#snakes are so much harder to draw than i thought.....

[limewashedup]

happy year of the snake! 🐍❤

[tonycries]

Girl, I Do This Often

Synopsis. How does he cope with a séx ban? He doesn’t.

Pairings. [SEPARATE] Gojo x Reader, Sukuna x Reader, Choso x Reader, Geto x Reader, Nanami x Reader, Toji x Reader

Content. MDNI, fem! reader, established relationship, rough séx, unprotected, stuff with pantíes, gaggíng, bréeding, Nanami is a bit mean, overstím, finger suckíng, really desperate boys, light smackíng (Nanami), bondagé + víbrators (Geto), swearing.

Word count. 5.2k

A/N. Guess what, ya girl just turned 19 yippeeeee.

♡ TOJI FUSHIGURO - 4 days

On the first day, Toji’s more amused than anything.

A sex ban? With him? Ridiculous, he predicted a full 24 hours before you come crawling back, just begging to be split-apart on his cock. And he tells you so, too - a little over five times as he kisses your pouty lips, muttering a smug, “You’ll be eating your words soon enough, doll.���

By the third day, he’s beginning to think that okay, maybe you were serious about the ban after all. How cute - real cute. 

He’s left to do nothing but complain pathetically on the phone to a very reluctant Shiu. Who doesn’t have much to say other than cut off Toji’s ramblings about “not having your pretty pussy all day” to groan, “Shut the fuck up and beg for her forgiveness. I’m hanging up.”

Toji can only scoff at the thought. Beg for forgiveness? Him? Toji Fushiguro never begs, he never-

That was until the fourth day. 

With you - bent over the kitchen counter in his t-shirt - and nothing but his t-shirt.

“Please, pretty.” Toji drags his lips down your neck, just loving the way your traitorous hips are grinding back into his. “Said m’sorry, right? Don’t ya miss this?”

And you can only look behind your shoulder at the big arms around your waist, muscled thighs pressed up against yours. Angling your head just right to catch the way his hands snake down to your squirming hips to help you draw slow little circles against the rock-hard erection straining against his pants.

So close. So big.

Big enough that you’re almost thinking of throwing this sec ban out of the window altogether - almost.

But that little smirk of Toji’s is infuriating enough that you’re gasping out a breathless little, “I-I’m still mad at you, y’know? You never let me-” The words die in your throat as Toji pulls his pants down just enough for his aching cock to spring free. So angry and painfully hard, leaking hot precum all over your thighs. 

“No no no- hah. Keep talking.” he grits out, breath hot against your ear. Hips pushing and pulling. “Please- keep talking.”

And fuck you didn’t know what was harder - trying to find your voice, or ripping your eyes away from Toji’s cock long enough that you could. 

“B-because you-” you choke out, watching the way he takes his massive cock in his hands. Staring to pump so slow - so lazy - no rhythm or reason other than getting off so filthily to the sound of your voice. “You never let me take-” He wraps your smaller hands around his dick, so hot and heavy in your palms. “-charge.”

“F-fuck-” Toji lets out a low hiss, head thrown back as you thumb teasingly under his sensitive slit, trying to fuck something delicious out. “Yer killin’ me doll. Killing me.” Whether from your words or from the way you’re sliding him so lewdly between your puffy folds, you didn’t know. 

And Toji didn’t either. Hell, he doesn’t even seem to be breathing as he shifts his toned hips so familiarly. Head filled with only you and your heavenly cunt and you. 

“Toji-” you mewl. “Need you so bad.”

If he was any lesser man, Toji would’ve just bullied himself into your dripping cunt already, fucked you into the counter until there was nothing about any sex ban in your pretty lil’ mind. Instead, he’s panting out an absolutely wrecked, “Please. Then take all the charge you want, pretty.”  Fat head lining up with your sloppy hole. “Next time.”

And oh has it really been that long?

Because Toji’s just barely pushing into your plushy walls, and he already feels like he could cum right then and there. The stretch too sinful. Your walls too tight. So cute how you’re already mumbling his name so deliriously. 

“Awww,” he coos, watching awe-struck at the way you flatten your hands on the counter, fucking yourself back into him in short, shallow little grinds. “The s-sex ban was for ah- nothing, huh?”

You’re pulling him impossibly closer by the hair, catching his lips in such a searing kiss. Drinking in Toji’s guttural grunt as you bite down on his lower lip, “Are ya gonna sh-shut up n’ fuck me or do I need ngh- another sex ban?”

“No, ma’am.” he grins, kissing back so mockingly soft. And you know he’s making fun of you with the way he’s twitching so wildly inside your pussy. Veins dragging against all the right spots as he reels his hips back, back, back - only to slam his cock fully inside. “Guess you’re the one mm- in charge right now, huh?”

Over and over again. Fucking you exactly the way he’s wanted these past four days - and then some. 

Hitting your cervix - but it feels like your fucking lungs. Heavy balls smacking against your ass, so hard that he’s sure it’ll leave some obscene marks for him to point out next time. One hand around your throat, the other keeping your slutty, trembling hips in place while you’re torn between running away and bucking back for more more more-

“Right here.”

It’s all you can do to whirl your head around, eyes glassy and unfocused, whining a broken, “Wh-what?” 

“Right…” Trailing down, featherlight, right where he knew he was wrecking your insides. “Here. S’where I belong.” Pressing hard. “N’ m’gonna make sure you don’t forget it.”

♡ NANAMI KENTO - 1 week

A week. One week of being patient with your silly idea to “spice things up”. One week of pretending like he wasn’t excusing himself during important meetings to have his cock in his hands - thinking of nothing but you and that sinful little dress you had on today.

One week was all it took for Nanami to have a bad day at work. And you could tell when he did. 

By the way that front door slammed, unfamiliarly harsh footsteps sounding against the hardwood floors. And all it takes is one look at you laid out so prettily on the couch and Nanami’s mouth drops into a soft oh! 

One hand immediately loosening his tie, the other snaking down to his belt. Ashen, tense, - and you have half the mind to wonder whether he’s even breathing. 

Not even looking at you as he mutters a low, “Panties off. Spread those legs.”

That was a few hours ago. 

Before you knew it, your husband had you splayed out like such a slut for him on the couch - too starved to even think about making it to the bed. Legs on his sculpted shoulders, panties in tatters on the floor because you were taking too fucking long. Cock so angry and sensitive as he bullies into your snug cunt, stuffing you full of his cum.

Again. And again and again like he wanted to fuck any and every thought of that stupid sex ban out of your delirious mind. 

“K-Kento- what-” he pulls you into a bruising kiss. Just a sloppy clash of teeth and spit and hands everywhere. “You’re ngh- different.”

At this, Nanami has the audacity to laugh - laugh. Hips snapping impossibly deeper, “Yeah? N’ who’s fault is hah- that? Who’s fault is it th-that we ended hngh- up like-” Pushing your knees all the way up to your tits, groaning at the mess of cum and slick pooling beneath you. “-this?”

Cock just ramming into you, prominent veins nudging against your gummy walls so agonizingly. The couch creaking in protest as he uses your pretty lil’ cunt exactly the way he’s been fantasizing this past week.

And when all you can do is let out delirious little moans in response, Nanami raises his hand up, up, up. Coming down on your ass, hard. 

Smack!

“Didn’t you know we’d end up here?”

Oh the words hit you harder than that large palm-print stinging your ass. Tight pussy clenching and trying to milk the fucking soul out of him as you sob, “I- I didn’t-” Smack! You’re jolting at the impact, hips bucking wildly as you gasp, “-I did! Wanted this so bad, Kento. I did I did-”

And yeah, Nanami knew that. He knew you’d pulled this little “sex ban” stunt to make him break - to have him fuck you like the slut you are. But hearing the words from your pretty mouth had his balls squeezing so painfully. 

“Knew it.” he manages to grit out. “Knew you were such a slut, my love.” Words strained with each harsh thrust, “N’ as my slut, y-you can ngh- take one more, right?” You keen at how soft his tone was, like he was whispering sweet little nothings to you instead of promises to absolutely break you. Fingers trailing down to draw lewd patterns on your throbbing clit, “Right?”

And as if to prove you could, he’s squeezing his swollen cock harder into your plushy walls. Faster. Unforgiving. Fat, leaking tip hitting all those sweet spots he’s mapped out, in time with his abuse on your clit.

“Didn’t hah- have to lock myself in my office for nothing, right?” Pulling your trembling hips flush against his toned ones, “Have to get by with j-just a pretty picture this week for nothing?” Hips out of control now. Bruising. Almost painful with the stretch and the sheer pressure of being so full. “S’all for this, right?”

Smack! 

“Oh God, Kento- Fuck fuck fuck fuck.”

“Yeah? Feels good?” he nips at your lower lip, “Good enough to fuck- take another one?”

You were sure if he came once more then it might just be the death of you.

You’re not even lucid enough to realize what reaction you’re giving him - all you know is that it isn’t good enough for Nanami. 

Because he lets out a tut, hand dancing across your stomach to where he knew he was absolutely making a mess of you inside. 

“Fine.” And something about the way he says it makes your heart stop, already knowing that it didn’t bode well for you or your poor cunt. “Guess I hafta ngh- help you.” Sure enough, Nanami wastes no time before pushing down on your abdomen. 

The both of you watch - awe-struck and speechless - as your overfilled pussy gushes all around him. 

And shit neither of you can even begin to think of what a bitch it’ll be to clean out this couch later on. Too caught up in the way you’re soaking Nanami’s merciless cock in that sinful mix of cum and slick. Thick, and hot, drooling down the side of your puffy folds. 

“See? Enough space, no?”

You raise your eyes, teary and hazy with lust, up to meet Nanami’s darkened ones and oh-

You weren’t going to make it out alive. 

Especially not when he leans down, whispering so raggedly in your ear, “Now I get to give ya another week’s worth more, right?”

�� GETO SUGURU - 9 days

Bzzzt-bzzzt-bzzzt-

You didn’t know how it ended up this way. How that stupid bet about who’d be the needier one made Geto the one with the sex ban. 

How he had you tied across from him so prettily on the bed, a bullet vibrator stuffed up your dripping cunt, unable to do anything but whine and watch as he spreads his bare, muscled thighs.

Tip flushed your favorite shade of pink, matching those panties wrapped around his throbbing cock. So angry and leaking all over his fist as one hand slides up, up, up. The other, fiddling with that tiny metal remote. 

“You’re drooling, gorgeous. So desperate, huh?”

You know you aren’t - but you can’t help the way your face burns at your boyfriend’s low chuckle. Thighs squeezing together at the heavenly sight before you. “N-no fair, Sugu.” you whine. “I want to-”

Intensity setting 2.

But whatever words get stuck in your throat as Geto draws harsh, quick little circles on the intensity setting, smirking at the way you’re so wrecked already. 

Bzzzt-bzzzt-bzzzt-

“I-I want to-” he mocks your pathetic little whines, acting for all the life of him that they didn’t make his dick twitch so wildly in his hands. “My poor baby. S’not nice, right?” And if you were embarrassed before then it was absolutely nothing in comparison to when Geto knits his brows in mock concern, eyes locked on yours. Hand still moving down his cock, “But isn’t this what you wanted? With the sex ban? Isn’t this-” Hips bucking up to show off how sloppily he’s fucking his fist - and your panties along with it, “-what you were asking for?”

“No.” you’re tugging at the ties at your wrist, “I wanted…”

Intensity setting 3. 

But oh it’s like Geto was well and fully intent on leaving you speechless - and succeeding at it too. 

Because he immediately brings up your panties - flimsy and just so soaked - up to his face, breathing in so filthily. And as if he couldn’t help himself - as if he didn’t want to help himself - the remote falls out of Geto’s hand, “accidentally” locked on the highest setting, first wrapping around his cock to make a mess of himself. 

“F-fuck-” he cracks one eye open, balls squeezing so painfully at the way you were almost in tears trying to get some semblance of friction. “Heh, looks like I’m winning the bet.”

You scoff, but it comes out so pathetically like a whine. “You’re a cheater, I’d have w-won this bet otherwise.”

Ah, how Geto loved your smart mouth - though, he probably loved it even more when you’re fucked dumb. But, right now, bet at the forefront of his mind, the next best thing he could do is shove those sinful panties into your mouth. 

Hand flying up and down his cock faster and faster as you choke like such a slut on it. Greedily eyeing the way your lip wobbles, big fat tears welling up in your eyes, cunt all glistening and quivering as Geto blindly reaches behind to grab ahold of that remote again. 

Intensity setting 4. 

“And you’re too cute.” he drops his head, breath ghosting your lips. “So if you ask me nicely I might just-” Thumb playing around with the intensity, pressing down, hard. As if it would translate to your needy cunt, “-give you my cock, gorgeous.”

Bzzzt-bzzzt-bzzzt-

It’s all you can do to keen as his fingers get faster on the remote, other hand getting so sloppy on his painfully hard cock. Matching that sinful little ah! ah! ah! leaving your swollen lips. Sinful - and stubborn, still refusing to say those words that you knew Geto wanted to hear so badly. 

“Awww, still not giving up?” At your delirious little headshake, “Then how about this?” 

Intensity setting 5. 

And shit it makes you arch off the bed entirely. It makes you let out a strangled yelp of, “Oh- fuck. Fuck fuck fuck Sugu, m’gonna-” It makes you cum.

“Tha’s it.” Geto can’t help but let go of his aching cock to draw rough, messy little circles on your clit. Grinning at the way you’re so pretty when you cum untouched - all for him. Over and over and- He reaches over to catch your lips with his, tongue dancing with yours, around your soaked panties. 

So filthy and dizzying that he almost forgets about that bet - almost. Because you’re murmuring something so incoherent into his lips. 

Bzzzt-bzzzt-bzzzt-

God, doesn’t matter who wins next time - he needs to fucking do this again.

“What’s that?” he leans in tauntingly, pulling the fabric out of your mouth, finger still running circles around the intensity. Absolutely addicted to the way you’re twitching and whining at the aftershocks of your orgasm, “M’sorry, gorgeous, this vibrator is too loud. Speak up f’me, hm?”

“P-please fuck me, Sugu.”

“Thought you’d never ask.”

♡ CHOSO KAMO - 21 hours

If Choso had it his way, then you’d both still be at home and he’d be balls-deep inside your sloppy pussy - fucking you over and over into the mattress until the neighbours file another noise complaint. 

But, alas, Jin Itadori was sure to hire a hitman - or worse, Sukuna - on him if he missed another family dinner. Which is how it ended up with you, sat so prettily across the table from him, watching through his long lashes at the way that red dress hugged you so sinfully. 

So right, in a way that made Choso almost jealous. So irresistibly, in a way that had Sukuna looking over a few too many times and-

Choso’s chair almost hits the floor with how fast he stands.

Fuck it.

“Sh-shit, Choso I-” 

“Keep ah- that dress up, baby. Unless ya wanna get it d-dirty.” he’s panting into your open mouth,  tongue so hotly toying with yours as he gives you another harsh thrust. “Though, I don’t ngh- mind.”

And he was telling the truth, too. Choso was in no way gentle with the way he had you sat on the bathroom counter, flimsy dress bunched up at your hips. Strong arms spreading your legs so shamefully while he bullied his cock into you with reckless abandon.

Over and over and-

“Cho!” you yelp, as he hits that one spot so expertly. Flashing you a fucked-out grin as how you’re scrambling to cover your mouth. “Th-they’ll hear.”

“So?”

And it’s all you can do to stop your jaw from falling slack once more - both in disbelief and at the way he’s fucking you so mean. So desperately like he hasn’t in months - years, even. Just unfocused, sloppy movements to milk his cock on your snug cunt.

“I don’t mind hah- that either.” Hand dipping underneath your soaked panties - just lazily pulled to the side - to roll your swollen clit between two fingers. “W-what I do mind is my oh- fuck girl holdin’ out on me and wearing that fucking dress on the s-same day.”

Oh you knew you were pushing the limits of your sex ban by wearing his favorite dress, that it would drive him absolutely wild. You just didn’t know it would be this easy.

“But you promised.” you’re letting out such broken little whines, muffled through your fingers, ones that go straight to Choso’s achingly hard cock. “You hngh- promised we wouldn’t at your family’s…”

The only response you get is Choso rolling his hips deeper into yours, so bruising in a way you knew would make you feel so guilty even when all the marks are covered up. Leaving hot, open-mouthed kisses down your neck in time with the way he alternates between hitting your poor, abused cervix and that one spot. 

Gasping out a ragged, “I know- I know I know fuck- Hah- I know.” Words strained - like he was losing a bit of his sanity with each thrust. And needed you to be the same. “But shit, baby. Do you know how p-pretty you look right now? Hngh- how fuckable?”

“Y-you’re so fuckin’ dirty.” you mewl, as if you were any better. As if your gummy walls weren’t sucking the fuckin soul out of Choso right now. “Should’ve made the ngh- sex ban even long-”

He bites down at the soft crook of your neck, growling out a little, “Don’t even joke about that.” 

And if Choso expected a response, then he didn’t act that way. 

Hips just erratic against yours, fingers even worse. Not even moving in circles anymore, just messy, sloppy patterns to-

No. 

You gasp at the realization, the deft movements of Choso’s fingers, and it just makes you all the more fucked-out underneath him. Scrambling to grab at the counter - Choso’s hair - his shoulders - just anything and everything to stop yourself from alerting the entire household to what you two were up to. Letting him fuck you like his favorite sextoy, fingers so so messy and spelling out a relentless little C-H-O-S-O-C-H-O-S-

And then you’re cumming and cumming so hard that it almost hurts. Stars behind your eyes, blood roaring in your eyes. Choso’s massive cock fucking any and every thought of the dinner just downstairs out of your mind. 

“F-fuck fuck fuck- ngh- we’re never coming back here for dinner again.”

And it’s all you can do to drag your nails down his broad back, leaving deep red marks that make his balls squeeze so painfully. 

It makes him throw his head back, gasping out your name so loud. It makes him pull your hips so bruisingly against his. 

It makes him cum, spilling thick, hot ropes of cum into your pussy. So messy with the way it’s too much to bear, dribbling down your swollen folds, forming a lewd little pool below you. And Choso doesn’t give a fuck - doesn’t care if he leaves marks that everyone will see. Or if that slutty dress of yours has a suspicious little damp patch as he swiftly pulls out to snap your panties back in place. 

Whispering lowly against your lips, “K-keep it in till we leave, hm?”

“Cho-”

Knock! Knock! Knock!

“The fuck? You brats fall in or something?”

♡ RYOMEN SUKUNA - 2 days

The great Ryomen Sukuna has always been terrifying - but never before has he been this ruthless. So utterly savage. Destroying every single curse he comes across in the blink of an eye - friend or foe, big or small. 

Why? All because he hasn’t been able to fuck your pretty lil’ cunt in two days. Which, in his opinion, are two days too long. All because of some stupid little experiment about wanting to see how long it would take to see the king of curses crack.

And when those trembling curses heard about this ah- sex ban through the grapevine, well, they wrote it off as another baseless rumor. Ha, Ryomen Sukuna cracking? Never. 

“Please…brat.” he bites down on your earlobe, further pushing up your expensive robes - ones he’d bought just to get on your good side - to sink his cock deeper inside your heavenly cunt. “There I said it. Now jus’ a bit more-”

And maybe you’re a mastermind - maybe you’re an idiot. Because you’re digging your heels into the mattress, pushing off ever-so-slightly from his aching hard cock. So thick and angry as it slips out of your sloppy hole. 

You bat your lashes so deceivingly innocently up at a pissed off Sukuna, “I didn’t like your tone.” Crossing your legs to cover that view he was so fixated on, “Either you beg n’ start all over again or-”

“Fine.” he grits out the word, like it physically hurt to. Though, nothing for what falls from his lips next, “Please.”

“Louder.”

“Please.”

There you had it. And you can’t help but smirk, “Well, I liked that one-”

Nothing more is said - in Sukuna’s eyes, nothing more has to be said. Because he’s got his favorite lil’ human all needy and spread so shamefully in front of him, what more could he want? Sukuna grabs your ankles, pulling you to him like a ragdoll. Wasting no time before he’s splitting you apart on his rock-hard cock.

“Ya don’t hah- know how many curses I killed these past two days.” he kisses your ankles so softly. “How many I wanted to kill.”

And God, if you didn’t know any better you’d say it’s like he wanted to kill you with the way Sukuna barely even gives you time to adjust. Stuffing you full of his cock, so hot and thumping against your gummy walls in a maddening little bump! bump! bump! 

Letting out a strangled moan of, “There you go.” Brows scrunching together, looking wrecked already as he rocks his hips into yours - fast. Hard. hands coming up underneath your ass to arch you deeper into him, “Squeezin’ me so- tight. Heh, almost ”

“Oh hngh- ‘Kuna!” you moan, eyes snapping down to the way your cunt was taking him up so good. Puffy folds bulging around his massive cock, looking like they were sucking the fucking soul out of Sukuna as his massive cock disappears in and out in and out in and- “S’too- much-”

“Shut up.” he drops his head, one hand so bruising all over your body - groping your ass, your tits, playing with your throbbing clit. “Ya wanted hah- me to talk, right? And I say-” The other, squeezing your cheeks together into a pathetic lil’ pout, “Open up.”

It’s so embarrassing the way you can’t do anything but let your mouth fall open so sluttily, tongue lolling out just in time to catch the stream of saliva as Sukuna spits once. Twice. 

So filthy with the way he lets it splatter against the corner of your mouth - on purpose. 

“Wanted the king to beg, huh?” Each word is punctuated by such a harsh thrust, twitching balls stinging against your ass. ��Well you got it. H-how does it feel, huh?”

And you couldn’t speak up even if you wanted to. Sukuna’s hand too tight around your face, cock too merciless. Slamming his hips down faster and faster as he runs his mouth, like he was taking revenge for the last two days. Again. And again. And again and again-

Grinning at your delirious little gurgles, “Heh, what? Can’t talk?” 

