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thoughtsfromlayla · 7 months ago

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Dreamweaver's Heart

Summary: The Dream Lord takes fascination to a new lucid dreamer in his realm, his Dreamweaver. The waking world is less than kind and he will travel dimensions to make sure you are safe.

Notes: ~8.6k, this was a request sent in by Anon based on this post! Otherwise, I'm sorry for having this fic take such a dark turn? It was supposed to be sweet but then in my search for more Tom Sturridge films, I came across Like Minds and it fucked with me. So now it fucks with my writing until further notice.

Warnings: Don't ever get attached to the characters I make for the plot, graphic descriptions of gore, death, murder, and drowning, betrayal of a friend, nonconsensual kissing (not from Dream), graphic serial killer activities, run in with a serial killer. Dream's a dream tho, a knight in black armor <3 Happy ending :D

I'm not going to say it's 18+, because it's not NSFW, but some of these themes can be disturbing. Please read the tags carefully.

Masterlist

“One, two, three, four, five, okay,” You count your right-hand fingers to yourself. Then cast your eyes on the watch you always carried on your wrist.

“8:13,” You take another look at your surroundings and take in the fresh air and kind sun. “AM,” you concluded.

You look back to your fingers and count again. “One, two, three, four, five,” You listed off in your head. Then one more time look at your watch. This time it read 5:15 PM, but the sun hadn’t moved. A grin crawls up to your face as you realize that you were dreaming. Lucid dreaming to be more specific.

When you first heard about lucid dreaming in some off-handed news article you rolled your eyes and went on with your morning. There wasn’t much time in your life to worry about those things, not when another project was due, you had another meeting to attend, or another email to look at. But then life got unbearably hard to live with, stress kept piling up, and your vacation hours kept being declined.

Your dreams turned from weird but forgettable dreams to nightmares of being chased, drowned, or murdered, only for you to both feel and witness again and again. When you wake up in a sweat at the ungodly midnight hours, you open your phone to find the news article again. It took you well over a month to get the hang of lucid dreaming but it was all worth the cognitive effort. Each time you go to sleep you count your fingers, then your clock, then your fingers, and then your clock again. There are always telltale signs that you were dreaming, dreams tend to never make sense so you look for those things.

You intake another fresh breath of air and smile, head tilted towards the sun. The city air was polluted with car fumes and sewage smells, and while you loved the city, you do miss the easier days back in the countryside. You imagine the lush meadows, old trees, and the house that your grandfather hand-built for him and his wife. Before you the scenery changes and you’re sitting on a hand-carved rocking chair in a thin shirt and shorts.

“This is the life,” You groan out to yourself as you begin the rock back and forth, thighs and arms trembling from a stretch. You stay like that for god knows how long, the waking world not a priority of your thoughts as you had the next day off.

You only get up when sweat begins to collect along your hairline and the sunhat you are wearing begins to become itchy. A farm dog comes up to you and pants at your side urging you to go inside the house, maybe for a cup of lemonade, which sounded delicious the more you thought about it.

When you look into the house from the windowed front door, a black figure briefly catches your eyes. It walks within the kitchen, running a finger across the worn wooden table and tracing lines of chipped paint over the tops of chairs. Confusion eclipses your face as his figure distorts on the thick glass and you open the door quickly.

Much to your surprise, there was no such figure when the door opened. Your heart beats inside your chest and you look down at your fingers again. One, two, three, four, five… six. Six fingers, which is odd. You exhale slowly, it’s just a dream you say to yourself and carry on.

While sitting at the kitchen table you pinch your index and thumb together then bring both hands until they meet the other’s fingers. You pull them apart and a delicate golden string connects the fingers together. With a calming inhale of breath you move your fingers purposefully, drawing a picture of lemonade with a glass cup. If only it were this easy in the waking world.

Lemonade appears on the kitchen table in a glass pitcher and you pour yourself a cup, chugging down the citrusy-sweet drink with a smile. You sit for a while, not particularly thinking of anything, your job had you doing enough of that. The kitchen window was open and you could feel the summer wind and hear the leaves rustling and mourning doves cooing. It was a scene straight out of your childhood, and if you concentrated enough you could hear the lawn mower going in the distance, the smell of freshly cut grass invading the house.

A bark interrupts your serenity and you look over to the farm dog. He’s patiently sitting by his food bowl with a wagging tail. A small box of dog food appears on a nearby shelf and you go to him with a smile.

“Are you hungry, boy?” You ask and reach for the kibble. He barks back in return and watches you intently as you pour a small serving. You then thought to yourself that, well, this is a dream and can dogs get diabetes in dreams? Probably not, so you dump the rest of the kibble into his bowl. It piled higher and higher and you can see a satisfied glint in the dog’s eyes as it begins to chow down on its food.

You wipe your hands off on your shorts and toss the empty box into some unknown void in the hallway and go back to the kitchen. This time, however, two glasses were accompanying the pitcher. One, the glass you just drank out of, and the other, a half-drunk glass of lemonade. The condensation of the cool drink was still on the glass and you could see a clear handprint of where someone had grabbed it.

You look back at the dog and notice that he is missing and panic sets in again. You look outside the window and the sun disappears, clouds rolling in with a sheet of rain. The ground around you starts to become wet despite the intact roof and it floods over your feet. The water fills up the space quickly.

You try to calm your breathing and will the water to go away, for the sun to come back, anything to have your hours of peace before you have to wake up. But, nothing worked and the water came over your hips, and you’re hyperventilating now. The rain comes in through the windows in large gushes of water and you find yourself stuck in place, unable to move.

“Wake up, wake up!” You chant to yourself, tears beading along your lower lash line. You pinch at yourself and are exasperated when you still don’t wake. The water felt too real, it was cold and piercing and you could feel the twigs and leaves of debris that brushed against your legs now and then. “This isn’t funny, wake up!” You cry to yourself again as the water rises higher.

Behind you, in the shadows, the Dream Lord watches with intent. He always had a fascination with lucid dreamers, after all, they were able to minorly manipulate dreams to their whim. Something that the Dream King wouldn’t admit hurt his ego a little bit… just a smudge. But he had been watching your dreams lately and found it fascinating that you never dreamed of anything grand. No mystical adventure, no aspirations, and certainly no dreams of a more… sexual nature. Which, if he was allowed to comment, may be the reason why you were so stressed in the waking world and needed to find peace in his instead.

“This dream is over,” He commands and waves his hand over the scene.

You wake with a start, the sweat you produced while sleeping made your shirt stick to you uncomfortably and reminded you of your dream. You’re quick to get rid of it and throw it into your laundry hamper, now topless and rushing to the bathroom for a cold shower to calm you down. When you were done, your weekend alarm still hadn’t gone off and you were tempted to go back to sleep again.

Eventually, you decided against it, unless you wanted to repeat what just happened. Purposeful, dreamless sleep hasn’t found you in a long time and you doubt it would come back just on a whim. You watch the sunrise in your apartment, sighing as sleep tugs at your body still. The cup of hot coffee in your hands felt more like decoration than anything useful as it didn’t give you the energy you craved.

Thankfully you had nothing to do on your day off and you pat your past self on the back for going grocery shopping last night instead of making you do it today. You spend the rest of the day in bed, reading books on your Kindle and taking breaks by mindlessly scrolling through different forms of social media. Sleep tugs on your eyes but no matter how much you try to sleep, even a nap escapes you.

The day goes by at a molasses-like pace, you don’t even remember eating. But once the sun has set and the stars made their debut, you happily resign as sleep overcomes you. The Kindle falls somewhere off your bed as you lose consciousness. When you come to your dreams, you’re greeted by a whale… in a tutu.

Your laughter is hard to contain at the sight as you watched it dance on its fins to Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, part of your favorite ballet to watch when you were younger. It splashes some water on you and you use your hands to cover your face. It’s then that you remember to count your fingers.

“One, two, three, four, five,” All five fingers. What time was it? You repeat the ritual that has been so ingrained in your head and when you notice that you only have four fingers on your second count, you know then that you have control over the dream.

“Thank you for your entertainment tonight, my friend,” You wave goodbye to it as the scenery changes around you.

You’re back out in nature. A low-hanging tree greets you instead and a white and red checkered blanket is laid before it. The blanket had a mighty spread of slices of bread, jams, cheeses, meats, and tea. You make your way over and sit on the soft blanket, slowly picking the foods to taste. The atmosphere was perfect and the wind blew the smell of fresh water into your nose from the nearby pond. Ducks and geese honk at each other in greeting as they swim by.

Deeper in the picnic basket was more food, but you found them in pairs. Two sandwiches, two teacups, and two dessert cakes. You quizzically stare at them as you hold the two sandwiches, one in each hand. You didn’t eat that much, did you?

“I see that you have started without me,” A voice comments.

You jump in your skin at the sudden intrusion and look up. You see a man, dressed in casual black with an impressive coat.

“Isn’t it a bit too warm to wear such a long coat?” You ask instead.

You don’t protest when he sits next to you and hand him a sandwich instead. He places the wrapped food gently on the ground before taking off his jacket.

“Better?” He asks as he goes to grab his sandwich again.

“Hmm,” You only hum in agreement and start to unwrap your own. It’s a few minutes of silent chewing before you realize how weird this is. “Wait, who are you?”

“No one you haven’t met before,” He answers vaguely. His sandwich was left untouched except for the bread which he threw at the ducks near the pond.

You chew slowly as you try to digest his answer. He pours you a cup of tea which you drink freely from, murmuring a thanks as he hands you the fine china. The smell of vanilla and peaches invades your senses as you sip on the sweet tea. The favor takes you by surprise at how wonderfully it paired with the sandwich. By the end of the picnic, you have learned two things, your mystery man was great company, and that carbs made you comatose.

“Oh, my god. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten that much food in one sitting,” You sigh happily as you lay down on the blanket. Your head hits the hard ground and an idea sparks in you.

Once again you pinch your fingers together and then bring your hands together. You intertwine and loop the golden strings that emit from your movements, much like an old childhood game of yours, Cat’s Cradle, and produce a small pillow.

You place the pillow down and give it a good smack before laying down again. The sun envelopes you in a kind warmth that makes you smile. You see dancing shadows behind your eyelids when you close them to enjoy the moment.

You hear rustling beside you and turn your head towards the man lying down beside you. He really was quite beautiful, something more than a man, perhaps a deity. He is lost in thought, almost, as he thinks about your abilities, but he keeps his thoughts to himself.

“You have a great side profile, you know?” You don’t know why you said that, but rarely in dreams do you know why anything happens.

Your comment makes him chuckle, a sound that you wish to hear again. It was light-hearted and pure, something that you wouldn’t expect to hear from someone who looked like him. You couldn’t help but laugh along, finding his happiness contagious.

“Thank you,” He says when he is done laughing.

When the giggles leave your body, you go back to relaxing and soon you doze off. The rest of the dream is peaceful and pure, no more nightmares to haunt you tonight. The Dream Lord looks at you fondly as the wind blows some of your hair astray, happy to assist you for once in his realm. As long as he is here, you won’t have to fight your demons on your own again.

The next morning was the first time in a long time that you felt energized. The old coffee pot is nearly forgotten as you get ready to go on a morning walk, something you have done in a long while. Afterward, a shower, and then lunch with an old friend you haven’t seen in months. He had decided to drop by after his work allowed him to come into the city.

You meet with Oliver at a local cafe and you order tea this time around, along with some soup and a side salad. The AC is on full blast as more and more people come into the small building. You were lucky to find Oliver already waiting for you at a small table by the large windows. He waves at you when you come close enough and then pushes his glasses back into place.

“How have you been, Poppet?” He starts right off the bat with a smile, using the same nickname he’s been using since grade 3. That smile brings you back all the way to your younger days when you first met him as your new neighbor.

You think briefly about possibly mentioning your horrid dreams to him but decide to skip it, seeing as you didn’t want to ruin the mood for today, not to mention the peaceful dream you had last night all but almost made you forget it in its entirety.

“Oh, you know me, running around like a chicken with its head cut off.” You joke with a self-deprecating laugh. Your comment makes you realize that you have to go to work the next day and deal with annoying clients all over again. “Same shit, different day,” You mutter in conclusion.

Both of your foods arrive just in time for you to ignore the glare he sent your way. Instead, you find fascination in the soup you choose, the same soup you had for the past three years of your life.

“What brings you into town?” You ask as you pick apart the complimentary bread.

“Work, of course. Though I never thought it would bring me to this place.” He gestures to the city around him.

Oliver works as a farm veterinarian so, rarely, does he come into a large city where each piece of green is covered in concrete or chewed gum. And, of course, there are no farm animals around. He goes on to talk about a conference that he was invited to, something to do with the fight on farm animal antibiotics. You only nod along as you ate your lunch, your talents lie elsewhere but don't want to seem rude.

Only scraps of your meal are left when the two decide that it is time to depart ways.

“How long are you staying in the city?” You ask outside the cafe. The weather was almost perfect today, save for the slightly chilling wind that came every now and then.

“About a week.” Oliver puts on his jacket and then pushes his round glasses back in place.

“A week, huh?” You thought out loud before a smile came to your face. “You should come by the exhibit later this week. My client is showcasing their art, and going together would be fun.”

“I’ll be there.” Oliver takes the business card you hand him, the heavy paper turns from warm white to gray as the sun disappears behind some clouds.

Rain begins to drizzle and splatter on the card.

“Aw, man. What?” You complain and put your jacket over your head as the rain continues to fall. “There wasn’t a rain forecast today,” You grumble to yourself.

The two of you step under the cafe awning, the thin fabric providing little protection.

“Do you want to stay at my place until the rain lets up? It’s just a few blocks from here.” You offer.

“Lead the way, Poppet,” Oliver says with a smile.

You smile back as you hype yourself to run through the rain. Thank god you wore sensible shoes today. With a squeal, you run in the direction of your apartment. You hear Oliver laughing behind you as he follows closely behind. Your laughter and giggles continue when you two find the comfort of your apartment and quickly turn up the thermostat when you get inside.

“Wow, you’ve decorated the place nicely,” Oliver whistles his approval.

He kindly sets his dripping jacket on the coat rack before you do the same and thank him. He shakes his head, much like a dog, you mused, to get rid of the water as his hair splays out from his actions. You, the more sensible one, simply wrung it out over the kitchen sink.

“Yeah, if work can’t destress me why should my own home be?” You nodded along.

The storm had raged harder ever since you got inside, the rain pelting on the window. If you didn’t have company over, you would’ve tossed all chores to the side and huddled up for a nap. Sleeping has been wonderful ever since you figured out lucid dreaming.

“Poppet, you got a remote for this giant T.V, or what?” Oliver says as he pokes his hands between couch cushions.

“Erm, yeah, somewhere on the T.V. stand.” Your comment was absent minded as you poke around in your small pantry for some snacks.

Your eyes lock on packets of hot chocolate you didn’t know you had and what could be more perfect than a rainy day and hot chocolate with a friend? You squint at the box, looking for the expiration date. When you find it, and see that it’s been expired since last christmas, you pretend you don’t.

There’s probably enough preservative to make the powdered drink last until the end of days, right? Plus who is throwing out food like this? In this economy? You scoff to yourself.

“Want hot chocolate?” You ask, peeking at Oliver’s form in the living room.

He stands in front of the T.V., hip slightly popped out to support himself with a hand on his hip and the other on the remote. The news comes on instead of your usual menu of different streaming services and a confused look takes over Oliver’s face when he turns around.

“No, not that remote, the other one,” You laughed and went ahead to the fridge to warm up some milk anyway.

“Which remote, you have, like, 13 for no reason!” He cries out exasperated but goes to the stand to find the correct remote.

The news continues to play and with nothing better to do, you listen in while you wait for your milk to warm up.

“There has been a recent murder here in our lovely city and we encourage citizens to remain vigilant. The killer has not yet been caught and there is no pattern as to what kind of victims they take.” The news anchor speaks.

“Oh, shit.” Oliver stops his search as he, too, starts listening in to the news.

“Welcome to the city, I guess,” You shrug with a defeated sigh. The milk starts to shimmer before you turn off the stove.

“Still, you should stay safe,” Oliver comments as he finally finds the correct remote, turning in to a streaming service and picking a light hearted movie. You’re mixing the chocolate powder, spoon clinking against the non-matching mugs, and when you don’t answer right away, Oliver presses again. “You will be safe, right?”

“Yes, mom,” You sarcastically groan. “I’ll be safe.”

“That’s my Poppet,” He chides, some of his accent slipping through, and sits down. He opens an arm for you to sit next to him before you hand him the hot chocolate that you made.

“Careful, it’s ho-”

“JESUS!” Oliver exclaims as his face flies away from the mug. His shocked face makes your own burst out into laughter, so much so that you have to set down your mug so that you don’t spill it all over yourself.

“Are you laughing at my pain?” Oliver jokes and pokes your sides.

The ticklish action only makes you laugh harder, if that was at all possible. Seeing your reaction, Oliver goes to poke you again, and you defend weakly as your laughing makes you all but weak.

“Sto-stop, you’re going to make me pee,” You choke out between fits of giggles. Your hands were clenched to your sides as a last ditch effort to conceal your weak points. Your cheeks were starting to hurt and your smile was so wide that you couldn’t even open your eyes anymore. You were simply at the mercy of feeling true happiness.

Oliver eventually stops and the T.V. goes into a mandatory ad break (I mean, you’re not going to pay for no ads after already paying for the streaming service, let’s be real). Your energy is sapped out of you and you deflate into the couch with a satisfied sigh.

“That was the first time tonight I heard you laugh that hard. Has the city been that mean to you?” Oliver asks, now cautiously sipping his drink.

“The city is not mean, it’s just different than home,” You reply with a roll of your eyes. “I wouldn’t change it for anything though.”

Oliver hums in response, whipped cream stuck on his upper lips. You could tell he wanted to say more but decided to keep quiet instead. Eventually, the two of you fell into a comfortable and familiar silence as you watched the rest of the movie.

You ended up crying at a particular scene and Oliver, same old Oliver, poked at you again to try and get you laughing. The rain still hasn't stopped and you’re glad to live on a higher floor of the apartment complex or else you would’ve had to worry about potential flooding.

At the end of the day, you ended up cooking dinner for the two of you as well, convincing Oliver to stay and have a warm meal before going home alone. Especially considering the news about the killer on the loose. You’re on your third movie when the two of you finally finish your late dinner and you fall asleep on the couch against Oliver’s much warmer body.

The body underneath you shifts and your eyes snap open.

“Sorry, Oliver, didn’t mean to fall asleep on you,” You apologize before you’re completely awake.

“It is nothing of note,” Someone else’s voice responds instead.

You rub your eyes and take a closer look at him and are surprisingly greeted by your mystery man. He wears the same clothes as the last time you met, only this time it’s warranted as you feel the chilling wind brush against your prickling skin. Unconsciously you crawl closer to him again and he wraps a protective arm around your body.

Looking around at your surroundings you notice that the two of you were huddled amongst the clouds. Stars and nebulas dance around the two of you in sparkling wonder. When you reach out your hand to touch a star and find it surprising when you are greeted with a cold feeling. Your hand snaps back quickly and you tuck it under your arms to quickly warm up.

“Guess I’m dreaming again,” You comment nonchalantly and lean back. The clouds seem to know where to stop and you’re lying comfortably by the man’s side again.

“Ever the perceptive one,” He responds back.

“I didn’t know I could dream of something this… spectacular,” You think to yourself, taking the risk to rest your head on his shoulders. Besides momentarily stiffening under your touch, he doesn’t move away, something you took as a good sign.

“You did not, I did,” He says slowly.

“Hmm, it’s nice, thank you.” You close your eyes and enjoy his warmth.

