#so I hope what I ended up with is okay for the most part!

[yes-no-maybe-soo]

Okay so listing the shit Sylus has gone through from memory...

He is heavily implied to have been rejected or outright abandoned by his parents as a very young dragon

He was always an outcast. Not human enough. Not dragon enough.

He cut off his scales and his horns because he hated them so much. But they grew back no matter what he did (again as a child)

The only kin he had got slaughtered right in front of him. Leaving him as the last dragon alive.

The same humans who slaughtered his kin but spared him because of his appearance turn on him the moment they see he is not in fact human and try to kill him. Again, this all happens when he is young.

He is then persecuted by humans until at some point, he ends up sealed in the Abyss, a greatsword lodged in his chest, preventing him from moving freely even down there. He stays like that for 1,600 years, surviving on Wanderer Protocores

He meets MC, who frees him. They fall in love, split half their souls with each other, and are happy. But due to the dragon's curse, Sylus is destined to kill her one day because she is his beloved... or she him, because she is his destined archnemesis.

MC is taken from him. Sylus goes berserk and loses his mind, his dragon instincts taking over fully.

He sacrifices himself for MC last second before he can kill her. Breaking their curse. Giving her a chance at a life free from being used and abused, and himself eternal rest

Only, MC has other plans and curses him to eternal life, essentially. Only she can kill him.

At some point in time, Sylus is reincarnated together with MC in the nebula. There they are both locked up in a gladiatorial cage as mere children, forced to kill for public entertainment. Think Hunger Games.

They successfully escape together, but at a later point in time they are separated by the Deepspace Tunnel or as Sylus says "You were quietly moved to another garden in a foreign land".

Sylus ends up in space-time prison. We don't know how long he spent there or what was done to him, but I doubt it was in any way pleasant or easy.

He escapes and space pirates through the cosmos for MC, who he can probably sense is still out there. He eventually pinpoints her location, but is unable to properly reunite with her... because she has regressed to a young child. He frees her, but walks off... effectively losing her a third time. He also learns of the horrific torture that Gaia put her through. He watches over her from a distance, but never approaches her, valuing her autonomy too much to insert himself. But he waits for her. Hopes – no, knows – that she will find her way to him, if only to seek answers about her past.

The next 12 years – as most of his existence – are spent almost entirely alone, with no one except Mephie for companionship. He has no friends. No family. No close associates. Things do improve with Luke and Kieran's arrival.

14 years after he left her, he meets MC again. But she doesn't remember him, and worse, actively hates him and blames him for the death of her family, of which he had no part.

He is told straight to his face that MC – his soulmate and prime reason for living – rejects him, fears him, and is disgusted by him. Which very visibly hurts him.

Sees the Deepspace Tunnel again and with it, memories of losing MC. Again, the pain on his face is very visible.

In Death and Rebirth, he gets a hurtful reminder that he still doesn't have MC's full trust. And – yet again – the distress is apparent. Because their trust in each other is everything to him.

So... in summary: Sylus has been used, abused, isolated, and locked away for most of his life. He is so unused to kindness and to being treated like a human being that he doesn't know how to react when people wish him happy birthday.

Any care he was shown for the first millennia of his life came exclusively from MC, the one person to actually see him as something other than a Monster. Said soulmate is taken from him twice, tortured and repeatedly killed, her memories of him erased. When they meet again in current timeline, she hates him, and it takes a long time for Sylus to undo the damage of their first meeting.

The man has not had it easy, nor has he gotten to feel much joy.

So it'd be understandable to become bitter. Cruel. Cold.

But he doesn't

Hell, he never even crashes out (as far as we know).

Instead he's compassionate, an animal and nature lover, attends and donates at charity events, takes in the two orphans that tried to kill him, is the King of Consent, very emotionally mature etc.

Sylus is so strong, man... he never lost himself. He never lost his innate kindness despite a life (or lives ig) where nearly none was ever shown him.

[espadieros]

At first you think it's the smoke inhalation getting to you. Then you realise it is curling away from you, creating a pocket of relatively clear air. At the same time, the fire in front of you twists and pulls into a humanoid shape. A person sitting cross-legged in front of you.

"I told you last time this is how it would go eventually."

"Tansyr," you cough through a throat raw from the fumes and screaming. "Why...?"

"Why am I here?" Their firey visage forms a horrifying grin. "Because someone has to tell them."

"Tell who? Tell what?"

"Come on, kid. He just left you. He could save you, even now. But he won't. Because he didn't. Because he never will."

"I don't understand," you croak.

"You will. Though it'll take you a little time." They chuckle. "Okay, a lot of time."

Despite the smoke mostly staying away from you, the air is still thin and your getting light headed. You hope Tansyr will either end it, or get you out soon. But instead they're talking again.

"...Time Weaver's idea, so when you wake up it'll be four years ago. Did you realise today was the anniversary of him taking you on? It's always the anniversary."

They shake their head as you shrug, struggling to focus through the tears.

"You'll think you were having a bad dream but each time you see a flame you'll remember, just a little bit. That's my part. The benefit of being all fire, everywhere, for all time. This is the eighteenth time I've explained this to you, and the most lucid you've been so far."

Their form start to dissipate as the smoke closes in again.

"Weaver assures me you'll only take a few more times around to start looking into fireproofing and, eventually, you won't need him to save you. But you'll let him leave you here just to test the nagging doubts these loops are leaving in your brain. Then, oh then kiddo, we'll have our real conversation."

As the flames and the darkness claim you, you think you hear the whisper, "Join us."

You were the sidekick to a super hero. You worked hard, doing all the labor while he got the credit but it's fine. Anyways, while saving people in a fire, you get trapped. You scream out for help, but all he does is stare at you. "Sorry, kid." He shrugs and leaves you there to die.

[yukioos]

Hii i’ve been recently with your writing and thought of an idea I’d love to see you write! So this is like postwar and bakugo comes to our dorm uncharacteristically quiet. Turns out he has been feeling insecure of his war scars! Anyway hope you feeling okay and thank you!

comforting katsuki when he’s insecure about his war scars

katsuki has acted unusual lately, and especially quiet, which was very unlike him for his loud personality. it’s been months since the traumatic war ended, and you were lucky to even see katsuki alive again, in a hospital bed, though with almost his whole body wrapped in bandages.

when he began physical therapy and learned to walk again, he had to heavily monitor his activity. you were there every step of the way, and when you unwrapped the bandages, scars were littered everywhere, and katsuki looked horrified to see them, a look you’d never seen before. you thought maybe he’d be proud of his scars, something he could tell his kids about, though it would make sense to have trauma from them, a silent reminder of what pain he went through when he was only a teenager.

school has gone back to normal, teachers are still in classrooms but have been more lenient on you all because of the war. all classes at UA have become closer to each other through the shared trauma of being the number one targeted school, having the top students in the country with the most powerful quirks there.

as part of katsuki’s daily routine, he walked straight to your dorm after the last period, not having homework due to the teachers’ leniency. he walked in without a word, something that has been happening more often these days. he hasn’t been talking as much as he normally would before the war, or even in the hospital.

but eventually, you were fed up with it, and especially worried about his silence.

he sat on the bed next to you, and you asked him, putting a soft hand on his knee, “katsuki, honey, is something wrong? you’ve been acting odd these days.”

he shook his head, still not saying anything. you sighed and spoke, “you’re so quiet, and you’ve been looking into the mirror more often like you think there’s something wrong.” he didn’t say a single word, staring at the ground with an unreadable expression. “you need to tell me if something’s wrong, baby. we can’t solve it if you don’t talk to me.”

he paused for a moment, then he quietly spoke, voice faltering, “i was weak that day, when i was fighting him,” he hesitated, “i have so many scars because i wasn’t strong enough. each one of them is a reminder of how weak i was, how many people lost their lives that day because i couldn’t stop him.”

“yes, but your scars are a reminder of how many people you saved. he can’t hurt anyone else, katsuki, and you’re alive. you’re here, and people thank you every day for your sacrifice and how much you did for not just the school, not just the country, but for the whole world.” you rubbed his back, then placed a hand on his scarred cheek, “plus, i think they make you look handsome. they’re not something to be ashamed of.”

ever since that conversation, or just you reassuring him, he didn’t cover up as much. he didn’t feel the need to, he felt assured that he still looked great, and his scars weren’t just a reminder of his ugly past.

katsuki finally understood his scars were a reminder of the sacrifices he made when he was just a teenager, and how many people he saved as a result.

this was cute to make, i hope it wasn’t too angsty

[fckmebarnes]

obsession

alpha!bucky x omega!reader

+18 men and minors dni — semi public sex. fingering (r) in corn maze. p in v in parking lot. breeding kink honestly. dom!bucky. degrading nicknames. oral (r). multiple orgasms. bondage (r wrists tied). so much scenting. spitting (he makes you swallow his)

hey uhhh…tied this in with alpha!bucky too…uhhhh… 😵‍💫 had to pair this with an older fic i had it was perfect…hope that’s okay!!!

bucky wanted to do something nice with you, something that everyone in the small town the two of you lived in, would see that you belonged to him — since some alphas around town clearly did not get the memo.

it went on every year, around the same time you’d find a mate. and it was also at the same time that you had gone into immense heat. you couldn’t help it, you needed bucky but he had been so busy the last few weeks setting up the fair that you two barely had any time to have sex.

leaving you to fix your needs with your fingers or toys. it never satisfied the ache that sat deep within your core.

you had the brilliant idea to do something flirty with bucky, maybe it would help him want you as much as you wanted him.

you went panty-less with the cute sundress you owned that you knew drove bucky mad. it laid over your ass just enough that he could see the bottom of your ass cheeks if you walked just the right way. it usually ended with him getting very territorial, but that’s what you liked. the possessiveness made you drip.

he was behind you in the corn maze, it was just the start of the fair fun, but you couldn’t help it. his hands were rubbing up and down the sides of your hips, squeezing your ass softly every few times. the touch he had on your skin drove you absolutely nuts.

he sported a navy blue sweater, with a pair of khakis and nice shoes that he only ever got out when the two of you got married. he was constantly swamped with work when it came to his business, not really having many chances to take you out and do something nice for you — and he hated that part about himself.

that and the scent of leather, whiskey, bergamot and musk filled your senses. it was like you were drowning in the smell of bucky barnes.

you whined softly as you both were walking, his hand squeezing your ass just a little harder. you felt him chuckle softly, his tummy brushing against your back, his chin on your shoulder. “what is it, baby?” his voice was low as he spoke, turning his nose against the side of your neck, right under your mark, the place you needed his lips most.

“n-nothin-“ you suddenly felt shy under gaze, thinking it was a mistake to not wear anything underneath.

“wanna try that again? know when my omega needs something.” you felt a soft shiver run down your spine as he ran his fingers under your dress, getting dangerously close to finding out your little secret.

“buck..” you leaned your head back on his shoulder, putting your hand on top of his and sliding it further down towards your cunt, fully letting him feel there was no barrier.

“fuck..” once it registered you were nude under this small little sundress, he immediately switched. he groaned in your ear softly, his fingers going to spread the folds of your pussy, “drippin’ huh?” he rubbed through your folds slowly, your hand holding onto his wrist. you both were so glad it wasn’t busy on the last day of the fair, but you wouldn’t have minded for one of the towns folk catch you two. you were tired of men trying to flirt with you, it was beta behavior.

his fingers teased past your entrance as he was rubbing your slick over your folds. you didn’t even have to say anything for him to sink his two fingers into your hole, a soft moan coming from your lips as he sunk all the way, his fingers stretching you out.

“yeah, baby? go on, know ya wanna grind my hand.” he smacked your ass softly, making you immediately move forward, grinding you hips down on his palm to get some friction. his palm rubbed against your clit as you move, his lips sucking on the skin of your neck leaving marks.

you couldn’t help but whimper each time he rubbed your clit, his fingers started to thrust in and out of you, because you knew he was getting impatient. your legs trembled as he fucked you with his fingers, “come on, baby, make a fuckin’ mess..” he licked a soft stripe up your neck before you squirted hard, a loud moan coming from your lips as his other hand covered it quickly.

“don’t you fucking dare..” your muffled moans made him groan softly as he finger fucked you through your high, slowly down just to bring his fingers to your lips after he pulled his hand away.

he shoved his fingers into your mouth, a small whine coming from you as you tasted your cum on your tongue. you sucked them clean as he took them away and pulled away, your dress falling back down and his hand wrapped tightly around your wrist.

he tugged you back out of the corn maze, through the crowd of people and that’s when you smelled it.

burnt logs of wood, leather, and possession. as he walked rough the crowd, he definitely caught the nose of other omega’s.

he tugged you to his car in the parking lot in the back, surrounded by other cars and away from everyone.

he grabbed your wrist and tugs you harshly to the car, pushing you against the hood and pressing his now hard cock against your ass, soft belly on your lower back and lips right next to your ear as he growls “you think that’s fuckin’ funny, doll?” you could only let out a breath moan as he grinned your wrists, pinning them to your back and spreading your legs with his thigh.

his other hand went to undo his belt, and the second you felt your dress ride up and his zipper undo, you knew it was over for you.

“don’t make a fucking noise n’ take this cock like a good little omega.” you whimpered as he pushed in on one thrust, your wet cunt making it easy. he groaned under his breath, pinning you further against the cool metal surface of his car.

his hips were quick to snap against yours, the sound of skin slapping against skin and you moans filling up the space, you weren’t even ashamed to say you didn’t care if you got caught. having bucky’s cock deep in your cunt was the only thing you cared about.

“you’re so fuckin’ wet.. gonna fuck my cum so deep in this tight lil cunt..” his thrust got quicker, slapping your ass cheek softly as he chased his release. you whined as soon as you noticed he wasn’t going to let you cum.

“you think you’re allowed to cum again? after that little show? walkin’ around here without anything underneath like a little whore?” he pulled your wrists back so you were a little off the car as he continued to fuck you, feeling his cock twitch in your cunt.

“you’re fuckin’ mine, ya hear? my omega.” he growled softly as you nodded quickly, biting your lip as you felt him shoot his cum deep into your cunt.

you felt it spill over down your thighs and onto the grass below, heavy breathing from bucky above you, letting go of your wrists as he soothed the skin gently.

“don’t fuckin’ do that again. understand, baby?” you nodded as he smacked your ass a little, watching it bounce back.

“let’s ge you home.. not done with you yet.” you nodded as he tugged up his slacks, not bothering buttoning or zipping up his pants as the two of you got in.

***

you were laid out in bed with your hands tied above your head, his face nuzzling itself in between your thighs as he looked up at you, your arousal glistening on the tip of his nose.

he wasn’t relenting, no matter how many times you came in the last two hours- which you couldn’t even count.

your cunt was abused, swollen but she still wanted more, and he knew that.

the smell of deep vanilla mixed with strong bergamont, creating an aroma of need and lust.

he was able to pull one more orgasm from you before he hovered over you, grabbing your chin and making your mouth open, spitting into your mouth. you moaned as you swallowed, tasting yourself. he didn’t even need to tell you to swallow, he knew you’d do it.

“good girl.” you let out a moan as he rubbed his cock through your folds, leaning over to untie your wrists, your hands going right to his face, running your fingers through his hair before pulling him in a heating kiss.

he groaned against your lips as he took it as the perfectly time to slip his cock in your cunt, which welcomed him easily.

sex with bucky was always something you were thinking about when you weren’t in heat. he was a rough fucker but he was also a love maker. and sometimes he could be both.

“feel so fucking tight.” you whined softly against his lips.

“‘s so big, buck.. fuck..” he peppered kisses down to your neck as he nipped softly.

“i know, baby, takin’ me so good. cunt was made for my fat cock, dont you think?” you nodded, moaning softly in his ear as you felt your release again soon.

he groaned as he felt you squeeze around him, his hand going down to your clit as he watched his cock disappear into your dripping cunt.

“gonna cum again, omega? go on, give you my knot for being so fuckin’ good.” you were practically dripping at the thought of finally getting your alpha’s knot after needing it for days.

you squeezed him hard as you came, your thighs locking up and your whole body shaking as you came.

“atta girl.. shit.. you want my cum baby? wanna be round with my pups huh? your sweet lil pussy wants it with the way she’s milkin’ me.. fuck!” he moaned as he bit your shoulder, sucking hard as he came deep inside you. you felt it spill out of your cunt, earning a grunt from bucky as he fucked it back into your sensitive and over stimulated cunt.

“not wasting a single drop, omega.” he watched as his cock slipped in and out of your sore cunt, puffy and red and leaking all of his cum. the sounds of his cock pushing in, your messy cunt taking all of him while you laid there whining and overstimulated from the stretch and sting but he didn’t care. he was only focused on making sure his cum stuck.

he licked his lips as he pulled his hips back with only the head of his cock in your hole, and you could feel his cock twitch just slightly as he eyes widened, seeing your cunt squeezing the tip of his cock.

“fuck baby, keep doing that and i’m gonna have to fill you up all over again. but you’d like that, wouldn’t you?” he looked over at you, reaching out and holding the side of your face with his metal hand, stroking the apple of your cheek as you nodded. you didn’t even have to verbally say you wanted more — the fucked out look on your face, list filled gaze and heaving breathing gave it all away.

“of course you do, sweetheart. always so eager to take your alpha’s cock, take his knot. don’t worry, keep you in this bed as long as i can ‘til you’re round with my pups.”

