenty-thousand pounds.

After edging her in the hot tub with his fingers and mouth, she wasn’t waiting any longer before clambering onto his lap, pulling her swim bottoms to the side, and sinking onto him.

He felt guilty when his cock twitched at the thought of it. But when reality set back in, the arousal with the memory evaporated.

It isn’t much longer until the door is pulled open and  Y/N’s padding into the room with a towel secured around her.

She looks at the clothes Harry set out for her and pointedly walks past them to pick out her own nightwear. 

That really shouldn’t make his eyes tear up as he watches her slide on a similar pair of panties and an oversized shirt. Spotting a purpling bruise on her upper in thigh from his mouth.

 Y/N silently walks past the bed and to the bedroom door, looking back before bleakly stating, “I’m going to sleep in the guest room.”

He frowns, wrinkles appearing on his forehead, “You can sleep in here, love. I’ll take the guest room.”

Harry doesn’t get a reply as she just shakes her head and closes the door loudly behind her. 

It’s just - he’s never seen her this upset. She was usually fantastic at communicating her feelings and hashing things out.

She wasn’t one for the silent treatment or ignoring the topic. It had his chest rising faster than usual with anxiety. The serious of it overwhelming him.

He states at the wall for a very long time without wiping the fat tears brimming over his trembling lips.

*

He couldn’t sleep - it was half past three and he hadn’t even laid down or clicked off the lamp.

Harry accepted sleep wasn’t coming so he begins to tidy the already clean room. He picks up the shorts and tossing them in the hamper.

He refolds some joggers he’d carelessly shoved in a drawer and when he went to move the little yellow bag - curiosity got the best of him.

There was no card and he wasn’t sure who it was for or if it had been a gift already give to Y/N that she had returned home with.

Harry really shouldn’t - but he does. Gently tugging out the paper and reaching in to feel fabric.

Pulling it out, it takes him a minute to identify what it is - two baby onesie. Who was having a baby?

He lays them in front of him, eyes widening in surprise as he reads what is printed across the black cotton.

The first one was the colors and font of his upcoming tour merch with the photo he used on his tour announcement with the heeled boot and white pants.

Love on Tour - Due Date: September 2025

With Special Guest Appearance from Baby Styles

The second one was simple and read across the chest:

I’m having your baby (and it is your business) with embroidered kiwis all of over it.

He frantically reached back into the bag to pull out a bundle of pregnancy tests tied with a silk bow.

They weren’t necessarily trying for a baby but they’re weren’t not trying either. Harry wanted a baby as soon as his missus was willing to give him one.

“No, no, don’t one,” she’d whined into his mouth when he’d reached over to grab a condom off the nightstand.

“Oh sweet thing, you want me bare? Fill you up?” He croons happily, coming back to grip at his thick base and tease at her entrance.

“Ye-yeah, H. Please,” (Y/N) whimpers, bucking her hips in the hope he’d slip inside her.

Harry hums, “Might give you a baby though, y’want me to knock you up?”

“Want it, wan-“

He cuts her off with a hard, blissful kiss as he thrusts all the way inside before pulling out to do it again. 

“Gonna give it to you, whatever you want, lovie,” he promises.

The two had never used protection afterwards. It had start about seven months ago and from his knowledge she’d still been getting her periods regularly.

Occasionally, he would palm at her flat tummy and pout, “Haven’t put a baby in you yet, ‘ave I?”

He was so ecstatic but disappointed in himself for ruining everything and pleasing everyone other than who he should be.

Harry needed to fix this. He didn’t want Y/N to lose the excitement of having their baby over a dumb choice of his.

The man’s out of the room and not knocking before entering their guest room. His now pregnant love is laying on-top of the covers.

One hand subconsciously on her belly - which she removes and places next to her when her wife walks in.

The television was on but the volume was low and Y/N wasn’t watching it in the first place anyways.

Harry sits on the edge of the bed, “I opened the yellow bag.”

She looks at him with wide eyes, a little taken aback. she was going to surprise him tonight and forgot to store it away for another time after the fight.

Harry has happy tears dribbling down his cheeks, “you’re having my baby?”

Y/N nods, running a slight hand through his curls. She still had a nasty knot of anger and uncertainty in the pit of her stomach.

It pains her, wanting to share this moment of excitement with Harry but she just couldn’t. The uncertainty of whether Harry would put everybody’s needs before his own baby.

“Come back to bed, want t’talk and celebrate. M’so bloody excited,” Harry murmurs, a large smile decorating his face as he smooths a palm over the expanse of her tummy.

His wife shakes her head and places a hand over his, feeling the cold metal of all of them. “I want to be left alone.”

The twinkle in Harry’s eye diminishes to devastation as he realizes that he’s fucked up so badly that she doesn’t even want to celebrate.

“Pet, can...we just forget about it tonight and be happy ‘bout the baby?” Harry asks selfishly, knowing it was unlikely she’d agree.

She didn’t, a firm expression on her face, “no, I have a lot to think about.”

“Like wha’?” He asks anxiously, unknowing of quite the reason she was so furious.

“Like how you say yes to everything and everyone. We talk and talk about how you need to say ‘no’ and do what’s best for you - for us. You agree to and never follow through”

She takes a shaky breath and continues, “it’s affected our relationship before when you’ve had to cancel our vacation away from all this for a charity concert you’d agree to perform at last minute, dinner reservations because you told your friend we’d be at their art showing they wanted you at.”

Harry knew she was right. He did those things. He wanted everyone to be happy with him - to a fault.

“Tonight was just icing on the cake, you allowed your manager to talk you into hosting your ex on that show. Out of all the people in the world - her. With flirty questions and jabs from her. You let that happen. You care about making everyone happy but in return you don’t care how it affects me. That’s pretty shitty.”

“I’m...I’m really fucking scared you’ll do that even when we have the baby. I need you to put them first and right now...I’m not sure if you’re going to. You can’t put the person you want to spend the rest of your life with first now, how do I know you’ll do it with the baby?”

Harry chokes out a sob as he presses his forehead against the bed, his broad shoulders shaking. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried this hard - years ago maybe. He felt like his wife didn’t have any faith in him and he was to blame.

He looks up at her with swollen eyes - at a loss for what to do or say. He loved her so much and was over the moon that they were going to have a baby.

“How do I fix this, darling? You’re right, I really fucked up. M’sorry,” Harry cries, grabbing at her hands and she allows it.

“Just saying you’re sorry won’t fix it,” Y/N replies flatly, letting Harry squeeze and kiss at the backs of her hands.

“Then what do I bloody do to fix this?” Harry raises his voice in frustration, staring in bewilderment at his wife. 

Y/N narrows her eyes at him, “Do not raise your voice at me, Harry. Actions speak louder than words.”

Harry swallows harshly, pressing one finally kiss to her hand. “Okay.”

“Okay?” She repeats.

“I love you, I’ll fix this,” he promises with conviction. He knew what he needed to do and do it tomorrow. So he and his wife could enjoy her new pregnancy.

“I need space tonight, I just...please”Y/N says quietly, rubbing at his shoulder.

It wasn’t the first time they’ve slept in separate rooms because they weren’t getting along but they normally found their way back to each other before sunrise.

Harry nods, lip still tremble with the residual anxiety of the conversation. She allows him to press a soft kiss to her mouth before leaving the room.

—-

Cafe Habana was busy - but no one was paying much attention to Harry and Jeff. It was the morning after and Harry had demanded a meeting over breakfast with his manager.

“Y/N pregnant,” Harry states bluntly after their drinks arrive.

“Oh? Congratulations, dude. That’s exciting!” Jeff leans over to pat him on the shoulder, a big smile.

“The baby is due in September. My next tour starts in next July. The baby will be about nine months. I want to be at home with them for the first year.”

Jeff doesn’t look pleased, “what are you getting at Harry?”

“Reschedule the July and August tour dates. Tack them on to the end of the tour,” Harry lays out flat. 

He hadn’t talk to his wife about this but he knew this was how he could prove that he could say ‘no’ and not be a pushover.

“No Harry. Look I get you’re excited about the baby - but that will be such a fucking hassle,” Jeff frowns, sipping his mimosa.

“I’m not asking, Jeff. I’m telling you that’s what needs to happen,” Harry replies firmly, tone strong and unwavering.

Jeff is definitely taken aback by his client’s conviction. 

“While we’re on the topic, do not ever put me in a situation like you did yesterday. It affected my wife and I. And I will choose her over this career any day.”

The manager nods in surprise, “Harry, I’m sorry.”

“I’m not asking for an apology but if you ever pull something like then I’ll be looking for a new management team. Are we clear?” 

Jeff once again nods, unsure of where this is coming from but at the thought of losing his biggest client would be disastrous so he’d do whatever to accommodate him.

“Consider it done,” he tells Harry before clearing his throat in a slight panic.

—

Y/N woke up to an empty house. She was restless, she asked Harry to prove to her that he could be what she needed. However, it was a bit unfair because she didn’t know how he could do it.

It’s just…she had a baby to think about. They both needed to be put first and if it took a gnarly fight for Harry to realize it...so be it.

“Baby? Love, where are you?” She hears Harry echo through the whole house. She was sat in the kitchen, on a stool by the island, idly sorting through mail.

“In here!”

Harry jogs in, panting like he sprinted from the garage up to the kitchen. He comes to stand in front of the love of his life.

“I might have not completely fixed everything but...I tried,” Harry tells her, cradling her face in his large palms. “ I just got back from lunch with Jeff. I told him about the baby.”

He takes a deep breath before continuing, “I rescheduled tour dates so I can be with you guys at home in London for the first year. Then...maybe you guys can join me after?”

“Harry…” she’s at a loss for words.

“And I told Jeff that if he ever puts me in a situation like that again, I’m firing him.”

Y/N stares at him, in awe and admiration of the man she chose to marry and keep forever. His face was so sincere and vulnerable.

Harry didn’t know whether it would be enough. If it wasn’t he’d keep trying but all he could do was hope. He waited with bated breath as she processed his words.

“Baby, you-for me?” She murmurs as she stands up and crowds into his space. He instantly wraps her up into a tight hug, missing her touch.

“Of course, pet. I’d do anything for you, I mean it. I’d quit this whole career if you wanted tha’,” he tells her truthfully - lips brushing her forehead.

“I love you, so so much,” Y/N murmurs, pressing a kiss to his lips.

“We’re havin’ a baby,'' Harry sighs dreamily into her mouth, tongue sliding against hers. A large hand came to palm at her belly.

“Yeah, m‘having your baby,” She giggles as he begins to trail the kisses down her jaw and neck - pressing her into the marble countertop.

“Should we name it Kiwi?” Harry rasps as he slides the tank top strap off her shoulder so his lips can meet the cap of her warm shoulder.

“We are not going to be that celebrity couple who names their baby something weird,” Y/N groans as he grounds his hips into hers with intent.

THE END

[littlemissnoname13]

Hello can I request where draco in fourth year having a crush on a hufflepuff reader but acts as arsehole cuz he doesn’t know how to show affection , leading it to her avoiding him which makes him depressed about what did he do wrong ?

Hi love. Thanks for the request.💕

I love writing Draco x hufflepuff!reader stories! I am a sucker for a slytherin x hufflepuff pairing.

I added a few extra details here and here. Hope you like it. X

Hopeful (Draco Malfoy x Hufflepuff!Reader)

Word count: 2100 sorry got a bit carried away. 😅

Warnings: None. Soft!Draco being an absolute blubbering idiot.

Draco’s thoughts are written in green

Spring had arrived. 

It could be felt in the cool and gentle zephyr that made the shiny new leaves on top of the once barren and dead trees rustle. 

Daisies were in full bloom and the wind had managed to carry some of the petals away—making them fall to the ground, acting like a harbinger of the fast approaching summer. 

Draco couldn’t be bothered if it was spring, or autumn or winter. 

In that particular moment, all he wanted to do was get away from the Slytherin common room and Pansy Parkinson. 

He had taken her to the Yule ball and things had sort of fizzled out afterwards. He couldn’t get himself to see her as anything other than a friend. 

Having ran all the way to a far and secluded area of the Hogwarts grounds, Draco leaned against a tree trunk and panted heavily in an attempt to catch his breath. 

“Are you—are you alright?” 

Your voice startled him and he quickly stood up straight to look around. 

You were sitting criss-crossed on the grass with your transfigurations textbook opened on your lap. Your shirt sleeves were rolled up and your yellow and black tie hugged very loosely around your neck. 

“Fine.” He muttered as he slowly sat down noticing a single daisy tucked behind your ears. 

After sitting there in complete silence for the next few minutes, he finally spoke up. 

“What are you even doing here anyway?” 

“Just wanted some peace and quiet to be honest.” You said, shrugging your shoulders. “It’s a beautiful day.” 

Draco just hummed in response and kept staring at the daisy in your hair that swayed lightly with the breeze. 

“What?” You asked when you noticed. 

“You have—you have a twig stuck in your hair.” 

“A daisy.” You corrected him as you closed your book and moved a bit closer to where he was sitting. “It’s a daisy.” 

“Yeah I know that. I’m not stupid.” He said quickly. “But why?” 

"Well, Daisies are essentially two flowers blended together in complete harmony." You said pulling the daisy out of your free falling hair before putting your hand forward to hand it to him. 

“And?” Draco reluctantly took the flower from you and blinked his eyes in confusion. 

“They are said to resemble innocence—true love even.”  You explained getting comfortable next to him.

“You believe in all that?” Draco scoffed, twirling the flower between his index finger and thumb. He couldn’t tell if the floral fragrance was coming from you or the air but it made him slightly queasy nonetheless. 

“Merlin. No.” You scrunched up your nose. “It just gives me hope I guess.” 

Draco gave you another hum in response. For someone who came up with snarky and sometimes witty comments on the spot, he found himself weirdly tongue tied. 

“I know you were hiding from Pansy by the way.” You remarked, making a small smile pull at his lips. 

“How come?”

“What do you mean how come?” You rolled your eyes. “Everyone can see that she is obsessed with you for some reason that I personally can't seem to comprehend.” 

~~~~~

The next day during potions class, Draco slowly opened his book and started to absently doodle on it with his quill while Snape talked about the upcoming potions essay that had to be done in pairs. 

Draco knew he should be paying attention but he just couldn’t get the interaction between you two out of his head. 

And just when he took a deep breath and decided to focus, a familiar scent started to fill his lungs up. 

Fruity, almost spicy notes of strawberry and pink grapefruit mixed with gardenias, vanilla and musk. It felt like someone had tossed a huge bouquet into the room. 

He knew it was you without even bothering to look up from my book. 

"Ah, Miss y/l/n. Late again." Snape muttered. “Five points from Hufflepuff house.” 

You quietly sat down next to your friend with your head hung low and Draco fought an unexplainable urge to give you a hug. 

"The essay must be done in pairs.." Snape said.

Great. 

"Ronald Weasley and Gregory Goyle." 

This is exactly what I needed right now. Thanks Snape. 

"Blaise Zabini and Hannah Abott." 

The last thing I need is someone weighing my essay down. 

"Draco Malfoy and y/n y/l/n." 

What? 

You turned back to look at Draco and gave him  an apologetic smile and he didn't understand why you kept smiling at him. It's not like the both of you had suddenly formed an unlikely bond with each other. 

Draco scowled at you in return and quickly raised his hand. "May I work on my essay alone?" 

"No. You may not Mr. Malfoy."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You and Draco had been studying in the library for almost an hour. Because you were quietly sitting next to him, his elbows and knees slightly brushed yours every few seconds and as much as he hated to admit it, He secretly enjoyed it. 

Contrary to yesterday, Draco was trying very hard to make a conversation with you. You seemed somewhat offended that he had asked Snape to work on the essay alone. 

“I am happy to do most of the writing if you can look up all the ingredients.” You offered.

You don’t have to do all of that yourself. I am happy to help with the writing too. Is what he should have said. 

“Fine whatever.” He said instead as he reached for a copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. 

That night, Draco stayed up tossing and turning in his bed before giving up on getting any sleep for the night. 

He lethargically walked towards his dresser and put his hands in his blazer pocket pulling out the now dried and pressed daisy from the other day. 

Taking a deep breath, he put the flower in between the pages of his copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. 

You were drawing him in, undoing him, unraveling him even. 

He knew that. 

But did you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Draco! Open up." 

His head jolted towards the door and He quickly walked over to open it. 

You stood on the other end with books tucked in your arms, wearing your denim shorts and a plain white tank top—looking like summer personified. 

The more time he spent with you, the more he started to notice your quirks. Like that the way your skin glowed as the days got warmer. 

Compliment her. Do it. It’s not Difficult. 

“Did you do something different to your hair?” 

“Uh—no why are you asking.” 

“It just looks a bit strange.” He commented wanting to slap himself. 

"Okay, well are you going to let me in?" You questioned, wondering why he was blocking the way and asking you about your hair. 

Why did you have to wear that God damned tank top-

"Sorry?" You asked stepping inside making his cheeks burn when he realized he wasn’t meaning to say that out loud. 

"Just shut up and get back to working in the essay or whatever it is that you were doing." Draco grumbled feeling embarrassed as he grabbed some fresh parchment. 

Okay. Focus. The Strengthening solution requires...

You stretched a little and pushed your hair away from your face. 

several days to mature...

"Staring is rude Draco." You suddenly interrupted his thoughts as you set your eyes on his—peering right into his soul.

Draco felt like he was giving you some sort of power over him and the possibility of you using that power and leaving him heartbroken made him feel so very vulnerable.

He couldn't take the vulnerability a second longer.

 "I don't think we should study together anymore." He blurted quickly standing up. “It's for the best.”

"Huh?" You stood up contorting your face in total confusion—wondering just what you had done to piss him off. "What's wrong Draco? Did I do something wrong?" 

"Leave. Now." He muttered with his teeth clenched. 

Please don’t go.

"Just go—leave please."

You couldn’t help but feel a sharp sting burning your insides as you gathered all the books that were on the floor and ran made your way towards hufflepuff dormitories with tears threatening to flood your eyes. 

As soon as you ran off, he punched his wall and muttered out the plethora of angry curses when the impact bruised his knuckles.

~~~~~~~~~~~

During the following week, Draco failed to show up to any of your shared classes after you had refused to talk to him after what happened. 

Even if you did manage to see him walking down the halls or walking with Crabbe and Goyle, you noticed that he looked like he hadn’t eaten or slept in days. 

On a Tuesday, Draco looked at the Hufflepuff table during breakfast and when you caught his eye, all you did was look away. 

Everyone at school had their opinions about him—most of them weren’t good opinions. 

But when you were with him under that tree, he seemed different. His smirk was more playful than condescending. It managed to charm you in a way. 

You took a final bite of your toast and gathered all your books, walking to your Potions class. 

His seat still remained empty and you shook your head, trying to snap away from the thoughts of him as you flipped open your book. 

Only it wasn’t your book. 

You didn’t remember writing on the margins and making annotations on your book. 

Running your fingertips along the pages, you flipped to the very first page of the book. 

D. Malfoy was written in ridiculously neat handwriting and you shook your head when you realized that you had grabbed his book with you that day by mistake. 

And just when you were about to put his book away, something fell from in between the pages and fell onto your desk. 

It was the daisy you had woven into your hair the other day. Even in its dried state, the petals remained intact like her had done something to keep them that way.