And as if to prove his point, Sukuna loops two big arms around your waist, falling back on his knees with you sat like such a slut on his cock. Fingers lacing above your head to sink you impossibly deeper and deeper-

“Oh my god- K-” Your breath hitches as he fucks up into you so easily. Feeling more and more like some plaything with each ripple of his muscles underneath your legs. So hard you were sure it would leave marks - both confirming and condemning those rumors you knew have been flying around. His balls on your ass, thighs underneath yours, nails dragging lightly down your skin. 

Resting on your waist, holding your quivering hips still as he grunts, “Now shut up. M’gonna get my fill of the last two days.”

�� GOJO SATORU - 4 hours

To the great Gojo Satoru, this droning, 4-hour meeting with the elders was a nightmare. To you, it was exactly where you wanted him

It wasn’t often that the strongest was tense - jittery, even, like he was about to jump out of his seat at any given moment. But, really, it was almost impossible not to, considering that stern talking-to you’d given him about “no sneaking out during meetings.” Especially when you’re sat across from him looking so beautifully unbothered.

Your smile too pretty, your uniform unbuttoned just enough that it gave him such a heavenly view when you bent over just so.  

Oh, how Gojo wishes he could just-

And that was when he felt it. 

That slow, slight touch up his inner thigh - so fleeting and light that he almost thinks he’s imagining it. But, no, Gojo could never mistake any touch from you. 

It sends his entire skin burning to catch your eye ever-so-briefly from across the table. A tiny smirk gracing those pretty lips as your heel inches up, up, up-

“Gojo, do you have anything to comment on the recent increase in curse sightings?”

He stifles a groan underneath one palm, the other snaking under the table just in time to catch your ankle before you can carefully slip away. “I think…” he manages to grit out, heady gaze flitting over to yours, “-that is a question my lovely wife and I must discuss first.”

Oh? 

And then, your back is hitting a plush mattress before you know it - long before the realization hits you that this bastard just fucking teleported the two of you to your bedroom. 

“T-Toru-” you sputter out, whatever reprimand getting stuck in your throat at how desperate Gojo was acting. Your uniform buttons hitting the floor as he rips open your shirt, hands bunching up your skirt, only having enough patience to just pull aside your soaked panties, rolling your pretty clit between two fingers. Needy. “The meeting-”

“The meeting isn’t here now, right?” 

Words so hoarse it takes you a moment to recognize it as your husband’s. You were only beginning to wonder just what the fuck you’ve gotten yourself into when Gojo tugs down his pants just enough that his rock-hard cock springs free.

And oh then it makes sense. Because Gojo was so hard that it looked painful - so so red, and angry. Soaked in enough precum that it made a damp little patch on his trousers, heavy balls twitching at the mere sound of your voice.

“D-didn’t I say no sneaking out this time, Toru?” You buck into his touch, despite your words, eyes locked on the way Gojo stops toying with your clit to pool your sweet sweet juices on his fingertips.

“You did.” Raising his long, glossy fingers to those pretty pink lips, “But this is teleporting, not sneaking out, sweetheart.”

Gojo’s like a man possessed as he pops your slick-covered fingers into his mouth, eyes rolling to the back of his head at the sinful taste. 

Gasping out a wet, “Fuck the ban. Can’t go without ya. Can’t-” One hand sliding his fat tip between your swollen folds, up and down up and down - spreading them apart, just barely dipping into your sloppy entrance. “-can’t live without this pretty cunt.”

And then it’s like something snaps - Gojo’s patience, his sanity, the last of his restraint as he sinks his throbbing cock into your plushy walls. 

Pushing past that first, tight ring of muscle, and at the first feeling of your gummy walls milking his cock, he pants out a strained, “Fuck- oh fuck fuck fuck, yer the stuff of dreams, my girl. This cunt- ngh-” Pushing your legs further apart, fingers back on your clit “-would’ve fucked this cunt right in ah- front of those old toads. But, you’re lucky I’m a jealous man.”

“Oh- oh my god, s’too- too- big!”

God, you needed to spread your legs more - as if they weren’t being folded apart so easily by a delirious Gojo - maybe breathe, try to relax because Gojo was so big. And so unforgiving. 

Feeling like he was pushing all the way into your lungs as he thrusts in quick, shallow little thrusts to bully himself inside your snug cunt. Jagged - like he was fighting with some absolutely, depraved, feral part of himself. 

You can feel the way your hips are torn between pushing away and grinding back down for more more more- And Gojo can, too.

“No-” he hisses. Brows scrunching in frustration, hips becoming more and more sloppy - frenzied. “No no no no no- hold on, sweetheart. Need this, need this so bad.”

Going faster. 

Deeper. 

You sob, ankles locking around his slutty waist. “B-but Toru-” You make a feeble last attempt at regaining your sanity. Your entire body jolting as Gojo presses so hard on your clit. “-we should ngh- hurry up. W-we’ll be late to the meeting-”

But does it really matter? Gojo doesn’t think so, not when he finally bottoms out in one, rough thrust. Groaning as his sensitive balls smack your ass.

Your cunt so slutty and tight - sucking him up so good despite your cute lil’ pleas about something stupid like “responsibilities”. 

So he really can’t help the way he wastes no time before reeling his hips back - all the way till his weeping tip is just kissing your sloppy hole. Before fucking into you completely - rough. Unrestrained. The same way he imagined taking you on that meeting room table. Over and over and-

“Not yet.” he grins against your lips, “We’re not done discussing the recent increase in curse sightings.”

A/N. Gojo’s came out toooo long I don’t even like this man fr (loud incorrect buzzer).

Plagiarism not authorized.

[solxamber]

Holding Them and Not Letting Go with: Housewardens + Jamil

a little something before i go all in for the milestone events <3

Other parts: Vice Housewardens + Rollo, Neige ; First Years

Riddle Rosehearts

Riddle goes bright red the second you wrap your arms around him, stiffening in your hold like he’s forgotten how to breathe. He tries to splutter something coherent—maybe a reminder about PDA rules, maybe a request to know what’s going on—but his voice gets tangled up, and all that comes out is a confused murmur.

You don’t let go, though. Instead, you squeeze him a little tighter, prompting him to look down at you, his eyes widening with soft confusion. “Is… Is something wrong?” he stammers, gently pressing his hand to your shoulder, trying to read your face.

“Nothing’s wrong,” you answer with a warm smile. “I just love you, Riddle. That’s all.”

For a moment, he’s frozen. Just love him? He feels his heart stumble, so unfamiliar with this kind of simple, generous affection. In his childhood, hugs were formal gestures, love was measured and conditional—a reward to be earned, rarely felt freely. But here, with you… you’re holding him because you want to, with nothing expected in return.

Slowly, Riddle’s hands find their way to your back, and he pulls you close with a tenderness that surprises even him. There’s a quiet ache in his chest, an overwhelming mix of joy and disbelief, like he’s filling up with something he never knew he was missing. He clings to you, unable to speak, as though afraid that words might shatter the beautiful warmth settling between you.

You both stay like this, tangled together in silence. In this simple embrace, Riddle feels more seen, more loved, than he ever has before. It’s a feeling he wants to hold onto forever—a happiness he never thought he’d be allowed to have. For the first time, he feels completely at peace.

Leona Kingscholar

You wrap your arms around Leona, your grip firm as if you’ve decided you’re never letting go. At first, he’s as stoic as ever, arching an eyebrow in mild confusion. “Oi, herbivore…what’s this all about?” he mutters, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

But when you stay silent, he lets out a chuckle, amused by your stubborn clinginess. “If you’re hoping to trap me, you might wanna try harder than that.”

After a few more moments, his teasing fades. You’re still holding him, your head resting against his chest, heartbeat steady against his. He tries to check if youre upset and realizes then that you’re not sad, nor do you seem upset; you’re simply content. When he starts to pull back to look at you, you give him a warm smile and quietly say, “I just…love you.”

The words wash over him, soft and simple yet deeply affecting. His expression shifts, from nonchalance to something much more vulnerable. To Leona, who’s spent much of his life overshadowed, unwanted, and fighting for recognition, the idea of being someone’s first choice feels like an impossibility.

And yet, here you are, holding onto him like he’s the only thing that matters. He swallows hard, not saying anything, but the look in his eyes says it all.

He finally allows his arms to come around you, drawing you in with more intensity than he’d probably ever admit aloud. His tail snakes around your waist in a protective loop, pulling you even closer, as if anchoring himself to you. “Don’t go getting mushy on me,” he mutters, trying to sound unaffected, but his grip tightens just a bit more.

But despite his usual attitude, he’s never felt this…full. Full of pride, full of warmth, full of something he’s struggled to admit he even wanted. And it’s all because of you, the one person who looked past his rough edges and stubborn exterior.

He chuckles softly, burying his face in your shoulder, whispering, “Guess you got yourself a lion for life, herbivore.”

Azul Ashengrotto

Azul is hunched over his desk, papers and ledgers strewn around him, eyebrows furrowed as he works late into the night. He’s so engrossed that he doesn’t even notice you approaching until you gently climb onto his lap, resting yourself against him without a word. His body goes rigid in surprise, the usual control he wields over his composure completely shattered.

“Are you... feeling alright?” he asks, voice a little breathless, struggling to keep himself calm as you press your face into the crook of his neck. “Are you sick? Is there something wrong?”

You just shake your head, pulling back just enough to meet his eyes. “I just love you, Azul,” you whisper softly, a warmth in your gaze that sends his heart into overdrive. “And I’m so proud of you.”

With that, you wrap your arms around him again, holding him close, and suddenly, all the strength in him unravels. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed this—how much he craved reassurance, wanted to know he was worth it.

All his insecurities, fears, and memories of feeling out of place resurface, but they’re softened by your presence, and with just one hug, you’re able to ease away all that self-doubt he keeps buried.

Without another word, he wraps his arms tightly around you, his grip firm and filled with an unspoken desperation. He clings to you as though you’re his lifeline, as though you’re the single steady point in his otherwise frantic world, and for a few moments, he allows himself to just feel—to let go of the worries, to set aside the constant weight of expectations.

The mountain of paperwork on his desk feels meaningless compared to the comfort you bring, and all he wants is to stay like this, holding you as closely as he can, reveling in the feeling of being loved for who he is.

Kalim Al-Asim

Kalim is in his element, animatedly discussing ideas for his next big celebration. His hands gesture widely, his voice bright, detailing elaborate plans for decorations, food, entertainment—he's clearly in his happy place, and you can’t help but feel utterly captivated by his joy.

Without even thinking, you throw your arms around him, hugging him tightly mid-sentence. Kalim laughs, hugging you back with his usual enthusiasm, though a bit of surprise colors his expression when you show no signs of letting go. “Hey, is everything okay?” he asks, a smile in his voice.

You lean back just enough to grin up at him, eyes shining. “I’m perfectly okay. You just looked so radiant talking about the party—and I love you.”

He stares at you for a beat, completely dazzled, and then his face breaks into the brightest smile as he spins you around, laughter bubbling from both of you. When he finally sets you down, he pulls you close, cradling you like you’re the most precious thing in the world.

“I’m so glad you chose me,” he murmurs softly, his forehead pressing against yours. The simple joy radiates from him, a warmth and gentleness that wraps around you both. It’s a pure, unfiltered happiness that you feel too, knowing that you chose him, and he chose you.

You stay wrapped up in each other, reveling in that perfect moment, glowing with the warmth of shared love. For now, with his laughter filling the room and his arms securely around you, nothing else matters.

Jamil Viper

Jamil walks into his room, the exhaustion from managing Scarabia weighing heavily on his shoulders. But before he can even remove his shoes, you’re already there, waiting for him. Without a word, you step into his space, your arms winding around him in a gentle but firm embrace.

His body relaxes instantly, the stress of the day melting away as you run a soothing hand down his back. The warmth of your touch settles over him like a blanket, but after a few moments, he notices you haven’t let go. The silence stretches, and his concern grows.

He pulls back just slightly, searching your face with quiet intensity. “Are you okay?” His voice is soft, careful, as though bracing for something serious.

You meet his eyes with a smile, your voice tender but full of affection. “I’m fine. I just… I love you. I’m proud of everything you do. You work so hard, and I see all of it. I just wanted to be here, with you.”

A deep warmth spreads through Jamil at your words, the weight of the day almost forgotten as he pulls you back into him. This time, his hold is even tighter, more possessive, as if he’s afraid that if he lets go, this moment will vanish. His face buries itself into your neck, and he inhales deeply, breathing in the scent of you—your presence, your comfort.

For once, he allows himself to fully sink into the embrace, no longer needing to wear his usual mask.

With you, he doesn’t have to hold back his feelings. For the first time in what feels like forever, he lets his guard drop, the emotional wall he’s spent building his whole life crumbling in the warmth of your arms.

“I could stay like this forever,” he whispers, the words barely audible as he holds you close. His voice is thick with emotion, a mixture of tenderness and longing. “I never want to leave your side.”

In the comfort of your touch, Jamil realizes something. He’s never felt more at peace, more cared for, than he does in this moment. He holds you tighter, savoring the feeling of being loved so deeply, so completely. No matter what happens, he knows this is where he belongs—in your arms, and with your heart.

Vil Schoenheit

It’s been a long day, and by the time you reach Vil, all you want is to collapse into his arms. But before you can even speak, he’s already analyzing you, frowning at your slumped posture, the bags under your eyes, and the way you haven’t had time to take care of yourself. "Did you eat today? Are you even sleeping? Honestly, I can't—"

And before he can finish his lecture, you launch yourself at him, wrapping your arms tightly around his neck.

He catches you with his usual elegance, barely flinching. His lips curl in that slight, amused way, but the concern in his eyes softens as you cling to him, not letting go.

"Darling, What's wrong?" he asks, his voice taking on a gentler tone as he instinctively pulls you closer. You can feel the smoothness of his coat beneath your fingers as you bury your face in his chest.

"I missed you," you murmur. "I'm just happy to see you. I love you. And I love that you worry about me."

Vil’s chest tightens at your words, a soft, almost imperceptible sigh escaping him. He gently strokes your back, the movement slow, deliberate. “You’re something else,” he teases, his lips twitching, but there’s warmth in his voice. “You know you should’ve eaten something, and yet here you are, throwing yourself at me.”

His hands remain on you, though, pulling you closer, stroking your back with a tenderness he rarely shows in public. He may pretend to be exasperated, but the way his fingers gently brush the length of your spine betrays his true feelings. Deep down, he’s touched by how much you put up with him.

"You should be scolded for your own good," he starts, but it’s a half-hearted attempt. There’s no real bite to his words this time. Instead, he just holds you tighter, deciding that, just for tonight, you don’t need any more lectures.

“You’ll never be rid of me now,” he murmurs softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “And you’re welcome to lean on me, always.”

In the comfort of his embrace, you let go of the day’s stress, finding peace in the warmth of his arms. There’s no need for anything else, just this moment, just him.

Idia Shroud

Idia’s explaining the intricate details of a new strategy, his eyes wide with excitement. But then, suddenly, you set your controller down and throw yourself at him in an unexpected hug, effectively cutting off his speech. His hair flares a brilliant shade of pink as his brain momentarily glitches, clearly unsure of how to process what's happening.

And he is in full panic mode. His mind, always working a mile a minute, goes into overdrive trying to figure out what he did wrong, or if he's somehow messed things up.

“Uh—are you okay?” he stammers, voice filled with concern but entirely thrown off by the situation. You don’t answer with words, just a soft smile as you bury your face in his chest.

“I love you,” you whisper, “and you’re adorable.”

He’s used to being alone, to being misunderstood, to retreating into his games and hiding from the world. But here you are, in his arms, embracing him for no reason other than that you love him.

Despite his anxious thoughts swirling, he awkwardly places his arms around you, his body stiff at first, unsure of what to do. It takes him a moment before he relaxes, and as he holds you, his mind starts to clear. All those fears—of not being enough, or of being too much—slowly fade away, replaced by something that feels warm and real.

You, who listen to him ramble about things no one else would care about. You, who understand when he’s not up for going out, who accept him as he is. He feels so undeserving of someone so kind, but at the same time, something deep inside him stirs. It’s happiness. It’s love.

His arms tighten around you as he buries his face into your hair, his heart racing with a mixture of overwhelming joy and disbelief. He’ll never understand why someone like you would choose him, but as long as you’re here, he wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

Malleus Draconia

Malleus stands before you, holding the gargoyle he crafted with such care, the stone masterpiece shimmering in the soft light. "This is for you," he says softly, his voice full of pride. His eyes shine with the unspoken hope that you’ll appreciate the effort.

Before he can say anything else, you wrap your arms around him, pulling him into a warm embrace. He freezes for a moment, unsure, before his own arms encircle you with surprising gentleness. He’s always craved touch, but the depth of affection you offer fills him with awe.

The two of you stand there, the moment stretching on in comfortable silence, until Malleus pulls back slightly, his eyes searching your face. "Are you alright?" His voice holds a hint of concern.

You smile at him softly, your words simple but filled with a warmth he rarely hears: "You mean the world to me. I love you."

Malleus's breath catches in his throat, and before he can think, his arms tighten around you. He pulls you impossibly closer, as if afraid you’ll slip away. His heart races as he feels the weight of your love, the pure acceptance and tenderness you give him. The loneliness he’s lived with for so long, the misunderstandings, the isolation—none of it matters now.

He’s here with you. You see him, not as a prince or a fae of great power, but simply as Malleus. And that, more than anything, fills him with a kind of peace he’s never known.

Malleus buries his face in the crook of your neck, holding you tightly as if to make sure this moment doesn’t slip away. "I will never forget this," he murmurs softly. "I will cherish you... forever."

In your embrace, he finds something he thought was impossible—a sense of belonging. He smiles, feeling the warmth of your love seep into him, and he knows he is truly loved.

Masterlist

[drluvsick]

𝐆𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌 𝐀 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈 𝐏𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐌𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐒 — 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐬

you hand make them a replica of themselves in the form of a plushie! 📝 gn! reader. btw relationship is mutual pining. would’ve made the headers as the hashira’s plushies but… coloring would’ve been ughhh. maybe i'll post it separately!

word count : 1.6k+

𝐆𝐘𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐈 𝐇𝐈𝐌𝐄𝐉𝐈𝐌𝐀

“for me?” he’s surprised before it melts into a smile. with the plushie in hand, he rolls it around feeling the details from his hair to outfit, getting a general view of what it could look like.

“this is very kind of you. i will cherish this for the rest of my life.” he puts a hand on your head, gently petting you as you hug him in return. he’s happy at the action, his large body engulfing yours as he hugs you back. you’re relieved that he’s blind so that he’s not able to see your blush, but with your heart beating unusually fast and loud, you’re sure he can hear it and deduct it himself.

gyomei thinks that perhaps you may hear his heart beating abnormally as well in the moment.

𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐍 𝐔𝐙𝐔𝐈

he thinks it’s perfect. would’ve added more glitter, but then he thinks that maybe it’s better off that the entire plush isn’t covered in the tiny monsters. (he held the gift for a few seconds and then BAM, glitter EVERYWHERE on his hand)

he loves how flashy the doll is. it seems to shine and sparkle even in the dark of night.

he obviously treats you to a shopping spree or restaurant “date” with him after (after both of you furiously wash your hands from all that glitter).

absolutely takes mini tengen with him when he’s with you. you both brainstorm ideas for him and his little comrade to match outfits (off to the fabric store!).

this small gift secretly makes him scream inside. when he gets home from the interaction, you BET he’s going to be humming the entire rest of the day, unable to sleep because his thoughts are all filled of you.

𝐆𝐈𝐘𝐔 𝐓𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐎𝐊𝐀

so surprised that you would give him a gift. why would you want to waste so much time in giving him something? something you handmade, to be precise? he asks this, and when you reply saying that you just wanted to, he swears he fell harder than before.

he’s beyond happy, though. you get the grace of seeing him unconsciously smile at the present as he notices the attention to details. how much time did you spend looking at him to remember all these features? the thought makes him a little lightheaded.

you’re too sweet to him, he thinks. now whenever he’s feeling down and you’re gone, he holds the little plush to his heart for a small sense of comfort that helps him to live another day. and he doesn’t dare take it on missions or anywhere, really. he’s too afraid to lose or destroy something you worked so hard on to make for him.

god forbid you tell shinobu one day that you made a plushie for giyuu. she’d never let him get away without teasing him for actually getting someone to like him well enough to make something for him.

will subconsciously hide behind you when she does start with the teasing as you softly grasp his haori sleeve, making his heart flutter tenfold at the small action.

𝐎𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐈 𝐈𝐆𝐔𝐑𝐎

(you’ve seen his face without the bandages)

when you hand it to him, he’s on cloud nine. you even made kaburamaru! the snake seems to appreciate it, happily leaving obanai’s shoulders to rest on yours instead.

he practically begs to take you somewhere as thanks and to spoil you, because this gift from you has his face heating up and he wants to draw your attention away from it. and when you do agree (albeit reluctantly), his snake looks at him with a “lmao dude you’re freakin’ whipped”.

while walking, he notices that the bandages on the plushie are removable, asking you if it’s intentional.

“see for yourself,” were your words as he reluctantly removed them. he saw the bottom of the face littered in scars almost identical to the ones underneath his own bandages, with the words on the side of the bandages covering the doll’s face reading: “you’re beautiful, scars or no scars. and from what you’ve shown me, it’s the same on the inside.”

he swears that he could just faint right there and then.

𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐌𝐈 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐙𝐔𝐆𝐀𝐖𝐀

“tsk, what is this?”

you smile as he inspects it; watching his lips twitch, fighting the urge to curve upwards. “it’s a plushie of yourself.”

“you made this? for me?”

“yep!”

he looks anywhere but at you, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand as warmth bristles through; his ears turning red as he says, “it’s nice, i guess.”

“just ‘nice’?” you reply back, teasing his quick response. “maybe i should’ve just made a plushie for someone else, liiike… giyuu.” you grin, aware of the facade he’s pulling.

“don’t you dare. it’s amazing, i love it.” he spits out gruffly, but wholly truthful. “…thank you.” he thinly smiles, if not for you observing him you wouldn’t have noticed it.

“aww, you’re welcome!” you snicker.

he turns his head the other way, his face beginning to feel uncomfortably hot.

𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐎𝐊𝐔 𝐊𝐘𝐎𝐉𝐔𝐑𝐎

his plushie literally radiates sunshine, just like the original himself. when he receives it, he shouts the loudest thank you you’re ever going to hear.

talks about all the details and how much it embodies him. he adores it. then he asks if you could make one of you, so that they could be a pair together (AHHHH).

hugs you so tightly that you start to sweat from his body heat. but he means well!

eats with the plushie when you’re not with him. it reminds him of who made it and it just makes his food taste 100x better.

probably keeps it in his pocket and shows it to people like, “look what (y/n) made for me! :D” so that now so many people know who you are.

and when you make that replica of yourself for him? he just can’t get enough of how adorable it is. keeps it with him in his pocket too, it makes his day so much better whenever he sees it because it just radiates you.

𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐒𝐔𝐑𝐈 𝐊𝐀𝐍𝐑𝐎𝐉𝐈

squeals, she’s just so so so happy. her face turns this cute red and all she can do is just smother you with a hug because of her overwhelming excitement.

she dances around with it at first, screaming about how cute you made it and absolutely loving how you designed the doll to be just like her. you got her into the whole craft business, her new determination to make a doll of you to present to you! she hugs you one last time before rushing off with her new plan.

she quickly realizes that if she gives… whatever she made in her first attempt to you, it’d come across as an insult. so she spends countless days and nights (in between missions, of course) to perfect her gift to her beloved. and when she finally does…

…she gives it to you like a child showing their parent their artwork, except mitsuri’s present was better than just any children’s project.

she’s so giddy when you praise her for it, finally able to collapse from exhaustion when she gets home. but when you kiss her on the forehead, she knows that there’s no way she’s going to get a blink of sleep, especially not when that moment keeps replaying in her head throughout the rest of the day.

𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐎𝐁𝐔 𝐊𝐎𝐂𝐇𝐎

she’s calm and collected on the outside, having an emotional breakdown and desperately trying not to just tackle you and hug and kill you with kisses on the inside. her logical mind prevails unfortunately.

she dearly thanks you for the gift with the sweetest soft tint of pink on her face.

she takes it for walks around her estate, visiting patients, and when she needs to calm down. it just takes a few minutes with the plushie in her hands for her to think of you to become more relaxed.

she doesn’t take it in her lab, though— worried that something might happen to it. so instead, during those periods, she keeps it in her room in a secret place that only she knows about, because she’s a little paranoid that something may end up destroying it with all the people in the estate and all.

the next time you’re out on a mission? expect a parcel from her delivered by crow with your favorite (non-perishable) food, some trinkets and items you might enjoy, and a note that vaguely suggests her true feelings towards you.

she secretly prays that you’ll take the hint and ask her out.

𝐌𝐔𝐈𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐎 𝐓𝐎𝐊𝐈𝐓𝐎

(reader is either same age or muichiro is aged up)

despite his flawed memory/memorizing issues, muichiro does a huge effort to not forget the plushie you gave him.

he’ll write himself notes, bring it with him everywhere, and he finds himself replaying moments with you and daydreaming in his mind more often about you with the doll around.

definitely falls asleep with it gently in his arms, held close to his chest. it helps him fall asleep faster and more comfortably knowing that something resembling your presence was so nearby.

his crow’s definitely jealous by this btw. but she respects you both so she doesn’t lay a claw on the plushie.

one day when you find him hugging the plushie close to him as he was walking around his estate, you decide to go up to him and hug him from behind. let’s just say, he got a lot more clingy after that, hugging the gift at night tighter to try to replicate that warm feeling your hugs always gave him.

overluvsick | please do not repost, translate, and/or claim my works as yours !!

[sommerbueckers]

BABE OKAY I HAVE THE BEST IDEAAAA

okay so paige and r go out on like a really cute date and then at the end paige sets up the camera to propose but when she does r pulls out a ring too and they both just start DYINGGGG and btw i literally love you so freaking much

𝟐𝟒𝐊 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜

___________________________________________________________

✰ ❝𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐤𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐢𝐫❞

✰ 𝐰𝐜 :: 𝟏.𝟕𝐤

___________________________________________________________

PAIGE WAS DELICATELY HOLDING your heels in her hand, careful not to hit them against each other and scuff the ends. The two of you were strolling along an empty beach in Kill Devil Hills, the sun disappearing over the horizon as the hours ticked by. Your girlfriend had fallen in step with you, her hair blowing to the side as the sun casted a golden glow on her tanned cheek.

"You look so pretty baby," you murmured smoothly, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

A shy smile crossed her face, and she turned away for a brief moment to release a breathless laugh. You loved how nervous she got whenever you complimented her.

"So do you mama," she said, one of her arms breaking free from the hold she had on your shoes to snake across your shoulders. She pulled you closer to her, drawing a giggle out of you as she placed a kiss on top of your head. "Lemme take a pic of you."

Paige fumbled in her pocket for her phone, feeling her hand brush over the tiny velvet box that she'd been waiting all night to bring out. She couldn't decide on the write time, she wanted you to be completely caught off guard. But you were making it harder than ever, you hadn't taken your eyes off of her the entire time.

"Is the lighting good? Make sure you can actually see my face," you told her, glancing back at the sun and slightly shifting in the other direction. "Stand over there so you can see me better."

The blonde shook her head, "How 'bout you turn around and i'll get you looking that way."

"Oh, good idea!" you grinned, twisting around in the sand. You were silent for a moment, giving her a chance to take a few photos before you glanced around. "Should I change my pose?" you asked.

"Turn around!" she laughed, her other hand quickly retreating from her pocket. You were making this harder than it needed to be without even knowing it. You had your own thoughts running wildly through your head. Your curls were up in a bun on the top of your head, and concealed within the bun was a ring tied to a string.

You had no where else to put it.

You had everything all planned out; you'd start by telling her how much she means to you, how the thought of settling down used to make you nervous but now you could do it with confidence because that's how secure she makes you feel. You'd tell her how proud you are of her basketball career and that she stayed true to herself, to God, and to you. You'd thank her for the patience she had with you and your journey through medical school. All the late nights she had stayed up with you to help you study for exams even though she had practice early the next morning. You'd express to her how you had never felt more certain of a decision than you did right now, and that's when you'd do it. You'd take your hair down as majestically as you could muster, and then you'd get down on one knee and ask her, the love of your life, to marry you.

You spun around on your heel, "Okay, let me see them now."

You looped your arm with hers as she swiped through the pictures, favoriting a few as she went by. When she got to the last one, she smiled and shut her phone off, staring down at you. It was the perfect moment, and you would've taken advantage of it if Paige hadn't decided to interrupt it instead.

"You wanna do a fit check?"

"Aren't you supposed to do that before you go out?" you quirked your eyebrow, but the blonde wasn't listening. She was already heading away from the water and toward a couple of rocks that she could set the phone up on.

"You go first." She clicked the tiny pink button and backed up to you.

"How long is this?"

"I put it on ten minutes," she laughed, gently nudging your shoulder with her hand. "Now go."

"Okay guys, this dress is from Hello Molly, all my jewelry and stuff I got from a little shop here, and my heels," you pointed to the shoes that Paige still had dangling from her fingers, "are Christian Louboutin."

She kissed your temple briefly.

"Aight so the shirt and the shorts is a gucci set 'cus y'know I keep it fresh, the shoes are from StockX, and.....the ring is from Verragio."

You stared at the camera for a moment with a smile before turning to look at her outfit. You remembered the day you had picked out the set for her, casually pointing out how you liked the patterns on it as you walked past. Next thing you knew, she was at the register with it in her hands. But there was something else you noticed about her, about her hands; she wasn't wearing any rings.

"What ring?" you frowned.

She reached into her pocket, taking a deep breath as she pulled it out. "This one."

Your eyes widened as she held up the box, her hands trembling slightly. Paige's eyes searched yours, her expression a mix of hope and nervousness. She didn't wait for you to say anything, she was afraid that if she didn't get the words out immediately then she would never have the chance to.

"For as long as i've known you, you've always been the one to make me feel understood. You know exactly what to say after i've had a bad, you never complain about having to massage my back, or my legs, or my feet," she flashed that familiar gummy smile. "You always stay late with me at the gym when I wanna get in some extra reps, you offer to grab my rebounds and play one on one with me even though you don't know a thing about basketball. All that matters to you is that i'm happy.

I love how you never let us go to bed angry at each other, how all your apologies always start off with you offering me food. I love how you anytime you try a new recipe or make a new sauce, you always want me to test it — even though you know it's already perfect. You're always doin' spontaneous things like cutting your hair or taking random trips. I love how determined you are — like you're the only person I know who has the mental capacity to go through medical school. You're so strong willed and independent, and those are things that i've always admired about you. Those are the traits I want you to give our children...someday...in the far future.

You know it's gonna pay off in the long run, and I love how you focus on that instead of how stressful the work is that you're putting in now. But most importantly, I love the way you love me. You make me feel heard, you make me feel seen. And if the world were to end right now, I'd spend my last breath telling you how much I love you. I want you to know that I see you too. I want you to make me the happiest woman in the world and marry me."

It was then that Paige got down on one knee, opening the velvet box and revealing the most gorgeous ring you had ever seen. A white gold, square diamond ring, the kind you had always talked about wanting when you'd go on your tangents about getting engaged. Paige had been listening the entire time, she had heard you. She was staring up at you with red-brimmed eyes, she had started crying. You were crying too, you weren't sure when you had started.

"Baby," she whispered, voice trembling. "Will you marry me?"

Your hand moved to cover your mouth, to cover the choked up cry that you had let out. You had been planning to propose, you hadn't planned on being proposed to. You had come to realize that it was an entirely different set of emotions to prepare for. You fanned for face to dry the tears, laughing and rolling your eyes at her.

"On one condition," you say, reaching up to pull your hair tie from your bun. Shaking your hair loose, you catch the string before it falls to the sand. You hold it up to her, her eyebrows furrowing. It caught the light, a simple yet elegant band that perfectly captured her style—understated, but undeniably beautiful. "You marry me first."

She stood abruptly, glancing back and forth between you and the ring. A breathless laugh escaped her, "You're unbelievable."

You threw your head back and laughed as well, "Dude! I had it all planned out and you beat me to you!"

"You told me you wanted me to propose to you! Forgive me for not expecting you to pull a ring our your hair!"

The two of you were smiling uncontrollably, your cheeks beginning to hurt. Paige's hands were in yours, her lip between her teeth.

"What do you say?" you beamed.

"Yes! Wha— yes!"

You slipped the ring onto her shaking fingers, and she did the same to yours. You squealed at the way the diamonds caught the light, sparkling with a brilliance that seemed to echo the joy in your heart. Paige laughed, the sound full of relief and happiness, her own eyes transfixed by the ring now resting on her hand.

Paige’s smile widened, and she pulled you into a tight embrace, the warmth of her body the only thing keeping you from practically floating with excitement. You were both trembling, hearts racing in sync, as if they too were celebrating this perfect moment.

When she finally pulled back, her eyes were misty with happy tears. "I love you so much," she said, her voice catching.

She leaned in, pressing her forehead to yours, and you could feel the cool metal of the rings against your skin. The world around you seemed to slow, the moment stretching out, filled with nothing but the two of you and the love that connected your hearts.

"I love you more."

___________________________________________________________

[kisskawa]

— free will

“babe!” it’s closer to a shout than a whisper, no matter how oikawa tries to hush his voice, and it makes you turn away, face buried firmly in your pillow.

“no wait, come back,” oikawa’s arm snakes around your waist, pulling you back into his embrace. his other hand reaches over to tug at the end of the curtains and you groan unhappily at the disruption to your sleep.

you peak open an eye, lips pushed up in a pout and glance at the view of a cloud covered sun, streaks of pink and blue painting the sky as the world came to life. your frown deepens, staring expectantly at oikawa with bleary eyes.

you don’t get the explanation you want. instead, oikawa softens under your gaze, regardless of the less than happy look you’re shooting him. “good morning,” he grins, voice sticky with fondness and his hand moves to hold your cheek.

you hum in return, eyes fluttering closed once more under the warmth of oikawa’s touch.

“wait, baby, wake up,” oikawa shakes you gently, unrelenting on his hold, “i had something to ask.”

you palm at your eye slowly, murmuring a hazy “g’mornin’ ‘ru,” still a little dazed so early in the day. oikawa beams at the nickname, he knows you’re not a morning person.

“do you believe in soulmates?” the question is soft and sweet, spilling forth as a remnant of a horrifically tender dream.

you blink at him.

“y’know,” oikawa prompts, “people destined for each other?” because i think we are.

you don’t give him time to confess, single syllable of “no” cutting through the air, skewing the gentle atmosphere.

oikawa feels his heart stutter in his chest, next beat ever so slightly harder than the last. he’d never entertained the idea that your relationship was unbalanced. and yet, it makes his body freeze, arms suddenly tight around you, fear drawing you in, hoping you’d stay by his side.

you regain oikawa’s attention with a hand over his own, warmth of your cheek searing into his skin.

“i think we chose each other,” you explain, voice gentle and low, words only for tooru, “i always knew that you went to seijoh and you like volleyball, but i had to learn that you never drink enough water unless someone reminds you and that it took you all three years there to figure out the school layout. i also learnt that you can point out so many constellations at night because you really liked aliens as a kid. and that you put way too much sugar in your coffee. and all of that - every last bit - made me choose you.” you lean further into tooru’s hand, the meat of your cheek squishing up to your eye, “whether or not soulmates exist, i’d choose you in every lifetime.”

tooru feels his heart stutter in his chest, next beat ever so slightly lighter than the last. he’d never entertained the idea that your relationship was unbalanced, the very thought laughable as love fills the room around you, flowing through your veins. it makes his body relax, arms suddenly tight around you, only ever wanting you to be closer, closer, closer. because tooru chose you too, he always would.

[whitedarkmoonflower]

Broken Bonds

Fictober Day 1

Pairing: Sihtric x reader (female)

Authors note: the hardest part appeared to be keeping the word count under 1K and with this I miserably failed (as with some other stories too) but as much as I tried I can't find a way to cut it down so we are starting this fictober with almost a full fledged fic

Warnings: angst, betrayal, reconciliation sex, SMUT 18+

Word Count: 1,8 K

Please remember that comments and reblogs keep us writers motivated.

“Yield to me,” Sihtric demands, the tip of his sword inches from Uhtred’s throat.

Your eyes lock onto Finan and Osferth, hand gripping the hilt of your sword, yet neither of you moves. He was once a friend, a brother, even something more to some of you. Now he’s a traitor. But no one dares to draw their sword to confront him—everyone’s gaze shifting to Uhtred.

The silence is suffocating, as if the very air has thickened into water. Each breath is a struggle. Anger and resentment churn within you, like a storm waiting to break, coiling tighter around your heart like a venomous snake until it threatens to stop beating altogether.

Uhtred’s sword pokes the ground, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. They embrace. 

You see Osferth's eyes light up, a flicker of realisation crossing his face. He’s the first to shout, “They played us! Finan, they played us!”

His words echo in your ears as you notice the smile spreading across Finan’s lips. A ripple of excitement stirs among the men, their hushed murmurs swelling into a cheer. For them, the world has just snapped back into place, the chaos neatly resolved. But for you? For you, the real chaos has just begun.

Uhtred continues to press Sihtric with questions about the camp and the Danes. Though Sihtric responds, his gaze drifts across the gathered men, as if searching for someone. You can't bear it any longer. You need to get away. But just as you’re about to turn, your eyes lock with his.

A hesitant smile tugs at his lips as he watches you. Is it pride for a job well done that makes his eyes shine? Doesn’t he understand what he’s done? He’s broken it—shattered it, as fragile as it was—your friendship, your trust, your love.

Tears well up in the corners of your eyes. You can’t let him see them. Before the first one falls, you turn and run, as if a wild beast is on your heels. You push forward, deeper into the woods, until the dizziness rising in your chest forces you to stop.

Your back slams against the rough bark of a tree, your breaths ragged. Gripping the hilt of your dagger, you pull it free and press it tightly to your chest, your heart pounding beneath it. You don’t need to look. You already know whose hurried footsteps are closing in on your hiding place.

You wait, the careful shuffle of footsteps mixing with the thunder of your racing heartbeat, both echoing in your ears. You close your eyes for just a moment, and when they reopen, you find yourself staring into two deep pools of blue and brown. Without thinking, your arm shoots out, pressing the dagger against Sihtric’s throat.

He doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even try to avoid it.

“Do it,” he whispers, his breath forming small clouds of mist in the crisp morning air, hovering between you like a fragile veil. “I know I deserve it.”

“Traitor,” you hiss through clenched teeth, your voice cold enough to make him wince.

“Do it,” he repeats, his voice growing louder, more desperate. “I’d rather die by your hand than live another moment with that cold emptiness in your eyes.”

You stand there, weapon in hand, trembling. His words pierce through the walls of anger you’ve built around your heart, the resolve you thought was unshakable now beginning to crack. His eyes, once filled with pride and defiance, now plead for release, for something more than this unbearable silence between you.

Your grip tightens on the hilt, your knuckles white, pressing the blade harder against his skin. A small cut forms, and a few drops of blood slide down the blade, like crimson tears but the weight of the blade feels heavier than ever. 

You want to hate him. You want to believe that the cold fury in your chest will give you the strength to strike. But his broken voice, the rawness in his plea, has chipped away at the resolve you clung to so fiercely.

“You think it’s that simple?” you whisper, voice trembling, not with anger but with something far more dangerous—pain. “You think death will absolve you of everything? You’re still a traitor, Sihtric. To me, you’ll always be a traitor. You left me, without a word, without anything. You betrayed my trust, my loyalty, my lo...,” your voice trails off.

He says nothing, his gaze locked on yours, waiting. His chest rises and falls with heavy, shallow breaths, but the anguish in his eyes only deepens. The fire of defiance that had once sparked between you is now replaced by a painful understanding—an understanding that neither of you can outrun the choices that brought you to this moment.

The blade lowers, your arm trembling from the effort of holding it aloft. You can’t do it. The anger dissipates, leaving only a hollow ache in its place.

“I hate you for what you did,” you say, voice barely a whisper, your words a confession more than an accusation. “But I can’t hate you enough to kill you.”

Sihtric’s eyes flicker with something—relief, guilt, perhaps even hope—but he remains still, waiting for your next move. You take a shaky step back, releasing the blade from your grip. It falls to the ground with a dull thud, a weight lifted from your hands but not from your heart.

Sihtric moves toward you, cautiously, as if fearing you might change your mind. His hands reach out but stop short of touching you. His breath is still ragged, and you can see the struggle in his face as he searches for the right words. But there are none. Not now.

“I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to earn your forgiveness,” he finally says, his voice hoarse. “If you’ll let me.”

You don’t respond. Not with words. Instead, you close the distance between you, leaning your forehead against his chest, letting yourself feel the warmth of his body, the rhythm of his heart against yours. 

His rough, calloused fingers cup your jaw, and before you can protest, his lips crash against yours. The whimper you’ve been holding back escapes, muffled by the force of his kiss. It’s a kiss filled with anger, desperation, and regret—a kiss that takes rather than asks. 

Your hands find their way into his thick, curly hair, fingers tangling in the strands. Your nails scrape against his scalp as you tug hard, wanting to hurt him, wanting him to feel even a fraction of the pain he’s caused you. Sihtric groans into your mouth, his kiss raw, demanding, laced with unspoken apologies.

In a swift, rough motion, he spins you around, pressing you hard against the coarse bark of the tree. The wood bites into your skin, but you barely register the discomfort, your senses overloaded by the heat of his body and the fevered trail of kisses he leaves along your neck. His breath comes in ragged pants, brushing hot against your ear as his fingers fumble with the laces of your breeches, his frustration palpable.

“There hasn’t been a single night I didn’t dream of you,” he hisses into your ear, his voice thick with longing and regret.

Before you can respond, your breeches are yanked down in one swift motion. The cold air stings your exposed skin as Sihtric’s hand slips between your thighs, his fingers finding your wetness with a practised ease. A gasp escapes your lips when his fingertips brush against your pearl, sending an electric shock through your body. The fury that coils within you clashes with the desire that sparks to life under his touch.

“Sihtric,” you breathe, a warning and a plea all in one.

“I need you,” he rasps, his body pressing firmly against yours, his desire undeniable. “Just as I know you need me.” The sound of his belt unbuckling cuts through the stillness of the morning, sharp and ominous. Anger still simmers in your chest, the betrayal still fresh, but your body betrays you, responding to him in ways you can’t control.

Despite the rage that still burns beneath your skin, a moan escapes you, involuntary, as you instinctively push back against him the moment you feel the hard length of him pressing at your entrance. 

He groans, the sound low and guttural, and then he’s inside you, thrusting hard and without warning. His grip on your hips is bruising, fingers digging into your flesh as he sets a brutal, unrelenting pace. Each thrust stretches you in a way that only he can, a mixture of pleasure and pain that blurs the line between anger and desire.

His fingers find your pearl again, brushing against it in a way that makes your breath hitch, your body betraying you once more. You’re torn between the fury still simmering in your chest and the raw, undeniable need that pulses between your thighs.

“You are everything to me and I'll never lie to you again,” he pants into your ear, his voice breaking, his thrusts growing more erratic, more desperate. His hips slam into you fiercely, the sound of skin meeting skin echoing in the cold morning air. The flames of anger and hurt that once consumed you begin to flicker out, dimming in the face of the growing hum of desire coursing through your veins.

Your anger falters, slipping away as you release it with a loud moan, Sihtric’s name falling from your lips, soft and breathless, carried away by the cold morning air. 

“I’ll keep pleading for your forgiveness, as long and as often as it takes, until you’re ready to grant it—until you trust me again,” he begs, his voice tight with strain, growing more desperate with each word.

“Please… forgive me,” his breath, ragged and uneven, fans hot against your neck as he shudders, strangled moans roll over his lips as he spills his seed deep inside you.

For a moment, the world stands still, the heat of his body pressed against yours. He pulls back slightly, his forehead resting against the back of your neck, his breath slowly evening out. You feel the trembling in his limbs, the way his body still clings to yours as if afraid to let go.

“I never wanted to hurt you,” he whispers, the vulnerability in his voice so raw it makes your chest ache. “But I did... and I’ll never forgive myself for it.”