[yvesssssssss]

HAIII I love ur writing sm it tickles my brain heh...could i rq blue lock (anyone it's ok!! but heh..kaiser kunigami, sae and bayou are my favs) x manager reader that's usually blunt forward n quiet but she actually got the warmest smile ever when she smiles??? idk if u have seen when life gives you tangerines but oh my gosh park bogums smile on the series Geniunely had me having a heart attack everytime he was on scene

Blue lock x manager! Reader

—Michael kaiser, sae itoshi, barou shouei, kunigami rensuke

Thank you so much! The way I wrote this is honestly so cringey, but I tried. T_T Still, I hope you like it💞

Michael Kaiser

Kaiser wasn’t used to being ignored.

Not when he walked into rooms like a spotlight followed him. Not when his smirk had fans screaming and cameras snapping. And especially not by someone who worked with him every day.

You were quiet. Not shy—just efficient. Calm. Blunt.

“Why do you always look at me like that?” Kaiser asked one day during training, jogging up to you with that usual glint in his eyes.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re picturing how fast you could bury a body.”

You blinked. “Depends on the soil. You done flexing?”

His teammates wheezed behind him. He was left blinking for once.

You were the team’s manager—always showing up before the players, organizing their chaos into something functional. You gave out water bottles and brutally honest feedback like it was part of your salary package.

Kaiser thought you were amusing. And annoying. And kind of hot in a terrifying way.

⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁.𖥔 ݁ ˖

What got to him the most, though, was that he’d never seen you smile. Not really.

A twitch at the lips when Isagi tripped over a cone. A raised brow when Barou called himself royalty again. But never a full-on, warm, heart-hitting smile.

Until one afternoon.

The team was clearing out after a grueling match, Kaiser sprawled on the bench, shirt off, absolutely done—but watching you. As always.

You were checking gear, murmuring thanks to a junior staff member, and then—you turned slightly, eyes crinkling, lips curling—

And smiled.

Kaiser actually dropped the energy drink he was holding.

It was blinding. Soft and rare, like a dawn over war-torn fields. Your entire face lit up—calm, warm, kind. Not sarcastic. Not forced. Real.

It wasn’t even aimed at him, which made it worse.

“Who the hell was that for?” he demanded, walking up to you like a man betrayed.

“Huh?”

“That smile. The one that looked like it could end wars.”

You blinked at him, back to your usual deadpan expression. “You want one?”

He opened his mouth.

Paused.

“…Yes.”

You tilted your head. And slowly, like the sun peeking from behind storm clouds, you smiled again—just a little. At him.

Kaiser’s ears went red.

“I—uh. Okay. That’s illegal,” he muttered, pointing at you like you were a loaded weapon. “I’m gonna sue. Emotional damage.”

You were already walking away.

“Then stop acting like a victim.”

His heart actually did a backflip.

“…I’m gonna marry you,” he whispered under his breath.

Kunigami rensuke

Kunigami never minded blunt people. In fact, he appreciated them. It was better than the fake smiles and flattery he sometimes got from media staff or fans. But you? You took blunt to a new level.

“You look tired,” he said one morning, wiping sweat from his forehead, trying to make small talk during drills.

“I am tired. You guys don’t clean up your trash and I’m not your mother.”

“…Right.”

Still, he liked talking to you. He liked how steady you were, how nothing ruffled you—not the pressure, not the chaos, not even Kaiser being a diva. And when you did speak, it was short, snappy, and always honest. Refreshing.

But no one had ever seen you smile.

Not once.

Until that late night at the training camp, when everyone else had cleared out. Kunigami had stayed behind, double-checking his gear. You were near the bench, organizing towels and muttering about how someone left their socks inside-out.

He looked up from lacing his shoes—and there it was.

Your laugh. Soft. Sudden.

Someone had texted you, maybe. Or maybe something genuinely made you happy for once. Either way, your lips curled up and your eyes lit from within. It was quiet, gentle, and lasted all of three seconds.

But it knocked the breath out of him.

“…You smiled,” he said, almost in awe.

You turned, expression returning to normal. “Yeah. I do that sometimes. I’m not a robot.”

“I thought you were. Or like—part ghost.”

You gave him a long stare, and he realized too late how stupid that sounded. But then—

You smiled again. Just a little. Just at him.

Warm, unguarded.

“You’re not as dumb as you look, Kunigami.”

He coughed into his fist, ears going hot. “Y-Yeah? Well—cool. Thanks. I think.”

You chuckled—low and genuine—and went back to folding towels.

He stood there a moment longer, staring like a man hit by divine revelation.

God help him, he wanted to see that smile again. Every day. Forever.

Tomorrow, he decided, he was getting up early. Earlier than usual. Maybe you’d smile at him again.

Maybe, if he was lucky, you already liked him a little.

Even if you’d never say it out loud.

Sae itoshi

Sae didn’t pay attention to most people. He had no reason to. Most were too loud, too fake, too eager to get in his space for the wrong reasons.

But you were different.

You were quiet. Not shy—just observant. Efficient. When someone forgot a jersey, you had a spare ready before they noticed. When the coaching staff missed a scheduling error, you were already fixing it. You rarely spoke unless necessary, but when you did, your voice was calm. Unshaken.

And your blunt honesty?

He respected it.

“You looked bored out there,” you told him one day after practice.

“I was.”

“I could tell. But if you're going to half-ass it, at least make it look convincing.”

He’d blinked. Once. Then laughed under his breath.

After that, he paid more attention to you.

You never hovered. Never smiled for no reason. You just worked—always a step ahead of the team, always unbothered by chaos. But you had this quiet way of looking out for people. You noticed when someone was limping and handed them an ice pack without a word. You stood in front of rookies when reporters got too pushy.

It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t loud.

But it was kind.

One day, he stayed behind after drills. Not for any real reason—just sat on the bench, watching the sky go soft with sunset. You were nearby, cleaning up the med kit, checking supplies.

“You always work this late?”

You didn’t look up. “Someone has to.”

“…You like this job?”

You paused, then glanced at him.

“I like helping people who don’t expect to be helped.”

He looked at you properly then. Not just the usual glance—really looked. You weren’t just efficient. You cared. In that quiet, unnoticed kind of way most people overlooked.

Then, for the first time, he saw it.

You smiled.

It was small. Barely there. But warm. Real. The kind of smile that slipped out when you weren’t thinking too hard. The kind that made your eyes soften, just a bit.

Sae didn’t react outwardly, but something in him stilled.

“That’s the first time I’ve seen you smile,” he said.

You blinked. “…Probably.”

“You should do it more.”

You rolled your eyes, but your lips twitched again, like you were holding back another one.

“Then try being less boring.”

He huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head.

“Fine. I’ll work on it.”

And he did.

Not for the cameras. Not for his reputation.

Just maybe—for you.

Barou

Barou didn’t like being managed. Or ordered. Or reminded to hydrate like he was a child.

But you didn’t treat him like that.

You were quiet, direct, and didn’t waste time. If he forgot to stretch, you’d just say, “Your hamstring’s gonna snap,” and toss him a band. If he got too heated during practice, you handed him a towel and said, “Chill. You’re scaring the interns.”

You didn’t hover or nag. You weren’t afraid of his temper, either. You were… calm. Unfazed. Like you’d seen worse than a guy yelling about meat buns and “kingly” training schedules.

He respected that.

One day, after a particularly frustrating scrimmage, he kicked a cone halfway across the field and stormed off. The team gave him space. So did the coaches.

But not you.

You followed him to the locker room, carrying a wrapped rice ball.

“You didn’t eat,” you said, holding it out like it was the simplest thing in the world.

“I’m not hungry,” he growled.

“Then be angry with a full stomach.”

He looked at you like you’d grown a second head. You weren’t sarcastic. You weren’t mocking him. Just… offering him food, like it was obvious. Like of course you cared, even if you barely spoke half the day.

He snatched it from your hand, grumbling under his breath, but didn’t look away.

And then—he saw it.

You smiled.

Soft. Barely there. But it hit like a punch to the chest.

Not because it was perfect or dazzling. But because it wasn’t. It was quiet. Warm. Like it wasn’t meant to be seen. Like it slipped out because, maybe, you cared more than you let on.

“You’re not as scary when you smile,” you said, tone casual.

Barou blinked. Scowled. Looked away too fast.

“Tch. Don’t say weird stuff.”

You turned to leave.

He glanced back at the rice ball in his hand. Then at your back.

“…Thanks,” he muttered.

You didn’t stop walking, but your voice carried:

“You’re welcome, Your Majesty.”

[jaellyfishh]

The Corner Where We Met · Part 5

trope: art teacher!azzi x PE teacher!paige

content: miscommunication, HUGE azzi dialogue and mature content towards the end

dc: i was struggling on this one fr. this chapter’s a mix of Azzi and Paige’s POV. i’m planning on dedicating a chapter mostly in Paige’s POV soon. still thinking as i go. feedback is appreciated!

word count: 9.8K

Thursday, fourth period

Paige was whistling her way down Moore’s second floor high school hallways, heading downstairs towards the school’s clinic to bother Kayla during her free period - her usual Thursday activity. Suddenly, she heard someone call for her name.

“Psst, Paige!”

The blonde whipped her head towards the voice to be greeted with a familiar face peeking out the music class’ door.

“‘Ms. Burrell, wassup?” Paige fully turned around and walked slowly towards her.

“We finished up our rehearsal, so my piano’s free,” Rae explained, eliciting raised brows from Paige. “How about I give you a proper lesson instead of just letting you sneak in here to play it when I’m not around?”

”Hey, I did ask permission the first time. And you were there the other time, busy writing your composition or something. So, technically, I wasn’t sneaking around,” Paige raised her arms up in defence.

Rae laughed. “Alright, alright. You gonna take the lesson or not?”

“Mmyeah, why not?” Paige shrugged with an animated frown before stepping into the class.

As Paige took her seat on the long piano stool, Rae nervously sat beside her, her muscles partially tensed when their arms brushed against each other.

“So…anything in particular you wanna learn? Since you already know some chords,” Rae asked, eyes cautiously glancing at Paige, who stared blankly at the piano keys while humming, thinking of a song.

A few seconds passed and a faint smile etched across Paige’s face.

“Elvis Presley. Can’t Help Falling In Love,” the blonde said plainly.

Rae raised her brows, head tilting with amusement. “That’s interesting. I thought you’d pick Yurima’s Kiss The Rain or something like that”.

“That’s too common. I wanna learn this,” Paige said with certainty while facing Rae.

The taller woman felt a warmth grow on her cheeks as Paige looked at her, to which she quickly covered with a chuckle.

“So you chose the most common romantic song?” Rae quizzed.

Paige shrugged again, looking back at the keys. “I dunno, maybe I’m feeling a bit…romantic these days”.

Rae held her breath, her heart thumping loudly in her chest, a small wave of hope creeping on her mind.

“Ooo, got somebody on your mind?” she asked cautiously, playing it cool.

“Uh… perhaps,” Paige shrugged.

“Anyone that I know?” Rae pressed a little.

“Maybe,” Paige answered with a polite smile. The vague answer making Rae’s heart race, feeling both hopeful and dejected.

But Paige didn’t feel the need to tell anyone else about her and Azzi. To her, it was a mutually exclusive, going nowhere, yet intimately growing relationship - and she’d like to keep it that way. It was comfortable enough.

“O-okay. Well, I’ll show you a beginner’s way to play the song. We’ll start with the right hand first, then practice with the left. Just follow what I’m pressing,” Rae started placing her hands on the keys, Paige following suit.

The familiar tune filled the empty room as the pair continued pressing on the notes in a slow tempo. After a few mistakes and several melodic repetitions later, the fourth period bell rang for lunch, causing the pair to stop, halfway done with the song.

“Wow, Paige, you’re a quick learner,” Rae smiled.

“You’re not too shabby yourself. Dang, now I gotta remember all of it,” Paige laughed while sighing.

Rae chewed on her inner cheeks before an idea popped in her head. “Hey, maybe I could teach you over the weekend? For reinforcement, of course”.

As Rae fiddled with her fingers in anticipation, hoping to score an unofficial date with the gym teacher after school. Paige hummed to think.

“I appreciate it, Rae. But, I’ll have to decline. I made…plans,” Paige smiled sympathetically, partially lying.

Well, the blonde had yet of a plan. She didn’t want to say that she reserves her weekends in case Azzi would be free after school. It wasn’t for anyone else to know, anyways. Fudd had days being on the brink of exhaustion, barely left with free periods ever since taking up the high school’s art classes, which limited the pair’s time to seeing each other at work or after school.

Rae didn’t want to push, but still wanted to take her chances. “I understand. Look, if you have spare time fourth or sixth period tomorrow, we can do our lessons then”

“Aye, I’m free fourth period,” Paige smiled at the schedule’s alignment.

“Then it’s booked,” Rae shrugged with confidence as Paige chuckled.

The blonde exited the class, thanking the music teacher briefly before heading downstairs. As Paige descended the last flight of stairs, her eyes caught a familiar figure walking down the adjacent hall. The two locked eyes, Paige smiling widely as she stepped on the ground floor.

“Hey, stranger,” Paige greeted Azzi, whose eyes wandered to the stairs behind.

“Coming from somewhere?” the shorter woman asked curiously.

“Yeah, just played the piano a bit. The usual. Rae was teaching me,” the blonde breathed out, still smiling at the Azzi.

Azzi’s expression slightly dropped. “Rae taught you?”

Paige tilted her head. “Yeah”.

“T-that’s nice of her,” Azzi stuttered, trying to give a polite smile.

“I know, right? Inês would’ve bit my head off before I even thought about touching her piano,” Paige joked, making Azzi half chuckle. ”Once I get good, you’ll be my first audience”.

Azzi smiled. “Yeah?”

”Mm-hm,” Paige looked at her, almost smitten.

Azzi bit her inner lip, her mind repeatedly asking the one simple question she’s been wanting to know. Then a voice interjected from nowhere.

“Coach B, you stare at yo’ mama with those eyes?” a young boy snickered, while the rest of his group stifled a laugh.

“Stay right there, Michael!” Paige yelled at the high schoolers, who raised their hands pretending to be scared, nonchalantly walking towards the gym. “I’ll have to go, but I’ll see you if I can”.

“Don’t worry about me, go,” Azzi chuckled.

Paige tapped Azzi’s arm lightly before jogging towards the boys, hooking one arm around Michael’s neck and giving him an aggressive noogie.

Azzi half smiled in endearment, watching them walk further away before returning to her own classroom.

“What did I say about minding your own business, man?” Paige scolded as they walked.

“Ow! Sorry, geez! Stop being such a simp then!” the young boy yelled in a whisper.

“A simp? I’m sure Cassy knows all about that, huh?” Paige retorted.

“I dunno what you’re talking about!” Michael turned red in self-defense before his friends made teasing noises to taunt him.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought, buddy”.

—

Friday, fourth period

“You’re getting the hang of it now, Paige!” Rae cheered for Paige, who was mastering the first half of the song with both hands already.

“What can I say? I’m a natural,” the blonde responded with a common line.

Rae giggled. “If you can do this, the second part won’t be as hard”.

“I trust you. I have to give you credit for your teaching skills, though. Inês would’ve made me cry,” Paige joked with a grin.

Rae smiled shyly, tucking her hair behind one ear. “You’re pretty charming, Paige, I have to admit.

Paige was caught by surprise, appreciative of the compliment before making another light-hearted joke. “Wow, that’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever told me today”.

Before Rae could speak further, the bell rang, alerting the pair that it was lunch time.

Azzi ascended the last stair of the second floor before hearing some chatter. For some reason she paused in her steps, peering through the wall’s edge. She caught Paige and Rae leaving the music room, which Fudd assumed was empty when they were inside. Closely observing them, they looked deep in conversation, laughing at each other probably over some lame joke Paige told.

Azzi’s breath hitched, the twist in her stomach returning.

And for the first time in a while, Azzi was reminded of her past, the image of her old self taunting her. She began breathing erratically, stumbling backwards.

Just then, a voice snapped her back to reality.

“Azzi, you going to lunch?” Kayla’s softly voiced as she held Fudd’s lower back, her face slightly concerned.

“Huh? Oh, um…Of course, ha ha” Azzi laughed dryly.

Kayla took notice. “You good?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? C’mon,” Azzi’s sudden change in expression left Kayla unconvinced, but she didn’t press further, unsure of what to suss out.

The friend group were in their usual spot again, in the corner of the room, noisy as usual. The common buzz of teachers chatting was like white noise to Azzi, whose mind went on autopilot. Her reactions to her friends’ conversations were half-hearted as she pretended to listen, her thoughts elsewhere. Paige, who sat beside her, noticed she didn’t get her usual attention from the curly brunette.

“Azzi, try this,” Paige smiled, motioning her fork that held what looked like a honey-garlic glazed salmon.

Usually, the younger woman wouldn’t hesitate to try a bite, but she just stared at the fork, emotionless. “I’m good, P, thanks.”

Paige furrowed her brows slightly, retracting her hand back. Before she could ask her something, KK’s loud voice called for Azzi, asking her to recount some funny story during last year’s field trip.

The blonde let it be, resuming eating and observing the woman beside her, whose emotion was hard to decipher.

Is it me? Or maybe she’s overworked? Or maybe it’s actually me? Paige’s thoughts ran.

After half an hour of empty exchanges between them, the lounge had already emptied out and the pair seemed to be the last to leave the vicinity. Before Azzi walked out without saying a word, Paige tugged on her arm just slightly, trying to catch her before they parted ways.

