#shovel talk(s)

[strangersteddierthings]

Shovel Talk(s) Final Part

Part One 🦇Part Two🦇Part Three🦇Part Four

Steve starts with Dustin. Not for any particular reason. Dustin is just the first person he ends up seeing after an entire weekend spent at Eddie's house. They'd redone their date in Indy on Saturday, getting back into Hawkins late, so Steve stayed the night. He had a morning shift at Family Video but it was Robin's day off so he didn't see her.

Dustin called at 11:00am on Monday to ask for Steve's assistance with his bike's flat tire. He needs a ride to Melvald's for a new tire tube and pump, and since Steve's shift doesn't start until 2:00pm he agrees.

Steve picks him up and listens to him ramble about his weekend and how he the tube got a hole in it. He stays in the car while Dustin runs inside to make his purchases, and then they're back at Dustin's house. Dustin knows how to change out the tube on his bike; he's been raised by a single mother for longer than Steve's known him so he's pretty self-sufficient, but Steve still offers to do it and Dustin lets him.

It's little moments like these that really let Steve feel like Dustin's brother. Which is what makes it easier for Steve to say, as he is peeling the tube from inside the tire out, "hey, do you remember a week or so ago, when you said we were happy for Eddie and me?"

"Yeah," Dustin says as he's ripping open the package the new tube is in.

"You also told me to not hurt him. I- why'd you say that?" Steve halts his progress on peeling the tube out to look up at Dustin.

He watches as Dustin turns sheepish, "I. Well, mostly I said it so that when I talk to Eddie, I might feel less bad about threatening him."

"What? Why did you threaten him?"

Dustin finishes freeing the new tube from its prison before finally looking back at Steve, "I haven't yet. Mike was talking about how Nancy gave you a shovel talk a while ago, as Eddie's 'best friend'," he makes air quotes around the words, "and I'm your best friend, so I have to give Eddie one. But Eddie's also my friend, so I had to say something to you, too."

"That's so-" Steve cuts off, because he was going to say that's so childish but Dustin should be allowed to be childish just a little longer. Part of his childhood was stolen by monsters and Steve can give him a little bit back, "that's a nice thought but please don't shovel talk Eddie. Besides, Erica beat you to it."

"Shit!"

"Language."

"Well, since Erica did it there's really no point in me doing it. She's terrifying when she wants to be."

Steve laughs because Erica can be terrifying. "Give me the tube, or do you want to finish this?"

"No, continue," Dustin thrusts the tube at Steve, who takes it with a grin and gets back to work.

Robin and he are closing on a Wednesday night, so it's been slow all day, and while Steve wants to talk to Robin, he doesn't want to be interrupted. So, they go about their shift like normal and it's only once he's locked the door and flipped the open sign to closed that he seeks out Robin in the back room, where she's counting down the till.

"Can you pause after that? I need to talk," Steve says and feels his stomach churn. He's never.... he and Robin have never had a fight, never really had any issues that required a talk. Not about anything between them anyway. Robin's always just understood him, in the same way he's understood Robin. They've never been the source of each other's pains until now.

"Yeah, of course," Robin finished the coins, marking down the amounts on a piece of paper before shifting to give Steve her full attention. "Are you ready to talk about it?"

"It?"

"Whatever's hurting you," she says. "I don't know what it is, but I knew you'd come to me when you were ready."

"It's been heard to try and talk about," Steve confesses, "because it's never. It was never you that I've been- I still don't know what to say but I know I don't want to be..." he trails off, waving his hands as he grapples for the words he wants.

"Oh," Robin whispers, standing from the desk to approach. "I hurt you. Tell me what I did, so I can properly apologize."

"When you told me to be careful with Eddie," Steve says, "after I told you about our first date. I don't understand why you'd say that me."

Robin looks pained and swallows before she says, "I'm so sorry, Steve. I shouldn't have said that. And I don't- I don't even have a good reason why I did. I know you'd never hurt Eddie. I know you and what I said wasn't even about you. Not the real you, anyway."

"So, why'd you say it, then?"

Robin frowns and looks away from him, shuffling her feet before she says to a point at the wall, "I was friends, or friendly, with a lot of the girls you were with in high school. A lot of one and done dates that I had to hear about, while they cried in the bathroom or on their bedroom floors, wondering what they'd done wrong, why you didn't stay or-" Steve winces as the reminder of who he'd been in high school comes easily out of Robin, but not for the usual reason he winces. It's not because Robin's reminding him he used to be a douche; she's reminding him of all the people he hurt and never cared that he'd done it. He never apologized, and now it's far too late even if all those girls deserve to hear it.

Robin is still speaking, "or whatever. But that doesn't matter now. You aren't that guy anymore; haven't been the entire time I've actually known you and it wasn't fair for me to say what I said. I just- you took Eddie out, and the part of me that spent years of high school consoling friends who felt used by you just spoke. I-I need to work on filtering the words that come out of my mouth, because if I'd waited like, four more seconds to process your words and settle in the fact you went on a date we both thought you'd never be brave enough to ask for, then I never would have said it. I'm so sorry, Steve. I know you and I should have known better."

Steve swallows thickly, because it hurt to hear but he also knows she's sorry and that's enough. He steps forward and sweeps her into a hug, crushing her against him. She squeezes back just as hard.

Steve has never felt really hurt about Wayne's shovel talk. It was the first, and the only one he'd say he deserved. Not because Steve deserved to have a shovel talk given to him, but because Wayne should get to have the honor of giving one. Eddie's never had a boyfriend before, and Wayne had spent so long worried about how this town would treat Eddie if they knew he was gay.

So, when Steve sees Wayne again, he just smiles at the man, and gets a genuine smile back. He and Wayne are ok.

He and Jeff apologize to each other next time they cross paths on a Hellfire night. Steve apologizes for being snappy and rude. Jeff apologizes for automatically assuming the worst of Steve. They agree to a truce and a start over.

Steve's convinced he can win over Eddie's friends eventually.

Steve can't talk to Nancy. There's too much left unsaid between them for him to feel comfortable with telling her she hurt him. But it's okay. He and Nancy aren't close friends, and she's leaving for Boston in a few weeks for college. He's sure that the distance, and not seeing her weekly for Lunch Date Day, will help.

So, he's a bit surprised to answer the knocking on his front door to see Nancy. It's an exact recreation of the day she shovel talked him and immediately Steve tenses.

"Uh, hi," he says.

Nancy takes a deep breath and says, "I'm sorry. I thought I was being funny when I gave you that shovel talk, but I- someone made it clear to me that we aren't friends enough to be able to make jokes like that. That's my fault, too. For everything I've done and never apologized for. So, I want to say that I'm sorry."

Steve's a little stumped, a bit perplexed even, so he speaks on autopilot, "It's fine, Nance. We're good."

Nancy squares her jaw and narrows her eyes and says, "no."

"No?"

"No. Don't forgive me. Not yet. Make me earn it."

Steve don't respond right away. He wants to just forgive Nancy, but when he thinks about it, he just wants to do that so Nancy will quit looking so defensive. He's not sure he does forgive her. "You're right. I- we'll work on that, then. Being friends one day."

"Good. Good," Nancy nods. "I'll see you are Lunch Date day, yeah? Or... or would you like me to stop coming?"

He shakes his head. "No, please keep coming. There's, what, three more before you're off to college? We can work towards friends in that time, yeah?"

"Yeah," Nancy gives him a small smile, "see you then, Steve."

"See you," Steve replies and shuts the door as she heads down the walkway back towards her car.

He wants to know if Eddie or Robin gave her the dressing down that brought her here to say sorry.

(It wasn't Robin or Eddie. It was Mike, learning what Nancy had done and telling her it wasn't her place to do that.)

There is one final shovel talk for the remainder of their relationship.

It's the final day in Steve's room at his parents house. He's moving in with Eddie and Wayne, at least until the kid's all graduate. Then he and Eddie might go off somewhere on their own.

He's finished packing up his things from the bathroom, and looks up in the mirror. He sees himself, and almost doesn't recognize the reflection staring back. He looks happy. Actually, really happy.

Eddie appears behind him in the mirror, leaning himself against the doorjam, smiling softly at Steve through the mirror.

"All done, sweetheart?"

"Yeah, babe," Steve says. "Just one more thing."

"Oh?"

Steve slides his eyes away from Eddie in the mirror, back to himself. He lifts a finger and points one accusingly finger at himself and says, "if you fuck this up, Harrington, I'll kick your ass myself."

Eddie's full belly laughter rings loudly in the bathroom and Steve just smiles.

[30somethingautisticteacher]

My day has been made 🥰 between "I'm just trying to keep up" and "God I hope so" we already has a great idea of how this is going. Did you see the new take from BOBs now? Bobby may approve but Henren don't...are you serious? They were being protective 🤦‍♀️

[cienie-isengardu]

How to seduce Ares [2/3]: Hebe's advice.

Hebe: I see you are interested in my brother. So let me give you advice... you need speak in language Ares will understand. Trust me, "blood and violence" is all you really need. But hurt him and I will end you myself. Aphrodite: ...

Other “Greek Mythology” arts:

How to seduce Ares [1/3]: Failed attempt

Athena is not a morning person + bonus

Hera’s reaction after meeting Thanatos.

Hera meets Thanatos, the New Friend of Ares

A daily life of Hebe + bonus

Kid Eileithyia, kid Ares and very concerned Zeus & Hera

Athena & Aphrodite (on battlefield)

Ares and his sons: Deimos & Phobos

The Gods of War: Ares & Athena

Persephone’s reminder for Ares & Athena

[padfootastic]

irrationally it cracks me up that we're given two snape's flashback chapters and in both we see how perfect Sirius and James fit (from the first conversation!), how taken they are with each other. It probably drove Snape mad even more, not only they hated him and made his life worse, they were so obnoxiously, undeniably happy together.

sksks you know that feeling of being SO filled w rage when people u hate are successful? (*coughs* me & remrem *coughs*) i feel like that’s snape wrt j&s all the time lol. it’s pretty canon that he’s a bitter, petty individual and i can’t see it being any better in his youth so imagining him around these two sappy fuckers, when his own love life is going to shit,,,,

he’s just frothing at the mouth and clenching fists and screaming crying throwing up all the time

[futurefind]

he waits until cyrillo and kaiya walk away, waits even longer until he's sure they probably won't hear him over the chatter of all the people roaming outside. then ciaran turns to the mercenary, eyes narrowed. he almost doesn't want to ask. he knows cyrillo, and he knows how charming the grand vampire can be. he's pretty sure he's been " charming " sasume, if their behavior is anything to go off of ( gross gross gross -- that's his... not dad, but gross!! ). " ...what's going on with you and cyrillo? you two're acting different. " weird, he'd like to say, but he's got better manners than that.

unprompted / always accepting! // @tvrningout

Fuck, she thinks distantly.

Then: Fuck.

And then: Wait, that's how she got into this mess, isn't it—

For what she thinks is the first time in her entire life, Sasume's glad for her acquired coldness. It's much easier to hide shock and surprise when she's scarcely expressive at best, after all.

Which means when her heart goes from stable and silently soft (as it's wont to do with her ever-increasingly familiarity with Cyrillo and his lot, and not at all hurt by Ciaran's age) to slamming into a brick wall and careening off of a cliff's edge, she knows the sudden flood of raw and hysteric panic is nowhere near displayed on her face.

Nonetheless the muscles in her face go taught all the same, and her eyes widen at the only overt sign of surprise.

"Ah," is all she says at first, banking on her icy reputation for it to come off as aloof rather than anything but. She's knows it's not her place to get too involved with Ciaran, but for as much as she may be aware of Cyrillo and Kaiya's proverbial toes about him, she also knows he'd waited for them to leave, first.

Which. Fucking gods is she glad she's not smart enough to unpack everything going on here immediately.

"...Bonding," she offers blandly, more of a statement than a question— but not completely so. She knows she can't fire back too much (like his behaving even less than Kaiya in staying home as they went to the free army), lest she give him even more ammunition to go on the offensive himself, but—

"Or were you expecting me to only know him as 'that rich vampire who helps me find jobs' forever?"

She can deflect to hell and back, if nothing else.

Sasume can only hope that that, her general privacy, and the (far briefer than anticipated) time away from the others from Cyrillo's estate will be enough to sate the kid's curiosity. After all, when one's as about as emotive as a brick and also about as social, perhaps just friendship alone would serve as the perfect cover...?

(Distantly, she has an even more horrifying realization: Thank gods... whatever they have is casual, or else she'd have to tell Shida—)

[13daze]

no cjeat cards bc i spent my savings on painful and fruitless solomon bday pulls but im fighting thru the cb event anyways bc i Need Those UR+ Jokers

[redsray]

i do love the idea of the wayne kids giving bernard shovel talks about taking care of tim and all that but also give me batfam who are just as protective of bernard as they are of each other.

give me bernard, attending his first wayne gala as tim's significant other. having a suit custom tailored and funded by bruce even if bernard insists it's not necessary because he already has one. arriving at the gala anxious because of course he is, it's a goddamn socialite event, but being protected from every side by the wayne kids even when tim is dragged away.

Socialite: Oh, and who might you be?

Bernard: Oh, um, hi. I'm Bernard Dowd, nice to meet you.

Socialite: Dowd? I've never heard of your family before. Who...?

Bernard: I'm not here with my family, miss, I'm here with my boyfriend.

Socialite: ... Boyfriend?

Bernard: Yeah, I'm here with Tim.

Socialite, frowning: Tim... as in Drake-Wayne? He has a boyfriend?

Dick, coming up next to Bernard: He sure does! Bernard here is practically one of ours now, aren't you? He matters to Timmy, so he matters to us.

Bernard: Dick—

Dick: C'mon, let's get you back to Timmy. Farewell, Mrs!

Bernard: I could've handled that.

Dick: All the rules that apply to my siblings during galas apply to you too. I'm sure you could've, but you shouldn't have to. I've got your back too, now, yeah?

Bernard: ... Yeah. Thanks, Dick.

Jason, coming up to Bernard at the bar: Not to freak you out, kid, but there's a guy starin' at ya from the other side of the bar. Y'know him or should I encourage him to look away?

Bernard, startled: Huh? (looks around) Oh. No, I don't know him. Why... is he looking at me like that, actually?

Jason, scowling: 'S just how the slimy fuckers at these events are. Can't keep their eyes off anything that's small, young or pretty. Disgusting. I'll deal with him— where's your annoying other half gone, inferior blondie?

Bernard: Tim? He got pulled away for quote; 'something important' by some lady. He said he'll meet me here after he's done, so I've been waiting.