You close your eyes, trying to make sense of the tangled mess of emotions swirling inside you. The anger isn’t gone, not completely, but it’s softened by the realisation that he’s just as broken as you are. And in that moment, you realise that forgiveness isn’t something you can give freely—it’s something you both have to earn.

With a shaky breath, you turn around to face him, your hands resting gently on his chest. His eyes meet yours, and you see the guilt, the sorrow, the regret etched into his features. There’s no denying the pain he’s caused, but there’s also no denying the depth of his remorse.

“I’m not sure I can forgive you,” you whisper, your voice steady despite the storm inside you. “Not yet.”

Sihtric’s gaze drops to the ground, but you lift his chin gently, forcing him to meet your eyes.

“But I’m willing to try,” you add softly, the weight of those words hanging between you.

A flicker of hope passes through his eyes, and though it’s fragile, it’s enough.

[lululandd]

corrupted;

pairing: simon ‘ghost’ riley x f!reader

word count: 1.3k+

warnings: possessive behaviour, angst

note: :) (also on AO3)

summary: the first time he came home with his mask on, you didn’t let him in.

you weren’t even convinced it was simon at first. the man held himself too differently; he stood up too straight, his shoulders too square, there’s too much confidence in his stance as he stared you down.

the mask makes you feel uneasy, it makes it seem like he’s looking down at you with perpetual hostility in his eyes. normally you’d look up, but right now you opt to just glance up at him from time to time. but you do see from the corner of your eyes that he tilts his head at you, his gloved fingers tapping a rhythmic beat on the door jamb. 

“it’s me, love.” he assured you in his gruff and gravelly voice, recognising it as the one he reserves for drunks at the pub.

“can you take the mask off then? please?”

he sucked a breath, both his hands now have come up on either side of the door. “just want to shower and go the fuck to bed, love. don’t be difficult.”

you stood your ground, eyeing him coldly. “and how difficult would it be to take the mask off before coming inside?”

his dark eyes bore into yours, brows drawing close together. “christ fuck, woman.” he finally says, bitterness bleeds through his muffled voice as he yanks the thing off his head, “happy?”

no.

finally seeing him, you notice the deepening lines on the corner of his eyes, and the bags underneath it worse than ever before. his lips twitch as if to say something as you open the door wider for him to finally pass you.

simon trudged his boots off by the shoerack before heading upstairs, you hear your shared bathroom door slamming shut as you still stood by the front door. you almost wanted to cry, he didn’t even acknowledge your presence. you know simon’s job tires him out, he’s quieter and more reserved the first few days back; but today he gives you no hellos, no instructions to make tea, no offhand comment about the squeaking door that he complains about.

only silence greets you.

~

“come here.”

you barely turn from your little console, “no you come here.” giggling as you tried to find a safe spot so you could look at him and away from the game.

the bed dips heavily, you were tugged towards a warm chest as an arm snakes tightly around your waist and another slides up your collarbone, his finger absentmindedly tracing patterns on the side of your neck. he leaned his head on yours, pulling you flush against him; your back bumped against his solid chest as he leaves soft kisses on the top of your head.

it’s weirdly….foreign.

simon’s love language had always been physical touch; whether it’s a hand on your shoulder, his feet next to yours, knees touching on a hot day, but at this exact moment you can’t fathom why his touches felt so unfamiliar.

his kisses move downward, more insistent, lips lingering longer than it should. intoxicating but peculiar at the same time. 

“stop playing.” he warned, his hand getting worryingly close to squeezing your neck.

his hold had never felt so constricting, as if he fears you’d disappear if he loosens his grip on you. his mouth had found its way to your neck, sucking and biting until he’s had enough and places a large hand on the screen, forcing you to set the thing down.

“i said stop.” he ordered, voice worryingly close to a growl.

leaning further into him, he tightened his embrace on you. seeing you’re no longer distracted, he went back to marking your neck, lapping at the bruising skin. 

you sighed into his touches and kisses, fully surrendering in his hold. as he turned your head with a hand on your jaw, you could now see every scar, every freckle, every little imperfection on his face, and it was harder to form thoughts when he’s so close like this. “sim–”

his lips press into yours; harsh and domineering, as he pushed you into the mattress, making you gasp. taking your open mouth as an invitation, his tongue greedily swipes across yours.

the kiss ended as quickly as it started, with simon pulling back and opting to have a go at leaving marks on your neck again. he left a particularly hard suck by your pulse point, making you let out a nervous giggle, “stop, simon. i don’t think i have turtlenecks that high.”

“then let them see.” he breathed hotly against another part of your neck he hasn’t left kisses on. it made you shudder, no one had ever made you feel so desired before.

wrapping your arms around him, you smiled weakly, “i love you, simon. you don’t have to worry about other people.”

hearing you say that made him finally pause his persistent abuse on your skin.

“say it again.” 

you couldn’t even look into his eyes, your cheeks burn from the constant attention he’s giving you right now. but even that couldn’t dissuade the little voice in your head that's trying to tell you this isn't right, this doesn’t feel like him; but you said it aloud anyway, “i love you.”

“again,” he breathed, his gaze flickering from your eyes to your lips, “i want to hear you mean it.”

“i love you, simon.”

you could feel his smirk as he peppered kisses on your skin.

~

“simon you can’t be serious.” you chided him coldly, he has been wearing a face mask at home more often now. this time for a whole week straight. neither of you are even ill.

you could see something ominous and unpleasant underneath his glare as he turned his head towards you. “let me be, love.” he doesn’t even call you by your name anymore, as if he had completely forgotten what it is.

you groaned, “ugh, fine.” 

cutting the distance between you in record time, simon seized your wrist and held it up by his face, making you tumble into him. “what–”

“i love you.” he stated.

at this exact moment you thought him insane. you looked up at him, confusion and exasperation clear on your face.

“i'm sorry?” was the only thing you could think to say right now.

never have you thought simon was intimidating until this very moment. his eyebrows furrowed so deeply it made his pupils seem darker than it should. “say it back.”

you have no intention of saying it back.

his grip on your wrist had start to hurt at this point, and trying to wriggle away only made him hold it even tighter. the little yelp of pain you let out didn’t faze him even the slightest.

you only now realised this is not simon. in your mild attempt to break free from his grip you couldn’t help but to acknowledge his growing desire that’s been insistently prodding your front.

alarmed, you couldn’t help but to try and wriggle away harder. his insistent hand on the small of your back doesn’t help with the situation, either.

when he finally lets go of your wrist, opting to hold the back of your neck to hold you closer to him, you had already given up resisting. 

at that moment you felt as if you’re something of him to merely possess, and nothing else. tears escaped you, at first a little before cascading fully into sobs and whimpers. you don’t feel the love and warmth simon had, right now his grasp felt stiff and constricting.

“you’re not him, are you?” you hiccuped into his chest.

hearing no answer, you look up to see a man you loved, with a dangerous glint you don’t recognise in his eyes.

“no, you're not,” you answered your own question and his hold breaks. you let out a shuddered breath as you stare blankly at nothing, tears blurring your vision. “is he still in there?”

only silence answers.

[killergee]

Omggg we need more of the kendo player! Hoshina x Archer! Reader 🛐🛐🛐 I beg of you 😭😭

AHHHH, IM SO GLAD YOU LIKE IT! ❤️💗💖🩷❣️

I feel like everything's been said and done, so I don't think I'm gonna continue the story. BUT here's a short little one-shot to feed your desires.

Kind of part 1

Synopsis: Hoshina tries to teach you kendo but things don't go as expected. Or actually, it goes exactly as expected.

‐---------------------------------------------------------------------

Despite the tournaments being over, you and Hoshina kept the unspoken promise of staying late after school to practice. Though, "practices" are now filled more with talking than the cracks of swords or the twang of bowstrings—but that's between the two of you. Somehow, the talking then turned into Hoshina making you try kendo.

You don't know if you agreed because you were bored or because Hoshina brainwashed you enough into thinking kendo was kind of cool. Or maybe it was because of the sparkle in his eyes and the nervousness in his voice when he earnestly asked you that you couldn't refuse...

No.

It was definitely the brainwashing.

So, for the last couple of days, Hoshina taught you the more fun aspects of Kendo. The swinging of the sword, how to parry, he spoke so excitedly when teaching you.

However, somewhere along the lines, he started to move closer to you. Wrapping his arms around yours to help you hold your sword, whispering instructions into your ears, holding your hips to stop them from moving too much. You didn't know if he was doing it on purpose or not. But he seemed oblivious to the way you would cup your ear or grip your sword harder when he turned away.

Before you acted like you'd rather die than ever learn kendo. So Hoshina was excited to see you actually put effort into his teachings. Blinded by your progress, he tries to put kendo armour on you.

"Now don't get too excited, I'm not putting all of that on." You say, drawing the line at putting on the gross and probably sweaty armour.

Hoshina raises his eyebrows in surprise. "Huh? I thought ya were startin' to like it?"

"I don't particularly like it or dislike it."

"Then why are ya putting up with the lessons then?"

"No reason at all." You respond too quickly, cheeks puffing out in embarassment feigned annoyance.

Seeing how you refuse to look into his eyes and how your body seems to be closing in on itself, hoshina eyes widen at the realization. A small smile grows on his face as he approaches you.

"Oh? Is there something else ya like about these lessons?" He asks as he comes to stand face to face with you. Before you can say anything, he moves to stand behind you, his hands on your hips as he towers over you from behind.

"Maybe you're putting up with the sport you oh so despise because ya like how I touch you." He drawls out, the lightness in his voice replaced with something much deeper and intimate.

He leans his head down over your shoulder, slowly bringing one of his hands up to tuck your hair behind your ear. Lips ghosting over the shell of your ear, you let out a shaky breath.

"Or is it because of this?" He whispers, and the puffs of air tickle your ear.

He holds back a chuckle as he feels you sway a little—becoming almost putty in his hands. Your hands that were holding the wooden sword in position are now lowered with the tip of the sword touching the ground. The strength and haughtiness you usually exude is no longer to be found.

"I should've known." He reaches forward, his hands slowly snaking down your arms, his front pressing against your back. Wrapping his arms you, every inch of your body felt like it was being encompassed by his. He was overloading all your senses.

The wake of his touches leaves goosebumps on your skin. The subtle smell of his cologne invades your lungs. You try with all your strength to keep your eyes open and forward as his entirety envelops you.

But the moment you falter and begin to lean in, he takes the sword out of your hands. "You'd never want to learn such an ungraceful sport." He chuckles slyly, walking away from you towards the sword stand.

Red from head to toe, you sputter "I-I don't mind," as your hands feel especially empty now.

"Now, now, don't worry y/n," he lilts. "We can still have fun without the swords." His eyes hold a dangerous but hypnotizing shine. "Why, the fun's just getting started."

[jenosbliss]

hiii can i request 3 +19 renjun fluff smut? thank u hope ur having a good day/night!

— two best friends in a room they might kiss or more…

pairing. afab!reader x bff!renjun | genre. smut | wc. 700+ | mdni!

warnings. dom!renjun, sub!reader, riding sex, protected sex (not mentioned but as we know it’s safer *_*), creampie, slight nipple play, overstimulation. let me know if i missed something

a/n. this one’s pretty short but it can be extended i guess? anyways i miss renjun :((

Renjun's living room was resonating with the sounds of skin slapping, moaning and heavy breathing.

He was sitting on the couch, his head thrown back and eyes tightly shut as he groaned at the feeling of your walls taking him in. His left hand had slipped under your t-shirt as his fingers pinched your nipple drawing out a moan from you.

You were bouncing on his cock as his right hand supported your hips to continue the action. Hands encircling his neck and lips sucking the skin of his jaw.

“Renjun… I’m close” you whispered. Your cum sticking to the base of Renjun’s cock and your trembling body due to over sensitivity was the confirmation of how hard your first orgasm was just a few minutes ago.

You came hard the first time that it left you shaking and moaning so loud that Renjun was sure he’ll be getting complaints from neighbours soon but all that didn’t matter to him as he himself was clouded with pleasure. Not just his pleasure but yours too.

“Fuck you’re so hot.” He had muttered looking at your cum dripping out, his fingers not so gently digging in your skin.

“Renjun, it’s too much.” You had cried when he tightly gripped your hips guiding you on his cock in a rushed manner. “I didn’t know you were so sensitive.” Looking up at you he had smirked.

“I know you can take it.”

Therefore, here you are with your second orgasm approaching, bouncing on top of him with a hazy mind as all you could think of now was the way Renjun’s cock hit spots no one has ever been able to this perfectly.

“Fuck y/n you take me so well… as if you’re made for me.” He said, a loud moan followed by a groan leaving his mouth as he felt you clench around him twice. “Dammit” he pulled you close by your neck kissing you passionately, his lips moving on yours roughly as he parted your lips with his tongue and explored.

He felt you go limp against him again and harshly grabbed your hips once more lifting you up and pulling you back down with a little bit more force. This made you scream loudly as you pulled back from the kiss mumbling his name continuously while moaning.

“My pretty y/n. So good for me. Fuck. Mine. Only mine.” He thrusted hard in you with each word as you had let yourself fall on his chest having no energy left.

His thrusts soon grew sloppier and erratic, while your second orgasm washed over you even harder than the first one. Your nails must have left marks on Renjun’s shoulders with how tightly you gripped them, body shaking from pleasure as Renjun snaked an arm around your waist to hold you securely.

“Fuck, I love the way you moan my name. The way you clench around me. The way you hold me.” He felt himself nearing his climax when you had come the second time and screamed his name.

“Renjun, please come fast.” You begged, tears soaking the material of his shirt. “Almost there.” He said with gritted teeth, tightening his grip on you.

“Fuck.” He moaned loudly as he came. Breathing heavily, he looked down at you in his arms, still trembling a bit and looking all worn out, a small smile forming on his lips as he tried to soak in everything that had happened in the previous hour.

He never thought he would fuck his best friend like this on his couch. Sure he had feelings for you since past two years and have dreamt of this but never felt that it could become a reality, that he could fuck you into oblivion.

It all started with a little teasing, leading to you sitting on his lap to having a make out session to him finally saying the words he had been wanting to since forever “Do you trust me?” to you agreeing and then this.

The only thing that sacred Renjun was where your relationship would stand now. Will it end? Will you suggest friends for benefits? Will he be able to finally confess his genuine feelings?

But all of this is a discussion for later, right now he just wants to enjoy the feeling of you in his arms and the sense of being with you this close. He loved you so much you can never really think of.

masterlist. nct dream | nct 127 | wayv

100 follower event 🌷

navigation.

[solaris-amethyst]

🪻Our Journey🪻

✨Pairing: ateez ot8 x gn!reader ✨Chapter 1. What started off as any normal day for you after leaving your siblings at school ended up as a disaster as you get swooped far away from home by accident. ✨Genre: fantasy au, Elsa Beskow inspired, non romance ✨Word Count: 4k ✨Tag list: ☀️Authors Note: This is inspired by Elsa Beskows stories and drawings which means everyone is small sized like in the pictures above by Elsa herself, I have yet decided if there will be romance in this story it's leaning more towards nonromantic right now but we'll see! Let me know if you'd like to join the tag list💓

<next>

As a young child you had heard stories of what exists out in the big wide world by your father. He would tell you about the faeries dancing in rings out on the fields in the early mornings when the grass was covered in dew and the fog was there as well. He’d tell you about the terrifying meetings with mountain trolls and other creatures that sent shivers up your spine.

Sometimes he’d even tell you terrifying stories about creatures like the wyverns hiding deeper in the forest or the dragons and other creatures lurking out in the world that you have to be careful around other wise you might end up loosing your life.

Sometimes you thought he was only telling you and your siblings this to keep you all in check. To make sure none of you would wander too far off when outside of your little home. After all being so small could make it harder to get home in certain weathers. Rain could be especially dangerous because of the mud it created had your mother told you. 

She had said to your younger self:

”Rain is dangerous if it pelts down, it can strike you down when you least expect it and for us who are small it can be fatal. It creates mud in places you would not expect and falling into it can be dangerous, sometimes it’s deep and you cannot swim in it like you can in the little creek. Make sure to find cover if you are outside when it rains. A mushroom or a flower can give you good cover until it’s safe to go home.”

You always heeded her and your fathers words. Rarely stepping outside when it rained or when it got dark. Sometimes you would do something daring when your siblings were with you but never something that would truly put you in any sort of danger.

Most animals did not get too close to you that could be deemed dangerous since you wore your hat that looked like the hat of a fly agaric. Your mother had one as well just like your siblings, your father was different. He wore a pine cone on his head, that had come from his family before he had chosen to live his life with your mother. He even had an armor made of pine cones for when he had to go out and fight of a snake or two.

”Hey Y/n! Are you ready?? Mama is taking us to school now!” Your younger brother called for you at the entrance of your home, taking you out of your daydreaming which made you groan quietly. You had finished school a few years back and would often be tasked to bring your younger siblings to Mama Owl when your own mother had too much to do.

You had loved your time with her learning about the world and all that existed in it. Mama Owl was a wise creature, wiser than any other in the forest and she shared her knowledge with all of the younglings. Everyone from the birds, the squirrels, the rabbits, you and your siblings and many more had come to learn from her until you reached adulthood.

Very often would you daydream during her lessons about exploring the world. It was something you longed to do but it would take an awful long time for someone so small to explore the world which was oh so big. Perhaps one day you could do so on the back of a chaffinch you would have befriended at some point in your life but for now you were stuck in your small section of the world.

”Hurry up! You’re slower than a snail on a bad day!” Your sister called which made you roll out of your bed and hurriedly putting on your hat, making sure your shirt and pants looked good before running towards the door.

”There you are! Let’s go now, we do not want to be late for todays lessons. Mama Owl does not approve of tardiness.” Your mama tells you as she picks up her basket.

”Mama, I am old enough to walk the kids to school myself am I not?” You ask wondering why she is walking them to class today when that was something you usually did. 

”Oh shush, I want to walk them to class today and make sure no one gets into trouble.” She says which makes you sigh thinking back on how yesterday you had been late with your siblings simply because you followed a butterfly for a while in the opposite direction.

Your parents had not been happy with you once they had heard your younger siblings had been late for class and had scolded you for it during dinner. You had apologized profusely and promised it wouldn’t happen again and it seems like your mother was making sure it wouldn’t happen again by making you company all the way to school.

”I’m off with father today to learn more hunting and fighting techniques.” Your older sister tells you, she had already finished her schooling and were learning from your father the last piece of knowledge she needs as an adult. You and your older brother had yet to been allowed to learn from him the same way she was. The two of you would often watch them from afar and play around with sticks you found practicing the movements she was learning.

You two were considered too old for school now but not old enough to learn some of the adult things like fighting or even building your own house. Your parents often told you to just enjoy this time, meet with friends, explore the forest but obviously don’t go to far from home or you might get lost! Or perhaps find someone you could fall in love with. 

”Last lesson Mama Owl started telling us about the mountain trolls! Have you met one Y/n?” Your younger sister asked and you nodded at her as she took your hand to hold as the five of you walked to the big tree where the school was being held.

”I have! He scared me, Opal and Birk when we were kids! We were playing too close to his lair so he came out and shouted BOO at us!” You imitated the troll and your younger sister looked frightened ”But don’t worry, he didn’t hurt us at all. He just finds it funny scaring us. He’s an old mountain troll and is kind sometimes. But I haven’t met any other mountain trolls so I don’t know if it’s just him that is this way or if all mountain trolls are this way.” You told her before your mother chimed in.

”Let’s hope we never have to meet another mountain troll! They can be very dangerous! Especially since they are so big.” 

”Don’t scare them mama!” You tell her when you feel your sister tighten her hold on your hand.

”Oh sorry my sweet little darling, I didn’t mean to scare you.” She apologizes before helping all of your siblings up the tree together with you once you finally reached it.

The five of you climb up and after a while you reach the branches where the classes will be held. Your three younger siblings hug you and your mother goodbye before going to sit on a branch next to some squirrels, it makes your heart warm seeing them greet their friends and talking happily with the other younglings.

”Behave well and learn a lot today!” You tell them before waving goodbye. 

You and your mother part ways further down on the tree branches with you running around happily enjoying the freedom of jumping from branch to branch, exploring the leaves and to be able to see everything happening from above.

You could see in the distance your older sister Opal training with your father, both decked out in their battle gear. You notice a viper slithering closer to them but you are too far away for them to hear you call out to them. Luckily your father is sharp and notices it coming their way, he shows off a brilliant technique of warding it off and eventually killing it and you know he will later find a hedgehog to offer the snake to as a delicious treat.

”Wow.” You whisper to yourself before standing up on the branch and start pretending you’re fighting a viper of your own, copying his moves. Both you and Birk had been begging a few months back to also learn how to fight but your father had refused saying he’d only teach one person at a time and since Opal was the oldest out of you three she got to learn it all first.

She had been incredibly proud when your mother had fixed her armor made out of pinecone. Lovingly sown together to be a perfect fit, Opal still wore her red hat which looked like the poisonous fly agaric, claiming that it fit her perfectly and gave away a sense of danger.

You however speculated that she wanted to have something that resembled your loving mother close to her even when she is out protecting her own. 

”Take this! Hah! And that!!” You swing a twig around maneuvering around and it all goes well until you almost slip and fall down had it not been for your quick reflexes grabbing onto a small branch hauling yourself up again.

”That is enough fighting up here for today…” You tell yourself hurrying away from the edge and downwards.

You hurry down the tree and once you’re safely on the ground again you run towards the tiny little creek to enjoy the feeling of the running water passing through your legs. Perhaps you’d find a nice looking stone, one that shimmers like the sun in the sky to bring home and create a necklace out of it. 

If you were lucky that is. 

You had only seen a beautiful stone like that once when you were five and your father had found it. He had brought it home and carved it into a lamp for which your mother would put twigs in and light up to give a warm light in your home when the fireplace wasn’t necessary.

”Hello Y/n!! Found any acorns today??” Your friend, Twigs, a beautiful auburn brown squirrel asked running up to you, looking at you curiously with her hands closely held together.