“Az, what’s wrong?” Paige was straight-forward, looking at her in bold concern.

The younger woman’s eyes scattered, her head turning the other way before looking down, then back up again. “Nothing’s wrong”.

“I don’t believe it,” Paige stated.

“It’s…it’s just work”. Azzi partially lied, unsure of what to say, or rather, afraid to admit her underlying feelings.

Paige sighed sympathetically. “If it’s work, you know I can always help out, right? Show me the assignments. Tell me what to grade, I’ll share the load with y-“

“No, no, it’s not like that. This is just…one of those days, kinda thing,” Azzi trailed, her reasoning vague.

Paige tilted her head in confusion, this angle of Azzi’s behaviour quite new to her. Although the blonde didn’t know what was really going through the brunette’s head, she thought maybe Azzi needed to unwind, take a break from school work, even for a day.

“Come by mine tonight. I’ll cook you something nice,” Paige said quietly with cautious eyes anticipating Azzi’s reaction.

To Azzi, that was the most tempting offer. But, maybe it was luck or unfortunate timing as she had already made plans.

“Thanks, Paige, but Caroline and I made plans over the weekend. We’re leaving tonight for Montgomery, a mini staycation. I figured I needed to unwind”.

Paige half smiled, relieved to know they both knew Azzi needed it.

“That sounds great, you deserve it,” Paige rubbed her arm.

—

Azzi and Caroline spent a good three hours at Montgomery Hotel’s famous bath and spa, the knots in their muscles kneaded out at the massage parlour and their bodies detoxified at the sauna. The pair were now ending their night in a secluded corner of the warm baths, catching up on life.

“Alright, spit it out, you don’t look like yourself,” Caroline couldn’t hold it in. She had hoped her best friend would’ve opened up about something early on, but her patience ran thin.

“I know, I know,” Azzi responded dispirited. “I was really hoping I came over it, but I thought wrong”.

Caroline tilted her head, scooting closer to Azzi.

She continued to ramble on. “It’s about Paige. About what we have. And the flashbacks. And… Rae“.

“Flashbacks? Rae? What?” Caroline looked lost, shaking her head as if to hear better.

“Sorry, I’ll try that again. You know how I told you Paige and I have no label? Well, we never had the chance to properly talk about the ‘rules’. Or, more like, we didn’t really care much about it ‘cause I think we know where we stand. Until Rae, you know the new music teacher, came into the picture. I had my suspicions, but I ignored them at first. Then two days ago, she asked me if Paige was single”

Caroline’s eyes widened. “For real? And what did you say?”

“I said yes. And I also said she wasn’t seeing anyone-“

“Girl, why did you say that?” Caroline asked in a light-hearted manner.

“I know. I realised my mistake then, but I didn’t take it back because when I thought about it, Paige and I never specified if we’re only seeing each other”

Caroline furrowed her brows trying to think. “But Paige isn’t actually seeing anyone else, though, right?”

“Yeah? Maybe? You never really know. Technically, we should be allowed to meet other people until we figure out what we want, right?”

“Azzi, have you seen Paige spend her free time outside of school with anyone else besides you?”

“No”

“Well, do you want her to meet other people?”

“No”

“And do you want to see other people?”

“Not really. I only like Paige”

Caroline remembered the other word Azzi mentioned. “What about the flashbacks?”

“Well…Paige told me she was getting piano lessons from Rae in school- Yeah, I’m hoping it’s not anything like that. I saw them walk out the music room together yesterday, smiling, laughing at each other… I was reminded of how I was treated back then. I guess I didn’t wanna disappoint myself again, so I-“

“You let Paige go”

“It shouldn’t have clouded my judgement, but I couldn’t help it.”

Caroline only frowned sympathetically, rubbing on Azzi’s arm.

“Azzi…I know it’s too much to ask, but why don’t you just tell Paige the truth?”

Azzi shook her head. “Truth about how my ex treated me like shit when we’re not even dating officially? It might be too much on her…”

Caroline sighed. “Isn’t that what’s holding you back from wanting to be in a relationship with her, though?”

“I…” Azzi thought long and hard about it. “I guess so.”

“Then talk to her. Next Monday, tell her after school or something. It’ll be fine. Knowing Paige, she’d drop everything for you”

Azzi nibbled on her lower lip, semi chuckling yet still covered in anxiousness. “Yeah, I’ll see how it goes.”

—

It was a Saturday afternoon when Paige was busy cooking for lunch, when she received a notification from her phone.

Camera Arnold (1)

The blonde halted her activity momentarily to unlock her phone, curious to know what would KK like to annoy her with on a weekend.

KK: Boogers! You free tonight?

Paige sighed, her mind thinking about Azzi and what could’ve been a day shopping for groceries and cooking her food, but is now in her apartment ready to binge watch White Lotus alone.

Paige: Maybe. Why?

KK: Bar Lobo at 8? We’re giving Rae her welcome to Moore moment. Everyone’s coming, minus Caroline and your wife

The blonde chuckled.

Paige: Wife is crazy. But I’m down. See you later bookie!

KK: See ya bookie!

. . .

Paige made her way to Bar Lobo, the breeze of the chilly night hitting parts of her exposed skin. She didn’t wear anything too fancy, just a white crop top and a black leather jacket with wide faded jeans, her infamous boxer shorts revealing just above the pants, and some platform boots. Her hair was down, with light waves, and a no makeup, makeup look on.

As she walked in, she was already greeted with the booming sound of music, a remix of familiar songs playing, the dance floor crowded as usual, and the DJ lighting putting her in a trance. It didn’t take long before she spotted her friends in the rounded booth in the centre, all of them chatting and taking sips of their glass.

“Paige! You made it!” Nika yelled in high spirits.

Paige laughed as she approached them before her eyes locked onto a new face among her usual crowd, who was already staring at her. Rae was sitting in the middle almost tightly squeezed in between Aaliyah and Kayla, purposely compressing her body to make space for herself.

“Y’all realise how much you’re torturing Rae over there?” Paige pointed out with a chuckle, causing the other women to notice.

A chorus of profuse apologies sang before the girls shifted outwards, causing Rae to laugh at the scene.

“Thanks, Paige. You look good, by the way,” Rae commented.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” Paige responded coolly before taking her seat at the edge as she was the last to arrive.

Paige started easing her way into the group’s conversation, everyone enjoying each other’s company and the overall atmosphere of the night club, when a certain pair of light brown eyes kept glancing at the blonde over several minutes. Rae was almost blushing and quite nervous, the aura Paige radiated almost too enticing for the teacher. She wanted to get as close to the blonde, hopefully strike up a conversation, maybe flirt a little. Then she quickly thought of an idea.

“Guys, sorry, I need to use the toilet,” Rae interjected.

The ladies were quick to get up, slightly struggling in their movements but had made enough way for Rae to leave.

Just minutes after, she had sauntered back to the booth, her eyes targeting Paige with a level of confidence she hadn’t tapped into before.

As the women saw her, they almost stood up again when Rae stopped them.

“No, no it’s okay! I’ll sit here for now, makes it easier,” she said before the girls scooted a little to make space for Rae at the edge of the booth, now sitting beside Paige.

She noticed the blonde extend her arm across the table to where she had sat previously and returned her drink to her. The kind gesture made Rae’s heart swell, her infatuation for Paige cementing.

“I thought you had plans, Bueckers,” Rae was able to start.

Paige scrunched her nose briefly. “I had to make some changes”.

Rae got excited, perhaps assuming the blonde cancelled for her. She noticed Paige only having a glass of water. “You’re not gonna drink?”

“Uh, I don’t really drink. They’re used to it, I’ll be fine,” the blonde explained with a small smile. “You like the place?”

“I do, it looks fun. Inês told me about this place before, but seeing it in person is kinda cool,” she responded, taking a sip of her glass.

“Guys, I got us more shots! You better drink up!” Kayla yelled as everyone else cheered.

As the waiter came in with a plate full of shots for everyone, except Paige, KK took out her phone to take videos and pictures.

“To Rae Burrell, welcome to Moore!” KK toasted.

As each person downed their shot, KK continued taking pictures, capturing a moment of Rae laughing and leaning towards Paige, who said something about ‘you’re gonna regret that later’ with a wide smile.

After an hour and a half of nonsensical conversations and safe alcohol consumption flew by, the girls soon made their way to the dance floor, encouraged by the intoxication.

“This DJ’s so good!” Rae shouted, her eyes half-lidded and her mind getting lost in the sound, a drink in her hand.

“She is! You never want to leave the dance floor!” Paige yelled back, swaying next to her, enjoying the music.

Just then, the DJ creatively transitioned the song to something slower and sexier, the familiar tune of Muni Long’s Hrs & Hrs started playing. KK was way too excited a row behind them as one of her favourite songs played, picking up her phone to once again video the crowd.

Just then Rae, gathering the confidence from her almost lost inhibitions, turned her head to Paige. The blomde was still swaying by herself in the same motion, mouthing some of the lyrics and slowly bobbing her head.

Rae’s hand moved first before she could think, suddenly touching Paige’s arm to grab her attention. In one swift move, Rae slowly wrapped her arms around Paige’s neck, while carefully holding the drink in her hand.

The blonde froze at first.

Rae didn’t say anything. She just smiled dopily, instinctively inching closer, not wanting to kiss Paige yet, but wanting to feel her body close, relish in her touch.

Paige clenched her jaw, a mix of confusion, guilt and sympathy washed over mind within seconds. Soon enough, she gently grabbed hold of Rae’s arms, carefully detangling them from her neck and putting them back to her sides.

“Rae… I’m seeing someone,” was all the blonde could say, twitching her lips to the side and shoving her hands into the front pockets of her jeans.

“I didn’t know. I’m sorry,” she said faintly enough for the blonde to hear it, a tinge of embarrassment in her tone.

“Not your fault. Don’t feel bad,” Paige shook her head, trying her best to console her.

Soon after, Aaliyah tugged on Rae’s arm when the song transitioned to another R&B classic from Ray J.

“Rae, that’s your song!” Edwards exclaimed giddily, swaying the arms together as they danced away.

Paige just bit her inner cheeks, unsure of what to feel. Amidst her guilt, her mind was already picturing Azzi, her dimpled smile that she loved and her touch that she craved. Paige already misses her, even if it’s been two days.

A couple hours went by when Paige decided to end everyone’s night after being completely wasted. Before the potential of Nika vomiting again, Paige had timely called for some of their Uber. She carefully guided Nika, Kayla and Rae into the car, making sure the driver knew where to go. And then dropped Aaliyah and KK home as they lived the closest to her.

It was almost 3am when Caroline and Azzi were in their hotel room, the ending credits of the movie rolling, signalling to stop their never-ending gossip session. Azzi and Caroline’s screen lit up showing a notification that KK sent a message to the groupchat.

As the pair unlocked their phones, tons of media from the night were sent, waiting to be downloaded.

“Oh, it’s from the girls tonight. Looks like they’re having fun,” Caroline tiredly commented.

Azzi was silent, scrolling through the pictures knowing Rae would be there. She saw some group selfies and pictures of the food. But what caught her attention the most was Rae and Paige sitting next to each other in the booth in some of the group pictures.

Azzi felt a pang in her chest.

There was that shot KK took of Rae leaning on Paige, both of them laughing as they held their drinks. Then there was one video, it was blurry and quick in motion. The sound of Muni Long’s Hrs & Hrs blasting through Azzi’s phone speakers. It was hard to tell what was going on at first with the amount of bodies in the video, but then she caught it.

Slightly further from the view, she could see Rae wrapping her arms around Paige before the camera turned away.

Her heart shattered.

Azzi locked her phone off and flung it towards the end of her bed before going under the covers, her eyes welling up.

“Azzi?” Caroline was confused. She got up to take Azzi’s phone to unlock it, revealing the video. She replayed it again before she noticed the same thing again.

“Oh, Paige,” Caroline whispered to herself in disappointment before turning her attention to the blanket-covered lump on the bed in front of her.

After Azzi’s last break up, she tends to shut people out when she needs time to think. Then when she had figured it out in her head, she’d pretend to be fine the next day until she’s ready to address it. Or until her breaking point. It was a coping mechanism she developed after her last breakup, sparing no time to wallow in emotions when she’s got a job she cared more about.

Caroline knew this and just let Azzi be for the night, allowing her to rationalise her thoughts and let the sleep take over.

—

Monday, morning assembly

Paige was lightly huffing and puffing as she jogged her way to the gym. She could only blame herself for snoozing her alarm long enough for her to be late. But the blonde couldn’t help it, she was up all night over the weekend thinking about Azzi.

Paige had been ghosted by her the entirety of Sunday when the blonde was curious for an update on the staycation, unable to contain her yearning. But after a whole day of no response and rejected FaceTime calls, Paige could only worry that something might’ve happened.

Paige barely made it on time at the start of the assembly, quickly making her way to the row of teachers and subtly waving her head around to find Azzi. Unluckily, Nika and Aaliyah had already taken their seats beside her, leaving only one empty seat just behind them… right next to Rae.

Oh, great, Paige thought. Not so much in disgust, but more so in nervousness, uncertain of what Rae must be thinking, if she can even remember what happened last night.

Before sitting down, she noticed Azzi glance behind her before whipping her head back to the front, emotionless and stoic.

“Morning,” Rae quietly greeted with her lips pursed.

“Hey,” Paige plainly replied, sighing as she sat down.

As the announcements went on, Rae’s leg kept on bouncing, her thoughts going a mile a minute. Paige noticed immediately, frowning a little.

“Rae, can we talk later?” Paige whispered as she leaned slightly towards her.

The nervous woman stopped bouncing her leg, turning her head to face Paige with a surprised but guilty look. “Yeah, okay”.

As the pair sorted out their arrangements, Azzi was able to eavesdrop the entire conversation, lowering her head and swallowing hard to contain her sadness.

Azzi might have lost faith, that the mistrust she had on people she fought hard to overcome was all for nothing, an effort in vain.

By the end of the assembly, Paige tried to approach Azzi, who was leaving her seat to get to her students.

“Azzi-“

“Breanna! Your mom did your hair today, huh? It’s beautiful. I like the pink beads, it’s my favourite colour,” Azzi smiled widely at the young middle schooler, who beamed brightly at her teacher.

Paige could only stare as the two kept each other close until the end of the hallway, leaving the lone blonde hurt and confused among the scattering crowd. She rubbed her hands on her face, giving herself a moment before shaking her head. With a long sigh, she brought herself to the second floor, to where she needed to meet Rae for the first period.

“Paige. I-I just want to say I’m sorry. Had I known, I wouldn’t have done it. And the alcohol,” Rae rambled on, her face painted in guilt.

“Rae, relax, it’s okay. You didn’t know,” Paige reassured before taking a seat on the chairs, motioning for Rae to sit as well. “I didn’t feel compelled to tell you because…honestly, I didn’t know you saw me that way”.

Rae half smiled before Paige continued.

“I’m seeing Azzi”.

The name piqued the taller woman’s interest, causing her to raise her head, her mind piecing things together.

“I…I knew it,” Rae slightly smiled to herself, a soft sigh escaping her mouth almost in relief. “I had my suspicions, but I didn’t wanna be too invasive at first”.

Paige chuckled in amusement. “Didn’t think we’d be that obvious.”

“Paige, are you kidding me? Dropping her to class every morning? Feeding her your lunch every day? Anyone would think y’all were dating. Heck, I thought y’all were dating,”

Paige grew red, rubbing her forehead in embarrassment. “But because Azzi said you weren’t seeing anyone-“

“Wait. Azzi said that?” Paige asked, puzzled and betrayed.

“Yeah. She said you were single and I should ask you to find out for myself. Great, now I feel like I was set up,” Rae shrugged, leaning on her seat.

Paige furrowed her brows. “There’s something she isn’t telling me. She’s been ghosting me since yesterday and she completely ignored me this morning. I have to get her to talk to me”.

“A good ol’ lovers quarrel, I see,” Rae chuckled.

Paige shook her head at the comment before Rae asked. “Is that why you chose that song to play the piano on?”

A small upward curve formed on Paige’s lips. “Yeah”

Rae pursed her lips. “This feels like a romcom, for real.”

Paige laughed, a small sound of embarrassment escaped her lips. “I wanna finish learning it. I wanna show her. Maybe get a laugh out of her when she sees me mess it up”

“Well, if you can learn quick enough, we won’t have to do more lessons and I won’t have to feel like a homewrecker,” Rae got up, taking a seat on the piano stool waiting for Paige.

—

The blonde seeked an opportunity after lunch again, tugging on Azzi’s wrist before she could leave for fifth period. They stood just by the fridge, Paige waiting for everyone to leave the teacher’s lounge so they could be left alone.

“Azzi, you got a minute?” the blonde let go of her hand. “I’ve been trying to reach out. What’s going on?”

Paige inched closer, trying to ease her way into getting Azzi to talk, get an answer she’s been dying to know. But Azzi stepped back, catching Paige off guard. She could see Azzi’s eyes scan the space behind her, thinking. Then her face grimaced before lowering her head to hide it.

“You enjoyed your weekend?” she asked suddenly.

“Sure…could’ve been better with you,” Paige admitted, a softer tone in her voice.

But Azzi was not buying it. She’s experienced a similar scene before, the outcome not exactly something she wanted to remember.