Jason: Huh. If I see him I'll point him yer way. Hey, don't be 'fraid to ask any of us questions or for help if ya need it. We know the best how daunting this shit can be.

Bernard, genuinely touched: ... Thanks, Jason.

Jason: Yeah, yeah. Don't tell Timmers I said that, though, he'll call me a loser.

Bernard, laughing: I won't.

Bernard, being talked to by several people at once and a bit overwhelmed by the attention: Uh— I'm—

Damian, stepping between him and the socialites: Dowd. I require your assistance.

Bernard: Um— hi, Damian— with what?

Damian: You will see when we get there. Follow me, Drake's more tolerable half.

Bernard: Okay... so what do you need from me?

Damian: Nothing. You seemed to dislike the attention from all of the nosy adults over there. It was the most efficient way of extracting you from the situation.

Bernard: Oh. Thanks, Damian.

Damian: Tt, don't thank me yet, Dowd. I am still criticising your choice in romantic partners.

Bernard: Didn't you threaten me with a katana to not dampen Tim's mood in any way shape or form?

Damian: Slander. I said quote 'if you make Drake more annoying by breaking his heart I'm going to maim you.' I don't see how you got the message you did from that.

Bernard, grinning: Sure, Damian. Sure.

[lumillsie]

ೃ⁀➷ being jun-ho's s/o would include ¡!

in which you're romantically involved with the police officer doing his best to find his brother and put a stop to the squid games

a/n : lots of love to my dearest friend @angelseraphines for not only getting me into this brilliantly-written show, but also for looking over my fic to double-check my characterisation and to give me a second opinion on it. if you aren't already following her, please go ahead and make sure that you do so 🙏

also this turned into a full-on fic please just roll with the punches 🙏bit of a cliche first date but I fear that I have very little dating experience so you guys are gonna have to deal with that, I fear.

╰┈➤ it was the middle of winter when you met the policeman for the first time. the air was crisp and frigid, icicles were hanging from rooftops and everywhere you turned you could see colourful outfits in contrast with the white snow and hear the sound of shovels scraping against sidewalks. a kind-eyed man in a reflective green vest caught your attention at the same time a car smacked a young woman and drove off.

╰┈➤ you stepped forward to testify, wanting to help out the woman. she thankfully didn't appear to be in critical danger, save for the bruising on her hip and the apparent fracture in her left hand — and so you headed off with them to the station to give your statement. the woman was allowed to give her statement and leave immediately, due to the obvious state her hand was in and her need to visit a hospital. you were left then with the kind-eyed officer from earlier, who brought you a sizzling cup of hot chocolate and sat down to wait with you until you could sign off on your witness testimony.

╰┈➤ talking with him was so relaxing for you. it felt as if you had known him for years and the banter between you and him felt natural and light. you couldn't remember when was the last time you laughed that much — little did you know that he felt the same way.

╰┈➤ as you headed off to leave, your eyes searched for him amongst the worn-out chairs and stacked files. you wanted a chance to say goodbye, regardless of the dread gathering in your chest at the thought that you'd never see him again. you were disappointed when one of his colleagues informed you that he had to head off back to his post — that was until you were handed a slip of paper with his name and number on it. he was far too professional to make the move himself, but his colleague could see you two liked one another and took it upon himself to push you towards him. with a grateful smile and a glint of unadulterated joy in your eyes, you left the building and headed off to meet up with the friend you'd made plans with that day. you would be a little late, but you were sure she wouldn't mind once you told her about your day.

╰┈➤ admittedly, it took you a couple of days to call the handsome officer, whose name you now knew to be hwang jun-ho. every time you picked up the phone, your legs would become jittery and you'd find yourself pacing around your room. a little seed of doubt took its root within you, but on the fourth day you finally gave in and pressed the call button. once he recognised your voice, his lips curled into a smile on the other end of the line. he was a bit concerned when his colleague gave you his number, but he was glad to see that you weren't put off by it. on that cold winter's night, you talked and talked until you both fell asleep grasping your phones, the line still on.

╰┈➤ these cozy evening calls became routine for the two of you, with him initiating them when he got off work. you learned more about him — that he was close with his mom, that he was set to get a promotion soon and that he wanted to work in major crimes as a detective someday and that he would often look in on his brother when he had some spare time. he didn't talk much about him, but you got the feeling that whatever it was his brother experienced wasn't something you wanted to press him much on — so you didn't. he made the effort to ask you more about yourself as well, so you talked to him about your job, your family, and your friends. you talked to him about your hobbies, the places you wanted to visit, and the things that made you happy. neither of you had ever really felt so comfortable, so quickly with another person — it was a lovely feeling, one that you both desperately latched onto.

╰┈➤ a couple of weeks after you started talking, jun-ho finally managed to get a day off. his tone of voice was dignified, yet dulcet as he invited you to go see a movie and then to dinner with him. you replied immediately and enthusiastically, gripping the phone so tightly in your hand that it almost felt like you could break it if you squeezed it in just a slightly tighter manner.

╰┈➤ like a true gentleman, he picked you up from your apartment on the day of the date and you found yourself glancing at him admiringly as he drove, trying his hardest to keep his eyes on the road and not on you. when you arrived at the cinema, you were surprised to see that the movie he got tickets for was the one you'd been raving to him about for weeks. "I wasn't sure if you wanted to go see it with a friend, but I figured it would make for a pretty good first date" he admitted with a hint of humour in his voice. you responded by telling him you thought it was a wonderful idea.

╰┈➤ the cinema hall was dark, illuminated only by the gleam of the screen as the opening scene of the movie was unfolding. he had to admit that the plot was intriguing, but he found himself glancing down at you every so often. halfway through the film, he found the courage to extend his hand, and you grasped it into yours as gleeful smile made its way onto your face. even as your hands began to feel a bit sweaty, you couldn't bring yourselves to let go.

╰┈➤ on the way to the restaurant, you launched yourselves into a proper conversation about the movie, laughing and joking about its points and twists as the rosy sunset gave way to a melancholy dusk. the staff and guests moved around in a lively manner, as the sound of glass and ceramic reverbated through the room — and the view from the windows was absolutely breathtaking. you could tell that he'd done his best to keep your preferences in mind when he was looking for a place to take you to. you held his hand across the table as you waited for the food to arrive, and you spent the better part of the evening comfortably talking to one another. every so often, his eyes would dart to your lips, but he made no move to reach across the table — not yet, at least.

╰┈➤ his shoes were crunching on the frozen ground as he followed you to your front door, and as you turned back to see your goodbye, he leaned in and gave you a gentle kiss on the lips — one which you eagerly reciprocated. he pressed a gentle kiss to both of your hands before he departed, and he called you once again as he got home.

╰┈➤ it didn't take long after that for the two of you to become an official couple. you began to visit him at work when you had the time, and he'd take an hour or two after work was done to slip by and spend some time with you. you would lounge on your couch with a glass of wine in your hand — if he was staying the night he'd drink a few too, and if he wasn't then he'd drink some tea.

╰┈➤ he would feel awful about waking you early in the morning when he had to return to his apartment and get ready for work, but he always made sure to write you a note and find your kettle so you could boil water for tea or coffee when you got up. he always kissed your forehead and whispered a sentence or two of affection before he left. he knew you couldn't hear him, but he felt the need to say them nonetheless.

╰┈➤ realistically, it wouldn't take long for you to meet his mother and brother. jun-ho always made time to visit her, and in-ho had given him his kidney. they were a close-knit family and he wanted the people most important to him to meet the person he was rapidly becoming more and more serious with. his brother seemed quiet and solemn, but he wasn't unkind. save for your greeting and goodbye, you only exchanged a few awkward words — most of which were just polite questions. you got the underlying feeling that he was a very tormented man, and the sight of a family photo on the counter with his arms wrapped around an unfamiliar woman confirmed your suspicions. jun-ho's mother, on the other hand, was incredibly warm and welcoming. she trusted her son's judgement, and she embraced you as if she'd met you a thousand times before. she prepared a fantastic meal, and she showed you photos of jun-ho and in-ho throughout their childhood. your joyous laughter echoed through the room as the younger of the two brothers covered his face with his hands. when it was time to return home, you found yourself hesitant to leave the warm atmosphere of the older woman's apartment — she made you promise to come visit her often. you agreed enthusiastically.

╰┈➤ when you returned home that evening, you asked him about his brother. he opened up to you then, about all the things he'd never really talked about. about the week his brother went missing a couple of years ago, about the death of his brother's pregnant wife and about the kidney he received from his brother. his voice was on the verge of breaking as he uttered out one string of words after the other, and his eyes began to gloss over. you held him close then, and from that moment on it was as if he could tell you anything — trust you with everything. it was the turning point between being two people who truly liked eachother to being partners.

╰┈➤ the change from living apart to living together was pretty seamless. at one point, you both realised that most of his stuff was already at your place and you just ended up moving the rest of it in. from that point on, he never really had to worry about going back to his place or getting up extremely early to get ready for work. you'd stay awake huddled under the blankets with his arms wrapped around you as you kept one another up to date with what you got up to during the day, and what you wanted to do as soon as you found some free time.

╰┈➤ if you're out together and he sensed that the chill from the cold weather outside is getting to you, he'd sneakily slip his jacket around your shoulders and offer you a teasing quip as he zipped it up with a light smirk on his face. your protests of not being that cold would be met with an exasperated look.

╰┈➤ you didn't hear him the first time he told you he loved you. as he kissed your forehead and whispered to you in the morning, it simply slipped out. he didn't realise it until he spoke it out loud. when he returned home that evening, those were the first words out of his mouth — and you said it back. after that, he always made to include his declarations of love in his morning notes, and they were the first and last words on his lips each time you said your helloes and goodbyes.

╰┈➤ you're there for him as he climbs the ranks in the police, and you'll never forget the look on his face when he came home with the news of finally receiving his promotion to detective. he spun you around as he placed kisses on your face, and you leaned in and kissed him with passion to show him just how proud of him you were. he took you out to celebrate that evening, and he took you to the same restaurant where you had your first date. it would go on to become your go-to place for celebrating special occasions. the following day, you went to visit his mother. tears of joy slipped from her eyes as she embraced him, and it wasn't long before she drew you into her embrace as well. it was the first time you saw something that didn't look like grief or sadness in his brother's eyes. you saw pride.

╰┈➤ he definitely wants to get married, and the two of you have talked about it, but both of you want to have a wedding when the entire family feels like they can actually celebrate. the dark cloud of grief that seems to constantly hang over in-ho's head has encouraged you both to wait a while. regardless, you two have already discussed so many of the details — the song you'd like to have for your first dance, the colour palette, the season when you'd like to have it in and where.

╰┈➤ he's incredibly observant, a trait that has helped him in both his private and professional life. he remembers the little things about you — he keeps track of the things you talk to him about, notes the ways in which your features contort when you see something you like or dislike, and goes out of his way to make your life easier in small ways.

╰┈➤ when you are both too tired to get ready and get ready for a proper date, but still want to do more than simply stay inside the whole time, he'll take you for a drive around the city. sometimes you get stuck in traffic, sometimes you get to breeze through the vibrant streets. for these dates, you have two playlists — one made up of both yours and his favourite songs, and another made up of ballads and romantic declarations weaved into music. which one you end up putting on depends on the atmosphere, but the second one tends to be the one you play when you park atop a cliff and take some time to glance at the stars.

╰┈➤ he rarely ever gets jealous, because he's confident in your relationship and he trusts you. that being said, he is incredibly protective — and he's always watching out for you. this bleeds into his affectionate nature, and the hand wrapped around your shoulder when you're out and about means two things. one, that he wants to be close to you and this is his way of expressing it. two, that he's warding off any unwanted attention and anybody who would seek to do you harm. he's a detective, so of course he's great at multi-tasking.

╰┈➤ while he mostly saves flowers for special occasions, he goes out of his way to get you baked goods when he's on his way back from work. you remarked once on how the pastries he brought you from the bakery near his station reminded you of something you ate regularly in your childhood, and he was nothing if not attentive. he didn't always bring home the same stuff — but he kept track of which treats you were craving the most and acted accordingly.

╰┈➤ if you get caught out in the rain, he's the type of guy who will keep his jacket above your head to try and keep you from getting drenched by the rainfall — or at the very least drape it around you, if you're wearing something that becomes see-through when it comes into contact with water. his focus is on your comfort in those moments.

╰┈➤ he finally proposed to you on your three-year anniversary, at the same restaurant where the two of you had your first date. while marriage was something you discussed, he still managed to surprise you with the proposal, and you agreed with tears welling in your eyes and your heart thumping nearly out of your chest. one of the first people you called was his mother, and you made sure to send the colleague that slipped you jun-ho's number a baskets of flowers and baked goods. he left a good portion of the planning to you, as busy as he is with his job, but he always offered his opinion and showed you that he cared immensely when you'd ask him for it.

╰┈➤ a couple of months after you announced your engagement, and with preparations underway — his brother disappeared. this wasn't the first time of course, but it was only the second time he didn't leave a message or let anyone know of his whereabouts. the last time this happened, his pregnant wife passed away, so naturally you, jun-ho and his mother were all worried. a couple of days into his brother's disappearance, your fiancee called to tell you that he was following a lead on his brother's disappearance — something with slip of cardboard with weird symbols and some man his colleagues perceived as crazy. after that, you couldn't get hold of him.

╰┈➤ when he did resurface, a couple of weeks later, he turned up bloodied and with a bullet in his shoulder on some old sea captain's boat. you looked after him then, tending to his wound and making sure that it didn't get infected, redressing it, and helping him with mundane tasks he struggled with now that his shoulder was injured. he was eerily secretive about it at first, and all you knew was the tidbits you managed to get from his coworkers — about some strange island and some sickening freaks making indebted people play children's games and then killing them for sport. you were confused, but you didn't press him until he was ready to talk to you about it.

╰┈➤ in the dark of the night, as he was leaning on the bathroom sink and you were pressing cold ice against the torn and injured flesh left by an unknown man's gun, he started talking to you about it. about following the strange man into a limousine where they doused all the passengers with some sleeping agent, about sneaking onto a ship and strangling one of the workers there, consequently tossing his body into the depths of the vast sea. as he spoke about all the death he witnessed, about the man with one kidney the workers cut up and whose organs they trafficked, about the sickening rich man who attempted to force himself onto him and about escaping the island, only to be tracked down as he attempted to send the proof he'd gathered and was met with horrendous cell signal and a masked man's gun. he didn't tell you about his brother, couldn't condemn him in such a way. that was the only part he kept to himself.