”Hi Twigs, I’m sorry I haven’t found any yet, perhaps there will be some in the creek? I’m going there if you’d like to join me?” You ask her with a smile and she perks up before getting on all four in front of you.

”Get on! I’ll carry you there, that way we can get there quicker and not miss a single acorn.” She says and you laugh before getting up on her back trying to tell her that the two of you might not even find acorns there but she doesn’t listen as she takes off.

She’s quick and zig-zags through the blueberry bushes and for you it tickles in your stomach as she runs and sometimes jump from stone to stone. The wind towards your face feels amazing and you close your eyes as your hands grip her fur gently. The fur is soft and it brings you comfort as the two of you journey to the creek. It sometimes feels like you are soaring through the air like those few times you’ve flown on the back of a bat during the nights.

You take your time to truly admire Twig, she’s truly beautiful, her fur reminds you of the sun setting on the horizon, painting the water orange or the autumn leaves. The tuffs on her ears makes you smile and her majestic tail is something you marvel at. You had only experienced one time when she had curled her tail up around you to keep you warm and sometimes you’d imagine yourself cuddling with Twigs when you went to bed surrounded by your warm blanket. 

You loved her dearly, she was the same age as you. One of your first friends outside of your family and no matter what others said about her you’d always cherish her and her goofy self. 

It didn’t matter that she forgot where she had hidden half of the nuts she had collected because she never let it dampen her spirit. She had a positive outlook on life and that was something you wished you could have all the time as well.

”We’re here!!!” She beams happily while slowing down showing you that you were in fact at the creek. You quickly jump off of her back and run to the water happily.

”Thank you Twigs! Shall we play around in the water together?” You question as the cold feeling climbs up your body when your feet touches the water. 

Twigs sit up on her hind legs looking at you with a tilted head, her hands being adorably held together making her look very curious and polite.

”Are there any nuts in the water?” She asks and it makes you laugh out loud before shaking your head.

”No, I’m sorry there are none in the water, but perhaps there are some over at that oak tree?” You point towards the oak tree knowing she buried some nuts over there a few weeks ago and promptly forgot about it. 

She lights up and like a lighting bolt she’s over there sniffing around for her hearts desire. You enjoy helping her out because her reactions to it all are always so genuine and sweet.

”Now let’s see if I can find something to bring home from here.” You mutter before squatting down and getting your hands into the water, pushing around the sand and rocks under you in hopes of finding a beautiful stone. 

You search for some time but is unsuccessful in finding anything that you had hoped to find. Perhaps your father just had been very lucky at that day perhaps the faeries had given him some luck so he could bring back home a present for the love of his life.  ”I wonder if I will ever get so lucky.” You ask yourself sitting down on a rock near by and letting your feet gently splash in the running water, enjoying the sun shining from above.

It was a beautiful day and when you don’t have anything to do it would be a crime not to enjoy it. You sat there for some time, Twigs coming back to tell you all about the different nuts she found where you had suggested she’d look causing you to smile brightly, happy she found some happiness today.

You even managed to talk to one of the kind snails in the area named Pine by you and your siblings. He was always kind and never in a rush to get anywhere simply enjoying his life in his own pace. You two spoke for a while about how you wished you’d be taught fighting as well to which he responded that it will come in time and that you should relax and enjoy your life as a young adult before it’s time for you to take on even bigger responsibilities which would mean you wouldn’t have time for fun the same way you have now.

”Perhaps he was right.” You thought while walking back the same path where you came from. 

Perhaps you should just try and enjoy life right now before it would be time for you to either leave home to find a place of your own or take on much bigger responsibilities. You had never thought of it that way, always so desperate to learn what your older sister was learning, perhaps it was because you yearned to show everyone you were grown up, that you could handle scary situations like this as well.

A need to prove yourself.

Your feet wander taking you further and further away from the creek, wandering through moss and blueberry bushes, past a spiderweb with a large spider hiding behind some leaves. You’re careful not to get tangled up in his net knowing it will leave a nasty encounter because if he was particularly hungry that day nothing would stop him from devouring you. 

You hum a familiar tune that the sparrows had been singing earlier.

It was a beautiful tune and if you sang loud enough they would respond with their own song, sometimes even trying to harmonize with you. They’d fly between the trees, flapping their beautiful brown wings quickly as they danced in the air. To you they looked majestic as they flew around singing their songs to their hearts content.

”One day I hope I can fly as high as they are.” You say to no one in particular as you stop to take them in. 

You would have stayed there for much longer if you didn’t suddenly remember that you had promised your mother you would bring home some wood sorrel for her to use in tonights dinner. Knowing she’d want a big amount and it took you a while to pluck them caused you to start sprinting to the one place you knew plenty of them grew. Not to be confused with clovers that also grew in the forest you called home. Clovers were okay, they weren’t as tasty as wood sorrel and you much preferred the latter, especially when they were combined with the fruits and nuts your mother cooked to perfection.

Weaving through the fauna so quickly as you did almost made you trip on sticks and stones but you were nimble on your feet and stayed up where younger you would have tripped.

Avoiding the ants in the path was also hard, pissing off one of them meant the whole clan would come after you and that was something you did not want. Birk had once been unlucky and had been bitten by several ants, Opal had managed to get the ants away by throwing water at them and by getting the helps of some birds to scare them away. You shuddered as you remembered the bruises and wounds your older brother had sported that day.

He couldn’t stop crying from the pain, their bites itched and he had trouble laying down and sleeping as well. It had been a lesson for all of you and your siblings to always be in the good graces of ants. They could either be your friend or enemy and you would do better to have them on your side than the opposite. You would often leave them treats, things you’d found when out and about that you knew they liked or needed for their home. That way they never really bothered to go after you when they saw you. 

You were so far friend in their eyes and you intended for it to stay that way.

”There!” You exclaimed in happiness as you saw the wood sorrel come into view, your feet speeding up, jumping in happiness at what you saw.

”Perfect! Mama will be so happy when I come home with all of this!” You say walking up to one that reached half of your height, bending down to pick it up. 

”Ouf hrmmm come on!” You mutter as you squat slightly, gripping the stem tightly and pulling as hard you could and just when you thought you’d have to give up on this specific one it flew up causing you to land on your butt.

”Ouch!” You exclaim as you landed before snickering finding it a bit funny. 

”This better not be happening to me with every single one of you that i’m plucking.” You say out loud as if telling the plant off and that it better behave for you as you get up on your feet again.

The other ones you’re plucking goes much smoother, you’ve plucked quiet the collection when you decide it’s time to take a little break. You move all your sorrel to one big pile before you look for a good place to rest your legs for a while. You wander a bit, trying to find the perfect place and while you’re doing that you fail to hear the sounds of wings flapping coming closer and closer to you. 

You barely have time to realize what is happening until the ground is suddenly getting farther and farther away from you as you hang almost upside down. You look up in fear and see that it’s a greenfinch that has grabbed you by your waist flying away with you. 

Panic start to settle into your bones as you realize the bird doesn’t even seem to realize that what he’s grabbed is not something he can eat.

”S-stop!! Let me down!!!” You yell trying to get his attention and you could have sworn you saw the bird look back at you and chuckle as he continued to fly higher and higher and further away from your home.

”No!!! Let me down!! Stop! Don’t take me away from home please!!” You yell again desperately while trying not to look down. 

It suddenly wasn’t your wish to soar high up in the sky. It was scary how far away the ground were from you and you knew if you were to be let go now you’d surely hurt yourself or die from the fall. You continued to scream in both fear and desperation. When you had wished earlier to fly up in the sky like the sparrows this was not what you had meant. 

It was almost as if the bird was speeding up taking you somewhere you would soon not recognize. The forest was big and you were so small that even if the bird didn’t bring you too far away it could take days for you to find your way home.

The last thing you could do while fighting away the tears threatening to spill was to call out to the two people who always were there for you, who always knew what to do in scary situations. Logically you knew that calling out for them at this distance would do you no good but you couldn’t help it.

Right now everything was scary and logic had been thrown away.

”MAMA!!! PAPA!!!” You wailed loudly feeling terror settling into your bones as the greenfinch flew up and down and in circles as if mocking you, finding your reactions funny. 

There were no mama nor papa there to protect you, to hold you tight and chase away the mean greenfinch.

You were all alone with this mean bird and nothing you said or did made him stop. He had a destination in mind and for some reason he had decided that taking you from your home was something he had to do.

[manachiichan]

To see the world that you are so proud of...

Synopsis: Growing up obediently following your empress' shadow, your horizon broaden the moment you met a pirate doning a strawhat who somehow ended up on your island.

Pairing: Monkey D. Luffy x Kuja!Reader, Platonic!Boa Hancock X Fem!Reader

Spoilers from the Amazon Lily and Marineford arcs. Reader is a pure sunshine who is both kind and naive. This is mostly focused on yours and Hancock's relationship.

|| One Piece Masterlist ||

|| Part 1 || Part 2 ||

"Rejoice.. From this day and so on, you will directly serve me alone...."

Growing up, all you ever did was listen and obey those who ranks stronger than you. And that person was no other than Boa Hancock, the Empress of your island.

When your mother died unexpectedly, she took you under her watchful eyes. Being only a child at the time, you were unaware of how dangerous your surroundings were. Surrounded by the jungle and waters filled with sea kings, you will never survive.

The women were all like walking on eggshells around you. Your mother was a fearsome warrior that boarded the Kuja Pirates' ship. She was well respected by her peers and because of that, the rest treated you like a delicated flower that deserved to be sheltered.

You were a child without a maternal protection and guidance.

But after being graced by her benelovence, you grew to adore the snake princess and bow to serve her with everything you have. Hancock treated you like how she would treat anyone below her, yet in your child like mind, she was the only one who didn't see you as fragile as glass.

And to repay that, you went and learned the ways of the women in the island.

"Snake Princess, please allow me to serve your every needs! I won't hesistate to do all of them!"

"Snake Princess, I brought you your tea. Just like how you like it..."

"Please leave quietly. The Snake Princess is currently occupied and cannot see an audience."

"My empress, you seems to be slightly fatigued, should I draw a herb bath to soothe your mind and cleanse your body?"

"I'll be on guard by the door if you ever request anything, Snake Princess. I'll be happy to aid you with all of my capabilities...."

You learned and mastered observation haki at a young age as you often went and learned everything that should and shouldn't do around the Pirate Empress. After all, you felt like you owe your life to her.

But that's also when you finally saw through the mask she often wore. She has a deep fear somewhere in her heart that she tried so hard to hide, the same fear that her sisters share with her.

You kept silent about it as you thought it wasn't your place to ask. But after that, you began to see her in a different light.

Boa Hancock is much more valiantly elegant than what you previously thought. And you admire her strong demeanor in hopes that one day, you'll be like her too..

As a Kuja warrior, you strived and hone your skills in hopes of pleasing your Empress even more. You worked harder to be a better version of yourself. You became the best hunter of your tribe while fully adapting to your own snake weapon.

Hancock rarely talk to you, however, she kept you often at her side, doing her bidding.

"What is with that smile on your face?"

"I'm happy, Snake Princess. To be able to prove my worth by serving you, it's the greatest honor..."

Most women would cower under her cold gaze, but you on the other hand, was brave enough to stare back with much admiration, carrying and obeying with a gentle smile on your face. Pure genuine, you didn't fawn over her like how the rest did, nor threw yourself under her feet as she walk pass by.

Everything you do was all voluntary that she didn't even have to use her charms to force you to obey.

Eventually, your obedience lead to Hancock trusting you completely. Becoming her right hand woman, whom she could trust Amazon Lily with. She know that you will never betray her with how much dedicated you are on serving her.

You were too kind. Whenever she looks out on the window of the castle, she would often see you helping out your fellow women with a huge smile on your face. Every requests thrown at your direction, you immediately agreed on, as if rejection is not on your vocabulary.

She knew by then, that she chosen the right person to trust on.

The first time you actually met a man, was when Hancock commanded you to stay back on the island as she sails away with her sisters and the elite warriors of the tribe.

"Snake Princess, why do I have stay here? I am confident in my abilities that I won't be considered as a hinder.."

You pleaded, carefully observing her reactions if ever you annoyed her with your words. To be near Hancock, means that you have to be careful not to anger her to avoid loosing her favor on you.

"You are not ready to sail on the Perfume Yuda yet. So use that strength on keeping this island safe until I return..."

Being often near the snake princess, gave you privilage to lead your fellow warriors whenever she and her sisters are not around. They listen to your instructions carefully and proceed to do their respective chores dedicatedly.

As you were given the task of protecting the island by Hancock herself, you took the initiative of scouting the jungle along side three other woman named Marguerite, Sweet Pea and Aphelandra.

"While we're here, should we perhaps hunt a beast for today's lunch?"

You asked the trio, hoping to bring a good feast for the warriors who scouted the other areas of the island, but before anyone could respond, you all notice smoke coming from the far side of the jungle. Wordlessly, you gave the women a commanding look before running off to the source with them following behind.

And that's how you met the strange man now called Luffy.

You found him beatened and unconcious with mushroom growing on his body. Not knowing his identity before hand, your pity for the injured had allowed him to enter the village.

Allowing Belladona and the rest of the women to tend his wounds, you and Marguerite provided on sewing new clothes identical to his previous tattered ones.

Marguerite embroidered floral patterns on the vest and you sewed a new pair of clean shorts.

Until the elder, Nyon revealed his identity of being a man.

"So this is what a man look like....?"

Unlike the rest of the women who all got defensive on his sudden outburst, you on the other hand could only continue to stare with curiosity.

Because you could clearly see his intentions. He was annoyed with how the rest wanted to pull his balls of gold, how feminine his clothes were and how tense he was when weapons pointed at his direction.

Yet you can see the desperation on his eyes. His desperation to leave the island, and return to his friends, atleast from what you heard him shout.

"Wait, stop...!"

You told the women to cease all actions but it was then, their arrows rained towards his cell, forcing himself to break out.

"He is not a threat!"

"(Name) all men who enters this island must be eliminated. That is the rules given by our ancestors that is upholded for centuries!"

Kikyo scolded you. Reminding you of where your loyalty lies. If your Empress ever finds out that a man entered the island under your supervision, you knew that you'll be the one paying for the consequences.

You feared to see the disappointment, Hancock would send you once she finds out. Hate to have suddenly betrayed her trust of getting fooled by a man whom you allowed to enter in the island. And you hate to disappoint her.

But the women are willing to help you out by pretending that this had never happened. Once you capture the man and kill him, this will all be a forgotten event. Boa Hancock will never know that a man soiled her land with his filt....right?

So with a conflicted thought, you went with the rest to pursue the strawhat wearing man.

Somehow, you found yourself being held hostaged by the same man. At first, you and the other Kuja warriors were all chasing after him through out the village, when all of sudden, he turned around to face you.

Looking through the crowd of women, his eyes landed on to your guarded ones, stretching his arm, he immediately wrapped them around you before running off.

He kidnapped you, atleast that what you thought as he made his way out to the village with you in his arms.

"I need that paper back..."

He was after the paper you found on his tattered clothes. You stared at him warily as your snake slithered from your shoulders to your arm, forming into your weapon. You hoped that you wouldn't be using it against him but you can't avoid taking that risk.

You stared at his impatient form, silently observing his every move. You can tell that he has no intentions of fighting you either.

"You mean this....? What does it do...?"

Curiosity over took your judgement as you pulled out the paper to his field of vision. Seeing the absolute relief on his face made you lower your guard a little. What was the importance of a small piece of paper with a name written on it?

"My friends and I got separated, I need this paper to see them again."

"Who...are you anyways...?"

"I'm Monkey D. Luffy. I'm a pirate..!"

He spoke with a boyish grin on his face that you couldn't help but reprocate. He kept his distance seeing how you weren't comfortable being near a man....yet. He spoke fondly of his crew.

Like how you often spoke about the Snake Princess.

"The Snake Princess rules this island, she's wary of outsiders like you, but once you see through the mask she often wore, you can see how caring she's really is...!"

"I see! You really like the boss of this place, huh..? She must be really nice then."

You didn't realized that you were talking rather eagerly like you knew him for years already until you hear his laughter. Feeling slightly embarrased that you lost your composure, you immediately went to defend yourself.

"D-don't get ahead of yourself, man! Just because I'm talking to you, doesn't mean I'll let you do what you want here... No men are allowed on this island!"

You were already getting attached to him, he doesn't seem to be a threat at all. You thought as you saved him from drowning after his attempt to make a raft.

And before you could even think about helping him escape, the defense warrior group finally found the two of you in which he decided to flee.

By the time, you caught up to him, you knew it was already too late. Hancock was already aware of his presence and had ordered for his capture after he crashed on her chambers when she was bathing.

"Where were you, (Name)?"

You couldn't face her, you could only stand behind her with her sister Marigold on your front.

"Forgive me, Snake Princess... I was out there trying to capture that man..."

Boa Hancock is a rather observative woman. She observes people who falls under her rules. She knows her worth and what she is capable of and use it for her advantage.

Imagine to her slight surprise, you weren't there to greet her return at the end of the red carpet. That was her first suspicion, you never failed to show up first whenever she returns to the Island after weeks on sea.

She got even more suspicious when every woman she came across to lied when she asked of your wherebouts. Their only replied was, you had to hunt down a troublesome monkey that involves the rest of the island's defense troupe.

So when this man appeared, she knew she has to demonstrate a taste of her power to all of the women on the island. You included. She is the Empress, and it is her duty to protect the women under her care. She ought to show an example of how truly vile men are.

You who were oblivious of how truly cruel the world is. Too kind and obedient for her liking yet she couldn't find the heart to tell you off. She wasn't blind to see the adoration on your face whenever she is nearby. Nor she was oblivious to how genuine your actions were. She can see the unwavering loyalty you shown for her.

However she wasn't expecting you to grow attached to Luffy.

She noticed how your behavior shifted to tense and discomfort seeing him fight in that arena.

"What is it, (Name)?"

"Nothing, my empress..."

She could applaud you keeping your emotions in check. However, she found herself staring at you in disbelief when your cool finally broke when Marguerite, Sweet Pea and Aphelandra step in, attempt to save Luffy.

"My apologies, but I was the one who brought him to the village. If anyone deserves to be punished, it should be me. Those three merely followed my orders."

"You know what happens to those who defy me, (Name). Why are you defending the guilty?"

Taking up the courage, you managed to look her directly in the eyes. Those cold and dull hues that holds deeper emotions within. With a deep breath, you gave her your usual smiles.

Your compassionate smile of purity.

"I was the one who allowed permission for him to enter the village, my empress. So I should be the one held accountable. Marguerite, Sweet Pea and Aphelandra did nothing wrong, so please allow me to take their punishment alone.

You pleaded them to be spared. Seeing how you are willing to take the risks of saving the girls including Luffy slightly wavered her resolved.

"....You disappointed me, (Name).."

But she is still the Empress, and she has to show her authority over the island. Knowing full well that her powers could not affect you in any way, she asked a few warriors to take you away. You who looked back at her with a dejected face.

The man wearing a strawhat look angry on your behalf. He fought bravely against her sisters, demanding to set you free as you were innocent from all of this.

"She did nothing wrong! She was only trying to save me!"

Hancock kept her composure as she watched the battle raged on. What was so special about this man that you were willingly to defend him.

You were just too kind that it slightly annoyed her. You should only reserve it to her and her people alone. Your kindness shouldn't be shown to filthy men who will only take advantage of you.

This was the first defiance you've ever done. Hancock gritted her teeth as memories flashed between her eyes, ransacking every single one, yet she didn't remember you showing any disobedience like this before.

Just when she was starting to treasure you.

Only when the battle was over, she finally understood. Luffy was kind in his own way. Is that why you defended him? Because you were aware that he was not like those men who once trespassed the island?

Luffy seems to know the secret she was so desperate of hiding, so does that means that you already know? What do you see in her now?

Only when she was finally alone in her room, was she began breaking down, silent tears fell down as she didn't want her sisters to hear. Having you by her side for years as her closest aide made her conflicted. She only kept you nearby was because of pity.

You losing your mother at such a young age. Your mother who was apart of her crew, died at sea because of her warrior pride to protect the rest. It was by guilt, your mother's death at her ship is what made her take you under her wing.

She watched you grow up into a formidable warrior serving her with nothing but pure genuine adoration. It was nothing like the lust thrown to her way by both genders whenever she was present.

It was a gaze of a child with innocent admiration. You look up to her as a person and not just someone with otherworldy beauty.

Which is why she didn't let you join her crew. Giving excuses that you weren't strong enough to travel the seas on her ship. She didn't want you to see how vicious and filthy this world truly is. Nor for people to take advantage of your kindness.

What will happen if you knew the truth? It was her selfishness that killed your mother. Her selfish orders is what caused your mother to loose her life. Will you still have the same look on your face if you ever find out her slave mark? Or are you already aware of it?

Knowing you for years, no. You would never look at her differently even after she told you her secret. But the truth? It was because of her that you grew up without your mother's tender love and care.

But even so, she gave in with her fears. Through out the years, even she tried hard to push you away with her cold atittude, you still managed to find a place in her heart.

You were patient with her. Serving her with a bright smile that herself couldn't help but grew fond of. You tolerate her bratty attitude and beauty even when she knew that didn't have any affect on you. Only you were the one who can see through her lies and stayed.

But Hancock is a selfish woman, she was drawn to your warmth that she decided to keep you close, Because she was selfish, she only wants to keep your kindness to herself.

Because being around you, she can be a regular person that people never fawn on. Not like a luxurious item that people wanted to have, but a person who has her own feelings and wants.

All she hope is that you would forgive her like how you always do.

© manachii 2024 ~ all rights reserved. please do not repost, copy, etc. any of the works I made.

[sehnsuchts-trunken]

Hi!! I think you'll do an amazing job with Tangerine, so if you don't mind: 1) Tangerine x Reader (female or whatever), he gets patched up after a bad mission, and a first kiss happens! 2) Tangerine x F!Plus Size reader, reader is super anxious about her appearance and he aggressively shows her how sexy he thinks she is?