“I-I have to get back to class,” she croaked before turning her heel and speed walking out the door.

Paige was left alone in the teacher’s lounge, frustrated yet again thinking about Azzi’s recent deflections.

—

It was another school day on a Wednesday and Paige felt like the world was punishing her.

After two days between empty text responses and Azzi purposely dodging any encounter with Paige at school, the blonde was in a hopeless state. She was teaching her gym class in a different head space, forgetting to blow the whistle after the high schoolers had finished their reps with jumping jacks.

“Ms. Bueckers, you need to blow your whistle!” a young voice yelled, the rest of the students groaning.

“Sorry, guys! Alright, everyone let’s line up for a warm up jog!”

“Coach B, we did that already, remember?” a short girl at the front put her hands on her hips as if stating the obvious.

“Right, um, what is it we haven’t done yet, Stella?” Paige tried to ask nonchalantly, not admitting to losing her focus

“We’re supposed to start dodgeball,” the young girl reminded sternly.

Paige nodded with pride. “That’s correct! See, I was just testing you.”

As Stella shook her head in disappointment.

While the kids were busy playing, a student had walked up to Paige after being eliminated.

“‘Sup, Ms. B,” a familiar voice grabbed Paige’s attention.

“Look who it is. Mr. Simp,” Paige teased.

“Haven’t seen you around art class lately. And you look down. Your love life alright?” Michael teased back.

Paige shook her head. “I’m not discussing my business with you, boy”

“C’mon, you’re no fun when you’re sad. Same goes to Ms. Fudd,” the boy replied.

“W-what, she say anything?” Paige grew curious.

“Why don’t you ask her?” the high schooler raised one brow.

“Sure, if you can get her to talk to me fourth period on Friday,” Paige joked sarcastically.

“Alright, bet,” Michael nodded, to which Paige shook her head, not taking him seriously

—

Azzi’s middle school art class was peaceful as usual, the sound of sketching pencils scratching the papers. Leo’s quaint voice called for the teacher in the corner.

“Ms. Fudd, can you help me with this?”

”Mm-hm,” a soulless reaction from Azzi, getting up from her seat to approach the young boy.

“How do you draw the hands like this?” Leo asked while showing his drawing.

The older woman took his pencil and started drawing on the paper. “You got the proportions all wrong, Leo. Make this base shape longer and the fingers shorter, just like this”.

The monotone voice, the absence of an initial positive feedback, and the lack of getting the student involved made Leo worried. It was all uncharacteristic of Azzi’s style of teaching. And the student has noticed it since the beginning of the week.

“Ms. Fudd. Are you alright?” Leo asked. Azzi got taken aback by the question.

“Of course, Leo,” she chuckled, however the young boy wasn’t convinced.

“I haven’t seen Ms. Bueckers around. She do something to you?" The usual bluntless of her student made Azzi half smile.

“Don’t worry about us, Leo,” the woman shook her head.

“I can talk to her for you, if you want,” the boy looked determined.

Azzi lightly laughed. “You have a good head on your shoulders, Leo. But I’ll talk to her…when I’m ready”.

The woman mumbled the last sentence, intelligible enough for Leo to hear.

As the bell rang for lunch and the students started shuffling out of art class, Leo was making his way out before someone tapped his shoulder.

“‘Sup, Leo!”

The younger boy was greeted by a familiar high school student. “Hey, Michael”.

After dapping each other up, Michael was quick to the point.

“Listen, something’s going on between Ms. Fudd and Coach B and it’s just not the same teasing them anymore. So, I’ll be a good person for once and help them out a little. Coach said she can’t get Ms. Fudd to talk to her, so we need to get them to talk. You in?”

“I’m in. Ms. Fudd looks a bit down these day, I don’t like seeing her like that. But Ms. Fudd said she won’t talk to Ms. Bueckers until she’s ready”

“At this rate, they won’t talk at all. C’mon, let’s do it before the week ends. Got any ideas?”

As the pair pondered for a while, Leo twitched his head.

“Maybe get them to a room? A classroom would be difficult,” Leo started off.

“Yeah, yeah. Maybe the janitor’s closet?” Michael thought.

“Too dirty”

“Yeah. Oh, I know, how about the school clinic?”

“You think you can get Nurse Williams to leave?” Leo wondered.

“Li’l Leo, I can get Nurse William to be in on it,” Michael smiled proudly.

Leo shook his head. “Alright, but then how do we get them to come to the clinic at the same time?”

“Easy. Find the day they have both have free periods”

“Ms. Fudd’s only free period is fourth period every Friday. Sometimes she helps me draw on those days”

“Bruh, is this a coincidence? That’s exactly the period I need!”

—

Friday, fourth period

Azzi stood in front a section of the colourful boards of her classroom, replacing the sheets of drawings to newer ones for the new lesson on Pointillism. After sticking the last drawing on, a loud voice erupted from the doorway.

“Ms. Fudd! Leo’s nose started bleeding in math class, he’s in the clinic right now and Nurse Williams said she needs your help!“ Michael panted, his acting spectacular.

Azzi instantly grew worried, making her way out the class and slightly jogging to the clinic nearby.

Meanwhile, at the gym, Paige was busy playing basketball by herself when Leo came bursting through the door.

“Ms. Bueckers! Michael got into a fight in the toilets, he got hurt real bad. Nurse Williams said to come get you!”

Paige threw the basketball away, immediately running out the gym to where the school clinic was.

As the two women saw each other approached the school clinic, they slowed their pace until they were just near enough to talk.

“Michael got into a fi-“

“Leo’s nose started blee-“

They both paused, confused at what the other said before their eyes turned to the closed clinic door beside them. Paige turned to face it, extending her arm to reach the door handle before turning it open.

The clinic was empty except for the bed on the side of the wall that was closed off by the white curtains, indicating that someone might be behind it. As Azzi followed Paige inside, her hands immediately went to the curtains to slide it away, revealing an empty bed.

Before they had time to process, they heard the clinic door shut behind them, the sound of a lock following right after, the pair sensing they were now trapped inside. They heard a couple of youthful giggles and saw shadows of feet emitting from the door’s small open space below.

The two women turned to each other, no words coming out of their mouth at first, except for their breathless panting.

“Michael’s so gonna get it when I see him,” Paige muttered under her breath before taking a seat on the bed.

Azzi just stood there, fiddling with her fingers with her head low.

“Azzi. Sit”

The two words surprised the younger woman. She stared at Paige for a moment before reluctantly taking a seat beside Paige on the bed. It was quiet for a while. The blonde hunched over staring at the ground, her hands clasped together as her arms rested on her lap, just thinking, not knowing what to say first. The brunette was still fiddling with her fingers, also unsure if she should start.

“I miss you,” the blonde spoke up, eyes glued to the ground. Azzi shifted in her seat, her emotions mixed.

“Why have you been ignoring me?” Paige continued, hurt in her tone.

“I”m sorry,” Azzi whispered, her guilt creeping up.

“I’m gonna need more than that,” Paige brought herself to sit up straight, now turning to face Azzi. She could see her eyes slightly watery, biting her lower lips to contain her sadness.

“Paige, I’m sorry for ignoring you. I just…” the brunette paused, trying to formulate a better answer before sounding too distraught. But Paige didn’t have the patience anymore.

“Azzi, no. If you’re just gonna shut me out and leave me in the dark, I at least deserve an explanation right n-“

“If you wanna see other people, I have to be fine with that,” Azzi added, her voice gloomy.

“I- what?”

“Look, if you wanna start seeing Rae, then I don’t wanna be the one to hold you back”

Paige shifted her body closer. “Azzi, there’s nothing going on between me and Rae”.

“Yeah, I thought so at first,” Azzi said soullessly. ”Even after knowing you were getting piano lessons from her. But I still had my doubts. Then the video of you and Rae at Bar Lobo-“

“What video?”

“The video KK sent on the group chat. I saw Rae wrap her arms around you. Y’all were probably making out with each other for all I care”

A pang of guilt hit Paige’s chest. “I never saw the video. I didn’t really read the group chat after that night. But, Azzi, you’re getting it twisted-“

“Don’t tell me I’m getting it twisted when you still talked to her on Monday after assembly,” Azzi took shallow breaths, lowering her head.

Paige just stared at her before taking a deep breath.

“Azzi, you told Rae I wasn’t seeing anyone else. Ever thought about asking me about my own feelings?” Paige started off. Azzi’s breath hitched, her face even more regretful.

“But I’m not entirely wrong,” Azzi trailed, still fiddling with her fingers. Paige bit her inner cheeks before reaching out to grab Azzi’s hands, caressing it as if to console her.

“Well, you are. We never made out at Bar Lobo. Honestly, I was caught off guard myself when she wrapped her arms around me, but I stopped her before she could do anything else. And she apologised for that. Then that Monday morning, I asked if we could talk because I knew she felt bad. She’s still our colleague at Moore, I didn’t want to burn bridges over some miscommunication. I told her, Azzi. I told her I was seeing you”

Azzi’s head lifted, her watery eyes scanning Paige’s face. “You did?”

“Yeah,” Paige gave her a small smile. “And the piano lessons. At first I thought it was just for fun, but then I got inspired. By you”

Azzi’s head tilted in confusion as she watched Paige fetch for her phone. She opened her gallery to show a video of herself in the empty music room sitting by the piano.

“Okay, Azzi, don’t make fun of me if I mess this up, but this is dedicated to you.”

The video proceeded to show Paige nervously pressing every key, the familiar melody in the same slow tempo. Azzi let out a small laugh whenever Paige’s face winced every time she hit the wrong key, a strong feeling of endearment felt through her body.

When the video ended, Paige returned her phone to her pocket before giving Azzi an anticipative stare.

“I’ve never been digitally serenaded like that before,” she smiled weakly.

Paige gave a small shrug. “A special serenade for a special girl”

“I love it…but I’ll have to give it a seven out of ten. You hit the wrong keys way too many times,” Azzi joked with a weak voice.

Paige lazily laughed before leaning forward, touching their heads together as they laughed together, her hands still holding onto Azzi’s.

“I only have eyes for you, Azzi,” Paige breathed out, eyes closed.

The younger woman was left breathless.

“Me too… Sorry, I got insecure. It’s just…something coming back to haunt me,” Azzi trailed off, but Paige squeezed her hands.

“We can talk about it after school, if it’ll give you peace of mind. Come home, I wanna cook you something,” Paige consoled, retracting her head back to fully face the younger woman.

“I’d like that,” was all Azzi could say before her eyes darted down to Paige’s lips.

It wasn’t hard for Paige to notice before she leaned in, connecting their lips.

It’s been a while since the pair shared a kiss that they yearned so long for. They scooted closer to each other, making it easier for Paige to wrap her arms around Azzi’s lower back. The brunette hummed into the kiss, the softness of Paige’s lips devouring her own, feeling like home. Her hand gripped Paige’s jaw with possession, pressing their mouths together so they could never part, not even for a moment.

After a whole week, how could they not miss each other?

But in the midst of their passionate makeout session, the bell rang for lunch, causing the pair to jolt. And then a knock from the door followed after.

The pair pulled away, scrambling as they pretended to dust something off their clothes before yelling “Come in” towards the door.

“I didn’t cockblock this time, huh,” Kayla peeked her head in, smiling proudly.

The trio laughed before making their way to the teacher’s lounge to join everyone at lunch.

—

Paige’s bedroom door remained locked as muffled sounds of moans and pants barely escaped the room.

Dinner had been eaten an hour ago. They were cuddled up on the common sofa where Azzi was curled up next to Paige, who had her arms wrapped around the younger woman, holding her close. Between the idea of being alone in Paige’s apartment and the neediness for each other’s touch, one thing led to another, and now locked they’ve themselves away from the rest of the world.

“Fuck, Azzi,” Paige moaned as the curly brunette grinded her clit against hers, hovering over Paige as she struggled to keep her grip on Azzi’s waist. She continued moving her hips in a circular motion, causing more air to escape Paige’s mouth. Then Azzi leaned in to kiss her, almost sloppily and swallowing her breaths.

“I need you bad,” Paige whimpered when Azzi traveled her lips to Paige’s neck, leaving a new hickey and sucking on the previous ones.

“Mm, patience,” Azzi sighed on her neck before traveling down Paige’s long torso, giving light kisses on the way.

As soon as she reached Paige’s centre, the blonde gripped Azzi’s head, lifting her hips, so that Azzi’s mouth came in contact. But the curly brunette gently held her waist and lowered it down, trying to get Paige to relax. Then almost immediately, Azzi dipped her mouth into her entrance, her tongue playing around the folds.

“Mmm, just like that,” Paige moaned, the vulnerability in her voice turning Azzi on.

Azzi quickened the pace of her tongue, the erratic movements and wet sounds making Paige shiver. The blonde still had her hands on Azzi’s head, caressing her hair with her thumb, the younger woman feeling more encouraged. Then Azzi slowly inserted two fingers, thrusting it in a semi-fast tempo before enveloping Paige’s entire clit in her mouth at the same time.

The sensation made Paige jerk her hips up, instantly arching her head back into the pillow as she could feel herself climax.

“Azzi, I’m gonna,” she voiced tightly, her hands gripping her head harder.

“Look at me,” Azzi demanded, lifting herself to hover halfway over Paige so she could see her.

Azzi quickened her fingers into her, the sound of Paige’s entrance getting more and more wet. The blonde was struggling to keep her stare on Azzi, her moans starting to get shorter and frequent. Within seconds, Paige reached her climax, a stretched out moan escaping her lips as she came all over Azzi’s hand.

After Paige had relaxed, she had her eyes slightly closed and her eyebrows furrowed. She was recovering with laboured breaths, the sight almost sexy to Azzi. The brunette licked her fingers to taste Paige before straddling her waist again, dipping her head to leave soft kisses on her chest and neck.

The blonde just rested her hands on Azzi’s lower back, enjoying the sensation of her warm mouth on her. Then Azzi shifted so she could lay back on the bed, settling beside Paige and wrapping her hand around her waist.

Paige sighed, rubbing Azzi’s arm while looking at her with hooded eyes.

“You’re so beautiful,” she whispered.

Azzi only smiled, her eyes gleaming. Then a soft expression of guilt washed across.

“Sorry, I didn't mean to ignore you for that long," she croaked. Paige just continued rubbing her arm whispering ‘it's okay’.

Azzi continued. “Seeing you with someone else. I was scared of going back to my insecure self…when I was with my ex.”

Azzi was hesitant to talk, biting her lip as she let her thoughts run. But Paige lightly wiped her cheek with her finger, to grab her attention.

“Talk to me. I’ll listen," with a soft smile, she reassured.

Azzi sighed. "Her name was Destiny, quite ironic, isn't it?”

A small air escaped through Paige’ nose.

“We were childhood best friends, did a lot together; same school, sleepovers, family dinners. We had similar personalities, the quiet kids in the back. But she definitely changed in high school, started becoming more outgoing, made lots of friends. I struggled on that front, but she still kept me close. In tenth grade was when our relationship began to blur, we started developing feelings for each other, subtle flirting but didn’t do anything more”

Azzi sighed again, thinking of how to say the next bit.

"When she decided to go to UConn for Computer Engineering, she had to convince me to join her. It wasn't even my top college. I actually wanted to go to Rhode Island, they’ve got the best design institute over there… But remember when I told you before that my feelings for her were just mere infatuation? I’ll admit that I was, in fact, in love, at the time. So, I did it. I followed her because I loved her”

Paige just made subtle nods while listening.

"College life. What can I say? Stereotypical as it can get. First year was alright, assignments were doable for me, a bit demanding for her. But we did make a good group of friends; most from hers, some from mine, even met Car through book club. And then there was Amanda, or Mandy, as we called her. She was Des’ classmate, a girl with conviction, spoke with confidence. Polar opposite to me. They studied a lot together, hung out when I was busy. They were getting close, almost too close to my liking. So, I started getting scared. The more weeks passed, the more I felt my chances with Des were disappearing.”

Azzi shook her head now, remembering the next part of her story.

“There was this house party over summer break, some senior of Des. All of us went. And there were so many people, everyone was drunk, I think I went a li’l too ham on the alcohol, too. And then I caught them sitting on the sofa, just chatting, a little touchy, a little flirty. Seeing them together made me feel so upset at myself for pussy’ing out. I dunno what got into me, but I shoved myself onto Des… And I started making out with her.”

Paige raised her brows surprised, Azzi scrunched her nose in disgust.

"Yeah, not my proudest moment. Des was shocked, at first; not expecting this side from me, I didn’t either. But she said she’d been waiting for us to date for a while. And, so, I got the outcome I wanted then. Our first two years together, it was sweet. We did a lot for each other; gifts, dates, you name it. We talked a lot about our future together, too, having a family, buying a house, all that stuff. We invested a lot into our relationship, it was going so good. But at the background of it all was Mandy. Des still kept her close. And I couldn’t say anything, I didn’t want Des to think I was too possessive. I was worried my insecurity would put her off”.

Paige furrowed her brows, subtly shaking her head as if to say Azzi’s feelings were valid.

“Our third year was…something. We were getting a little distant. Des got tied with her assignments, her coursework got more difficult. I had to brush off the fact that day in and day out, Mandy and her were always at the library studying together. I’d even drop by every so often at Des’ dorm to keep her company. Until one day she said not to visit, saying it’ll be too much of a hassle for me. I reassured her it wasn’t, but she was insistent, promised she’ll make time for me, even hang out after studying. Well…I didn’t know her definition of ‘hanging out’ was just sex at my dorm every time she was frustrated. Regardless, I still enjoyed any type of company with her. And we still went out on dates, so she did keep her promise.”