╰┈➤ your habit of staying up together in the night became more frequent than it had ever been. when he did sleep, he was always mumbling something about in-ho and the lines on his forehead and the manner in which he was squeezing his eyes made him look nearly as if he was in pain. you would coax him back from the turmoil he was re-experiencing in his sleep and into reality. neither of you went back to sleep on nights like those, and his grasp on you was so firm as if he was afraid you might disappear if he attempted to loosen it.

╰┈➤ he'd quit his job and went back to handling traffic then, and you understood he needed his time to grieve — a reprieve from death and the most distorted cases that hit the station's desk. you got married soon after, as the realisation that life was far too short to worry about semantics settled in his bones, and the fear of losing him intensified in you after what he'd gone through. you still kept the most important parts of what you'd planned out - the song for your first dance, the place where you wanted to celebrate, the people you wanted in roles of honour. it was a small and private affair, witnessed only by those the two of you felt were most deserving and close. you hoped to hold another celebration once in-ho returned, if he ever did — your husband already knew that he would not.

╰┈➤ once he starts working with gi-hun, he fills you in on what they're doing. he doesn't want you to worry, he couldn't put you through what you experienced back when you didn't know if he was dead or alive. you demand that they let you in, that they allow you to help them look for the man in the black mask. you couldn't stomach the thought of him setting off with you again, to do something so perilous and frightening. he's hesitant at first, and refuses to even consider the idea. upon realising that you don't intend to give up, and that you'll join him for it whether he likes it or not — he relents, but demands you don't put yourself in harm's way.

╰┈➤ on the night of halloween, as you all set out to find whoever is behind the black mask of the games' frontman, you head off with gi-hun. jun-ho worries about letting you go, but he still has faith in his brother not causing you any harm. he doesn't expect you to end up in the limo with gi-hun, as they take him back to the island for another week of twisted, death games.

a/n : thank you so much for reading this! if you find any inaccuracies with the show itself or with korean culture, please go out of your way to let me know how I may improve upon them and fix my mistakes 🙏🙏 I'm grateful to you for taking the time to read this fic, this is actually the first time I managed to finish a fic in a day (as opposed to my regular routine of taking a whole week to wrap up one set of headcanons). as always, I'm tagging other characters to increase my outreach, but the characters I'm tagging are only the ones I also write for — in case you want to request anything for them.

[ghostedbunnie]

Wonder how Simon would react if he was dating someone who had a good relationship with their own father. And Simon gets the usual "shovel talk" from their father, only for Simon to point out if he did hurt his SO, the 141 would beat the shit out of him.

it would be especially funny if his s/o's dad was like a head shorter than he is, just looking like the stereotypical chill dad but giving Simon the talk.

"if you hurt them i'm gonna bury you in my backyard and I'd hate to do it, son, I just made it look nice."

simon isn't even miffed honestly. he's glad, glad that you have someone who would stand up for you. especially since standing up to him is not an easy task -- he's the biggest guy in the room most of the time, looks like he could bench press a car for fun and his skull balaclava makes even tough guys avoid him when the sun's down. out of the whole intimidation spiel the word "son" hit a nerve he didn't know was still raw. he almost forgot he was someone's son at one point in time. he refused the notion but now the idea doesn't sound that bad, it doesn't send chills crawling down his back or anxiety making his palms sweaty.

"my squad would already serve me my balls on a silver platter if i messed this up." your dad was stunned for a second before letting out a laugh saying he likes those guys already, how he should invite them for a beer.

it was almost funny when the guys clapped him on a shoulder after meeting you, they were charmed. you made Simon softer. they could see his dark circles lessen when he was with you, finally being able to get a good night's rest without his own nightmares plaguing his mind. he finally had a reason to come back from missions. if he had to he would crawl back to you, bruised and bloodied.

"lucky ye, Lt. ye've found a gud one." from Johnny.

"don't make us kick your ass by making them cry." from Kyle.

"better treat them right or someone with a prettier mug than you will." from Price.

but the consensus was clear, he'd have hell to pay if he ever hurt you.

[rosie-posie1313]

Bruce Wayne Fic Recs II 🦇

Fic Recs Part 1

Different By @batarangtotheheart

when batmom gets mad By @thatawesomenerdygirl

hot mama  By ^

LET’S HAVE A BABY By @catxsnow

HAPPINESS  By ^

CUTE SUIT By ^

Family ties  By @obislittleone

Alone By @uncpanda

Nurse By @alienguts

Green Eyed Monster  By ^

Unexpected Visitors By @toastedkiwi

I Saw It Coming When You Threw The First Punch By @ragingbookdragon

Friends To Arranged Marriage To…Wait, How Many Kids? By ^

Six-String By @thebigbadbatswife

If They Get Married I'd Be Your Uncle By @oh-for-fic-sake

What Is A Mother, But The Woman Who Loves Us Most? By @ragingbookdragon

Adore you  By @ladyofhellhounds

Interviews By @c-nstantine

Mr. And Mrs. Wayne By ^

Batfamily and Batmom goes to Bali headcanon By @toastedside

‘Till Death Do Us Part By ^

Mothers By ^

Rough Night? By @bubblyani

Respect By @battymommastuff

Not Jealous By @bluebellhairpin

Saving Bruce Wayne By ^

Anniversary Blues By ^

In the Life of By ^

Much Loved Sister In Law By @lazydoodlesandfanfic

Rise and Shine By @alienguts

Scars By @straywords

New Edition By @alisonwritesimagines

Call mom  By @cipheress-to-k-pop

The Night We Met By @alisonwritesimagines

What? By @notwonderlandsworld

Promised haven  By @whirlybirbs

Bafam imagine By @ragingbookdragon

New Beginnings By @xoxo-mylove

Hcs for Bruce when his s/o wears his clothes By @vigilvntes

Forgive  By @chubbyreaderchan

“A Trophy and Chloroform” By @kaleidoscopewritings19

Three’s the Magic Number By @celestialnxva

The Only Exceptions By ^

Gensei By ^

Happy Birthday Batmom By @ragingbookdragon

Time is everything we may not have By @robinsdearest

Cafes and Alleyways By @bludhavents

Shovel Talk  By @makethatelevenrings

it matters to me By @reveluving

[alpinechamomile]

TIP for any fellow disabled folks who have cats ❣️ if you got chronic fatigue or back pain or POTS where you cant bend down easily or even if you're able bodied and just feeling sick get one of these shits ↓↓↓

It's got one huge sifter so after your cat(s) use it you just grab it, shake it side to side a little, dump the poop into a bag, put the now clean litter in a fresh box (this one gives you two litter boxes for this reason) and pour the clean litter in the box on top of the pan. You can put the second box under it to keep it out of the way for when you switch over again.

This Arm and Hammer one was only 15 bucks on amazon and it's so much easier to clean. It is heavy to lift up the full pan and dump the cleaned litter into the second box so keep that in mind, but it's so much faster and less arduous than shoveling the caked up cat shit for 10 minutes and having your back screaming in pain, numb feet, and a head rush from bending over 😭 i didn't know these existed until now so that's why I'm talking about it anyway if you see this you should pet your cat for me maybe give em a kiss on their stupid little forehead 🤎🐈🐈‍⬛

[cinnbar-bun]

Kiss the Swordsman (Mihawk x Reader)

Summary: Inspired by "Kiss the Girl" from The Little Mermaid.

Perona is frustrated that Mihawk won't confess his feelings for you, so she hires Zoro to take part in a scheme to get Mihawk to admit his love for you.

Word Count: ~2.9k

Rating: SFW

You can read this on my AO3 here!

Perona glared deeply at you and Mihawk, who were quietly sitting and eating breakfast. You passed him the butter without him asking, and he refilled your cup while you were cutting your food. 

Zoro raised a brow as he stopped shoveling his pancakes into his mouth. “Why’re you so angry?” 

Perona’s frown grew fiercer as she crossed her arms. “I’m mad Mihawk hasn’t made a move!” 

Zoro glanced at Mihawk, who was taking a sip of his coffee. 

“I dunno, he looks like he’s moving just fine,” Zoro shrugged. Perona smacked his shoulders. 

“Not like that, idiot!” She shouted. Zoro picked his ear and continued to eat. 

“Dunno what you mean then.” 

“Ugh! You’re so clueless!” Perona pointed at you and Mihawk. “It’s so obvious they like each other!” 

Zoro swallowed another pancake whole and shook his head. “I know you didn’t just say that while I’m eating.” 

“Well I did!” 

“Ugh… whatever,” Zoro sighed. “Besides, what are you talking about? They don’t like each other.” 

Perona narrowed her eyes and forced Zoro to look at Mihawk. “You’re blind. Look at how he looks at (Y/n)!” 

Mihawk, at the moment, was focused on his breakfast and Zoro grit his teeth. 

“He’s not even looking at them…” 

“Y-you just missed it!” Perona’s cheeks turned red as she wagged her finger. “Trust me, he stares at them a lot!!” 

“So what? Maybe (Y/n)’s just got a stain or something. What do you want me to do about it?” Zoro tiredly responded. 

“I’m not asking you to do anything ab-,” her eyes lit up as she gasped loudly, making Zoro jolt. “That’s it! You’re a genius, Zoro!”

“I am…?” He asked, unsure if he was going to like her next few sentences. 

“Mhm! You just gave me a new idea! We go make Mihawk confess his love for (Y/n)!” 

“But does he even-“ Perona cut Zoro off by placing her index finger to his lips. 

“Shhhh… trust me. It’s foolproof.” 

---

“So, tell me again how this is supposed to make Mihawk confess?” Zoro asked as he held the shovel in his hand. 

“Duh! (Y/n) will just fall into this hole and maybe get injured or something,” Perona proudly smiled as she covered the hole with a net of leaves. “Mihawk will swoop in and realize seeing the love of his life fall into a hole was too much, then he’ll look into (Y/n)’s eyes and be so emotional over their safety and have to confess!” 

“I don’t think that’s gonna pull a confession out of him.” 

“What do you know, lughead?! Have you ever dated someone before?” 

“No,” Zoro scratched his chin. “Neither have you.” 

“Well that’s just- um, ah- just hush! Shhh! I hear them coming.” 

Perona dragged Zoro behind a tree to peek out and see her victims. Mihawk and you were clad in your usual farming attire, with you carrying a bucket of compost for your garden. Perona rubbed her hands and chuckled, waiting for the glorious moment to come when… 

“Oh, wait, Mihawk, there’s something over there,” you pointed out. 

“Hm? Ah…” Mihawk hummed in acknowledgment as you both began walking away from the path where the hole was. Perona gawked and gripped the bark of the tree. 

“No! Those two-!” 

You and Mihawk noticed a small burrow close to the field of root veggies. “A rabbit, I believe,” Mihawk murmurs, crouching down to the small nest. Before he can even take a look, a grown rabbit bolts out of the hole and dashes under Mihawk’s legs. 

You jump as the rabbit runs past you, and Mihawk recovers to quickly chase after it. The swordsman is fast and swift, able to keep up with the animal, while you’re struggling to close the gap due to the heavy bucket in your hands. 

“And, got you-“ Mihawk leans forward to grab the rabbit, but as he does so, his foot makes contact with the nest of leaves that Perona hid the hole with. “Agh!” 

Mihawk lets out a loud yelp as the rabbit slips from his fingers and he plummets to the bottom of the (thankfully) shallow hole. 

You drop the bucket and rush over to him, looking down at him inside the hole. 

“Mihawk! Are you alright?” 

He dusts himself off, examining how his white shirt is now stained with brown mud and crumbled leaves. 

“Yes. I’m quite alright,” he answers smoothly, as if he didn’t just fall face first into a hole. 

“Do you need a hand?” You ask, extending your hand to him. 

“Thank you, (Y/n),” he accepts, pulling himself up with ease. “Are you alright? You’re not injured, are you?” 

You shake your head. “No, not at all. I wasn’t the one who fell into a hole, anyways. I’ll go check on you back at the castle.” 

“Much appreciated. But first-“ he craned his neck to Perona and Zoro’s hiding spot, causing them to shriek and fully hide themselves behind the trunk. His hawk eyes narrowed at them as he slowly made his way over to them. 

It all happened in a blur, as suddenly the two were lifted by their collars as Mihawk made them face the fields. 

“Since you two love playing in the dirt so much, I’ll allow you the opportunity to till each and every field today. And while you’re at it, fill that hole again,” he stated coldly, his voice giving no room for argument or interpretation. 

Perona and Zoro gulped at the massive garden. 

“If you two try this stunt again, I will have you become fertilizer. Do you understand?” 

“Y-yes, Mihawk,” Perona and Zoro nodded and weakly gave in. Given how Mihawk could be, this was perhaps his form of mercy to them. Mihawk dropped them and walked back to you, examining your hands. 

“Ah, you have a small mark. Next time, I’ll carry the bucket for you,” Mihawk commented. 

“It’s not a problem, Mihawk. I can do it just fine,” you chuckle. “Come on now, let’s go make sure you’re not bleeding.” 

“I most certainly would not be injured from that small of a hole.” 

---

Perona growled as she crossed off yet another idea from her list. 

“Maybe you should give up,” Zoro stated nonchalantly as he was taking a sip of his drink. 

“I can’t! I can’t, because if I don’t, Mihawk is never gonna do it and he’ll die alone like a boring old man!” Perona sobbed. “He can’t keep hiding his feelings! I just don’t get why none of these have worked…”

“Gee, I wonder why injuring (Y/n), burning books, breaking glass, and ruining dinner would make Mihawk not confess,” Zoro deadpanned. 

“Shut up, smartass! I just… I just know that deep down, (Y/n)’s the best thing in his life, and I’m not letting them walk away thinking he doesn’t care!” 

“That’s surprisingly caring of you.” 

“I’m gonna get violent!” Perona stomped her foot. 

“Just take it easy! You’ve been bombarding them nonstop and making us have to do so many chores. I’m not gonna clean any more dishes because of your matchmaking.” 

Perona huffed and nodded. She was exhausted from all the punishments Mihawk gave her after the many stunts she pulled, and manual labor was so not cute. She slid to the floor. 

“This is hopeless…” Perona mumbled. Zoro saw how dejected she looked and sighed. 

“Look, I’m not a romance expert, but why don’t we try something a bit smaller? Ya know? Something that doesn’t end up with (Y/n) or Mihawk getting something broken?” 

“Like what?” 

“Well, I dunno, I figured you’d tell me what people to be romantic. Damn, if only I had that cook here…” 

“Cook?” Her eyes lit up. “Cook! That’s it! We can make them a candlelit dinner!” 