When class was finally over, you made a quick beeline towards the slytherin dungeons, bumping into people along the way. 

~~~~~~~~~

“Some hufflepuff girl is standing outside the dungeons asking to see you.” Theo shrugged when he saw Draco at the common room sofa. “Says it's urgent.” 

He felt terrified yet so elated as he quickly stood up and made his way outside. 

“Here’s your book.” You said taking a step towards him. “You never told me what’s wrong by the way.” 

“Thank you.” Draco quickly took his book from you and stared at the ground. 

“Why did you stop talking to me y/n?”

“You told me to go away—If I remember correctly.” You said shaking your head at him. “Tell me Draco, what’s wrong?”

“Everything.” He said quietly, meeting your gaze. 

"What do you mean?" 

"You make me feel all weak.....and smiley...and I hate it." He looked at you with agitation.

"Weak?" You ran your  fingers through your hair in confusion. 

"And your ridiculous white tank top." Draco half yelled. 

"What's wrong with my top?" You asked, raising your voice slightly as if you had had enough of this. 

"Nothing is wrong except for the fact that you look stunning in it.” He blurted involuntarily. "It is absolutely distracting when one is trying to study!." 

He watched you open your mouth in shock and close it. Before he could spend another minute trying to solve the riddle that was your expression, you grabbed him by his tie and placed your lips on his. 

His brows furrowed as he kissed you back tenderly. Tasting the sweetness of your lips—pouring out every bit of suppressed passion and adoration he felt for you with his lips.

There was something so strange and euphoric about finally kissing someone he had been longing to kiss for so long. 

Something so magical about holding the person that fits perfectly into his arms. 

Freaking Finally. 

He was slightly disappointed when you slowly backed away, but the glow on your skin and the glossy ness in your eyes made him smile. 

"I guess I'll leave before I realize the consequences of what I have just done." You said softly as you held his face and placed a small peck on his lips.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day, you found a tiny box and an envelope on your desk when you woke up. Your roommate let you know that Draco Malfoy had stopped by late last night when you were asleep and half begged and half threatened her to leave the box on your desk. 

You slowly opened the box and found a bedazzled and whimsical looking daisy necklace, encrusted with gems.  

A Daisy for my daisy. 

You give me hope.

- D.M

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Draco Taglist: @dracomalfoyisindahouse @dracomalfoys-wh0re @maybesandohnos @justfangirlthingies @desiredmalfoy @dlmmdl @trainintersection @fa-me @dracoswhore007 @paulina1998 @wh0re4blaise @marrymetheonott @quacksonsssandtea @letoof @rvaldez7569 @loloo22 @emma67 @berriemalfoy @thegaudess @itchywitch33 @louweasleymalfoy @lunar0se10 @savagelysarcasticslytherin @fleursbabe @teawineaddict @thebitchybeatle @malfoyxxdraco23 @fantasyfairysworld @trashyvicks @h0ggyw0ggyh0gwarts @l0vely-lupin @linasylveon @amwitherspoon @the-bisexual-bitch

Love you all sm. (if i was unable to tag you, please look into your privacy settings)

Fell free to send me reuests. My other stories can be found here.

Join my taglist here.

- violet-Anne

[finelinevogue]

Can you write something about when Harry and Y/N broke up but fans speculate that they got back together and they did get back together. They broke over something stupid, please. You don’t have to do this exactly it can be something like that.

let’s see how this turns out! hope it’s what you wished for?!

The last few months had been rough.

What had started as rumours of a breakup between everyones favourite couple, you and Harry, had turned into an actual breakup.

It had started by Harry spending more time with Olivia, due to press for Don’t Worry Darling. They were always hanging out with each other, even when there was no publicity stunt telling them to. You found it appropriate at first, wanting the movie to gain some form of reputation, but after a while you believed it turned South. It was becoming a definite friendship and not just because they had to. It was the way that Harry would bring Olivia over for dinner without checking with you first, or taking the dog for a walk with her not you, or even staying longer out on stunts than they needed to just because they wanted to.

So you challenged Harry on it. Hell, even the tabloids were challenging you both - claiming Harry had split from you for Olivia. You made him question whether he thought his actions were irresponsible and appropriate or not, to which he thought there was nothing wrong and thought you were being irrational. You didn’t speak to him for the rest of the day, only to find him later on the phone speaking to Olivia about how crazy you’d been acting about it all. So you showed him crazy and walked out.

Until today.

For over a half a year your sister had her wedding planned and Harry was supposed to be your guest. You were nervous about turning up without him, because your family were very judgy. Your sister couldnt help being the smarter and the prettier one, but she also didn’t have to parade it around so everyone knew of it. Your mum and dad thought you a disappointment for the longest time, but once you’d gotten a job and had moved out they were a bit more loving over you. Still didn’t hide the fact they desperately hoped for you to have a relationship. It wasn’t that you were bringing Harry along to prove that someone loved you, but more to prove that they would never fully be satisfied whether you had a boyfriend or not. There would always be a podium stand slightly lower for you to stand on.

However, they didn’t know about the breakup.

“Y/N, nice to see you. Where’s Harry?” Another guest asked you, relatives of your mum. It was the same question over and over again, no one really caring about how you are but instead whether you’re in a positive relationship.

“Oh um I think he’s just running a bit late.” Was your chosen answer to respond to said question. It was repetitive, but it kept people off your back.

The wedding was completely beautiful. It was in a beautiful church and was decorated to perfection. The theme was white and royal blue, something your sister had always dreamed of. Children played amongst the pews and family relatives mumbled to each other about gossip. There was still a heavy sadness to the event. Maybe it was because your sister hadn’t asked you to be a bridesmaid - instead, choosing her best friends instead - or maybe it was because you missed Harry so much.

He’d fucked up. He really had, but it didn’t take away that burning passion for him that spread like a wildfire in your belly. You missed him. You still loved him. Worst of all, you had to pretend everything was all alright in front of your family when actually you were breaking apart inside.

Harry hadn’t messaged saying that he was or wasn’t coming, but after everything that had happened you were confident he was going to be a no show, and you would be the embarrassment of the family once again. Your relationship had been very private and exclusive, but Harry’s fans were so investigative you wouldn’t be surprised if they knew that you’d broken up and were aware that you were at a wedding today without him. Neither of you had made a public statement about your breakup, but neither of your wanted to damage each other even more. Fans suspected though and rumours travel fast.

“Y/N how are you doing? How’s Harry?” Another aunt came and asked you, this time with your mother in tow.

“Oh he’s great, yes.” You smiled forcefully, not actually having a clue how your ex-boyfriend was doing. You didn’t keep up with his social media because you were afraid of what you might find.

“Where is he? Is he here?” Your aunt asked.

“He’s late, apparently.” Your mother answered for you, sneeringly. “You’ll be made a fool of if he’s a no show Y/N.”

“I know.”

“I hope everything goes well for you both.” Your aunt kindly said, before waiting for your mum to say something nice too. That was a mistake though.

“Well it’s unlikely she’ll find someone again!” Your mother laughed and pulled your aunt away from you. You furrowed your eyebrows and let your heart sink low.

What were you thinking, letting Harry go like that? Your mum was right, you were never going to find anyone else again. You were so lucky with Harry. He was so kind and so patient with you, but obviously he’d run out of steam towards the end. It doesn’t surprise you. You’ve always been told you’re a mighty handful and you need a lot of work put into looking after you, so you understand why you were probably too much for Harry. The showbiz life had never really been something you’d completely submerged yourself into, whereas you guess for Olivia it was rooted in her from birth. She understood Harry’s world the same way he did hers. They would match perfectly for each other, if that’s what they wanted.

You watched the room continue as usual, but you couldn’t keep yourself here. There was too much sadness welling deep within you that you wanted to just run and then keep running. So you did, only to get as far as the bench in the front courtyard. The outside felt calmer and more freeing than inside, you sat and absorbed it for a while, not realising that you were crying until your pretty multicoloured dress had grown darker with a pool of your tears.

“Shit.” You tried rubbing the tears out, but only made you cry a little harder. You thought about your makeup running and tried to compose yourself, fanning your face to calm it down from the heat now.

“And here I was thinking weddings were supposed to be happy.”

You stopped fanning your face to look at him. You couldn’t believe he was standing there, dressed in a beautiful white suit and salmon pink shirt underneath to compliment the colours of your dress - the outfit that you’d helped him pick out over a year ago. He’d remembered. He trusted that you’d still be wearing this dress. He was a sight alright. A vision of beauty and love.

“Harry?” You questioned, wiping your under eyes to clear away any running mascara, not quite believing he was standing there.

“So what was it? Bad music playing? No vodka? Or maybe there’s nowhere for you to escape to go read the book I know you have stuffed away in your clutch bag.” He stood at a distance from you, hands in his trouser pockets, to make sure you were comfortable.

“I brought vodka instead of the book.” You chuckled, reaching into your clutch to prove it to him.

“Lucky for you, i’ve come to save the day.” Harry reached to the inside of his blazer pocket and pulled out a Kindle. You’d always been debating whether or not to buy one, because the feeling of having a book to turn its’ physical pages is a feeling second to none. “Take it, it’s yours.”

Harry handed it out to you and you stood up to reach for it hesitantly. Harry assured you that it was okay and that you’d been reading too many books if you thought it was a trap of some sort.

“Thank you, Harry.” You spoke sincerely. You stroked your thumb over the cover and turned the case lid over to start up the screen. The screen lit up and it was set to a picture of your favourite quote, annotated just as you would have in your own book. You chuckled and let a few tears drop from the kindness of all of this.

“And then…” Harry unlocked the Kindle with your birthday as the password, before clicking on the library so you could discover what was waiting for you on your virtual shelves. Harry had downloaded all your most favourite books, whilst also downloading the ones he knew had been on your to-be-read list. He’d even added a few of his favourite books too, just because you liked reading his recommendations.

You smiled, but felt so lost.

“W-why are you here, H?” You asked, closing the lid and bravely looking up into his enchanting eyes. You had to control yourself not to comment on how wondrous they looked.

“To save the day.” He chuckled in repeat, until he knew you weren’t taking that for an answer. “Because I fucked up. Big league time.”

“Yeah.” You whispered, looking down at your shoes to see that they weren’t that far apart at all. He was so close to you, yet he wasn’t yours to catch.

“And i’ll never forgive myself for letting you walk out of that door. The promotion shit with Olivia? Done. I’ve finished. I explained that the movie isn’t as important to me as you. You,” Harry paused to breathe out, and took the risk of guiding your jaw up to meet your gaze with his soft hand, “you are real Y/N. You’re so important and key to my life and it bloody terrified me, still does actually, to think that you make me feel this way. I want everything with you. Marriage, kids, a home. A life. I was so worried I would screw it all up, though, to the point where I did screw it all up. I lost you and so I lost me. It’s selfish of me to ask whether any part of your heart still wants me, but—”

“Yes.” You quickly interjected before he could say something he’d later regret. “There is, yes.”

“R-really?” He stumbled over his response, not expecting you to react so soon but his words had got to you. His feelings were vulnerable and raw and it reminded you of how much you love him and feel safe with him.

“Why? Would you like me to say different.” You teased.

“No,” Harry rushed, stepping closer towards you, “God now. Stay, please. Forever, if you’ll have me?”

“I can deal with forever.” You leaned up to where his lips were, craving the taste of them against yours so badly. “Can I?” You looked between his lips and his eyes, watching his eyes coo in admiration of you. His arms snaked around your neck and cupped the back of your head, resting his ringed fingers against your skin delicately.

“You don’t have to ask, angel.” And with that you didn’t hesitate to reclaim your clips on his. He tasted as sweet and as soft as you could remember. The hint of mint sweets he kept in his car could be tasted all over his mouth, and he could no doubt taste the vodka on yours. He took no time in rushing to have his tongue exploring your mouth once mouth, biting on your lip when he got the chance to. He wanted you to remember this moment and how much love he has for you, and always will. Just as you do for him.

Hesitantly pulling away you smiled at him cheekily, feeling so much lighter and happier to have him here. With you in his arms so expertly.

“What?” He asked, leaving a quick kiss to your nose, inhaling his scent as he did.

“Just can’t believe you’re here.” You stroked his cheek with your thumb, and he leaned into your touch so comfortably. He had missed you so damn much, and it showed.

“Let you down once before and I wasn’t going to do it again.”

“So you’d have shown up even if I hadn’t?”

“Not happily, but yes.” He laughed thinking about it.

“Why?” You laughed with him.

“I’ve got to make my impression on your family somehow. Need to remind some of them how amazing and beautiful their special Y/N L/N is.”

“Some are going to need a lot more persuading than others.” You sighed, side-frowning over your words.

“No offence, but anyone who doesn’t treat you as a fucking diamond doesn’t deserve you and should watch out for kick up their backside from me.” You laughed over his empty threat and buried your head against his chest, listening to the heartbeat and rumble of laughter that came from within. This moment alone felt like home. Safe and warm.

“I love you, H.”

“Bloody love you too.”

Harry ended up returning to the wedding with you, much to your mothers surprise, and you both enjoyed the celebrations together. You shut yourselves out from everybody and just danced, talked and drank the night away.

You were so in love.

Later, photos got leaked of the wedding and it showed you and Harry dancing away in one of the backgrounds of the photos. It was supposed to be a shot of just the bride and groom, but you two have managed to get caught in it. You looked so caught up in each other that you still weren’t even aware the photo had been taken. You and Harry had determinedly avoided the camera all night, exactly for this reason, but a part of you was kind of happy that this one photo got leaked, because it showed the world that Harry was yours and you were his. It showed that you were together, or back-together as addressed by some FBI fans, and that you were stronger for it.

[littlemisslipbalm]

“Harry’s stylist, right?”

Summary: Harry and his personal stylist are great collaborators, on screen and off. She helps his visions come to life and in turn they’ve become close friends. As she helps him to bring his fashion dreams come to life during the Fine Line era, will some other dreams come to life as well?

or

Harry and his stylist go from colleagues to friends to lovers because they’ve been in love with each other from the jump

this fit is very important to this part lmaooo - I literally have no idea what to call this lol, anyway I've been sitting on this for forever and I wanted to get something out for yall and i love this story there will be a part 2 when i get to a writing mood. I love this story bc its my literal dream - anyway!! pls enjoy and reblog and lmk what you think :)

Word Count: 14k | Warnings: swearing, drinking, tame for now, should be smut eventually - aka slow burn (what else would you expect from me at this point i guess)

part 2

-

“Hey, H, I just had a question about one of the SNL outfits? Do you have a sec?”

Harry looked up from his phone and raised his brows at his stylist, Y/N.

Y/N had worked with Harry previously. In photoshoots for Another Man magazine and his most recent Gucci campaign. As well as some other random times, such as one-off award show looks and specific appearances. However, this past summer Harry had hired Y/N to work fulltime for him, exclusively. He had told her that he was planning on releasing his second album in the winter and he wanted someone there to help him plan his clothes for music videos, award season, interview appearances, as well as tour outfits.

Y/N stood just inside the doorway of the room, leaning her back against the wall, looking expectantly at him. Her eyes were wide and her lips were pursed. She was dressed simply in a white satin skirt and a matching cropped button-up, they both had cream flowers embroidered on, paired with horsebit slim Gucci mules. Her style was eclectic, but she had definitely noticed an increase of Gucci in her wardrobe since starting her employment with Harry.

Y/N’s passion in life was fashion and clothes and she constantly worried that one of Harry’s outfits wouldn’t deliver as much as she wanted it to. He was quick to tell her not to worry so much though, as long as they both were happy with it, how could anyone else not love it. Plus, he’d always add, it didn’t really matter what anyone else thought. But as more and more events began to crop up, Y/N’s worry over her work grew. She had only been the head stylist for Harry on projects that were still underwraps - except for Lights Up which had been released a couple weeks ago now.

The first project she ever worked on with Harry as his full-time personal stylist was the Lights Up music video. She had never worked so closely with one person for so long on just one project. Harry was insistent in vision and came in the first day filled with ideas, what he imagined for the video's concept and how he wanted to incorporate clothes. She had been happy to make his dreams become reality.

The two of them spent hours at his house for weeks, pouring over every detail of every outfit he planned to wear. They both wanted it to be perfect. And eventually, it all came together, exactly how they had planned. All of the garments for the video took up two entire garment racks. Y/N had made Harry pose in every single outfit for polaroids that she dated and then put into a lookbook she started for him. She had told him she planned to document every outfit she styled for him and Harry had been so excited. The outfits he wore in the video were received with praise when it was finally released, and Harry and Y/N were overjoyed. There was already a party for its release, but they both were especially happy that night. Throughout the evening, Harry and Y/N would gravitate to one another and fall into side conversations about the outfits and what people had been saying. Even if Harry said it didn’t matter, he and Y/N both knew, at the end of the day, they loved when people were happy with their work.  

“Sure,” he bounced to his feet, but Y/N made a hand motion telling him that he could stay seated. He settled back down as she crossed over and sat beside him on his couch.

She was at his house in London today planning his next few appearances that were promotion for the upcoming album, Saturday Night Live was next. Harry had been taking a break from their work until she had come in.

It wasn’t unusual for Y/N to be at his house, they had been working together for months now. First, it had been for his outfits in his music videos that were filmed in late summer and early fall, like Lights up, but also a few other ones. Now, it was clothing for promo appearances, interviews, and listening parties. Next, it would be tour outfits, which she had already started planning, but officially, they hadn’t started discussions yet. Harry had helped her to get a flat closer to his house in London just for her to be able to head over and help with the planning or fitting of his outfits more easily. She also was constantly traveling with him to his appearances, making sure outfits were perfect right before whatever show it was or making last minute adjustments in case either of them decided something wasn’t right.

While Harry was a big guy, his waist was far trimmer than a usual man built to his size, this meant she had to take in a lot of his trousers at the waist. As well, with his shirts and coats, she’d have to take them in or out depending on how Harry wanted the fit to be - either perfectly tight or perfectly oversized. He was particular, but she appreciated his drive for fashion and how he cared for his appearance. Before performances, she often had to take things in or out based on any body fluctuation that had occurred since the initial fitting.

She was looking at her sketchpad that held all of her notes on his clothes - which was different from the lookbook of polaroids - including patches of the actual colors and little Harry figures dressed in what he was going to wear. Right now, she had the pad opened to a page titled “SNL Opener - November 16, 2019”.

“So I was thinking with your opening monologue outfit, it might look better to have a different colored blazer? A matching yellow would be great, but if you did more of a toned down - maybe light tan or beige - blazer with gold embellishments, you’d elevate it to look sophisticated and stylish, rather than just stylish. It’d be exactly like the runway look - which I know you sometimes don’t like, but I think it’s what looks best.”

She ran her finger between two swatches of what she thought would be the better blazer color and the one Harry had originally wanted. He wet his lips and gazed at the page as he thought about what she said. Normally, she liked monochrome on him, but she thought the deep blue underneath a completely yellow suit might wash him out on the stage.

“Yeah,” he pointed to the top beige swatch, “I think I do like this better.” He paused and turned his head to Y/N, looking in her eyes before asking, “Is that all?”

“Er...no,” Y/N ran a hand over her unstyled hair, slightly fluffed by her constant musing of it. She often fiddled with it while she worked, better than biting nails she always said when confronted about her tick. After a sigh Y/N continued, “I was just on the phone with Jane from Gucci and she said that for Look 57 they could only send your technical size, for some reason they can’t custom make it. Meaning, I’ll have to tailor the whole thing to you when it arrives. Is that alright? Or do you want to choose something else?”

She flipped to a page that said “SNL WS.” Harry followed her hands and nodded realizing she was talking about the Gucci suit he wanted to wear for Watermelon Sugar. It was a watermelon’s inside red. When he had found out the suit came in that color, he had danced around the dining table for what Y/N had felt like was an hour, humming the tune of Watermelon Sugar excitedly. Finally, she had coaxed him to sit back down and get back to their other work, which was still picking out clothes.

“No, that’s fine,” Harry shook his head and used his thumb to scratch under his lips absentmindedly, “It really needs to be that color.”

She nodded, she knew what his answer was going to be, but she also knew he still liked to make the final decision.

“Alright, we’ll just have to meet for longer when everything arrives, to tailor that one. Then the rest of them should just be making sure the fit is perfect.”

She rose up from her seat and patted Harry’s shoulder, leaving him to his thoughts, as she went back to finish up the calls with Jane and the designers.

He caught her hand in his before she completely walked away, “Thank you, Y/N.” He was so grateful he had hired someone who was as driven as he was and understood his fashion sense and wanted to help enhance what he was thinking, rather than someone trying to control him or just going along with whatever he said. Neither would be productive or helpful, thankfully Y/N loved her job and cared to do things right.

She grinned before exiting, “H, you’re going to be this century’s style icon if it’s the last thing I do.” He laughed as she walked out of the room, leaning back on the couch to continue his lurking on Instagram.

-

One week later

“I’m here, H! I come bearing Gucci and more!” Y/N said as she shuffled through Harry’s front door, she held a deconstructed rack and a garment bag filled with heavy suits and things. Inside were Harry’s four most important outfits for SNL, some other garments for SNL, and some clothes they had talked about for his upcoming listening sessions later in the month. Y/N needed to check the fit on all of them and begin tailoring the Watermelon Sugar suit. The key Harry had given to Y/N, previously, had let her in, but she assumed he was home. He said he’d be.

When Y/N rounded the corner she found another empty room. Confused, she set down her large items and went to search for Harry. Y/N literally needed him to be here for this part. It was the only real time she actually needed to see him in person - but that was beside the point.

“H?”

She wandered through the different rooms of his home. Normally, Y/N didn’t go into the other rooms, she was always mainly in his lounge area, the dining room, and a little casual office room he had - sometimes the kitchen for water, his bedroom once. Still not finding him, she decided to venture to the furthest door, Harry’s bedroom, she remembered.

Harry groaned at the sound of a knock on his door, he rolled over in his bed. After a few moments of hearing nothing else than his groan, Y/N felt like she had to go in and check on him.