Besides you, the Endless smiles to himself at your compliment. To him, it was nothing more than the wave of his hand to gift you this dream. He would be lying to himself if he were to say he hasn’t been waiting for you to cross over to the Dreaming since your last dream. His fascination for your abilities grows stronger yet.

Yet, he has created a beautiful enough dream that you didn’t find the need to change anything, something he takes pride in. Your waking world has left you tired and weary, and he is here to provide. A tugging sensation pulls at him and he remembers why he is here.

“My Dreamweaver, I have something to tell you. You must listen carefully.” His words were calculated when he spoke. “You are in danger, be cautious.”

“What?”

“This dream is over.”

You wake up in your bed with a dry mouth and a pounding headache. When you roll over to look at the glowing digital clock, it reads 3:00 AM. With a groan, you leave your warm bed to tread the treacherous cold apartment for a glass of water.

You fill up a small cup with some water and notice that by your sink is a small note, scribbled in red crayon. Your tired eyebrows shoot up at the note and grimace at the atrocious handwriting that was undoubtedly Oliver’s.

“Poppet, I can’t find your pens but I found this crayon by the TV remotes Don’t worry I called a cab I won’t get murdered tonight cause I’m vigilant unlike some people Mwah, Oliver”

That night, your mystery man didn’t visit you again. He only leaves his vague message that echoes in the empty chambers of your heads. You’re plagued with dreams of drowning and despite all you can do to take control of the nightmare, there is nothing you can do but subject yourself to the violent, crashing waves. To constantly inhale gallons of gallons of salty water, to feel your muscles tired out, to feel yourself lose control.

Your only salvation throughout the week was seeing Oliver again at the art exhibit. The murders haven’t stopped and it’s gotten enough traction for everyone in the office to talk about it, too. Yet, you could turn to your dreams instead to find relief.

The man clad in black follows you still into your dreams, any mention of his message is quickly shut down or ignored completely. At the end of the day, you don’t mind, his company is more than enough to make your dreams sweet. He accompanies you through wildflower fields and stardust skies, he brushes your hair by the seashore and tells you the myths of old. Each day is a new dream and brings forth a reason to keep going.

“A few nights ago,” He starts as he watches you gently touch the petals of a flower made of snow and glass. You turn to him expectantly and urge him to continue silently. “You did not call for me when you were having that nightmare.”

It takes a few moments for you to realize he was talking about your drowning nightmare. The one you so “wonderfully” had after an amazing time in the swirling cosmos. You begin to walk again, your shoes making no noise against the cold snow. The man follows beside you, face tilted towards yours in anticipation. His question had been burning at the back of his mind since it happened and he held on, barely, for the answer.

“You can’t really scream when you’re drowning.” Your lousy excuse comes out and even you flinch at the words.

You don’t dare to look at him, knowing the disappointed look he was surely giving you. Everyone knows that anything is possible when you dream, even more when you can lucid dream. After a very pregnant pause you give you real reason.

“I don’t know your name, how would I call out for you, my sweet mystery man.”

It’s now that he stops walking and after a few steps, you too pause and turn to look at him. In the cold mountains of your dream, the snow is stark in contrast to his ebony form. It is here that you recognize how different he was, like the snow pulls away from any distractions and you look at him, really look at him. The facade of just a man falls away, and within, you see a being beyond your comprehension, held together by sheer will. You were right, he was more than mortal, more than a god, something more in every sense.

“I am Dream of the Endless,” He says, voice slow, calculated and raspy as he closes the gap between the two of you. “I am the very dream you are in, the voice inside your head, the person you think you’ve met before while walking the street.”

You’re very aware of how close he was to you now, to see the precipitation of his breath, and the way his eyes are never truly one color. His form keeps the winter chill away from your body, warming the very spot you stood in where snow turns into sunlight and the ground beneath you turns to soft valley grass and wildflowers made of toffee candy and sour rope candy.

“Would you really have come if I called for you?” You ask timidly, head turned down and away from his gaze.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” You say with a smile, cheeks crinkling your eyes as you look at him again. All Dream could think about was making a sun that shines as brightly as you.

Your dreams seem to start leaping out into your waking life as the words of the Endless follow you. Every now and then you would notice a flurry of black and alabaster skin in the peripheral of your vision, but when you go to look it’s nothing but a chair, or a stack of books. His familiar face haunts you when you space out on the bus ride home, or when you’re simply walking down the street and someone bumps into you that just barely looks like him.

Each time you shake your head no, it was impossible, he was only a dream.

The night before the exhibit, Oliver gives you a text message that explains that he would need to be picked up from another location. A client had called him for an at-home euthanasia early in the morning right before the exhibit. You agreed and were sent an address. You brush your teeth and wash your face before turning into bed, sleep coming easily.

Your dream starts, as always, with you counting your fingers. Then you look at your watch, and then you count your fingers again. Your clock had 5 hands instead of two and with control over the dream, you find yourself standing in an Asian inspired pergola surrounded by water for miles around. The only sounds that accompany you are the sound of the sloshing water and the wind’s percussion between the mountain cracks.

You sit on the wooden flooring, cooled by the water, and inhale the scent of fresh water. You bring your fingers together, just like always, and watch as the golden strings move with your movement, producing a pouch of fish food. Large koi fish swim beneath you and you run a finger across the water’s surface and watch with a small smile as they chase your fingers as you sprinkle some of the golden kibble along the water's surface. A koi leaps up and bites your finger and the sharp pain flings your arm away from the water.

“Ow, what the hell?” You frown and look at your finger, the pouch dispersing into gold dust. Pressing into the digit allows blood to leak from the wound. You don’t have time to think about it when your alarm blares at you and you wake.

Your day starts in a rush, slamming your hand over the off button of the alarm clock. You skiddy your way into your bathroom, brushing your teeth, combing your hair and doing your makeup. Your outfit was ready on the door of your bedroom. The casual formal wear was perfect for the day ahead. Comfortable but respectable and easily spotted if someone were to come looking for you.

You look at your watch before briskly walking out the door, a few minutes ahead of schedule and traffic. When you arrive at the house Oliver had told you to, you stand outside the door as you hear murmuring from inside the door. You remember why Oliver was here in the first place and slowly lean against the wall to wait for him.

“He was the most perfect dog, he was loved, he was cared for. And it gives me great honor that you allow me to ease his suffering so he may continue to run in the never ending fields of the afterlife.” Oliver’s voice carries through the thin wall.

Sobbing follows after and hushes of comfort as the dog passes in the arms of the owner. Uncomfortable that you were involuntarily eavesdropping in such a private conversation you start to play with your hands, picking at the nails and the cuticles around them. It’s now that you see, with a quickening heartbeat, a closed over wound on your finger. When you run your thumb over it, the pain long since subdued, you are reminded of a feisty koi bite from a certain dream.

Was it real then? The dream, or merely the pain?

“Ah, Poppet, you’re here already,” Oliver’s whisper pulls you out of your thoughts slowly. “Is your finger hurt?” He notices and reaches for your hand.

“No,” You say quickly, perhaps too quickly, and move your hands away. “It’s just a scratch. Shall we go?” You turn before you give him a chance to answer.

The exhibit, while productive, was blanketed over by a feeling of grief and melancholy. Your artist was soaking in the praises of success, but you find yourself sticking by Oliver’s side, drinking mimosas hoping the little alcohol could erase the uneasiness in your throat. Your finger gives phantom pains now and then, reminding you of the breaking cracks between dreams and real life.

It’s only noon and you’re exhausted, giving the keys to Oliver to drive you back to your place. As if to taunt you even more, the elevator was down for repairs and so arm in arm, you and Oliver make your way up the seven sets of stairs until you reach your own apartment.

“Oh my God, I can taste blood,” You whine, leaning all of your weight onto Oliver by the fifth floor. He, on the other hand, could not have looked more pristine.

“When was the last time you exercised?” He chuckles as he lets you rest for a moment.

You groan as your hand grasps onto the worn metal railing. “I briskly walked to my car this morning,” Your voice is gravelly and hoarse as you use your arm to continue upwards. “After the elevator ride down to the main floor.”

“Good grief, woman,” He jests. “We need to get you to the gym.”

“Over my dead body,” You huff as you make your way again, steps heavy and stomping, the sound echoing in the empty chamber.

The barren of your door gave you the last bit of energy to finish. The sight of your couch was enough for you to flop onto it and simply wish to perish. You’re breathing heavily out of your mouth, face to the ceiling and bounce when Oliver sits down next to you with exaggeration.

“Don’t be dramatic,” Oliver teases, barely winded by the seven flights of stairs. You on the other hand felt like you had just come from a week at sea with nothing but a row boat and canned crackers.

“I’m going to go shower, do you want to stay for lunch?” You ask, already halfway to your room after you caught your breath.

“No, I’ve got my own thing to do, packing mostly.” You hear Oliver’s voice from the bathroom. You turn on the water to let it warm up and peek out of your bedroom. “Alright, I’ll see you off in a few days, yeah?”

Oliver’s outside your door and the sudden proximity makes you jump in your skin.

“Geez, you scared me. I thought you were still in the kitchen,” You say behind a small laugh.

“I’m going to head out, alright? But yeah, let’s meet one more time before I leave later this week.” Oliver smiles and pokes your forehead.

“Sounds good,” You agree, staring at the finger.

“Stay safe out there, Poppet.” He waves and goes for the door. “I’ve got a cab waiting for me downstairs.”

You use the shower to cleanse yourself of not only the physical properties of today, and more importantly the sweat you accumulated walking up the steps, but also the more emotional toil. The warm water seemingly soaking up all of your depressive thoughts. It runs down the water and out the drain, and you feel lighter when you step out.

You’re drying your hair with your towel when you see the brown square that is Oliver’s wallet sitting on your couch - opening it and seeing his ID card clarifies it. You groan as you know that he can’t get anywhere without his wallet, especially if he wants to leave.

An internal debate was settled with going to his place before you pick something up for dinner. You place the wallet by your keys near the front door and make yourself some lunch, and put some much needed laundry into the washer while it cooks. You watch a small episode while you eat before returning to your work laptop and answering emails.

The day goes by quickly and the rumbling of your stomach tells you that it’s time for dinner and more importantly, returning Oliver’s wallet. You redress in the same clothes you wore earlier that day, deciding to just deal with the high heels as any other shoe wouldn’t tie in well with your outfit, and you were not going to go out looking anything less than put together.

How lucky you were when you walked down the hall to find the elevator back in operation. Down, down you went, seven flights of stairs to the parking garage. The echoing beep of your car tells you where Oliver had parked for you and you climb in.

Traffic was a pain in the ass and you couldn't take another slow minute during dinner rush. Beeps and honks accompany you all the way to Oliver’s home and it takes a solid 45 minutes to travel 10 miles. You knock on Oliver’s door and you don’t know why but you’re nervous. There wasn’t an answer and you knocked again. Nothing. The door is unlocked and with a shrug to yourself you enter.

All of the lights were turned off when you entered, fumbling about to turn on the lobby light near the door. The rented home was much bigger than your medium apartment and you seriously start to regret your career choice.

“Oliver?” You call out, taking off your shoes and putting them aside.

No answer.

“Ollieeee…” You sing out as you make your way further into the house. You drop the wallet on the dining room table and still nothing. You knew he was here, somewhere, the rental car he had was still in the driveway when you pulled up.

You bring out your phone, about to call him, when a small noise directs you to a staircase that leads downstairs and you make your way into the finished basement. When you open the door, something you never thought you would see greets you instead. Yes, Oliver was there but so was another woman. She’s tied down to a wooden table and you think you’re interrupting something if it wasn’t for the way her teary eyes snap towards you. Despair is washed out with a small glint of hope as her trembling hand reaches for you.

“Help me,” She pleads.

Oliver calls your name, almost breathlessly, and walks closer to you. In his hand holds a small knife, blood already smeared on the glinting metal. He greets you with a smile, but your attention is on the woman on the table.

“Please.” She sobs again.

You’re numb, on the brink of hyperventilation, and you’re sure that if you had gotten dinner before coming here you would’ve thrown up all over the vinyl flooring.

“Oliver,” You gulp down as you take a step back.

He advances with another step, knife still in hand as the blood drips down onto the floor. He approaches you like a predator to scared prey, and he wouldn’t be wrong. His weaponless hand wraps around your wrist, warm and alive just like all of the other times he has done since you became friends all those years ago.

“Come here.” He guides you closer. “This is our guest, Poppet.” He introduces.

The woman squirms against her restraints and cusses. “Stop calling me Poppet, my name is fucking Alora, let me go!”

Oliver guides you closer and then slinks behind you, using his body to trap you from the exit. From this distance you can see the cuts and bruises Alora endured and you lean away in denial. Bile crawls up from the bottom of your throat begging to be released, it’s acidity painful to swallow. Alora’s tear stains seem permanent as another one follows its path as she watches the two of you lean over her.

“Let.. let her go,” You say with a shaky breath. It’s the opposite of assertive, the opposite of a demand.

Oliver sighs behind you and slams the blade down on the table and both you and Alora flinch at the sudden noise. He laughs behind you, the breath tickling the nape of your neck.

“I thought we could… share her,” He responds. You feel his lips on the junction of your neck and your body trembles again.

“Share… her,” You echo.

This wasn’t real, there was no way this was real. No, you were definitely dreaming, Oliver took you home and then after your shower you fell asleep. He never left his wallet at your place. Oliver heals, he would never…

You look down at your fingers, they’re shaking but still countable. One, two, three, four, five. You look at your watch, and with dread you notice that everything is in its place. One, two, three, four, five. It’s still the right time. One, two, three, four, five.

“A dream, this has to be a dream. A nightmare.” You lie to yourself. Your thumb presses into each of your fingers and to your dismay, there are still five.

You look down at Alora again, her eyes wide and begging and her fingers go to grab at you.

“Ah, ah, none of that.” Oliver notices and pushes her fingers away from the two of you.

His attention turns back to you again. “What do you think of it?” He asks, his hands resting on your hips and to your further disgust inhales your scent.

“What do I think of it?” You echo again except this time it was more harsh, judgemental as it should be.

Oliver scoffs and leaves your side. He walks to the other side of the table, knife back in hand as he points it to Alora’s face.

“Look at Poppet here, notice anything?”

That’s when you look at her, really look at her. At first you didn’t see it, or maybe your mind was simply trying to prevent you from seeing it, but under Oliver’s scrutinizing gaze you notice with teary eyes. Her hair was the same color as yours, so were her eyes, they even mimicked the way yours were shaped. Her lips curled just like yours as they’re upturned in agony.

“I think I’m going to be sick,” You gag, your hand flies to cover your mouth as you dry heave.

“No, don’t be, my sweet Poppet,” Oliver comes to you again and holds your face steady. His eyes have always been like they are now, caring, soft, non-dangerous, but seeing his actions made you doubt everything. “Here, you can watch for the first time instead, how about that?”

“Wh-what?” You gape and he pulls away from you. He places the knife over Alora’s throat and her sobbing and pleas grow louder.

“NO!” You scream and go to reach for the knife, unsure where the sudden bravery comes from. But, it’s too late, he slices, you feel the way his muscle moves under your palm, how it grips the blade, how it ticks when it kills.

The blood sprays and decorates you in its red and sticky liquid and you’re left stunned. Beneath you, you hear as Alora chokes on her own blood as her body trashes as a last ditch effort of escape. Oliver looks at you with a smile, his white shirt decorated just like yours. He looks at you with adoration and something like pride as he places the knife down and comes to you again.

“You look even more beautiful in red, Poppet,” He compliments, but it falls on deaf ears. His lips press to yours in a one sided kiss and you weakly push back. “Let me clean everything up and then I’ll take care of you, okay?”

You stand still as you watch him, rag in hand as he begins to clean.

“You were the most perfect person, you were loved, you were cared for. And it gives me great honor that you allow me to ease your suffering so you may continue to live free in the never ending fields of the afterlife.” Oliver’s familiar eulogy snaps you out of your shock, if not for a brief moment.

It’s enough for you to run out the door, adrenaline blazes down your spine and pumps to all of your limbs. The door almost flies off its hinges as you open it into the dark night. You don’t know where you’re going to go, but anywhere is better than here.

“Poppet! Wait!” Oliver screams behind you and he’s fast to catch you.

Your bare feet scrap across the concrete sidewalk as your vision blurs with salty tears. You trip into an alleyway and sob, your pristine clothes now covered in dirt and blood, and you hear the crack of your watch as it breaks under the fall. At the edges of your mind, a small girl with wild and colorful hair peeks at you in fishnets, the world warps, distorting the difference between reality and delirium.

A moment of clarity comes to you as you remember something. It tries to fall between the crevices of your mind but you grab onto it and hold it close.

“Would you really have come if I called for you?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“Dream,” You cry out into the darkness. Oliver finds you on the ground and his arms pick you up. “No, no, let go of me!”

The man clad in black doesn’t show his face and you beat yourself over it, because of course he doesn’t. It was just a dream. This is reality. Despite it all, you try one more time. A name falls on your tongue, one you didn’t previously know.

“Morpheus!” You scream and the calling echoes in the suburban neighborhood.

Oliver pays you no mind and hoists you onto his shoulders. You’re pounding at his back but his muscles never falter. He walks back with heaving breaths to his house when he is suddenly stopped and drops you. You unceremoniously roll and then sit quickly to run away again. You’re stopped short at the sight.

In front of Oliver stands a man, his form fuzzy at the sides and blends in to the night around them. He wears a helm made of bones, accompanied by a bright ruby necklace, and a leather pouch of sand.

“Dream?” You question and his gaze turns to you. You can’t see his eyes past the large bug-like design of the helm, but you know he sees you.

“Who the hell are you?” Oliver sneers at him.

Dream doesn’t reply and instead he shrinks back into the shadows and wisps around until he stands in front of you. You hide behind his back as he protects you from Oliver.

“Hey, get away from my Poppet.” Oliver takes a step forward but is stopped by Dream’s words.

“Be quiet,” He commands. It’s two words, but it renders him speechless. “I turn you into prey. Your judgment upon you is to be hunted. Even after you wish for death, you will form into another and be hunted again. This is my gift to you, Oliver Barlowe, make good use of it.”

The curse is etched in stone as he speaks. He pours from his leather pouch and sand falls between his fingers. He curls then unfurls them before blowing the particles into Oliver’s face. You watch with horror as his form shrinks under the swirling sand and he turns into a shrew. He runs into the grass, his brown fur lost amongst the foliage.

“Hello, my Dreamweaver,” He whispers and crouches to your height on the cold concrete. He extends a patient hand and you grab hold. “Come, nightmares shall hunt you no further.”

“You came,” You say, still in disbelief as he helps you stand.

“I kept my promise. I do not break such vows, ever.” His fingers gently wipe away the tears from your face.

"You're real," You whisper, still not believing that he stands before you.

His fingers trace across your bottom lip as he comes closer to you still. Dream doesn't say anything, he simply soaks in your presence, drawn to you in a way neither of you could comprehend. His fingers still trace your face, running over your nose and the apple of your cheekbones.

You feel the swirling of sand around your feet and the world changes around you. You’re in the meadows again, surrounded by flowers made of snow and glass, and you see the cabin your grandfather built. Dream sits you down on a white and red checkered picnic blanket with two glasses of lemonade.

“Will you stay?” You ask as you grab the cool glass cup of lemonade. Your gaze turns to the sweet yellow drink and you rub the smooth glass as a way of calming yourself.

“Yes.”

“Okay.” You smile.

Alsooooo, very inappropriate use of being a veterinarian, we don't kill people and we don't make that much money, sigh

My Sandman comics came and they're so heavy... Second also, Comic Dream is such a mood

Maybe a more lighthearted fic for next time, hmm?