Thank you!!!

oh i adore 1! i don't think i've ever written a first kiss tho, so- i'm venturing into the unknown with this!

also, i know jackshit about medicine. i had to google what the hell gauze means after wikihow told me that you can use it to clean a wound

also here's my masterlist for anyone interested, and feel free to request here

"Stay still", you scold, grabbing his chin harder and dragging him back to face you. That he keeps moving doesn't help in the fucking slightest as you try to wipe at the cut on his face. It's a good thing he hadn't been hurt all that badly, but it's still so unusual. And it's even more unusual that you're the one to patch him up. Actually, it's not just unusual - it's a first.

"This is fuckin' unnecessary", Tangerine grunts, his knuckles turning white as he digs his nails into his palms. "I'm fine."

You huff and try to brush the piece of gauze you're holding over his skin, but he jerks away from you so suddenly that you drop it right onto the floor.

"It's very much necessary", you sigh, digging your fingertips into his chin to keep him steady as you lean down to fish it off the ground. He's like a fucking snake, trying to wind out of your grip and you don't know why. He can't be this worried you'll hurt him - it's not that bad and he's used to pain. Also, he's steady like a rock the rest of the time. There's something wrong. "A cut like this can get infected and leave a scar."

You put the gauze down on the table next to you (you can't use it anymore now it's kissed the fucking floor) and draw your hands away from him to soak a new one before you turn back.

"It'll sting a bit, so stay still", you repeat forcefully as you press it to his skin. He flinches away before you can even grab for his chin again.

"Fuck, love", he rasps, his hand jerking up and his fingers digging through the belt loops of your jeans. You draw in a sharp breath. For whatever reason, your heart misses a beat. That's... new.

"Tan", you breathe, choked up and throaty. He lets go of you again just as quickly as he reached for you in the first place.

A grunt rolls off his tongue, and that pulls you back to reality. With more ferocity than you'd thought, you blink until the haze clears and grab the gauze more firmly.

"Tangerine, I'm sure you've been through way worse", you chide, your voice back to normal again. As forcefully as you can, you grip his chin and maneuver him to face you. "So stay still."

He tries to talk, but you keep him right where he is and it only comes out as a mumbled mess while you press the gauze against his skin - still careful, just not softly.

"Stay still", you repeat. By now it just feels like you're a broken record, re- re- restarting over and over again. By god, Lemon is right, Tangerine is a fucking Gordon. He never listens.

For whatever divine reason, this time, he actually does stay still. Still and quiet. He doesn't even hiss as you brush the gauze down his skin, and when it's soaked with blood, you even risk letting go of him to drench a new one.

"See", you mutter, your eyes focused on the cut you press the new gauze against, trying to work quickly without hurting him. Your free hand steadies against his shoulder. "You can do so well."

It's not weird as you say it. It's weird a heartbeat later, when your brain comprehends just what you've said. Eugh. You can hardly stop from cringing at yourself.

This is not the dynamic you and Tangerine have. This is not you at all. You don't think you've ever told anyone above the age of five 'they're doing so well'. And you most definitely don't tell Tangerine that.

But a muscle in his jaw feathers as you do, and your eyes flicker up to his for just a second - which turns out to be the exact wrong thing to do, because he's already watching you, and there's something inexplicably heavy about his gaze that has you freezing.

Just completely freezing up.

"Tan-", you start - but you can barely get through half his name before he's surging forward, wrapping his arms around your waist and pressing his lips against yours.

Fuck.

Your mind blanks entirely. You truly don't feel like you exist for a moment.

He's kissing you. Tangerine is kissing you. His lips are on yours, his moustache tickles your skin, his hands flatten against your waist and his arms tighten around you.

And then he pulls away again. Just as quickly as he'd leaned in.

"Sorry, love, I-"

You don't know what overcomes you, but something knocks you forward like a tidal wave, right back into his arms, your lips slotting over his once more. The gauze you'd been holding onto for dear life drops, down to the floor or down to his lap, you don't know and can't be bothered to check either, as your hands fly against his chest, fingers cramping into the collar of his shirt and pulling him against you hard.

This time, he pulls back only to grin at you.

"If I'd known that's all it takes for you to kiss me, I would've let someone scratch me up weeks ago, darling."

[petertingle-yipyip]

STRANGER (iii) - KAZ BREKKER

tags: @beekeepingageissome @shadowzena43 @nikfigueiredo @mp-littlebit @starmansirius @hadesnumber1daughter // previously // next

Pairing: Kaz x Davina Rollins (enemies to lovers)

Word Count: 6,655

Summary: Davina’s reappearance has Kaz reconsidering just about everything. Meanwhile, Davina seems to be building a strong foundation for her snakes.

“I’m sure we’ll meet again soon, Brekker.” She nodded.

She blended into the crowd seamlessly and Kaz had lost the silhouette of her hood quickly. He hadn’t moved from his spot and the bustling crowd seemed to move around him, the way water rushed around rocks. Too many thoughts were swimming in his head.

Davina Rollins had left her father. There was a strange relief in that confirmation. He’d heard rumors that the beloved daughter had disappeared years ago, but he hadn’t cared to look into it. Davina had always been kind to him and Jordie, but he had no expectations of her turning on her father.

The hooded girl left more questions than answers. Who was she? What was she to Davina? How much did she really know?

Then, as he thought of them both, he realized something. He knew her. Maybe not in any real sense given that he couldn’t think of what her name could be, but he had met her before. Maybe it was years ago, maybe it was just in passing, but damn it all he should know who she was.

As he picked up walking again, he thought of Davina. A certain fondness settled in his chest and he tried to banish it. He hadn’t thought of her often, but when he did, it was always a pain. He remembered an easier time, when he was just a boy. When he had his brother. Davina was someone he thought was gone forever, like Jordie, but now she was somewhere near.

Despite that, he couldn’t imagine what Davina would look like now. It had been years since he’d seen her, and even remembering her as he knew her was harder lately. When he laid to sleep and let his mind wander, inevitably to those memories, her face started to blur. Her voice was muffled. He couldn’t fully remember the way she said his name, the way she laughed. He cursed himself for forgetting that.

He needed to find the girl in the hood again. She held the answers he wanted and he’d do what he needed to get them.

It took a few days but the girl resurfaced. She had visited Nina Zenik, left some sort of token to be delivered, so he asked Inej to retrieve it. The Wraith returned with a handful of papers.

“Drawings?” He flipped through the pages. “She asked Nina to get drawings to me?” It would’ve been a lie if he had said he wasn’t a bit offended.

“I didn’t tell Nina, but they’re rather well-done.” Inej said honestly. “She must be around more than we realize.”

She was right. All the images were perfect. He lingered on the page that had him and his brother. Jordie was the one face he’d never forget, even when he wanted to. Even when the memory changed from his smiling, warm older brother to the cold, bloated, water-logged corpse that brought him back from death.

Kaz dropped the papers on his desk with a sigh.

“Can you find her?” He asked, but he knew the answer.

“The hooded one or the Rollins girl?”

“The Hood may be an interesting investment. The Rollins girl can wait.”

He decided to omit Davina’s name for now. That was one of his many secrets, a tidbit of information that he could keep to himself for a little while longer. There was sentiment there, he knew, but he could ignore it. Call it a tactical advantage. Or simply a spin of Maker’s Wheel. A gamble.

He didn’t need to look to know Inej was gone. He both cursed and thanked her silence, footsteps light as feathers. When he was alone again, he lifted the drawings again and found himself staring at a penciled image of himself, from years ago. A boy lost to the waters. Dead and drowned, resting beside his brother, the Bastard of the Barrel returned to take his place. He had known he hadn’t fully let go of his brother. Part of him knew he never would while the other wished it so.

But looking at that drawing, he was that boy again. Playing with a girl with the biggest eyes he’d ever seen, a smile that was dazzling like sunlight, a voice that was always warm and welcoming. A girl that had made him laugh, played games with him, made up a ridiculous nickname for him.

“I like calling you Kazzle. You can call me Davi, if you’d like. My parents do.”

“I like Vina better.”

“Hmm.” She thought on it and then smiled. “So do I.”

“Damn you, Davina.” He cursed to himself and tossed the paper aside again.

He ran a covered hand over his face, hoping to rid himself of some of the thoughts. It didn’t work.

No, of course it didn’t. Davina had always had those hooks in him. No matter how he shoved the thoughts away, ignored the little things that could remind him of her. She was there, like a ghost, watching but never speaking.

Despite it all, he knew it all would be for nothing. Davina was still a Rollins. She was still Pekka Rollins’ daughter. And if he had his way, to break down everything the man had brick by brick, he just might be able to use Davina to do it. And if he had to, he’d do just that.

So Kaz cast the treacherous, childish adoration aside. He silenced the voice in his head that was calling her name, froze the warmth in his chest at the idea that she still thought of him, ignored the yearn to see her, find her himself and find out if he could be brave enough to confess anything to her. Instead, Dirtyhands would come to see the hard work done.

That was who spoke to the Hood when they brought her to the Slat.

He sat in front of her for a bit while she was unconscious, and she seemed to take an eternity to wake up. In the time between finding her in the alley and setting her up in the chair, Inej gave him what was allegedly a ring from Davina’s childhood. He could only vaguely remember the accessory so he simply put it on a chain and tucked it under his collar. He had stepped to the side and even considered calling for Nina Zenik when she finally came to.

The Hood infuriated him almost instantly. Her tongue was shaped by spite and anger, but if someone were to pay enough attention - the way Kaz did - they’d see she was hiding something. Most bravado was a facade for something, and the Hood was no exception.

Then her taunts began. She mentioned the gloves, as most do. That meant nothing to him. He had heard all the tales and even fabricated some of his own, but the name struck him like a blow.

Kaz Rietveld.

She spat his true name at him as if a threat, and Kaz Brekker was not someone to threaten. He was going to let it go, say something else that would make her cower, but she then mentioned his brother.

His movement was a reaction, a yank of the crow’s beak across her face. Their back and forth continued, nothing Kaz hadn’t expected, until something peculiar caught his ear.

“Your snakes?”

The panic was obvious in those wide eyes, though she covered it quickly. He knew there was something to that slip-up in her persona, the alleged right hand to Davina Rollins, but he couldn’t quite pinpoint it. Yet.

Even in that fleeting moment, her wide eyes seemed familiar to him. He started to wonder…

Another act of arrogance, another movement of the cane. Another dance of words and threats.

“What makes you think you haven’t led us to her already?” Kaz asked. His tone was simple, as if asking about stock prices or an old friend, but the threat was clear.

Her brows furrowed in thought as she dropped her gaze to the floor. She was retracing her steps over the past few days, wondering when she had lost the illusion and exposed everything.

He knew she hadn’t. Inej had followed her for almost a week until the Wraith grew annoyed at the Hood’s purposeful dilly-dallying and returned to the Slat. Yet the possibility was still enough to throw her off balance and Kaz reveled in her desperate attempt to confirm with herself that she hadn’t betrayed her gang.

Again, he found familiarity in the Hood when she spoke again. In that determination to protect and defend what was hers, to challenge those who dared to take it. He knew he had seen it in Davina, when they would play and one of other neighborhood children tried to take her toys or change the rules of their game.

Then the Hood broke free and kicked him in the head before fleeing.

It was months before he crossed paths with the Hood again. In that time, Nina had sent word that she was being visited by the Hood often. Jesper swore he saw a hooded figure in the shadows. Even Wylan was jumpier than usual.

Inej, as always, was the picture of calm. Stillness, simply squaring her shoulders as a dare to the Hood and all of Davina’s snakes. Kaz had never said it aloud, but he was thankful for her quiet presence.

He had gathered a name in that time as well, Melli Dodgion. She was seen flashing the snake tattoo and a few well timed passings told Kaz that she was highly favored by Davina. It was a gamble, but when Kaz saw the Hood again, he threw the name out.

She denied it, of course. Kaz had expected that much. He wasn’t fully convinced Melli was the Hood, but he knew dangling that knowledge was a powerful taunt. It showed the Hood and Davina that she was not as hidden as she believed. That her snakes weren’t as careful as she needed them to be if she wanted to keep herself hidden.

Then the Hood threw herself into the canals.

Good, let her drown.

The next day, a loudmouth in the Emerald Palace let it slip that Davina would be visiting her father that night. It took a whirlwind of moves, but Kaz gathered Wylan and Jesper to stage the job while Inej kept their path clear.

He was going to get to Davina.

He caught her running from the Emerald Palace, blood dripping off her arm and a mask hiding the bottom half of her face. He snatched her by her wrist and pulled her out of sight. But when he looked at her, truly took her in and studied her, she was the little girl he knew.

After he learned the truth of Jakob Hertzoon, he believed the rest of the family were fake as well. He had thought the girl he knew as Davina was an actress, maybe intended to protect the real Rollins daughter. But with her standing there in front of him, knowing what he knew, he couldn’t deny it. Part of him was glad that there was some truth to those memories.

Her eyes were still the biggest he’d ever seen, though there was a sharpness in her stare now. A tiredness that weighed on her brows. Her cheeks weren’t the round shape he pictured anymore, matured with her time away. He could see the head of the snake peeking out of the open buttons above her dark vest.

She was Davina but also, he came to realize, the Hood.

How he didn’t realize before given those damn moon eyes he didn’t know and he would’ve cursed himself for it had that prickly feeling of dread not settled in his stomach. Well, if Davina hadn’t hated him before, she very likely did now.

“Hello, Davina.” Once he said her name, that boyish part of him that was kicking its way to the forefront was wishing he hadn’t. Her name was his secret and now it was said aloud, but at least they were alone. And he still had her nickname.

Vina. She’s Vina to you and she’s alive. She’s right here.

“Hello, Kaz.” She said in relief and he felt his heart beat a little faster. He knew she was smiling under the mask and the thought to take it off her crossed his mind. He wanted her to say his name like that again and again. Relieved. Grateful.

He would want to hear her say his name in any tone, he decided. Anger, disappointment, cheerfulness, resentment, regret, relief. He wanted the questioning sound of worry for when his luck would run out before he could more. He wanted her to say his name with a laugh, scold his name for a comment too cruel or an action too underhanded. He wanted all of it from her.

He almost said as much until he caught sight of her bloodied shoulder again.

He snapped back to focus. Back to the job at hand.

But of course, Davina saw through it. She threw Jesper at Kaz and ran off.

“I like her.” Jesper coughed with a smile once Davina had disappeared.

“You like women that punch you in the throat?” Kaz shoved his friend off and got to his feet.

“I like the women that don’t avert their eyes from the Bastard of the Barrel.” He snorted. “She’s not afraid of you, Kaz. That’s gotta be worth something..”

“She will be.” Because fear was better than whatever else was stirring in his treacherous heart.

He considered chasing her but he knew she was long gone. He huffed a sigh and motioned for Jesper to follow back to the Slat. He knew Inej was watching from above. He saw her hesitate to follow, but after a moment she was moving with them from the high ground.

Jesper talked the entire way back. About how Pekka Rollins could shoot his daughter, what Davina could’ve said to piss her father off, whether or not Davina was on her father’s side, what to do next time they saw her. He seemed rather giddy for that one. 

Kaz thought of the ring sitting at the end of the chain around his neck. He kept it there since Inej had delivered it to him. It was an unsaid promise that he’d see her again. As the Hood, she had made threats to return for it. The thought nearly made him smile. He pictured the way she’d walk up to him, maybe demand he hand it over. Maybe she’d try to hit him, pull her blade on him, aim a gun at him. He knew he’d give it back when she came for it, but he wouldn’t just hand it over. She had given it to him as a gift after all.

When they got back to the Slat, Inej met Kaz in his office.

“You let her go.” She pointed out. He noted no anger in her voice, just interest.

“I did.” He confirmed. How was he to deny it?

“Why?”

He set his cane aside and pulled his gloves. One was stained with Davina’s blood. “Do you think Davina and her snakes could be useful to us?”

“Do you?”

He raised a brow and gestured expectantly for her to speak.

Reluctantly, she did. “Davina is still a Rollins. We cannot prove she is truly separated from her father just yet. She bought the gambling den he owned.”

“Word is she cut him out.” Kaz countered. “Her lieutenant was quite excited about that bit. And, well, he did shoot her.”

“Taking one piece of Rollins’ holdings isn’t enough.”

Brick by brick. That was how he had planned to take down Pekka Rollins. And that was exactly what Davina had done. One brick.

“No, but it’s a start.”

“What do you know about her?” Inej stepped closer, a new fire sparking her eyes. “Why does it matter if they’re useful? I don’t think she’d truly ally her snakes with anyone.”

He wanted to tell Inej. He wanted to tell her that Davina was the first friend he had in the Barrel. That she and him had something good, something not even her father could corrupt. He wanted to say that Davina haunted him, day in and day out. She was the little voice in his head that kept hold of his humanity and shoving it to the forefront when he needed it. But he didn’t.

How could he?

Snakes and Crows never did get along.

“We have the advantage over Davina.” He said instead. “Our numbers are better but I’d argue her coffers are better padded. And her snakes may not be helpless, though I doubt they have real strength yet.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I’d like you to deliver a message to Davina.”

Her brows raised in question.

“If she wants to keep that gambling den, she’ll be paying a tax to the Dregs.”

“You think putting her under Haskell’s thumb a bit will pacify her?”

“No. Something tells me her father’s downfall would be the only thing for that.” In that, he understood her.

“Then why?”

He gave a small shrug. “Maybe it’ll humble her. It was you who said her pride would be the Hood’s downfall, didn’t you? It’s the same for Davina.”

“How are you so certain, Kaz?”

“She’s yet to prove me wrong.” Briefly, he thought of that night near the canals.

“Is it even midnight?” She practically laughed, just before the bells. “Oh Saints.”

“Let that be a lesson. I’m almost never wrong.”

He shoved the thought away and focused back on Inej. “Tomorrow night, I ask you to deliver a message from the Dregs to meet. We’ll use the square. I doubt after whatever happened in the Emerald Palace she’d be willing to come to us, and I’ll be damned to go to her. Her Hood is too crafty to allow any advantage.”

He thought of how she broke free the night he had her. How she dove into the canals. How she’d even escaped the Wraith.

“She’d never let us in her snakes’ den.” Inej shook her head. “You’ll have to tell Per Haskell.”

“Yes, I’ll deal with the old man.” He waved a hand.

“Could she get to Stadwatch?”

“Even if she could, she won’t. She can’t make that kind of show of force whether she wants to or not.”

“The Hood spoke as if Davina knew you.” Inej pointed out. “Tell me how you know her.”

“I’m not sure I do.” He said lowly, as if admitting those words would hurt him. And maybe they did. Maybe he needed that hurt to stop the infernal swooning at the thought of her. “And I’m not so sure she knows me at all.”

“Then at least tell me you have a plan.”

“My dearest Inej.” He offered her a near smile. “I always have a plan. We won’t be bested by Davina Rollins or her snakes.”

Meanwhile, you were cursing every decision you had made since you were a child.

You had made it to the safe house and managed to get the bullet out. You cleaned and dressed the wound as best you could before burning the blood soaked gloves. You ate some of the hidden rations and rested, a pitiful and restless night of what barely passed as sleep. The next morning, you dressed in some of the spare clothes.

You kept your pants and wore your vest underneath. You had a rough, worker’s shirt that was two sizes too big but it hid your protection so you didn’t mind. You had a long scarf that you draped over your head and pulled over your mouth.

It made you wish you had stashed Komedie Brute costumes as well. You shrugged your good shoulder, just another thing to add to the list.

You managed to make it to your Healer.

“At least you had the good sense to clean it.” She chastised with her accented Kerch, a light knock to the back of your head before her hands went to work.

“Yes, I seem to have all the good sense the Saints gave a rock.” You rolled your eyes, gripping the shawl in your other hand tightly. You thought your fingers would tear through the fabric.

“You should find a Corporalnik to add to your clutch.” She said, an off handed comment that felt more loaded than it should.

“Are you not my ally?”

“And what happens when you can’t make it across East Stave to find me? You bleed out in some alley and your body is added to the Barge. No, girl, you need someone closer to home.”

“There’s someone you’d like me to take in.” You understood. “Are you certain I could trust them?”

“He’s a good boy.” She promised. “He ran from the Little Palace when I did. I don’t want to send him away but he needs his own funds. I can only provide so much for him.”

“I see… He’s a Healer you said?”

“A gifted one. An average Tailor.”

“What of a Heartrender?”

“Poorly, but he could learn if you need him to.” She hesitantly admitted.

“Would he want to?”

“Using an untrained Heartrender may kill someone you didn’t intend to.”

“Yes, well, at this point I may need to.” You mumbled then winced as the wound burned sharply through your arm. “Hopefully he’s gentler than you.”

“Do you want quick or gentle?” She snapped, pinching your underarm.

You hissed slightly but said nothing. When it was done, you felt only soreness. You pulled your usual payment from your boot but she pushed your hand away.

“Take in my boy.” She said and you saw it in her eyes. A mother’s love, aching to protect her child. It made your chest tight.

“Take the money.” You gently insisted. “I’ll meet him. I may even know someone who can help.”

Maybe befriending Nina Zenik would have an advantage.

“Thank you, Snake.” She nodded, accepting your payment.

“Davina.”

“Myranda.” She nodded once again.

“I’ll come back at ten bells tonight. What’s his name?” You drew your cover over your head.

“Kolya.” She gave you a small smile. “But he likes Kol.”

With that, you were gone. You went back to the snakes and some fussed about your return. Some were quick to assume you were dead, but given your choice of interactions, you didn’t blame them. You simply waved them off, promised you were okay, asked one of them to bring you a proper meal, and went to your office.

Melli was the one to bring it to you and you were thankful for that. She made idle conversation about what you missed. The paperwork was submitted and approved, so you were now the official owner. All that was left would be to name it.

“We could call it something clever but snake related.” She offered. “Like the Viper Pit.”

You made a face.

“Serpent’s Den? Snake Nest?”

“Play with the ‘s’.” You suggested. “Like a snake’s hiss.”

“Oh!” She clapped. “Something like Sss…”

“Snakes are symbols of things like healing, protection, intuition. You get any ideas from that?”

“Hmm. Sixth Sense?”

“And one of the ‘s’ can be a money symbol.”

“Yes! See, this is why we need you.”

You smiled slightly.

“How do you feel?” She asked gently.