---

Another of Perona’s shenanigans. Mihawk sighs as he opens a letter that tells him to get dressed and be outside in the courtyard. 

“Why did she sign it as (Y/n)…” he asks himself, confused why Perona would think he wouldn’t recognize what your handwriting looked like. Regardless, considering she seemingly put so much effort into this, he plays along and does as told, careful to “dress up nicely” as Perona so eloquently wrote. He fixed his hair and made sure to brush his facial hair before heading to the courtyard. 

“Now, Perona, I hope you have a good-,” he stops when he sees you’re the person standing, waiting in the courtyard. You look breathtaking, elegantly dressed up in an outfit that fits you perfectly. For a moment, Mihawk forgets what he was doing and trying to say. You chuckle and step closer to him. 

“You got her letter, too?” You ask. Mihawk nods. 

“I’m not sure what she’s thinking now.” 

“Neither do I. But it’s been a while since I wore something like this, it’s a nice change of pace.” 

Mihawk stares at you unemotionally, and you’re worried he thinks poorly of what you just said or how you look. 

“Yes… it’s a lovely change of pace,” he adds, his face softening. “You look stunning, (Y/n).” 

The compliment makes you smile, and he feels his face get warmer at seeing your gorgeous smile his way. 

“Come, let’s take a seat, I’m sure Perona has some plans for us,” he offers his hand. You take it and he glides swiftly to the small, white table with a beautiful candelabra in the center. Mihawk pulls out your chair and helps you sit, like a true gentleman. 

“I’m honestly surprised she’d done all of this,” you comment. “I wonder why.” 

“I could hazard a guess,” Mihawk replied, before Zoro arrived in a tux. 

“Evening, you two,” he states, holding a notepad. “The uh-“ he flips through the notepad and you and Mihawk see an obvious script that Perona wrote for him. You hold in your laughter while Mihawk looks unamused. “Y-yeah, sorry, the dining room proudly presents… your dinner!” 

Zoro turns around and makes a motion to grab something, only to grab air. “Wait, where’s the food?” 

Mihawk pours you a drink as Zoro fumbles with the notepad and flounders to find the cart full of food. 

“It seems there’s been a technical difficulty,” Mihawk mumbles. 

“Oh, be easy on them,” you tease. 

Perona stomps to where Zoro is and smacks his head with the notepad. 

“I told you to put the cart there!” She hisses, you and Mihawk are able to hear her perfectly. “Now they’re going to have their dinner ruined!” 

“Hey! I’m sorry! I thought it was here!” Zoro whisper-yells back. He thankfully finds the food cart this time and pushes it towards the table. He then places a silver dish in front of each of you and removes the lid. “There we go! Dinner!” 

“Appetizer,” Perona corrects. 

“Appetizer,” Zoro amends. 

“Thank you. May we have some privacy?” 

“Ohhhhh, of couuuurse!” Perona nods, too obvious in her scheming. She grabs Zoro as the two of them hide in a nearby bush. 

“They do realize we know where they went, right?” Mihawk whispers to you so they can’t hear. 

“Just let them have this. They worked very hard for it.” 

“I understand, but their behavior is quite…” 

“Intrusive?” You add. 

“Very much so,” he sighs as he drinks. “It took me until Perona broke three cups to understand this was deliberate.” 

“For a bit, I thought they were trying to kill me,” you joke. 

“They’d know better than to try such a thing,” Mihawk shakes his head. 

“Although, knowing they’re trying to pull this off makes it a bit sweeter,” you comment. 

“What do you mean?” Mihawk raises a brow. 

“It’s sweet that they’re trying to do this for us. It’s rare we get to spend time together like this nowadays. Usually it’s us taking care of them and training them, but now they’re making us a candlelit dinner.” 

Mihawk’s lips curl into a grin. “You are correct. Even though I would not have done it like this, it’s still rather charming.” 

You and Mihawk quietly chatted throughout the three course-meal. Occasionally, you heard the grunts and arguing between Perona and Zoro from their hiding spot in the bushes. Mihawk would urge you to ignore them as you two laughed and reminisced throughout the evening. Seeing Mihawk relax more and more as he continued talking to you was a treat for Perona and Zoro. 

“I think… I think I’m starting to see what you mean,” the swordsman said. 

“See! Told ya!” Perona smirked. “Look at how he’s melting at their words and smiling.” 

“I didn’t think he could do that,” Zoro replied, impressed at how you managed to make Mihawk’s lips form a grin. 

“They’re almost done eating, now for phase two!” Perona pumped her fists and shot up from the bush. You and Mihawk glanced at her as she floated towards the woods, with Zoro following after her. 

“What do you think they’re up to now?” 

“I feel as if I really do not want to know,” Mihawk sighed. You two waited patiently, until Perona and Zoro came back with a pack of Humandrills. Your eyes widened as you gasped, while Mihawk stayed silent, waiting to see what would happen next. Perona forced the Humandrills to stop before she pulled out a box from a nearby bush. 

“Now do what we said!” She demanded as she shoved a violin to a Humandrill. The Humandrill began to make disapproving noises at her commands. She gave a few more Humandrills other instruments before she pointed at Mihawk. 

The Humandrills looked up the Warlord and then forced a nervous grin and nodded, beginning to play their instruments in sync. You were amazed as they played a slow, romantic song. 

“I…I didn’t know they could do that,” you mumble. 

“Neither did I,” Mihawk stared in awe. You were so entranced by the makeshift orchestra that you didn’t notice Mihawk looking at you, as if debating with himself. He heard Perona and Zoro clear their throats and glanced to them. Perona and Zoro pointed at you and nodded. 

“I guess this was their plan from the start…” Mihawk whispered before he stood up and cleared his throat. “(Y/n).” 

“Hm? Yes, Mihawk?” You asked, looking into his eyes with an expecting expression. He extended his hand to you. 

“Would you like to dance?” He inquired, his eyes briefly moving away from yours. A bright smile was on your face as you nodded and took his hand. 

“I’d love nothing more,” you answer, and for a second, you think you notice a red blush appear on his cheeks. 

You two head to the center and Mihawk gently pulls you in closer, an arm around your waist as your other hands are clasped together. He sways with you, careful to not be too forceful or rough. The Humandrills are getting more excited, along with Zoro and Perona, as some of them begin to hum and vocalize. 

Your smile is bright and beautiful as you look radiant, even in the night sky.

“I hope you are enjoying tonight.” “I am, very much. I won’t forget this night for a long time,” you reply. Mihawk closes his eyes and nods. 

“I don’t think I will, either.” 

He twirls you around as you let out a laugh from the thrilling motion. You two continue to look into each other’s eyes, the unspoken feelings you have for the other clear to the both of you. Despite being in such a vulnerable position, Mihawk finds the feeling rather enjoyable. Having you in his arms, dancing underneath the stars to some beautiful music after a lovely meal- he hasn’t felt this carefree in a long time. You lean closer to him and Mihawk enjoys how you’re trying to get his attention. But you already have it. 

He stops dancing, keeping you both locked in an intense eye contact with his arm around your waist. It’s only you two now, as Mihawk gulps and slowly leans his face to you, silently asking for you to reciprocate. You close your eyes and do the same, your lips meeting his in a soft kiss. 

It’s not lecherous or sloppy, but a gentle kiss with you that says everything he cannot verbalize. 

He loves you, loves you so much that he can’t help but be so gentle and yearn for you. How he wishes to protect you and continue to have your presence within his life. How he loves your smile, your voice, your words, your everything that makes you, you in this lonely world. 

He wishes to say more through touch, but the need for air arises as you both move away. 

“I love you,” you say first. He presses kiss to your forehead. 

“I love you, too.” 

Perona and Zoro clap at your confessions and Mihawk remembers that he’s in front of others. 

“Perona, Zoro,” he calls, his voice low. The two jolt nervously, unsure of what he’s going to do. His lips curve upwards as he glances at them and says a simple phrase, “Thank you.” 

[chrollogy]

SUNSET DREAMS ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

kageyama tobio x afab!reader

╰┈➤ part of house of solis occasum’s summer fic exchange for @mcdonaldsnumberone !

synopsis: The tall, raven-haired surf instructor catches your attention during a private surfing lesson with your friends but due to circumstances, there was no space for small talk. Later that afternoon, you cross paths once again at a beach club—a sign from the universe to grab the opportunity, and get to know him better. This quickly leads to a turn of events where you both end up naked in bed, and eager to explore each other’s bodies but there’s just one thing though, he’s a virgin.

content warning: beach au, surf instructor!/surfer!kageyama, poor depiction of surfing, bartender!hinata cameo, alcohol use, awkward flirting, i am making kags PATHETIC, summer fling/beach romance, nsfw, smut (mdni), virgin!kageyama, bottom!kageyama, top!reader, virginity loss (m), porn without plot, handjob, cum eating, unprotected s*x, creampie, multiple orgasms (m), not beta read.

word count: 6.3k

notes: eeeeep it’s my first time writing for mr tobio but i absolutely had fun !! i hope you enjoy mac :3 divider: cafekitsune.

The scorching sun amongst the cerulean skies kissed your warm skin, the scent of salt, and sea lingered in the air as a summer breeze blew by; sounds of heavy waves from the crystalline water, and distant chatters from avid beach goers filled your senses. It was hot, and humid with no ivory clouds in sight—the perfect formula for a quick summer getaway. The beach buzzed with liveliness; colourful hues of towels, and essentials laid upon the white sand, kids with plastic buckets, and shovels eagerly building sand castles, surfers chasing the endless azure waves beneath the blazing sun.

Just the sight of swells had your heart thumping with adrenaline rush, a vivid imagery of yourself attempting to ride the waves formulated in your mind. You’ve never tried surfing before but today was the perfect time to do so—a completely out of the blue suggestion by one of your friends, not that you were complaining. It was always nice to try new things, anyway.

“How do I look? Did I put on too much sunscreen?”

A saccharine voice to your left reeled you back to reality; looking over at the owner of the voice, an emerald gaze stared right back, her eyes sparkling beneath the searing rays of the sun. Scanning your friend’s face for any white cast from the sunscreen, you shook your head, and smiled, “You look fine, Alisa.” Taking your word for it, she mirrored your smile before placing her sunnies over her eyes. You, and three friends were clad in a rental jet black skin tight wetsuit provided by the surf school, preparing for today’s private beginner lesson.

You weren’t going to lie, the thought of braving the waves made your heart pound from nervousness, and excitement but seeing as you were going to experience this foreign activity with your friends—who also haven’t tried it before—it put you at ease; you just hoped the instructor was could somewhat save you if you happen to fall off the surfboard, and onto the warm waters beneath.

Speaking of the instructor, Hitoka spoke up, a subtle devious smile on her face as she worked her hands on her flaxen strands, deftly tying it up in a low ponytail, “I bet our instructor is hot.” This earned silent chuckles from the rest of you, shaking your heads at the blonde who just shrugged in response. “Laugh at me all you want now but if I’m right, you owe me a free drink at the beach club later.”

Playfully rolling your eyes at her newfound determination, you waved a dismissive hand at your friend, mirroring her smile,

“Sure, whatever helps you—”

“I’m so sorry for the wait, everyone! I’ll be your surfing instructor for today.” A dulcet voice cut your sentence short, it belonged to a tall man clad in a wetsuit—he looked to be around your age. Blinking twice up at him, your eyes raked his physique up, and down before taking in his handsome beauty—cropped raven hair that framed his face, and the sharp gaze of his dark blue eyes were the cherry on top; a blend of an innocent yet sultry appeal. He emanated a subtle intimidating aura, especially paired with his looming height but his voice was as soft as the first rays of the early morning, something you could get used to hearing everyday.

You were already considering buying Hitoka that free drink because god was he fucking hot—the skin tight surf suit did not leave much to one’s imagination with the way it hugged his lean build; dips, and curves of his muscles accentuated by the waterproof fabric. It was beyond shameless to ogle your instructor because you’ve completely missed his name, instead, your eyes were focused on the way his muscular legs shifted as he leaned his weight from one bare foot to another.

Next thing you knew, his sharp gaze was on you, an expectant look on his handsome face. Snapping out of your trance, you hesitantly looked to the side—at your friends—clearly unaware of what was going on, ‘Your name. He’s asking for your name.’ Kiyoko mouthed. Letting out a sound of realisation, you smiled up at the instructor, and introduced yourself, ignoring the sudden warmth that crept up the column of your neck, and to your cheeks.

After brief introductions were out of the way, the five of you headed down to the beach—surfboards securely tucked beneath an arm—to start off today’s lesson. Hitoka fell into a step next to you, hissing at the white scorching sand beneath her bare feet, angling your face over to her, you spoke up, “Hey, what was our instructor’s name again? I didn’t catch it earlier.” She looked at you, that devious smile back in its place, brows furrowed, free hand shielding her sweaty face from the blinding sun, “Why? Too busy ogling his hotness?”

Yes. But you weren’t going to tell her that—god, no, she’d never live it down because she was right.

You mustered your best uninterested expression, however, the corners of your lips were itching to curl upwards at her blatant teasing, clearly hitting the nail on the head. Hitoka briefly returned the same deadpan expression, narrowing her chestnut eyes at you before letting out a sigh of defeat, “Kageyama Tobio. Full name, even.” She snickered before going on to complain about the hot sand, and the equally hot summer weather.

“Kageyama Tobio.” You muttered underneath your breath, satisfied at how it easily rolled off your tongue—little did you know, you were going to be moaning it out like a shameless common whore hours later, as though it was made for your tongue only.

As the group neared the deserted azure waters, the scent of salt grew stronger; the sound of small waves crashing on the shoreline filled your ears as you came to a halt just a few ways from the water. Kageyama started the lesson by skilfully explaining the safety guidelines, surfing etiquette, and basic techniques; you tried your best to listen in on the briefing since this was a crucial part of the lesson but his dulcet voice slowly faded along with distant noises from the background as you stared up at his face.

Your eyes gently traced over every dip, and curve of Kageyama’s features, lips parted in slight awe, completely lost in his serene beauty as the late morning sun casted a warm glow upon his skin. This has never happened before—sure, you’ve stumbled upon other jaw-dropping faces in the past that had your heart skipping a beat or two but this was different, you were shamelessly drawn to him; as though you were a moon affected by gravitational attraction, falling into an orbit around a planet named Kageyama Tobio. Though, you mostly chalked up your absentmindedness to nerves taking root deep beneath your skin, as each minute grew closer to hitting the swells of the vast ocean.