♡ Yours, Layla

#the sandman #dream of the endless #morpheus #morpheus x reader #dream x reader #the sandman fanfic #dream of the endless x reader #the sandman x reader #sandman x reader

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whimsiwitchy · 4 months ago

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I hear the secrets that you keep (series)

chapter one: a new beginning

Pedro Pascal x F!reader

series masterlist

series summary: 24 year old y/n is an insecure and struggling actress in Los Angeles until she finally books a leading role in a big Hollywood movie next to her leading male, Pedro Pascal. A spark of friendship flickers between the two and it slowly begins to blossom into something more. As y/n is navigating a new found fame and a new found romance, she fears that a lie she has been sitting on might ruin everything.

Warnings: plus size reader (no specific description of reader, slight descriptions of weight: stomach fat, stretch marks, etc.), hefty age gap (24 years/14 years), female anatomy description, she/her pronouns, use of gendered terms (girl, girly, etc.), y/n used, descriptions of nudity, swearing, use of the word fat, warnings may change as the story progresses.

authors note: Hi everyone. This is my first time writing anything, so this might end up being pretty bad lmao. I kinda have an idea of where I want to take this and want to continue this even if no one reads it. Please let me know what you think! Thank you and enjoy. <3

chapter summary: Angie books y/n an audition opportunity and she is terrified. Y/n reflects on her insecurities and heads to the audition room.

╔══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╗

It was 9am and you’ve been staring at an email Angie had sent earlier in the morning. The subject read “AUDITION INFO BIATCH”. This would usually be deemed pretty unprofessional for an agent to send a client but Angie wasn’t just your agent, she was also your long time best friend. You both had big dreams of making it big in Los Angeles and made the move six years ago. While you continued to search for acting jobs, Angie decided to become an agent after years of no luck. You wished you could give up, maybe gain some happiness back instead of having constant disappointment running around your head like it was trying to win a goddamn gold medal at the olympics.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

Good morning sunshine,

You have an audition scheduled for 3PM tomorrow! I attached all the details down below. If you need anything, give me a call babe!

Sincerely,

Angie Hawthorn (aka the best agent ever hehe)

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

You read over the email and clicked on the files attached. One file was the original casting call information describing what they are looking for and a description of the project. The other was an audition offer explaining what you needed to prepare and where the audition would be held. You clicked on the casting call file and began to read it.

“Fleeting Productions presents Risky Disco directed by Samual James.”

You stared blankly at the first sentence. “That is such a stupid fucking move title..” you huffed under your breath. You shook your head and continued reading.

“Starring Pedro Pascal as Daniel Mendez. Daniel travels back in time to the 70s to live his dream of being a disco king. On his journey, he takes lovers every chance he gets and swears to himself that he won’t fall in love.”

You picked your phone and called Angie. When she answers the phone she greets you with excitement.

“Y/n! Oh my god are you excited?!? This can be your big break. Your first audition for a big production company!!” You stared blankly at the wall while she spoke. “You’re fucking with me right? Like you have to actually be fucking with me..” You said with exasperation. She was silent for a moment. “What do you mean? This is great y/n. I’m not sure-” You cut her off before she could continue. “Angie, I need you to be so fucking for real right now. Did you read that shit show of a description?” She didn’t answer for a moment. “What’s so bad about it?” “Ang…you’re telling me, you saw this casting call, and thought of me? You have known me for how long? What about me is screaming 70s lover girl to a disco maniac? First of all, I'm fat. You know F A T. Fat girls don’t exist in the 70s it’s like-” The line goes dead. “Hello? Ang I’m trying to rant to you over here, don’t you care?” You looked down and noticed she hung up on you. “That stupid bitch.” You say in aggravation. As you go to call her again, a text pops up.

“Call me when you’re done being a self shaming loser <3”

You sighed and sat your phone down. You know that what you say isn’t always nice and you also know that Angie can’t stand when you talk down on yourself. It’s become a bad habit you can’t seem to break. You grab your water bottle from your night stand, take a sip, and continue to read over the audition information.

“Our casting directors are looking for 12 women from the ages 35-40. All weights accepted. All skin tones accepted. One role will be filled as the leading lady alongside the leading male. The 11 other roles will be filled as lovers of the leading male. Each role may include sexual acts with a male actor as well as partial or full nudity. All actors will work closely with an intimacy coach before all scenes.”

Okay, you definitely owe Angie an apology since they're throwing a weight limit out the window on this film. This film has the potential to be very… wait what the fuck does that say? You pick up your phone to call Angie again.

“Are you done being a loser?”

“Angie, honey, darling, my love…Why does it say that the age requirements are 35-40? I’m trying to be very calm about this right now but I really need to know what you were thinking in that little pea brain of yours? Hm.. a 24 year old auditioning for a role that is for a middle aged woman, what was the thought process behind that one love?”

“Y/n I need you to keep that calm demeanor when I tell you this. Can you do that?” You think about your answer and sigh. “Yes I can do that. Spill the beans.” “Okay so, I might have sort of lied and said that you were 35…” You stood silent on the other end for a few seconds. “YOU DID WHAT???” “Y/n calm down it-” “HOW IN THE WORLD IS MY FRESH 24 YEAR OLD BABY FACE GOING TO PRETEND TO BE 35?? HUH ANGIE??” “Well you don’t have that much of a baby face, you can pull off 35.” “I’m gonna hang up now before I actually kick you in the head.” You hung up the phone and screamed into your pillow.

It can’t be that hard to pretend to be 35 right? You sat up and set your head in your hands and took some deep breaths.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

After your mini freak out yesterday you went to work and got home at 8pm. You showered, ate, did some rehearsing, and hit the hay. You woke up at 7am the next morning and began getting ready for your audition. You searched pinterest to look for an appropriate outfit for a 35 year old. As you descaled your closet, you began to feel hopeless. After settling for an outfit, you headed to the kitchen to eat some breakfast and do some warmups. As it got closer to audition time, you started to feel the nervous butterflies entering your tummy. You took your phone off the charger to send Angie a quick text.

“I’m sorry for freaking out on you yesterday, please forgive me my love. ♥ ️ Also OOTD, do I look 35? Oh and why the fuck are they casting that age for a disco movie… Love you!” You went to sit your phone down but immediately got a response from Angie.

“It’s okay, you don’t look a day under 40 babe <3. And girl idk. I think it’s because Pedro is pushing 50.”

“Okay fuck you. Who’s Pedro?”

“Ummmm… the leading male. Like the whole ass dude you're probably going to be getting down and dirty with if you get this part. Did you not look him up?”

“There ain’t no fucking way you lied about my age so I can bump and grind with a 50 year old man… I’m actually going to kill you.”

“Girl he’s hot as fuck, I’m doing you a favor. Who gives a shit if he's old, he can get it ANY day ;)”

“You’re fucking gross dude. I gotta head out soon to try to beat a little bit of the traffic. Wish me luck. Love you!!”

“Love you girly, break a leg!”

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

You turned into the studio lot and parked when you found the building the auditions were being held in. You’ve been to the studios more times than you can count, but this time felt different. This time felt real. You entered the building and walked up to a woman at a desk. “Hi, I’m here for an audition.” You smiled and she handed you a form to fill out. Once you were finished you handed it back to her and she instructed you to wait until your name was called. You looked around as you sat and waited. There were only 4 other women waiting in the room. As you looked at them, all of your insecurities started to pour out. This was not the time to be doubting yourself. You settled on looking down at your shoes instead. Each woman was called back one by one until you were the only one left.

“Y/n Y/l/n?” You got up and greeted the man that called your name. As you followed him to the back your heart began to pound. Once you got to the door, you shook out your nerves and plastered the most sincere smile you could muster.

You opened the door and walked up to a table in the back of the room. You shook everyone's hands and handed them your material. You stood in the center of the room and began your slate. After the prepared material was performed, they asked you various questions. You were answering with all honesty. Even flying by their questioning of your age. “Your paper states that you're 35. You look really young for that age.” You gulped “Just good genes I guess.” You gave them a laugh and a smile to which they returned. “We’re going to have to do a quick reading with some sides from the movie if that’s okay with you?” “Of course, that would be great!”.

You got into character as they handed you the slides. “You’ll actually be reading with the leading man himself. Pedro, whenever you’re ready go ahead and start.” You looked over to where the man looked when he spoke. Your breath caught in your throat as you looked at who they spoke to, Pedro you assumed. He smirked as you stared. How didn’t you notice him before? With a face that handsome, you’re thankful you somehow skipped over it. He for sure would have had you shaking with even more nerves.

“You ready to start sweetheart?” You could have melted into a puddle right then and there. After a few seconds of silence you collected yourself. “Yea, I’m ready.” He gave you a smile and looked into your eyes. The two of you flowed through the lines with ease. It was like butter melting perfectly on a warm piece of toast. The type of toast that is so perfect, you don’t need to add jelly at all. It’s golden and beautiful. The chemistry between you two was golden.

─ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──── ♡ ─── ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ──

4 hours later…

The reading with Pedro was intense. There are no other words to describe it. Everything felt so natural and it was electric. The whole room got 10 degrees warmer by the end. Once the reading was over, everyone thanked you for your time and you were dismissed. You thanked them and gave a quick bye. You tried to sneak one last glance at Pedro but he was already looking at you. These memories that happened just a few hours prior keep swimming in your head. No matter how hard you tried to think about something else, you couldn’t stop thinking about the handsome man and how he looked at you.

You’re yanked out of your thoughts when your phone starts ringing. It was Angie.

“Hey Ang, what’s up?”

“Bitch….you must have left one hell of an impression.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Y/n you got the lead!”

“Oh shit..”

╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝

Thank you for reading <3

chapter two

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heyidkyay · 1 year ago

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And I'm petrified of being alone, now |

Part Four

Matty Healy x reader

Summary: She’s just trying to get by, really. What with being a single parent to her four year old son whilst simultaneously trying to kick start a successful career as a radio presenter. She’s got everything she’s ever wanted though, friends close by, a mum who’s merely a phone call away, and of course her baby boy. What else is there to wish for? But then, it’s not long before her relatively normal life gets upended and turned on its head, and she’s suddenly forced to deal with situations she’s never even thought to imagine.

What happens when one mention of a certain controversial singer on her show sends a flood of unexpected challenges her way?

Authors Note: IT'S TAKEN A WHILE BUT IT'S HAPPENING, MATTY AND MOUSE ARE SO CLOSE. Hi:) Hope you enjoy this part, finally throwing them into the same building!! Lot's happening in this one!

Warnings: Mentions of rehab, struggles around body image

Masterlist

🐭 @/petitesouris 13m Early start, hoping it's a good session today!

The next week rolled around slowly and it had been one of the most agonising waits of my life.

I’d constantly been emailing with the Primary Talent Team for the last few days, back and forth, just trying to work out which date and time would best fit both our schedules. It’d been gruelling. And the entire exchange would have gone a whole lot easier if it hadn't been for the fact that it had all been centred around them and based on their terms and conditions. Not forgetting the mile long list of Do’s and Don'ts they had also attached to their most recent email, which had been oh so fucking thrilling.

To be honest, I might not have minded it if my whole life had only revolved around the radio show. But as proud of it as I was, and as incredibly hard as both Adi and I constantly worked, I had other priorities that took precedence. I loved the show with all my heart but it could never be my entire life. Not with Teddy waiting for me back home at the end of each day, relying on me alone to raise and feed and clothe him.

Not that Healy’s management could comprehend that, or the fact that I had a schedule and a set routine. They didn't know when to stop and pushed and pushed to get what they wanted. And I could only fight back so much. Which meant that I’d ended up dropping Teddy off at Finn’s place a whole two hours earlier than usual just so that Adi and I could prep for the dated interview.

So, with that in mind, it was safe to say that I wasn't in the perkiest of moods when Adi bounded breathlessly into the studio that morning, a lot later than expected.

"I know, I know, I'm late!" Adi immediately squawked as she hurried on over, the door behind her slamming shut in her wake. "But I have good reason! I hardly slept last night, too excited for all of this!" She added as she threw her knitted tote bag down in its customary corner, the one I’d brought her the birthday last, and tossed her phone and throng of keys down with a clatter onto her paper-filled desk.

I rolled my eyes, but was unable to negotiate with the amused smile that pulled at the corners of my mouth. “Still had time to post a quick photo though. Don't think I didn't see it, Adeline- you tagged the show."

Adi’s smile was blinding when she spun around to meet me, brown eyes wild and full of mirth.

“Figured since you still haven't a clue about how Instagram works that you just wouldn't see it, my love!" She retorted whilst throwing herself down into my desk chair and kicking her Doc clad feet up onto the table. She shot me a smug smirk.

“Cow. And oi, I’ll have you know I’ve caught on since Circa ‘18!” I defended, but relented upon seeing Adi’s arched brow. “Fine, I had Finn explain it all to me one night after a bottle of wine. But the point still stands.”

Adi’s raucous laughter bounced around the loft and I could only roll my eyes once more before huffing. 2018 had been a rough year for many, but mostly me, seeing as I’d accidentally posted a quick shot of me in the tub for the group chat to my story, exposing a little more than I’d like to our show’s following.

Adi stared back at me in disbelief, loosening the bun of unruly curls that had been strung together by a silk bandana, which also seemed to match the colour of the very short shorts she was wearing.

"He'd had to have been a saint in another life to have dealt with an indisposed you for that long."

I scoffed at that, but couldn't help my own trickle of laughter. “I sent Teddy round to his the next day with a box of chocolates- you know, those fancy ones he’s always banging on about?” Adi hummed her assent. “Felt proper bad about it all. Took him ages to teach me how to stop going Live.”

We both laughed.

“Waste of time that was, should’ve just brought the chocolates here! Knowing Finn, he only helped ‘cause he found the entire sodding thing hilarious.” Adi supplied, pulling a pack of chewing gum free from her jacket pocket.

Snorting faintly, I denied her offering of a piece with a wave of my hand, and went back to fidgeting with my phone, distracting myself again from my plume of thoughts. I spun the device round and round, slowly enough so that each edge made contact with the wooden desktop.

“You alright there, babe?” Adi queried after a while, and I glanced over to see her eyes now trailing the movement. “Ted doing alright?”

I stilled and then hummed, watching as she turned and went about fumbling her way through an array of wires that sat on my desk, most of which were already hooked up to the monitors. It was a task Adi did most mornings, even when I’d already ticked it off the list, ever the perfectionist, wanting to double check that nothing would go wrong with the day's show.

“Oh yeah, all’s fine. Teds is already obsessing over Halloween, ranting about what costume he wants to get this year. But August has only just passed, Ads.” I groaned, thinking back to the previous evening when Teddy had spent a good portion of his bath time rambling on about what every other kid in his class was going to be.

Adi peered back at me, the extremity of the grin she wore wrinkling the corners of her eyes. “Just kids, ain't it? We were the same, you'll miss it in a couple of years.”

I supposed she was right, but only because I didn’t have much of an experience to look back on. Halloween had just been me and mum in the woods up by the creek, collecting flowers and eucalyptus for the wreaths we’d make, then reading old stories by the fire.

“Don't remind me, please. I don't want him getting any bigger!” I sighed all too dramatically before standing to head on over towards the printer, picking up everything I’d sent off earlier from out the tray.

“It's the way of life, babe. So, when do you reckon Teds will end up towering over you?”

Adi simply chuckled when I stuck a finger up at her from over my shoulder, not even wanting to pay that idea any thought at all. Teddy was my baby, I couldn’t picture him all grown up.

“I should mention that I saw your tweet, by the way. Guessing you're nervous for today?” Adi added after, her tone a little softer than normal, catching me off guard enough that I actually stilled in place before I turned to face her.

“And you’re not?"

Adi’s mouth quirked upwards when she shook her head, dark ringlets moving with it.

“Why would I be? This is fucking huge for us, M! The exposure that we'll receive alone could really give us the big break we've been searching for- I honestly can't even begin to believe it.”

I gnawed on my bottom lip as I lingered over her words, then pushed back the thought of me having been the one to deal with the stress that was Healy’s management team to the back of my mind. Adi didn’t deserve that, I’d always been the one to deal with all the crap happening behind the scenes, and besides, Adi had a right to be excited. I only wished that I had the ability to join in on it.

“I just don't want to start up any more unnecessary drama, Ads.”

Drama was the very last thing I wanted, knowing that this whole thing with Healy could easily blow up in our faces if we didn’t go about it the right way. And if shit actually does end up hitting the metaphorical fan, then… I wasn't sure I'd be fit enough to handle it. Handle the backlash that would surely follow and affect the show, the only source of income I had. And without it, both Teddy and I would be royally fucked.

Apparently my lack of response had Adi rolling her eyes, adding an extra flare of dramatics to it by flicking my ear as she passed me by. “Don’t be such a worrier, babe. It’ll all work out, always does with us, don’t it? Besides, how can it not when I have a face as gorgeous as this?”

She winked, flashing me her famous grin.

“Tart.”

“Slag.” Adi easily countered.

A breathy chuckle escaped me and I shook my head before returning to the wad of papers I’d been rifling through. “Sorry to disappoint, but it’s the radio, babe. No one will be seeing that gorgeous face of yours, or the way your arse is currently hanging out of those shorts.”

Adi cut her eyes at me from across the room, but they gleamed under the studio’s lights. “Don’t be jealous. We both know you love it.”

“Jealous? I’m a mum!”

“A fit one.”

A laugh bubbled up out of my throat at that and I couldn't find the energy to deny it, so I just shook my head.

“Anyway, you’re wrong.” And at my confused look, Adi continued on, grinning wickedly as she waved around one of the large devices she’d since picked up and cradled in her hand. “We are working with the camera’s today. Sort of why I'm here setting them all up. See?”

“Wait, we’re filming?” I gawked, and my eyes felt like they were just about ready to bulge out of my head as I sat up further to shake my head at her. Mouth already dry. “Non. No, Adi. No one ever mentioned that! I can’t.”

“They called yesterday demanding it. Just as you left to pick up Teds- it must've slipped my mind. I'm so sorry, hun.” Adi revealed sheepishly, her face scrunched up in an apologetic wince as the camera rig dropped to her hip. “But don't worry, yeah? I promise it'll all be sound and then we'll be well on our way to becoming the UK's biggest radio show!”

I reverted back to worrying at my bottom lip, chewing on it as though I hadn't eaten for days whilst I tapped an anxious rhythm into the arm of my chair. I couldn’t do the cameras, not today at least.

“Trust me, Mouse. It’ll be alright. You’ve done it before and you can do it again. No one will say a thing.”

I wished I could fucking believe her.

***

The Sun @/Thesun 16m Matty Healy spotted out in London today! The singer has been relatively quiet for the past few days- somewhat strange for the wayward frontman- but will this all change now that he's been seen? (Link) H @/user1 18m um, what? he’s where?? Adi @/AdelineWells_ 19m Long day ahead but we're very excited for today's show! Big surprises in store for you lot, so who's looking forward to it?? @/petitesouris @/Mouseonamic Indie @/user2 21m @/AdelineWells_ AHHH hope it's another Adi's All-Knowing segment!! Urmymedicine @/user3 23m Did anyone else see Jamie’s ig post?? He says to keep an eye out- AN EYE OUT FOR WHAT?? Talk! @/user4 11m I feel like I've been hit by an unnecessary amount of information

***

Matty’s bleary stare made an attempt to focus on the blurring buildings that passed them by as the car cut through the paved streets of London. Grey just melting into another varied shade of grey.

It was still far too bright for the beginning of September, the remaining weeks of summer only just tittering away now, and Matty couldn't help the scowl that had long since settled into his hollow features.

One of the very few things he liked about the city was the fact that it was almost sure to be gloomy during the colder months. But it seemed as though the sun was shining a little brighter today, much to his chagrin.