“H, it’s 12:30 and we agreed we’d meet at noon. Are you feeling alright?”

Y/N moved into the room and found a shirtless Harry surrounded by rumpled sheets, clutching at a pillow. He groaned into his pillow again in response. Her legs bent at the edge of the bed and she reached out to smooth some of his chestnut hair out of his face, “What’s wrong?”

He moved his head to allow his eyes to look at her, “‘M so tired, don’t know why. My stomach kind of hurts too…” Y/N looked at him quizzically, before running her hand over his tan forehead once more, this time checking for a fever. “You don’t have a fever. When did you go to sleep? Have you eaten anything today?” With her help, Harry moved into a seated position, head tilted back against the bedpost. He sat silent for a moment before blowing air out of his mouth. “Went to sleep kind of late for me, I guess...Haven’t eaten.”

“Ok, you’re just tired from staying up late, you old man, and you might be a little dehydrated and hungry. Listen, I’ll go make you some food if you get up and prepare yourself for the day. We need to get all your clothes fitted so that I can fix anything before next week.” Y/N was always good at getting Harry back on track when he got distracted - or even out of the station, when he wasn’t in the mood to work on something. She slid from her perch on the bed and walked to almost the edge of the room before Harry called her back.

“Can you pick out my clothes for me?” His soft, tired voice whined. “So hard...and you’ve got the best eye. Pleaseeee,” he pleaded softly.

Rolling her eyes, Y/N sighed and made her way back into his room. Crossing to the door that led to his walk-in closet, she set to work. As silly as he was being, she could never pass up on a chance to pick out an outfit for Harry.

“You’re literally going to be changing the entire time, H, you could have just thrown on sweats,” she called back to him once inside the smaller room. He repeated how she always picked the right thing, even for just around the house. Again, Y/N rolled her eyes at Harry, but she also couldn’t hide the warm smile on her face that was due to his compliment.

She couldn’t believe how dramatic Harry could be sometimes. Right now, he was a lesser form of hungover and he was acting like his life was ending. Y/N had made a note a while ago to never agree to a meeting on the day after any partying. She learned the hard way one particularly terrible Sunday. She had come round his house at a similar time, noon-ish and found Harry dead asleep, backwards in his bed. When she had roused him, his only responses were grumbles and groans. She had to not only pick out his clothes, but also help dress him. Then, after providing water and aspirin, she moved all their work into his bedroom so they could work from there. Harry had proved to be a baby when it came to hangovers.  But, she hadn’t realized he could get like this even without being truly hungover.

After settling on his live aid t-shirt, that Y/N was eternally jealous of, located at the front of his drawer and his favorite corduroy trousers, she walked out and threw them in the direction of his toned, but slumped body. “I will not get you boxers, that is most definitely not in my job description, Boss.” Y/N sent a pointed look in his direction, moving to finally leave the room. While he was technically her boss as her employer, their work relationship was extremely collaborative and it never felt like he was in control of her, she just liked to give him shit for being a drama queen.

“Guess I’ll be going commando. How’s that going to work with me changing in front of you a bunch of times?” He teased right back, taking the clothes you had thrown at him and giving them a onceover. His teasing signalled that he was already feeling better.

Y/N shook her head and walked out of the room, “For the love of God, Harry, please put on underwear before you come out and continuously strip in front of me!”

The words he shouted after that were muffled, but they were something along the lines of how the human body is beautiful and shouldn’t be covered up. Unbelievable. As she set to work on making both of them some lunch, she finally heard Harry begin moving around. They had a lot of work to do as it was and whenever Harry was in a mood, whether it be a good mood or a bad mood, they always seemed to have a hard time focusing.

One night, that could be seen as the poster child for Harry and Y/N’s procrastination, was during the planning for the Adore You music video. Harry was in a super good mood that day and he had brought that energy to their meeting at his house. Y/N was supposed to be fitting him for the various outfits, but Harry, in his mania, ordered an overzealous amount of Chinese food. It took her and Harry hours to even make a dent in the food. And while they passed the time with eating, Harry and Y/N got further and further from their tasks, opting for conversations that included more fun topics than work. They had gossipped about some of the other people they worked with, Harry had begged for “the tea” about some of his other staffers and Y/N was happy to oblige. As much as Y/N would hate to admit it, she loved when they got off of work subjects and talked about how their day’s had been and what has been on their nerves lately. It was a nice way to decompress, it was like hanging out with a friend, except it wasn’t, not really.

Harry shuffled into the kitchen wearing what Y/N had picked out for him. Her smile grew knowing that he hadn’t changed what she’d picked. His confidence in her and her abilities never failed to feel like the biggest compliment.

“Go sit at the dining table, I’ve made us some little sandwiches and then we can decide the order we want to go through the outfits in.”

Before following Y/N’s orders, Harry continued his shuffling around, first to the cabinet for a glass, then to the fridge for water. At the end of the table, she set the plates between the head of the table’s spot and the one to its left. Harry took the side spot, so Y/N was on the end. After a bite of his food, Harry moaned loudly in contentment. This caused an amused look on Y/N’s face, there had been nothing special in his house so she had just made what was possible. This meant that Harry’s satisfaction was a little over the top.

“You’re acting like you haven’t eaten in a week. What did you do last night that got you in such a twist?” Y/N asked as she took a sip of her own glass of water. Harry nibbled at his lower lip after swallowing, trying to understand why he was particularly tired today.

“I guess I forgot to eat properly yesterday and then I went out running. And I stayed up late on the phone with,” he paused, eyes flashing to Y/N and then away again, “someone for SNL.”

Y/N hummed at his words before going back to her own eating. She didn’t understand why he hesitated about telling her he’d been on the phone last night, it especially irked her that he wouldn’t even say with whom. Professionally, it wasn’t really her business, but Harry was never secretive with her. Plus, it seemed to be work related so why was he being so flighty about it.

Moving forward, Harry peppier from eating and simply moving around, the pair set to work. They decided on trying on everything else first and then saving the Watermelon Sugar suit to the end. The other three main pieces for the night fit perfectly, Y/N had to only do minor reworks of certain areas.

“H, I need you to hold still…” Y/N interrupted Harry’s ramblings as she was crouched beside him.

She had to take up the hem on the pant legs so right now she was trying to pin them in the place she and Harry had agreed upon, without messing with the pleats.

“Sorry,” He mumbled, straightening out his back to stand taller.

He stayed quiet for a bit until Y/N popped back up, she looked at her notebook for reference on what she still had to tailor.

“Okay, next, the pants crotch is looking pretty fitted, so I assume you want it taken down a bit,” Y/N said as she got back into her crouching position. “Look in the mirror and tell me where you think letting it out looks best, I don’t have the best vantage point when I’m up this close…” she trailed off, placing her measuring tape directly on top of Harry’s crotch and running it down his leg a ways.

Once done with her first attempt at where she thought was best to let the pants out, she turned her eyes to the mirror that showed Harry in his suit with Y/N on her knees before him. Harry cleared his throat as he looked in the mirror, seeing Y/N with her eyes wide in anticipation in the position she was in made him want to run and hide. Her hands were extremely close to his dick, but it was literally her job, he knew he had to shake the thoughts that were running through his mind.

“Maybe just a bit further up actually, as much as I like the high waist with dropped crotch, I want this suit to have that specifically tailored look,” his hands motioned for Y/N to bring the drop up a ways.

Her hands then brought the measuring tape up, once again grazing over his area. Again, Y/N looked at Harry through the mirror for approval, and this time he gave it and she placed a single pin in the place where the pants would be let out to.

Standing up, Y/N hoped Harry didn’t notice the blush gracing her face. She was a stylist and used to being around naked bodies as well as touching around a man’s crotch when working. But Harry in this suit must have been magic, because she had felt extremely vulnerable on her knees in front of him in it. She had felt flushed the minute he hadn’t liked what she had done initially and she hated that she felt that way for some reason. Beginning to work on the sleeves of the suit set her at ease, Y/N was thankful to no longer be kneeling or in such close proximity to what was under Harry’s pants.

“Anything on your mind of late?” Harry broke the silence.

Y/N hummed with a pin stuck between her lips, folding up the suit jacket’s right sleeve. Plucking it from her mouth after a few silent moments, she said, “Not really, haven’t had time to do much else lately. Always thinking about you,” Y/N flushed as she realized what she had just said. “I mean, thinking about you like about your clothes and when they’re going to arrive and what I need to do about them, not you personally, sorry that came out wrong,” her blush intensified as she rapidly fumbled through her last sentence.

“Ow!”

“Oh my god!”

While Y/N had gotten flustered with her words, she managed to stick the pin she was using straight into Harry’s flesh. She immediately removed the pin from where it had stuck him.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry, H, we’ve got to get this off. I need to make sure you’re not bleeding onto the suit.”

Y/N rushed around to Harry's backside and began slipping off his suit jacket as Harry chuckled and began to unbutton the shirt as carefully as possible.

“‘S alright, Y/N, if there’s any blood on the shirt it’ll blend in, blood is practically the same color.” She glared at him through the mirror and Harry continued to laugh, “That is not funny, H, I shouldn’t have stuck you in the first place.”

“No, no,” Harry hushed Y/N as she began to slip off his shirt from one side to the other, taking off the sleeve on the side she hadn’t poked, “you’ve got so much on your plate with all the planning for the upcoming events. Then you worked yourself up over a little slip.” As Y/N carefully unbuttoned the cuff of the sleeve to try and slip off the shirt with the least amount of blood on it as possible, Harry finished with, “I wouldn’t mind if you were just thinking about me, though, an’ not the clothes.”

This time, Y/N was very in control, not willing to let herself slip up a second time today. She didn’t know how to respond to what Harry had just admitted. It wasn’t like this hasn't happened before. Both of them were guilty of making little comments that made it sound like they were interested in each other in a way that was a little different than professional or friendly. But every time the other person always had the responsibility to shut the idea down or completely blow past what their counter had just said.

“Harry…” She began, it was soft and pleading, like she was saying she couldn’t entertain that idea. Examining his forearm, after pulling the shirt completely away and resting it on a nearby chair, she saw a little spot of blood protruding from the pin prick she had caused. “Where do you keep your bandages?” Y/N decided that it was best to brush past Harry’s words this time and went off to find his first aid kit. Harry stood there, shirtless, staring at the blood on his arm. It really wasn’t a lot and it wouldn’t have done anything to the suit, but Y/N was always so careful and never wanted to ruin any of Harry’s clothes.

On her return, Y/N came upon a shirtless Harry perched on the edge of the table, with one arm crossed and his other - that was bleeding - being held slightly away from his body, as if Harry was afraid to touch it. His posture was slumped so Y/N could see his spine curving beneath his tanned honey-soft skin and his shoulder blades slightly flexed. While most of Harry’s body was covered in tattoos, she noticed how the closest tattoo to his back was the small line drawing of a guitar on the back of his left shoulder. Other than that his smooth back was bare. Y/N found it interesting that Harry had never chosen to ink his back. She jogged lightly back into the room and Harry’s head turned to watch her approach. His bottom lip was caught between his teeth as he regarded her. She noticed he was being particularly quiet, but she had no idea why. Maybe he was still tired.

Y/N set to work on finding the correct tissue, neosporin, and bandage for Harry’s small wound. As she worked on fixing up her mistake, Harry’s eyes followed her movements. Green eyes flickering between her hands on his arm and her own eyes focusing on her task.

“After this, I actually can just head home and finish the rest of the work,” Y/N said as she unpackaged the bandage, “I already know where I need to take in the suit sleeves and the shirt’s sleeves were looking fine. So, I can get out of your hair and you can get to sleep early tonight.” She placed the nude toned bandage over Harry’s arm, she was a little sad to find he didn’t own fun bandages. That was something that she expected from Harry, but she resigned that maybe she didn’t know everything about Harry.

Before Harry could speak, Y/N continued, “Don’t rehearsals for the show start tomorrow? When are you flying to New York?” She ran her hand over the bandage, smoothing it in place. Her hand lingered there as her eyes looked up and met Harry’s. Harry twitched his arm away from Y/N’s touch and scratched his nose slightly.

“Yeah, I’m flying out tomorrow morning. When are you set to fly out?”

“Friday. I’ll get in before the final dress rehearsal and then I’ll be there for the show.” Y/N stepped back and began to rehang the suit jacket and shirt that they had discarded in her haste to not get blood on them.

Then Y/N stood there staring at Harry. He looked at her slightly confused by her doing nothing when she said she was leaving. “Pants, H.” She said finally when she realized he had forgotten he was still wearing the suit pants. “Oh! Sorry,” Harry exclaimed as he began to unbutton and remove the pants he was wearing. He handed her the pants and she exchanged them with his live-aid t shirt. He took it graciously before slipping it on and disguising his toned body beneath it. Then he took his pants from earlier and fully redressed himself.

“Damn!” Y/N said and Harry’s head flipped to watch her as she began to put all of the clothing back in their garment bags and take down the rack.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just pinched myself with the rack, I’m all left feet today.”

“Here,” Harry chuckled as he walked over to help Y/N, “let me help you with all this. Just in the boot of your car, yeah?” Y/N nodded and smiled in appreciation for Harry. He grabbed her keys laying on the table and then took the rack and a garment bag. Even if things sometimes got tense between them, for whatever reason, he was always quick to move past it and be thoughtful and kind in the best ways for Y/N. After shaking her hand out, she grabbed the last garment bags and followed Harry out to her car. Harry shut the back of her car softly and turned to face Y/N, she stood beside her car door, ever so slightly leaning against it. He walked to her side and smiled.

“I’ll see you in a week,” he said before wrapping his arms around Y/N’s much smaller frame. His body was radiating heat and it felt good against Y/N in the crisp night air of London. She pressed into his hold and wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed him hard. “Less than...Can’t wait to see you make an absolute fool of yourself out there.” Harry protested her tease with a small, “Hey!” but mostly focused on his hands on her back and the way her hair felt especially soft under his chin. Finally, Y/N pulled away, “Kidding! You’ll be amazing and you’ll look killer while doing it.” She winked before opening her car door and driving off. Harry was left with the lingering scent of her perfume and shampoo mingling in his nose.

-

It was the Saturday night, November 16th, 2019.

Harry and Y/N were in his dressing room before the show started. His outfits for the night were lined up, except for his opener one that Y/N had just dressed him in. His first change would be for Light’s Up, then a couple skit outfits that had to be moved elsewhere for quick changes, then the Watermelon Sugar suit, and then finally his end of the show casual look. The opener looked incredible, it’s fit was impeccable and Y/N knew people were going to love it.

She stepped back from Harry to give his whole body a once over, the SNL hairstylist had just blown out his hair and given him a sort of middle part. It definitely looked good and paired with the suit - Y/N could already tell it was going to be a hit by all accounts. Harry grinned back at her, doing a little dance to show just how much he was loving his clothes and how excited he was.

Grabbing the lint roller, Y/N gave the lapels of his suit jacket a once over and then moved it slightly out of the way to roll the big collar of Harry’s shirt and the bits of the body of the shirt that were showing underneath the jacket. Basically, Y/N was lint rolling over Harry’s clothed abs. Apparently, that was a ticklish area for Harry because he began to squirm and giggle under the tool’s touch.

“Seriously, H?”

She smiled as she said it, so excited for Harry that she couldn’t be mad at his relestness.

“Can’t help it. ‘M so giddy. Plus, I’m a wee bit ticklish.”

Y/N gave him a single laugh before removing the lint roller and smoothing over the shirt against his stomach and then over the lapels when she put the jacket back in place. She adjusted the Gucci reader’s she was wearing today, that were more for decoration than anything, but she liked to pretend they made her see better.

“You look smashing, Mr. Styles. Absolutely gorgeous, if I do say so myself.”

“Are you talking to me or the suit?” Harry asked as he flipped to look in the full length mirror in the dressing room.

“Can’t it be both?”

“Sure,” Harry said, he noticed the clock and realized it was his time to get in places. He leaned down and placed a small kiss on Y/N’s cheek, “It’s my time, thank you, Y/N.” She blushed at his words and actions. As he walked out the door, she called after him, “Break a leg, H!” He sent a final air kiss in her direction before completely disappearing.

She looked at the clothes hanging on the rack in the room and palmed over the fabric. Checking the lapels and brushing the lint roller over the, she finally stepped back and was happy with how they looked. When the show was just about to start, she flitted to the part of backstage where she could watch Harry perform. She giggled along to his monologue and grinned whole-heartedly when the crowd would roar with approval. Y/N had heard all of the jokes already because of the dress rehearsal yesterday, but it didn’t matter. Harry was killing it. She also took time to appreciate how good Harry looked in his suit on stage. In front of the lights and all the people, his suit shined brightly with the pops of blue and yellow and the oversized grey-iege jacket. His soft chestnut hair billowed perfectly to frame his forehead as he sipped from the faux martini. Y/N bit her lip to stifle her laugh. The fact that Harry, her boss and friend, was up on the Saturday Night Live stage with pink and blue nails sipping from a faux martini, it was perfect.

When Harry came back for his first performance change Y/N was right there waiting for him.

“Hi, that was really good,” she smiled up at him as he began to take off his coat.

He smiled brightly back at her as he exhaled a hefty breath, “You think so?”

“Yes! C’mon, everyone loved it. You delivered it all perfectly…” she took over undoing the buttons on the shirt because Harry was moving too slowly. “I’m in a man band now…” Y/N mumbled under her breath before chuckling.

“Did you just imitate my accent?” Harry said, now pulling off his sleeves.

Y/N moved around his back to take the shirt to hang and grab his Lights Up outfit. They worked like a well-oiled machine together, constantly taking over roles to get things done more efficiently, but never stepping on each other’s toes.

“Nope,” she winked before handing him the black sequin jumpsuit and exchanging it for his yellow pants. After rehanging the pants and bringing over Harry’s different set of boots, Y/N said, “Y’know, I’d have to say that your hair is giving your suit a run for its money.” She placed the shoes on the table beside Harry and began to fix into the place different parts of the jumpsuit, moving to zip up the back and then coming to the front to smooth it.

“What do you mean?” Harry looked in the mirror and delicately touched the edges of his hair, considering Y/N’s statement.

“No one ever really sees it how it is, nicely blown out but not too much product so it falls to frame your face. What’d you tell the hair person you wanted?” Y/N stepped back to allow Harry to change his boots from one Gucci pair to another, like he did with most of his wardrobe.

“Just told them to make me look mature. You think it looks good?” He looked up at Y/N when he asked the question.

“Think it looks sexy, that’s what I’m saying, no one’s gonna be able to focus on your clothes with how good your hair looks.”

“Ah,” he deftly runs his hands down his suit as he looks in the mirror.

Y/N just stares at Harry, checking him over one more time. She wasn’t lying about his hair, it was sexy and she wanted to run her hands through it to feel how soft it was. In a complete friend way of course.

“I like it…”

“It looks like you just rolled out of bed, but the bed was made of angel feathers.”

Harry laughed at Y/N’s description. He shifted his body to face her more and moved closer to her in the process.

“Alright, you should probably get back out there,” Y/N closes the gap between them and adjusts the chain of his jade and silver crosses and brushes over his broad shoulders.

They’re professional touches, but her movements hold an undercurrent of intimacy that neither of them realize. If anyone had been looking on, they would see how Y/N’s fingers delicately caressed Harry’s skin right before she cradled the pendants to move them in place. They would also see Harry instinctively lean forward into her touch and breathe slightly deeper to take in her scent. When she brushes over his shoulders, he straightens up at the touch and shows he’s ready to get back out there. It’s as if she prepared him to go.

Harry sings Lights Up and the crowd loves it. Sarah kills her drumming and Mitch eats up lead guitar. The backup singers bring out a different tone to the song. It is all around an amazing performance.

As Y/N clapped along with the crowd from backstage, Aidy Bryant approaches her.

“You’re Harry’s stylist, right?”

Y/N turns her head at the woman next to her, “Yeah?”

Aidy smiles, eyes slightly gleaming, “Well, you’re wonderful at your job.” As Y/N is about to thank her, Aidy continues, “And Harry knows that too, he talked about you all week. We all thought you were his girlfriend at first.”

Y/N laughed lightly and had to keep herself from letting her jaw drop at Aidy’s words. She even choked a bit on her own spit and had to cough slightly before even being able to think of a response, “Well, um, yeah...no, H, Harry is just my employer and...friend. No dating, we just get along well. Which is important since we spend a lot of time together - for work of course!”

Aidy smiled sweetly at Y/N, “Yeah, Harry explained that when Beck asked him how long you’d been together. At first he had said a couple months and then said ‘wait, Y/N is just my stylist, we’ve been working together for a couple months’ and then we all felt really dumb.”

“Don’t feel dumb,” Y/N reassured her, unsure why she was actually continuing this conversation, “He loves to talk about clothes and that’s where I fit in to his life, so I’m sure my name would come up a fair bit. Was that it?”

“Yeah I guess, but-” Aidy began to say more, but Y/N cut her off.

“Oh gosh, I’m sorry, but Harry’s finished and I’ve got to go help him change for his next song.”

Aidy was left in Y/N’s wake, chuckling to herself, fully reassured about the reason that they had all thought Harry had been dating Y/N. Because they already acted like a couple. And they were both helplessly in love with one another and neither of them knew.

The rest of the show went off without a hitch. Harry continued to wow the crowd and Y/N sent him off from his dressing room always looking fabulous. Just as he was about to walk back on stage for his final farewell, Y/N noticed a tiny string on his trousers zipper. Unable to stop Harry and unable to grab at the string without looking odd, she had to let him walk on stage with it. It wasn’t actually a big deal, but Y/N sighed in annoyance because she knew that string was going to bug her for the rest of the night.

“Treat People With Kindness!” Harry finishes off his farewell.

Applause begins to sound and the cast is out front hugging and chatting, while Y/N is watching from the side still fixated on the string on Harry’s pants, now simply dangling. Finally, they begin to clear the stage because it’s time for the after party. Y/N knew there was no stealing Harry away to fix the problem that was now fixated in her mind. Every cast and crew member was trying to talk to him, congratulating him, hugging him, anything to spend time with the incredible man. Y/N couldn’t blame them, but she also wanted to be able to go some place quiet and debrief with Harry about his outfits. She wanted to look up what people were saying about his clothes and discuss the critiques with Harry. She also wanted to start discussing what was coming next with Harry. But most of all, she just wanted to hang out with Harry.

What Y/N wanted wasn’t going to happen anytime soon, which she knew, but it still only grew her annoyance with that string. If only she could get it off of him, maybe then her mind would be able to relax a little.