After getting thoroughly briefed through safety measures, and basic techniques—such as paddling, popping up, and maintaining balance—the next part of the lesson was getting into the water. Despite your heart pounding with nervousness, paddling wasn’t too bad, the coolness of the wavy waters calmed your nerves a tad bit—a daring contrast from the scorching sun directly above your head.

Fortunately for you, Kageyama was amazing at his job—even though the group practised on shallow waters with small waves, getting the hang of popping up, and maintaining balance on the board was tricky, and he was there to ensure an easy experience for you. The feeling of Kageyama’s firm grip around the back of your thigh had your heart hammering as he supported your weight, gently guiding you to stand up on the board,

“Good! You’re a natural. Remember to keep your knees bent—that’s it.” His praise went straight to your legs, knees slightly buckling; it absolutely caught you off guard, almost losing balance but luckily, you didn’t let up, and tried your best to navigate through the small wave.

The lesson carried on for another hour—it went smoothly despite unceremoniously falling into the water a couple of times with your friends but this earned you several words of encouragement from your instructor which definitely did not have you pressing your legs together; god, you just hoped Kageyama didn’t notice with the amount of times you’ve done it throughout the span of the lesson—you’d rather willingly drink the salty sea water instead.

It was already late afternoon, and the summer sun was beginning to set; blue skies turned into hues of cotton candy pink, and pastel orange which casted a vibrant warm glow over the beach, as though it was a scene from a movie. The group leisurely walked along the stretch of the beach, heading for the beach club mentioned earlier. The three indulged themselves in a mellow conversation, raving about their newfound surfing skills, your mind, on the other hand, wandered elsewhere.

Gaze locked on the warm sand beneath as moments from the lesson vividly replayed in your head; you could still feel the warmth of Kageyama’s palm against your clothed skin, the way his fingers ever so slightly dug into your body whenever you wobbled a little.

As if the universe somewhat knew the truth of your mind, Hitoka exclaimed, “Hey! Isn’t that our instructor from earlier?” At the mention of him, your head shot up, eyes following the direction of her pointed finger; as your gaze shifted all the way to the sparkling waters, you recognized Kageyama’s familiar physique.

There he was in his own world, propped up on his surfboard, deftly riding the afternoon waves. As expected from a pro surfer, Kageyama’s body moved with such accuracy, and intricateness as though he was the one controlling the water—clad only in black board shorts, he looked absolutely divine beneath the sunset skies, the golden glow of the sun bouncing off his bare torso.

“He was a little too intense for me, if I’m being honest.” Alisa momentarily stared at him before shifting her gaze. “Really? He seemed fine to me. Just a little stiff.” Kiyoko responded, brows subtly furrowed as though she was in deep thought; this earned a hum of agreement from Hitoka before rambling on about how intense Kageyama’s gaze was.

Hm, you must be the odd one out because in your eyes, his personality was warm, albeit, a little awkward, and blunt but despite that, it was manageable—hell, you even enjoyed his praises no matter how flat or awkward his tone was.

The conversation carried over to the beach club located along a tranquil coastline; greeted with a mix of elegance, and topical accents, you scanned the place in awe—wooden cabanas draped with ivory curtains, and outdoor sunbeds lined the white sands which overlooked the still, azure waters. Apart from the ocean itself, the pool was also an option to swim in, offering a mini bar that you had your eyes set on.

Kiyoko, and Alisa decided to explore other amenities of the club whereas Hitoka opted to lounge at a sunbed, wanting to catch a glimpse of the sun setting behind the horizon, and as for you, your feet were already taking you to the mini bar situated by the pool. After that lengthy, exhausting lesson, all you needed right now was a little alcohol to wash down thoughts about a certain surfer that plagued your mind.

Tropical beats spilled from the speakers, creating a lively atmosphere for its patrons to enjoy; luckily, the poolside wasn’t too congested, and you were able to secure a vacant stool. Opting for the farthest corner in the outdoor bar, your eyes thoroughly scanned the miniature, azure pamphlet on the counter which contained a curated list of cocktails, and other beverages to indulge oneself in.

“If you’re having trouble choosing a drink, I highly suggest our signature cocktail ‘Sunset Dreams’! I can turn it into a mocktail if you’re not interested in alcohol.”

Looking up from the menu, and at the owner of the buoyant voice from behind the counter, you were greeted with a radiant smile that reached his eyes as though he was the epitome of sunshine; his spiky, orange hair that mirrored hues of the sky were not easy to miss, standing out against the neutral colours of his clothes—a beige linen button up shirt that had a few buttons loose, paired with ivory shorts.

The man held a metallic cocktail shaker, vigorously shaking it above his shoulder with both hands a few times before pouring its contents into a chilled highball glass, and sliding it over to a customer just a few seats down.

“So! What would it be for you?” He tapped the counter, returning in front of you before slightly leaning forward; he had an expectant look in his doe, chestnut brown eyes—a look which one, including yourself, couldn’t help but adore. You caught a glimpse of a small, golden nametag glimmering against the beige of his shirt—bold, ivory letters read ‘SHOYO’.

You contemplated his suggestion for a moment, “Okay. I think I’ll try the signature cocktail.” This earned a gleeful expression from the bartender, eagerly nodding at your choice of drink, “Good, good! You’re gonna love it! I’m Shoyo, your bartender for the night. If you need anything, just call out my name, and I’ll be there!” He pointed a finger at his name tag before working on the signature cocktail.

Smiling to yourself, you felt at ease being serviced by such a lively individual; Shoyo cheerfully greeted, and bid customers goodbye every now, and then—you subtly watched him do his job though he was part of a live entertainment.

A few minutes later, Shoyo sets a pretty, gradient cocktail before you, “One Sunset Dreams for you. Enjoy! Call me over if there’s anything you need!” Giving the bartender a warm thanks, you admired the beverage, it imitated colours of the sunset—a vibrant hue of red sitting on the base which gradually faded into a light cotton candy pink topped with two cherries on a swizzle stick, and a straw.

You didn’t hesitate to pull your phone out, and quickly snap a few photos to send to the group chat, instantly earning a thread of replies from Hitoka gushing about how amazing it looked. Before you could properly take a sip of your cocktail, Shoyo’s radiant voice filled your ears as he greeted an oncoming customer,

“Heeey, Kageyama! I haven’t seen you all week!”

At the mention of the surfer’s name, your ears unabashedly perk up. Sure, there were probably thousands—if not hundreds—of other Kageyamas out there but you only knew one person with that name, and he happened to be standing just two seats away from where you sat. His raven strands were damp, glistening beneath the golden sunset rays; he donned a plain white tee, and blue boardshorts which had no business making your heart pound like crazy.

The chances of meeting Kageyama here weren’t exactly slim given his job but you didn’t entirely expect to meet him here, let alone make friends with the beach club’s lively bartender—you didn’t make him out to be a person to regularly attend places like this.

As if he sensed your curious gaze, Kageyama looked to the side, navy blue eyes meeting your own. You waved—you fucking waved at him like he was an old friend who was here to meet with you; embarrassment gnawed at your skin, warmth creeping up from the sides neck of your neck, and onto your cheeks, resembling small, sharp kisses.

To your surprise, Kageyama dipped his chin in return before sauntering over to the vacant seat beside yours. “You two know each other?” Shoyo mused, brown eyes shifting between you, and Kageyama. The latter bluntly shook his head before pointing a thumb at you, “Had them for a beginner’s class earlier today.” You nodded at Kageyama’s reply.

“Also, just the usual mocktail for me.” The taller male added, taking a seat next to you, completely catching you off guard—you didn’t expect him to actually sit next to you but hey, maybe this was the universe’s sign to get to know the man better; how? You were about to find out for yourself. Shoyo returned a bright response, saluting at his friend before getting to work.

Despite the lively atmosphere of the poolside with distant chatters, and soft beats playing on the speakers, the air between you, and Kageyama turned awkward pretty quickly. Talk to him. Talk to him. Talk to him, your mind screamed but all you could do at the moment was take a long sip of your cocktail—maybe getting a bit of liquid courage would help you in this dire situation, after all, as they said, a little goes a long way.

Awkwardly clearing your throat, you spoke up, “So . . What made you interested in surfing?” Good. This was a good conversation starter; you mentally gave yourself a pat on the back for quickly coming up with a question before the atmosphere got too silent, and uncomfortable to talk in. Kageyama met your eyes, cool gaze bringing an icy shiver down your spine; his dulcet voice engulfed your ears as he explained about his love for the sport.

Surprisingly, he had a whole lot to say about surfing—not that you were complaining, you listened to every word that slipped past his lips. You keenly watched how his relaxed expression gradually turned into something more passionate the more he talked about his job—eyes gleaming with pure enthusiasm, and the corners of his lips subtly curling upwards, it was adorable.

“Sorry. Did I bore you? I kind of went on a tangent there.” Kageyama sheepishly scratched his nape. “No, not at all! It was interesting to hear about it, really . . I think you’re really cute.”

Oh god.

Oh my fucking god. That wasn’t supposed to slip out.

Now would be a really good time for the ground to swallow you whole. Though, the only thing swallowing you whole was embarrassment, and to make matters worse, Kageyama wordlessly blinked at you with the most blank expression known to man—you were unsure whether it didn’t phase him at all or he just decided to ignore your blatant flirting altogether. Whatever the reason was, you were better off not knowing.

You could practically see the gears turning in his head as soon as the sentence slipped out. Though, in Kageyama’s defence, he didn’t know whether you were flirting with him or plainly just complimenting him—sure, he also found you cute but would it be weird if he said it back, and you just meant yours as a compliment, nothing more?

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Kageyama was overthinking this whole conversation a little too much, he needed to give a response before it becomes unbearably awkward—

“Oh—um, thanks . . I think you’re cute too.” He practically mumbled the last part of his sentence but whatever, he wasn’t going to repeat it again, not when his cheeks turned awfully warm, and his heart skipped a beat or two. Kageyama tried his best to break eye contact but god he just couldn’t; he found your eyes beautiful, the way they shone beneath the warm glow of the sunset.

Maybe you were just being extremely delusional but did you hear Kageyama’s words correctly? He thinks you’re cute as well? Nonetheless, it gave you a boost of confidence, an invitation to shoot your shot, and see wherever it takes you. The raven-haired man subtly squirmed in his seat, deep blue eyes boring into your own; a small blanket of pink coating his cheeks

Was it just him or it felt really, really hot today? Even though the sun had dipped into the horizon, Kageyama felt like he was right beneath its scorching rays—all of a sudden his body felt uncomfortably hot, he felt sharp prickles kissing down his neck, and onto his chest. Kageyama had never felt this hot, and bothered under someone’s presence before—not to mention the growing sensation deep in his core. He felt pathetic, really, being all turned on from just a little flirting; if your words affected him this much, Kageyama wondered how he’d act underneath your touch.

Nope. Nope. Nope. Not the appropriate thought to think about right now.

He mentally cursed his mind for wandering to such impure thoughts rather too quickly because clearly it did nothing but further fuel the shameful feeling growing inside him—carnal desire. Oh, this was absolutely embarrassing on his end, it hasn’t even been at least ten minutes in your presence, and yet he’s getting needier by the minute.

Earlier, Kageyama was lucky enough that he was engrossed in the lesson, and therefore wasn’t too distracted by your presence—all he got was a pounding heart whenever he held your clothed body but that was just about it. Plus, Kageyama wasn’t one to muck around during his job since the safety of the class depended on him, he couldn’t afford some petty distraction, even if it meant pushing down his innocent feelings.

Though, Kageyama wondered if the feelings he had right now could be even called innocent.

As the raven-haired male squirmed in his seat once again, you caught a glimpse of the growing hardness between his thighs, the thin fabric of his shorts did so little to hide the tent at the apex of his legs—you’d be lying to yourself if you didn’t admit to squeezing your legs at the sight.

It was barely above a whisper but Kageyama heard it just fine, a faint ‘I can help you with that.’

Maybe it was the alcohol talking but truthfully, you haven’t even finished your glass of cocktail, and it wasn’t even enough to get you tipsy—the next thing you knew, your thoughts swiftly flew out of your mouth before being able to stop yourself.

He gulped, nails digging into his palms at the erotic sight he just envisioned in his mind. Oh, god. Was this really happening right now? Did you just offer to help him with his growing erection? Kageyama’s throat felt dry. Where the fuck was Hinata with the drink he ordered? Why was he taking so long to make it? The whole situation felt surreal—a wet dream—too good to be true; he felt dizzy, and it didn’t stop there when he responded equally quietly.

If Kageyama was being honest, he didn’t hear his own words over the buzzing of his ear, and the thumping of his heart—all he knew was that it must’ve been a damn good response with your eyes widening, and lips curling up into a seductive smile, one that had his cock throbbing beneath his shorts.

It was all a daze from there, the rush of pure desire coursing through his veins, the spinning of his head; Kageyama vaguely remembered Hinata calling out to the both of you, assuming his mocktail was ready for him but he didn’t bat an eye, a mere beverage would simply do nothing to satiate the thirst he harboured—Kageyama needed you, only you could quench this growing ache between his legs.

Kageyama’s feet felt light against the pavement beneath, his flip flops scraping against it with every uncomfortable step taken. Hues of the fading sunset engulfed his mind, pretty pinks, and oranges slowly turned deep blue as you walked back to your accommodation—it was only a five-minute walk but god it felt like an eternity.

Your lips were on his as soon as the door to your room slammed shut, you swore the walls shook from impact but whatever, it was none of your concern. Kageyama’s lean arms caged you as your back hit the soft mattress beneath, fingers digging into the sheets at the dizzying kiss; no one has kissed him with this much drive, and passion before, the way your soft lips eagerly moved against his own, guiding him with each searing kiss.

Soft moans, and grunts slipped from Kageyama’s throat in between kisses, the sheer intensity from it was enough to make him cum untouched right then, and there; he could practically feel his body vibrating with lust—fuck, he couldn’t even think properly with the way your hands caressed his body up, and down, up, and down before sliding them under his ivory shirt, and gently clawing at his bare skin.

Heaven. Absolute heaven.

Kageyama moaned into your mouth at the feeling of your nails scraping his sensitive skin, trails of goosebumps forming beneath your sinful touch. And as he opened his eyes to meet your gaze, tears quickly pooled around them—from what? Kageyama didn’t know. Maybe it was from sexual frustration, maybe it was from the heavenly feeling of your nails, or maybe it was how each blissful emotion hit him like a truck, and took the air out of his lungs.

Momentarily pulling away from the kiss, Kageyama breathed out a string of incoherent words, a look of uncertainty crossing his crimson-painted face. “What—what was that?” You let out soft pants, dropping your head on the pillow beneath as you cupped his warm cheeks,

“I’m—I haven’t done this before . . I’m a virgin.”