A dull pain throbbed at either side of his temples, it’d been there since he’d been forced awake, and so he'd had to wind the window all the way down as soon as they'd set off to keep the nausea at bay. He silently regretted not turning in early last night, but it couldn't have been helped. It was hard to stay asleep without his usual nightcap, and even then, it was harder to dismiss the memories that plagued his mind without downing half a bottle of something or other.

A frigid wash of air wound its way down his throat as he took a long breath, his mind slowing a tad as the afternoon breeze trickled across his skin. But soon enough Matty’s calm was broken and his attention was then caught by Jamie, who sounded just as thwart as he felt.

“You even listening to me, mate?”

Jamie’s undeterred voice filtered through the back of the car, a short lived sigh following in its wake.

Matty merely rolled his eyes from behind his darkened sunglasses and proceeded to slump further in his seat, lolling his head to the side so that his focus was now within the car instead of on the distractions of the outside world.

His gaze trailed its way across the dark leather seats and blacked out windows before it finally ended up landing on his manager, who was kitted up in one of his many sharp shirts and a pair of formal fitting trousers. A right snazzy twat.

Matty could appreciate their pattern though, Jamie hardly ever ventured too far into the world of fashion, so the burgundy tartan was a sight to behold.

He soon fixed Jamie with an apathetic stare from across the backseat, fingers already itching for a fag, or maybe something stronger. He couldn’t be arsed with the mindless bother he’d been sent to complete today, really didn’t want to be dealing with a roomful of people that were there to assault him with an extensive range of hard-hitting questions, or have any more unwanted cameras shoved in his face in truth.

But here he was, doing it.

Following orders because that was what it took to be a puppet. He was too tired to be tugging on any strings today though, simply wanted to get the afternoon over and done with, hopefully without any repercussions, so that he could fall back into bed.

“Matty, mate.” Jamie huffed, his face having fallen into a pitiful expression that Matty didn’t quite like looking at, but couldn’t seem to look away from.

For a while, he'd been fearful that he'd pushed his luck all too far with Jamie, as well as the rest of the band too he supposed. But it seemed as though the guy had a thing for redemption, because he was trying his fucking hardest to annoy Matty into growing the fuck up.

“Look. I know you don't like this anymore than I do, but it's your job, mate. You ain’t got much of a choice here. But think of it this way, right. It's better you being here, doing this, than drowning away in your own fucking sorrows- thought you'd given up drinking since rehab, anyway.”

Matty’s jaw clenched involuntarily at the reminder. Rehab. What was it with everyone and always bringing it up? He’d been too fucking gone on painkillers to have given a second thought to the little amount of alcohol that particular shit show had provided. Could hardly call it a rehabilitation centre either, not when you were constantly surrounded by other abusers who were practically there on a getaway, just finding other means to entertain themselves with.

Jamie broke the silence just as Matty’s mind began to spiral, and Matty couldn’t help but be rather thankful for it.

“You just gonna sit there then?” Jamie snorted, obviously trying to fill the tense quiet now, “Normally you’d have told me to piss off by now.”

“Piss off.” Matty murmured, turning his focus back to the window.

The car seemed to be slowing down now and Matty furrowed his brow when they came to a gentle halt outside a block of buildings.

“Where are we?”

“Outskirts of Islington, I think. Not too far from the studio.”

Matty didn't get much of a chance to reply- not that he'd had one, Islington never did manage to bring up the most fondest of memories with him- because Jamie had all but jumped at the chance to exit the vehicle, opening up the sliding backdoor to escape into the stream of daylight.

With a tired sigh, Matty ran a hand through his mussed hair before he made a move to join his manager, clicking his neck slightly as the bottoms of his leather, heeled boots clacked against the cobbled pavement.

There was the usual musty scent that lingered throughout the city as he took a breath, but the smell of petrol was somewhat stronger here. Hardly anyone was wandering down the backstreet they had pulled into though, and those that did didn't linger too long on either him or the extravagant hired car that he'd been sanctioned with since having been struck with yet another driving ban.

Craning his head up, Matty could tell that there wasn't much to the building they were standing outside of. A commercial unit, three stories or so. Its brick exterior worn and dotted with timber sash windows. It was quaint enough, but not what he was used to when it came to things like this.

"Alright. A quick debrief before we go in." Jamie started, already fixing the faint creases in his otherwise pristine shirt, caused from where he’d been sat working in the backseat. “This is the same show that you had a bit of a spat with earlier this week, alright? So you'll be meeting the same girl that spoke out about your, um… Well, your image and publicity, and all that crap, generally speaking."

Jamie’s eyes flitted around them before he was back to typing away on his phone again. Fucking thing was practically attached to his hand, made Matty wonder how the hell he managed a wank.

But then he caught onto that last bit of his sentence and furrowed his brows, throwing Jamie another quick glance, not quite comprehending.

“Why we even here then? Thought your lot had a right mare dealing with all that.”

Jamie had the decency to look a tad bit sheepish as he started to lead them over towards one of the heavy-duty doors that adorned each of the surrounding units.

“They think that by doing this, it will clear up any allegations. They just want you to right your wrongs, I ‘spose. Make it known that what went down was just a 'misunderstanding' of sorts.”

“Right my? For fucks sake, Jamie! I was shitfaced! And if I remember fucking rightly, this supposed presenter spoke some actual truth. How the fuck am I meant to deny that and clear this whole fucking mess up?"

Matty was quite close to fuming now. It was always the same thing, again and again. The lies were never ending. So much so that he could hardly even recognise them from the truth anymore, everything had seemed to mould into one.

Jamie had since paused, his hand resting on the door's brass handle whilst he gave Matty the best smile he could possibly muster up. "Matty, mate, I'm sorry. Listen, I thought I could-"

Matty cut him off with a throaty scoff.

"Don't make out you're sorry. Not when you're just here ‘to do your job’. The only thing you're sorry for is the fact that you've got to be here at all, to suffer through all this shit with me and put up with the added drama. Just do me a fucking favour and keep your half-arsed apologies to yourself, mate."

Jamie looked genuinely taken back by his vicious rant for once, and somewhat hurt too, but Matty paid it no mind. He knew where to hit where it hurt, and he often didn’t stop until he tasted blood. The band knew that better than most.

"You act like you're here for me, when all you really care about is goin’ by the book and following the rules. Fucking grow a pair and apologise to me when there's an actual ounce of sympathy behind it." He spat back, teeth grinding as he clenched his jaw, glowering at the man standing before him.

Matty shoved past his startled manager before he could linger on his words and pushed his way through the door. Fisted hands already making their way into his pockets as his nails dug crescent shaped moons into his palms in a desperate attempt to take the edge off of his vibrating anger.

"Ah, good, you're already here then! Thought we'd heard voices!" A cheerful lilt called out just as Matty rounded the short hallway, Jamie hot on his tail, and came face to face with a girl, who was leaning heavily against the metal rail lining the steep stairwell.

Matty winced at the brashness of her greeting, eyes narrowing behind his sunglasses at the very force of her presence. She had a mane of thick curls bundled atop her head, lips lined red and lashes winged with a heavy liner. She was definitely younger than him, but not by much, and he could only guess as he approached her, that she stood at a similar height to him too when she wasn't prancing about on metal staircases.

His fingertips trailed across the paperboard carton he had stowed away in his jacket pocket as Jamie hurried on over to meet the woman- a beaming smile now replacing his previously dejected look. Matty bit into his cheek at the sight of it.

"Yeah, sorry if we're late! Hey, it's great to meet you, I'm Jamie and this is obviously Matty." Jamie greeted with an incessant smile Matty couldn't bring himself to look at, before his manager was gesturing towards him- the disgruntled singer he was always stuck babysitting- and then reaching out a hand.

"Adeline, but my mates call me Adi." The girl, Adi, chirped as she took Jamie’s palm in her own, her eyes flitting towards Matty long enough to get a good once over. A gesture Matty returned. "It's great to have you both here."

She wore a grin so large it practically surpassed the honey brown eyes that brightened her face. Her teeth were white, if not a little crooked, and the force of her smile showed off the metal piercing that sat against her front teeth.

"We're honestly really excited to have you on the show! We'll have a proper laugh and just chill, so there's no pressure or anything. Mouse is upstairs, by the way. Still have to set up the final bits and bobs." Adi added, her enthusiasm somehow never faltering. "You'll love her! She's the main man round here, the one who started up the show and all that. You'll be speaking to her once we begin, but depending on how everything goes I'm hoping to join the two of you at some point."

Matty merely hummed in reply, which earned him a slight jab to the ribs from Jamie, one he tried not to lash out at. And Adi’s eyes slitted a tad as she followed the gesture, though Matty noted she gathered herself rather quickly.

"So, is that all of you then? No one else to meet?" Jamie wondered politely and Adi chuckled in retort as she began to lead them up the shifting staircase, giving them both an eyeful of her long legs.

"Nah, you're in the clear. It's just the two of us running things around here."

Matty worked his jaw at her response, whilst the sound of his boots hitting each metal stair reverberated around them.

"And that works?" He couldn't stop himself from asking.

Adi's head snapped back to find him, eyes peering over her shoulder as she rounded the first small landing and started on the next set of stairs.

"Mouse was on her own for a long while before I came along. We cope fine on our own though. We might not be as big as some other radio shows at the moment, but we've got a good relationship that works well within this industry. She can be stubborn, whilst I can be pushy, and even when we butt heads over things, we're able to make up in the end for the sake of the show. I don't know how it would work, throwing someone else into the mix."

Matty gave her a curt nod.

"So, Mouse?" Jamie questioned just as they bypassed the second floor, continuing up the staircase. Matty could hear the curiosity that lined his voice.

Adi flashed them another grin. "Mouse. It's what she goes by."

"Oh?" Jamie prodded, prompting her even further. He had a right thing for nicknames, loved hearing the stories behind them or something.

"Don't know how it came about, in all honesty. You'll have to ask. But it's been her pseudonym ever since she started as a kid."

Matty’s ears perked up upon hearing that, but it was Jamie who quizzed her.

"She's been doing this since she was a kid?"

"Technically. But no, it started out as a Twitter account, just her venting her thoughts and opinions on the music she loved. And trust me, teenage Mouse was just as cut throat and sarcastic as she is now- maybe even more so- but people loved it, still do. The idea for the radio show came about a couple years later, and that was that."

Adi stopped talking just as they reached the very top. The staircase had led them straight into an open plan room, where a large leather sofa separated the sitting area from the tiny kitchenette in the far back corner, and where half of the living space had been overtaken by a recording booth.

Matty blinked. It wasn't at all what he had been expecting.

"God, this is insane." Jamie suddenly crowed from beside him and Matty followed his manager’s wide eyed gaze to where a skylight had been fitted overhead, giving them a clear view of the bright blue skies they'd just escaped from.

"I know." Adi spoke through a breathy exhale, her eyes twinkling as she grinned up at the oversized window. "It was what sold us on the place, honestly. That, and the access we have to the roof."

She gestured over towards the closest window to the stairs then and Matty found a fire exit hatch sat just on the outside of it.

"Don't think the other tenants renting out the spaces below even know about it. Well that, or we've just been lucky enough to never to catch one another up there." She chuckled and Jamie joined her.

Matty’s hand tightened around his pack of cigarettes, eyes lingering on the hatch. But before he could ask if he could get a quick look at it, Adi was waltzing her way across the room and over towards the kitchen.

She waved them closer and gestured towards two sofas and a vintage looking armchair that should have looked somewhat out of place, if it hadn't been for the rest of the mismatched furniture that littered the space. From the mint green fridge shelving a chaotic range of mugs, to the wearing Victorian coffee table, which was hilariously similar to the one Matty’s grandmother had preened over whenever guests had gone to visit.

"Tea, coffee?" Adi asked and Matty dipped his head as he took a perch on the edge of an armchair facing the tele box. It looked well over two decades old and he questioned the last time he'd seen one that'd had a DVD player built into it.

"Coffee. Black."

Adi raised an amused brow but didn't comment, looking towards Jamie. "And you, Glasses?"

Jamie only chuckled at the name referring to the thick rimmed frames he often wore. "Tea, please. Milk, two sugars."

"Be with you in just a sec!" Adi winked in reply and pulled four mugs down from the fridge.

"Cheers." Jamie thanked her, smiling all the while, before a look of remembrance crossed his face. "So where's this famous Mouse of yours then?"

And as though someone had answered him, Matty looked up to find the door to the recording booth opening and watched as someone stepped out to join them.

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myimaginedcorner · 6 months ago

Text

SCALES OF JUSTICE - BETA TESTERS NEEDED

Hi dear readers,

Thank you for your overwhelming trust and support. The opinions that I've collected over the past few days have finally motivated me to put aside my self-criticism and doubt, and to make the next step towards SoJ's release.

Yes, Scales of Justice is now officially in its BETA-test phase!!

If you would like to help me by being a BETA-tester for my book, please, comment under this post, send me a direct message, or message me on CoG's forum. I aim to take around 20 to 30 people, so we can have a big and productive group that nonetheless remains constructive in its feedback.

If you don't have the time or you don't want to be a tester, consider sharing this post, so it can get to as many of you as possible.

I will be working alongside the testers on improving style, grammar, and other minor details that require polishing as the month progresses. Hopefully, by the end of it we'll have an even better version of this book that will be submitted for approval to Hosted Games!

See you all very soon,

Julia xx

BOOK DETAILS:

DEMO DESCRIPTION:

Scales of Justice is a fantasy game situated in another world, far away from Earth. There are plenty of species living together in harmony, but the human race is currently split in two civilisations: the one known as Hero kingdom, which is ruled by ‘heroes’, and the one named Vannais kingdom, controled by ‘villains’. Both nations hate each other and the fight between ‘heroes’ and ‘villains’ here is something that happens on a national level. The game is focused on lore, on character development and your own perception of reality: perhaps, your MC just wants to live a peaceful life... or maybe wants to save the world.

Or even rule it, if you’re into such things.

THINGS TO DO IN THIS DEMO:

Set off on a new adventure towards Neutral Lands, to meet a mythic creature of all answers - The Visionary.

Gather up to 3 companions to help you in your quest - befriend, romance or rival them, the choice is yours.

Buy a horse - we know you want one.

Fight, conjure, support, speak or think - choose your way of handling a tricky situation.

Explore the kingdom of Hero up to Menai's shore, in search for someone - or something - to aid you in your journey.

The DEMO version of the book runs up to Chapter 5 and contains 276K words overall. I will be putting up updated versions of the first chapters as I work my way through them, so expect the DEMO version to become a polished reflection of what the final book will look like!

USEFUL LINKS:

If you want to know a little more about this project and read chapters 1-5, I'll leave the link to the game here -> https://dashingdon.com/play/myimaginedcorner/scales-of-justice/mygame/

If you want to discuss anything on CoG's forum, I'll leave the link for SoJ here -> https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/wip-scales-of-justice-new-project-announcement-and-demo-release/101088/16

If you want to send me a more extensive feedback, here's my email -> [email protected]

Any mistakes, concerns or questions you have, feel free to contact me through Tumblr! I am very excited to share this story with all of you, and I want to make it as good as possible with your help!

RO DESCRIPTIONS:

Shoren/Seile -> Heir to the Hero kingdom's throne, right where your journey starts. Also, your old friend who's very attached to you. Likes to read and practices magic, enjoys adventure and heroic deeds. A recognised “hero”, with blonde curly hair, pale skin and a pair of beautiful blue eyes.

Robert/Reina -> Order's Paladin, defender of Hero and Knight of Fate. Brave and honourable, determined to protect the people of the kingdom. Very loyal to friends and very dangerous as an enemy. Has short brown hair, tanned skin and an athletic build.

Valerius/Venis -> An Outworlder, who was caught by cultists from the Wicked Woods. Gracious, elegant and charismatic. Has long dark brown hair with a silver streak, olive skin and golden eyes.

Arion/Aria -> Leader of Vannais, a recognised “villain” who escaped from Hero and now rules the enemy kingdom. Serious, reserved but temperamental. Prefers action over words and so is always present on battlefields and amidst negotiations, even though never in official manner. Has short blonde hair, pale skin and emerald eyes.

Be careful! These characters have their thoughts and opinions on the world and your actions: if you want them to support you, convince them or take their side… or neither. That is your choice after all!

#scales of justice #interactive story #tumblr community #interactive if #interactive game #hosted games #beta tester #progress update #update

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themarsmaiden · 2 months ago

Text

Accolade

Yuri x Gn!Reader

alternate universe

Summary: [Name] and Yuri have known each other since they were kids. Always competing, and now they prepare for their final year in high school. For their colleges of choice, the science fair, and in love.

Case Study 1: Isami Yuri

August, the start of a new school year.

They’ve never liked Isami Yuri. He was conceited, condescending, and most of all he was bitch. Yuri was a self centered, full grown, 17 year old bitch.

[Name] had known him since the first grade, and nothing about him has changed.

Take exhibit a: the first grade spelling bee

“[Name] spell extraordinary”

“E-x-t-r-a-o-r-d-i-n-a-r-y” they smile, proud of themselves, then hear a whisper from their right, “a baby could’ve spelt that.” A small boy stood there, smug and tall.

“Yuri, spell tenacious.”

“t-e-n-a-c-i-o-u-s” he smiled proudly.

This went back and forth for several more rounds until only those two stood. In the end Yuri was the one to win.

[Name] did not hold a grudge over this anymore, that would be childish. However they would hold a grudge over exhibit b: science fair, junior year.

“Second place?! Who won first??” They look down at their computer in bewilderment. How could they not have won this year? They had made a working liver!

Granted it only worked on pigs so far, but it worked it really did work!

They opened and scrolled through the excel spread of names attached to their ‘congratulations’ email.

Lying right above their name was written, “Yuri Sami: Frankenstein’s Monster”

They gawked silently, appalled. Did he really..?

“No. I did not reanimate dead. That would be stupid.”

The man in question appeared behind them, unpleasantly surprising them. “I did a year long study into the care and treatment of a boy named Jiro, successfully waking him from his coma.”

He bragged then left, leaving [Name] stunned alone in their school’s library.

[Name] could not forgive him for the embarrassment they felt after the librarian came to ask them what was wrong, and then after finding out what happened, insinuated that they might actually like him!

They are unsure how anyone could come to the conclusion. How could anyone enjoy his presence to begin with?

Yet here they find themself, studying him from afar.

First period, the first day of their senior year.

August 13th, a Tuesday.

He was alone in the back of the class, his nose stuck in a book that read “Care for the fragile” upon its cover. Class was soon about to start but he displayed no worry.

Soon after, students filled the seats around him. His demeanor did not change.

Only when the bell rang did he close the book and put his attention towards the class at hand.

English Literature

It was not a subject that either of them had paid particular mind to since elementary school, when they both decided to head down a doctoral path.

The rest of the day created a pattern in his behavior:

Get to class early, read, pay attention. (Of course the two did not share every class, so this observation could have its faults.)

The moment when this changed was eighth period Advanced Biology.

This was a freshman topic, however the advanced version of the course was only available to upperclassmen. This makes it a prime choice for two nerds interested in this exact subject.

Yuri gets to class early, the pattern continues, however contrary to his previous behaviors, he does not take out the text book. Instead, he waits attentively.

“With the way you’ve been staring all day someone might mistake your attention as affection.” Someone sits in front of [Name] blocking their view.

The person was none other than Rui Mizuki. “If I knew any better I’d be wishing for your gaze to be on me instead.”

He snapped them out of it, making them roll their eyes. “Can it, Rui.” He laughs at their reaction. “But no seriously, you’ve been staring at him all day.”

“It’s a case study Rui. I’m trying to get into the inner mind of one Isami Yuri to make sure I ensure a victory this year.”