“Physically, I feel good. Mentally, I’m exhausted, Mel. Brekker was going to snatch me off the streets. My father shot me. The only good thing that has come from this is that I’ve potentially found a Corporalnik for us.”

“A Heartrender?” Her eyes were wide.

“A Healer.” You corrected. “But he could learn.”

“Where’d you find him?”

“His mother has done a few healing sessions for me, says she wants him to have his own money and that way I have someone ‘closer to home’.”

“What’s his name?”

“You can come with me to meet with him tonight and bring him here. Tomorrow, I’m going to try taking him to Nina Zenik.”

“The Dregs’ Heartrender.”

“I’ve been friendly with her and turns out, she was training with the Second Army for Ravka till she got caught up in a Drüskelle raid.”

“And now she’s in Ketterdam? I thought no one escapes the Fjerdan witch hunters.”

You shrugged. “I didn’t ask, but she’ll teach him.”

“And if she just runs off to Dirtyhands and tells him you’ve recruited a Corporalnik?”

“The only thing left for Kaz to do is to actually kill me.” You shook your head.

“Or me.” She mumbled, picking at a loose thread at her cuff.

“What?”

“You said it yourself. He thinks I’m the Hood.” Her eyes wouldn’t leave her sleeve. “What if he kills me thinking it’s her?”

Your chest tightened at the thought. Imagining Melli at Kaz’s mercy, the cruel things he could do just because he thought she was the Hood. But when you thought of the alley, the way he’d looked at you like he saw through you… And then there was the fleeting way he looked at you like you just hung the moon.

“Melli, you have my word.” You promised. “I’ll slice off each and every one of his cursed fingers if he so much as touches you. Okay?”

She let out a shaky breath and when she looked at you, you saw the tears. You felt a pang of guilt in your chest. Was that all you could give her? A true, warranted fear of Kaz ‘Dirtyhands’ Brekker and a flimsy promise of her safety. Her watery eyes served as a reminder that you had a responsibility to her and every person bearing the mark of your snakes. You had to keep them safe. Whatever war you wanted to wage against your father was yours. The want to ally with Kaz was also yours. They wouldn’t pay for your mistakes or your overzealous attempts at either.

You came around your desk and wrapped your arms around your lieutenant. She held onto you tightly, her fingers digging in as if you’d disappear if she let go. You felt her shuddering breaths shake her shoulders, heard her muffled cries against your shoulder. It all just made your promise more firm.

You refused to allow your snakes to suffer for you.

Later that night, you dawned your hood to meet with Kolya. Melli opted to stay behind and you didn’t press, especially when you noticed her hands still shaking. You offered whatever comfort you could before leaving.

He was already waiting when you got to the familiar building, a bag on his shoulders and a small trunk in his hands. He raised his free hand when he saw your figure and you felt the small increase of your pulse.

“Careful, Kolya.” You said, putting your hands up in surrender. “Your mother says that’s dangerous.”

“Da-“ He began but you shushed him quickly, your pulse settling to its usual pace. “The snake?”

You drew your hood back enough for him to see your face. He stared at you with wide eyes and you took a moment to take him in. Brown curls he had styled back, though one stubborn strand fell out on either side of his part. Dark brown eyes that reflected the moonlight. A tall, lean frame with broad shoulders. He was your age, maybe a year older.

That was a boy you could teach to fight. The idea gave you some hope.

“Come with me.” You said finally, turning to leave. He was quick to get to your side. “Tomorrow, you’ll meet with a potential teacher.”

“My mother told me you lead a small gang.” He said, less of an accent than his mother. You wondered if he had lost it or if he just had a better gift for language. “That you tend to get yourself hurt.”

“Both are true.”

“She also said you wish me a Heartrender.”

“A Healer is more than welcome. What do you wish for yourself?” You glanced at him, noting the sharp angle of his jaw. The lines around his mouth as he frowned.

“Somewhere I can do good.” He said finally, determination in his voice. “My mother told me of the Darkling, how he wanted to use Grisha to change Ravka so he could rule. I don’t want that.”

“Joining me means you’ll still fight, Kolya.” You admitted. “I intend to dismantle an empire and make amends with a boogeyman. I don’t intend to take over Kerch or Ketterdam. I don’t even want the Barrel, just to see the alleged King of the Barrel fall.”

“Are you not the princess, then?” He looked over at you carefully, as if worried he said the wrong thing.

“No.” You shook your head. “I was never intended for his throne.”

“So you’ll tear it down?”

“Brick by brick if I have to, but know that I will never ask any of my snakes to do something I wouldn’t be willing to do myself.”

You felt his hand take yours and you stiffened, but your steps didn’t falter.

“I can’t offer much, yet.” You confessed. “A warm bed, hot meals, safety while you sleep, and a means of your own money. It won’t be easy, nor will the money be substantial for now, but I intend to reward those that deserve it.”

“You needn’t convince me.” He said with a small chuckle and a squeeze to your hand. “My mother says you have a good heart, and I trust her judgment. I will fight beside you, heal your crew, train whatever you need. I know what this is. I am here to join your ranks, Snake.”

“And we’re grateful to have you… Tomorrow, we’ll create the contract. For now,” You took your hand from his when you reached the side door to your building. Melli was waiting on the other side, opening it when you knocked. “Melli will show you to your room.”

He nodded to you before Melli ushered him inside.

“He’s cute!” She mouthed with a grin and you nodded with a small smile.

You took a deep breath through your nose and glanced around. The streets were quiet, as it usually was around your building. But sometimes the quiet was eerie, as it was tonight.

The calm before the storm, maybe. Or it was just calm for once, pieces finally falling into place for you. Yet it made you wonder how things might fall apart next.

The next morning, you waited until after breakfast. Kolya seemed to get along easily with the rest of your snakes and that eased some of your worry. The boy was all smiles as he went around, introducing himself to seemingly everyone.

You called both him and Melli into your office when it was time.

“I suppose I should formally introduce myself.” You began, sitting in your chair. Melli stood beside you and Kolya sat across from you. “My name is Davina. This is Melli, my lieutenant. I am also known as the Hood, who met you last night.”

“I’m Kolya.” He nodded. “But I’d prefer Kol.”

You slid the paperwork towards him. “This is your contract with us. In it, it states the usual bits about loyalty and expectations. It explains how our payouts work, promotions, selection for jobs, incentives, etc. I have to recommend you read it on your own because I’m sure to forget something.”

Kol began to read the papers, his finger following along each line.

“We don’t recruit via buying out other deals, so it’s not a contract you earn your way out of.” Melli added. “There’s a renewal date, about 18 months from signing, so you won’t be paying a portion to the snakes.”

“How do you earn profit then?” Kol looked up for a moment before returning to reading.

“Everything we do, from our gambling hall to running jobs, comes into communal funds. Once a week, we payout the snakes and the rest stays in the coffers for whatever we need as a whole.” You explained. “Food, bills, supplies for jobs, business acquisitions.”

“And how do I go about one of those?” He pointed to the tattoo that was showing thanks to your sleeveless shirt, the snake beginning on your shoulder before creeping down and its head resting on your collarbone.

“Four weeks after signing.”

“Like a probationary period.” Melli nodded.

“Well.” He smiled. “I’m convinced. Davina, Melli, it’d be my honor.”

He signed the papers and you passed over his first payment. He took it with a thankful smile and practically skipped out of the room. You told him to ready himself to meet his potential teacher and that seemed to put even more pep in his step if possible.

“He seems nice.” Melli said once the door shut.

You were filing the paper away. “He does seem to be making friends quickly.” You agreed.

“Davina.” She practically sang and there was a teasing tone in her voice.

“Yes, Melli?” You looked up and saw the mischievous smile on her face. “All the Saints.” You sighed and rested a chin on your hand. “What’s that look for?”

“He’s very cute.”

“Is he?” You pretended you hadn’t noticed.

“And he’s nice. Loyal.”

“Seemingly loyal. We don’t know that for sure yet.”

“He signed on with barely any questions.” She deadpanned. “Don’t you see?”

“That we’ve found a great asset?” You shrugged.

Her eyes went wide and she threw her hands around in a frenzy. “No, Davina! Did you see the way he was looking at you?”

“Don’t start that.” You groaned.

“Maybe… If you get to know him…”

“Melli.” You warned.

“I’m just saying! It might help you get over-“

“Do not say it.” You cut in firmly. “There is nothing between Kaz and I.”

Your mind told you that was a blatant lie but you shoved the thought away, even if it were true.

“Then, please Davina, tell me why you’re so obsessed with that cursed alliance! You know he won’t go for it!”

“It’s more than an alliance.”

“Exactly. You’ve developed an infatuation and I don’t blame you. He’s very pretty but Davina, he’s horrid. You’ve heard what they say about him, the things he’s done.”

“Yes, and I’m daughter of the ‘King of the Barrel’. Who’s to say I’m much better than Brekker? Who’s to say my conscience hasn’t withered to something like his?”

“So you find kinship in him?” She scoffed.

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It does! Your endless fawning is going to get you killed.”

“Enough!” You snapped. “What I hope to gain with Kaz is my personal responsibility. I’ve said that and I will not require you or any of the snakes to partake in it. If I have to leave them in your care for that time being, I will, but I won’t have you pestering me to stop.”

“Pestering.” She repeated and her face fell. “I didn’t realize that’s how you saw me.”

“You don’t understand.” You sighed.

“But you won’t tell me?”

“I can’t… I can’t because the story isn’t only mine to tell.”

She left without another word and you felt the guilt settle in your stomach like a rock. You knew it wasn’t fair to keep that kind of secret from Melli. She was supposed to be your most trusted, yet you kept your biggest motivation a secret. You wondered what Kaz had told Inej or Jesper.

Did they know that he knew you? That you knew his brother? Saints, did they even know he had a brother? Too many questions with no means of an answer. You went back to your room and washed before dressing in something more fitting to wear in Nina’s presence.

You snapped your cloak at your throat, called on Kol, and left your building.

When you arrived at the White Rose, you were led almost immediately to Nina. It seemed coming on a fairly regular schedule had earned you more priority. You liked the feeling of importance as you were led to Nina’s room.

“I come with a gift.” You said as Kol shut the door behind him.

She gasped. “Waffles?”

“Ah, ‘fraid not.” You clicked your tongue, pulling your hood down, and she huffed in disappointment. “But you may be more interested in this, Nina Zenik.”

“I do prefer silks or jewels as my flattery.” She said in thought. She seemed to finally register Kol. “You brought a friend? I’m surprised you have any.”

“Oh hush.” You waved a hand. “I brought you a student.”

“He’s Grisha? Corporalki?”

You stepped aside and motioned for Kol to take over.

“Yes, Miss.” He nodded. “My name is Kol and I am Grisha, from the Little Palace. I am a Healer mainly, but my mother says I can Tailor well and have potential as a Heartrender, if I can find a true teacher.”

She stared at him for a moment before she smiled slightly. “I do vaguely remember you…” She turned to you. “You want me to teach him?”

“I’d appreciate it.” You nodded. “I know you have obligations to the Dregs, so I don’t ask this as a snake.”

“Have you joined her ranks?” Nina asked Kol.

“If she’ll have me.” He nodded.

“Why?”

He looked at you and you could see what Melli meant that morning. Big, soft eyes and a gentle, almost admiring smile. You returned the small smile and nodded in encouragement.

“It was my mother’s idea.” He confessed. “She has worked with her a time or two, and my mother has always been a good judge of character. Never quite trusted the Darkling or his ambitions, but enjoyed the perks of the Little Palace.”

“We all have our vices.” Nina shrugged.

“I enjoy helping people, but I also like a good fight.” His eyes seemed to shine at the prospect. “That’s part of why we left Ravka. Mother said I’d be of too much interest for the Darkling. So it seems the Hood and the snakes can give exactly what I’m looking for.”

“Hmm.” She thought, lounging on her velvet couch. “Oh, alright. You’ve wooed me with those glittering eyes of yours. I’ll teach him.”

You and Kol smiled at her.

“But-“ She pointed at you. “I expect waffles. Or candies. Better yet, both.”

“I will make a note for next time, but for now, I hope this will do.” You laughed and dropped the money on the table. “Thank you, Nina. And you know I have to ask…”

She waved a hand. “I don’t have to tell Brekker anything I don’t want to. Now, leave us.” She shooed you away.

“As you wish.” You pulled your hood up. “I’ll wait for you outside, Kol.”

“Thank you.” He nodded and the excitement shone in his eyes.

You went outside and took a deep breath. The bustling crowds moved around you, some bumping your shoulder. You saw street performers shouting and dancing, magicians and illusionists. You saw kids trying to pick pockets. Some succeeded, some were scolded.

For the first time in a long time, you felt successful.

You had a Healer. You had a teacher for your Healer to expand his talents. You had a new business.

Maybe you could do this. Maybe you did have a chance.

All you needed was to settle up with Kaz.

“Speak of the Devil.” You muttered as you saw the black clad menace making his way over, the crowd parting as he moved through. The tapping of his cane grew closer and you tried to flatten against the wall. You tilted your head down in hopes of him passing you by, but he stopped right in front of you. You cursed silently and lifted your eyes.

“Fancy meeting you here, Da-“ He began.

When you heard the first syllable of your name, you reacted. You gripped his jacket with one hand and clasped your hand over his mouth as you pulled him into the nearest alley.

[thexsilentxwordsmith]

Hiii, hope you're doing well.

We've really really missed you’re writing please tell me there's more projects you're working on?

No pressure ofc, i just missed your writing

Hope you're okay x🫶🏻

Thank you for the kindness, I have been in serious need of it lately.

I promise that I have missed you all so, so much just as much as you have missed me. Life has just gotten in the way of so much and it has made things difficult for me. Not gonna make excuses because that isn't me. I also promise that I have not stopped writing though, it's just been a hell of a lot slower than it was.

I have several projects coming down the line, I am just trying to kind of have a few things ready before I start posting so that I can set up a more steady flow of work. Cause if you think I'm going anywhere, you're wrong. I am still wanting to make all our Simon Riley fantasies come true.

So, how about a little excerpt from a piece that I'm working on to tantalize?

This is from a fic that will be titled: Closing Time. It's a friends to lovers piece and this is the moment that everything goes down.

Those full lips of his ghost themselves over your own until the proximity makes you tremble from the seduction and your eyes flutter shut a moment as let yourself succumb to the anticipation of when exactly he will break the distance. He waits on baited breath until your eyes slowly flit back open and your gaze meets his before he finishes his thought. “I wanna make ya mine so fuckin’ bad, luv.”

A smile crosses over your mouth as you hold his longing stare. You know he’s giving you an out, a way to step away if this isn’t really what you want, but from the moment your lips met back at the bar, there was no turning from this. “Then what are you waiting for?” you ask in the softest whisper as you can almost taste his breath from the proximity.

You hear the deep breath he intakes before all at once he leans into you in a frenzy, not able to hold back that overwhelming tension for another second. The grip from his large hand palming through your hair is strong and keeps your head safe as he shoves you both into the wall, his firm torso pressing tightly into your curves as the brunt of his need and months of pent up longing is forced upon your lips with a feverish intensity that makes you instantly lose yourself as explosions like fireworks light up inside your mind.

Over and over he captures your mouth with aggression until your lips start to burn from the friction the harder he presses into them. You try to draw in air, but his frenzied advances on your mouth makes it almost impossible to breathe; still, you wouldn’t let him pull away even if he tried. The sparse dusting of brown stumble along his jaw pricks your cheeks and the skin around your mouth as the taste of the whiskey that he had just downed for courage floods the inside of your mouth from his breath and it hits your tongue with its sharp bite.

Your own hands decide they need to explore the man currently devouring your lips and you run up the back of his muscular neck to the bottom of his mask only for your fingertips to be met with cropped hair at the back of his head. The feeling of your fingers brushing over the short strands near the nape of his neck makes him shiver as the pleasure of the act snakes down his spine and you sigh into his mouth.

Lt. Riley is completely and utterly captivated by you…and he needs more.

Stay tuned my dears because we have got some good things coming. You can count on it!

[littlemissmentallyunstable]

@shattered-glass-roses

HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYY MADDDIEEE AHHHHH 💋😘

I HOPE U LITERALLY HAVEEE THE BEST DAY EVER ✨💓💗💕 YOU DESERVE THE WORLD AND MORE AND NEVER FORGET IT 😘🥰😘🥰😘🥰😘

YOU WILL FOREVER BE THE MAX TO MY AVERY, THE LIA TO MY CASSIE AND THE BEAUTIFUL AMAZING SWEET MADDIE TO MY BELLA ✨💗💖💕💘🥰 I LOVE YOU SO MUCH GURL

I HOPE YOU HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY AND THE WORLD, HERE’S MY GIFT TO YOU…

title: maddie’s birthday

pairing: rohan mercy x maddie

Sunlight kissed the bedsheets as it desperately reached past the limits of the curtains. A golden haze spilled over the two bodies, curled up against each other, enough to wake one but not the other.

Rohan could only gaze at the girl lying in his arms. He didn’t think it was even possible to physically hold perfection until he’d met Maddie. She simply captivated him, in every way. From every delicate eyelash on her eyes to her rounded lips. Everything.

He smiled to himself as he gently brushed the hair from her face, trailing his fingers through the length, his fingers sliding past any loose knots with ease. Over and over he allowed the silky strands envelope his fingertips, repeating the day he had planned in his head over and over, until the action became absentminded, a second nature.

He glanced down again at her face, with the hair brushed from it now he could see all of her features so clearly. Softly he traced its contours with the most tender touch, resisting the urge to lean down and plant a kiss of her lips or forehead or nose one too many times.

In the silence of the morning, only broken occasionally by bird song and the odd car driving past, Rohan had almost too much time to think. His eyes fixated on Maddie and only she consumed his thoughts, not that she wouldn’t have done if he wasn’t looking at her.

She was bathed in the golden light streaming through the window, looking more goddess than girl. Rohan thought it was the perfect way for nature to describe her with a halo of liquid sunlight surrounding her.

He often felt like the luckiest man alive which wasn’t a feeling Rohan was accustomed to, given his childhood and time at the Devil’s Mercy. In fact he thought that luck might never be on his side. That was before he met Maddie.

Maddie was more than just the girl he was irrevocably in love with, she was his saviour. It was the first time he’d understood what it felt like to be loved and to love someone back even harder. She opened his eyes and heart which was a gift Rohan thought he could never repay her for.

He began to trace small circles up her left arm therapeutically, before he noticed the twitch in her lips. A soft sort of smile spread in her state of between sleep and being awake until her eyes fluttered open and adjusted to the golden hue of the room.

“Good morning darling,” Rohan smiled, his fingertips still drawing circles at the top of her arm.

She giggled, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, “morning.”

Her reply was sleepy, her words all mushing into one. Rohan found it adorable.

“You look so beautiful,” he murmured, eyes glued to her figure as if they are struggling to move away.

“Stop it,” she groaned burying her face into a pillow, muffling her reply, “you’re such a liar, I’ve just woken up!”

“And yet,” Rohan said, lifting Maddie’s head from the pillow and into his hands, “you’re still the most gorgeous person I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

“You flatter me too much,” she replied with a loving smile, letting the weight of her tired head fall into his palms.

“Happy birthday, my love,” he whispered, placing his lips on hers and indulging her into a morning kiss.

The motion was soft, almost velvety. He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his body, the other hand working through her hair. They littered one another in gentle, sweet kisses before Rohan softly pulled away and walked towards the bedroom door.

“Where are you going?” Maddie cocked her head to the side, big confused eyes staring back at him.

“Why?” a smirk flashed across his face, “don’t you want me to?”

“I think we both know the answer to that,” she replied quietly, tugging his arm in attempts to get him back.

He smiled, curling his fingers around her palm, “meet me downstairs when you’re dressed,” he said ominously, a knowing smugness glittering in his eyes.

“Or…” she said, elongating the sound, “you could stay here.”

He paused, pretending to ponder it, “…nope!”

Her eyebrows pinched together as she tried to read his expression, “what are you up to?” she asked.

“No questions,” he responded, with a very Rohan grin, “you’re not allowed.”

“It’s my birthday,” she scoffed, “aren’t I supposed to be allowed to do whatever I want?”

“I said no questions,” he repeated with glee, “see you soon my love.”

“Rohan-“ she giggled, getting cut off with a quick kiss on the lips.

“No questions,” he sang as he spun around and left.

Alone in their room, Maddie laid back down. This was the first birthday she’d had with Rohan and already proving to be her favourite courtesy of good morning kisses.

Deep in thought, she realised one thing, she didn’t have a clue what to wear. She had a wardrobe full of clothes but what occasion was she dressing for, if she didn’t know Rohan’s plans then how could she coordinate an outfit.

She walked to the bedroom door opening it until it was only the slightest bit ajar and called out, “what am I meant to wear?”

Rohan’s voice floated back up the staircase only moments later, “whatever you want.”

“That’s not very helpful,” Maddie grumbled going to shut the door before something or rather someone pushed it back open.

“Who said I was helpful,” Rohan shrugged, suddenly making an appearance emerging from downstairs.

“Seriously Rohan,” she sighed, folding her arms.

“I’m being dead serious,” he winked, “wear whatever you’d like.”

“But what if it doesn’t match you or it’s too fancy or not fancy enough or-“

“No questions,” he said once more. Maddie couldn’t tell if it was annoying her or making her laugh.

“But-“

“Wear whatever and I’ll match you,” he shrugged, “sorted. Nothing is too fancy or not fancy enough. Just be you and it’ll all be perfect.”

Maddie couldn’t help it when the heat rose to her cheeks giving them a rosy tinge, so she ignored it and instead narrowed her eyes at him.

“What are you trying to work out,” he asked, tilting his head sideways.

She only grinned, unable to bite back the quick response, “no questions.”

He chuckled, a low sound from the back of his throat before tilting her chin up and placing a kiss on her lips. Then, as fast as before, he left again and Maddie was stood by a now shut door.

She shook her head with a small smile as she approached her wardrobe, flinging the large doors open. She wanted to wear something she loved, that made her feel special and brought her joy. Immediately she knew what dress she wanted.