She meandered backstage, resigned she wouldn’t be talking to Harry for a while. There she went to find the band’s dressing room, knowing she would find Mitch or Sarah who she’d be happy to talk to. They weren’t ones for the spotlight and no one ever really seemed to want to brownnose with them at events like this. Y/N had met them a few times.

The first was when Harry had asked Y/N to meet him in the studio in mid July, Mitch and Sarah had both been there helping Harry finish up something for the album. Y/N never asked what, she liked music quite a bit, but when it came to the technical part of it, it went completely over her head. Harry had introduced them both and they seemed lovely. After that, she had seen them around for an event or two of Harry’s. It wasn’t much, but it was more than any of the other people around right now.

Just as she was about to knock on the door it swung open, revealing Harry’s entire backing band. “Hey,” Y/N said sheepishly, “Harry’s being fawned over by the masses and I don’t actually know anyone else here. Is it alright if I hang out with you all at this after party? I doubt there’s going to be anyone really dying to meet the stylist.”

She smoothed her own clothes as she spoke. Y/N wanted to look professional tonight because sometimes when she was dressed in more fun or “young” clothes she got mistaken for someone who had snuck in. The only thing that got people to not question her authority to be where she was, was a card that read ‘staff’ that she would clip onto whatever she was wearing at places like this. Tonight, she chose a pair of purple plaid pants, a sleek lilac tank underneath a cream knit shawl, and cream Gucci mules.  Ever since Harry took an interest in Y/N’s pearl necklace, she had largely stopped wearing hers because she hoped never to be photographed matching with him. However, she had known the pearls would have completed the look, even putting them on in her hotel room, twisting a pearl in her hand as she looked in the mirror, and then taking the necklace off again and settling on a different silver necklace instead. The ‘staff’ card was clipped to her pants pocket tonight.

“Of course!” Sarah said as the band began to file out of the room, “You might want to take your tag off now, though, you’re done working for the night.”

Her laughter rang sweetly through Y/N’s ears and she smiled back before removing her identifying card. She hated the piece of plastic and was glad to take it off, it never went with her outfits, but she had gotten tired of taking out her business card every time someone asked what she was doing. Y/N was sure that during the tour she’d be fine without it, but as Harry’s show appearances were beginning to ramp up she knew it would be helpful to have.

“Thanks...you all were amazing out there tonight. Second time on the SNL stage right?”

The group of you began to walk in the direction of where the after party was being held. Mitch piped up, “Thanks. Yeah, I love their box stage setup, it’s pretty cool.” Y/N was happy that she had people who were easy to talk to so that she wouldn’t be alone tonight.

Arriving in the room of the party, they were all quick to grab the alcohol that was being provided at the pop up bar. Y/N wasn’t normally a fan of drinking at events like these, mainly because she was not usually invited to this part of the night and when she was she wanted to be alert. But she figured there wasn’t much else to do so she took a hearty sip of the champagne. It was a little sweet, her face scrunched.

“Too sweet?” Mitch questioned when he saw Y/N’s face.

“Just a little for my taste.”

“Harry’s not going to be drinking tonight then. So particular about his alcohol,” Mitch continued.

Y/N laughed, “Well I’m glad, then I don’t have to deal with him being a baby about his hangover tomorrow.”

Mitch quirked an eyebrow at Y/N’s statement. Sarah and the others in the band had dispersed to mingle with the SNL party goers, leaving Mitch and Y/N to their conversation.

Realizing what she said could be seen as slightly weird out of context, Y/N quickly started again, “because I’m supposed to go shopping with Harry tomorrow. He wanted to go to Gucci and a couple other stores here before flying to LA. I’m going back to London until the listening parties, so we need to figure out the finishing touches for those and..” Y/N trailed off trying to remember which looks weren’t completed yet for the next few shows, Mitch waited patiently, “a few of the suits for the Late Late Show. He’s not happy with one of them so we might switch it. But anyway, you know how he is with a hangover. Proper child.”

Mitch threw his head back in laughter at Y/N’s serious look that she gave him. “Yeah, he can be...a lot. I meant to tell you, Harry looked great tonight. All of the clothes were fantastic,” Mitch added.

He was kind and Y/N appreciated him sticking with her. The two of them had rested themselves against a wall near the bar, sipping their champagne and enjoying each other’s company.

“Thank you.”

Mitch opened his mouth to say something else, but Heidi Gardener, another SNL member interrupted.

“Y/N, right!?”

Y/N and Mitch both turn to her, equally taken aback by the sudden burst of energy from this person they didn’t really know. Y/N nodded.

“Oh my gosh! You have to tell me where you got the jacket Harry is wearing!”

Heidi even goes as far to point in Harry’s direction. Y/N knows what she’s talking about, but her eyes still wander to where she pointed. Harry stood in a clump of people, surrounded by Ben Winston, James Corden, and the Gerbers who had all come to watch. She sighed as she watched his eyes shine as he laughed with a smile on his face. She hoped that by now the string had fallen off his pants by now, if not she was going to kick herself later.

“Oh, it’s Bode,” Y/N’s eyes coming back to meet Heidi’s happy face, “but it’s custom made from a vintage blanket. There’s only two that exist.”

Y/N and Mitch watched as Heidi’s face dropped.

“And I’m pretty sure the designer owns the other one,” Y/N added, “Sorry.”

Heidi smiles and jokes, “Know any ways I could possibly get Harry to give me his?”

“He loves that coat. I have no idea what you could possibly do to convince him he didn’t need it anymore.”

“Sex, probably,” Mitch says under his breath.

Heidi doesn’t catch it as she walks back off and Y/N turns to swat him with her free hand.  

“What? He always gives away his clothes to girl’s he has crushes on.” Y/N rolls her eyes at Mitch’s words.

“Probably best if you don’t inform the masses about that,” a new voice says.

Unbeknownst to Mitch and Y/N, Harry had broken away from his entourage to steal a few minutes with his two friends, his best friends if he was being honest. They laugh together as he wraps his arms around their shoulders and pulls them both into his chest. Y/N feels the warmth radiating from Harry’s body as she snuggles into his side. Her hand wraps under his jacket and around his waist to squeeze right about his hip bone. His face is gleaming with a small sheen of sweat, but his smile is so big she barely notices his perspiration as he looks down at her.

“Heard you were talkin’ shit?”

Mitch quips, “Us? Never.”

Harry scoffs, “Come off it!”

When he releases Y/N and Mitch from his grasp, Mitch straightens up while Y/N’s eyes immediately go down to Harry’s crotch. She’s not paying attention to their conversation as she tries to make out in the dim light whether the string is gone or not. The men realize she’s not listening and they both follow her gaze.

Confused, Harry asks, “Y/N, any particular reason you’re staring at my dick?”

Her head shoots up, eyes wide and cheeks flushed from embarrassment.

“I wasn’t!”

Mitch laughs and decides he wants another glass of champagne right then, mumbling something about how that was his cue. Harry smiles, knowing she wasn’t doing what he had said, but still intrigued to know what was going on in her mind.

“You had a string right on your zipper and it’s been bugging me since you went out for your outro. This is the first time I’ve seen you on your own and I couldn't exactly go up to you in a random crowd and grab at your crotch. But now I can’t see in this light…” Y/N bit at her lower lip and furrowed her brow still trying to see if the string was there.

“Have you really been thinking about it this whole time?” Harry asked, slightly concerned.

“Yes...I know it doesn’t matter, but I just want your clothes to look perfect.”

Harry takes a deep breath as he makes a small smile at Y/N. Then he brushes over the front of his pants, hoping he removes the string if it's still attached to him. “There, I’m sure it’s gone now. I’m sorry you had to worry about that. Just know everyone I’ve talked to has been raving about the clothes.” He placed his ring-clad hand on Y/N’s upper arm and squeezed it.

“You did an amazing job,” Y/N said.

Harry pulls her into his chest one more time. This time without Mitch so both of Harry’s arms go around her shoulders and both of hers go around his slender waist. Again her hands disappear under his coat and thumb over his warm white t-shirt, her face resting on his chest right next to the word ‘Sex’. His arms tighten around her back as they rest there for a while. Y/N always has to make herself pull away, knowing that Harry will stay there for as long as he can - in anyone’s embrace - and remembering they’re in a public setting, she didn’t want anyone to assume things, even if she had already been made aware that people had.

“We’ll debrief more later tonight, yeah? The champagne is terrible so I won’t be drinking,” Harry said.

Y/N laughed under her breath as she smiled at his words. Mitch and her knew Harry too well. She nodded about getting together later, “Alright. Get back to your fan club.” Harry narrowed her eyes at her words, not sure if she was trying to sound sarcastic or not.

-

Hey, I’m back at the hotel. Just let me know when you want to debrief :) x

Y/N texted Harry the minute she got back to the hotel, she had no idea if he had left before her or was still at the after party. All she knew was that it was late and she was starting to get tired. Still, it was important for them to talk about their plans for tomorrow and she also really wanted to just be with him alone. Whenever they would debrief after big events Harry and Y/N would laugh at all the outrageous stuff they had seen go on throughout the night.

When she was still a freelance stylist she had helped Harry to plan his Camp outfit at the Met Gala. That night, they never even went to bed and had to debrief about the clothes the next afternoon over tea at the Palace. Both her and Harry were recovering from their exhaustion and nursing equally terrible hangovers. But there they were, sitting in the center of the dining area of the hotel, being served some of the nicest tea and sandwiches Y/N had ever had. It was amazing. Y/N had never felt that rich in her life before and Harry had told her the craziest stories about the most famous people in attendance. It was almost unbelievable what these people would reveal to Harry and Y/N was happy to listen to all of it, promising to never tell anyone else. That outing was probably the first time Harry realized he really liked Y/N and wanted to work more closely with her.

While tonight wasn’t quite as wild as the Met Gala had been, Y/N was still excited to hear any funny stories Harry might have in addition to their clothing talk. They really hadn’t had much time to chat since she had gotten to New York yesterday so it would be nice to just be alone together. Even if Y/N chalked their debriefs up to ‘shop talk’, she was always very excited for them.

As she reached her hotel room door, her phone buzzed with a message from Harry.

I’m still out, but should be heading back soon. Up to you if you want to wait up or we can just debrief in the morning while we shop. x H  

Y/N sighed at the message, she wanted to wait up and debrief before tomorrow, if not for alone time with Harry but professionally for being able to plan out their shopping tomorrow. Where Harry was carefree, Y/N was meticulous and planned out. She liked to have fun, but she knew when she had to get her work done, even when Harry was off in his own mind. Their work styles mostly coincided, Harry could be serious and focused, too, but often when he was surrounded by all his famous friends he had a hard time saying ‘no’ to whatever came up. So Y/N knew that Harry’s definition of ‘soon’ could range from actually soon to almost dawn. She really hoped he actually meant soon, so she shot him a text saying:

Just knock on my room and if I open it we can debrief lol x

Harry smiled down at his phone when Y/N’s text came through, slightly chuckling before double tapping and placing a heart reaction of her text. Then he was pulled into the limo that one of his friend’s had gotten them and was handed a flute of champagne.

Back at the hotel, Y/N threw her phone on the bed and decided to change and simply settle in for the night. If Harry made it back, he made it back and if he didn’t she’d wake up well rested.

Maybe thirty minutes into scrolling on her phone, Y/N heard a rough knock on her door. She was actually quite surprised that Harry had indeed been back soon. Rising from her snuggled place in the bed, she shifted around her night clothes and padded to her door. There stood, rather hung, a slightly disheveled Harry. His hair was whipped into disaster, something was smudged on his face, and she noticed a stain on his t-shirt that hadn’t been there the last time she’d been with him.

He slurred her name as he stumbled through the doorway. Y/N closed her eyes and sighed in exasperation. She was in awe that somehow Harry hadn’t gotten off his ass in the past hour and a half.

“What happened to not drinking tonight?”

She walked beside him and helped shove him into a sitting position on her bed. He flapped his arms, chaotically trying to get his plaid jacket off. Throwing her phone in the direction of her pillow, she moved to help Harry with his jacket. After quite a bit of strugglings, Y/N finally got the Bode jacket off of him successfully and threw it onto the nearby chair. Sighing, she settled beside him.

“So, Harry, care to explain?”

“Hi, Y/N…” He swayed slightly, attempting to face Y/N more. She threw out a hand to his shoulder, gripping him tightly to try and steady him.

“We went in this limousine, and they had champagne - good champagne - and I drank a bottle or so pretty quickly.”

“Or so? Oh Harry...I mean you’re free to make your own choices, but I don’t know if this was one of your best.”

“Wasn’t...wasn’t my idea. I was planning on just going back to the hotel. Then James convinced me to come out for a bit. Then the champagne was looking good so I went for it.”

“Like I said, you can make your own choices,” she patted his arm and went to the en suite bathroom to wet a washcloth to clean off his face.

“So, is it champagne on your shirt or am I going to have to go through hell to get the stain out?” She called.

Harry groaned and leaned back on the bed, fingering at the crisp white sheets. “Champagne,” he finally muttered as Y/N reappeared into the dim room, only the outside world and the light in the bathroom lighting this area.

“And on the face?”

She climbed onto the bed and kneeled beside Harry’s prone body, beginning to swipe at the smudge on his face. He tilted his head to face her, bringing the cheek with the dirt to lay facing perfectly up. His jawline showed perfectly and she felt the strength that laid beneath the skin she was washing.

His eyes flitted up to her face, trying to stop the spins he was currently experiencing. He hadn’t thought he was that drunk until he had been required to find his way up to their floor on his own.

“Lipstick?”

She sighed, running the washcloth over his cheek once more, and tried to push the image of some woman (or man who wore lipstick, she guessed) with her lips all over Harry’s face. She didn’t want to know who it was or why it was. It was too hard, especially after the day of people asking her about Harry and her relationship and insinuating things about him and his romantic life. She just liked to keep the words Harry and romance apart as much as possible, it made her life easier that way.

“It was only from-”

“It’s ok, Harry, I don’t need to know who you were…” She stopped herself, not even wanting to say ‘kissing’ or ‘snogging’ or even worse ‘shagging’. Adults were human beings and they could do a lot in an hour and a half. And again, she didn’t want to know.

“You keep doing that. Are you mad at me?”

“I’m sorry?”

“Calling me Harry, not ‘H’. Is it because you’re mad at me?”

“No,” she sighed, shifting to sit more casually, “No, I’m not mad at you. I just wasn’t expecting you to show up at my door like this. I try not to worry about you, but then when you show up like this, it kind of affirms I had reason to be concerned.”

She took a hand and smoothed over Harry’s tousled hair, he rolled his head back to face the ceiling. “Like I said, you’re an adult, capable of making his own decisions. And, I am just your stylist. I’m just glad you made it up here and knocked on my door. Probably would have given someone else a fright.”

He laughed, starting to sober up as the spinning in the room stopped. Her hands on his face and hair were soothing and sobering.

“Thank you for caring about me, love. And going beyond being just my stylist, you’re my friend Y/N.”

His eyes flickered shut and Y/N stared at his soothed features. His words were still slurred and she was sure the use of love was just his britishness slipping through his drunken state. The part about being more than a stylist, she tried to push it away, telling herself not to read more into it than her heart would like to. Even though he said she was a friend as well as a stylist and not anything more, it still sent so much joy through her body. He didn’t just see her as a work colleague and he had said it. But in his inebriated state, Y/N didn’t want to take everything he said as gospel.

She moved him up the bed with a little bit of his sleepy self’s help into a more comfortable position. It was pretty late now and she wasn’t going to kick him out. It would have been rude and unkind and that were two things Y/N rarely was. She went and grabbed the extra blanket from the cabinet and draped it over Harry’s large body for extra warmth since he refused to get under the covers. She also slipped off his boots and stained shirt per his request before getting into the other side of the bed and falling asleep.

-

She awoke to a shifting body beside her and she sat up confused as to who it could be. Quickly, Harry showing up drunk at her door came flooding back and she turned to look at the groaning Harry beside her. His arm was thrown over his face as he moaned, just waking up as well and experiencing the first bits of his hangover. This was going to be a long day.

“Hullo,” his voice was especially low, groggy and hoarse from the night before. He peaked over at her from behind the crook of his elbow. His eyelids barely open and his eyelashes weighing them down so much so that she could barely see his sleepy jade eyes.

“Good morning, H. Have a nice rest?” Y/N sat up and began to ready herself for the day, rummaging through her suitcase for an outfit and moving about the room.

Harry’s arms went to his sides as he worked to sit up, eyes following her figure as she moved around, seemingly not groggy very much unlike him. “Erm...I’m sorry for showing up pissed.”

“S’fine, H. Just glad you didn’t end up in a ditch or someone’s bed - someone’s that you might regret…” She barely regards him, throwing a single glance his way before shuffling to the bathroom to change. She knows they’ll be photographed today, it’s almost inevitable right now. Everyone knows Harry is in New York and people are buzzing to see him after his performance last night. She slips on the 70s inspired dress, the v-neck and long sleeves settling perfectly on her frame, it hugs her curves and lands around mid-thigh. Rolling on the bold mustard yellow tights and strapping up the brown leather mary jane heels, she looks herself over in the mirror. She then tries to tame her hair and do the rest of her routine, knowing she needed to get on with the day, shopping first and flying home second. Making sure Harry was okay was also on that list, but she couldn’t pretend like she wasn’t a little disappointed in him after last night.

When she returns, Harry is sitting with his legs hanging off the edge of the bed, head hanging as he’s hunched over himself. “C’mon, you gotta get going, kid. Lots to do today.” She’s pacing over to Harry’s deflated figure to pick him up and prompt him to get moving. When she arrives by his side his head lifts and his now more awake eyes stare up at her.

“I’m sorry for yesterday, really. I mean it.”  

“I told you already. It’s fine.”

“It’s not - or it wasn’t. You called me ‘Harry’ last night. I don’t think I’ve heard you call me that to my face since we started working together. I took your answer last night because I was swimming in it, but now, thinking about it. I know you were upset.”

She huffs, taking a seat beside Harry on the bed, choosing to not look at him, slightly confused why she had been so upset and why he was pushing it. “Ok, yeah I was annoyed, but I was also genuinely worried. I didn’t know you could physically get that drunk in that small amount of time. And then you show up at my door with somebody else’s…” Y/N falters, catching her slip up and deciding to fix her gaze on her shoes and their intricate design built into the leather.

“You’re upset that I had lipstick on me?” He’s trying to meet Y/N’s gaze, but her eyes are really interested in her shoes. His tone is confused, he’s trying to understand what’s going on in her mind.

She scoffs, risking a glance to Harry but then returns quickly back to her dress this time. “Please...it was just inconvenient for me, okay? Thought we were going to debrief and stayed up late for you. Then I had to take care of you after you hung out with your famous pals and I had barely even seen you all day. Felt a bit used.”

Harry shifted in the bed, turning to face her by tucking one leg beneath him. He places a hand on hers that was placed on the end of her dress. Her eyes finally meet with his and she feels her breath slightly catch in her throat. His eyes are piercing, his gaze intense, maybe even a tinge of anger. “Y/N, I would never have come to your room if I even had an inkling that this would be how you’d interpret it . Even though I was drunk, I wanted to see you, that’s why I came up here, because I wanted to be with my friend, one of my best friends, not because I just needed some pushover to care for me.”

She sighs, feeling icky still about the whole situation. She sometimes found herself in fights that she never intended, she wished she hadn’t said anything at all. But she also knew that wasn’t healthy either. Flipping her hand, she intertwines her fingers with Harry’s and smiles for the first time that morning. His expression softens at it. “Look, I’m sorry too, H. It honestly wasn’t that big of a deal, but I appreciate that you’re such a great guy and boss to want to truly apologize and make sure I’m comfortable and happy… Oh, and I promise I’ll never call you anything but H from here on out - unless you tell me otherwise.”

He cackles unabashedly at her words, before suddenly clutching at his temple with his free hand. “Fuckin’ hangover,” he mumbles. She smiles and stands up, beginning to throw his shirt and shoes from the end of the bed at him, “You need to get ready. Go pop some advil or whatever. My flights at 5 so we haven’t got all day, H.”

“There she is,” Harry grins, beginning to put back on the stained ‘Sex’ shirt.

As he hustles out of the room, shoes in hand, she calls to him one last request, “When you’re in fresh clothes make sure you bring me that stained shirt. Gonna have to spot clean it when I’m back in London!”

“Of course! And we’ll debrief as we shop, yeah?”

“Yes!”

The two of them were shouting to each other as the door continued to close on them. Chuckling to herself, she begins to pack up her room, knowing she had to check out before they left. Her spirits already lifted, she doesn’t even notice as she throws Harry’s forgotten Bode jacket into her suitcase with some other items that had been on her chair. She wouldn’t notice it until she was back in London unpacking from the trip.

Shutting the case, she springs back up from her crouched position and walks to look in the full length mirror again. Her fingers run the length of her dress, leafing over the slightly darker brown embroidered flowers that were woven into the tan fabric. She squints as she turns sideways and pops a heel up behind her. It looks good, but something is missing. Rummaging through her carry-on she pulls out her old butterfly bandana she used as a head scarf and begins to fix it into place on her head. Placing large sunglasses on the bridge of her nose, she feels like the look is complete and gives herself some poses in the mirror; a peace sign, an air kiss, a Marilyn Monroe. She laughs at herself.

A knock on the door shakes her from her childish fun. Straightening up, Y/N saunters over to the door, swinging it open with ease. “H?”

“You ready?” Harry stands in a fresh pair of Marni trousers paired with a striped orange and mauve Marni sweater. He, like Y/N, had this thing about wearing the brand you planned to shop at. He didn’t always stick to his rule, but he usually didn’t like to wear Gucci when he shopped at Gucci.

“Yeah, just need to check out and drop my baggage at the front to be held for later.” Y/N slips through the door and notes how his outfit compliments hers. She wouldn’t mention it, but it's something to think about since he had known what she was wearing. She wasn’t sure why she noticed things like that, if asked, her answer would probably be that it was the stylist in her, just her job.

-

Stepping out of a black town car on the side street next to Gucci to go in the side entrance would never get old for Y/N. She had never really enjoyed the idea of fame, but from a young age she had known she wanted to be able to afford the finer things in life. Going into the Gucci store now, especially with Harry, was like going to the candy store once you’re a grown up and can buy whatever you want rather than what your parents will allow you to.