He sighs, “The science fair? Again?” The student in front of him nods in response. “Can’t you let it go? You take these losses too seriously! You should focus on your victories! The second grade spelling bee, middle school valedictorian, and let’s not forget sophomore science fair.” He lists their victories, which seem to go in one ear at out the other.

“You don’t get it do you? It’s not about the victories, it's about the lack of victories! They should all be victories. Losing to him is embarrassing.”

“Your obsession with this is embarrassing.”

“Just because you’re my best friend does not mean you get to say something that insulting Mizuki Rui!”

Best friend: Rui Mizuki

Relation to the case: an outside spector with less than appropriate comments.

This is best understood in exhibit c: middle school.

To save the redundant amount of details, a brief example explains all the accounts.

Yuri and [Name] compete, yuri wins? [Name] complains to Rui and he comforts them. [Name] wins, Rui listens to them brag for a week straight.

It was straightforward, and simple. Of course there was also the added details of Rui practically saving [Name] every time another student thought they were bigger and tougher and threatened them for ‘being nerdy.’ (Cartoony but middle schoolers will be middle schoolers)

They truly owed him big time, but that does not forgive his stupidity. No matter how smart he truly was underneath all his casanova flirting.

The blond was about to retort, when the teacher walked in from the hall closing the door behind him.

It was a teacher they had before, Professor Dante. He was a presumably tall man, who’s height was visually limited by the wheelchair he found himself attached to.

No one knew what happened to the professor, but rumors had circulated about him being injured by a student. Though his condition could very easily as well be from birth.

This was unimportant, as what he was about to say was much more important.

The science fair.

A mandatory part of every advanced science class. Much to half of the class’ dismay, [Name] was thoroughly interested in this topic.

Unfortunately it was skimmed over, along with a mention of a year long project to start next month.

It was no worries, both of these things were to come in due time. And in due time, [Name] would beat Yuri Isami once and for all, and then never have to deal with him ever again.

Dante discussed the syllabus for the class a little longer before dismissing the class to do a simple back to school project.

“Seriously though, [Name], you need to start focusing on other things for once. Like for example homecoming, and who you’re gonna take, and how it’s going to be me.” Rui started talking again, as he picked up his pen to start writing on the small papers that the teacher was passing out.

They rolled their eyes in response, “I’m not going to homecoming, and I certainly wouldn’t take you.”

“You hate me and you want me to die.”

[Name] does not reply to Rui, simply rolling their eyes and getting to work. “Well if you had to take someone to homecoming, who would you take?” He asks, pointing his pen in their direction as he does so.

The student frowns, “You know the answer to that.”

Rui sighs, “Lucas Errant?” he asks, putting his pencil down. “Ding, finally something logical out of your mouth this period.”

Rui finally starts writing on his paper, they were simple ‘about me’s’, an annoying yet necessary part to the start of every class. “You’ve had a crush on him since freshman year.”

“Can you blame me? He is the perfect man, by all logical reasoning he is the only choice.” They finish up the small ‘about me’, and slide it towards the edge of the lab table they shared with Rui. “You’re done?”

“I was actually doing it, instead of gossiping. Which proves all prior points about my priorities.”

Rui rolls his eyes and finishes up his paper, “It does not, but to each their own, my love.” He slides his paper to be where [Name]’s was.

“Of course vermin like you would spend all the allotted time with drab chatter.” Yuri comes around and grabs the papers on the tall table.

“At least I have friends.” [Name] retorts back.

“I have friends!” He stutters out.

“Jiro doesn’t count, he's a patient.” They refute.

“Well-” Just as Yuri was about to speak, Professor Dante comes around and grabs the papers from his student and interrupts his voice. “It’s the same every year with you two. Would it kill you to just get along?”

Without missing a beat they both respond “Yes.”

He sighs, “You two are seniors now, it’s time you start acting more mature. At least start acting cordially with one another during this period.” They both stay silent. “For me? Or else I’ll force you to work together until you can.”

The two seniors glared at each other, and then the bell rang.

“Let’s go Rui.” [Name] picks up their bag and walks out the class, Rui rushes to join them.

It seems a new challenge approached Case Study: Isami Yuri, acting cordial with him.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

“Dante has no idea what he’s talking about!”

It had been a week, and nothing has changed in Dante’s favor. [Name] and Yuri were still bickering and competing as always.

Just today, the two competed over who could finish a lab the fastest. A group assignment that was supposed to take a while.

“I’m sure he does.” replied a voice from above the couch that [Name] had slumped themselves upon.

It was a maroon velvet couch with elaborate detailing dyed into it, classic decor of the voice who was speaking to them.

Edward Hart, a stay at home shut in who spends his time doing online school and watching twitch. The entire concept brings a tear to [Name]’s eye, they might keel over if that were them.

Luckily, it wasn’t. Though they couldn’t fault the man either, it was hard to go out due to his condition. They could get on him for slacking off though, but that was a topic for case study: Hart Edward. (a document that has already been made)

“What do you mean by that?” They look up at him as he moves to sit next to them. “Just that, perhaps, it was time you started acting more mature. In the real world you’ll have to work with people you don’t like all the time. I think he wants you two to know that.”

[Name] sighs, “I can work with people I don’t like! It’s just Yuri that I can’t tolerate.” Edward shakes his head, “There’s also the fact that as a teacher, having two intellectuals constantly fighting like children might not be the best thing in the world.”

“You talk like you have experience Ed, may I remind you you have none??” They point this out to the dark haired man next to them.

“I may not have experience, but YouTube does.” His rebuttal wasn’t a strong one, but [Name] wasn’t about to argue with him today on something this trivial when they can turn their attention to Rui who was walking into the living room with a plate of freshly baked pastries.

“You know I think Dante is onto something as well, it’d be nice to hear less about Yuri and more about myself for once.” He jokes, setting the plate down on the dark oak coffee table that sat in front of the couch.

“I don’t talk about Yuri that much!” [Name] raises their voice slightly, shocked and appalled that their friend would say such a thing.

The other two gave them an unconvinced look, “You literally only talk about beating him at science fair.” Rui says, picking up a sweet and popping it into his mouth.

“Do not! I also talk about my grades, and maybe video games, and yeah maybe the science fair but! Not always.” They complain back to him, grabbing a sweet for their own and tasting it.

“Exhibit A: Today, at lunch, I could not talk about my homecoming plans without you mentioning how homecoming was unimportant because you had to start on the science fair, so you can beat Yuri.” Rui retorts, mocking them a little by doing so.

“Or how about exhibit b? Last week’s rant about him from the first day of school.” Added Edward, who had previously been too busy eating a pastry to talk.

“Fine! But can you blame me?” They got a similar uninterested look, “Ok whatever, but you’ll see this will all pay off when I’m accepted into an Ivy League and he isn’t.”

“Whatever you wish to tell yourself, I will not stop you.” Edward dismisses them, to which Rui sighs. “Same here, I know there’s no stopping you when you’re already committed to something. But I do still think you should be a teenager some more! We don’t have long left.”

“I know, I know, I’ll take your suggestions into consideration. But only because it’s you.”

The conversation dropped and the 3 teens began talking about less important things, like what to watch. They ended up putting on Alpharad, by suggestion of Edward until the night got dark.

Edward and Rui lived together with another roommate named Lyca, who had been busy at the moment. This leads to [Name] often staying the night when they needed some space from home, or it got too late when hanging out.

It also helps that they live walking distance, which is how [Name] met Rui to begin with. (Of course when they met, his parents were still living with him and not out traveling the world.)

The rest of the month passed in a flash. School was slow and easy as everyone was getting back into the pace of things. Homecoming came and went. (Which [Name] did not go to, much to Rui’s dismay.) And Case Study: Isami Yuri saw no improvements.

˚ʚ♡ɞ˚

A/N: first chapter :3 this will go on ao3 soon!!! I hope you enjoyed this one!! Updates will probably 3-5 days depending on how inspired I am ^^

MasterDoc

#tkdb #tokyo debunker #tokyo debunker x reader #yuri isami #yuri isami x reader

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harrysballerinahouse · 2 years ago

Text

Professor

Prof. Harry x Fem reader

Smut

So much fluff!

University.

One of the scariest places you’ve ever stepped foot into. The same one your willingly going back to after four years.

You had just started your masters degree when you found out you were pregnant. It was going to be way to labour intensive to see it through with a baby, so you did exactly what you didn’t want to and dropped out.

Seven months after you dropped out you gave birth to the most precious little boy and called him Noah. Now little three year old Noah was heading off to day care for the first time while his Mum was heading back to start her Masters all over again.

Dropping Noah off you couldn’t decide if you should feel like a bad Mum going back to University or proud of yourself for being able to do both. You make sure Noah is occupied with some colouring before heading off to your first class. This process occurred for the first few weeks and began working really well for you and Noah. He was learning so much at day care and you were feeling amazing about your Masters.

There was still one thing holding you back in one of your classes. You had had some run ins with one of your professors who you knew from before you had Noah and who you had gone to University with as undergraduates. Harry. You were good friends, for a while, but things broke down when Noah’s Dad fell into the picture. Harry hated him, always said he was wrong for you and up to no good. Which in a way he was right.

******

You were sitting in Harry’s class one day when your phone began to buzz with the daycares number. You quickly sneak out of Harry’s lecture and answer. Your day was being cut short. Poor Noah was vomiting with a temperature, meaning you had no choice but to go and pick him up. You sneak back into class packing your things up quietly before sneaking back out glancing down to the front of the room on the way out to notice Harry already staring at you a wave of confusion covering his face.

You pick Noah up and head straight home. Once arriving at home you get some medicine ready for Noah who you had left laying on the couch. “Baby mummy has some medicine to help you feel better” you say softly kneeling in front of him “mummy feel yucky” he whimpers. You lean over kissing his head softly “I know baby, take this for mummy it will help I promise”. You help him pop the little syringe of liquid in his mouth before passing him his little water bottle to wash it down “mummy’s brave boy” you smile brushing his growing hair from his face “have a little lay down monkey, mummy’s going to sit with you ok?” You ask softly. He just nods pulling his blanket and teddy up closer to his chest.

After around half an hour Noah had fallen asleep. You decide to take this opportunity to try and catch up on the things you missed in class today which meant emailing your professor for the notes. You open your laptop going to your emails to see a couple of unread ones including one from Harry from that afternoon.

To your surprise he had taken the time from his day to email you the notes from class today with a message attached.

‘Hi Y/N,

I noticed you slipped out of class today, I just wanted to check in and ensure everything is ok?

No need to go into detail, but please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need anything.

Please find attached the rest of the notes from the lecture today, feel free to contact me with questions or queries,

Kind regards,

Prof. H Styles.’

You quickly glance through the notes before looking at the time seeing it was still only early, Harry would still be at work, you figured it was best to offer some sort of explanation.

‘Hi Professor,

Thank you for reaching out and for the notes they have been very helpful.

I’m sorry I had to sneak out, unfortunately my son fell sick and I had to bring him home,

I’m hoping to be back in class tomorrow.

Thanks again,

Y/N Y/L/N.’

You never got a reply from Harry after that. Not that you expected one. You got through the rest of your day hanging out on the couch with Noah in between his vomits and temperatures, you managed to get the lecture notes revised and yourself up to date with your classes, as well as Noah fed and tucked into bed a little earlier than normal to get the extra rest he needed.

****

The next morning Noah had stopped vomiting but was still having temperatures on and off. You had called your Mum the night before to see if she could look after Noah so you could to go to your classes. She was more than accomodating coming over to your place extra early and assuring you that there was no need to rush home that he would be ok with his Grandma for a day.

You head off to your classes for the day and try to get as much done as you can to be able to give Noah your undivided attention once you arrived home. Your last class for the day was with Harry. Things went well. You had a great grasp on what was going on in his class at the moment. Once the class was over everyone started to file out, you were packing your bag getting ready to go yourself when Harry called you out “Y/N?” you turn your head in his direction “is everything ok?” He asks “I just wanted to check in” he explains.

You continue to pack your things as Harry makes his way toward you. “Yeah everything’s fine, Noah’s feeling a little better” you smile softly glancing at him. “Ok, well let me know if you need anything” he nods toward you before walking back down to the front of the classroom.

“Professor” you say softly to catch Harry’s attention as he was walking away. He looks up glaring a little “Y/N we’ve known each other for a long time, you don’t have to call me that” he snaps a little. Nodding, you glance at your feet “sorry” you whisper “I uh, just wanted to say thank you, for checking in” you look up a little at his now softened expression before walking away.

******

A few weeks had passed since Noah had been sick, he had made a full recovery and was as energetic as ever. You had planned with Noah’s dad for Noah to spend a few days with him over the weekend. You were planning on dropping Noah off at your Mums for his Dad, Ryan to come and pick him up. You’d had a rough separation from Ryan, he was incredibly possessive and manipulative, he caused you so much stress during your pregnancy that Noah was almost 10 weeks premature.

You dropped Noah off on Thursday morning to your Mums for Ryan to pick him up that afternoon after he finished work. You were heading towards your first deadline for an assignment in Harry’s class meaning it was good timing to be able to have the extra time to study. You were in the library studying a little after five PM when your phone began to ring, Ryan’s contact shining on your screen. You sigh a little before standing up to make your way outside to take the call.

“Hello” you chine putting on your best ‘nice voice’ on.

“Hey, are you busy?” Ryan asks not bothering to ask how you were or if it was a good time to talk.

“I’m studying, so a little, why?” You ask not liking where the conversation was going.

“I have bad news” he sighs dramatically causing you to roll your eyes “I can’t have Noah this weekend, something came up I have to cancel sorry”. You audibly groan pinching the bridge of your nose.

“Are you shitting me right now? You’ve been asking for this for months and when I say yes you cancel, what do I tell Noah?” You snap becoming frustrated at how unreliable this man was.

“I don’t know, tell him I’m sick or something it’s not my problem” he grumbles.

“He’s your son Ryan! You can’t just pop in and out as you please, you either need to be part of his life or give it up” you yell causing people to look your direction.

“Whatever, if your going to be a bitch then I’m not talking to you” he says bluntly.

“Ryan I’m done with this crap. Your not going to see Noah anymore, you can’t just jump in and out of his life it’s not fair on him” you explain.

Before you knew it the line went dead, indicating Ryan had hung up. You groan loudly gripping your phone tightly you look around to see a number of people looking between you and what they were doing, including Harry who was now making his way towards you.

You sigh a little beginning to pack up your belongings trying to slip away from talking to Harry. To your dismay Harry’s long strides caught up to you “Y/N” Harry says softly reaching the desk you were working from. “Why don’t you come to my office?” He asks reluctantly. You sigh shaking your head “no it’s ok I should get home and finish this”.

Harry didn’t move away from you, instead coming to sit next to you “Y/N, please?” Harry asks softly. You look up at him seeing his soft expression “at least just talk to me a little, I heard you…on the phone, is everything ok?” He asks you sigh sitting back into the chair allowing Harry to lean against the desk.

“Do you need an extension for this paper? I’m more than happy to try and make things a little more flexible for you?” Harry asks, clearly sympathising with you. You quickly shake your head “no no no, it’s Ryan he’s being an idiot, nothing to do with class work, just him being him” you sigh.

“Oh you’re still together, I understand” Harry says softly seeming disappointed. You begin shaking your head laughing “no we are not…. We started having problems while I was pregnant with Noah, he left the day I went into labour I called him while he was at work to tell him I needed to go to the hospital and he just never showed. Noah and I came home three weeks later and all of his stuff was gone. It took almost a year for him to decide he deserved to be a part of Noah’s life and I honestly hate it. He cancels last minute almost every visit and he pushes me for visits. I’m just exhausted by it Harry….” You sigh placing your chin in your hands “I’m sorry I offloaded all that onto you” you say shaking your head pushing your hair from your face.

Harry just stares at you for a minute “I’m glad” he says softly “I’m glad your not with him, I know I used to give you a hard time about it but you really do deserve better. I’m sorry I wasn’t a better friend back then” Harry adds looking at his hands.

You shake your head “don’t be silly, you were a great friend, I was naive and just happened to end up pregnant” you start before pausing for a moment “But I wouldn’t change Noah for the world he’s the sweetest kid and even though he doesn’t understand why I’m gone a lot at the moment he hasn’t complained once”

Harry simply smiles in your direction “he sounds like his Mum” he chuckles a little. You smile glancing at Harry. “Would you like to come to my office? The library will be closing soon, I’ll be here for a little while yet, I can make us some tea?” Harry offers.

You think on his offer for a moment before nodding “that sounds great, thank you” you smile softly beginning to gather your things.

Walking to Harry’s office the campus had become relatively empty in the last half hour. Footpaths that we’re lined with groups of students were now empty and several buildings were now locked for the night.

You make it to Harry’s office he unlocks the door and lets you in before him “make yourself comfortable I’ll just be marking some papers” he smiles. You nod a little and find a seat in his surprisingly large office, getting to work.

*****

The pair work in silence for a couple of hours before you notice the time “crap” you mumble quickly trying to pack your things up again “everything ok?” Harry asks, you nod “yeah, just need to go and pick Noah up, his bedtime is 8, I didn’t realise it was already 7:30.” You sigh.

Harry stands to come and help you collecting some papers into a pile for you “You should have this, I’ll be giving them out in class tomorrow but have yours now” he says softly “but you didn’t get it from me” he smirks placing one of your freshly marked assessments under a pile of your papers “grading is on the last page, you’re doing great Y/N” Harry adds causing you to smile “thank you Harry and thank you for this, it was really helpful” you smile softly swinging your bag onto your shoulder “see you tomorrow” you say softly before slipping out of the room.

Your drive to pick Noah up was brief, you called your Mum to let her know what you were on your way, not that she was worried. She was however pissed that Noah’s father hadn’t arrived to collect him, arguably angrier than you were.

You arrive and let yourself in seeing Noah almost asleep on the couch, he sees you and smiles widely, sliding off the couch “Mummy!” He yells running towards you “Hi baby!” You smile kneeling down as he runs into your arms, you hug him tightly kissing his head “Did you have a good day with Grandma?” You ask picking him up carrying him to the kitchen where your Mum was cleaning up “Grandma let me have chicken nuggies for dinner Mummy!” he tells excitedly you giggle rubbing his back “you’re very spoilt buddy” your Mum looks towards you “he is very spoilt” she smiles.

“Thank you for looking after him Mum” you smile “I’m sorry” you pout a little. Noah snuggles into your chest wrapping his arms around you. “How was your day?” Your mum asks finishing up some dishes “it was ok, I spent the afternoon studying” you say softly rocking Noah a little “anything from….him?” Your mum asks you just shake your head.

“He called me to tell me, I lost it. I don’t want him to see us anymore” you sigh a little not going into detail in front of Noah. “I’m sorry sweetheart” your Mum says moving to hug your side to not disturb Noah. “Should get him home” she says softly you nod “I’ll grab his bag” you say before walking to the living room picking up Noah’s backpack you had out together for the weekend “thank you for looking after him mum I appreciate it so much” you smile, giving her a hug.

You make it out to the car and buckle a now sleeping Noah into his car seat. Heading home you manage to get Noah into his pyjamas and tucked into bed without waking him too much. You smile a little watching Noah for a while before heading off to your own room. You grab your papers from your bag wanting to look over your paper from Harry.

There we’re still some areas you wanted to improve on. You make it to the final page and see your mark, sliding in with a high distinction, better than you thought you were going to do. You smile a little proud of how you were going so far and being incredibly grateful for the support you had.

Looking a little further down at Harry’s comments you were a little taken back. Instead of leaving a detailed comment on your paper and areas to improve he had simply written;

‘Beautiful work, I’ve missed reading your papers and I’m glad you came back, text me, hopefully you still have my number - H’

You look at the time seeing it was almost 9pm. You pace your room for a moment before dropping the paper on your dresser grabbing your phone instead. You pace the room again looking at Harry’s contact for a good few minutes before finally opening a new text to him.