Azzi went silent for a bit to gather herself.

“Then it started getting dry, our dates lacklustre. I had to give her the benefit of the doubt, I knew her major was a difficult one. So, one day I decided to keep her company at her dorm again, even brought her favourite snacks and everything. But when she opened her door, she had this shocked look on her face. When I looked inside, Mandy was there. Nothing out of the ordinary, though, she was sitting on the floor busy with her books. Des reasoned with me that she was there to study, but I was confused…that’s when I started overthinking. Study in a cramped up dorm room? When the library was open 24/7? Is this why she told me not to visit anymore? Things were starting to click for me.”

Paige clenched her jaw, almost knowing what would come next.

“I pondered it for weeks. But between our dry conversations and soulless sex, I finally had the courage to confront Des about it when she came to my room for another ‘hang out’. She told me I was ridiculous, that my judgement was clouded. She said Mandy was just a friend and nothing more, but I wasn’t convinced. I told her to stop hanging out with her if she loved me that much, cared about my feelings. Then, all of a sudden, she got defensive; saying I don’t trust her, that I was too insecure…and have always been. That hurt the most. She knew I wasn’t the most confident person growing up, she knew how much I struggled to overcome that, too. We fought that day, I didn’t talk to her for weeks. But then she came back, showed up with flowers at my dorm saying she’ll spend more time with me and that she’ll stop hanging out with Mandy, I figured she felt bad. So, of course, I forgave her. I was still upset, but I still wanted to trust her. I wanted to overcome that little voice in my head.”

Azzi paused to give Paige a small smile. “You hanging in there?”

Paige chuckled lightly. “Yeah, don’t worry”.

“We’re getting to that part now,” Azzi said before a long sigh.

“For another year, it was the same story. She continued to leave me in the dark without realising, I pretended to be happy. There was no more romantic talk, no more sweet gestures from her. When I’d get upset, she’d continue to gaslight me, saying it’s her major, saying that my insecurities are getting the best of me again and that I needed to trust her. Then to make it up to me, we’d have sex. And it kept happening again, like a vicious cycle. I was beginning to feel so useless. One day, Des made dinner plans for our fourth year anniversary. Of course, I was really excited about it. But when time came ‘round, she wasn’t responsive on text, calling didn’t work either. So, I went to her dorm. Knocked on it, no response…then I heard something through the door. Someone moaning her name. I froze at first. I didn’t want it to be true, but I had to see it for myself”

Paige lifted her hand to caress Azzi’s cheek, giving her a touch of support.

“And there they were. Having sex, on her bed. Books and papers scattered. Apparently, they had been seeing each other since the start of our third year together. I knew I wasn’t being delusional, but I…I just felt more ashamed of myself. I kept asking myself why did I believe I could still trust her all this time? So I just left. She texted me saying it was a mistake, then blabbered on about how Mandy was ‘different’. It was all bullshit. She’d throw all those years down the drain to be with someone who was… a projection of who she wanted to be, maybe someone who was a better version of myself. Because I knew I wasn’t good enough for her, no matter how hard I tried to change. So, I cut her off. She moved to Australia after graduation and I couldn’t care less what happened after. So… there you go.”

It was quiet for a moment. Azzi shifted to have Paige on her hold more properly, staring at her with full attention.

“Honestly, it’s not so much what Des did, but more so what I became when we were dating. I lost my trust in a lot of people since then, it was hard overcoming my low self-esteem and it felt like I had to start all over again. Caroline’s the only one who kept me grounded all those years. She never liked Des from the beginning, kept telling me to leave her. But I never listened.”

Paige gave a half smile. “I…I understand what that’s like. Healing isn’t linear, there’ll always be lapses, but I’m proud of you for working on yourself since then. I’ve never met a person more confident in themselves. You know your worth, Az”.

Azzi hummed, lost in Paige’s blue orbs.

“Thanks…that means a lot. Paige, I…I didn’t think I’d share this part of my life so early on, but…I felt I had to”.

Paige shook her head. “Only if it felt right to you”.

“Yeah, it did. That’s, um, that’s why I wanted to ask you something,” Azzi nibbled on her bottom lips just subtly.

“Sure,” Paige whispered.

“It’s been almost two years and I want to try dating again. Ever since meeting you, you’ve changed my perception on everything I knew about trusting people, loving oneself, caring for others. I guess, all I wanted to ask was…will you be my girlfriend?”

Paige sharply inhaled. She couldn’t think of anything initially. The moment she heard the word ‘girlfriend’, it was like she had been electrocuted. It had been a while for her, too. She’d almost forgotten what it was like to give so much love and commitment to someone. The prospect of that seemed daunting to her, what if things go wrong again? How badly will she take the blame on herself? Just like before, Paige thought.

But one thing was for certain. Azzi made doing that all so easy, so natural. And Paige knew it well. Perhaps the blonde didn’t feel ready all this time because she didn’t meet anyone worth being ready for.

“Yeah. I want to,” Paige smiled, nodding slightly.

Azzi let out a deep breath nervously, almost relieved. “Okay…yeah, okay”.

Paige laughed before rubbing her back. “Happy you’re gonna get full access to me now?”

“Why do you have to say it like that and ruin the moment?” Azzi groaned into her neck.

“It’s not entirely false, though,” Paige pulled herself away so she could get Azzi to look at her.

“Yeah, whatever,” Azzi replied, defeated.

Then Paige grabbed her cheek and leaned forward, giving Azzi a soft peck.

“We’ll take it day by day,” Paige reassured.

This time Azzi gave her a small peck. “I appreciate that”.

They kept each other close as the night was beginning to end, settling in the warmth of their naked bodies. But between heartbeats and soft breaths, their minds raced in the darkness. There was fear as much as there was excitement for what’s to come tomorrow.

[reiiinurheart]

be my muse — giselle (aeri uchinaga) x female!reader (PART 1)

at first, it started with her randomly showing up to your practice sessions. you thought nothing of it, but as secrets start to unravel it leads to confrontations and new discoveries.

warnings: mentions of internalized homophobia

aeri walks - no, struts down the hallway as if she owns the place. everything on her is perfect, her hair, makeup, even down to the shoes on her feet as she walks hand in hand with her boyfriend sunghoon. the golden couple. as she walks, people turn and whispers follow.

“she’s so pretty..”

“i heard he’s only dating her for clout.”

aeri hears it all. she smiles like it doesn’t affect her at all but her grip on sunghoon’s hand tightens. “you okay?” he asks her, but aeri merely nods in response.

she’s lying. she always is.

you hum a tune to yourself as you sit cross legged on the floor of the music room playing your guitar, with your friends yunjin and keeho accompanying you. keeho is in his own world, spinning in his chair while yunjin has her airpods in, pretending to study but she’s actually scrolling on tiktok. suddenly, the music room’s doors are pushed open to reveal aeri uchinaga, in the flesh.

silence.

you blink. aeri? in the music room? she’s never even looked your way before. aeri clears her throat awkwardly. “uhm, this is the music room, right?”

“no, this is a mcdonalds. welcome,” keeho exclaims sarcastically earning a soft snicker from you. “what do you want?” yunjin asks aeri, with a bit of a sour tone.

aeri ignores yunjin, and continues. “i heard someone playing guitar and i was just curious.” you knew you were definitely the only one in here playing guitar. you slowly shrink into yourself, and hope aeri won’t notice you. but you failed, miserably.

“was it you?”

“yeah, i’m sorry if it was too loud,” you apologize immediately, fearing the wrath of the most popular girl at school. however, aeri isn’t here to burn you to a crisp.

“no.. it was nice.”

what?

keeho and yunjin just stare like she asked for a million dollars.

even for the rest of your classes, you can’t help but to keep thinking about how aeri went of her way to find out who was playing the guitar, just to compliment them. it has you rethinking if she really is the ‘snobby brat’ everyone made her out to be.

as you walk home alone, you can’t help but replay the moment. her voice. her eyes. the way she said it was nice.

it warmed your heart, just a little.

you don’t know that aeri is watching you from a distance, her heart racing and hand clutching the hem of her blazer like it’s the only thing keeping her on earth.

END.

part 1 // part 2 // tba..

[dreammfyre]

boy, so confusing ⊹ ࣪ ˖ frank langdon

SUMMARY. When two of the most incredible and brilliant doctors can't put their egos aside nothing good can happen, that was the tragic case with Frank Langdon and you. Two opposite poles in ER. For one reason everything just failed, no matter the place or time, it’s fucking impossible to get you together without throwing snide remarks at each other like bombs to hurt the other, judgmental looks, questioning each other's every step. Dr. Robby is tired of having to deal with his favorites doctors getting complaints about your behaviors, he had to find a solution but didn't want any of you to leave the team. The real problem is you and Frank are so much more similar than you care to admit.

WARNINGS. enemies co-workers, frank langdon x f!resident, mentions of death and blood. medical therms. cheating, unspecified age-gap (20-30 aprox). physical violence from both sides? a lot of frustrartion and rage.

WC. +7000. // not sure how happen

AUTHOR NOTE. i really enjoyed write this bc i've never written something so long for tumblr before sooo i hope enjoy it, leave me your requests, i'll read them. okay, i’m happy with the result and for that i was thinking doing a second part, not sure yet.

10:00 A.M.

The ranks are so important in a team and in the emergency room there were two big bosses who were undoubtedly the most important people in the place, the ones responsible for everything to work, maybe not perfectly, but as well as possible. The shift boss and the nurse in charge, the key duo that everyone had to know to go to in case of any problem or complaint. Robby and Dana knew their teams better than anyone else in The Pitt; personalities, strengths and weaknesses. They could talk about the last one all day long, because even though they were a team that lived together almost every day, conflicts could not be absent, that was what happens when many different personalities live together in the same group.

There was a rumour known for all; no person has more ego than doctors. Too bad it was true, more worse in case of two doctors, both amazing at their jobs, brilliant and talented when it came to saving lives. But for some reason their egos just couldn't get into the same room, colliding ever more forcefully.

"Someday they're going to kill each other." Dana took a puff on the cigarette lit between her fingers. "You have to do something before it gets out of control."

"I don't plan on firing either of them." Replied Robby pacing side to side in the ambulance entrance. "It fucks me up, they're both essential to the team, I can't lose them. And even if I did, I'd never find a worthy replacement."

"Then it will end in tragedy and you know it."

"Any suggestions?" he sighed rubbing his eyes tired specifically of this topic, the stupid enmity between Langdon and you dragged on for weeks, even months. Robby’s tried talking to each separately, however, it seemed to only serve to further ignite the fire of conflict. "Lock them in a room with a knife and only one survives?"

The nurse let out a laugh. "Maybe."

"The few times they've worked together they've been very good." Evans nodded agreeing wholeheartedly. "Both are exceptional doctors."

"May I give an opinion?"

"Please."

"I don't think their differences are the real problem. On the contrary, their personalities are very similar and they don't like that." She let the smoke escape her lips before finishing the idea. "Two alphas in the same room will fight for pack leadership. They look like threats, you get what I'm getting at?"

Robby nodded his head keep silence. His hands on the hips was a sign of frustration, he didn't want to release either of you nor did he want to shift Langdon or you to the night shift as you were two valuable pieces in ER. However, the situation between you and him was becoming untenable. You argued every time you crossed paths, you did not reach agreements, you reproached each other's actions with sarcastic comments even though you had done the right thing. Separately they worked perfectly but when they passed each other in the corridors they did not look at each other, nor did they greet or say goodbye.

You and Langdon wanted so much others believe that didn't exist for each other. The reality was that you were too focus in the other one.

"I don't know what I'm going to do those fools." Concluded the boss shaking his head. "I've got two damn time bombs on the team."

"Doctors are the worst, my friend." Dana patted a shoulder in an attempt to encourage him. "Good luck."

12:00 P.M.

Just a few minutes ago the last patient had been taken to emergency surgery so your job was done after stabilizing before was taken up to the ward. You left the ward washing your hands with alcohol gel, you went straight to the nursing desk and met Princess, your favorite nurse, who was happy to see you after so long, you were a mystery, every twenty minutes could be in a different place and you didn't know which one was going to be the next one. Looked at the overhead screen with the inpatients waiting for a consultation, kept reading attentively the symptoms they presented without finding anything beyond vomiting, stomach pains, dehydrates, etc.

"Something cool for me, Princess?" Leaned on the counter with both elbows.

"No, honey. I'm sorry." The nurse made a sad face at you noticing so excited, she stroking your cheek very gently. "Good luck with what we have, they'll keep coming."

Only sighed with your hands in the pockets rocking back and forth.

"I guess it is what it is." Replied with slight tones of disappointment in your voice.

Behind you Dr. Langdon was arriving at the center counter oblivious to your presence. With his blue eyes focused on the list he folded his arms, analyzing in the same way if he could take any patient with an out-of-the-ordinary diagnosis. The ones that were a little more interesting had your last name next to them highlighted with the purple color had chosen. The day was quiet compared to yesterday, however, you didn't want to get bored with routine procedures, that's what interns or medical students were for.

In your uniform kept the emergency phone that Dr. Yolanda Garcia had given to stay in touch. You forgot even had it, so when it rang you were taken by surprise answered it immediately.

"Room two, south wing. Code blue." That was all you managed to hear before the communication cut off.

You didn't answer, taking a couple of steps back before turning around, horrible mistake to collide with the person you hated the most in the hospital. You met Langdon with a grimace of disgust on his face at the fact that it was you, both knew perfectly well that he hated you and your only existence was a real problem for him.

"Could tread more carefully." He scolded without even looking you in the face.

"And you could get out of the way." Responded with the same condescending tone with which Langdon would deserve to be treated.

Perlah and Princess were sitting on the other side to the table looked sideways at each other holding their breath knowing that nothing good could come of it when the two of you shared the same square meter. Annoyed by the boldness in your words Dr. Langdon turned to look ready to answer you with the same hostility, lucky for the day shift work climate, Nurse Dana arrived just in time to avoid another headache for Dr. Robby.

"Oh no, don't even think about bringing your problems up here." She pointed at the two of you warning just once. "Go kill each other after this shift is over."

“Righ.” You were never going to disagree with Dana, so you just nodded in regret that you let yourself go, but damn, Langdon just got on your nerves. It wasn't his stupid ego, or the way he corrected exaggeratedly pointing your mistakes to make you feel useless, he knew how to make you angry; stealing your patients, minimizing your ideas, always fighting to be right.

They were simply incompatible in every way, some compared to fire and water, but those who really know them know that it is fire with fire.

Nothing good could come of it.

Frank sighed crossing his arms, bouncing in place waiting for you image disappear from his sight and hopefully not see you until the shift was over.

2:00 P.M.

Dr. Mohan and you finished intubating a newly arrived patient, there were a few complications due to the state of the airway but knew how to pull it off under the watchful eye of Robby who decided not to interfere trusting that you, Mohan and Whitaker were able to solve it as a team. The Dr. Robinavitch saw you as a really good leader, you trusted the others in the same way you trust in your own abilities, you knew how to listen, dealt with doubts at the moment without putting pressure on the others and if they made a mistake you did not make them feel bad, on the contrary, took it as a teaching and learning opportunity. All this without putting the life of the person on the stretcher at risk.

Even without knowing it, you are a good teacher, Dr. Santos spoke amazing things of you with her colleagues, as well as Victoria and Mel. Robby had heard it in the hallways, the interns wanted to work with you because you not humiliate or mistreat them.

"Good job, Doc." Michael came over after you finished delegating a couple of tasks to Dennis Whitaker. Now you were going to write everything in the electronic chart in minute detail so you would have a complete patient report.

"Thank you." Smiled satisfied at your boss's approval, sometimes it was good to hear that were doing a good job. The two of you walked over to the computer and took a seat for work, opened the system with your ID and password.

"So… how's your day going?" asked, settling down in front of you.

Your gaze was still on the screen concentrating on the words typing. "Good, yours?"

"Fine. Yes, all good as far as possible." Dr. Robby took a second to continue talking, he knew he was bothering you but is the only time available to be able to converse with you. "Looks like you're really getting on with the interns well."

"I think so." You nodded a couple of times.

"That's nice and speaks well of you." Robby began to play with his hands. "It's important to get along with the team."

Swallowed saliva sensing where the topic of conversation was going, a shiver went down your back and your heart beat faster at your intuition. You sighed deeply stopping typing, settled back in the chair looking up at your boss in an attempt to sound as normal as possible.

"Something wrong?" Cocked your head to one side with a slight frown and a slight friendly smile on your mouth.

Robby knew you immediately realized his intentions. "You know something is going on. Look, I don't know what trouble you and Langdon are up to, but have to control yourselves when it comes to working. We're a team here and means we have to behave as a team."

"I have my reasons for keeping my distance, Robby." You made an attempt to continue with the job, but him interrupted again.

"I'm not asking to be friends or something."

"Oh, of course not." Laughed very sarcastically, you'd rather die than be friends with a guy as arrogant as Frank Langdon. "I just stick to doing my work."

Dr. Robinavitch nodded giving your space, he didn't want to argue with you, he appreciated enough not to pressure. He knew Langdon is not a simple person, you are not a saint either, however, with time and experience he had learned that people have their own ways of thinking, their decisions, personalities and as you had told him; their reasons. Robby trust in your judgment as a professional doctor, he wanted to meddle as little as possible, but his job now is take care of both you and Frank.