Today, Harry and Y/N didn’t have as much time as they would usually like to spend in the store, but they were just happy to be doing what they loved. Y/N had been ecstatic to find out Harry found shopping to be an essential part of his life and that he liked to do his outfit shopping in person rather than online. Trying on clothes and picking out things you liked just was so much more fulfilling when you were in the physical store. Then make that all happen with Harry Styles as the buyer, then it was a real party. The stores liked to pull out their Champagne and clear the store to allow him privacy, specifically when it was for clothes for projects under wraps. In the beginning of her employment, it was only ever Harry who would do the trying on of clothes, but as the two of them got acquainted and comfortable with each other, she found herself trying things Harry would pick out for her. At first, she would veto some items saying they were too expensive for her, but eventually she learned that her new salary covered whatever it was. She had always enjoyed designer labels and choosing to be a stylist meant she had nice clothes, but only working for Harry had caused her closet to double in size and triple in value.

“So we are looking for some trousers today,” she tells the worker at the store, reminding them of what she had already called ahead about. The employee nods and proceeds to lead them into the room where they had laid out an assortment of pants for Harry to pick from.

“What do you think of these?” Harry walks out and strikes a pose, popping one of his hips to the side and his hands on his hips. The pants strain around his thighs, but fit practically perfectly everywhere else. His slim waist is perfectly encircled by the fabric and he’s decided the sweater he was wearing didn’t match them and he’d rather go shirtless. This choice technically should allow her to solely focus on the pants, but it actually makes her focus that much more diverted. She makes a spinning motion with her pointer finger as she purses her lips. He takes a quick spin and the boot cut slightly flares with his movement. The pants are a dark brown with a single plaid crossing in a lighter brown. They are only lightly flared, which she prefered to the extreme flare that some of Harry’s suits had. She narrows her eyes at the pants to keep her gaze from shifting to the taut muscles of Harry’s arms and torso or the dark ink that licked over his skin in the beautiful designs of his choice.

“They’re nice,” she pulls up a picture of the top part of the outfit he was planning on wearing, “Do you think they match with this though?” Harry walks over to her seated position and bends to look at her phone. His skin radiates heat and the smell of his cologne and she sniffles slightly with her sensitive nose. His eyes flicker to her face when he notices her little noise, but returns to looking at the phone when she doesn’t spare him a glance. She felt his gaze on her, but couldn’t bring herself to look from the phone. She knew his proximity would make it even harder for her to keep her eyes off his naked torso. The expensive smell of Harry mixed with the expensive smell of the store was a lot to handle.

“Yeah...no. You think they’re not right,” she widens her eyes at Harry’s words when he pulls away. He turns to the mirror in the open dressing room and fiddles with the waistline of the pants. “I agree,” he finishes before stalking back into the room and shutting the heavy velvet curtain that worked as the door to it.

He tries on five more pairs of trousers and finally settles on two pairs for the two different listening parties. A heavier, wool-tweed pair that was dark brown and then a lighter brown tweed pair. He was still in the lighter pants as he stared into the mirror. He beckoned to Y/N, and she quickly set down the flute of Champagne she had been sipping at lazily as he admired himself.

“Is it possible for you to take it in a bit more,” he says in a hushed tone to her, not wanting the workers to overhear. They were helpful but if they overheard they would wait for the store to tailor the trousers and he preferred for Y/N to do it. He rubs at the waistline again and she moves closer, her hands going to his sides. Her fingertips graze the naked skin above the trousers and Harry shivers at the coldness of the new touch. She ghosts softly over the waistline herself and smooths the fabric until she’s pinching a small amount on each side. She hums, pulling back from Harry and looking at the fit of them now, examining whether that makes them look better.

Then she nods and smiles up at Harry, “Ever the slender waist,” he grins right back as she admires him. She knew how much he liked praise and she was happy to give it to him, especially when he was so deserving. “I’d say size down, but then your thighs and bum might strain the fabric too much.” His face turns to a smirk as she blushes at her words. She releases the fabric and takes a hand to pat Harry’s smooth chest before walking back to her seat on the lovely couch.

“You sure you don’t want to try anything on, Y/N? Saw some killer boots when we walked in that screamed you.” Harry calls from behind the curtain, presumably getting redressed. Her laugh comes through the curtain slightly muffled, yet still a sweet melody in Harry’s ears.

“Definitely not now, we’re leaving any minute. Plus, I’ve got plenty of Gucci boots, don’t even show me them or I’ll be tempted.”

His laughter rings through the curtains, loud and unrestrained. She smiles to herself, unable to discourage the pleasure that weaves through her at the sound. His presence in all the different ways she experienced it was instantly comforting.

-

When she arrives back to her London flat, she practically flops on her couch once she’s inside the door. Her luggage forgotten at the door, as she shrugs off her coat. It was around 7 am because she had chosen to take the red eye for some reason. She groaned as she thought about the day ahead of her. Even though Harry was halfway across the globe, she still had plenty of work to do. She had to finalize the outfits for the listening parties now that they had the pants to complete the looks. Then she had to start thinking about Harry’s December appearances. She had sent ahead his Late Late outfits that he had needed in Los Angeles for the pre-filming, but she still had to deal with the outfits for the live part of the show.

Today, she was set to go pick up the other pieces needed for the listening parties as well as items for the Graham Norton Show and Jingle Ball. She was most excited for her travels because that meant looking at brand new clothes that were perfect and gorgeous. She also knew she needed to spot clean Harry’s shirt, which didn’t spark as much joy in her tired mind.

The idea of the shirt staining with alcohol was what brought her out of her snuggling with her comfy couch. Sure, it couldn’t get that bad, but still she was a worrier and it would pain her if the iconic shirt got ruined. She padded back over to her luggage, now without her jacket or shoes. Her major suitcase got flipped on its side and she began to unzip it. It came open easily seeing as it was stuffed with her clothes and various items. She had to rummage a minute for Harry’s shirt that seemed to have run away inside the bag. Finally, the large white shirt made itself known and she grasped it happily.

As she looked over the stain near the collar of the shirt, her eyes traveled to a piece of fabric peeking out of her suitcase. It was a familiar blue, cream and white. A specific fabric she would never misplace, would never not recognize. Harry’s plaid Bode jacket. It was iconic and she loved it, but why did she have it in her suitcase. She definitely didn’t mean to have it, it’s genuinely just one of Harry’s jackets so it wouldn’t make sense for her to bring it back with the show's wardrobe. She tries to think back to yesterday, when she was still in New York. Thinking about why she would have it, she places the memories of Harry coming to her room, taking off his coat, and accidentally leaving it in her room all fit together. She must have just absentmindedly placed it in her suitcase without even realizing. She’s sure Harry wouldn’t mind, she’d shoot him a text, though, to tell him she had it. So he wouldn’t worry about whether he’d lost it or not.

When she gets ready for the day, she finds herself being drawn to blue and cream. Her outfit is understated and she just knows the jacket would finish the look. She loved that jacket and now that she had it, would it be a big deal if she wore it out. She figured it was fine. After she grabbed her purse, keys, and other essentials, she slipped on the coat. Harry was very broad shouldered and it hung oversized on her. She loved the look and snapped a selfie in the mirror before she headed out. While it felt a little narcissistic to constantly take photos of herself, she felt like as a stylist it was important to document her looks just as much as she documented her clients.

What she didn’t think about is just how much the rest of the world liked to document her client and those who were seen with her client. She didn’t think about how she had just been seen with Harry yesterday. That thought didn’t even cross her mind as she walked around the streets of London picking up her work. As she saw some photographers out and about (whom she assumed were for famous celebrities, not her). How it might seem with her wearing the Bode jacket Harry had worn on SNL two nights ago. The Bode jacket that there were only two of.

None of it crossed her mind. Not until it was the end of the day and she had a whole slew of texts from Harry’s manager. A few from Harry, and others but the other fifteen were solely from Jeff. She was a bad texter so as she walked into her flat and finally looked at her phone after putting down all of her garment bags her eyes went wide.

Please tell me you’re not out in London right now!

What are you wearing??

That cannot be Harry’s jacket Y/N

Seriously?

Please call me.

CALL ME. NOW.

      - All from Jeff.

She grimaced. The others from her friends including Harry would have to be ignored right now. Even if Harry was her boss, Jeff was who she had to deal with when it came to public appearances and it didn’t seem like she could get around this one. Normally, she never had to deal with him, but it seems today wasn’t normal.

- 

part 2

[sleeping-on-cracking-ice]

Hello, my request is for Niragi ✨ Y/N was popular in high school and always protect him when he was bully. When they saw each other in Bordeland, she saw how much he changed and keep her distance from him (which he hates), and she have an attitude that make one of the militants wants to attack her but Niragi protect her like she did with him bc he would never admit her but she's his only weakness

Yessss I’ve actually been wanting to write something for Niragi that sounds very similar so I’m glad you requested this! Thanks so much! 💕

You’re Everything You Once Hated | Suguru Niragi

PART 1 | PART 2

{Alice In Borderland Masterlist}

Character(s): Niragi (ft. The guys that bullied Niragi, Ann, Hatter, OC’s)

Summary: You and Niragi were best friends in high school. When you arrive in the Borderlands, you notice he’s not the person he used to be, causing you to avoid him. But unfortunately, he’s not happy about it.

Warnings: swearing, bullying, smoking, drinking, violence, threatening, bullet wounds, implications of sexual assault

Word Count: 7.1k

*reader is female

Niragi gif credit

4 Years Earlier…

The young boy grunted out in pain, having been hit with another rock right between his eyes. This one managed to crack his glasses, making his vision go all distorted.

His classmates around him roared with laughter. His heart filled with both anger and sorrow, wanting nothing more than to dissolve into the wind and out of his current situation.

“Aww, little Niragi has become quiet. Where’s those sarcastic remarks from earlier, they seemed to have left you,” his attacker mocked, adding a mean tone to his voice.

Just the usual. ‘Maybe they might end their target practice with me earlier today,’ he hoped.

He had grown used to it. He now expected to be dragged under the bridge each day on his way home from high school, being pushed around and roughed up. It’s not like he could’ve defended himself anyway. It was six guys against one, he never had a chance.

A short jab to the back of his neck broke him out of his thoughts. He groaned and doubled over, feeling as he was going to throw up. “Come on Niragi, fight back! It’s no fun when you just stand there,” the blonde student complained, striding over to the weakened boy. He gave him a quick kick to his side, making him fall on his hip harshly.

“Fuck off,” Niragi groaned under his breath, half hoping his tormentor didn’t hear it. But unfortunately, the small remark reached his ears.

“What was that? Did you just try to defend yourself? You’re going to have to use a lot more than just a few words you fucking loner,” the boy poked, giving Niragi another harsh kick to his stomach, making him become winded and choke on air.

He laid there taking their harsh words and hearing their mocking laughter ring in his ears. What did he ever do to deserve that?

“Hey Haru!”

The blonde turned his attention from his target to the direction of the voice that called his name. There you stood, by yourself with no one else. You obviously didn’t think the situation through before throwing yourself into it. You remained near the stairs that led down to below the bridge, holding something behind your back, but Haru seemed to not notice it.

Your heart skipped a beat when the group of high school boys all locked eyes with you, confused about what you were doing interrupting them.

“The fuck do you want Y/N?” the blonde, Haru, asked you in an annoyed tone.

You gulped before answering him, trying to sound as threatening as you could without your voice cracking. “Let him go! He’s done nothing to you, why are you giving him a hard time?” you spat at him, taking a few brave steps closer to the scene in front of you.

Niragi slightly lifted himself off the ground to look over at you. He recognized you from his social studies class. You both sat together at the back, and he always thought you were too nice for your own good.

Niragi sat up and shook his head, trying to warn you to stop what you were doing. He didn’t want to drag you into his own problems. He would’ve felt awful if you happened to get hurt while trying to help him.

Haru rolled his eyes and groaned at you. “Why are you getting involved? This is none of your business,” he retorted, walking closer to you with the baseball bat in hand. You watched with fearful eyes as he swung the bat around, obviously to threaten you.

Your heart quickened and you felt it pound against your ribcage dramatically. As Haru got closer and closer, you stood your ground bravely, still holding your hand behind your back to hide your weapon from him. You weren’t stupid enough to get yourself involved without having some kind of way to defend yourself.

“Well? Are you going to answer me or just stand and shake like the pathetic girl you are?” Haru tormented, a confident smirk growing across his face.

His comment made your blood boil. “Do you have a saviour complex or something? Why did you think you could help this son of a bitch?” he pressed, gesturing towards Niragi who was slowly rising to his feet with a worried expression on his face.

That was it. He was getting far too close to you for your own liking, so you decided that comment was the final straw. You rushed towards him and pulled out the large can of pepper spray from behind your back, aiming directly at his smug face.

He cried out in pain the moment the spray hit his eyes, dropping the baseball bat and covering his face with his hands. He tried desperately to rub the stinging liquid out of his eye with his school blazer sleeves, but it wasn’t worth the effort as it only made it worse.

You moved quickly and picked up the bat that he dropped, running past him towards the other boys that were still gathered around Niragi. They all held shocked expressions on their faces.

“You want some too?” you bluntly asked, thrusting the pepper spray towards them. They all flinched and stumbled to get away. You smiled, feeling empowered.

Haru and the others ran, thinking that beating up Niragi wasn’t worth being blinded for.

You turned towards the bloodied boy standing against the wall looking at you in shock. You glanced at him, giving him a friendly smile. He returned it.

After that, you two became inseparable for the rest of your high school days, spending every waking moment together. With your tough attitude and Niragi’s shy demeanour, you were a strange friendship to have been made. You thought you would always stay together, until one day Niragi went missing.

You never guessed where he may have ended up, until you were sent there yourself a few years later.

*************

You breathed in a huge gulp of oxygen as the black bag was harshly pulled off your head. You tried to wiggle your hands to shield your eyes from the blinding sunlight seeping through the windows but struggled as you saw that your hands were tied to the armrests on either side of you. You groaned in frustration.

As the curtains closed so you could see probably, you saw a young woman with short black hair dressed in blue shorts and a white button up that was tied at the waist. “Sorry,” she began. “I forgot to close that before removing the bag.”

You looked around at your surroundings. You noticed that there were several more people in the room. The room was large, stretching down further until it came to a stop at the end where a large wall stood, conveying a huge spray painting across it that consisted of every card from a deck of cards. Some were crossed out, while a few number cards and all face cards remained untouched.

You whipped your head around, feeling restless from the number of eyes staring at you. You don’t remember how you got into this situation. All you remember is walking to a large light in the distance from your position on a bridge, being curious as to how it seemed to be the only building with electricity. Before you knew it, someone had grabbed you by the shoulders and shoved something over your head, making your vision go black and suddenly passing out.

You moaned in pain as you felt the back of your head throbbed, probably from when they punched you to knock you out.

“What’s going on?” you asked, struggling in your restraints more, trying to break free. An older man with glasses scolded you. “Stay still, Hatter will be here soon.”

Just as he promised, two large doors on your left burst open, revealing a man with a long decorative robe and dark glasses on. He had two other men beside him, both holding revolver guns.

“Ah! A newcomer!” he exclaimed excitedly, taking a big sip from his drink.

You froze, watching as he strides into the room further, making himself comfortable on a table in the centre of the room.

“A few of my militants tell me they found you sneaking around nearby The Beach,” he accused, pointing his finger at you.

You stared at him; confusion written all over your face. Militants? The Beach? What was he talking about?

After you didn’t answer him for a moment, he let out a big sigh and jumped off the table onto his feet, beginning to talk himself.

He explained the current situation to you. About how the dynamic at The Beach worked, and that considering the number of high-level cards you had on your person, you seemed to be the perfect candidate to add to the ranks of everyone there.

“And remember, death to the traitors,” he said, spite filling his tone. He had listed off the three main rules to you, each one adding more dread for you.

“Okay, all good. But I just want to say. If you want people to help you collect cards, kidnapping them isn’t the best idea. If it hasn’t hit you yet, that would make people want to help you less,” you smartly said, trying to stop your lips pulling up into a smirk.

All the heads in the room turned to Hatter. No one has ever questioned his motives to his face before, especially a newcomer.

Except, he didn’t get angry like everyone expected. Instead, he chuckled and held his drink out towards you. “Cheers to that, I guess. Have fun!”

************

The Beach was a lot more crowded than you expected. Your eyes almost popped out of your head when you walked down to the bottom floor to the pool. People were everywhere; dancing, swimming, drinking, talking, smoking. It honestly couldn’t have been more chaotic than it already was.

You spent most of the remainder of the day becoming familiar with the layout of the hotel. You found the room that you had been assigned to. You managed to score a room that was a little above average. Hatter decided to give you the benefit of the doubt and gift you a higher number due to your high number cards. He thought it was only fair.

You were sitting at a table nearby the bar. The sun had gone down but the party continued on through the chilly night air. You shivered, not being used to being dressed in a bathing suit twenty-four seven. You were annoyed that you weren’t even allowed to wear some sweatpants to bring you some kind of warmth. You guessed you would just have to grow used to feeling the cold on your skin.

The warm beverage slipped down your throat, bringing you at least a little bit of comfort. You had made yourself a coffee inside, not in the mood for alcohol just yet. You honestly didn’t like drinking without having anyone you trusted around you, just in case something was to happen.

You looked around the area, taking in everyone’s faces to see if anyone appeared friendly enough to be nice to you. You needed to make some allies before the next game, otherwise you would be the first they would sacrifice.

As you scanned the crowd, your gaze landed on a particular male, who was sitting in a more done up booth nearby the pool. He was wearing a black and white checkered shirt with black skinny jeans. He had several piercings in his face, making him seem more threatening.

You squinted your eyes. Why did he look so familiar? You swore you’ve seen him before.

You kept your gaze locked on him, watching as he communicated with the people sitting near him. You noticed that a huge sniper rifle was tucked behind him. He must have been a high-ranking militant, being able to carry a weapon like that around.

He suddenly flung his head back and let out a roar of laughter at something the guy next to him had said. You froze in your spot.

You could recognize that laugh anywhere. That loud, obnoxious laugh that used to come from your old friend Niragi from high school. Your best friend that randomly disappeared.

You blinked a few times before looking back at him. His facial features did match and the way he smiled seemed way too familiar to not be him.

How could he be here? Is this where he disappeared to a couple of years ago?

Your heart filled with joy and a wide grinned grew on your face. That had to be Niragi! Who else would it be?

You quickly stood to your feet, almost tripping on your chair in the process and began making your way towards his position.

Although, as you did so, another man approached him from behind, leaning over the seat and tapping his shoulder. Niragi turned with an angered scowl on his face, but it turned to a smirk once he heard what the man had to tell him.

You stopped in your tracks and watched as he leaped over the backrest of the couch suddenly, following the man with his rifle slung over his shoulders. They were headed to the door that led inside, so you quickly followed, wanting to reunite with your old friend from so long ago.

“Niragi!” you yelled out happily, trying to get his attention. A few heads turned at your voice around you, but he didn’t manage to hear you over the sound of the music blaring through the speakers.

“Niragi!” you tried again, but this time you were blocked by a few people in your way. A small crowd gathered in front of you, not noticing you trying to get past.

Niragi turned his head at the mention of his name but couldn’t see anyone calling his attention. He shrugged it off and kept following the man. He had told him that a young guy was causing some trouble inside one of the halls, so he was going to take care of it.

As you finally managed to force yourself through the small crowd that interrupted your path, you saw the Niragi and the man had already made it inside. You ran straight after them. You were feeling ecstatic, ready to throw your arms around him and give him the biggest hug ever to make up for all the days you’ve been apart.

As you quickly made your way inside, you caught a glance of his checkered shirt turning the corner a bit ahead of you. You moved your legs as quick as you could, trying to catch up.

You turned the corner, about to yell out to him again, but your voice got caught in your throat when the sight in front of you met your eyes.

“You really thought you could get away with this?!”

Niragi had a young boy pinned to the ground, pressing his boot against his upper back and shoving the barrel of his rifle against his skull violently. The boy below him was crying and begging for his mercy.

You had a small flashback to high school, when you saw Niragi’s main bully Haru shoving a baseball bat against the back of his head, him lying on the ground battered and bloodied.

It was the exact same scene. Only this time, Niragi was the tormentor himself.

“Niragi, I’m sorry! It won’t happen again!” he cried desperately, clawing at the floor trying to get away.

Niragi lifted his other boot and stamped it down roughly onto the boy’s hand. You covered your mouth as you heard a few bones crack.

He leaned down closer to the boy’s face and lifted his head up his hair, making him whimper in pain. “If I ever see you stealing from one of the executives again, this rifle will go down your throat and I won’t hesitate to blow the back of your skull out,” he hissed, sticking out his tongue and revealing the ball piercing he had.

The boy nodded, leaning away from Niragi as best as he could.

The man who led Niragi to the scene tapped him on the shoulder. “Alright that’s enough. You don’t want to give him PTSD,” he said calmly.

Niragi let out an annoyed groan. “But I was just getting started with him!” he whined, letting the boy out from under his boot and watching as he scuttled away like a bug.

You couldn’t move. You stayed put as the boy pushed past you, accidentally smacking into your shoulder in the process. Your eyes remained wide, staring at the tall man with fear written across your face.

This was not the Niragi you knew. It was not the Niragi you defended from those bullies. This was not the Niragi that used to be your closest friend, possessing a shy and timid personality. No, that Niragi was dead now. This was a devil standing in front of you. Nothing but a violent jerk that struck fear in anyone that he came across. What happened to him?

Unfortunately, you took a little too long to gather your thoughts and before you knew it, a rough grip was on your shoulders shaking you out of your daydream. You flinched in a panic as you saw Niragi’s angered face appear in front of yours.

“What are you looking at? You want some too?” he growled, shoving the barrel of his gun against your temple. You froze, staring into his dark, evil eyes, not knowing what to do.

You watched in confusion as his hard and angry facial features softened, rage turning into surprise, and even concern.

“Oh my god,” he whispered, taking his hands off your shoulders and backing a way a bit in shock. You kept your eyes on him. You wanted nothing but for him to recognize you a few minutes before, but now you weren’t so sure.