‘Thanks for the paper, and thank you for letting me study in your office today. I really appreciate all your help’

You send the message setting your phone down on the charger and getting yourself ready for bed knowing that Noah would probably be up early.

*****

You managed to wake up before Noah and drag yourself out of bed. You head out to the kitchen and go to put on some soft music when you notice that Harry had replied to your text last night at around midnight.

‘You’re very welcome, I’m sorry things have been rough for you, please let me know if I can do anything’

You giggle to yourself a little at how sweet Harry was being while also being professional.

You start putting breakfast together for you and Noah before heading upstairs to wake him. You sneak into his room and sit on the edge of his bed brushing through his hair a little. You smile noticing the little bit of curl it was starting to get you kiss his head softly “Noah” you whisper softly causing him to stir “it’s time to wake up sweet boy” he stirs more rolling over to face you “Mummy” he whimpers rubbing his eyes. “Hey buddy” you smile Noah reaches up to you wth his smalls hands.

You pick him up carrying him to the kitchen as he wakes up. “Did you sleep well bud?” You ask. He nods into your neck causing you to giggle “are you excited for day care?” You ask. Noah kicks his feet out a little bit showing how excited he was “yes!” You smile putting him down to go and find his seat. “Are you hungry?” You ask. Noah runs to his seat sitting up ready for breakfast “yes please Mummy” he says. “Ok let’s get organised then” you smile getting breakfast.

*****

Heading into uni for the day to drop Noah at day care you were running early which meant you had time to let Noah walk his way into the campus and look around a little more than usual.

On your way in Noah sees the big grass quad and runs off across it. You smile watching him, very little worry in your mind due to the very little number of people around. Noah goes to make his way back to you when he accidentally steps out in front of none other than Harry.

He instantly stops in his tracks looking up at Harry, he takes a few small steps back as you begin to make your way over to him “Noah” you call out. Harry looks up seeing you and smiles. You finally make your way to them picking him up “Hey buddy, you ok?” You ask. He looks at you just nodding. “Noah this is one of Mummy’s teachers, his name is Harry” Noah looks at you then at Harry “like my teachers Mummy?” Noah asks. You shrug “a little” you smile.

“Good morning” Harry says softly “Hi Noah, it’s nice to meet you” Harry adds holding his hand out for Noah little one to shake which Noah gladly takes. “You say hello to Harry” you whisper to Noah he nods say hello to Harry before squirming to get out of your arms.

You let him go but he stays relatively close to you and Harry. “He looks so much like you, where do the curls come from though?” Harry asks. You shrug a little “I had curly hair as a kid, he’ll probably grow out of it, they look cute though” you smile watching as Noah runs on the grass “Hey um, I was thinking we should catch up properly if it seems ok?” Harry asks “we could go for coffee? Noah could come I don’t mind” he says softly “it’s entirely up to you” you smile a little

“I would actually love that Harry thank you” you say as Noah comes back to you holding your “would the University be ok with it? I mean technically I am one of your students” you were a little anxious about the idea but not against it at all.

Harry shrugs “I think it’s more of a coincidence that your my student than an inconvenience, we were friends as undergraduates, I’m just catching up with a friend” he says matter of factly causing you to consider his idea of things as well but still seeing things from the university’s perspective. Eventually you give in and nod “why don’t we get coffee over the weekend?” You ask, almost surprising yourself with your bold request.

Harry glances at his feet and smiles “I would love that” he says softly pushing his glasses back up his nose. You hadn’t seen him wear them in so long, but they still made him look as sweet as he did 4 years ago. “Great, I’ll text you?” You ask to which Harry nods “I better get Noah to day care” you smile before calling out to him. He comes running over grabbing your leg with his small hands “Mummy I found a butterfly!” He shouts causing you and Harry to laugh. You pick him up resting him on your hip “that’s so cool sweetie! Should we go to day care and tell them all about it?” You ask Noah nods before looking at Harry.

You smile a little just watching them look at one another for a while “Noah, would you like to come with Mummy for a hot chocolate with Harry on the weekend?” You ask him softly only loud enough that Harry could hear as well. Noah claps his hands “yes please Mummy! Can we go to the park too?” He asks his little eyes gleaming.

“I’m sure my puppy would love to meet you Noah” Harry smiles Noah’s head flys in Harry’s direction. “What your puppy’s name?” Noah asks “his name is Ned, he’s only very little” Harry explains his full attention on your son. “I didn’t know you had a puppy” you say softly. Harry looks at you and nods “only had him a few weeks, sweetest thing, he’s a Lab, only 10 weeks old” he smiles.

“He’s sounds adorable Harry, I look forward to seeing him.” You grins “me too” he chuckles “anyway I’ll let you go, don’t want to be late, I’ll see you in class?” He asks you nod before Harry begins to head off squeezing your arm and waving at Noah as he does so.

*****

Saturday morning you were woken by the sound and movement of Noah crawling into bed next to you you roll over towards him opening your eyes a little “y’ok sweetheart?” You ask softly helping him the rest of the way in “Mummy cuddle” he whimpers you smile a little and open your arms for him to fall into.

You hold him close rubbing Noah’s back for a while before he begins to squirm “you ready to get up bud?” You ask “I’m hungry please Mummy” you giggle a little “alright come on let’s get some breakfast.”

You get Noah organised and sat down for his breakfast “Are you excited to see Harry today Noah?” You ask, Noah begins clapping his hands causing you to giggle “Mummy do I get to see the puppy?!” He asks excitedly “I hope so baby” you smile.

You sit with Noah to have some breakfast and text Harry while Noah works through the strawberries you added to his plate.

‘Noah’s so excited to see you and Ned today’

You send before setting your phone down. You get Noah’s dressed his hair done and teeth brushed before getting yourself organised pulling on some light wash jeans and a floral sweater. You head back to the kitchen to grab your phone seeing Harry had texted back.

‘I’m really looking forward to it, what time suits you?’

You smile a little, you were a little uneasy about this weird feeling you were having toward Harry, but it’s harmless he’s just a friend. Right?

‘Noah’s dressed and ready, should we meet at the coffee shop near the University? There’s a park across the road?’

You take your phone into the bathroom while you put just a little bit of makeup on.

‘Sounds great, see you in about half an hour?’

You smile a little at Harry’s message and head to Noah’s room to pack him a bag before reply

‘Perfect! See you soon’

You get Noah buckled into the car and head towards the University Noah keeps himself occupied in the back seat singing along with the music you had playing.

You park and head towards the cafe holding Noah’s hand on one side and his little bag on the other. You look up and see Harry waiting for you in black skinny jeans and a white t shirt under his sweater. This was the Harry you knew like the back of your hand. Beside him was Ned trying to chew his leash as Harry tried to stop him.

“Hey” you smile as you get closer “Hi” Harry smiles “Hi Noah” Harry waves kneeling down to Noah “Noah this is Ned” Harry says softly as Ned moves to sniff Noah causing him to giggle. He licks Noah’s chin before Harry calls him back “Hi Harry! Hi Ned!” Noah yells excitedly.

Noah leans over to pet Ned, he brushes over Neds soft fur before smiling at Harry. “Do you want me to go and order?” You ask softly, Harry smiles “that’d be great” he says softly “Noah do you want to come with Mummy?” You ask, he shakes his head “I stay with Ned?” He asks causing you to smile “is that ok?” You ask Harry, he simply nods smiling widely “yeah of course”.

You quickly race in ordering for you and Harry, you get a little juice for Noah and a cookie knowing he would get hungry at the park. You head back out with both yours and Harry’s coffees and something to eat for you both.

“Thank you so much” Harry smiles as you pass his coffee “I got you something to eat as well, I remember the carrot cake here was your favourite” he sighs a little “thank you” he says “you ok?” You ask softly noticing the sigh and slight drop in Harry’s face “yeah, I um, guess I forgot how well you know me” he smiles a little.

You head across the road to the park, Noah holding Harry’s hand wanting to be close to Ned “that is so cute” you smile watching them both.

Noah’s little legs were trying their best to keep up with Ned, Harry tying to hold Ned back a little so Noah wouldn’t topple. You find a quiet spot on the grass where Harry was able to let Ned off his leash letting Noah play with him properly. “Noah make sure you’re gentle please” you say as he starts running with Ned.

“I forgot how good their carrot cake was” Harry smiles “thank you for this” he says glancing over at you “anytime” you smile a little “I’ve missed hanging out with you” Harry’s says under his breath “this is a long way from going to parties together and getting as drunk as we could, but I missed hanging out with you too” you say softly laying back on the grass as Noah comes back over sitting between you and Harry with Ned.

Eventually, Harry lays back and Noah lays on your chest Ned snuggling into Noah. “Mummy” Noah says softly climbing you a little “yeah babe” you say wrapping your arm around him to stop him from falling back. “Can we keep Ned?” He asks curiously, you pout a little “I’m sorry baby, Ned is Harry’s puppy, we can’t keep him” Noah begins to fuss and you could feel a tantrum coming.

Harry noticed the change in Noah behaviour and rolls onto his front to look at Noah “Noah” he says softly “c’mere”. Noah pushes off you and walks to Harry. He leans over to Noah’s ear and whispers into it. Noah then runs back towards you kissing your cheek sloppily causing you to laugh hugging him tightly “what was that for?” You ask him giggling “it was from Harry!” Noah exclaims.

You look up at Harry who was already looking up you smiling nervously. You simply smile at him as Noah settled between you both again “I think we should do this more often” you say softly. Harry’s smile turns into more of a beam, “I’d love that” he says softly moving a little closer to you and Noah.

After a little while of Noah and Ned playing in between you and Harry, they both fell asleep. You brush Noah’s hair from his face a little kissing his head a little “you’re a great Mum” Harry says softly. You blush softly and lay your head on your arm “I think I just got lucky, Noah is an amazing kid” you say softly.

Harry smiles softly pushing your hair from your face. “Does he ever ask questions, about Ryan?” Harry asks. You shake your head a little “Ryan hasn’t spent time with him for a while, Noah probably doesn’t even know who he is anymore, he’s never asked why his Mum and Dad don’t live together and I don’t know what I would tell him if he did ask.”

“Y’know I’m here if you need anything, if you ever need someone to look after Noah so you can study, or if you want a night out, or just some time for you, I’m happy to help” Harry smiles a little. You giggle moving closer Ned moving over a little to Harry. You lean over the top of Noah and Ned who had settled again and place a soft kiss to Harry’s cheek “thank you H”

******

Three weeks had passed since you’d been to the park with Harry. In that three weeks you had been texting on and off, chatting after class and even studying in his office while he did admin work.

Tonight was one of those nights. Noah was staying with your Mum for the night while you were proof reading a paper due for one of your other classes for what felt like the fourteenth time.

You sigh a little sitting back in your chair. Harry glances up at you “y’ok?” He asks softly peering over the top of his glasses. You nod saving your document ensuring to not lose your work “yeah, I think it’s finally finished” you smile a little. Harry grins “good, I’m glad, you’ve worked really hard on it” he says starting to pack up his things “thank you for letting me use your office H” you add beginning to pack your own things “my pleasure” he smiles.

“Hey what are you doing tomorrow night? Noah’s been asking when he’s going to see Harry and Ned again” you giggle a little. Harry grins pushing his hands into his pockets “umm nothing, did you have something in mind?” He asks, you nod “Pizza and movies? At my place like we used to, but with Noah and you can bring Ned” you ask a little shy. Harry begins to nod “I’ll bring snacks” he smiles “text me your address?” He asks. You nod “yeah of course”.

You get organised and head home, you submit your paper online before heading to bed. You only had a morning class tomorrow which meant you could pick Noah up at lunch time. You slept like a log and accidentally slept through your alarm. You get yourself up and out the door in a rush meaning you didn’t look your best and the closest thing you got to breakfast was an iced coffee. Your morning, considering it’s hectic start dragged a little.

Leaving class you texted Harry your address before swinging around to your Mums to pick Noah up. “Noah James Mummy’s here!” You call out walking into your mums place he comes running out from the living room towards you “Mummy I missed you!” He yells latching himself onto your legs. You giggle hoisting him up into your arms “I missed you too buddy, did you have fun with grandma?” You ask Noah nods hugging you “so much fun! Grandma got me a new truck!” He smiles “wow, I hope you said thank you” you say softly as Noah begins to nod “Mummy has some fun news” you say softly walking off towards your Mums living room to find her “We are going to have dinner and movies at our place, with Harry and Ned” you smile as Noah to squirms in your arms clapping his hands.

“Who’s Harry?” Your mum asks inquisitively, Noah pipes up “Mummy’s teacher!” He yells giggling. You smile a little kissing his cheek “we were undergraduates together and really good friends, and now he’s my professor for one of my classes this semester” your Mum simply nods giving you a little bit of side eye “alright Mum that’s enough” you smile shaking your head “we better get going, can you go and get your bag please babe” you say putting Noah down.

You head home and get organised for the night giving the house a quick clean and lighting a few candles in the living room. You had given Noah a bath before getting him settled downstairs. Soon enough there was a knock on the door, you smile heading over opening the door seeing Harry standing there with a grocery bag of snacks in one hand and pizzas in the other “Hey…” you smile “I was happy to order the pizzas” you giggle letting Harry in. He shrugs “I figured I’d make things easier for you, I don’t mind” Harry smiles kissing your cheek softly moving past you Ned following behind him “oh my goodness Harry he’s getting so big” you laugh softly.

He placed everything on the kitchen counter before letting Ned off his leash. You unpacks the snacks as you watch smiling to yourself. You hear Noah yell from the living room “Mummy! Ned’s here!” You giggle a little taking the pizzas to the living room “I know baby, you know who else is here” you say softly sitting next to him on the couch “Harry’s here” you smile as Harry walks into the living room with snacks and a drink for you both. “Hi Harry!” Noah grins sitting up properly on the couch as you put some pizza on one of his little plates for him. “Here you go babe, eat up and we’ll watch a movie”

You eat dinner together watching a movie that Noah picked. It felt nice to have the structure of a family and that it was with Harry, but it also felt odd that you were having all these feelings about Harry.

Soon enough you had finished up with dinner and Noah was laying on your chest fighting off sleep as his movie continued to play. Ned had snuggled up at the end of the couch next to Harry’s feet looking very comfortable. “This is nice” Harry says softly glancing over at you. “Quite mundane to what we used to do” you say softly kissing Noah’s head.

Harry glances over at you and Noah “do you need to put him to bed?” He asks softly. You shake your head beginning to rub his back “No it’s ok, if I’m honest I like it when he falls asleep on me, I know it won’t last forever so I try and cherish it when it happens” you say softly. Eventually Noah fell asleep as his movie finished prompting you and Harry to pick something else.

Harry ended up picking a Marvel film knowing you would love it. By the time you were halfway through the film you and Harry were shoulder to shoulder with a throw over you both to keep warm. Eventually Noah’s steady breathing as well as the warmth from the blanket and the warmth radiating from Harry’s body caused you to become sleepy.

You yawn sitting up a little hugging Noah to your body “I’ll be right back, I’ll just put him to bed” you say softly. While you were up Harry took Ned out for a wee before you both got settled on the couch again. You sat closer to Harry before your head was resting on his shoulder. He shuffled down a little further so that you were laying on his chest instead, he wraps an arm around you rubbing your back a little.

“Thank you” you mumbles softly as Harry pulls the throw up a little more to keep you all warm. “What for?” He asks softly, you shrug a little “just for being here, I missed you….a lot H. Noah loves hanging out with you” you add backing up at him.

You sit with Harry in silence for a while as the TV kept playing the movie. “Can I ask something” he says softly. You nod lightly looking up at Harry “What happened to us?” He asks letting out a breath that he seemed to be holding in. You shrug a little “I guess we grew apart, we slowly stopped talking to one another when Ryan and I got together and next thing I knew I had a baby….I wish I hadn’t let him rule my life as much as he did” you say quietly.

Harry squeezes your shoulder before pulling you closer to him sad he places a kiss to your head causing you to blush. “Your doing an amazing job Y’know, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise” Harry says softly as you snuggle into him a little more “thank you” you whisper.

You sit in silence for around twenty minutes before you speak up “sometimes I wish I’d done things differently” you say softly “like what?” Harry asks, you shrug a little “well imagine what my life would be like if someone else was Noah’s Dad, or if I had finished my Masters while I was pregnant, or if I hadn’t gotten pregnant at all” you glance up at Harry who was pouting at you “c’mon you love being a mum” Harry says softly “I do, but sometimes I wish I could give Noah a normal family dynamic instead of just me” you say softly.

Harry hugs you tighter sighing a little bit not knowing what else to say. You sat together in silence for a while before you hear a whimper from the living room door you look up and see Noah standing in the doorway rubbing his eyes his bottom lip trembling “Noah, what’s wrong sweetheart?” You ask sitting up a little holding your arms open for him. He rushes over hugging you tightly, you lift him back onto the couch letting him snuggle into you as you lay back into Harry’s side. “Talk to Mummy what’s wrong bud?” You ask softly kissing his head as Noah’s tears begin to fall onto your shirt.

“I-I had a bad dream Mummy” he sniffles his little arms wrapped around your neck “do you want to talk to Mummy about it?” You ask softly rubbing his back “I had a dream that….I didn’t see Ned or Harry again, it makes me sad Mummy” he whimpers fresh tears falling from his little face. Harry glances at you “may I?” He asks softly, you nod “Noah” Harry says softly, Noah looks up at him with his red eyes “Ned and I really like spending time with you and Mummy, we’re going to be here as long as you and Mummy want us here, I promise”

You look up at Harry, tears stinging your own eyes. Noah looks up at him before shuffling across to give him a cuddle without saying anything. Harry hugs him tightly pulling you in closer simultaneously “thank you H” you whisper softly kissing his cheek. Harry looks down at you moving to rest his forehead to yours snuggling the three of you up together.

In that moment you knew this was what you wanted.

Noah stayed snuggled up on Harry’s chest. You snuggled yourself back into Harry’s side as he pressed play on the movie you were watching, turning the volume down slightly. After a mere ten minutes Noah was out like a light. “Want me to take him?” You whisper softly, Harry simply shakes his head “I got it” he smiles leaning over a little to kiss your forehead softly.

You move over a little allowing Harry to get up he tucks Noah’s legs either side of his torso, Noah’s delicate arms still around Harry’s neck. He got him tucked in before returning to the living room “I just left his door open a little I hope that’s ok?” Harry asks. You nod smiling “thank you so much”. Harry resumes his previous position next to you “anytime” he smiles lightly.

You snuggle back into Harry’s side as he wraps an arm around you again. You sit in silence for a while consumed by your own thoughts you sigh softly sitting up a little “H….are we going to get ourselves into trouble?” You ask turning to look at him. Harry’s brow creases “How so?” He whispers turning to face you. “This is only the second time we’ve hung out in four years and we’re snuggled up on my couch”.

Harry simply grins at you. He knew what you were asking.

“You think if we get caught hanging out things will go south?” He asks. You nod slightly “why are you smiling about this I’m serious H” you shove his shoulder a little.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry” he pouts “but….it’s only a semester, then after that I’m not your professor anymore, I’m your friend Harry” he explains softly trying to make light of the situation “Exams are in a few weeks and you’ll have a few weeks off we can hang out more before second semester”

Reaching over for the tv remote you pause the movie again “what are you getting at here Harry” you grumble a little. He sighs softly picking at his shirt. “I….just want to get through the semester, and see where things go, I like spending time with you and Noah, Ned and Noah are almost inseparable” he says softly not wanting to give anything else away.