You stood up ready to get attending more pacients, took your thermo half full of hot coffee and went on your way. Robby looked around as he let you go and couldn't miss how just then Dr. Langdon was passing accompanied by Dr. King on way to see another patient, an ironic coincidence if you ask him. You walked to the waiting room to call the next patient in list hearing the footsteps behind, you took a deep breath preparing yourself for another lecture on your least favorite person.

"Wait a moment." Michael called out to you. So you stopped your walk keeping a polite expression, weren't going to argue with your boss. "Please think about what I said."

"Can I ask a question?"

He nodded ever ready to answer. "Sure."

"Did you try to have a conversation with Frank or is this just reflexive work-talk for me?"

His silence made it more than clear to you the answer which made feel awful because you had to be the one to twist your arm for restoring the harmony between two of you. Langdon never assumed any consequences, he just was untouchable, everyone would have to change their attitudes except for him.

"I know you're more understanding in these topics." Tried to get you to see reason but let out a empty, dry, sour laugh.

"It's not fair, you know that." You lowered your voice so as not to attract the attention of people walking past his side, but genuine annoyance was evident from your expression. Not at all a smart idea to have a private conversation in the middle of the hallway. "Langdon displayed unprofessional attitudes and no one said anything - now I'm the one who has to put the cold water on the situation?"

"I'm trying to do what's best for you guys, I don't want to bring HR into it." Whispered getting serious. "I'll tell you once; don't force me to make a choice."

The last remark felt like a bucket of cold water and you froze for few seconds processing what he had just said. In his look you could see the sincerity, he wasn't playing with you and he was serious about everything.

"Because you would choose him, right?" Asked quietly, with pain in your every word and a completely heartbroken look on your face as you realized you apparently were the second choice.

Dr. Robinavitch was quick to shake his head in denial stopping your head for creating an idea it wasn't realizing at your somber reaction.

"I didn't say anything about that."

"It's not too hard to figure out also. You get along better between you guys, obviously, you've known each other for years. Langdon has more status, more ER experience, even studied at a better university." You fixed your hair behind both ears. "It's clear that I am the problem."

You always had to handle the consequences for what Langdon does.

At the other side of the room Melissa King was showing the tablet with the results of her patient's tests to Langdon, but he didn't seem to be very focused on her words. His focus turned from the numbers to the view of Robby talking with you at a distance of around twenty meters, and from the look on both of your faces, it seemed to be a serious situation. You looked pissed off and Michael seemed to be understanding. Frank knew better than to meddle, but everything that came out of your mouth was pure lies to make him look bad and sully his reputation.

"Dr. Langdon?" Mel's voice brought him back to the main issue. He suddenly felt caught out, forcing to pay attention. "What do you think?"

He found himself trapped and lost, he had no coherent answer for the simple fact that lost time watching you. Langdon took the tablet from the resident's hands to read it by himself, but again fell for the distraction, you had left Robby talking to alone disappearing in the direction of the waiting room. He frowned more concerned about what the talk was about, which for obvious reasons was of no interest to him. Frank thought about going to speak with the chief immediately.

"Where are you going?" asks Dr. King not understanding Langdon's unusual behavior.

"I'll be back in a minute."

5:00 P.M.

Probably the best way to distract yourself is by drowning in work, surely not the healthiest or even the best way, but it would be enough for you and that's plenty. So that is exactly you did.

You look at the time realizing that there are only two hours left to finish the shift, it was only a second that you took to have a break and enjoy an energy drink that Heather had given you at the nurse's station. You could only take a sip, feeling the icy bubbles burn down your throat until a call for help triggered all of your alert senses.

“I need a little help here!” Dennis Whitaker shouted in desperation and covered in fresh blood from the patient.

Dear God, I beg you for a single minute of peace. You quickly set the can down on the table running into the trauma room accompanied by Jesse and of course, Langdon.

"What happen?" you put on gloves finding all the monitors beeping around it, the patient, a adolescent, bleeding from the mouth in drips similar to a horror movie.

“It’s a post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.”

Frank almost slipped with the blood on the floor nearly missing but winning a scare, other nurses came in. The room in a matter of seconds turned into chaos with people running side to side.

“Yankauer and sponge stick.”

"Got it." Answered you approaching the material he had asked for. You didn't even care that it was about Langdon, saving the boy's life, which is getting more and more endangered, that’s your real priority.

“He was stable. Then it just opened.”

Whitaker's voice reflects his terror, only less than a minute ago he was having a conversation with the patient and then from one moment to the next it all went to hell.

"Sometimes bad things happen, Dr. Whitaker." You made the attempt to calm him down, after all, he was still only a student.

“Call the blood bank! Two units, whole blood. Get a second line.”

“Head and Neck wouldn’t come to see him.” Dennis adds, watching you guys take the lead.

“Motherfuckers.” You and Langdon muttered at the same time, looked at each other for a second and continued with your work. Frank took a small flashlight out of his pocket to illuminate the patient's mouth, a black one with gray decorative lines, which you recognized immediately as the one you had bought him for his birthday a long time ago. You were under a lot of pressure so you didn't have time to react.

“Tacky to 120.” Jesse warned you. Lifted the head to look at the vital signs that were increasingly getting worse. “His sats are down to 90%.”

“Okay, get a high-flow nasal cannual. 100 of ketamine.” Langdon started giving orders to the team, looked at Dennis, ignoring you. “Set up the GlideScope.”

When he did that, you hated it, it wasn't the first time he preferred to avoid you and rely on other teammates. Neither were you going to argue at that moment while they were trying to at least manage to stabilize the boy. You kept suctioning with the suction tube the blood that kept gushing from the throat, you could see the panicked look of the poor patient who was still conscious while you were making your work.

“Hold suction.” Moved the hose to the side to put the sponge in with a pair of clamps. “I‘m gonna try direct pressure.”

“If Head and Neck still won’t come down, call García.” Commanded. The boy had his mouth open and a nasal cannula, his terrified eyes with tears were looking at you desperate for help, so you couldn't simply ignore him. "Don't worry, we got it under control." You spoke to him in a more calm and warm tone, stroke his shoulder and he grabbed your hand in an act of gratitude squeezing your hand. "You're good, trust in us."

Your partner continued to concentrate, but seeing the patient holding your hand and following you with his eyes made him realize that he forgot how good you made patients feel no matter what terrible circumstances they were going through. Because you had a unique way of communicating with them, sensitive and empathetic, something he had yet to develop and learn from you.

"What happened?" Robby entered, finding the two of you working together.

"Bleeder opened up." Dennis replied.

Frank handed you the transparent goggles and you immediately put them on. The patient was now unconscious so you had both of your hands free, Langdon was going to proceed to intubate and picked you to assist him, however if Robby had arrived earlier he would not have taken you in consideration.

“Ketamine on board to intubate. Saturation in 97.”

“Can you get an airway?” Asked.

“Come on.” Frank whispered, moving quickly. The noise of the vitals kept beeping every few beeps as a reminder that you were losing him. "Let's lie him down."

"Okay, you got it, guys." Robby said before stepping back with full confidence that the patient is in good hands. "I'll leave you."

"You're doing this to screw us, right?" There were no scruples on your words.

"What do you think?" He closed the glass door leaving the two of you in charge.

"Keep pressure on the scab." Langdon began trying to look for some airway to make the procedure possible, however, through the camera it was just fluid pouring out. "Nothing but blood. Can't see the cords."

Dr. Garcia arrived and the first thing she saw was the two of you working as a team without yelling at one another or trying to kill each other. She wasn't capable of holding the comment and an ironic chuckle. "And this miracle?"

"Jokes later."

"Sats 94." Nurse Jesse speaks.

"Not sure we have room for the tube with the sponge stick." Langdon began to fall into frustration looking at the screen finding only darkness, you knew that tone perfectly, when things didn't go his way he just stopped thinking with clarity.

“If I pull out, there’s gonna be even more blood.” Says Dr. Whitaker worried.

“Doesn’t look like you secured that airway.”

Yolanda added noticing them in a hurry and a bit lost, doubting about what they were doing.

"He's working on it." Said giving a vote of confidence in Frank's skills.

"Give me the bougie." He asked you, though the instant realized his tone was very aggressive for no reason. "Please."

"Open a crike tray and prep the neck." She ordered preparing the sterile gloves and sterile field to performing a riskier procedure compared from what Dr. Langdon and you were trying to do.

"Hold on, I'm going to blind with the bougie. I might be able to feel the tracheal rings."

"It is more likely that you will end up getting married than you will do it. Move."

You looked at Yolanda with less on sympathy. Although everyone knew Dr. Garcia's kinky, sarcastic, twisted humor, you were just sometimes surprised by her ability to throw wry comments at the moment, like an infinite ironic machine or something.

"Not happening." Frank replied insistently. You looked at Yolanda who was still preparing herself in equal conviction. "Pressure."

"Make room for the professionals, little kids."

Frank vs Yolanda. You knew the procedure she wants to do is playing it on the safe side, but at the same time it is risky and will subject the patient to a long recovery, on the other hand, Langdon was playing blind, but if he made it through it would be much safer. You took a deep breath as the patient's saturation continued to deteriorate because the hemorrhage was not yielding to your abilities, and honestly, you saw it as even possible.

"Are you sure this is gonna work?" Frank's question hangs in the air even though everyone in that place knows he's talking to you so they don't pry.

"You think I'd take a risk over something that might not work?"

He felt stupid for even doubt it. "Of course not."

And on the other hand there was him. That despite his self-centered and a couple of times too arrogant personality, he could obey any of your orders no matter how crazy they might sound in his head or the rest of them, 'cause deep down, Frank Langdon still trusted you even though his damaged pride wouldn't let him demonstrate it.

"Guys, this is not working. Garcia says in a bad mood.

"Give them a second." The chief ordered, trusting his two most capable doctors.

"Until he arrest?"

"Oh, my God. I'm gonna lose another patient today." Dennis whispered.

"Geez, shut up, Whitaker." You didn't even look at him as your eyes were following Frank's hands, but you didn't need to 'cause Dennis seemed intimidated. "C'mon Langdon, let's get on this."

"Sats down to 87." The nurse's voice annoyed you.

"I'm gonna reditect the wire." Said you to your partner, he just assented. Both of you felt under the same pressure, if you failed you were going to feel like such failures.

"Sats still dropping. 86."

"We know." Frank replied. "Thanks."

Just as you say you started to move the wire inside the patient's throat, your movements very delicate, almost millimetric, waiting for Langdon to be able to engage from the other side. Every second began to pass very quickly in that place, you could only hear their agitated breaths and the tinkling of the surgical steel. The chances were getting lower and lower, but you guys are so clinging to your ideas, and if you know you can make it, no one was going to make you believe otherwise. That was one of the biggest aspects that made you two so similar. None of you were afraid to try.

"You got this." Murmured you. "C'mon Frank."

"Still not seeing."

Michael hesitated to go help them, but for some reason decided to hold off for another minute.

"Okay, we're done playing doctors here." Yolanda ended up losing patience with you and your unhinged unrealistic ideas. "Lose the wire. I'm criking this kid."

Dr. Robby also gave up hope for you. "All right doctors, you tried your best."

"No, wait. Wait. I've got it."

You felt relief run through your body from your head to your legs. The wire held in your hand now passed down the patient's throat and was now held by your teammate. You shared a fleeting look of joy between you that didn't even last long because you had only accomplished the hardest part.

"You didn't have an airway."

"Alright guys, what will you do now?" Robby asked them now completely sure they had made it. Regretting that he had doubted his star residents even a little bit.

"Okay, Langdon. Keep the laryngoscope in place so the tube passes easily." You responded reminding yourself of the personalized lesson Dr. Abbot gave you a few months ago. "Pass the tube T over the wire, right?" then you looked at Robby for approval, you didn't want to make a mistake at this point.

"Exactly, Doctor." He nodded with the barest hint of a proud smile for you.

"Do no let go of that wire." You instructed Frank who was doing all exactly as you had been telling him.

"Okay."

As complex as it was, you finished intubating the patient, you were able to communicate perfectly between the two of you passing the control of the situation to each other. Whitaker put the oxygen balloon in while you settled in with the stethoscope to listen in to the patient's lungs and check if the procedure as effective.

"Yellow on CO2. That's good." He smiled.

"Good breath sounds bilaterally." You added smiling like a little girl, Frank did too as he saw you happy.

"Sats coming up." Robby applauded them. "Good job, doctors."

"Guess you're gonna have to save that scalpel for another day." Langdon said to Yolanda who was taking off her safety gear as she realized her help was no longer needed.

"I like them better when they fight." She replied. "You guys got much lucky."

"No, we got skills, baby. We got skills!" He exclaimed looking at you with a genuine smile, one you hadn't seen in a long time.

You laughed while removing your coat, gloves and glasses. " You'd better accept defeat."

"You know it won't happen." The woman winked at you before disappearing behind the same door she came in.

After that Langdon and you left the room separately, without even looking at each other or congratulating after exceptional work you had done together, it was as if you didn't know yourselves at all, not even looking back as you crossed the door each going your own way. Again building that barrier that separated them, Robby gasped as he noticed that indifference return again.

"That was... really amazing." Dennis' voice sounded excited after watching that uncommon procedure. "They're a great team."

Michael sighed. "Yeah. They are."

7:00

The magic of this business was that you never had to be confident about what might happen in a couple of hours. At least you had made it to the last hour still alive and soon you would be on your way home to sleep for the rest of the day, you missed your bed, the purring of Oiko your black cat who waits for you every day to be feeding. You fantasized about a hot shower and a comfortable and soft pillow to rest on.

Walking around with your cold hands in pockets, your teeth clenched and your eyes fixed straight ahead. Fingernails digging into the palm of your hands, your breathing agitated with your heart pumping against your chest, footsteps were getting faster and faster but in that place everyone was running so you didn't catch their attention, the truth is that you were running away. But later you felt his fingers around your arm pulling you to a stop, pushing you very hard into one of the empty rooms realizing that no one saw them lock up.

"What the fuck!" Gasped raising your voice losing your balance as he threw you inside. Langdon closed the door leaving you locked in so angry out of control, you moved towards the exit pushing him against the wall. "Let me go."

"What the fuck was that shit moments ago?" he asked you pointing outside, his cold gaze on you waiting for some explanations right now.

Your stomach contracts. Well, you know what he means, but he's not going to yell at you like you're an intern on your first day. Right?

"Someone had to send the patient to surgery, you weren't around nor was there time to wait for you approval or something."

"And you plan’s to keep stealing my patients and do whatever you want like you always do?"

"You'd rather I let a woman suffer death just because she used to be your patient? Do listen to the stupid things are saying?"

"You had no right to make that type of decision about a person's life." He pointed his finger at you, you slapped his hand back not tolerating the way he treats you in such a horrible way; blaming you all the damn time. For a moment his expression terrifies you, and it feels like a storm ready to destroy you.

"I didn't fucking realise that I need your permission to be able to do my job, Frank." Put your hands on your hips. "Why don't you simply admit that it was me that really bothers you. I'm sure if it had been Robby or Collins you wouldn't be this angry."

"I'm so tired of you!" He clutched his head with his hands, a voice full of hate that for a moment scared you. "This shit. U-us. Is out of control."

"Oh, you think?" Laughed without a hint of amusement, on the contrary, you felt your heart clench again. "It's your stupidity and your ego that's costing us dearly."

"Does it bother you that I don't fucking bend down to you like the rest of the hospital does?"

"It bothers me that you have a damn answer for everything!" You explode at him, desperate to hold everything you've had bottled up in your chest for longs months now. "You know what really pisses me off? That I have no fucking idea why you hate me so fucking much." The tone. Volume. The intensity. It's all too much. Your face burns, and you don't know if it's from fury, from shame or from that toxic mixture that only he provokes in you.

Frank stood watching you in a heavy silence between the two of you, your breathing agitated waiting for an answer once and for all. He is right, the situation with you two is simply untenable on either side, you had made an effort, but nothing is enough when it concerns you.

He denied repeatedly hardly believing what you were telling him. "You cannot demand explanations when you exactly behave the same way!" shouts, taking a step toward you, closer than ever. His voice thunders in the empty room, and you feel the vibration in your chest.

Your gaze became crystalline as tears blurred your vision. Langdon was also starting to break down in front of you, the two of you had hurt each other and now you couldn't deal with the consequences of your own mistakes. The atmosphere in that room was heavy and tense, no one would have guessed that at some point it was different.

"You're so fucking confusing, Frank. One day you say one thing and the next you do another, you take what excites you and when it no longer does end up throwing it in the trash."

"That's bullshit." Langdon runs his hand through his hair, messing it up more, walking two steps backwards as if he needs to escape from you. Is red up to his ears, his hands open and stiff as if fighting with himself.

"One day you told that you love me and now you can't look at me in my fucking face, is that a lie too?"

Your words stop him.

He stands still, chest heaving, eyebrows still furrowed, but the expression... changes. It softens. Or breaks, you don't know for sure.

"I was willing to give up everything for you and you know it." His broken voice feels like a dagger straight to your heart. You bit your lip shaking your head, tears in your eyes getting closer and closer to dropping down your tired face.

Of course he did. Because you remembered everything too well. So much so that it hurt every damn day.

"It was for the best." Whispered mirroring the pain through your eyes.