You blinked up at him.

There was a slight pause—a heartbeat—as Kageyama’s confession lingered in the thick, warm air of the room; sweat already lined his forehead, raven strands sticking to his skin. “I’m sorry—Are you turned off?” He quickly peeled himself from your body, a rush of faint coolness momentarily engulfing you from his lack of presence. Kageyama sat on his knees, a bashful look painted on his face.

Quickly sitting up to cup his face, you shook your head, “No, no! Not at all . . Did you want us to stop? I don’t mind at all.” Now, it was Kageyama’s turn to vigorously shake his head, “No. I—I want to do it with you.” He breathed out, eyes glazed with pure lust.

You clenched your cunt at his words—just the thought of taking someone’s virginity, let alone Kageyama’s it felt like a whole lot of expectation had been placed on your shoulders but you weren’t backing down now, not at all, you were going to give him the most earth-shattering first time with how much trust he gave you.

“Take off your clothes, and lie on the bed.” As though time was of the essence, Kageyama hastily stripped his top off, shamelessly flinging it somewhere in the room. Your eyes keenly watched as his thumbs dipped beneath the waistband of his raven shorts, slowly dragging it down the length of his long legs ‘til it pooled around his ankles.

Kageyama wordlessly looked up at you, the fabric of his underwear still on him, cock painfully straining against it with a noticeable wet spot. “All of your clothes.” You added. The male’s cheeks warmed before shyly slipping it off, hard cock bouncing against the tufts of raven hair on his stomach, it shamelessly leaked of pre-cum, beads of pearlescent liquid sat prettily on his red tip.

“Good. Now, on the bed.” An icy shiver ran up his spine at the purr of your voice, velvety, and low as you pat the empty space next to you. As Kageyama situated himself on the bed, his bare back flush against the wooden headboard, he watched as you stood at the foot of the bed, hands slowly coming up to strip yourself.

What a tease.

Kageyama watched with eager eyes as each article of clothing slipped off your skin, Adam’s apple bobbing with each noticeable gulp—fuck, you looked divine; his hands ached to pleasure himself, fuck his cock on his fist as he watched you deftly unclasp your bra. Cursing beneath his breath, his gaze traced over your naked chest, eyes circling over your pert nipples, and down the valley of it. He was practically drooling at this point, rosy lips parted in complete awe at your raw beauty.

Oh, how he wanted to touch you so bad, roam his large hands all over your body, and squeeze, and rub at parts he’s never held before. Kageyama’s mind went absolutely wild, he wondered what your moans would sound like under his touch; would you enjoy his fingers on your sensitive clit? Moan his name out into oblivion? Cum on his hand?

You crawled up the mattress, situating yourself between his parted legs, just before his hard cock. Kageyama waited for your next move with a bated breath, toned chest heaving up, and down with anticipation, his hands gripping the ivory sheets beneath.

Deep, blue eyes widened as you curled over yourself, coming face to face with his dick; oh, you just knew that length would absolutely do wonders inside you. Kageyama bit his lip, stiffening underneath your touch as you circled a hand around his cock, languidly dragging it up to his tip to spread pre-cum down his shaft. Kageyama melted like putty at the first stroke, his head unceremoniously resting on the wall behind as pleasure consumed his body at the speed of lightning— he could already feel the building pressure in the pit of his stomach.

“Ah!—Fuck. T-that feels so, so good.” Kageyama moaned to the ceiling, his voice was airy, and light, a clear sign of pure bliss completely taking over his sanity. He’s never been touched by anyone before so this was a foreign experience for him; it felt different from when he pleasured himself with his own hands—your touch drove Kageyama to madness, and he was absolutely addicted to it.

Satisfied with his reaction, you picked up the pace, and brought another hand down to gently massage his balls which earned a loud whine of your name. Oh, fuck. Kageyama was floating on cloud nine, and this was only pleasure from your hands, what more if it was your wet cunt? Would he even last sheathed deep in your velvety walls? He doubted it. 

As the pace picked up, Kageyama’s moans also grew in volume, his stomach clenched, and unclenched at the sheer pleasure that consumed his whole body, all because of your hands. “Fuck! Fuck! Fu—I’m cumming!” The raven-haired male let out a wanton moan, eyes closed shut, knuckles white, and muscles taut as the knot inside his stomach finally snapped. Pure bliss rocked through Kageyama’s body like never before, as though he was engulfed in a million pleasurable kisses.

White, hot ribbons of cum shamelessly spurted from his cock which coated your fingers, and wrist. Kageyama slumped against the headboard, all fucked out, and covered by a light sheen of sweat; his lips were parted as he desperately chased oxygen, 

“Want you—I need you. Please . .” Kageyama panted, his lustful gaze locked onto your own; even though he just orgasmed, his cock was still rock hard. How needy. His breath hitched at the lewd sight before him as you languidly licked a long stripe up your wrist, gathering his cum on the tip of your tongue, and eagerly swallowing his essence down. It was like Kageyama’s brain short circuited—he’s only ever seen this sight on his laptop screen during sleepless nights, never did he think he’d see his own cum licked, and swallowed from one’s hand.

Was it possible to faint from such a sinful sight? 

Sitting up, you inched closer to Kageyama’s lap, thighs on either side of his slim waist, and clothed cunt hovering his cockhead. With keen eyes, the raven-haired watched as you deftly pushed your panties aside, catching a glimpse of your glistening cunt. He licked his lips as though he was a predator silently stalking his prey, waiting to pounce. Kageyama wondered what you’d taste like on his tongue, your sweet slick smeared all over his mouth, and chin—he could only fantasise. 

The violent thrumming of his heart filled his ears as he watched you shift your weight over his lap; this was really happening—Kageyama was about to lose his virginity. He felt a rush of every single emotion from A to Z, all things good but mixed with a bit of nervousness; what if he couldn’t satisfy you enough? What if he accidentally cummed way too soon? What if—

“Ohhhhh—fuck! Ngh—ah!” Kageyama violently threw his head back against the wall, fists gripping the sheets below as you slowly inched down his red tip. Oh god. Oh god. You hugged him so, so tightly, your cunt felt hot, and wet around him but in a good kind of way; he let out short breaths, his chest quickly heaving up, and down as he tried his best to ground himself. It was like his sanity snapped in a split second as soon as you made raw contact with his dick—this feeling was beyond cloud nine, as though he was one with the cosmos. 

You bit your lip at his pornographic sounds, letting out low whimpers as Kageyama’s cock desperately twitched inside you. With your hands gripping his bare shoulders, you slowly inched down his cock, grounding yourself as the head kissed intimate parts of you that no one has ever reached. A unison of heavy pants filled the thick air after bottoming out; you momentarily stilled, giving yourself ample time to get used to Kageyama’s length because fuck it drove you absolutely insane.

“P-please move. Need more, please . .” He whined, desperately moving his hips beneath your weight, causing his tip to momentarily brush against your g-spot ever so slightly. Moaning at the contact, a string of colourful curses slipped past your lips, toes curling at the sudden wave of pleasure.

Without wasting any more time, you lifted your hips all the way up to his tip before slamming back down, earning muttered curses of your name from Kageyama. His hands immediately flew to your hips as a way to ground himself, as though holding onto anything else would immediately deprive him of this heavenly bliss.

Soft, wet squelches bounced off the walls with every languid roll of your hips, Kageyama couldn’t peel his eyes away from where to two of you connected—it was wet, and slippery, glistening from all your arousal; everything felt so sinful that it made his head spin, not the mention the bounce of your breasts with each movement of your hips. Every moan that slipped past your lips went straight to Kageyama’s cock, he was the one making you moan this loud, not to mention the look on your face—hooded eyes, and lips parted to chant his name every now, and then; pride blossomed in his chest.

Shared pleasure ate away at your bodies like a rabid animal, gnawing at your skin with nothing to stop it ‘til it reached your bones—it was immense, a toe-curling sensation with every relentless bounce of your hips; the way Kageyama’s cock repeatedly kissed your g-spot, the way your velvety walls sinfully wrapped around him like it was meant to be. Your thighs burned with exhaustion, a mix of pain, and pleasure completely taking over your body but you didn’t stop—you didn’t want to, not when Kageyama felt this amazing inside you.

You could tell the raven-haired was getting more, and more greedy for pleasure from how his nails painfully dug into your sweaty skin, the subtle upward thrust of his hips to meet your own, taking him even deeper into your wet heat. Heavy balls slapping onto your ass fuelled your desire further, the slight burn of it had you clenching around him.

“Ah!—Kageyama! Ohhhh fuck! You’re so deep . .” He closed his eyes at the sound of his name rolling off your tongue, voice as sweet as honey. Kageyama wondered if he could be a little more greedy, “Tobio—ngh! Call me Tobio.” He panted. It took all of his sanity to string the short sentence together, Kageyama couldn’t even hear himself over the loud skin slapping mixed with your endless whines.

Vigorously nodding, you moaned his name, “Tobio! Mhm—You gonna cum for me? Yeah?” It was Kageyama’s turn to nod at your gasped words, eyes momentarily screwing shut at its effect on him.

He wasn’t going to last any longer after just cumming his brains out from your hands a few minutes ago. “Oh, god!—Can I cum inside you? Please? Fuck, I want to stuff you full of my cum—ngh!” Words spilled from Kageyama’s mouth, blabbering out any coherent thought that came to mind. Truthfully, he’s always fantasised cumming inside someone, the feeling of emptying his balls, and shooting his thick load while sheathed deep inside was probably his biggest dirty secret—and he just shamelessly bared it to you.

“Yes—ah! Stuff me full of your cum, Tobio! Want your cum deep inside me, please.”

The desperation in your voice was all it took for Kageyama to snap, his fingers clawed at your hips as he painted your walls white, body stiffening under the immense pressure of pleasure. It didn’t help how your cunt gripped him like a vice, pulling him further, and further down the rabbit hole called bliss. You came with a loud moan of his name, curling over yourself, sweaty forehead resting on Kageyama’s bare chest as you desperately rode out your orgasms.

Both of you stayed still for a moment to catch your breaths, the sticky, uncomfortable feeling of warmth slowly engulfed your bodies as the high wore off. Kageyama didn’t even do much but he was absolutely spent, and drenched in sweat, he could only imagine your state, especially your thighs from all that bouncing.

“A-are you okay? That was—that was amazing . .” Dulcet voice sliced through the thick air, it earned a chuckle from you, you could only return a weak nod at his concern, your body too heavy to even move an inch. Kageyama’s soft breathing slowly pulled your to the borders of sleep but the summer heat against your skin was unbearable,

You mustered every strength to peel yourself off of him, “Shower with me?” Your lips wickedly curled upwards, hands gently caressing Kageyama’s bare chest. What a temptress.

Suddenly, he didn’t feel tired anymore. —

affiliated with @houseofsolisoccasum !

[makethatelevenrings]

DC Masterlist

VDS = Valentine’s Day Series

Jason Todd

We Got Love (fluff, female!reader)

Stay Clean (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Just Friends (fluff, f!reader)

Sunlight (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

The Sovereign Beauty (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Of Soup and Snowstorms (fluff, gn!reader)

Two Scoops (fluff, gn!reader)

Two Scoops (and a Danish) (fluff, f!reader)

Kryptonians and French Tarts (fluff, gn!reader)

Only For You (fluff, AFAB!reader (mention of menstruation))

S(he) Walks in Beauty (smut 18+ ONLY, AFAB!reader)

Streaks (angst, gn!reader)

Laundry Day (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Date Nights Gone Wrong (fluff, m!reader)

Sweet Reader (fluff, gn!reader)

Sweet Surrender (fluff, gn!reader)

Broken Heaters (fluff, gn!reader)

Lucky (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Puzzle Pieces (angst/fluff, f!reader)

Powerful (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Story Time (fluff, gn!reader)

Secret Admirer (VDS, fluff)

Healthy Relationship (headcanons, VDS)

NSFW Headcanons (18+ ONLY, VDS)

Pegged and Babygirled (smut, 18+ ONLY, VDS))

Confessions (drabble, fluff, VDS)

Him Cooking Dinner for You (drabble, fluff, VDS)

Half-Eaten Bagels (hurt/comfort)

Dick Grayson

Movement (smut 18+ ONLY, female!reader)

Tell Me To Stay (fluff, gn!reader)

Is That So? (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Pretty Bird (smut 18+ ONLY, AFAB!reader)

Bored (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Fuck Up the Friendship (smut 18+ ONLY, AFAB!reader)

Fix Up the Friendship (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Waiting Room (angst, smut 18+ only, f!reader)

Just a Name (angst, gn!reader)

Decorating Wayne Manor (fluff, gn!reader)

First Christmas (fluff, gn!reader)

Assassin!Verse (continuation of First Christmas)

NSFW Headcanons (18+ ONLY)

Pickle Divide (drabble, fluff, VDS)

Spoiling Him (drabble, fluff, VDS)

Vacation (drabble, fluff, VDS)

Bruce Wayne

For All the Light I Shut Out (OC series)

guy.exe (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Actions, Not Words (fluff, f!reader)

Invisible (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Habits and Roadblocks (fluff, gn!reader)

Shovel Talk (fluff/humor, gn!reader)

Stress Relief (smut 18+ ONLY, gn!reader)

Chag Sameach (Jewish!Batmom)

Full (smut 18+ only, f!reader)

For Your Eyes Only (smut 18+ only, gn!reader)

Batmom Valentine’s Day (headcanon, VDS)

First Valentine’s as a Family (drabble, fluff, VDS)

On the Edge (smut, 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

Clark Kent

All-American Apple Pie Kinda Guy (smut 18+ ONLY, f!reader)

[on-a-lucky-tide]

Girl dad Nikolai is one thing. But I think boy dad Nikolai would hear from his teenaged son that some arsehole banker gave the shovel talk - "if you hurt my daughter I will hurt you blahblah" - and rock up to smash his car with a cricket bat.

Just Nik bouncing up and down on the bonnet of that hybrid knowing full well he has diplomatic immunity as an MI6 asset. Price arrives, Landie screeching to a halt, just in time to wrestle the grenade out of Nik's hand before he lobs it through the windscreen.

"If you ever talk to my son like he is vermin again I will shove that grenade up your arsehole, mudak!"

"I'm sorry, I'll take him ho--"

"Ne khotite srazit'sya s nastoyashchim muzhchinoy?"

"Nik, fer fucks sake, he's got the message--"

"Ty trus... pryachushchiysya za molodoy zhenshchinoy!"