“Y/N?!” he exclaimed suddenly, causing you to jump as his tone. A large smile grew on his face, only you viewed it as nothing but sinister and evil.

“Oh my god Y/N! Since when did you get here?!” he asked excitedly. He quickly moved towards you again and held his arms out to give you a hug, but you backed away and shook your head, making him frown.

“What’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me? It’s me! Niragi! Your best friend!”

You shook your head again, trying to get the message across that you didn’t want him near you. “Sorry Niragi,” you mumbled, trying hard to keep your tears in.

You quickly darted around the corner, making your way to the staircase to run to your room. You felt overwhelmed. After everything that happened today, finding out that your closest friend was now a murderer was the last thing you needed.

Your stomach dropped as you heard heavy footsteps following closely behind you.

“Wait Y/N! Please let me explain!” he tried to stop you, but you weren’t going to give him any time after that performance with the young boy.

“Piss off Niragi!” you yelled, climbing the stairs as fast as you could, trying to get away from him.

You turned onto the floor that your room was located on, sprinting down the hallway. You glanced back over your shoulder to see that Niragi wasn’t that far behind you. He had dropped his rifle, now trying to catch up to you empty handed.

You quickly busted through your door and immediately pressed your entire body weight on it. You silently cursed Hatter for not letting you have locks.

You heard him arrive in front of it, immediately trying to open it, but you stood your ground. He may have been tall, but there was nothing but skin and bones on him. He had no muscles to help him push through.

You held the door shut with your leg and reached for a chair to put against the handle so we wouldn’t be able to open it. You managed to secure it underneath the handle and stood back, watching as Niragi tried to open it again, but failing.

“Y/N please just let me in! Let me explain! I didn’t mean for you to see that!” he cried. You almost felt guilty, hearing as he started tearing up behind the door while still attempting to let himself in.

“Please Y/N! Let me in! I missed you!”

You covered your ears with your hands. You didn’t want to listen to his pleas, it would do nothing but make you feel bad for him.

That wasn’t Niragi outside your door, that was a cold-blooded killer that you wanted nothing to do with.

**************

The next few days you spend on alert around The Beach, looking around every corner for Niragi. As much as you’ve missed him the past few years, that event that occurred with the young boy obviously showed that he was no longer the nice and caring friend that you used to have. If anything, he now has become what he hated most in his high school days, a selfish and careless bully.

Who wants to be associated with someone like that? Not you.

Although even though you managed to avoid him in person, his name was brought up wherever you went. A few people would approach you during the day and warn you that Niragi was looking for you. It only would make your anxiety spike, causing you to scatter off to a more secluded place somewhere at The Beach. Most of the time you would hide in your room, but on the few occasions you climbed to the roof or hung around Alice and Usagi (who you had befriended), you managed to keep away from the psychopath.

One day, you were sitting out on one of the tables out by the pool. It was still quite early in the morning, so there wasn’t a lot of people around. The air was quite nippy, making you shiver against the cold breeze. You rubbed your arms up and down, trying to warm yourself up. Unfortunately, you hadn’t grown used to the ‘always wear bathers’ policy yet.

You felt a gentle hand lay itself on your shoulder, making your eyes widen and your head whip around to yell at whoever had dared to touch you, but you held in your harsh remark when your eyes met with Niragi’s.

“Finally! I found you!” he exclaimed, a sickening smile spreading across his face. You leant away from his touch, scooting your butt along the seat of the table, trying to make distance between the two of you.

Niragi obviously didn’t like this.

“Why are you avoiding me like I’m some kind of disease? I just want to talk to you! I haven’t seen you in years!” he said annoyed, taking a seat at the table.

You eyed his sniper rifle closely, watching as he placed it down on the table in front of him. You felt somewhat relieved that the barrel was pointing away from you. Who knew when he would decide to use that vicious weapon against you?

You blinked, not daring to say anything. You wanted to get out of the situation as soon as possible. It was unbearably uncomfortable.

“Sorry Niragi, I have to go,” you stated, standing up out of your seat and moving to turn away.

Niragi gripped the back of your hoodie and pulled you so you sat down again, making you yelp in surprise. “No, you don’t. Stop avoiding me,” he growled, placing an arm around your shoulders and pulling you closer to him.

You closed your eyes tightly in discomfort. You swore you were so close you could hear his heart beating. With a short shove to the side, you got out of his grip and stood up again.

“No, I do. I’m sorry but I really don’t want to talk to you,” you bluntly said, becoming agitated from his insistent behaviour. Why did he think he could just tell you what to do?

He frowned, standing up as well. “Fine then, I’ll just come too. I don’t care if you don’t want to talk to me. You don’t get a choice.”

You rolled your eyes and quickly started walking away from him, hoping to at least get a head-start to stay away from him. You heard him jog up to you as you kept walking, seeing his shadow appear right next to you.

You became more and more anxious the longer he followed you. He started to get a little too comfortable in his movements, even having the audacity to touch your hair and comment on how much it’s grown.

It got to a point where you had walked all the way to the lobby about three times, realizing that he wasn’t even focusing on where you were going. You turned around just as he was reaching to grab your hand, looking him in the eye with anger written all over your face.

“Can you not take a hint?! Leave me the fuck alone!” you yelled, watching as his face contorted into shock at your tone.

“I don’t want to have anything to do with you Niragi! You’re fucking insane and sadistic! Has it not occurred to you that you’ve literally become the soul thing that you hated in high school?!” you sassed, anger ripping from your words and smacking him in the face.

The few people in the lobby turned their heads at the sound of your arguing, being curious due to not seeing anyone ever dare to yell such vulgar words towards Niragi.

He tucked his hand into his jeans pocket and readjusted the rifle on his shoulder, almost looking bored. “Yeah? And what would that be?” he asked, licking his bottom lip while staring at your menacingly.

You cringed as his movements. “A fucking asshole! A little bitch that preys on those weaker than him just so he can project his own hatred for himself onto them! You’re pathetic Niragi, and it’s a real shame that no one has in this shithole has told you so. Because no one knows you like I know you, and I know that on the inside, you hate yourself more than anyone could ever hate you.”

You took in a deep breath, regaining your strength. You suddenly saw the irony in your words. You accused Niragi of projecting his anger onto others when you just did it yourself.

Niragi rolled his eyes, bringing his rifle down off his shoulder and fiddling with the bullet canister. You felt your heart stop from his actions, being afraid that he was going to use it on you.

“Don’t act like you don’t miss me Y/N,” he laughed, glancing his eyes back up to you.

You grunted in annoyance. “Just leave me alone, please,” you begged, turning around and leaving Niragi to the peeping eyes still staring at you both.

He turned his head to everyone in the lobby. As he did so, everyone turned back to what they were doing, being afraid of being caught staring and yelled at by him.

“That’s right. Mind your own business,” he shouted out across the lobby to make sure everyone heard.

He watched you as you walked away, eventually turning the corner to go search for Alice and Usagi. At least they would give you some kind of security after what just happened.

He chuckled to himself, sticking his pierced tongue out and running it across his lips once again. “Just you wait Y/N, you’ll come running back to me soon enough. You can only keep that tough façade up for so long. Just wait until people find out that you’re all bark and no bite.”

************

You stumbled your way to the entrance of the hotel, head throbbing in pain and legs aching from the muscle strain you’ve put on them. You had arrived back from your game, being the only one that managed to survive. You didn’t feel well, both physically and emotionally, so you were planning on slipping into a coma for a few days to sleep off the pain that you were feeling at that moment.

It felt like a huge effort to even lift your feet. You didn’t feel like talking to anyone, so you weren’t even thinking of checking in on Alice or Usagi. You said to yourself you would look for them tomorrow. You were in too much of a bad mood to engage in conversation. You’d probably end up snapping at them, which wouldn’t be fair on them since they just completed a harsh game themselves.

As you were just about to enter through the large glass doors before a young militant woman with short blonde hair pushed through before you even had the chance. She managed to even knock your shoulder during the process, making you hiss in pain.

She looked you up and down with a disgusted expression on her face. “Watch where you’re going,” she spat before continuing walking inside.

You rolled your eyes. “Bitch,” you mumbled under your breath.

Her head quickly whipped around to meet your eye, an angered scowl on her face. “Excuse me?” she said in disbelief.

Your words got stuck in your throat. She wasn’t meant to have heard that. “I-I…”

“I-I..” she mocked you. You felt your adrenaline skyrocket. You’ve heard of this girl; she doesn’t take things lightly.

“Look I’m sorry, it just slipped out I promise,” you stammered out, putting your hands up in a surrender. You weren’t in the mood for dealing with her shit, you were grumpy and tired. You hoped she would let you off with just a warning.

But she had different plans.

She grabbed you by the back of your hoodie, dragging you outside again and brought you over to a small alleyway that ran along the side of the hotel. You struggled in her grip and protested the whole way.

Although, you stopped fighting against her when she shoved you against a brick wall and pulled a revolver out of her jacket pocket, pushing it underneath your chin. You froze and looked at her with pleading eyes, begging for her to have mercy.

“You’ve messed with the wrong person you bitch,” she growled, giving you a quick jab to the ribs. You yelped in pain, clutching your side. It hurt ten times more, considering you’ve already faced a horrific game that same night.

“I’m sorry!” you cried, feeling tears welling up in your eye sockets.

She scoffed and smirked at you. “Wow, all bark and no bite huh?” she teased, throwing a kick to your shin, making you cry harder.

Her words angered you, making you see red for a short moment. You forgot about the revolver against your chin and gave her a quick punch to the jaw, making her head whip sideways.

She groaned, clutching her face and slowly turned back to you. You felt yourself fill with regret when you saw the look on her face. She looked like she was ready to kill you.

“Is that how you want it? Fine, have a hole in your foot. Maybe it’ll manage to get you and your attitude killed off in the next game,” she snarled.

Your stomach dropped at her words. Before you could even protest, she pulled away and aimed the gun towards the ground and blew a quick bullet in the top of your foot.

You cried out, kneeling and grasping your foot in your hands in pain, biting your tongue so you didn’t scream too loud. The pain of the bullet seeped from your foot and up your leg, spreading across your body.

The militant girl stood above you, laughing at your pathetic body lying on the ground. Your screams of pain brought her pleasure.

“Didn’t think this would happen when you bad mouthed me, didn’t you?!” she laughed, leaning down and pushing the gun against your head to threaten you more.

Another gunshot rang in your ears. For a moment you thought it was her and that she had put a bullet through your head, killing you. But then you heard a cry and saw the girl fall in the ground holding your shin with her head thrown back in a silent scream.

You were about to attempt to stand up to take this opportunity to run, but quickly jumped back down to the ground when another loud gunshot filled the air. You heard the bullet colliding with flesh as the girl flinched violently and cried out again.

You heard a menacing male laugh fill the air, and you glanced down the alleyway to see where it came from.

There stood Niragi, holding his sniper rifle out towards you both with smoke protruding from the barrel of it. A psychotic grin was painted across his face and you swore you saw his eyes shine red.

“Why are you giving my poor love a hard time?! Maybe think twice before you put a bullet through my property,” he exclaimed, chucking and walking up to the girl giving her a harsh kick to the ribs.

You felt like you were about to throw up and hearing some of her ribs crack from the collision of her chest to his boot did not help your nausea.

You rubbed your eyes and pressed your forehead against the ground. You wanted to wake up, like this was all some bad dream. Before you knew it, you were silently sobbing on the floor, tears rolling out of your eyes and down your cheeks.

You felt two arms wrap around you, lifting you off the cold stone floor and into a warm chest. You winced and whined as the bullet wound in your foot shot a searing pain through your leg. Niragi shushed you quietly.

“Shh, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” he whispered, placing his cheek on top of your head.

His behaviour was giving you whiplash. One second ago he was acting like a maniac, shooting holes through a young girl, but now he was carrying you by under your knees and your shoulders, your head tucked into his neck.

You were exhausted, your body not even listening to you. You tried to move your leg to force yourself out of his grip but didn’t even have the strength to lift it. Your head was throbbing, and you could’ve passed out easily in his arms, but forced yourself to stay awake.

As Niragi walked past the lobby to get to the medical room, he attracted a few worried faces. Some even stood up to walk over and ask if you were okay. Everyone was terrified he had bad intentions with you, knowing how he was.

He ignored the few that approached both of you, rushing down the hall to escape them. He had to get there quickly so Ann could treat your bullet wound.

When he arrived, he pushed through the door harshly and called out to Ann with a worried tone. She stopped what she was doing and turned to the door to see Niragi holding you close to him protectively, blood dripping into the ground from your shoe.

“Shit, bring her here.” She gestured towards an empty table in the middle of the room. Niragi rushed over and placed you gently on the metal table, letting you lean your upper body against him.

Ann brought over some large tweezers, a cloth, disinfectant and a bandage. You flinched at the sight of the tweezers, moving to get away from her. “No, no!” you begged, trying to crawl up the table to get away, but Niragi grabbed your waist and pinned you against his chest.

“We have to get the bullet out Y/N, we can’t just leave it in there!” he argued, brushing your hair out of your face to calm you down.

You struggled against his grip as Ann held down your foot and carefully removed your shoe and sock. You looked down and saw a small hole in the top of your foot. How could such a small injury cause so much pain?

“Alright Niragi, keep her still. This is going to hurt,” Ann said shallowly, picking up the tweezers to try and remove the bullet.

“Yep.” You felt his grip on you tighten and he tucked his chin on your head. “Please just keep still Y/N, I’m here. It’s okay,” he cooed. His reassuring words didn’t do much to ease your anxiety.

Niragi turned your face so you were nuzzled into his chest. He knew that making you watch Ann take the bullet would do nothing but freak you out more, so he wanted to protect you from the sight.

You felt fine until the pain in your foot suddenly skyrocketed, making you let out a piercing scream. You bit your tongue to try and quieten yourself, but it didn’t do much.

Niragi frowned as he suddenly felt you go limp against him. He looked down at your face to see you had passed out, eyes shut tight and letting out soft breaths.

He smiled and brushed his fingers across your face. “So cute,” he mumbled.

“Well, that’s better. Maybe if we just knocked her out with a quick jab to the head, it would’ve saved us the headache of trying to keep her down,” Ann stated bluntly, causing Niragi to laugh.

“You know how this happened?” she asked him, raising her eyebrows.

“A bitch shot her just outside the hotel,” he said with an angry tone.

Ann didn’t seem surprised. Events like that occurred a lot. She had removed a lot of bullets the time she had been there.

“What happened to the girl? Did she run when she saw you?”

“I didn’t give her the chance to. She copped two bullets into her body for doing that to Y/N.”

“Did you think maybe Y/N was the one giving her a hard time?”

“Doesn’t matter. I only saw her shoot the bullet, nothing else.”

“Fair enough.”

***********

You cracked your eyes open to a room that most definitely wasn’t your own. You groaned and sat up, wincing when the pain in your foot shot through your leg. Memories of yesterday filled your head. “I must have passed out in the medical room,” you said to yourself.

You scanned the room. It was much bigger than yours. The bed you were in was three times the size of yours, and this room even had a huge balcony. As you looked around more, you noticed that a bag of your stuff was placed near the closet.

You frowned. Why was your stuff from your room here?

Suddenly the door opened to reveal Niragi, walking in with a plate of a bread roll and a bottle of water. He saw you awake and smiled.

“Aw little mouse is awake. How’s your foot?” he purred.

You cringed at the pet name. “What’s it to you, dickhead,” you growled, getting out of the bed and standing up. You were wearing the same clothes that you wore to the game yesterday, minus the shoes and the jacket.

Niragi smirked and placed the food on a small table in the centre of the room. “Have you forgotten who saved your pathetic ass yesterday?” he asked, approaching you. “And also, don’t stand on that foot. It’s injured, you have to rest it.” He pushed on your shoulder lightly to make you sit on the bed again. He sat himself next to you and leaned towards your face.

You moved away from his face, hating how close he was to you. “Yeah, but how did you know I even needed help? And don’t tell me you were just going on a short stroll through the alleyway at eleven at night,” you said, scooting up the bed and leaning your back against the wooden bedhead.

Niragi chuckled. “What if I was? Are you accusing me of stalking?” he suggested.

You shook your head. “Why is my stuff here,” you asked, changing the subject.

Niragi glanced over at the bag full of your stuff on the ground near the closet. He turned back to you with a smile on his face. “Oh yeah! I forgot to say, you’re moving in with me,” he said excitedly.

You felt your stomach drop. “What? I didn’t agree to this.” You swung your legs over the side of the bed and attempted to stand again. You could only place pressure on one foot, so you stood on one leg.

“Oh, baby. I don’t care if you don’t want to. You’re in here with me now, whether you like it or not,” he growled, reaching out towards you waiting for you to place your hand in his.

You stared at him, trying to see if he was joking or not. But from the serious look on his face, you didn’t think he was.

“I’m not staying in here with you. You’re a fucking psycho.”

You attempted to limp over to the door, wanting to escape Niragi as soon as possible. But you didn’t expect him to be so insistent on you staying.

A sudden arm around your waist spun your around and Niragi pinned you against the door, his face far too close to yours for it to be comfortable. “Did you not just hear me? You don’t get a choice love. You’re stuck with me,” he rasped into your face with a scary smile across his.

Your breath hitched and you turned your head away as he moved his face closer, trying to force his lips against yours. You felt helpless.

“Niragi please. Let me go, I’m sorry if I ever angered you,” you begged, pushing on his chest, but he wouldn’t budge. “I promise if you let me go, we can go back to how we were in high school.” You were trying to do anything that would get him off you. Your heart was racing, and you were becoming more frightened by the second.

Niragi licked a long and slow stripe from your collar bone to the back of your ear. You cringed and sobbed at the feeling of his tongue and saliva on your skin. “Maybe I don’t want it like it was back then. Maybe I want more Y/N,” he whispered.

He tucked his face into your neck and nipped at your skin. He had your arms pinned either side of you and his leg was holding your good foot against the door. You couldn’t do anything to defend yourself.

“What have you become Niragi,” you sobbed after a short moment.

Niragi removed himself from your neck, leaning back to look at you. You stared into his eyes, seeing the same dark and beautiful orbs that used to make your heart race with love in high school, only now, they made your heart race with fear.

“I’ve become the real me Y/N, and you’re going to love me, whether you want to or not.”

[joydone07]

Among the Ways of the World - Pt. 1

Collab with @astrynyx

In the world, there were quite a few different soulmate bonds. Some physical, some mental, and then, there were some that could be seen by no one but yourself. The hidden one was seen as something special, saved for just you and your soulmate until meeting.

Some documented hidden bonds were found to appear after sharing names. A beautiful intricate pattern showing the opposite’s life, but it was just in a way that you would understand it, and was in no way able to be discerned by any others. Most pairs still tended to cover them up, just to keep things private, as most things tend to be.

It had been about 200 years since the last hidden marking, and so as more bonds came to life, the hidden connection became forgotten, and thought of no more.

——

“Maman!” A six year old Marinette called, “Maman, Maman, look. It’s so pretty!”

Smiling at her daughter’s enthusiasm, Sabine quickly dried her hands off and turned around. “Yes, sweety? What did you want me to see?”

Giggling, Marinette pulled her pants leg up some more. “It’s right there, Maman! Don’t you see all of the colors? And the pretty shapes? It’s all right there on my leg!” Starting to get annoyed like most six year olds would do at that point, frustrated tears began to well up in her eyes, “It’s right there,” she repeated, trying one more time.

Sadly shaking her head, Sabine said, “I’m sorry honey, I don’t see it.” Frowning at her daughter’s distress, she tried her best to distract her, and put her thoughts on other things, “Do you want to help me finish cooking dinner? It’s your favorite.”

Nodding her head in agreement, Marinette began to focus on the new task at hand, but she would never forget the way her mother looked at her, as she was no more than a mere child seeing random things just to see them. Having been bored to the point that your mind would just come up with new things. Marinette knew she wasn’t like that, and sometimes considered very mature for her age.

Now knowing to never speak about the designs again, in case they ended up staying, she forced a smile on her face, and began to carefully roll out the dough that had been placed in front of her.

____

Eight years had passed since the last time Marinette had tried to show anyone her markings. She had tried once more, subtly of course, to just show off her markings, but there had been no outward reactions. At that point, the patterns had traveled towards her mid back area, wrapping around her abdomen. That was the largest individual pattern. While they all ended up looping into one bigger picture, this one was such a bright angry red that anyone that could see it would be quite alarmed, which was no different where Marinette was concerned.

It wasn’t the most explicit thing, but even after only a year of being Ladybug- one of the city’s protectors- it wasn’t that hard to discern what it stood for. It made her concerned for whatever life her soulmate was leading. It also made her wonder what kind of patterns they themself had upon their skin. So many of the things that she had seen and been forced to do weren’t pretty, and she wasn’t quite sure how it would reflect.

Glancing back down at her outfit she had on, which consisted of her regular blazer, white t-shirt, black capri jeans, and pink ballet flats. She wasn’t quite sure if that’s what she wanted to wear today. There was no special occasion, but for some reason she didn’t want to cover up her skin today.

While she knew that no one else would ever be able to see them, she still didn’t feel comfortable having them bare and uncovered. It was just like an irrational fear, but then again, when would fears ever begin to be rational? Taking a breather, and a quick glance around, Marinette quickly snatched another outfit out of her closet and changed before she could change her mind, finally heading out the door to which when the door opened both of her parents called out to have a nice day, one louder than the other.

With another glance at her outfit, Marinette mustered up all of the courage that she believed she had, and entered the school building. One of the freaky things was that she was early. Not on time, not late, early. That should have been a sign of something. Usually it wasn’t possible, due to all the late nights of projects as well as akumas that like to pop up at the worst times. It wasn’t like she could blame the victims, as they were just that- victims. It wasn’t like you could just choose when to not feel. People are already trying their hardest to be happy all the time, but there will always be a breaking point.