"Really you think that?" He stood in front of you analyzing your expression, knowing you weren't telling the truth because that's just the way you always used to be, you loved to lie to yourself.

"Do you want to know something? I don't hate you, but it makes it so much easier and it seems for you too." Frank says, quieter. No longer shouts, his voice comes out raspy, sincere, as if he can't hold it in anymore.

You swallow the big lump in your throat. The heart is pounding so hard you would swear that he can hear it.

"Trust me nothing I do makes it any easier." In your head you imagined that hating him was going to be that much simpler than loving him… in your head, but you were only hurting yourself deeper.

Your words are left floating in the air like burning dynamite. Langdon dares to make another step. Now you have him just inches away making you doubt even all your beliefs and convictions, this stopped to be about the job long ago. Your breaths are mixed feeling the need to shorten the minimum distance once and for all and calm the voracious hunger created in your body. The gazes crossing fighting in silence knowing there is no anger between you, but defiance and something darker. More real.

Your back is straight, your chest is heaving, your heart pounds in your throat, but you don't take a step back. You don't want to. You can't.

And then, he's right on top of you.

Your back hits the wall softly, and there it stays. Cold, immobile. Frank, on the other hand, is the opposite. Warmth. Movement.

His hand rests beside your head, firm against the wall with his fingers extended and knuckles tense. His body doesn't quite touch yours, but it's close.

Painfully close.

Careful he rests his forehead against yours, closing his eyes again experiencing that sensation invading him once more. Like a wave of warmth emerging from the chest as he held you close, something he missed madly but no longer belonged to him. Frank's hand was about to caress your cheek until a voice in his head reminded him that you never wanted anything with him again, but the truth is that he missed you every minute and crossing you every day is the worst of tortures.

"Please..." Struggled to formulate coherent words. "Let's try not to argue anymore."

"I'm going to keep arguing with you every damn day...because it's the only way I have to not cross this line."

You entire body is on alert, your blood roaring in your ears, your lips half-open without realizing it. Everything about him screams danger and promises at the same time, and you don't know which one scares you more.

And then the door opens.

The sound makes you tremble.

The two of you suddenly separate, as if someone has fired a gun in the middle of ER. The space between you is immediately filled with cold air and silence. Langdon takes a step back, his hand dropping sharply to his side trying to be cool. Dodge Frank’s gaze as you awkwardly peel away from the wall, you just wanted to die right fucking there.

“Oh, s-so sorry.”

Dr. Javadi is still standing in the doorway with her eyes closed, not knowing what to do after interrupted something she can't quite process. Victoria looks away with no words but apologies for not knocking on the door first. Damn, it was her two senior residents.

“You- no. We have to deliver the shift.” Her voice barely trembles in a desperate attempt at concealment. And for a moment, the silence is so heavy that none of the three of you knows quite what to do.

Then you have to be the one to react first.

"Yes. Sure." you say, quickly, as if by moving you can erase what happened.

You walk past her without looking at Victoria without looking at Langdon, even though your legs still shaking, but you force yourself to move. The heat still lingers on your cheeks. And you know that if you stay one more second there, with him, you're going to break, as if something had just been ripped out of chest.

𐙚⋆°. MASTERLIST

[lostinlovingrevery]

Hey Van!! 🩷 I was thinking of a head cannon/drabble for Logan (I’m not a writer by any means so here goes nothing lol hope you enjoy!!)

I was thinking you and Logan going to a party. He doesn’t care for parties but he’d do it for you, even if he is grumpy about it at first, especially because it’s a party at wades place lol

He’s just looking at you while you’re getting dressed. Smirking, seeing you being so giddy to go out. Every now and then he comes over to give you quick kisses wherever he can. On your shoulder, temple or in your hair, he can’t help it.

You wear your favorite dress; a floral mini dress that Logan absolutely adores you in and he’s wearing a plaid shirt with those jeans that fit him very well.

The party is lively already with wade being the host with the most and greets you both as you walk in. Already making jokes and teasing Logan. You can see him tense up ready to hit wade but you squeeze his arm trying to hold in your laugh and Logan just sighs but laughs along with you.

Any chance Logan can get, he has his hands on you. Sitting on the couch, he puts his hand on your leg, messing with the hem of your dress. You get up to go to the kitchen and he’s follows you, drawn to you like a magnet with his hand on your lower back as you look for drinks for the both of you. He even sneaks a peek at your butt and gives you a pat.

“Logan!” you say nervously but secretly enjoying it. “What? thought I saw something on you” he says with his hands up in surrender, smirking playfully.

Music is playing and you can’t help but want to dance. You know dancing isn’t Logan’s thing but he loves watching you. Vanessa grabs you and a few other friends to dance and Logan can’t keep his eyes off of you. Admiring every part of you as you sway to the beat, you glance up to meet his eyes from time to time.

As the party is ending, you’re helping Vanessa clean up and you notice Logan isn’t in the living room with wade and the others anymore.

You don’t panic because you already know where to find him— the balcony.

You find him exactly where you thought, looking at him as you lean on the doorframe.

He turns of course knowing it’s you “come here” Logan says with smile that makes your heart melt.

“I know I’m not the best at showing my feelings but can I have this dance with you?” he mumbles low because he’s a bit nervous.

“Lo, you want to dance? Are you feeling okay?” you say as you put the back of your hand on his forehead to make sure he’s not getting sick. You definitely know he can’t be.

He laughs as he grabs your hand and says “Yeah darling I feel just fine. I always do when I’m with you.”

You blush as he pulls you near him and just before you start to slow dance, he plays a song from his phone that took him forever to figure out.

Make it With You by Bread plays.

“Maybe the party wasn’t so bad after all” he says as he tucks your hair behind your ear, his hand grazing the side of your chin as he tilts your head up slightly. You smile “Yeah maybe” you say just before your lips meet his in a tender kiss, so loving and sweet.

Looking at each other and knowing how special this moment is.

You hold each in an embrace, not wanting to let go. Just you and Logan slow dancing the night away.

“Love can be right or wrong and if I chose the one I'd like to help me through, I'd like to make it with you”

DAAAAAAAMMIIIIIII

this was me reading this

I honestly been rereading this since you sent it to me ( lil gatekeeping action uh huh) and LORD I still love it. And also, for not considering yourself a writer this was amazing!!!!

im just like

Him being so cranky but going with you anyway !!? and THEN!!! AND THEN!!!!

THis is what gets me the most

AND THEN!!!

HIM WATNING TO DANCE WITH YOU PRIVATELY ON THE BALCONY??? EVEN PICKING OUT THE SONG (lovely song btw) ?!?!?!?!

FFS!!! I'm gonna have a heart attack over here. SO lovely and really made me smile :) <3

[ingravinoveritas]

Speaking as a trans uk person who grew up under section 28 and is just a few years younger than David, that reaction on the Assembly last night is the most ‘I think in another time, I wouldn’t have been entirely cis’ response I’ve ever seen. I’ve got a couple of friends of similar age and similar ‘I’m cis because I wasn’t able to be anything else’ mindset and just… I hope he’s happy, and I hope his loved ones give him the support around this whatever he decides and feels.

Oh, Anon. I'm sorry, I am so behind in answering Anons and trying to catch up now. But I saw this message when you sent it in and first of all, big hugs to you (if you are okay with that).

Secondly, though, I can't thank you enough for writing in and sharing this, as being a contemporary of David's and trans, your perspective is absolutely invaluable and carries so much weight. I am a non-trans, non-UK person, but I had a similar reaction to what David said on The Assembly, and from the DMs I've gotten and conversations that have happened since it aired, it seems others have, too.

I have more thoughts on this related to what was said on the episode of David's podcast that Georgia hosted, so I am going to try and save a lot of those thoughts for another post in response to the numerous Anons I have gotten about that. But for me, what stands out are two particular things.

One is that this is now the second time that David has specifically mentioned his experiences with Section 28 and homophobia growing up while also getting choked up/emotional about it. In this instance, he was specifically asked what made him start supporting the trans community...and this is what he said. He did not at all mention his nonbinary child--which of course doesn't mean that Wilf isn't part of the reason--but what David goes to directly in his answer is homophobia and Section 28.

What makes this so significant is that he spoke of it not as someone who saw it from the outside, but who had experienced it from within--something I also noticed in his podcast interview with Russell T. Davies, where RTD talks about discovering he was gay and the process of navigating his sexuality and David essentially "fills in the blanks" as RTD is talking, as if he'd gone through it himself.

Seeing David get so emotional--where it wells up in you and fills your chest and something in the core of you tightens automatically no matter how hard you try to stop it--is something I felt like I recognized. Something that comes from a place of trauma, where you don't just remember a certain event or incident, but relive everything you felt when it was happening. And it breaks my heart to think that he has been through things like that and may still be dealing with them now.

I think your comment about "in another time" echoes into this, because that's been another recurring theme in these conversations. It's this idea that David seems to have that his children and the younger generation on the whole can be whoever they want to be...but he can't. As if somehow it's too late for him to change, to be who he wants to be.

In David's recent appearance on Lorraine, she gushed over how much she loves David and Michael together and how people think they are married, and ends by saying, "In another world." That she (and so many others) can plainly see what's between them and that in another world, Michael and David would be together.

We all only get this one life. This one shot at being here, at being alive long enough to find what makes us happy and hold on like hell to it.

...So why not in this time? Why not in this world?

You're never too old to figure out who you are, or to embrace it. To realize that safety is not the same thing as happiness. To let go of being afraid, to finally come out of survival mode and have the chance to just live in the world.

Shouldn't David get to have that same chance?

A few weeks ago, I noticed some fans on Twitter/X talking about TERF/GCs "accusing" David of being trans. These fans immediately leapt to David's defense: "What? People actually think David is trans?" and "No way! David is NOT trans." And while well-meaning, these responses pained me because of the underlying implication that being trans is something that needs to be "defended against" in the first place.

Because it’s not.

Because it shouldn't be.

Because the correct and only answer to "Why do people think David is trans?" is, "If David is trans (or nonbinary, or genderfluid), why would it matter?"

So thank you again for this, Anon. I hope people will really take in the words you've said and understand why you are saying them. And I hope, as you do, that David is truly, genuinely happy with whatever he feels and decides, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

[aalinaaaaaa]

hello who is stealing children from windowsills are they okay

🤣🤣🤣

Courtesy of yourself, @imsoveryveryconfusedatlife and probably some other people (that may/may not be potentially reading this, who knows 👀), I'm going to delve into the answer for this.

No one :D

(Well, at least no one involved in the exchange this question was asked in, anyway)

The context of the question is that in Arobyre, the capital of Helinda (and also the northern-most city of the country/closest Helindian city to Morilaste's borders), it is a widely believed superstition that the Court of Morilast's High Councillors go around stealing kids sitting on windowsills and balconies at night.

It's part of why Arobyre (and all towns/villages north of it) conducts its affairs during the day [the rest of Helinda south of it does so at night]. (The actual top reason is because of the sprites and other faerie creatures that wander the streets at night, they're also believed to be of Morilesian origin).

The reason this is alarming to those in Arobyre/North Helinda especially is that the vast majority of Helinda's people have never seen a High Councillor in the flesh. They know they exist (they're mentioned in the Founding Treaty), but not much else. They're depicted in fairytales, fables, etc, often in an exaggerated manner. Depending on who is telling/writing the tale, they're often depicted as eldritch-esque shapeshifters, or as more humanoid, but the commonality between the stories is they're very tall and magically gifted. (And that's actually the one truth they get close to getting correct, even though the stories often overshoot it.)

This leads to where the line came from, which is an exchange between Charimone and Claudia on the day she followed her father into what turns out to be Claudia's manor. It's the part where the penny drops and Charimone realises she's in a situation she's only previously read in fairytales :0

Below this cut is the scene in question, apologies in advance because it's rough around the edges, I wrote it the other day for my own reference

(It happens straight after the end of No Good Choices)

—

"You made it all the way here without getting caught, impressive."

Charimone rested her head on her knees, locking eyes with the lady who held her. "My father never notices me. He's always away for Solstice, and never tells us why."

"Oh?" The lady's face contorted in curiosity. "Well then."

Charimone put her hands out as the lady lowered her hand to the desk, letting her off before shifting into human height.

"I promise your father will never know you followed him." She went onto one knee and offered a hand, which Charimone took. "But I need you to promise me something in return."

"What's that?" The lady's hand enveloped hers, nails tipped in a similar hue to her hair.

"Promise me you will not tell anyone of anything and everything you see within these borders. If anyone asks, you were at a relative's house, understand?"

Part of her sank in disappointment. "Okay."

The lady stood and walked off, bound for the edge of the desk.

"Who are you?" Charimone asked, making her turn. "And what is this place?"

She shrugged, a slight smirk lighting her face. "Take a guess."

A guess? She thought about it for a moment, taking in the grandeur of the room. Bookshelves lined the wall behind the lady, higher than any building she's seen, beside a similarly tall door. Crowsong cracked overhead

She remembered something the lady said to one of her crows. "Uh, is this Feudrain?"

It resulted in gentle laughter. "Close, try further south."

Charimone's heart spiked when the lady strode off the table, shifting back into true form, laying a hand before her.

She traced her gaze upward, the realisation sending chills through her bones and out of her mouth, hoping this guess would be incorrect too. "No way... Are you– Is this the Court of Morilast?"

"Bingo."

That's what she had gotten herself into? Her head lurched when the lady held her again, as she stared up agape.

She thought this place and its people were just stories. No one told her she'd be in one.

"So is it true you go around stealing children from windowsills at night?"

The lady blinked for a moment, then laughed. "Oh child, you humour me too much. We would never do that." She winked. "We're worse~"

Charimone gasped, as she continued. "I say that in jest, don't worry. It's High Councillor Emar, by the way, though some call me Claudia."

Her father's teachings rang in her mind, an obligation lodging in her throat. "... Charimone."

Tagging the General taglist for this (plus the one for Charimone's story): (ask/comment/reblog, etc if you'd like to be added or subtracted): @mr-orion @the-ellia-west @guessillcallitart-deactivated20 @thereadingfoz @glassstardust22124 @honeybewrites @ashirisu @drowsy-quill @oliolioxenfreewrites @seastarblue @gioiaalbanoart @rae-butter @corinneglass @oros-ash3s @rainbowsnowflake @fourwingedwriter @oddcryptidwrites @ark-inkweaving @bardic-tales @agirlandherquill @wyked-rebellion

[folkdevilfables]

As far as I can tell, that announcement was a different post to the one with the video, wasn't it? I don't have x/twitter, so it's usually a little tricky for me to see everything an account posts ^^; (But I saw the announcement you reference on Instagram after posting this)

In my own personal opinion - I think their wording is too vague for my liking. Yes, this is presumably early into development? (they literally said the app will release this year so unclear on that) and they will have a crowdfunding campaign later down the line - But considering they already have two apps for the franchise and basically abandoned both and both games included most of the side characters from the start in one capacity or another (Yes, NB reused A LOT of OMs assets), it personally rubs me the wrong way.

And - I might be entirely wrong about this - I wouldn't be surprised at all if dating the supporting cast is part of the stretch goals. To incite supporting the campaign. But only time will tell.

The announcement states "We will also be looking to add additional characters in future updates".

Okay. Cool. I'd like to raise two concerns -

That's generally pretty vague. Why? Damage control because part of the fandom will no doubt be upset only the brothers showed up in the initial video? "Looking to add" is not "are going to add"/"will be adding", it's a potential maybe. An option, not necessarily a guarantee. And considering both of my suggested phrases would provide both more clarity and are shorter, that was a deliberate choice by their PR team.

"Add additional characters". Hm. Interesting word choice to go for. They could have said "the remaining cast" and add an "potentially more characters" to that as well. The fact that they, once again, choose to be vague opens the door for the possibility that characters like Thirteen, Mephistopheles and Raphael won't be added at all. And this wording is most likely a deliberate PR move to keep both sides calm. And what does Solmare gain from procrastinating that reveal? Well. Continued support. They know full well that people will jump the ship if it turns out that some established characters won't be added. That lack of clarity and detail means that people are free to make mountains out of molehills and will support the campaign in the hopes of getting their faves in the game. Whether or not Solmare is gonna actually add them is up to them - At this point, we have nothing but a vague promise at best. Doesn't matter, they got the monetary support by beating around the bush.

Solmare is a company. Companies aren't people, so treating them like such is never a good idea.

I have seen too many companies in similar areas of the entertainment industry - namely vtuber companies - exploit their staff and fans because they fail to realize that their product that they put onto the market is their vtubers. And treating those people as nothing more than numbers is them shooting themselves in the foot, because the fans will see that and retaliate.

And whether you use vtubers or dating games to build up parasocial relationships and attachment with a fanbase, treating either too obviously like a convenient tool for profit is gonna end your business at the end of the day. You expect people to hand you money to support something that you yourself treat as expendable? Hm, something doesn't add up here.

Once again, this all just my opinion. I have simply been burned too often to not look at all of this with a healthy dose of scepticism and cynicism.

Sympathy is only a limited resource for all of us - And everyone is fighting for the biggest piece of that at all times. Consider carefully who to give your sympathy out to, lest you end up burnt out - and whether or not corporate entities with a long list of questionable business decisions are worth that limited resource is your own choice to make.

Solmare just announced that a new Obey Me! app is currently in development.