Nik's flashing his forearm and grabbing his bicep even as Price drives away. Said banker shat his pants the moment a hulking Russian stormed up his driveway, gold chain, leather jacket and fingerless gloves all giving a Certain Message, and doesn't start breathing again until Price's Landie is out of sight.

[imujings]

[w.jh] lovescratch!

synopsis. | your plan was to have your heart stolen by the cat of your dreams. the universe, however, has a different idea in mind, and you somehow find your heart beating not only for the orange tabby with the notched ear, but also the soft-hearted animal shelter worker who steals glances at you every chance he gets.

♯ pairing(s). | animal shelter worker!jun x adopter!reader, various shelter worker!svt & reader ♯ genre(s). | strangers to lovers, pining, fluff ♯ wc. | 5.9k... whoops ♯ warnings. | cursing, mentions of blood/cuts, svt chaotic antics (because i have to always remind everyone that these men give us second hand embarrassment)

jay’s musings. | a very happy (albeit unfortunately late) birthday to @junplusone !! i know i already said this to u thru dms but i’m so so sooo glad to have met u and i hope we continue to be silly together :3 i love talking to u!! identity v WILL be kind to u one day trust. i hope you enjoy <3! also, thank you to my lovely @fallminlove for brainstorming this with me hehe

Stepping out of your car into the chilly winter weather, you gaze up at the building with a cocked brow. The Google Maps images you had carefully studied weeks before, deep into the research of what pet shelters were in your area, looked nothing like what was in front of you.

Serenity Shelter was a rather well-kept building, if the sparkling string lights in the window along with the various colorful drawings of cats and dogs on the glass were anything to go by. You eye their sign hanging above the front door with a smile, the shelter’s logo of soft rose pink paw prints etched into it with obvious care. In the distance, you can hear the faint delighted noises of animals, noting the high wired fence that surrounded the back of the shelter.

Minghao really knew his animal shelters, you conclude with a chuckle.

Your boots crunch on the thin layer of leftover snow from the blizzard a few days back as you walk towards the door. While it seems like this shelter takes the time to shovel the snow in their small parking lot to the best of their ability, along with clearing the pathway leading up front, it appears they haven’t had the chance yet to take care of last night’s flurries. Your breath curls into the air, misty and wisping, and a puff of relief escapes you when your hand lands on the metal door handle. You’re eager to get inside, both to get out of the cold and to greet the future that awaits you.

Adopting a cat has been on your mind since you moved out from your family home. You had a strict requirement when searching for apartments that the landlord must be welcoming of pets, already dedicated to the idea that once you were well-adjusted with a stable income, you would bring home a new friend to spend your days with.

You’ll admit: it’s lonely, living alone.

Many days in your apartment were spent in silence or with the company of your favorite Spotify playlist. Some days you’ll imagine how, if you had a cat, you’d get distracted doing chores by their silly antics—and a deeper tucked away part of you sometimes even indulges in the idea of another hand brushing yours, pulling you to dance with them in the kitchen as your pet watches from the sidelines.

Shaking your head, you rid yourself of those thoughts. Daydreams are just daydreams.

Your work friend, Minghao, had been the one to suggest Serenity Shelter, claiming he had friends from college who ended up with various jobs there. He had even held up his siamese cat, Tiramisu, over FaceTime once while explaining how he fell in love with him at first sight in the play area.

Tiramisu had sniffed the camera with an interest like no other before promptly licking it. Minghao, distraught, pulled the kitty away with gentle scolding, while you had laughed and internally promised yourself you would check out the place when you had the chance.

“Tell them you know me,” Minghao advised you yesterday when you revealed your plans of finally visiting the shelter. “Might help in getting a discount, or something.”

Discount or not, you were grateful for his help.

As you step into the shelter, a little bell above the door jingles, making the man behind the front counter raise his head in acknowledgement. You smile, nervousness coating your features.

“Hello, I’m here for the adoption appointment I scheduled,” you greet politely.

The man tilts his head with a slight nod, beginning to click away on the computer in front of him. He must have decided that his glasses are a little too low on the bridge of his nose, because he pushes them up without hesitation as he looks at you a second time, inquiring about your name.

After you confirm it, along with your birthday, his lips tug upwards in a smile. “You’re all set. Jun should be here in a moment to take you back to the kennel area.”

“Thank you…” you pause, stuffing your hands in the pockets of your coat, realizing you don’t know his name.

“Wonwoo!” comes a panicked shout from behind the door leading to the kennels.

The two of you turn to the noise, just in time to see another man burst through the door with a frantic look on his face. His straight dark brown hair is messy, the beauty mark on his cheek scrunching up from the way his mouth is pulled into a frown. He barely even registers your presence before he’s hauling the newly named Wonwoo out of his comfy receptionist chair.

“Hyung, the girls are fighting again and I can’t find Jun,” he cries. “Please help!”

As if on cue, a few distant but high-pitched caterwauls can be heard from behind the door the man just came out of. Wonwoo sighs and pushes his glasses up again.

“Seokmin-ah, I can’t help,” he retorts. “I’m the receptionist. I have to stay here and man the front desk. Like I’m doing right now.”

“You’re just saying that because you’re scared!”

Wonwoo just laughs. “I think you’re projecting. Where’s Joshua?”

“With a client in the adoption processing room,” Seokmin whines, finally taking notice of you. “Oh!—I’m so sorry, hello. Please excuse me. Are you here for an appointment?”

He bows a bit too formally for the situation at hand. Stifling your own laugh, you smile into your fist and bow politely in turn.

“Yes, I’m hoping to meet some animals,” you chirp happily. “Do you need help though? It sounds like a cat fight back there.”

Seokmin hesitates, his eyes flickering between you and the receptionist for a few moments. Wonwoo raises an eyebrow.

“It’s alright, don’t worry about it,” the shorter man ultimately waves you off, grinning in an attempt to appear more confident. “You’re a visitor! Wouldn’t be fair to ask you to do my job for me.”

Another faint yowl sounds. Your eyes widen and Seokmin flinches.

Wonwoo turns to you, seemingly having come to a decision in the time that it takes for his coworker’s fingers to start fidgeting with the hem of his sweater. “Are you any good with cats, by chance?”

By the time you’re on your way to the play area, you’ve become pretty familiarized with Seokmin. You learn that he’s a new-ish hire, an animal care attendant who has dreams of becoming a shelter manager one day, and as he rambles on you find yourself smiling.

Behind the door from the receptionist area was a small room with a sink. “For sanitation purposes,” Seokmin had explained while you rinsed your hands. “Just so that we keep the animals as safe as possible.”

He now was currently leading you down another hallway and through another door (there were so many doors, you mused in awe, but Seokmin was quick to reassure it was to bar animals from escaping). This one has a sign that reads in all capital letters, “PLEASE CLOSE THE DOOR BEHIND YOU.” Your hands shake in anticipation. As if reading your mind, Seokmin beams at you before opening the door.

“Careful, now.”

And the sight takes your breath away.

It’s well-lit with warm lighting coating the hallway, and pleasantly clean. Dozens of kennels line both sides. Dogs press their muzzles against their cages, tongues lolling out eagerly to greet you. In other cages, there are cats who lazily blink or raise their tails in a hello, watching you with intrigued eyes. Each cage seems to house a fuzzy bed and a couple of toys, which delights you—you were always a hater of barren enclosures.

To you and Seokmin’s surprise, at the far end of the hallway another worker is cooing at a hissing cat through the bars of its enclosure. Another cat is squirming woefully in his arms. The shelter staff member next to you brightens up immediately at the sight and hurries towards him with you hastily on his heels.

“Hyung! There you are! Were you able to get them to stop?”

When the man startles and meets your gaze, your breath is taken away a second time.

Oh, wow. Double kill.

His dark brown eyes remind you of a cup of hot mocha, heightening your senses and invigorating you to the bone. The man brushes a few strands of equally dark brown hair out of his face as the orange tabby in his free arm mewls pitifully and repeatedly. His eyes never leave yours as you take each other in, blissfully unaware of the way Seokmin is looking between you two like a man caught in crossfire.

“Hello,” you finally croak out, throat suddenly dry. “I’m uh… here for an appointment.”

Your words jolt the man back into work mode. He coughs, regaining his composure and nodding cordially. “I’m Jun. This is Snoop.”

Snoop, on the other hand, seems very keen on getting back to clawing at the calico through the cage bars. You giggle at the way the animal’s limbs flail in the air, utterly helpless. Snoop is adorable, with a cream-furred underbelly and whiskers that gleam in the shelter light. Jun tuts and holds the cat away like he’s Rafiki from The Lion King, showcasing baby Simba to the world.

“Easy, girl,” he mutters. Seokmin takes a step back for his own safety.

“Hello, Snoop,” you smile, peering closer at the interesting slitted ear the cat sports. “That’s a cool battle scar you’ve got. Where’d you get it?”

The tabby eyes you warily from Jun’s arms, choosing not to respond. Instead, she pushes an unsheathed paw onto his chest for support against him before beginning to wriggle around for the umpteenth time. The shelter worker grunts in displeasure and flashes you another drawn out stare.

“Sorry, she’s a little untrustworthy of strangers. Snoop—be nice. Come on, at least look at them.”

“It’s alright,” you relent heartily, your smile growing like the sun after a solar eclipse; Jun quickly looks away and it has you aching for his attention again already, eyes chasing after the wisps of his hair.

Seokmin clears his throat and you wince, feeling caught. You instantly find interest in anything else other than the man you met barely two minutes ago. What were you, some kind of middle schooler who's been caught blatantly staring at their crush from across the classroom during lecture? The thought mortifies you. You haven’t felt this way in a good while.

To your left, Seokmin only giggles. You side eye him as he teases his bottom lip between his teeth to disguise the smile he’s fighting. For someone who just met you, he looks a lot like someone who’s uneasily giddy about knowing something you don’t.

Daring to take a peek at the worker in front of you again, Jun’s face appears equally as taken off guard. You momentarily wonder if he would make the same face from a surprise kiss.

Then you completely bat the idea out of the baseball field that is your mind, praying for a home run so that you wouldn’t embarrass yourself any further than you already have.

“I—uh. I need to bring her to the med room real quick for a check up,” Jun’s eyes flicker between you and Snoop. “I’ll see you around, though?”

“Yeah,” you reply slowly. “I’ll see you around.”

It’s quiet between the three of you as Jun bows his head and starts to walk in the opposite direction. You find yourself craning your neck slightly to watch as Snoop finally settles against his shoulder, narrowing her eyes at you with what you would hope is curiosity. Her tail curls in the air behind her, long and plumy.

A few dogs bark as Jun walks by, to which the man raises a calm hand to let them lick through the bars, smiling contentedly. Your eyes travel from a blonde labrador’s graying muzzle to Jun’s pinky finger that’s decorated with a silver ring, then to his wrist where a black banded bracelet wraps around, then to his thick brown corduroy jacket—

Seokmin is saying your name. You snap out of your trance and gnaw on your top lip out of nervous habit.

He seems amused when he asks, “Ready to meet more animals? I think some of those cats behind us are staring into your soul.”

Trying to get your bearings, you turn to face him fully, watching the way he tries—and successfully fails once more—to tone down his mocking grin. A huff escapes past you before you can regulate your breath.

“Yeah, lead the way.”

You get home a little past seven, feeling unsettlingly empty.

The apartment welcomes you in silence. Your shuffling echoes through the foyer as you slip off your snow-slicked boots and tuck them neatly in your closet, along with your heavy winter coat. A sigh leaves your mouth, and you take your time rummaging through your kitchen for leftovers to eat before you head to bed, your mind drowning in its own thoughts.

You can’t get Snoop’s scored ear out of your head. The divot makes your heart clench, beating a little too fast for your liking. And along with the orange tabby, that damn dashing shelter worker you met today wasn’t much help in stopping yourself from having palpitations, either.

After Jun left, Seokmin let you wander around the kennel hallway alone, disappearing off to who-knows-where for a few minutes as you tried your best to acquaint yourself with the animals.

A white himalayan named Orchata had rubbed himself against his cage bars to feel your fingers in his fur, purring loudly, while the young russian blue dubbed Spark a few cages down peered at you worriedly from inside her fuzzy hut. While Orchata was definitely sweet, you weren’t entirely sure if you could handle his long-furred coat throughout the seasons, bidding him a soft goodbye and a promise to visit again if you had the time.

You even met the calico Snoop had apparently been fighting with earlier—her name was Button—and just as you expected, her eyes were as smooth and iridescent as her namesake, completed by her pearly white teeth that shone when she yawned. When your hand initially brushed the cage, Button hissed in warning, flicking her tail lowly across the floor. However, after a few minutes of murmuring abstract phrases to her, she settled into a loafed position near you, blinking slowly. The sight made you smile.

She didn’t have the same charm as Snoop did, though. That was for sure.

After meeting a few more cats, none of them quite matching the missing puzzle piece from your home, you made the tough decision to leave. You had a few more shelters that you were planning to visit in the upcoming days, anyways—maybe another cat would captivate your attention and heart like you wanted.

Saying goodbye to Seokmin and weaving through the hallway, you had passed by Snoop’s cage. It was empty when you left, much to your disappointment. Wonwoo offered a smile in farewell as you opened the door, the bell above you giving its endearing little song as a send-off.

And just like that, you parted ways with Serenity Shelter without another chance to see an orange ringed tail or big dark brown eyes.

Shutting off the faucet in your bathroom, you brush your teeth the tiniest bit more hard than usual, trying to push Jun and Snoop out of your brain. The toothpaste stings on your tongue and you spit it out into the sink harshly. It felt like a part of you had slipped through your fingers today; a piece of broken glass, maybe, for your currently incomplete stained-window of life. One that escaped your hands and left small metaphorical cuts along the skin in its wake.

Was this what it was like to truly want?

Trudging to your bed, you collapse onto your duvet, burying your face in the soft material and groaning. Snoop might’ve been the first shelter cat you met, but she definitely wasn’t and won’t be the last one you meet.

There will be other cats, you try to reason with yourself, eyelids becoming heavy.

Of course, as if the universe loved dangling missed chances in front of you, Jun crosses your mind, causing you to involuntarily shudder and burrow deeper into your blanket.

You didn’t even know the man and he held an embarrassingly impressive chokehold on you. It made you feel incredibly vulnerable—like a peeled orange ready to be torn into with sharp fingernails of judgement. A single rough handling, and you would be reduced to nothing but pulped juice, only good for a few days before turning sour. Your sleep-encased thoughts berate yourself for falling for someone you had a five minute long conversation with. There will be other cats, and other pretty shelter workers.