Taking a seat in her classroom, Marinette pulled out her sketchbook and began to wait patiently for the class to finally start. When a few of the students began to trickle in, there were a few double tacks with Marinette already being there, and one particularly loud gasp from Max at seeing that he had always been the first student there for the entirety of the school year so far. She couldn’t help but smile slightly. It felt… nice, to get these kinds of reactions from people. They could only see her top half as of right now, but she knew that whenever Alya came in she would be squealing, as she had been trying to get the girl to wear it out for months.

Tuning back into all of the chatter going on around her, Marinette closed her sketchbook and glanced up at the clock, wondering where Alya and Nino were. Adrien had said that he had a photoshoot scheduled for that morning, so she hadn’t expected him to be there, but that was it.

Madame Bustier had just walked in, and a few seconds after, so did the missing pair, Alya and Nino. Smiling in greeting at the bonded pair, she could barely disguise her giggles when Alya took notice of her outfit. Happy that Alya was late this one time, so she wouldn’t have time to comment, she smirked.

“Oh no,” Alya whispered, “we’ll be talking about this later. I’m not sure what’s up with you today, but I’ll put my integrity as a journalist on the line over the fact that I will figure it out.”

Both turning towards the front, their teacher made an announcement.

“So class, I am pleased to inform you that as our class has the top ranking scores in our year, we will be going to Gotham!”

It was silent for a few beats, before someone spoke up.

“I’m sorry what?”

Taglist Form

@tim-drake-is-underrated @t1dwarrior-of-earth @iloontjeboontje @couffeeine @toodaloo-kangaroo @doll246 @kking13

[panda-noosh]

the game {draco x reader}

  masterlist

---

 you’ve been tormenting the malfoy family for what feels like forever.

   it’s become a kind of game at this point, a game everyone is involved in. the malfoys pretend they don’t expect your presence, and you pretend you are tormenting them because you don’t like them. it’s back and forth, back and forth, and you’ve been doing it too long to back out now.

   it starts the same way every time - the gate is open, and they pretend it’s because they forgot to close it. nobody mentions the fact that lucius malfoy hasn’t forgotten a single thing in his entire life. nobody mentions draco’s blonde head peaking out from behind the living room curtains, waiting for the arrival of a person he claims to despise. 

   you stroll in with the ease of someone who owns the place, smiling and waving at the white peacocks that have become so familiar with your presence by now that they don’t even make a noise upon seeing you. they lift their graceful heads, and then they bow them again - it’s as simple as that.

    you knock on the door, grinning even wider when you hear narcissa’s faux exclamation of, “who could that possibly be?” you know for a fact that draco has warned her of your presence already, that all three of them have been expecting your arrival since they woke up this morning. 

   and then the door opens, and narcissa stands there in all her glory. such a tall, graceful woman, and you tell her that on a daily basis, making her blush because you  are her favourite little Mudblood, and she lets you get away with things like that.

    you lean against the door frame, spinning your wand between your ringed fingers. narcissa glares at you without speaking, her jaw working as she inspects you.

    “evening,” you drawl. “how are you today, my dear?”

   her nostrils flare. “how many times have we told you to stay away from our home?”

    “oh, plenty of times. i’ve quite lost count.” you straighten, craning your neck to see over her tall frame, into the hallway beyond. standing in the foyer, just as you predicted, just as he always does, is draco. you give him a wave before turning back to face his mother. “is he alright? i haven’t seen him much at school recently.”

    “my sons wellbeing is none of your business.”

   draco appears at his mothers elbow. “you can tell professor snape i’ve been feeling ill.”

   you smile - draco giving you orders is moreso his way of answering your questions without looking like he gives a shit. you appreciate it, this code you two speak in, because in all truth, you do worry about the malfoy boy quite a bit.

   you met him in school, your very first year at hogwarts. you were crushed beneath adrenaline, having found out about your powers only a few weeks before being shipped off to this strange and wonderful new school. you had a wand, and a robe, and there was a giant man ushering you into a tiny boat, ready to take you to the future. 

   and then draco appeared, and he knew who you were. he must have looked through the first year list, must have looked you up and realised you were a muggle-born. he did his research, and that was the first point of respect he earned off you.

    “let them in, mother,” draco says now. “the elves made too much food anyway; might as well put them to use whilst they’re here.”

    you give a mock bow. “much appreciated, malfoy.”

   he snarls, before mother and son turn on their heels and lead you into the home you have become so familiar with these past few years. you’ve traced these walls with your fingers a thousand times before, and you do the same now. upstairs, you hear the elves marching around, putting stuff back where they belong, chuntering amongst themselves; silently, you wonder where lucius is. 

    draco and narcissa lead you to the kitchen, where stacks upon stacks of food are set up along the grand dining table. draco hands you a glass of water before gesturing to the plates and saying, “dig in. and be grateful we haven’t got the ministry involved.”

    “the ministry?” you raise a brow, taking a long, loud sip of your water before continuing. “draco, what would the ministry possibly do? you’ve been letting me into your home for years - it’s starting to get a little old hearing you say you don’t want me here.”

    draco blinks, startled. 

   narcissa steps in, grabbing the water from your hand and slamming it upon the table. “we don’t want you here. the last thing we need is some filthy mudblood knocking on our door at all hours of the morning.”

    the word doesn’t even sting any more - it’s a wound that has been closed long enough now to no longer hurt. so instead, you smile and say, “very true, narcissa. i’ll have my water back now, if you please.”

    narcissa growls, turns and walks out of the kitchen. she always does this. it’s become part of the routine.  

   you grab the water yourself and take another sip. draco continues staring at you, a habit he adopted only recently. you remember the first time he did it, the first time it was more than a glance, more than an accidental brush of eye contact between you; he was standing on the opposite side of the kitchen, those slim fingers tapping a rhythm against the expensive granite. you and lucius were chatting, lucius asking - yet again - why you’re here, why you can never leave them alone, why you aren’t at school. you were going to answer, but draco’s gaze was burning a hole into the side of your face, and you truly felt as if you had no choice but to pack it in early and go home, just to recuperate. 

    you’ve gotten better with it. you don’t have any plans of storming out any time soon, though his gaze still makes your face heat up and your stomach squirm.

    “so, you’ve been ill, have you?” you begin. “i won’t lie, draco, you look pretty spritely to me.”

    “i wouldn’t expect you to understand,” draco shoots back. “you should just mind your business.”

    “i never asked you what was wrong. i was just saying - seems like you’re looking for a muggle excuse to get out of going to school.”

   draco glares, though the expression has less effect now that he’s taken to never taking his eyes off you, no matter what his emotions towards you are in the moment. “i’ve told you not to call me that.”

   “didn’t call you anything.”

   “you called me a muggle.”

   you narrow your eyes in faux confusion. “i said your excuse was muggle. don’t blow it out of proportion, mate.”

   he throws his hands up, turning away for what feels like the first time since he laid eyes on you. “why are you here this time, y/n? what could you possibly want from us now?”

    “i’ve never wanted anything from you.” you inspect the endless plates on the table. “although i will pinch a scotch egg, if you don’t mind.”

    draco watches as you reach across the table, picking at the assortment of foods. you don’t break the eye contact, because that’s what he wants you to do. he wants you to show some sign of intimidation, some sign that he has wriggled beneath your nerves in the same way he manages with everyone else. you’re determined to show him you’re not afraid of the malfoys, have never been afraid of the malfoys, and that’s exactly why you’re here. you wanted something, and you were willing to go to the highest rank to get it.

    “you know, if my father finds out about what you get up to, you’ll be sent to azkaban with a life sentence.”

    you freeze, scotch egg halfway to your mouth. “so you’re bringing that up now, are you?”

    “i’m just warning you.” draco shrugs, the sleeves of his black blazer stretching against the motion. “one day you’re going to walk in here, and he’s going to know. he’s going to see it in your eyes that you’re guilty.”

   “he’s going to figure me out.” you scoff. “you really think the sun shines out of your father’s arse, don’t you? he’s not as smart as he likes everyone to think, draco. i’ve been running circles around that man for years now, and he’s none the wiser.”

    “and what if i tell him?”

   the room falls silent. your heartbeat rings in your ears. you hate talking about this with draco, because you never know whether or not to take his threats seriously. 

    he folds his arms over his chest. “you’re lucky i haven’t blabbed yet.”

   “are you threatening me, malfoy?” you lean forward, lowering your voice to a purr. “why don’t you tell me the real reason you’ve taken two weeks out of school, hm? then we’ll both have stories to tattle to the ministry.”

    draco pales. he glares at you for a moment longer before the kitchen door opens, and narcissa malfoy strolls inside once again. you straighten up, schooling your expression into one of immediate calm, like not a single thing is wrong. you pop the remaining scotch egg in your mouth and say, “i should get out of your hair now.”

    narcissa simply scowls.

    you give her a grin, nod at draco once before walking out the door, trying to ignore that blue-eyed gaze still burning into the back of your head.

   ----

    it gets easier over time.

    all of it does, really. the guilt becomes non-existent, and the act itself becomes second nature after a few good attempts. you’ve nearly been caught a handful of times, and you know if your actions were to come to light, you would be expelled from hogwarts in a heartbeat; not even dumbledore could show you mercy, no matter how much he likes you.

    it’s easiest when the streets are full. muggles are so careless, clumped together with wallets jingling in their pockets, unprotected. they don’t even think about what might go wrong, don’t even think a wizard may be lurking amongst them, ready to snatch their belongings right from their person.

    you don’t need it, of course. muggle money means nothing where you come from, but there’s some wizards and witches who would pay hundreds of galleons in trade for the things collected off muggles. it’s a black market kind of situation.

   tonight, you are dressed in a black hoodie and jeans, wand stowed in your back pocket. you don’t need it; you’ve mastered the magic-free manoeuvres of sneaking things from people, and you use such skills to your advantage tonight. a man by the name of richard carpol has put in a request for a muggle passport - an irish one, preferably, but he’ll take anything you can get your hands on.

    you search for what feels like hours before zoning in on the dark red booklet peaking out of a teenagers jacket pocket. their source of ID, you assume, and you feel no guilt whatsoever when you stroll past them and pluck the book free. you stuff it in your hoodie pocket before picking up your pace, ducking into a dark alleyway.

    you flip it open - it’s a british passport, but richard will still pay. he’s not a picky customer, which makes your night ten times easier.

   you make your way back to hogwarts, waving at people in hogsmeade before you disappear for the night. you sneak into the slytherin dormitory with no problems, stuffing the passport beneath your mattress. you wriggle beneath the sheets, ignoring pansy’s insistant questions about where you have been, if you’ve seen draco, how you managed to sneak past filch - she asks this every night, and you have never replied. you just fall asleep, another day successful.

  ----   

   “he’s back.”

   like he’s some kind of god. you nearly roll your eyes, the whispers repeated over and over again throughout morning breakfast. all around you, the slytherin table is alive with anticipation, waiting for draco malfoy to stroll in through the double doors, head held high in that way it always is.

   you knew draco was returning before anyone else did, as he told you the night before in a fit of faux rage at the sight of you in his bedroom, yet again. you had offered to leave, leaned casually against his mahogany wardrobe, and it could almost be considered hasty the speed at which he rushed for his door to close it, uttering a quiet, “no, you’re here now, so you might as well stay.”

    but now he’s back in school, and you’re sick of him. you haven’t even seen his face once, but the whispers and the praise from your house mates is enough to set your teeth on edge. it reminds you that there is indeed a draco living outside of the malfoy manor, a draco you cannot tease and torment as easily.

    “i saw him in the common room this morning putting his robes on. i think his parents got him new ones,” a fellow slytherin whispers. “and his hair has been cut a little shorter - he looks so grown up!”

   you snicker into your porridge, smothering the noise to no avail. the slytherin girl singing draco’s praises shoots you a glare before noticing who you are; her glare folds in on itself, and she quickly retaliates by pretending she didn’t hear your snicker in the first place.

    breakfast ticks by, and it’s only near the end does draco finally decide to grace the dining hall with his presence. the double doors open, and the chatter amongst the slytherins falls short almost immediately. you’re ashamed to admit that even you look up at the speed of light, catching one of the first glimpses of draco malfoy as he returns from what many people assumed was the dead.

    his fangirl certainly wasn’t lying, you notice; his hair has been cut shorter, and he does look plenty grown up. he walks with a fresh confidence that makes you want to roll your eyes - it’s not like he needed a further confidence boost. his robes are clean, brushing the floor. his eyes are trained on the head table, though they linger there for only moments before snapping to where you are seated.

   you raise a curious brow. he blushes, looks away, and takes his seat next to crabbe and goyle, both of whom clap him on the back like he’s just returned from war.

    you ignore him the rest of breakfast, which is a rare action for you. you used to revel in tormenting him, coming face to face with him at every corner just to give another snide remark; it was a game back then, back when the two of you were younger and felt as if you could get away with it. 

    breakfast ends shortly thereafter, and you hurry to gather your things. swinging your bag over one shoulder, you duck your head down and escape into the crowded corridors, losing yourself amongst the sea of black clad students. 

   but you’re a fool to ever think you - of all people - could escape draco’s magnificent return to school. his cold fingers wrap around your wrist before you have a chance to turn the corridor to your next class, stopping you in your tracks. part of you wants to spin around and punch him, just floor him in front of everyone, show him that you’re not just some silly person showing up on his front doorstep every other night.

    instead, you slowly turn and give him a smile, one of your big ones to let him know you don’t mean it, that you’re being hostile.

    his face is set in stone, that frown so perfect and soft looking it makes you want to sob. 

    “where are you off to in such a hurry?” he asks, keeping his voice low because god forbid anyone catch him speaking to you.

    “class,” you reply. “so kindly let go of me, malfoy.”

   “not until you tell me where richard got another muggle passport to sell.”

    you freeze, though you knew this would be coming eventually. richard is one of your best customers, but he’s not very bright; he’s never understood the concept of subtlety when it comes to the trading of muggle artefacts. 

    “he has a new one, does he?” you say. “good for him. his collection must be getting awfully big by now.”

   draco scowls. “my father is starting to get very suspicious, y/n, and i don’t know how much longer i’ll be willing to cover for you.”

    you pry your hand out of his grip, nearly stumbling from the momentum. “is that a threat?”

    “it’s a warning,” he says. “i might not like you, but i don’t need you going down for something like this. people know we’re familiar with each other, and i don’t want you tarnishing my family name.”

    you scoff. “your family name has been tarnished since you-know-who was in power.”

    “shut up. don’t talk on things you don’t understand.”

    “all i need to do is pick up a history book.”

   draco scowls, those blues eyes ablaze. you’ve seen this look on him when he’s speaking to those gryffindors he hates so much, when a teacher takes someone else’s side over his own. you’ve seen this look on him plenty of times, but never aimed at you; for some reason, his expression is always so soft around the edges when trained on you.

    “i’m trying to do you a favour,” draco mumbles. “because i’m serious when i say my father will snap you in half if he finds out you’re the one providing these artefacts to the dark market.”

    “i’m not afraid of lucius,” you reply. “and i think you’re kind of forgetting the fact that your father actually likes me. at least a little bit.”

    draco’s eyebrows fly up in amusement. “what’s given you that idea?”

   “the fact that i’m still allowed in your house after all these years.” you grin, basking in the way draco’s own smile fades at the realisation you have indeed recognised this behaviour within his family. “yes, malfoy. you all try so hard to convince me i’m the scum of the earth, but the truth is, you appreciate my company. the truth is, you make me tea every time i visit. the truth is, you’re all a little fond of me, whether you want to admit it or not.”

    his face pales even more, a feat you didn’t think possible until seeing it with your own two eyes. it’s a delicious win, a point for you in a competition you didn’t even realise you had entered.

    “you’re delusional,” he mumbles. “you say you picked up a history book, then you must know how my family feel about your kind.”

   “my kind?” you raise a brow, feigning ignorance just to annoy him. he hates outstretched conversations, especially with you. “are you talking about half-bloods, or pickpockets? oh! or people who can run circles around you without fear?”

    you don’t give him a chance to reply, because quite frankly, you’re done with this conversation. you’re done with him for today. you prefer it when you’re in control of your daily draco interactions. 

    you turn on your heel and leave, rushing for your next class even as he calls your name. you can’t believe the nerve of him, approaching you like that, telling you to quit the job that’s gotten you off the streets, that’s helped you fund an education for yourself. these robes you’re wearing, the books you read in class, the wand that is an extension of your arm by now - all of it was funded by you, from your own pocket. just because the business is ruthless, not some posh, clean dealing that malfoy is used to, doesn’t mean it’s any less important.

   you want to shove that explanation down his throat, just so he’ll finally look past his own privileged little bubble. you hate admitting it, but the truth is, draco wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t so blinded by his upbringing. he knows how to be nice - you’ve seen it before, experienced it before, though you never talk about those experiences with anyone. there have been a few times where draco has seen you walking past his house, soaked to the bone from the rain, and he’s let you in, warmed you up by the fire, placed a hot chocolate in your hand. he’ll insult you and call you stupid and claim he wants you out of his house as soon as possible, but he was still the man who made the move to get you out of the rain.

    your feelings for draco are a jenga tower. built up to full form, but slowly, pieces get chipped away until the entire thing is falling, and you have to rebuild it and try again. 

    you don’t know why you keep rebuilding it after so many disasters, but as he calls your name at your retreating back, you can feel yourself already putting those blocks back together.

   ----

     charms class really is a pain.

   flitwick is nice enough. he’s patient, which is good, and very much needed when it comes to your skills in the classroom. you’re an intelligent person, always studying because you want to be the best. you love seeing the look on draco’s face when he looks over and sees you’ve got a higher grade than him. it gives you such a thrill.

   but charms is your downfall, because nothing makes any sense. flitwick explains the spell, and the hand movements, and he leaves you to your own devices, and you always somehow end up messing everything up.

   today, all you’re doing is tossing a pillow to the other side of the room. it’s a simple spell, a simple gesture, and yet you still manage to smash a window in the process. flitwick merely sighs, explains the charm again, and gets you to repeat the process until you’ve got it right.

   it takes a while. you don’t like it when things take a while.

    by the half hour mark, sweat is running down your face, and your teeth have been gritted for so long it’s starting to hurt. you throw your wand down on the table, rake your hands through your hair and say, “i’m taking a break.”

   “please do,” flitwick grumbles, rubbing the spot on his head where a vase smashed into his skull, thanks to your handiwork.

   you slump down on one of the pillows you have failed to charm and run a hand along your brow. it’s actually disgusting how much energy gets taken out of you from doing such a simple thing. it’s also very confusing, considering you’re able to master the most difficult spells in defence against the dark arts without so much as a second thought. why tossing a pillow to the other side of the room is getting to you is both a joke and a mystery.

    as you pull yourself together, savouring your moment of rest, someone slumps down next to you. you glance over, an eyebrow raised at bailey o’boyle, a boy you’ve done business with a few times in the past. he was only dabbling in the black market at the time, too young to understand what it was actually all about, but you weren’t going to be the one to ward him off, not when he had a good few galleons with your name on it.

    he looks at you now with a smile, big and dopey, just as it always is.

   “can i help you?” you ask. 

    “yes.”

   you wait for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t. he just keeps staring at you.

    you grit your teeth. “with what?”

    “i need an electric scooter.”

    you raise a brow. already the word ‘electric’ has got your attention, because that’s not something the wizard world is very familiar with. what bailey is doing right now is forming a business deal. you’re not usually a fan of bargaining in the middle of class, but since you have nothing better to do. . .

   you turn, ducking your head and lowering your voice. “what the fuck do you need an electric scooter for?”

    “to sell,” he replies. “i’ve got a man who collects them. he’s willing to pay big money, y/n. big, big money.”

    you like the sound of that.

   “i’m a pickpocket, you know,” you say. “it’s not going to be easy pickpocketing an entire scooter from a muggle.”

    bailey shrugs. “i said i’d see what you could do. but if you’re not up to it. . .”

   your eye twitches; you hate that phrase. realistically, you know this is far beyond your expertise. you steal wallets, and passports, and house keys, tiny things you can sneak away without detection. trying to get something like an electric scooter from a muggle without being caught is close enough to impossible that even the lure of galleons isn’t enough to convince you to do it.

   still, of course you’re going to think about it. there are many different side streets in muggle london that you could go down, and if you do it at night, the shadows could be used to your advantage. nobody would even bat an eye if you wore-

    draco grabs your wrist and pulls you from the floor.

   you yelp, stumbling into his chest. he lifts you like you weigh nothing, and you’re more surprised at his strength than you are at his actions.

    bailey’s eyes widen. he stutters, trying to feign innocence, but neither you nor draco are interested in him any more. you whirl on malfoy, shoving him away.

   “what the hell?”

    “what the hell, is right.” he grabs your arm. “come with me.”

   you struggle against his grip, but truth to be told, you’re not really putting up much of a fight. you’re still in shock at how easily he was able to lift you, at the feel of his fingers around your upper arm. 

    he drags you from the classroom. flitwick being flitwick doesn’t even bat an eye; he’s probably relieved that’s two more students he doesn’t need to worry about.

    in the hallway, draco finally lets go of you. you jerk away so fast your back hits against the wall. draco raises a brow, but he still looks furious. his nostrils are flared, his face is pale, and god, he keeps clenching his fists like he wants to wrap his hands around your throat.

    god help you, you kind of want him to. just to know what it feels like.

    “again,” you say. “what the hell?”

   “i knew you were stupid, y/n, but that’s bad even for you.”

    “excuse me?”

   “you do realise blaise was listening to every word you and bailey were saying in there?” he shakes his head, jaw clenched. “i was trying to talk over you, but your loud mouth is quite difficult to ignore.”

    you blink. firstly, wow. bargaining in class really isn’t a good idea, and you really should have known better.

   but also, wow, draco actually tried helping you out.

   you swallow and fold your arms over your chest. “i had it under control. blaise isn’t gonna do shit.”