According to the video included in their tweet, it's scheduled to release in 2025 and focuses on the 'what if' scenario of living married life with the brother of your choice and the side characters are nowhere to be seen so far

[shepscapades]

would you ever consider making a dbhc timeline with links to each comic/work attached to the moments? it would be a lot of work so totally understandable if not, but as i go through the timeline you posted i've been wanting to find and reread the comics associated with many the events

Ouuhh, yeah, I briefly considered it, but it would make the timeline post really long and complicated I think (bc the timelines are hand drawn so I’d have to like… put all of the links under a read more, which would be a lot of back and forth anyway b/w scrolling up to the timeline and scrolling down to find the corresponding link), so I decided against it. The best thing to do is just pull up Character Post Lists in a separate tab, since everything is already chronologically organized there (plus, there’s still important enough in-between stuff on the character post lists that aren’t on the timeline—I don’t want to give the impression that anything is “unimportant” just because it isn’t on the timeline).

More than anything else, I just wanted the timeline to be like, an additional tool/visual to clarify and give y’all a better idea of the vague order of events, not a definitive source for everything (hence my noting that not everything is on the time). I know you end up with a bunch of tabs open, which is less than ideal :( but I really don’t want to de-incentivize the character post lists bc those are what take the most time to put together and update. Hopefully all of that makes enough sense!

[joshuamj]

She just wanted a friend :(

[lamefish]

when fratboy!satoru takes your virginity you kind of expect him to be an ass about it. he's cocky as it is, and has a habit of gassing himself up too much when it comes to his... skills in the bedroom. if you're not listening to him talk about how he's the strongest, you're listening to him talk about how he's the biggest.

being the only virgin of your friend group was starting to grate on you and... a small part of you might've wanted to find out if there's any bite to satoru's bark. it's not like the two of you were dating or anything, but you felt comfortable enough to walk up to him one day during lunch and ask, in front of his best friend:

"will you take my virginity?"

maybe you expected him to blush. or freeze up. or at least trip over his words. but instead, the stupid white-haired prick looked up at you with the most relaxed expression possible and shrugged.

"okay."

and that's how you ended up here, sitting criss-cross applesauce on his messy dorm-room bed with his tongue halfway down your throat. a few empty cans of beer and abandoned cheat sheets lay strewn over his floor, and you hate yourself for letting this be the backdrop of your entry into the sex-having life.

but you can’t hate yourself for long because as he runs a hand up your thigh and under your skirt, you start to feel more excited than you thought you’d feel. he pushes you back, slots his knee between your thighs and bites at your bottom lip before trailing down to your throat.

still, it’s satoru, so when he pushes your panties to the side and feels just how wet you are for him, he laughs. “you get this wet when you touch yourself or is all of this just for me?”

“shut up,” you groan as he nips at the skin of your throat and gently runs his finger through your folds and up to your clit. you’re surprised he knows where your clit is, even.

and he’s not wrong—you’ve never been wet like this before. you can feel just how damp the fabric of your panties are you as satoru pulls them down your thighs and hikes your skirt up to get a clearer look at your soaked cunt.

“pretty,” he licks his lips. “wannna taste her, that okay baby?”

his eyes search yours for consent and you’re stunned for a moment as he waits for ‘enthusiastic consent’. you didn’t expect this sort of check-in from a frat boy. your nod seems enthusiastic enough to him, but just for clarity—“use your words.”

“yes. please, gojo.”

“satoru,” he corrects you. “want to hear that name when you cum on my tongue. cant believe no ones tasted her before.”

the use of referring to your pussy as ‘her’ is odd but quickly overlooked when he delves into your pussy like he’s dehydrated. tongue flat against your heat just to flex and circle around your clit. he sucks and bites a little and pulls you to your first orgasm in nasty speeds.

you cum on his tongue whilst his eyes bore into yours from between your thighs. white hair pulled out of his face by your hand as you tug the strands in hopes that he’ll stop licking at your overstimulated clit. it takes until you’re shaking for him to finally pull back and free his angry cock from his pants.

you think you gasp when you see it. he said he was big but you didn’t think he was a truthful man in the slightest. his cock is so heavy it doesn’t even stand at full mast—it fights gravity. satoru sees the look on your face and instead of sporting a shit-eating grin like you expect, he climbs over you and presses a soft kiss to your forehead.

“let’s stop here?” he asks. “we could watch a movie. oooh what about die hard?”

you giggle, your nerves melting a little at his words. “i’m okay, i want this. i am not graduating as a virgin.”

satoru snorts and, after rolling a condom on, gently pries your legs apart enough for him to slot his wait in between them. he guides your ankles to link behind his back and slowly runs the tip of his cock through your slick folds. “tell me if you need me to stop,” he says. “just relax. i’ve got you, baby.”

you actually manage to relax a little, focus on the feeling of being stretched as satoru slowly pushes into you until his tip is completely hidden in your cunt. it’s uncomfortable, but not unbearable. “keep going.”

one of his long fingers dips down to rub soft circles over your clit to relax you a little more as he pushes deeper. you’ve never felt so full, so sore yet desperate for more… you wonder if it’s always going to feel like this, or if it’s just because satoru is the one breaking you open to find pleasure in your insides.

he lets out a pretty moan as he bottoms out inside of you, the weight of his heavy balls resting against your ass as he stills and catches your lips in a wet kiss. his tongue slips into your mouth, runs over your teeth and pushes against your tongue as he slowly draws out of you and then, with a grunt that you taste, snaps his hips forwards into you.

that hurts, but there’s an odd stitch of pleasure in the way he’s broken you open. “sorry,” he speaks against your lips. “it’s better that i just got it out of the way, it can start feeling real good soon. gonna make you cum on my cock, baby. you want that?”

you nod, eyes staring into his as your foreheads meet. satoru nods back, licking his lips and smiling. “yeah? you wanna be stuffed full, huh? always knew you were filthy. but i’m the only one that gets to see it.”

his arrogance pulls at your lips. “until i fuck the next guy.”

snap. his cock splits you open at that, and though you wince and screw your face us, you’re letting out moans made for porn too. his finger on your clit starts working a little faster as he draws back again just to drive into you even harder.

“no,” he dips his head down to bite at your neck. “not until you fuck the next guy. i mean you can try, baby, but it’s not happening.”

“ngh, what do you mean?”

another thrust into you sends you further up the bed. you’re sure you look a mess but satoru looks down at you with such wide blown eyes that you could be convinced you’re from the heavens. “not giving you up that easy,” he groans. “you know, i fucked someone last week just because they had your name. got to moan it without being slapped. again.”

your hand flies up to his chest, almost in an attempt to slow his now mean pace. “wait you—ngh god—you like me?”

“i’m far fucking past like,” he moans, hips starting to stutter. any discomfort has faded into glorious pleasure. your stomach starts to tighten again and you know you’re close enough that he’s going to try and time your orgasms. “you’re so perfect. so much better than i imagined.”

your eyes roll back a little at the thought of satoru fucking his fist late at night to the thought of you. how nonchalant he was when you asked him to take your virginity, you wonder if he went home last night and stroked himself to the sheer anticipation of being inside of you.

“satoru i’m gonna—”

he cuts you off with a deep kiss. it’s sex and want and lust, but it’s also soft in a way you can’t describe—maybe even a little anxious after his confession. it might just be his pending orgasm, but you swear his lips tremble between yours.

his cock throbs as he drills it into you, hits your most sensitive spot with every single thrust. it’s like he already has you mapped out, because you’re both cumming in tandem with each other before long.

a part of you aches to feel his cum spill into you instead of the condom he wears, to be claimed and filled by his seed over and over. would he fuck it back into you? clean you off with his talented tongue? would he plug you with his cock until he’s ready to overfill you with a second load?

he moans into your mouth and pulls back a little to revel in your fucked out expression. your legs still wrap around his waist, boxing him in and keeping him close. you worry that in typical frat boy fashion he’ll make an excuse and run off to recount the fuck with his friends. but satoru pecks at your lips, then your chin, then down your neck again.

“what are you doing?” you ask, vision slightly blurred from the intensity of your orgasm.

“gonna make you cum again,” he smiles against your skin. “didn’t you hear?”

“hear what?”

he pulls back to look at you, a soft smile pulling at his pretty lips. “that if you cum at least five times when you lose your virginity, you’ll fall in loooove.”

[bunny-jpeg]

packing my husband's lunch

simon "ghost" riley - inspired by this

tags: smut & fluff, domestic, established relationship (marriage), housewife!reader, butcher!simon, food, body worship & praise, missionary,

a/n: changed a little bit of it for the fic, i hope that's okay! i hope everyone loves it!!

it wasn't supposed to be a big deal, these were little videos that you made when simon was at work. people did a lot worse on the internet! you were mostly in sweet aprons with your username embroidered onto them and occasionally one of the dresses that your loving husband bought you!

you wanted to keep yourself busy now that you were a stay-at-home wife and the income from being part of the creator's program was a nice bonus.

"thank you for the banana bread recipe, mrs. riley!"

"where did you get that dress?"

"i wonder what mister riley looks like! i bet she totally lucked out!!"

you built up a sweet little community that was mostly sharing recipes that you've aquired over the years. viewers were impressed of how well you could handle spice despite your gentle demeanour, but you once said in a video that you had been eating spicy food your whole life!

"plus, my husband loves it too!" that was the big mystery of the account, who was mrs. riley's husband? viewers knew he existed and that videos occasionally were about making his lunches. but he had never showed his face in any video.

you thought the comments were cute, you'd often show them to simon while you were in his lap on the couch.

"they think that you're like christian grey."

"who the hell is that?" simon chuckled as he rested his head on top of your head so he could look down at your phone, "sounds like a real prick with a name like that."

another day, another video. you worked within the kitchen explaining the recipe. "you have to remmeber to add the spices before it all comes together or else it won't have time to mingle with the potatoes or the carrots. the taste will be all off!" you tone was like a bird's chirp as you had one hand on yourhip and the other stirring the pot with a spoon.

"my husband loves this! and i think who ever you make this for, wife, husband, boyfriend, partner, family member, friend, they'll love it too! but i suggest if you're making it for your nana that you tone down the spices a little!" you talked away as you continued to cook.

it filled the near silence in the kitchen and allowed you to keep viewers engaged!

but this video ended a little different. while you showed off finished stew in a pastel pink bowl, viewers caught the sight of him. hulking mass of man in a white t-shirt with a suspicious amount of red stained across it.

"girl, are you okay?"

"who is that?!"

"pack him a sandwich in the next video if you need help!"

"hey girlie, close your fist with your thumb inside if you're not safe!"

you were confused by the comments, simon wasn't a bad guy? he had never hurt a hair on your head. you've been trying to get him into more experimental kinky play in the bedroom!

you heard the door unlock and peeked out of the kitchen to see your husband coming home. you were use to grime he brought home, you met at the butcher shop his long time friend price owned. so a t-shirt stained with blood was nothing new. but then it clicked in your head.

oh they thought that simon was some kind of serial killer.

before you could say anything to your husband, he pulled you in for tight kiss and held you by the back of the head with his strong hand. you smiled against his lips and giggled when he picked you up. you wrapped your legs around his waist and held onto his shoulders.

you weren't the lightest thing in the world, but simon had spent most of his life hauling things (meat) heavier than you could ever be. he eyed you from top to bottom and smiled. his smiles were rare to others but frequent with you.

"how's my love bug today? makin' more videos for the fans." he asked as he carried you to the couch and put you down gently. he then leaned in to kiss you on the lips.

"yeah, they think you're a serial killer though."

his blond brows raised, "serial killer?"

you looked at him in return, "you were in the back of one of my latest videos, i didn't notice anything until i realized that you were in a work shirt and it looked like you were a serial killer."

"i see, i see." he said as he sat next to you and laced your fingers with his, "tell them i'm not, i don't need rumours to start." simon didn't like being the center of attention.

he once told you that he married the brightest woman he could find so she could be the center of attention and he could be supportive from the sidelines. it was why people gravitated towards you while being a little afraid of you towering husband.

you pulled him closer to you and kissed at his scarred face. he was an active service member before he became a butcher, so much history on his body and you loved every molecule of him. when you kissed him, he deepened the kiss and held both your hands.

"simon."

"let me take you to bed." he replied softly before he pulled you to your feet and then pulled you up into his arms bridal style. it took you a while to get used to him carrying you. not that you were worried about him not having a good hold on you, but rather you not having a good hold on him!

he brought you to your shared bedroom and placed you on the bed delicately. he then got his shirt up and over his head, exposing his strong body to you. he wasn't model trimmed, he was built with proper strength.

i ain't no pretty boy, dove.

but you thought your husband was the prettiest of them all. slowly you started to take off your dress, you could feel your husband's hungry eyes on you as you undressed for him. your viewers saw a sweet little wife, bu simon saw that sweet little wife totally nude.

when the mis-matched pair of bra and panties ended up on the floor with the dress, simon felt like a new man. he worked hard to provide for your family of two and would continue to work hard every day. you were his wife, his everything. and he loved you more than he could ever articulate.

so he expressed his love by getting undressed and into bed with you. laid out on top of the covers, your head in the pillows with simon between your legs.

"look at mrs. riley." he cooed as he rubbed his rough hands up and down your bare thighs, "prettier than those little cookies you make.' he chuckled a little, "boy at work watch your videos all the time, you've been a big help to them, finally able to cook for themselves." he went in to kiss you on the lips.

"glad i could help." you replied as you held onto one of the pillows under your head. you arched your back a little when he lined his cock up with slick entrance and pressed himself in.

he leaned forward and braced a hand up against the headboard as he got his cock inside of you. the issue with a size difference like yours, it made it a little hard to have sex in certain positions. usually you were on top, but since you got married you've been able to figure out missionary.

"honey."

"i got ya, dove. you feel so good as always." he said lowly, "everything i have ya, it's a complete treat. you take good care of me, you know that. you are a good wife. happy you're making your little videos, and i'm happier i get to come home to you."

you blushed a little bit and wanted to hide your face but he stopped you by pinning your hand to the bed.

"don't hide from me, dove. i want to see my wife's face." he said with his voice tinged with affection. he loved the sight of you, you were beautiful under him, he couldn't help but lick his lips at the sight of you.

"you make me blush too much." you said as he moved against you. your loving, caring husband moved his hips in a steady pace as he held onto your hand and the headboard. his thrusts were easy on you, not too rough but just enough to make you excited all over. you loved the feeling of him, there was just something about it that made you feel a twinge of excitement in your core.

he was a perfect lover and you loved him so much.

"all mine." he purred as he continued his movements. he watched your videos daily during his lunch break, happily eating the food you made for a video that morning or the day prior. the stews, baked goods and pasta dishes that you were known for.

your emphasis on couponing and how to store foods to make them last longer. it was an honour for simon to be with such a lovely woman. you encouraged food as a form of love. and you showed that love ten times over with simon.

he captured your lips and continued to move against you. he devoured the feeling of his lover up against him. you felt amazing, you felt like heaven. he couldn't help himself. he moved against you and continued to kiss you.

"work so hard every day, you work your ass off beautiful. and i love it, all of you. you know that. i can't get enough of you, how you feel against me. how i feel like our souls are connected."

you giggled, "no need to butter me up, handsome." you smiled when he placed another kiss on your lips. you moaned into the kiss, you eventually held onto his strong shoulders. you two moved against each other, husband and wife. quite the pair you were, and simon wouldn't want it any other way.

"baby." he cooed.

"shh, shh." you said, you opened your eyes and stared into his brown ones, he was so handsome. even when he tried to deny it, you knew the truth. he was quite the handsome man. the kind of man that made your toes curl with each hardy thrust of his hips.

the pleasure ran through both of you, the intensity of it made you kiss one another once more. he continued to work himself inside of you. live in each of this thrusts, affection in every movement. simon loved you and you loved him, hence why you held onto him so closely.

"oh, dove. look at ya. perfect for your husband." he cooed as he felt closer to his climax, it was an intense feeling. the kind of feeling that excited him greatly. he loved you and when he watched your pleasure reach its peak, he felt a swell of pride when you clutched onto him tighter.

"fuck, honey." you moaned as pleasure crushed down on you. you tensed up then relax, enjoying the feeling as it moved through you. you shared another kiss.

simon continued to work his body up against yours, and soon he finished inside of you. he rocked against you through his climax and then only broke the kiss when he stopped. he looked you in the eyes, those beautiful brown eyes.

you giggled lightly and pulled him in once more before he laid out on the bed beside you and held you in his arms.

"not too bad for a serial killer."

"yeah, i bet they'd never know that you're such a teddy bear." you dragged a finger across his strong chest and let out a small giggle. he felt so good against you. you soon sat up and said, "i have something i want you to try, i am working on a new recipe."

before you could get too far, he pulled you back into bed with him and wrapped his arms around you. he held you close and said, "whatever it is, dove. i bet it's amazing, but right now i just wanna hold ya."

-

the following day, on one of simon's days off. you set up the camera and stood beside your much taller husband. you were all smiles as you were ready to bake a nice spring treat.

"hello, love bugs! it's mrs. riley again, and today i have a guest!" you gestured to your husband. you whispered, "you'll need to crouch down a little." and simon bent his knees, "this is my husband, mister riley!"

you hoped that this would quell any concerns your fans might have. and while the comments were positive one made you blush.

"i used to think i had a crush on mrs. riley, but now i have a crush on mr. riley too!"

i hope you love this fic! if you have any suggestions, my open! till next time <3