You both settle back down into the couch, finishing the movie in an eerie, awkward silence. Once the movie had come to an end Harry helped you to clean up, Ned following you both to the kitchen. “I um, I should get going, thank you for having me….and Ned” Harry adds cause you to giggle “you’re both welcome anytime Harry, thank you for coming over it was really nice and thank you….for everything” you smile a little leaning up to kiss his cheek softly.

As you pull away you notice Harrys cheeks had gone a little red “text me when your home? So I know you got there?” You ask. Harry simply nods before responding “of course” he chuckles. He leans over giving you a quick hug which you gladly reciprocate.

You see Harry out before cleaning up a little more getting ready to head to bed yourself. You get tucked in and await Harry’s text which you soon received.

‘Home safe, Neds already passed out for the night, I had a great time, thank you again for having me x’

You smile reading his message before responding.

‘Thank you for tonight, Noah and I needed it, hopefully we can do it again soon. Goodnight H xx’

You set your phone down before quickly drifting off to sleep.

*****

Exams were heading your way…and fast.

Your final exam for the semester was today and it was the class you were most worried about, Harry’s.

You weren’t sure if you were worried about failing or if you were worried that your answers were going to be read and graded by Harry. Noah had been staying with your Mum for the week while you sat all your exams. You were really starting to miss him, you couldn’t have been more excited to be able to go and pick him up after your exam.

You got dressed and started packing your bag to head off when there was a knock at your door. You quickly scoot over and open it to a flower delivery man.

He reads out your name before handing you a beautiful bunch of mixed coloured blooms a little card poking out the top. You take them into the kitchen placing them on the counter. You open the card and smile widely,

‘Good luck today, we know you’ll do great, we’re so proud of you, all our love. Harry, Noah & Ned xxx’

You take a quick snap of the card and flowers sending it to Harry.

‘Thank you for the flowers they’re gorgeous, you boys are too sweet to me’

You send off the text quickly before heading out the door.

*****

Your final exam was the fastest three hours of your life, but you’d never felt better about an exam. Everything just seemed to flow well. You walked out feeling confident and satisfied that you had done everything you could.

You were heading to your car to go and get Noah when you notice Harry walking towards you “Hey” he says softly as he gets closer “come with me” he smirks. You give him a little side eye before obliging following him towards his office “what are we doing Harry?” You ask giggling softly.

“Just do as your told” Harry chuckles coming to a stop outside his office door “close your eyes” he smiles standing closer behind you his chest bumping your back as he was leaning over to open the door “watch your step” he whispers guiding your waist up to his office.

You step into Harry’s office your eyes still shut, you hear Harry close the door behind you “shuffle to your left a little” he whispers softly, you do as Harry asked before he steadies you in your spot “ok, stay there a second” he says before kissing your cheek softly. You blush and nod a little hearing Harry walk away from you.

“Alright, open” Harry calls out.

You open your eyes to see Noah on Harry’s hip holding yet another bunch of flowers. Lettering balloons spelling out ‘Congrats’ above the pair. You smile widely “oh my goodness, you two!” You giggle walking towards them “yay Mummy!” Noah yells kicking his feet out.

Harry chuckles smiling at Noah “give Mummy her flowers” Harry says to him quietly Noah quickly leans forward to hand you your flowers “thank you baby, can Mum have a kiss?” You ask softly leaning down to kiss his cheek, Noah returning it.

“How did you do all this?” You ask Harry playing with Noah’s hair. “Your mum, she was a huge help….she’s actually insisting that we go over there for dinner, all of us” Harry says softly “but if your not comfortable with me going I don’t have to it ok” you giggle a little at Harry rambling on “H….H, it’s ok, I want you to be there, please” you smile “plus, it’s the end of the semester, we said we would talk” you say biting your lip a little looking up at Harry a smirk covering his lips.

“I love the sound of that” Harry smiles. You kiss his cheek once more before Noah starts pushing at you “Mummy! Mummy! Can we go back to Grandmas now?” Noah asks. You nods “of course baby, would you like to carry Mummy’s flowers?” You ask as Harry lowers Noah to the ground who then runs off with your flowers to collect his other belongings.

While Noah is gone Harry places his hand on your waist pulling you closer to him “I’m so proud of you” Harry whispers leaning his forehead against yours before kissing your head you blush leaning further into Harry’s hold “couldn’t have done it without you H” you whisper wrapping your arms around him hugging him tightly as Noah came back.

You and Harry get yourselves and Noah organised making your way to your Mums in seperate cars.

You let yourself in Harry and Noah trailing along behind you. Your mum greets you with one of the biggest hugs you’d ever had “he’s very sweet, and very attractive” she whispers to you quiet enough that Harry couldn’t hear. Pulling away you glare at her “behave” you warn knowing what she was thinking. She shrugs “Noah loves him, he clearly likes you silly girl” she complains. You groan a little simply walking away “love you Mum” you smile as you walk off.

*****

After dinner your mum offered to give Noah a bath giving you an opportunity to just wind down. You sit down with a glass of wine in the sun room under the night sky.

Your mind finally feeling as though it was at peace.

A few minutes pass, you could hear your Mum and Noah laughing from the bathroom. You smile a little relaxing back into your seat.

“Y’ok?” Harry asks causing you to jump a little before nodding “yeah I’m great” you smile. Harry comes to sit next to you “sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you”.

You hum acknowledging Harry’s apology. “I know we said we’d talk” you start before Harry takes your hand “it’s ok, you’re exhausted” Harry says softly “besides I only have one question” he adds “Y/N I would love to take you on a date, if that’s something that you would like?” Harry asks softly.

You look up at him turning your body a little “like a proper date?” You ask a little surprised. Harry simply nods “yeah like we’ll go to dinner and a movie or bowling or mini golf or we could do all of it” he smiles as you rest your head on his shoulder.

You reach over taking Harry’s hand playing with his fingers “I like mini golf” you smile a little looking up at Harry, he grins pulling you closer “H, what about Noah?” You asks softly. He shrugs a little “we may have accidentally already talked about it” Harry says looking at you a little worried. “What do you mean?” You asks softly turning to face Harry a little more.

“When I picked Noah up today, he started asking questions about…us, he took it really well, wanted to know if you and I were ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’ I asked him how he would feel if we were to date and hang out more, he got really excited about it. I hope that’s ok, I should have asked you first I’m sorry.” Harry says softly squeezing your hand.

You look up at him pouting “Harry….” You whimper softly “that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard” as you were about to lean over to peck the corner of Harry’s lips Noah came running in, his little body covered in his Spider-Man pyjamas, he jumps up to climb into yours and Harry’s lap “Mummy, I’m all clean” he says squishing between you both causing you to giggle. You ruffle his still damp hair before kissing his head “you smell so fresh and clean dude” he smiles giving you a hug before whispering in your ear “can I cuddle with you and Harry?” He asks softly you sigh happily nodding “of course babe” he settles between you both Harry’s arm still around you his other one coming to rest on Noah’s back, yours brushing through Noah’s hair.

“Y’know this is everything I’ve ever wanted” Harry whispers, you hum snuggling into him more “me too….I like the idea of this being our family, you me Noah and Ned” you say looking up at Harry.

“My god your perfect” he sighs leaning down nudging your nose with his before kissing your softly, his tender lips matching perfectly to your own being as gentle as he could with you as to not disturb Noah.

You hum and giggle a little against Harry’s lips feeling like a teenager sneaking around not only your son but your mum as well.

*****

A few weeks had passed since your final exam and you had been essentially inseparable from Harry since. You had been spending a lot of time together with Noah and alone and making things work in between your busy holiday work schedule and between Harry preparing for his new students the coming semester.

You had become incredibly trusting of Harry with a lot of things, including caring for Noah. You had been working a lot lately which meant you couldn’t always rely on your Mum to look after Noah, which meant Harry had offered to step up.

You were apprehensive at first but after leaving them together for a few hours one afternoon to come home to the pair cooking dinner and dancing around the kitchen to Noah’s favourite songs. You knew then you could trust Harry with anything, it made you feel safe.

*****

You were snuggled up with Harry on his couch one night Noah already in the spare bed asleep. “I could really get used to this” you whisper softly glancing up at Harry.

He smiles down at you kissing your forehead “me too” he smiles gently. You giggle a little “you’ve got a real Daddy vibe happening at the moment” you blurt out without thinking. Harry moves to look at you a little surprised “y’think so?” He asks, you simply nod “Noah loves it, and honestly I kinda do too, it’s really attractive” you smirk biting your lip a little.

Harry chuckles a little connecting his lips with your own in a needy kiss as you hoist your leg up over his lap causing Harry to reach down grabbing at your ass to pull you into his lap. You giggle as your tongues and teeth clash in what had turned out to be a messy make out, eventually without realising Harry had started grinding up into your core as he pulled and tugged at your bottom lip with hip teeth and nibbled at the skin of your neck.

“Should we go upstairs?” Harry mumbles against you as you tug his shirt over his head and throw it off to the side not caring where it landed.

“I’m fine here” you pant as Harry’s hands make their way up to your chest under the t-shirt of his you had borrowed to wear as pyjamas.

“Good because so am I” Harry smirks picking you up laying you on your back on the couch. You giggle, Harry placing his lips against yours once more as you wrap your legs around him.

Harry continued to grind into you before he began kissing down your neck. He glances up at you for a moment smirking moving down your body to your thighs. He kisses the inside of each thigh before kissing your cloth covered clit causing you to moan out softly. Harry pushed your shirt up slowly with his nose as he kisses up your torso.

“Gunna let me taste you?” Harry mumbles as he makes it to your lips. You nod running your hands through Harry’s hair “please” you whimper pecking his lips several times.

Harry grips your thighs kissing back down your body until he makes it to your panty line. Harry slowly pulls your panties down your thighs tossing them to the floor “so needy for me baby” Harry mumbles placing a kiss to your clit, you whimper softly placing your hand on Harry’s on your hip.

Harry kisses down to your entrance before flattening his tongue against you. You sigh at the feeling of Harry against you as he laps you up his tongue making it back to your clit before he started alternating between licking and sucking. You let your knees drop further relaxing into Harry’s touch.

He soon adds to your stimulation slipping two fingers inside you curling them slightly causing you to roll your hips meeting Harry’s motions. You bring your fist to your mouth trying to stifle the loud moans trying to escape as to not wake Noah.

You soon felt a familiar knot beginning to form in your lower belly, your breathing picked up as you grabbed for Harry’s free hand. You whimper softly as Harry’s movements quicken sensing your were close to the edge. “Harry I’m going to…” you take in a sharp breath ready to finish your sentence when Harry removes his fingers abruptly before removing his mouth from your now drenched and throbbing pussy.

You let out a frustrated moan sitting up a little to look at Harry “what the hell?” You plead as he smirks kissing your thighs. He quickly moves back to encapsulate your lips in his own for a few moments before pulling away a little “edging” he murmurs causing you to huff and push his chest lightly “fucking tease” you whisper pecking his lips lightly “but two can play that game” you smirk against him before untucking yourself from his hold and walking away to the master bedroom and attached ensuite.

There was no way you were letting Harry get away with this, but you wanted to test him to see how far he would go.

You leave both Harry’s bedroom door and the ensuite door ajar not wanting to send Harry the wrong message. You turn the shower on getting the bathroom nice and steamy before stepping in you kept your back to the shower door for a few minutes before you head someone clear their throat behind you. You spin around and see Harry gawking at you from the doorway, still naked and definitely still aroused.

You giggle a little biting your lip softly “Yes, Professor Styles?” You ask softly tilting your head back a little letting the water run over your naked body. You notice Harry’s hands twitch as he makes his way to the shower.

He slips in behind you your back still facing him his cold finger tips grazing your hips “y’think you can tease me?” He murmurs into your neck nibbling at a few spots before kissing over them as one of his hands reaches down your torso to your hip before cupping your heat “do you think that was a good idea baby?” He asks softly before surprising you plunging two fingers back into you as he had done on the couch.

You gasp at the feeling your heels leaving the ground for a moment your tip toes holding you up. “You’re so beautiful” Harry whispers holding you closer to him “gunna let me fuck you baby?” He asks kissing your neck again. You nod against him weak at the knees for him again like you hadn’t walked away from this tease of a man a mere five minutes ago.

Harry turns you pushing you against the bathroom wall bending you over a little to keep you steady, “ready sweet girl?” Harry asks positioning himself at your entrance he pushes one of your legs out a little more to help him gain better access to what he desired most.

You whimper at the feeling of the cold tile against your chest before a gasp and an unexpected moan escapes your lips as Harry plunged himself into you, Harry grips your hips tightly groaning softly at the feeling of your soft walls clenching around him. He places some soft delicate kisses up your spine “so tight for me baby” Harry whispers kissing your jaw you lean back in his hold a little humming.

His hands begin to wander to your front cupping your breasts giving deep, slow thrusts where you were connected. A soft moan escapes your lips as Harry draws your ass back into him. Harry runs a hand up your spine nibbling at your neck before he bends you over gripping your hip “H…” you pant softly “fuck me hard H… please” you beg clenching around Harry causing him to groan.

Harry bends down to your ear kissing just under it “want me to destroy that tight little pussy baby?” Harry mumbles into your ear. You open your mouth to respond when Harry gives a single hard thrust causing your knees to become weak and a whimper to escape your lips.

“Fuck Harry” you moan “don’t tease me H” you mumble. You hear Harry chuckle behind you kissing your shoulder “y’sure about that?” Harry asks massaging your ass as he goes back to slow pumps causing the tension to build in your tummy again.

“I’m sure” you respond clenching around Harry again causing him to groan “fuck sweetheart, you feel fuckin’amazing” Harry moans as he delivers another hard thrust before slowing down again. You smirk clenching him again. You hear an snigger leave Harry’s lips before his hands came to grip your waist “I warned you” he whispers into your ear before kissing your jaw smirking against your skin.

Harry grips your hips with both hands as he begins to thrust into you hard. “So fucking good H” you pant, he pulls you into him until your ass was flush with his hips, cock buried deep inside you, you gasp a little whimpering.

Harry rubs your hips kissing your back “c’mere” Harry mumbles pulling out abruptly pushing your hips to turn you around to face him. “Why’d you stop again?” You whine causing Harry to smirk “just wanted to look at you” he smiles. Harry reaches over turning the shower off before reaching down picking you up to wrap your legs around his torso.

Harry moves from the shower out to the bathroom counter sitting you on the edge before he smirks at you “let me finish what we started?” Harry asks. You giggle and nod “if you don’t you’ll be in trouble” you smirk pulling him towards you connecting your lips to his.

You pull away kissing down his neck just under his ear “make me cum H” you whisper in his ear. Harry moans softly “so needy for me” he smirks. Harry guides himself back to your entrance. You sigh as Harry pushes himself back into your entrance and wastes no time in fucking into you mercilessly.

Harry had edged you so much that it took near on no time for you to be clenching around Harry trying to hold off your own orgasm “H I’m so close, fucking me so well babe” you moan. Harry grips your thigh with one hand and moves to rub your clit with the thumb of his other hand. “Let go for me baby, cum on my cock please” he begs nibbling at your neck.

Your toes begin to curl and your legs begin to shake at Harry’s request you grip the edge of the bathroom counter as you begin to unravel “Harry…..” you whimper rolling your hips into him “fuck!” You moan out as one of the strongest orgasms you’d ever had washed over your body you clench and pulse around Harry who three pumps later was filling you with his cum “babe, such fucking good pussy” Harry moans holding your left hip like his life depends on it.

Harry stills inside you panting into your neck. He slowly moves his face to connect his lips with yours you wrap your hands in Harry’s hair “so good to me” he mumbles on your lips you hum smiling “you’re so amazing H” you whisper kissing him again.

******

Harry eventually gets you cleaned up and carried you off to his bed tucking you both in. You were chatting away the door still just ajar when you hear a little voice coming from the hallway “Mummy” Noah whimpers “yeah baby, come here” you respond. He rushes through the door towards you, you pick him up from the side of the bed pulling him into your chest “y’ok bud?” You ask softly rubbing his back a little his tired eyes looking up at you “I want to cuddle with Daddy” he whimpers softly.

You glance at Harry for a moment before looking back at Noah, he’d never really brought up his Dad until now and if you were honest you were a little shocked by it “what do you mean sweetheart?” You ask, Noah looked at you then at Harry. He squirms from your arms into Harry’s arms “Cuddle with Daddy” Noah whispers snuggling into Harry’s chest.

That’s when it dawned on you Noah was calling Harry, Daddy. Your jaw drops as you look at Harry who was seeming having the same realisation, tears stinging his eyes. You look at Noah kissing his head softly “baby, did you just call Harry Daddy?”, Noah look up at you with his wide eyes and nods “Stella at daycare said that Daddy’s spend time with Mummy’s and…and spend time with kids and…and Harry does that for me, did I do something wrong mummy?” He asks his little bottom lip beginning to tremble.

You and Harry glance at each other before Harry shakes his head “not at all Noah it’s ok….I’d love to be your Dad bud” Harry says softly pushing Noah’s hair from his face. Noah looks up and nods “yes please”.

In that very moment you felt yourself becoming anxious, your heart knew that this was everything you wanted, but your mind was racing with everything that could go wrong with this happening. What if Ryan found out. What if Noah eventually worked out Harry wasn’t his Dad. What if Ryan contested for full custody.

You let Noah settle trying to play off your own anxieties before kissing Harry’s cheek “I just need some water” you say softly sliding out of bed. You head out to the kitchen before heading out into Harry’s small backyard to check on Ned.

Almost twenty minutes pass and you still hadn’t returned to bed, leading Harry to go and tuck a now sleeping Noah back into bed before moving out to the kitchen. Still not being able to find you Harry ventures outside when he sees the door slightly cracked open.

He comes to settle next to you on the patio a glass of water in one of your hands the other petting Ned who had settled at your side. “Love, what are y’doing out here?” Harry asks softly. You sigh a little “I don’t know, just got a little overwhelmed I think” you say softly. Harry reaches out to tuck some loose hair behind your ear “Should we talk about it?” He asks. You shrug a little “I love that your willing to take on a parent role for Noah, but I’m also scared, what if Noah finds out your not his biological Dad, what if Ryan try’s to get full custody….what if we don’t work out?” You begin to ramble your anxieties coming to light, your body begins to shake your breathing begins to quicken and tears begin to build in your eyes.

Harry noticed instantly and wrapped an arm around you pulling you into his chest “Hey, c’mon babe I’m here everything’s ok” he whispers kissing your temple as you rest your head in the crook of his neck “we should have talked about it first I’m sorry” Harry whispers rubbing your shoulder “But, I’m not going anywhere, you and Noah mean the world to me Y/N, it’s us and our boys” Harry says softly pulling you closer to kiss you softly. You couldn’t help but smile a little on his lips “our boys” you whisper resting your head to Harry’s.

Hearing Harry talk about being a family settled your anxiety enough for you to head back up to bed, but there was still going to be plenty to navigate.

Eventually Harry got you snuggled into his chest just the way he liked.

You woke the next morning to find an empty space next to you. You hum softly rolling over grabbing Harry’s pillow pulling it towards you.

Taking in his scent you couldn’t help but smile, you wrap your arms around it pulling it to your chest closing your eyes listening out for any other signs that Harry was awake.

Within a few minutes you could hear Harry trying to softly pad his way back to bed to his failure the weight of his large feet giving him away.

“You’re not as quiet as you think Styles” you mumble your face still half buried in his pillow, eyes still closed.

He lets out a breathy chuckle “thought you were asleep” he says softly leaning over to kiss your temple. You giggle a little shaking your head eyes still closed before whining a little “why do you have to smell so good, I never want to leave this bed” you open one eye to glance at Harry who was kneeling at the side of the bed smirking back at you.

“You don’t ever have to if you don’t want to, I’d wait on you hand and foot until we’re old and grey if that’s what you wanted” Harry smiles, you hide your face further into the pillow to conceal your blushing cheeks from Harry, who instead grabbed your chin tilting your face towards him before kissing you softly.