    draco laughs. “blaise’s dad is in the ministry, idiot.”

   “stop calling me that. i’m smarter than you!”

    “do you understand what i’m telling you, y/n? if blaise says a word about what he heard to his dad, that’s you done. there’s no getting out of that.”

    a chill runs down your spine. draco glimpses the movement, and you swear his features soften slightly.

    “i just can’t believe you were so careless.”

   “why do you even care?” your voice is quiet, barely above a whisper. you kind of hope draco doesn’t hear it, but his eyebrows shoot up, and his cheeks gain a tiny red tint that lets you know he doesn’t really know the answer to that question. 

   you swallow, looking up to meet his eyes. “why do you care, draco?”

   “because.” his throat bobs. there is a moment of hesitation where you think he’s going to tell the truth. maybe he’s going to shock the world and just tell the god damn truth, but then he clears his throat, pulls his shoulders back and says, “i’ve already told you, y/n; if you go down, you’ll tarnish my family name. i can’t have that.”

    your insides wilt like his words are acid being poured down your throat. you laugh a little too loudly, a bark more than anything close to amusement. it’s so vicious, so filled with hatred that draco actually flinches away. in that moment, you want to give him a real reason to flinch, a real reason to be afraid.

    but you don’t, because he’s the boy who pulled you out of the rain.

   instead, you shake your head and say, “tell flitwick i’m ill. and don’t bother talking to me ever again. let me handle my own business, thanks.” and without another word, you rush down the hallway to the dorm rooms, refusing to look back at him. this time, he doesn’t call your name, doesn’t chase after you in that hopelessly stupid way you want him to. of course he wouldn’t. 

    you throw your robes off the minute you burst through the doors of your dorm. it’s empty besides a fellow slytherin’s cat laying on the bed. the black and white feline lifts its head at the sound of you, and you ignore it’s confused little mews as you scramble into your own bed, pull the privacy curtain over and bury your head in your pillow.

   you hate him. you really, really hate him, and that’s not even an exaggeration. he’s the worst person you’ve ever met. he’s this tormented little shit who thinks he has every right to throw his anger at everyone else, just because he isn’t tough enough to stand up to mummy and daddy. he’s so desperate to stay in line with everything his parents say, and it’s ridiculous. it’s embarrassing. it’s a cowards move.

    there are so many things you wished you said to him before storming off, but there’s always that moment of hesitation when it comes to anything you want to say to draco. you either have to check it’s not too nice, and even when it’s mean, you have to check it’s not going to actually upset him, because you don’t want to do that either. you don’t know why. you should spit in his face for the shit he puts you through, the confusion he makes you feel. and he doesn’t even care. he just carries on being a little prick, like nothing is wrong in the world.

   but surprise, surprise, draco. not everyone can live a lavish life, worry free. 

   --- 

    you manage to ignore draco for the rest of the day. it’s easily done, considering draco doesn’t like to make a big deal out of the fact that you two actually have history; he likes to pretend he associates only with people of the purest blood, the most talented wizards, ones that come from the old families.

    but he can’t keep his eyes off you.

    he knows he’s hit a nerve. the way his eyes follow every movement you make, the way his jaw ticks when you don’t even give him the time of day - he’s not a stupid boy, as much as you like to tell him he is. he can see when he’s upset you. 

    classes drag in the rest of the day, and it’s a massive relief when you’re finally released from the confines of lessons, free to do whatever you want. after stealing a bit of food from the dining hall, you head up to the slytherin dormitory; you like it best when it’s empty, when you can just sit with your own thoughts for a while. you need it today, because today you actually let yourself be a normal teenager, and you hate it. you hate the feeling of hormones and overreactions, but sometimes it’s hard to help it. sometimes you need to let yourself feel emotional.

    alone in the dorms, you reach under your bed and pull out your handy box of trinkets. most of the contents are just things you’ve stolen that never found a home - a penny from a london sidewalk, an old napkin with a mystery person’s phone number scribbled on it, a black and white photo of a couple standing in front of the ocean. however, tucked away amongst those simple, boring things is a green emerald - one you stole from the malfoy manor a few years ago.

    you got it from draco’s room, because you weren’t meant to be in there, and you wanted to let him know that you had, in fact, been in there. the emerald was stitched into the collar of one of his shirts, all expensive looking and wasted. you nearly scoffed at the sight of it - when would draco ever get to wear something so glamorous anyway? plus, the emerald looked far too heavy to be confined to a shirts collar; it would be very uncomfortable, you assumed.

   that’s why you grabbed a knife and cut the stitching to shreds, plucking the emerald from it to claim as your own. you tossed the shredded shirt back into draco’s wardrobe, tucked the emerald into your pocket and then walked out, content with the knowledge that draco would be yelling at you in due time once he noticed his missing jewel.

   but the yelling never came.

   draco knew you had stolen it. again, he isn’t stupid. his shirt was shredded, and the jewel was missing, and it was obvious who had done it - the known pickpocket who was strolling through his house every other night. 

   he just never said anything, like he wanted you to keep it, like he didn’t mind it was in your hands now.

   you stare at it, legs crossed beneath you. you’ve always prided yourself on how little you care for expensive things - you don’t complain that you haven’t got much, that you grew up poor, never able to afford the grand things draco has. but you still handle this emerald with so much care, flipping it round in your fingers, looking at every curve and delicate groove in it’s cut. 

    the dormitory door opens. you trust it’s just someone who’s eaten too much and wants an early night, so you don’t panic or falter. you listen to their footsteps patter across the room, the thump of their robes hitting the floor, followed closely by their shoes. you listen to their privacy curtain screeching open, their sigh of annoyance at something you can’t see-

   and then draco pops his head round your privacy curtain.

   you yelp, fumbling with the emerald. it slips from your fingers, however, and crashes to the floor at draco’s bare feet. he stares at it as you curse, an eyebrow raising, and you don’t even try and hide it. you just let him stare, arms folded over your chest, annoyance brewing in your stomach just at the sight of him. 

    finally, he slowly looks up. “mine, i take it?”

   “good guess, rich boy. can i have it back?”

   he picks it up and tosses it into your lap. you’re pleasantly surprised at his cooperation, but still keep that frown on your face.

   “what do you want?” you ask, violently stuffing all your belongings back into the cardboard box. 

    “you weren’t at dinner,” draco replies. “i wanted to make sure you weren’t causing any more trouble.”

    you scoff. “oh, trouble, yes. tarnishing the malfoy name. the end goal for us all.”

    draco stares at you, lips pursed. his gaze is always so warm, a physical thing that makes your skin crawl. “that comment bothered you, did it?”

    “nothing you say bothers me, draco. it just baffles me how you can be so dense sometimes.”

    “ouch. that one hurt.”

   you roll your eyes. “why are you here? i have nothing to say to you.”

   “you don’t have to say anything. i just wanted to make sure you’re alive.”

   “not like you care, though, is it?”

    draco’s nostrils flare. his throat bobs, eyes tracing the length of your throat like he’s a hungry vampire. his lower lip slips between his teeth, the expression startling you. he looks like he’s trying to reel himself back, like some unwanted emotion is fighting for dominance in his brain.

    “you’re really stubborn, aren’t you?” he asks after a moment.

   “you think?”

    “i still don’t know what i did to piss you off so much.”

   you bark out a laugh. “no, of course you don’t. god forbid a malfoy is self-aware for once.”

    he groans. “can you not just make things simple? why do we have to go around in circles like this? it’s a waste of time!”

    “is that meant to be an apology?”

   “how can i apologise when i don’t even know what i did?” he’s starting to sound desperate, like this conversation is taking the life from him. 

    you lean back, pulling the box into your lap protectively. in truth, you don’t even know how to word why you’re so upset - it makes sense in your head, but articulating it to someone else is just going to make you sound stupid, maybe even a little delusional. you should know draco by now, people will say. you should know what he’s like, that he cares for no one besides himself. getting upset over him showing his true colours is stupid, a waste of time and energy.

   but you look into his blue eyes right now, wanting nothing more than for him to just understand. understand what, you don’t even want to admit, not to yourself or anyone else. 

   “you hurt my feelings,” you mumble. 

   draco inhales sharply. “i didn’t think i could do that. i never thought you’d let me.”

    “well, you did. congratulations.”   

   “jesus, y/n, it’s not like i wanted to. what did i even say?”

   you stare at him. he stares back. the ball will drop eventually, you know, because draco is smart, smarter than you’ve ever given him credit for. he examines your expression, and you watch the moment his eyebrows start to relax in realisation, the frown form on his face. it makes anxiety coil in the pit of your stomach, because maybe this is just a little too vulnerable. maybe letting draco figure this out on his own was a bad idea.

    but it’s too late now. he draws back slowly, hands curled around the privacy curtain until the fabric is creasing and knotted in his fingers. “wait. . .”

    “go, draco,” you demand. “i have shit to do. business to take care of.”

    “y/n-”

   “go, draco!”

    he stares at you a moment longer before running a hand through his hair and walking out the room. you wait till the door is closed, and then you wait till his footsteps can no longer be heard, and then you throw the box of trinkets to the ground, watching the emerald slip across the wooden floor.

    ---

     the streets of london always look a little different when you’re angry. a little more violent. a little more real.

   muggle london in itself has always felt like a very hostile place to you, but when you’re angry, things get clearer. you notice the vomit stain on the curb, the neglected baby pram in the bush, the beer bottles smashed beneath window sills. it becomes a different place - it just depends on how you’re feeling.

    tonight, you are angry, and everything around you is angry, too.

    you just want a set of car keys, not the actual car. muggle car keys sell at a good price, depending on who you’re dealing with. nobody has requested them, and usually you don’t go out unless asked to do so by a client, but tonight, you just want to be out. you want to be away from the wizarding world. you want to cause havoc with your fingers in the best way you know how.

    it’s busy. it always is. you can guarantee that almost everyone around you has car keys in their pocket - that’s why global warming is so bad. some of them even wear them around their neck, dangling from multicoloured chains with little souvenirs banging against their chests. those would be so easy to just rip off and run away, but you’ve decided to be subtle, which means your eyes are trained on the bulges in people’s coat pockets. so many of them, so careless. 

    a man in a tracksuit seems like the best option. you follow him for ten minutes, keeping your head down, before he finally breaks away from his group of drunken friends. he laughs to himself, stumbling just the perfect amount - he’s drunk, but not drunk enough to be falling over himself, which makes slipping your hand into his pocket a pretty easy deal.

   you go for the kill, quickening your pace, dipping your hand into his pocket-

   he grabs your wrist, and before you even have a chance to blink, you’re on the ground.

    a gasp is ripped from your throat at both the shock and the pain that spears up your spine. the guy is yelling, stumbling back, and holy shit, if he doesn’t shut up right now, the whole of london is going to be on you.

   gathering as much strength as you can, you roll onto your side and push yourself to your knees. “hey man, calm down. sorry. i thought you were my friend.”

    “did you just try and rob me?” he yells.

   “no! no, of course-”

    “you psycho bitch!” he lunges for you, all drunken vowels and grabby hands. you have no idea what to make of his intentions, you just know you’ve fucked up, and you need to get out of here.

    his hands slam into your shoulders, knocking you on your ass. a cry escapes you, but not from the pain. a tiny snap sounds from your back pocket, and you know without having to look that your wand has just broken in half - yet again. dumbledore is going to start getting very suspicious.

    “son of a bitch,” you growl, before raising your hands. “listen, hey. i’m sorry. i’ve said that already. you need to calm down before-”

    “before what?” he howls. “you kill me? are you threatening me?”

    your eyes widen. “no! would you just-”

    the man opens his mouth to say something else, but his words are sucked back in when a hand wraps around his arm and yanks him back. you wince at the sound of his head cracking against the tarmac, but you don’t get a chance to comment before draco is kneeling beside you, one hand cradling your head, the other resting on your knee. his touch alone is enough to spread warmth through your previously frozen limbs, and you hate that. you hate it so much.

    you tug your knee from his grip. “what the hell are you doing here?”

   “are you bleeding?” he runs his thumb along your bottom lip. when he pulls away, his fingertip glows with a red liquid. 

   “oh. i guess i am.”

   “christ, y/n. do you ever just...” he closes his eyes, taking a moment to redirect his anger. it’s an amusing sight, and you almost smile until you remember you’re mad at him. forever mad at him.

   you jerk your head out of his grip, too. “i’m fine. stop worrying.”

    “clearly i have to, or else you’re going to get yourself killed.” he glances over his shoulder, where the drunken man is struggling to sit up, still slurring protestations. “by a muggle.”

    “he wouldn’t have killed me,” you grumble. “although my wand is broke, so maybe he would have.”

   draco’s eyes widen. you wave him off before he has a chance to chastise you again - in truth, you just want to get out of here, car keys be damned. hastily, you push yourself to your feet, wobbling only slightly, but draco must see this tiny action as a full-on collapse risk, as he wraps an arm around your waist and tugs you close, grumbling curses under his breath. you’re such a pain in the arse, apparently, and god, he wishes he wasn’t stuck with you all the time, and he’s so baffled by the fact you’re still alive, it’s probably all thanks to him, blah, blah, blah.

   you listen to him rant the entire way back to malfoy manor. you don’t argue his choice of location, because you can see narcissa standing in the doorway, hand over her mouth, eyebrows raised in genuine surprise, and you already know she’s got a cup of tea waiting for you in the sitting room. you almost smile, but that would ruin the effect.

    she rushes out to meet you and draco halfway, immediately grabbing your face and tilting your head back and forth. you can taste blood on your teeth.

    “what happened?” she breathes, but doesn’t give you a chance to reply. “draco, take them into the lounge.”

   “oh, the lounge,” you coo. “you are spoiling me!”

    “be quiet,” draco hisses, doing as his mother says. he tosses you unceremoniously onto the plush sofa, and you have to ignore the inappropriate thrill that shoots up your body. 

   narcissa appears not ten seconds later, a steaming cup of tea in her hand. you give her a grin, which she rolls her eyes at, even as she sits beside you and brushes your hair away from your face. you take a sip of the tea, smile in thanks, and then lean your head back.

   “sorry about this.”

   narcissa sighs. her breath tickles your cheek, smelling oddly of incense. “i don’t know what we’re going to do with you, y/n.”

   “put me down.” you make a stabbing gesture into your arm and mouth lethal injection at draco. he purses his lips, clearly not taking the joke in stride. “i didn’t mean to worry you so much.”

    “you’re always worrying us,” draco hisses, which earns him a sharp look from narcissa. he meets his mothers eyes and his shoulders deflate. he runs his hands down his face. “you’re just . . . always doing something.”

    “i know,” you mumble. “sorry.”

    “draco, don’t stress them out,” says narcissa, which surprises you; you’ve always known narcissa has a secret soft spot for you, but she’s always tried her hardest to keep it just that - a secret. yet here she is, combing your hair back, giving you a cup of tea, telling her son to treat you nicely. it’s like you’ve entered a different world. “i’m gonna go and make some calls. keep them comfortable, okay?”

   draco nods, lips still pursed, forever displeased. you used to laugh at that expression on his face, but now it just makes you feel bad. 

   narcissa leaves the room, and then it’s just you and draco. you watch as he watches you, eyes never wavering, shoulders never relaxing. he’s got his arms folded over his chest like he’s keeping guard. 

    “i meant it, you know,” you say. “i didn’t mean to worry you. i thought it would be an easy job.”

    “who are you doing business with now? bailey again?”

    “no.” you look down, surprisingly shameful. “it was just for myself. i needed out of the castle, and. . .” you shrug. “you know me. i can’t do anything easy.”

   he scoffs. “yeah, i know.”

   “so i’m sorry.”

   draco closes his eyes and rubs his temples. the rings on his fingers glisten beneath the fancy lights. his knuckles pop, the veins in his arms protruding. “please stop apologising.”

   you blink. “alright.”

    “you act like i don’t understand why you’re doing all this, but i do.” he looks at you, hands dropping to his sides. “just because i don’t have to do it myself, doesn’t mean i don’t understand. why else do you think i haven’t stopped you?”

    your breath catches. you raise a brow, tilting your head cruelly. “you wouldn’t have been able to stop me. you think i’d listen to you?”

    “yeah. i think you would.”

   you reel back, jaw dropping open. “excuse-”

    “you always act like you hate me, but you forget you’ve been coming to my house for years. you forget i’ve known you since we were eleven. you forget that i don’t just put up with anyone. i’ve had time to figure you out, y/n, no matter how much you like to pretend i haven’t.” he folds his arms and leans against the door. his hair is rumpled, along with his shirt and jeans. so casual, so unlike himself. “but earlier on, in the dorms. . . you surprised me with that one.”

    your stomach curls. oh, good god, he’s bringing that up now. you’re sat here with a busted chin and a potential criminal charge, and he’s bringing this up. you could headbutt him.

    despite your glare, he continues. “i knew you didn’t hate me, but i never thought. . . i never thought you liked me, you know? especially not-”

   “don’t say it.”

   his lips twist. “i have to.”

   “no you don’t.”

    “do you love me?”

    your heart falls into the pit of your stomach, which is answer enough for you. love is such a strong word, and you could easily say no, that what you feel for draco is nothing more than a little crush. he’s got the nice blue eyes, and the money, and the perfect hair. he’s got a smile that lights up rooms. it’s a crush. you fancy him, and that’s all there is to it.

    but love sounds pretty accurate. more accurate, actually.

    you swallow. draco watches the bob of your throat, and you watch his. above your head, the massive clock ticks, ticks, ticks. 

     slowly, he reaches forward and swipes his thumb over your chin. it stings just a little, but you’ve felt worse pain, so you let him do it without jerking away. 

     “cat got your tongue?” he whispers.

    you shiver. “i don’t. . . i don’t know what you want me to say.”

    “it’s not about what i want. i was asking a simple question. just give me the truth.”

    “you want the truth?”

   he inhales, hesitates, and then nods.

    “yeah, draco,” you whisper. “i think i love you.”

     slowly, draco draws away. his eyes never leave your own, that frosty blue colour reminding you of the winter sky, or a cold december morning. you remember all those christmas’s at hogwarts when draco would stay at the castle, waking him up because you thought it would annoy him to have your face be the first thing he sees. you always commented on the dreary smile that played on his lips when you did that, and he would always say, “i thought you were someone else.”

    but that dreary smile is returning, pulling across his face, and it doesn’t falter. right now, there is no mistake. his eyes are on you, and he knows it is you, the person who has apparently made his life a living hell for so many years. you’re the ache in his spine, the one he can’t wait to get rid of.

    but you’re also the one he rescued from the rain. 

    you’re the one who cursed hermione granger when she punched him in the nose.

   you’re the one who’s just confessed your love to him.

   shit.

   “don’t look at me like that,” you say, voice hoarse. “don’t pretend you didn’t know.”

   “i didn’t know,” he says immediately, like he’s desperate for you to know he was clueless. “did you know?”

    “kind of. i wanted to ignore it-”

    draco shakes his head, waving a dismissive hand. “no, no. did you know that i love you, too?”

    you open your mouth, but no words come out. your brain just short circuits, taking a second to catch on to what he’s said. that dreary smile is still playing at his lips, and you’re waiting for the moment it turns into a sneer, a mocking little smirk.

    it doesn’t.

   “oh right,” you mumble. “no. i had no idea.” you pause. “are you taking the piss out of me?”

    he laughs, a rare and pleasant sound. he approaches you, kneels at your side on the sofa and cups your head in his hands. you melt into him, even though every instinct in your body is telling you to pull away, to run away, because this is nothing more than false hope. he’s playing a trick on you. you’ve annoyed him to breaking point, and now he’s found the perfect chance for revenge.

    but his hands are so warm, and nice, and your cheek dips into his palm so easily, like it belongs there.

    “you’ve always been kind of not smart in my eyes,” he says.

   your eyes widen. “hey!”

   “kidding. i’m kidding.” he chuckles, running his thumb along your lower lip. “but you’re not doing your intelligence any justice right now. i thought i was making my feelings pretty clear.”

   you glare; he knows full well he hasn’t made his feelings clear. neither of you have. you’ve spent the past seven years pretending to hate each other.

   he grins. “okay, maybe i didn’t make it so easy. but you didn’t make it easy for me, either.”

   “i still don’t believe you.”

   he raises a brow. “why?”

   you shrug. “it just doesn’t seem possible that someone like you could fall in love with someone like me.”

    his eyes soften. “wow. maybe you are not very smart.” 

   before you have a chance to protest, he kisses you. just like that, like it’s the most natural thing in the world, or maybe like it’s an action he’s been waiting to do for years, and now he’s finally got the chance. that’s what it’s like for you, this coil unravelling in your gut after years and years and years of ignoring it’s existence.

   you run your hands through his hair, tugging on those pesky strands at the back that always stick up because he refuses to wear anything other than collared shirts. he growls into your mouth, pulling you closer, closer, closer, until your legs are tangled with his, and his fingers are tracing a line down the centre of your throat. he stops at the hollow, just to feel the bob of your throat as nerves spiral through you. he grins against your mouth, pulling away to see the shock in your eyes.

    he’s so proud of himself. he’s made you a mess.

    you smile awkwardly, trying to regain some amount of composure. he watches you, heavy lidded, one hand still clutching your knee as the other curls around your throat, just where your neck and shoulders meet. the way he stares at you, it’s like he doesn’t even realise he’s doing it. 

     “so,” you begin. “you’re worry wasn’t actually just for your family name, was it?”

   draco sighs, plonking his forehead against your own. “no, y/n, it wasn’t. my worry was losing you. which i very nearly did tonight.”

   “don’t be so dramatic. i wouldn’t have died.”

   “you could have.”

   “but i wouldn’t have, because that guy was drunk, and a muggle, and-”

   “are you two arguing again?”

   you and draco jump apart as narcissa storms into the lounge, wand clutched to her chest. her narrowed eyes are firm on draco. 

   “i told you to keep them comfortable!” she exclaims. “can you not put your differences aside for ten minutes?”

    you grin, teasingly running a finger along draco’s spine. “yeah draco. listen to mummy.”

    he growls, but turns to narcissa and says, “sorry, mother. you know how y/n gets.”

   “yes, i know,” narcissa mumbles. “but they’re injured. now, let me take this phone call, and then we’ll set up the guest bedroom. can i leave you alone for ten more minutes?”

   “yes,” you and draco both reply immediately. narcissa hums, and walks out.

   draco immediately spins, grabs your wrist and pulls you to him, slamming his lips to yours. you laugh against his mouth, melting into the embrace for only a second before pulling away and saying, “she’s trusting us to behave for ten more minutes, draco. this isn’t behaving.”

    “oh, fuck that,” he scoffs. “come here.”

   you let him pull you closer, closer than you have ever been with him before, because you’ve always been so convinced he never wanted you more than a few feet away from him. suddenly, everything draco has ever said to you is reconstructed in your mind, every action, every little look. 

   you wonder if he’s doing the same.