You were sure of it.

Your eyes finally drift to a close, and that night, you dream of tufts of orange fur accompanied by warm coffee brown eyes.

You’re here again.

Two animal shelters and many unsuccessful attempts at finding a cat that nips at your heart later, you find yourself back at Serenity Shelter, scrutinizing the paw printed logo like it could solve all of your life’s problems.

Today, thankfully, nurtured slightly higher temperatures than the day of your last visit. The piles of snow had melted to concrete pavement, and you were able to opt for sneakers today instead of your winter boots, their rough soles scruffing against the road as you made your way to the familiar string-lighted windows.

Wonwoo’s at the front desk this time, too, his head lifting at the sound of your entrance. He pushes his thick-framed glasses back up the bridge of his nose as his lips stretch into a smile.

“Hello. Back again so soon?”

His teasing tone doesn’t go unmissed by you, and you chuckle in reply. You stride up to the counter, nodding your head with a matching expression, gaze meeting his.

“Yup. Someone here caught my eye last time, so I’m back.”

As he goes through the mandatory identity verification process, his smile turns into something more akin to a smirk. “Someone, huh? Just letting you know, Jun isn’t in today. Seokmin will be taking care of you this time around.”

You can’t help it; your eyes dart down to the floor in disappointment and you purse your lips to refrain from having them fall into a frown.

“Oh…” you trail off. “That’s okay. I’m here for Snoop, actually. Not Jun.”

“I never said you were here for Jun,” Wonwoo’s eyes sparkle with mischief, and you feel your cheeks heat up at his knowing stare, hating how he can read you like an open book when it’s only the second time you’ve interacted. “This is an adoption shelter, after all.”

“Right. An adoption shelter.”

A few minutes later, Seokmin enthusiastically leads you back to the kennel area, waving his hands in the air excitedly at your reappearance at the shelter. He gives you an update on how all of the animals are doing while you wash your hands, and you never fail to make conversation with him just as earnestly, loving the way he perks up at your voice.

When you’re let through the door again, you make a beeline straight to Snoop’s enclosure. Unlike last time, her cage is occupied, and you find her in the middle of a nap at the back corner of her cage. She opens one eye—pale and green—before letting it fall close once more. Her nicked ear flicks in acknowledgement at your presence.

Seokmin is close behind you, his tone soft so as to not disturb the orange tabby too much. “You know, Jun is really fond of her.”

You hum lightly as a response, carefully lifting your fingers to the bars to get the cat accustomed to your scent. “Really now?”

“Yeah. I was told this secondhand, but Jun found Snoop when she was a kitten—maybe four years ago? Five? He couldn’t find her mom and so he took her here. Pretty sure she’s the reason he even ended up working at this shelter in the first place.”

“Why doesn’t he just adopt her?”

Seokmin shrugs even though you can’t see him. “Landlord doesn’t allow cats, I think? Something like that.”

You’re lost in thought as Snoop stretches, her orange tail curling in satisfaction at the rest she was able to obtain from her sleep. The cat slowly makes her way to your hand on the bar, sniffing your fingers cautiously from a few inches away, and your breath hitches.

“Seokmin, do you think I could bring her to the play area for some alone time?”

Much to your delight, Snoop heads for the mouse toy straight away once she’s put down by Seokmin.

“Let me know when you’re ready to leave,” the worker flashes a smile before he closes the door, the hinges creaking slightly.

The room is painted a robin egg blue, pastel and complimentary to Snoop’s stripes of orange. Various toys litter the ground: a feather on a string, a complicated puzzle that’s no doubt filled with treats, and of course, the mouse squeaker that Snoop is currently brawling with, pouncing on the poor thing with an excited trill.

Your eyes land on the laser pointer nearby. Picking it up, you click the power button, the red dot flashing on the ground. You drag it to where the orange tabby is stationed and watch as her asymmetrical ears stand up in attention right away.

She scrambles for the beam of light and you giggle, indulging the tabby in a game of chase.

Your heart doesn’t feel as burdened as it usually does in your lonely little apartment, but something still feels off, like a stubborn string of pith in an orange slice that you can’t get off. You can’t place your finger on it until Snoop tumbles into the leg of a chair that’s the same shade as Jun’s eyes.

“Careful!” you scold, scurrying over to check if she got hurt in her escapades. “You’re going to hurt yourself if you keep up with this.”

Snoop looks up at you with large, light green eyes, reminding you of the pure crystal jade bracelets you awe over in stores. She meows and swishes her tail across the floor. You selfishly wish a second pair accompanied hers, deep and rich and onyx, along with the curling smile that you desperately wanted to hear say your name.

Crouching low, you hold out your hand. Snoop peers at you from her place next to the chair leg before padding over, her paws scraping along the floor, and she begins to rub her face against your knuckles. A faint purr rumbles from her chest.

Oh, you were so done for.

And that’s how Jun finds you several hours later—sitting with your back to the wall, Snoop settled in your lap dozing away without a care in the world. The clock on the wall indicates it’s near closing time for the shelter.

You blink in surprise, feeling jarred at the unexpected visit of the man who’s been living in your mind rent free the past few weeks.

“I thought you weren’t in today?”

“Oh—uh. I wanted to check in on Snoop.”

He’s positioned in the door awkwardly, like he doesn’t know if he’s allowed to come in. You take a few moments to drink in the sight of that familiar brown corduroy jacket and the black turtleneck he wears underneath, tight-fitting and snug. Where did he get the stylish jacket from? What was his fashion sense like in other seasons? Did he not get cold easily?

You substitute these questions for something far more in tune with the situation at hand. “You can come in and sit down,” you offer, startling the man out of his own trance.

If someone who didn’t know any better was watching, they’d think you were the worker and he was the adopter, with the way he carefully locks the door behind him and sits down next to you. The brown corduroy slides off his broad shoulders with ease and is nicely folded into a pile on the other side of him.

“I'm thinking of adopting her,” you get straight to the point, carding your fingers through the tabby’s silky fur. “But I wanted to talk to you first. I know you’ve been looking over her for the past few years and that she means a lot to you, but I haven't bonded with a cat like this at all yet. I really like her.”

Silence.

Jun shifts uncomfortably from your right. You don’t dare meet his eyes, even when it’s what your heart aches to do, afraid of what you’ll find in his gaze. Anger? Betrayal? Or worse—indifference?

In the strained lull of silence, Snoop awakens from her slumber, muscles flexing against your jeans.

“Did you know,” Jun starts softly, watching as Snoop bats at her pink nose to itch herself, “I named her Snoop because I found her snooping through the trash as a kitten? She was all alone playing with a used tissue. Couldn’t have been more than six months old.”

You grin, momentarily feeling the tension fade in the room. “Well, at least you didn’t name her Trash. Or Tissue.”

The unexpected and loud laugh that Jun lets out startles you and Snoop, the tabby scampering to her feet in your lap and unsheathing her claws at the noise. You hiss in pain as her claw hooks its way into your forearm, leaving a faint grazing of blood behind.

“Snoop,” you chide amusingly, not even a hint of malice lacing your words, but Jun is frantically reaching for the first aid kit the workers keep in the play area for instances like this. “Look what you did. Now I’m bleeding!”

She bundles innocently off to the corner of the room as Jun disinfects your cut, his fingers sliding along your wrist and sending a shiver down your spine. The heat radiating off of him is so warm it almost has the reverse effect, your mind frozen and tongue feeling like it's stuck to an icicle.

“She does this a lot,” Jun says affectionately.

He draws his touch away from you (much to your displeasure, but that’s a thought to dissect for another time) and rolls up his sleeve to reveal a thin, healed scar in the same area as yours.

You cock your head in question. Jun sucks in a sharp breath and shakes his head. “She doesn’t like baths too much. I try to look at it positively and see them as her love language. Like a lovescratch.”

Meeting his eyes yet again, you search the swirls of coffee in them, finding complete adoration.

“When did she get the notch in her ear?” you ask, the question haunting you ever since you first laid eyes on her.

“Got into a fight when she was younger with one of the previous shelter cats,” Jun replies, mirth now swimming in his eyes at the memory. “Her own lovescratch, I guess. Now you match with us.”

Snoop meows, coming back to circle the two of you, obviously put off by not being the center of attention at the moment. The worker scoops her up in his arms and lets her nuzzle against his jawline. His eyes are softened, downcasted at his beloved shelter animal, and you clench your fists. Your heart is rattling against your ribcage, loud and dangerous, and all you can think of are oranges and the meticulous method of peeling back their skin, removing the pith, and squeezing until there’s only pulp.

Temptation. Desire. Want.

All for more things than one.

“Are you going to take good care of her?”

Jun’s question startles you and makes you realize just how tense your hands are. Your knuckles are whitened with stress, and you try your best to relax them as your brain ponders over his inquiry. “Why? Is the adoption process starting right now?”

“Oh, no,” he smiles a little awkwardly. “Just… more for my own sanity.”

You nod at his explanation. “Of course I’ll take good care of her. She deserves a comfortable and loving home, and I’ll do my absolute best to fulfill that role as her caretaker.”

The man is silent again for a minute. You shift from foot to foot, doing your best to keep your spiking nervousness at bay.

Then, after what feels like an eternity, Jun sucks in another breath. “As long as I know she’s in good hands, I’ll be happy. And—uh, your hands are… nice. So.”

A giggle slips past you at his words. Was he trying to flirt with you?

Before you can stop yourself, you blurt out your swirling thoughts, surging with an alarming amount of pure want. You can almost taste the orange juice on your tongue. “You know, if you wanted to, you could visit her. At my place. Only if you wanted to though! No pressure. Seriously.”

Real smooth, you inwardly cringe afterwards at your rushed tone. Totally not desperate of you at all.

Thankfully, Jun doesn’t seem to notice your inept attempts at making a move, eyes lighting up and his shoulders loosening. Snoop chirps and pushes a paw into his chest, the man letting out an oomf before steadying himself.

“...Really?”

“Yeah,” you smile, fussing with a strand of your hair. “Considering I get approved to adopt her first, of course.”

Jun meets your eyes. A sweet, citrusy scent fills your senses, and your smile widens as his lips curve upwards.

“That would be cool. I’d like that a lot.”

You ended up adopting Snoop a few days later.

Joshua, the adoption manager, was patient and welcoming throughout the processing of you becoming Snoop’s official owner. You answered his questions with ease, and the verification papers were in your hands before you knew it.

The workers were, inevitably, a mess when you carried Snoop’s carrier through the receptionist area. Seokmin had begged for you to come visit again, saying you helped around more than you thought you did. “I swear, the animals are put under a tranquility spell when they see you,” he had said from his position on the floor, bowing with his head in a prayer before you. “Please come back!”

Wonwoo shed a few tears at the sight of the orange cat—your orange cat, you had giddily realized—peeking out from inside the carrier box. He turned away from you and sniffled quietly, and you had only laughed in reply.

All the way to your car, Jun trailed behind, fretting over if Snoop was comfortable or not in her temporary holder. His fingers continuously brushed your own, insisting that he’ll carry her, and you had let him. You two exchanged contact information with the promise of many nights ahead full with texting and FaceTimes.

That was all about two months ago.

Snoop has settled surprisingly easy into your home, parading around like she owns the place. The foot of your bed has been claimed as hers, curling up on your mattress and kneading her soft paws into the blanket. When she thinks you aren’t looking, she’ll steal the socks from your hamper and will gnaw on them, much to your displeasure. Your favorite is when she begs for treats five minutes after feeding her—because really, who can resist her charms?

Speaking of charms, Jun and you had been regularly messaging each other since you exchanged numbers, conversations drifting from how Snoop is doing, to what you had for breakfast that morning, to if squirrels purposefully forgot where they put their nuts to help the environment.

(For some reason, he is insistent that squirrels are way smarter than humans think. You still aren’t sure whether to let him win the argument or not.)

His words never fail to make your day, lighting up your phone’s screen with a ping! that leaves you in shambles trying to respond as fast as possible. His texts are, additionally, almost always accompanied with little kaomojis that make your heart twist with longing.

FaceTimes always went late into the night, too, the two of you somehow not having enough things to talk about aimlessly. He talks about the shelter, you talk about your work; he gives mukbangs, you narrate your skincare routine. All in all, you’ve come to accept the fact that knowing Jun is one of the greatest gifts the universe has given to you thus far in life.

“Here, I peeled some oranges for us.”

Jun looks up from his place against the foot of your couch. You place the plated orange slices on the coffee table and sit next to him, your hands flying to scratch Snoop’s chin. She’s currently perching on top of Jun’s outstretched legs, rubbing her face along the underside of his chin, and he giggles as he pushes her away.

Your mind wanders back to being unpeeled like an orange, raw and ripe for the taking, ready to be pressed into juice. Maybe not all oranges taste bitter, you muse, as long as they get to grow for long enough.

Everything you want is here, right at your fingertips—all you have to do is take the first dig in.

Before you can say something, though, Jun’s voice cuts through your monologue.

“Thank you for letting me come over.”

He gazes at you from underneath his tousled brown hair, the corner of his mouth quirked up in a tiny and shy smile. Snoop takes this as an opportunity to sniff inquisitively at the piece of orange he had picked up. Jun tsks and boops her nose.

“Not for you,” he teases. “You’ll throw up.”

She wrinkles her nose and backs away. You resist the urge to topple the two of them over with long hugs and soft kisses.

“Of course,” you hum. “I know Snoop really enjoys your company.”

“What about you?” he asks suddenly—tentatively, like he’s a little afraid of the answer.

“Huh?”

Jun hesitates, his eyes following his fingers that are tinkering with the cat’s tail in gentle teasing. “Do you enjoy my company?”

The question takes you aback. You fall quiet for a little, letting your eyes trace over Jun’s pinky ring and the familiar slope of his nose. Your apartment lamp sets his skin aglow in a warm amber, filling you with a sense of calmness you’ve never known before.

“Yeah,” you confess softly. “Yeah, I do.”

You hear the exhale he lets out, eyes flickering up to meet his. “Me too,” he grins and scratches Snoop behind the ears. “Thank you for adopting Snoop. I'm glad it’s you.”

Your own ears burn.

“Thank you for taking care of her. I'm glad it’s you, too.”

Popping an orange slice in your mouth to distract yourself from his gaze, the taste overwhelms you. Your nails dig slightly into the piece you’re currently holding, prickling the skin and letting sticky juice stain your fingers. You lick the juice off and Jun watches you with an emotion you can’t describe.

It’s sweet, tangy, and most of all—it feels right.

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