Her eyes fell to a deep blue dress with fabric that flowed down with the illusion of an ocean. She’d fallen in love with it the moment she’d seen it in a display window and she would dare say that she’d fallen even harder now. Excited, she slipped into it, each edge of fabric clinging to her body as if it were cut exactly to fit her. Sapphire ripples of material enveloped her like waves. It was definitely her dress.

She then styled her hair before finally pairing the dress with some white heels and simple jewellery. Classy and pretty. She took a step back and admired herself in the full length mirror that stood in the corner. She felt amazing.

She cupped her hands around her mouth calling down the stairs, “I’m ready!”

Maddie waited, listening to Rohan’s approaching footsteps. She stood behind the door, a little away so when it opened it wouldn’t smack her straight in the face. From previous expense she’d unfortunately learnt that it was a painful experience. She smoothed down the waves of blue one final time, adjusting her hair again in the mirror with a small smile settled on her lips. The door opened slowly and on the other side there he stood.

Rohan stopped in his tracks. There weren’t many things in life that could make a man like him stop and stare but Maddie had always been one of them, especially now. All the air was momentarily sucked from his lungs but he didn’t desire oxygen, only to drink in every detail of her.

She was more than gorgeous, more than stunning, more than pretty. He struggled to find a word to describe her, none fit right, all were understatements. He took a mental picture of her in his dress with those shoes, that hair and her stunning smile. He knew already he’d revisit this mental picture every day until he died.

“You’re beautiful,” he managed to murmur, barely getting the words out.

“Didn’t you already tell me that this morning?” she smiled softly, “come on Rohan, you can’t reuse compliments like that.”

She radiated something like sunshine, yet it burned brighter, bolder. He didn’t know how she quite managed it.

“There’s not enough words,” he said, “to even begin to describe you.”

“Are you flirting with me?” Maddie teased, taking a step closer. The smell of her sweet perfume intoxicating him.

He tilted his head to the side, “maybe I am.”

“Hmmm,” she pondered, closing the place between them even further, “I hate to break it to you, but you’re really not my type.”

Rohan chuckled darkly, “oh really? I don’t recall you saying that before.”

“Yeah well,” she said, with love struck eyes, “I just felt sorry for you.”

“Why don’t you feel sorry for me again, just for today,” he grinned, “a man like me deserves a little pity every now and then.”

She laughed and then suddenly came to a realisation, “wait, you’re in a suit!”

He looked down, pretending to check his attire, “I am.”

She whacked his arm lightly, “how did you know it’d match me?”

“I didn’t, but I took an educated guess,” Rohan smirked, “believe it or not Maddie, I know you better than you know yourself and therefore it was a prediction that you’d pick this dress.”

“Sometimes I’m convinced you can read minds,” she said, as his arms found their way to her waist.

“Maybe I can,” he shrugged, “trick of the Mercy.”

“I’ll work it out someday,” she replied, determination flickering through her eyes for a fraction of a second.

“I have no doubt you will,” he agreed, kissing her forehead gently, “now, care to join me downstairs.”

He extended his arm out, to which she happily took hold of. The two of them walked downstairs together and Rohan guided her towards another shut door.

“Close your eyes,” he murmured, untangling his arm from hers and standing behind her.

She could feel his soft breath on the back of neck, the motion tickling her evoking a small giggle. She closed her eyes slowly, plunging herself into darkness.

Maddie felt as he moved away from her back and opened the door in front of her. She heard a brief rustling before Rohan’s steady voice once again.

“Hands out…”

Biting back an even wider smile, Maddie opened her arms out. Something was placed in them, weighted but not heavy. There was a plastic-y feel to it.

“You can open your eyes now,” he said softly.

A bouquet of perfect roses lay in her outstretched hands, the prettiest, deepest of reds, all full and bloomed. The sweet scent of them delicately floated through the air around reminding Maddie of the rose water perfume she used to make as a child.

“Oh my gosh! I love them!” she exclaimed, rising on her tiptoes and kissing him on the cheek, “thank you!”

“You’re welcome princess,” he said, guiding her into the room further.

Maddie hadn’t even realised the decorations until she’d looked around for the second time. Navy blue and gold balloons were scattered all over the room, a smooth tablecloth was set on the table and there were banners hung from doors and shelves. She squealed in joy and flung herself into his arms to show her gratitude. Had Rohan not had the reflexes he did they would’ve both been in trouble, but he caught her with ease, laughing at her reaction.

Golden stars hung from the ceiling on the strings, each engraved with words Maddie noticed. She walked towards them and tentatively took one between her fingers to read it.

21st July - the day I realised I loved you

“We were at the beach,” he murmured softly from behind her, “and those kids wanted someone to bury under the sand and I couldn’t bring myself to turn them down, so they-“

“Buried you under the sand,” she finished, “and turned you into a mermaid, you had a tail and everything.”

“And you were laughing at me,” he continued, “trying not to, but dismally failing.”

She turned to face him, smooth chocolate eyes glued to his, “and that’s when you fell in love with me?”

He shook his head gently, “no I think I’ve been in love with you since the day I met you Mads, but I only realised that day. When I saw you there laughing I realised what all the feelings meant, what you meant to me.”

“You’re going to make me cry,” she mumbled, glossy eyed as she bit the inside of her cheek.

“Don’t cry,” Rohan replied, cupping her face in his hands, “I hate it when you cry.”

Silently she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face into the crook of his neck. Naturally he encased her into his chest, his arms resting on the small of her back, muscles tight against her sides.

“Thank you so so much,” she whispered in his ear.

“You don’t need to thank me my love,” he grinned pulling away to kiss the top of her head, “I’m glad you like it.”

“Like is an understatement,” she sniffed, eyes skimming over a few more of the stars, each with a date and a memory on them.

They were all so beautifully crafted, a gift straight from a bleeding, beating heart. This was one hundred percent going into her top ten life moments.

“So…” Rohan said, “I may or may not have a few things planned.”

“Ooo,” she replied, mocking his British accent, “do tell kind sir.”

He shook his head with a smirk, “I went for the element of surprise this year.”

“Interesting,” she narrowed her eyes.

“So sometime after breakfast, when you feel like it, we’re going to get in the car and I’m going to take you somewhere,” he explained.

“Let me guess,” Maddie sighed, “I don’t get to know the somewhere.”

He smiled broadly giving her the answer before the words even left his lips. She sighed.

“You’re getting good at this little game Maddie,” he replied.

***

After breakfast, Maddie was anxious to find out the mystery location so naturally wanted to get going as soon as possible, which Rohan had predicted, not that he’d told her that.

So they wrapped up in long coats and scarves and walked to the car. It was one of those cold days in January that is both icy and sunny at the same time. Freezing but glistening with beauty.

The drive, to Maddie, was like one elongated pain staking road that lasted for eternity. She was currently playing a silent guessing game with herself: ‘where is Rohan taking me?’ She listed about a hundred different places it could be but when he didn’t make the turning or exit the road the way she thought he might she discarded the idea.

“Are we nearly there?” she asked, feeling as much like an impatient child as she sounded

He laughed, “nearly.”

What Maddie found odd was that she recognised every road but couldn’t work out where they might lead to. Eventually they wound up on a street she knew very well. As the car stopped excitement blossomed in her chest.

She looked at Rohan with her eyebrows raised, “we’re outside a bookstore…”

“Yes,” he nodded, not giving any of his so called ‘plans’ away, “we are.”

“My favourite bookstore in the whole world,” she continued, unable to contain her happiness.

“I’m glad you noticed,” Rohan grinned, adoring to see her so bouncy, so glowy.

“On my birthday,” she said.

His eyes flickered the screen of his phone as it flashed up the date, “uh-huh it does seem it is that day.”

“What are we doing here then?” she asked him.

“You’ll see,” he replied ominously.

“But-“

“You have got to stop asking questions Maddie, love,” he smiled slyly as he stepped out of the car. He swiftly walked around and opened the door for her, extending his hand. Gratefully she took it, letting herself be guided out.

“It’s not my fault I’m curious when I’m being left in the dark,” she told him, continuing the conversation.

“You’re so overdramatic,” Rohan rolled his eyes as he began to walk towards the entrance of the bookshop.

Maddie gaped and stared at him, “says the biggest drama queen in the world!”

“I am not,” he replied quickly, his cheeks colouring slightly.

“Need I remind you of the spider incident,” she asked, raising a challenging eyebrow.

His face heated up further, turning a deeper shade of red. Maddie thought it was adorable.

“It was massive,” he defended.

“It was the tiniest spider I’ve ever seen,” she rolled her eyes, proving the size with the width of her fingers. He gently slapped them away.

“It was crawling towards me,” Rohan shuddered, “what did you want me to do, let it eat me alive?”

She snorted, shaking her head.

“Imagine your life without me,” he said trying to further prove the point, as if being eaten alive by a spider was a perfectly plausible fear to have.

“It’s what I dream about,” she winked back.

His jaw hung slack in offence and Maddie could only giggle at his expression. An odd warmth flooded through the left side of Rohan’s chest when she did, a sound so beautiful and melodic he wished its play on repeat forever, just like the image of her walking out in that dress this morning.

“Only joking,” Maddie stuck her tongue out playfully, “you’re alright I suppose,” she joked once more.

“I’m abused,” he deadpanned, shaking his head sadly.

“You don’t mind it though,” she said with a lopsided grin, “do you?”

“If it means I get it look in your eyes every day, not one bit,” he said, stopping in his tracks as he pulled her in closer. Softly he brushed his lips over hers as she returned the gesture.

“You, Rohan,” she muttered, once they’d pulled away, “are something else.”

He tugged her hand and guided her into the bookshop, not that she was complaining about that. She took in the rows upon rows of shelves of books and felt right a home. Slowly Maddie inhaled, the sheer smell of books intoxicated her into feeling the urge to buy the whole damn store. Heaven. It was heaven.

“I feel like I’m home,” she murmured, not realising she’d even said the words aloud before they’d left her lips.

He smiled softly.

“I know I’m being cheesy,” she said sheepishly, cheeks a little pink, too pink to just blame them on the cold, “but let me have this.”

“I love how cheesy you are,” he shrugged, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

She scrunched her face up, “liar.”

“No, I do,” he said earnestly, “really.”

She kissed his cheek again gently before he spun her around to face him, a spark igniting in his eyes.

“Okay,” he said, “first challenge, are you ready?”

Maddie raised a brow in question, “challenge?”

“You have two minutes to run around and pick out as many books you want,” he grinned.

Maddie only felt her excitement grow. She was in a stunning dress, in the centre of a bookstore with the world’s best boyfriend on her birthday being offered a book buying challenge. What could get better than this?

“What’s the catch?” she asked, never play with a Mercy boy without asking the catch.

“After the two minutes, that’s it,” he replied, “so choose wisely.”

She grimaced, “no pressure then.”

“None at all,” Rohan said smoothly.

“When does my time start?” Maddie asked, realising suddenly she didn’t even have a watch to time herself.

“Now!”

Her eyes widened and she immediately started running. She’d been her one too many times and knew exactly what she was looking for. Immediately she regretted choosing white heels of all shoes to wear but pushed through, feeling like one of her favourite book heroines running around in a ballgown for dear life. She speedily collected a bunch from the YA section before sprinting to romance section with only thirty seconds left to spare.

She couldn’t help but laugh as she did, Rohan was behind her the whole time, running as well with a basket in his hand for her to unload books into. She wondered how they looked to the other customers, probably like a couple of lunatics. They were both dressed in formal wear, running around a bookstore laughing, practically clearing shelves of their contents.

But Maddie didn’t even care, she felt like she was living in a scene from one of her romance books and that was the best gift anyone couldn’t ever given her. Breathless and arms full of books she returned to Rohan when he called time.

He was ready with his basket for the book overload, “happy?” he asked, nodding to her pile.

“Are you kidding!” she squealed, still panting a little, “this is crazy, I have enough books for who knows how long here!”

Rohan eyed what she placed in the basket with a conflicted look on his face. He pursed his perfect lips, “I’m not sure it’s enough.”

“What do you mean?” Maddie stared in question.

“I think you could pick out a few more,” he shrugged lightly.

She raised her eyebrows, “but you said that would be it.”

“I lied,” he smiled with a quick wink, “second challenge, you can get as many books as you can carry in your arms in one journey from here and back.”

Her cheeks flushed, “seriously?”

“Do I look like I’m kidding,” Rohan asked, his sincere face on.

“Are you aware of how expensive books are?” Maddie asked him.

He leant back into the shelf behind him with his arms folded, “are you aware that I don’t care?”

“Rohan-“

“Money isn’t of any consequence to me sweetheart,” he said, “go and get more books.”

Maddie bit the bottom of her lip to stop her smile from getting any wider for fear her jaw might dislocate, “I seriously love you right now.”

“Why thank you,” he replied, “I’ll remind you that you said that when I forget to do the washing.”

“I’m still convinced you forget on purpose,” she tusked.

“I do,” he shrugged with a playful smirk.

“You cheeky little-“

“Books, carry, now, go.”

He spun her around and gave her a gentle shove forwards.

“Fine,” she said, looking back over her shoulder, “but we’re coming back to this conversation later.”

Rohan didn’t reply so Maddie took the opportunity to have a deeper look. Unlike the last round, this time she could actually take her time and choose some books she really wanted to read. She only began to realise how difficult this challenge was when she realised she had so many books she’d have to carry them with both arms, not allowing her a third arm to pick up more books.

So, after a few questionable improvised moves she decided that there was no possible way she could hold anymore. Her arms physically burnt under the weight of them all.

“Done?” Rohan asked as she approached him.

“Uh-huh,” she strained, struggling to speak under the heaviness.

He chuckled and took them from her adding them all to a second basket.

“I think this is a library’s worth,” she told him, admiring them already.

“Are you excited?” he said.

“Excited doesn’t even cover a fraction of how I feel right now,” she exclaimed.

He pulled her face into hers, indulging in her taste in the middle of surrounded by romance books.

“Good,” he said against her lips, as they ended the kiss.

“I can’t believe you even-“

“Ba ba ba ba,” he raised a hand to stop her , “we’re not done yet.”

“How can we not be done yet?” she laughed, brushing hair from her face as her eyes scanned over the two full baskets of books they already had.

“For the final challenge,” he grinned, “you can buy as many books as you can manage to balance on your head, but the one that makes them all fall over, you can’t keep.”

Maddie laughed, “you’re crazy!”

“Well I’m channelling my inner Maddison,” he shrugged.

“I hate to say it but you’re doing a really good job,” she replied, picking her first book and balancing it on her head.

He laughed lightly and watched she added more and more. She walked around, arms out, taking small and graceful steps so she could reach the books she wanted without jeopardising the ones on her head.

Rohan stared at her, now six books balanced on her head and the brightest of fires burning in her eyes. He wished he could write this moment on one of the golden stars currently hanging in their kitchen.

“You look stunning,” he smiled, eyes never leaving her figure.

“I feel like I’m in finishing school,” she snorted, carefully taking a seventh book from the shelf in attempts to balance it, but it was one too many and the pile toppled over.

Luckily between them, they caught the falling books and none were damaged in the process. The six Maddie had managed to sustain on her head Rohan added to the badge.

“Ready to pay or do you want to browse some more?” he offered.

“I’m ready,” she nodded, almost overwhelmed with the sheer amount of books she now had.

“Let’s go then,” he grinned, kissing her cheek as he lifted the baskets, practically spilling over with books.

“Rohan, are you serious?” she made sure, touching his upper arm.

He flicked his wallet from his pocket, “does this look serious?”

“You’re going to go broke,” Maddie shook her head, chuckling.

“Oh sweetheart, do you know my connections?” he scoffed, “I’m with the devil’s mercy, even if I were going to go broke, I wouldn’t.”

***

Maddie stood back looking an entire set of shelves now full of books, all new, all beautiful, all hers. She could barely believe it, the moment didn’t feel real.

“I still can’t believe you actually got me all of them,” she hummed. admiring her full shelf, “my tbr is now actually infinite.”

“Worth every penny to see your smile,” Rohan said, pulling her down onto his lap.

“Well if you wanted to see my smile,” she murmured, “you could’ve just asked.”

“Can I taste it instead?” he whispered.

“If you can stop staring,” she replied, a soft giggle the back of her throat.

The kiss started off as a slow gently movement, sweet and drawn out. Each collision a delicate touch, sending fluttering feelings all through their bodies. Rohan deepened the kiss, hands gripping the small of her back. The passion and heat rose up a level and the kisses became more rapid, more feverish. Maddie’s heart thumped in her chest going at double speed.

Eventually, realising they needed air again the kisses slowed, going back to the gentle motions from the beginning, allowing them to regain some oxygen back and not fully break away. When they finally did, Maddie found herself curled up against Rohan’s chest, his arms tightly around her.

She thought back to the stars in the kitchen, how the 21st of July was the first time Rohan realised he’d fallen in love with her. She’d fallen so long before, 18th of March she recalled.

He’d taken her to the beach and the two of them were sat on a towel watching the sunset. She remembered how he’d smiled at her, how special it made her feel. She saw so vividly the exact second she realised all those stories about just knowing ‘the one’ were all too real.

“Do you want cake,” Rohan murmured into her neck, reeling her in from the pleasant memory, like awaking her from a dream she was desperate to go back to sleep to restart again.

She pulled away from him, to meet his eye, “cake?” she questioned.

“Usually on birthdays there’s a cake right?” he asked in reply.

She laughed, “you know what I mean.”

He beamed, lifting her up over his shoulder. She gasped and clung tight to his arms upside down. Through fits of laughter she managed to ask to be put down but Rohan pretended he didn’t understand what she was saying and carried her all the way to the kitchen.

Eventually he placed her down in front of the table on which a mysterious white box had appeared. She glanced at Rohan and he gave a her a subtle nod telling her to open it. Slowly she lifted the lid from the box and the four cardboard walls also dropped revealing a perfect red velvet cake inside.

The layers were light and fluffy, a beautiful red that reminded Maddie of her roses from the morning. The layers of cake were sandwiches together with decadently thick helpings of white frosting. The decoration on top was so flawless, she couldn’t even believe it was all edible.

“Did you make this?” she asked in awe.

“Yes,” he said quickly.

“Liar liar pants on fire,” she sang in a teasing tone, of course she already knew before she asked that he never made it.

Rohan and cooking were not two words you found in the same sentence unless joined with a negative words, like burnt or destroyed.

“Fine so maybe I got Gigi to ask Grayson to ask Jameson to ask Avery to ask Libby to make it,” he said with an eye roll, “but I did try to make it.”

Maddie but the inside of her cheek to stop her laughter, “and how did that one go?”

He sighed looking pained to admit it, “remember the night before last when you stayed at Avery’s?”

“Yeah?” Maddie said, curiosity gnawing at her insides.

“There was a reason,” he said.

She grinned, “care to delve into that one?”

“Maybe at my funeral, darling,” he responded, making her laugh airily.

“Why at your funeral,” she replied.

“Because a) you can’t speak ill of the dead,” he explaining putting up one finger, “and b) if I tell you before it might cause my funeral.”

She tipped her head back and giggled airily, “you know I’m literally going to ask Avery later.”

“She’ll lie for me,” he shrugged smoothly, knowing full well that it was a complete nonsense.

“No she won’t,” she replied.

“Believe me, she doesn’t even want you knowing what went down in that kitchen,” he scoffed.

“Hmmm,” she hummed, folding her arms giving him a quizzical stare, “sure.”

“Come on, I’m putting on a movie so we can eat cake,” Rohan said.

“You’re changing the subject,” she said, tapping the end of his nose with her index finger.

“How about Wicked?” he responded, ignoring her comment.

Maddie stopped in her tracks, “but you hate that movie, you whine like a child that’s been told to eat their vegetables whenever I put it on.”

“Then agree before I change my mind,” he shrugged coolly.

She stuck her tongue out and grabbed two plates, “fine.”

***

The credits rolled across the screen, music soft in the background. Two plates now only covered in red crumbs and smudges of icing sat on the table. The cake had been the best thing she’d ever eaten and she made a mental note to show Libby her gratitude.

Maddie had her head of Rohan’s shoulder, far too comfortable to bother to reach for the control to change the endless list of names on her screen. Rohan smiled down at her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.

“You’re cute when you’re sleepy,” he murmured.

“I’m not sleepy,” she protested, still not moving betraying her true state, “just comfortable.”

“So comfortable your eyes are closing, huh?” he laughed.

“Exactly,” she stuck her tongue out before nuzzling further into him.

“Well don’t fall asleep just yet,” he said, reaching into his back pocket.

Curious, Maddie perked up, sitting upright, eyeing the mystery. Rohan produced a box and handed it to her with a trademark smile.

“Happy birthday, beautiful.”

Her jaw hung slack as the delicate box is placed in her palm, “but you already got me books!”

“So?” he shrugged, “I like spoiling you, you deserve it.”

“I love you,” she replied, gazing at him practically with hearts in her eyes.

“I love you too,” he grinned, adoring how she looked in this moment, “but I know the curiously is killing you so just open the box, sweetheart.”

He was, of course, right on the money again. Her curiosity was washing its way through her bloodstream and straight to her brain. Slowly she undid the ribbon tying it altogether and gently removed the lid from the box.

Inside was the most gorgeous necklace she’d ever seen. The most delicate silver chain with a silver heart charm on it. The charm had tiny sparkling jewels on it, each glinted in the light.

“Rohan I don’t even know what to say,” she gasped, not able to tear her eyes away from the sheer beauty of it.

“That’s okay,” he murmured, “last time I checked kissing didn’t require any conversation.”

Maddie smiled, “I suppose you’re right.”

Their faces neared and they fell into a rhythm of small, sweet kisses. They were gentle and kind. Maddie wondered if he could feel her gratitude as much as she meant it.

“I love you,” she said breathlessly.

“Not as much as I love you,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her.

MADDIE I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THISSS 💗💗 I LOVE YOU SO SO MUCHHH

THANK YOU FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE TO TALK AND BEING SUPPORTIVE OF ME AND MY WORK!! YOURE ONE OF SWEETEST PEOPLE I KNOWWW 💘💖💓💗 AND IM SO GLAD WE MET

HAPPY BIRTHDAY <33