You hum against his warm, plump lips, you would never get over this feeling, this feeling of being loved by someone you truely loved as well. It was something mundane to you but wouldn’t trade it for anything. You had an indescribable amount of love, affection and passion for the man in front of you.

Pulling away slowly and a little reluctantly, you scan Harry’s face caressing his cheek lightly before smiling a little as he places little kisses to the insides of your palms. You stare at him a little while longer before revealing your biggest secret “Harry…” he looks up at you at the mention of his name, you smile a little continuing to caress his cheeks “I love you”.

Harry stares at you for a moment before he breaks out in a wide smile and red cheeks that he tried to hide behind your hands. He leans closer so his forehead was resting to yours he places two of the softest yet most passionate kisses to your lips before looking you dead in the eye and responding.

“I love you…and Noah, I’m so happy with you both in my life” he whispers before connecting his lips to yours once more.

You pull Harry’s arms signalling to him to climb up on the bed with you. The passion and love you felt towards this man right now had no right to be contained.

You had morning breath, your hair an absolute mess and had Harry’s t-shirt from last night covering your torso and no panties. But none of that mattered just words couldn’t describe how you felt about Harry.

You needed him, and by his next course of action he needed you as well. Harry’s lips never left yours he managed to push his shorts off leaving his fresh hoodie on and pulling your t-shirt up to enable access to what you both needed.

You bring your knees up and let them drop for Harry to shuffle up in between them. He grabs the covers behind him and pulls them up over you both, the back of his mind still aware that there is a child in the house who is as unpredictable as his mother.

Harry slowly pulls away to position himself at your entrance gliding into you with ease. A satisfied moan leaves your lips as you relax back into the pillows around you. One hand making it’s way to the back of Harry’s neck pulling him in to kiss you once again.

Harry kisses you a few times before whispering in your ear “you are music to my ears sweet girl”. He begins delivering deep but gentle thrusts to you wanting to savour every single second with you.

You tilt your head back grinding into Harry’s thrusts. His public bone was meeting with your clit in perfect time and creating the perfect feeling to you. Harry’s forehead meets yours as he continues to thrust into you.

It really wasn’t very long before your toes were beginning to curl trying to hold off on your orgasm, the passion in the room mixed with Harry’s talents had you both trying to hold onto the inevitable mix of fluids.

You open your eyes and see the crease in Harry’s brow his mouth agape eyes squeezed shut. You move your hands to his cheeks directing his lips to yours as you wrap your arms around him pulling him closer to you. Your arms slowly make their way down his back where you push down at his belt line enabling you to grind your hips into his even more causing Harry to groan on your lips.

He reluctantly pulls away from the kiss resting his head to your own once more. “I….you….Jesus fuck” he pants as his thrusts become a little sloppier and your grip becomes tighter as your body threatens to burst.

Your eyes meet Harry’s and he simply nods. You scan his face once more as Harry delivered the thrust to end it all. You begin to squirm under him as the middle of your back leaves the mattress your legs come to squeeze at Harry’s hips this seemingly sending him to the peak of his own high.

He grabs at your hip delivering another few deep thrusts before moaning out your name in pure bliss as you both shake and whimper tangled in each other Harry’s body collapses onto your own his hot breath covering your neck.

You both lay in silence for a few minutes your hands rubbing through Harry’s hair as he rubs circles into your thigh.

Harry slowly moves to hover over you once more leaning down kissing you with the utmost tenderness he slowly pulls away not even opening his eyes “you…you are everything” he whispers kissing both of your cheeks opening his eyes to look down at you.

Your eyes meet his and you both smile “I’m your everything H” you whisper pecking his lips again. You wanted to stay wrapped up like this forever especially considering how intimate the entire moment had been. Harry went back to laying on your chest as he softened inside of you you rub your hands through his hair a while but before long Noah was calling for his Mummy.

You sigh softly and giggle a little “at least he didn’t let himself in I guess” you comment causing Harry to laugh kissing at your neck “I’ll go get him” he mumbles into your skin kissing your jaw then your lips before slowly pulling himself away from and out of you simultaneously.

You gasp a little at the now empty feeling. Harry places a final kiss to your forehead before pulling his shorts on walking out of the room to the spare room which Harry had insisted now be Noah’s room when you stayed over.

You wait a few minutes expecting Harry to simply bring him back to you for the three of you to cuddle in bed for a while. When almost five minutes pass you get up find a pair of panties and shuffle over to the ensuite to clean up before heading downstairs legs exposed to the cool morning air. Harry’s shirt still covering your frame.

You walk into the kitchen to find Harry and Noah making an absolute mess, but it was the cutest mess you had ever seen. “Hi my loves, what on earth is happening here?” You giggle a little moving to the kitchen island where they were situated. You place a kiss to Noah’s cheek “Mummy! We’re making breakfast!” Noah yells excitedly.

You look up at Harry who was already staring down at you, his hand finds your waist and his lips find yours his hand moving down your back to your bum giving it a light squeeze.

“Thank you for getting him up and organising breakfast” you smile up at Harry. He simply shrugs “no hassle at all, I’ve got you babe” he winks causing you to giggle a little “he needed a wee and said he was hungry so I figured there was no better time to get up and make breakfast” Harry adds smiling.

“You…are the absolute best” you say softly pecking Harry’s cheek “not at all sweetheart, I’m just a man who adores having you both here” Harry smirks. You blush and hug his side ruffling Noah’s hair “can I do anything to help?” You ask softly “noooo Mummy, we don’t need help I big boy!” Noah butts in causing you to laugh “yes chef” you smile and move to sit on the other side of the island.

Harry hands you a cup of coffee which you gladly take “thank you” you smile. You watch the pair in awe as they continue to make a mess.

You help Noah to set the table while Harry cooks some eggs and pancakes the kitchen beginning to smell of the bacon that Harry had in the oven.

You sat down together as a family and ate breakfast. Noah still making a mess. You sit back watching him for a while smiling to yourself. “Hey” Harry says softly wrapping his hand around yours “you ok?” He asks a crease in his brow. You nod smiling “I’m amazing” you squeeze his hand in return.

You sit in silence for a little while longer before Harry speaks up again “Uni goes back soon” you glance over at him and nod “yeah only a week to go” you smile “y’nervous?” Harry asks softly “your last semester ever” he teases.

You raise an eyebrow in his direction “I’m excited to have more time for you and Noah” you say softly leaning over to kiss Harry’s cheek. “Would you be upset if I tell the University about us? I don’t really want to hide us”.

You sit thinking on Harry’s words for a moment the only background noise being Noah playing with Ned “I think we should tell them, better to disclose the relationship we have now rather than get caught up with it somehow…..I don’t know about you but I don’t really have intentions of keeping my hands to myself now that you’re not my professor anymore”

Harry simply chuckles pulling you into his lap “I’ll always be your professor” he winks kissing your cheek causing you to giggle and smile nestling your head into his side “I hope so, because that’s all I want” you say softly pecking his lips.

****

The first week back had begun and Tuesday mornings you had an early lecture at 7:30 which meant a 6am start for you. Harry had been amazing and offered to organise Noah in the mornings and then drop in at day care before he started his own busy schedule.

You had both been staying with each other on and off and even having a few nights alone here and there. You’d even made space in your wardrobe for Harry which was apparently a big move that Harry appreciated and worshipped you for.

Pulling yourself from the shower you dry off a little before shuffling to your wardrobe to grab some clothes. You glance over at Harry who was still asleep his curls covered half of his face you smile a little to yourself before turning you attention back to your clothes.

Pulling a sweater over your head you spot a pair of strong, tattooed arms sneaking their way around you. You hum as Harry snuggles his head into your neck kissing your jaw “good morning” Harry mumbles the rasp in his voice evident “good morning baby” you smile softly rubbing your hands through his hair, “y’smell s’good” Harry groans.

You giggle and smile kissing the side of Harrys head “thank you…” you just stand together for a moment Harry rocking you from side to side a little “I need to shower” Harry grumbles, you giggle turning in Harry’s grip “I’ll go and make Noah’s lunch, want some breakfast?” You ask softly “yes please” Harry smirks.

He slowly lets you go pecking your lips a few times “I love you” Harry whispers against your lips. “I love you too H” you wrap your arms around him kissing him softly “meet you in the kitchen” you smile on his lips. He gives you a final squeeze before letting you go.

****

You make your way to the kitchen quickly pulling together Noah’s lunch before moving onto yours and Harry’s while also making breakfast for everyone. Harry soon appears dressed and ready for his day just missing his blazer his hair still damp. He puts some coffee on kissing your cheek lightly “can I grab the little man?” He asks softly.

You smile and nod “yes please that would be a huge help thank you Harry” you look up at him with a smile, he winks back at you heading down to Noah’s room. He was only gone a few seconds before he was calling out to you “Babe…Y/N!, fuck quickly!”

When Harry called out for you, you file hear the urgency in his voice you drop what you were doing and run to Noah’s room. You immediately notice Noah’s hair wet with sweat and his little body pale in colour.

“What happened?!” You ask frantically coming to Harry’s side as he tried to wake Noah “he was just like this, what do we do?” Harry was panicking, you could hear it, but you didn’t have time for him to have a meltdown right now.

“Call an ambulance Harry” you say going to pick Noah up, as soon as your face is near him you hear a gurgle and wheeze with his breathing. You squeeze his little hand “Noah” you say firmly in an attempt to wake him. You shake his shoulder a little and he begins to cough, vomit sputtering from him mouth “Harry hurry up!” You yell pulling Noah from his bed laying him across you in an attempt to help him clear his chest.

He begins frantically coughing causing another vomit. Harry races back in his phone to his ear as he spoke to the operator. Noah continues to struggle and before you knew it the unthinkable happened, his coughing and vomiting stopped his eyes rolled back in his head “no…no, Harry tell them to hurry!” You yell as Noah’s lips turned blue and he began to seize in your arm.

Harry had become frantic on the phone yelling at the operator to hurry as you placed Noah on the carpet to try and support his breathing better, tears began to fall down your cheeks as your son convulsed on the floor in front of you. You support him on his side to maintain his airway as his seizure comes to an end. You look up to see Harry gone, he soon returned with two paramedics following behind him.

They started to throw around a heap of words and terms you nor Harry understood. They begin to ready Noah to go to hospital briefly talking to you about where they were going and what they had done so far but not much more than that. You look at Harry concern covering both his and your own face, “go with him” Harry says softly “I’ll follow behind” he adds kissing your head softly.

They load Noah up into the ambulance and you clamber in with him. Harry quickly grabbed the essentials including a change of clothes for you to replace your vomit covered ones before getting in his car heading off to the hospital. By the time Harry arrived they had Noah in a paediatric room in the emergency department.

“How’s he doing?” Harry asks softly placing the bag he brought with him down. You shrug a little “I don’t really know, they think he has meningitis” you sigh resting your head in your hands. “C’mere” Harry whispers pulling you into his chest “he’s gunna be ok” Harry says softly kissing your hair, “should I call your Mum?” Harry asks softly rubbing your back.

You shake your head a little tucking yourself into Harry’s hold “I’ll call her” you whimper a little. Harry gives you a squeeze before letting you go kissing your forehead.

You step out to call your mum, halfway through your call Harry sticks his head out of the room “y/n…he’s waking up” Harry says softly. You quickly end the call to your mum stepping back into the room seeing Noah looking quiet groggy but awake looking around at his unusual surroundings.

“Hi baby” you whisper softly “how y’feeling?” You ask softly. “Mummy” he whimpers you lean over and kiss his forehead. You sit with Noah for a while as he rests Harry watching you both.

Soon enough the doctor knocks on the door before stepping in “Miss y/l/n, we have Noah’s results….it is meningitis, but it’s bacterial….at this stage he’s had a prophylactic dose of IV antibiotics which he will no longer require. We’ll keep the fluids going and keep his temperature at bay, all going well you’ll be able to take Noah home this afternoon, he’ll just need the rest of the week to rest, I understand Noah goes to daycare?” The doctor asks glancing between you and Harry.

You nod “yeah he goes to the day care at the University” you say softly “it’s most likely that’s were the infection has originated” the doctor explains. You nod a little “what about the seizure? Do we need to worry?” You ask Noah snuggling into you. “No, we’re confident the seizure was due to his temperature provided he has regular paracetamol to keep his temp down he’ll make a full recovery” you nod “thank you so much”.

The doctor smiles before walking out you glance over at Harry letting out a breath you felt like you’d be holding in since this morning Harry moves kissing your head and Noah’s “oh my goodness” you sigh “y’did so well buddy” Harry whispers softly. “Mummy and Daddy love you so much” he adds. You look up at him a pout on your lips “I love you” you whimper, Harry cups your face with his hands kissing you passionately “I love you sweetheart, you’ve done so so well” Harry says softly shuffling you both across the little hospital bed pulling you both into his chest “and your so brave little man”

You all snuggle up for the day you and Harry taking turns keeping an eye on Noah. Eventually at 8pm that night almost 14 hours since the ordeal began you were heading home. Noah was tired. You were all tired. You all needed a good night sleep.

After discussing with Harry and Harry being adamant that it would work, he decided he would stay home with Noah the days you had classes so you wouldn’t miss anything and the days that you had off Harry would go to work instead. You get Noah in the bath and ready for bed, both you and Harry being too anxious to let him sleep in his own room you decide to let him sleep in your bed Harry opting to sleep in Noah’s bed to give you enough room.

You tuck Noah into your bed him quickly falling asleep. You head off to shower with Harry who already had the bathroom steamed up you smile softly seeing him waiting for you towel wrapped about his waist loosely.

“Hey you” he smiles softly “y’doing ok sweetheart?”Harry asks pulling you into his chest. You nod softly resting your head on Harry’s chest “yeah H, I’m ok, what about you?” You ask he nods kissing your head. You look up at him wrapping your arms around his shoulders “thank you….for being the best Dad to Noah H, it means everything to me”.

Harry hums “This is our family babe, you don’t have to thank me….speaking of family, Mum and Gemma have been asking when they get to see you” Harry smiles pushing your hair behind your ear.

You giggle placing some small kisses to Harry’s neck, “why don’t we go for a weekend when Noah’s better?” You ask looking up at Harry who was smiling down at you “you’d really want to go for a weekend?” He asks softly.

You nod pulling him to the shower “I’d love to Harry, plus it’d be nice for the three of us to get out of the city for a weekend, take Ned with us, I think we need it” you say as you undress, Harry doesn’t say a word causing you to look up at him “Harry?” You ask giggling a little his eyes move to meet yours a smirk on his lips “sorry I didn’t hear anything after you took your shirt off” you laugh continuing to undress Harry’s eyes glued to you.

You stand in front of him the shower still going “coming in?” You ask tugging on Harry’s towel causing it to fall to the floor, he simply nods eyeing you up and down as you step under the water you turn your back to him and he wraps his around around your waist pulling you to his chest placing kisses across your right shoulder.

Harry begins to slowly sway barely just enough for you to feel the movement but also enough for you to relax into his hold. “Who would have thought that you being my professor would have gotten us to here” you say softly Harry’s thumbs rubbing circles at your sides before turning you to face him.

He places a kiss to your forehead then your nose before pausing at your lips “I’ll always be your professor m’love” Harry replies before placing his lips to yours. You kiss back softly smiling against him. You slowly pull away resting your forehead to Harry’s before looking up at him.

“This is everything” Harry hums pulling you closer “it really is” you smile before placing your lips to Harry’s onceonce more.

Harry was right. This was absolutely everything.

*****

A/n - this was a super dooper long one, but if you stuck around to the end, thank you, I hope you enjoyed it!

#harry styles #harry fluff #harry angst #harry smut #harrys house #harry fanfic #harry styles smut #harry #one direction #professor harry #Harry professor #Harry x fem reader #mum reader

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ad0rechuu · 1 year ago

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★ MILKY WAY. ━━ (057) sera watanabe

WORD COUNT. 1282

WARNINGS. angst, an argument: yelling, crying (fighting, bleeding, losing 이젠 지쳤어)

credits to @ari-shipping-stuff for being my beta reader / writer <33

SERA WATANABE IS SOMEONE THAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED AROUND. FROM THE MOMENT YOU TWO MET, YOU WERE ATTACHED AT THE HIP.

Both of you became trainees at an exceptionally early age. If being the two youngest wasn’t enough to seal your friendship, she was the first person you could comfortably communicate with as well.

Her being one of the only other trainees that spoke English pulled you into a whirlwind of memories. Some bad, some mundane but when you think of Sera, mostly good memories come up.

From when the two of you snuck out for the first time, trainee evaluations, her teaching you Japanese, hundreds of lessons in singing and dancing to crying together because life isn’t and was never easy.

She was the light in your darkest days and someone you expected to be a constant in your unpredictable life.

And then one day she was just gone, leaving you nothing but a note saying that she quit.

You tried calling, texting, emailing, even going as far to reach out to her family. But she never responded back to you no matter what you did.

While Sera Watanabe is confident, caring, clever, and comfortable to be around, she is also impulsive, unpredictable, explosive and selfish.

Your head lays in her lap as the two of you lounge in your room. She’s looking out the window while you look at her, and it reminds you of old times.

Of course, you've missed this, but your brain is busier mulling over the situation you’re currently in. The heavy feeling on your heart makes you wish it was more black and white. At least, that way, you would know what to do by now. Sure, they might like you back but they also lied to you and that’s not something you can get over so easily. Understanding and forgiving don’t go hand in hand.

The atmosphere is heavy despite the calming music playing through her phone. You finally notice her staring back when her fingers carefully wipe away the unnoticed tears on your cheeks. You close your eyes at the comfort, exhaling.

“Are you still crying about those boys my little otter?” Sera started, now caressing your cheekbone with her thumb, a soft smile on her pretty features. “Don’t cry.. They aren’t worth the headache you’ll get later, hon.”

Her words make you open your eyes and meet her gaze as you reply.

“I don’t know about that,” You shrug. “I still care about them.”

She scoffs at your words but continues her ministrations. “Even after they lied to you?”

“Even after they lied to me.”

She hums response as you return to the heavy silence. You know that she doesn’t agree. You know that as she looks away from you, her nose slightly scrunches, meaning she’s annoyed.

Chewing on your lower lip, you decide that you can’t handle the uncertainty. You sit up to face her, her hands coming up to fix your hair in the process.

“I need to ask you something.” You reach up and stop her actions by taking her wrist gently in your own.

She nods, urging you to continue.

“How did you find out about.. y’know, everything?” As you get the words out, suddenly a wave of nervousness hits you like a bad omen.

Sera looks away at your question, busying herself with the walls of your small room.

“I just stumbled on it when I saw that Swan retweeted something from a fan account with a similar name as one of them.. and they all have an otter emoji in their twitter bio.” She dismisses.

Her words confuse you even more, especially the way she says them.

“But why didn’t you tell me right away?”

She pulls her wrist out your grip and turns away from you. “I don’t know Yn, I wasn’t sure.”

The few words she spoke stung more than it should have, the tone even more so. You scan her face, she hasn’t looked at you once since you asked her that seemingly simple question. As much as you want to avoid it, you know what that means.

“You’re lying to me, aren't you?” You whisper.

For the first time in a while, she actually faces you, tears threatening to fall from the glistening brown eyes that usually shone with so much assurance. You can see her getting worked up as she struggles to find the words to make up another excuse.

“What I said about the way I found out is true.” She says, swallowing down a sob.

You nod, your facial expression and tone of voice never changing as you continue to ask for the truth.

“And what about the reason you didn’t tell me right away?”

She trails off and looks down in shame. “I…”

“How does that make you any different from them?”

Her gaze hardened at the question, like you just swore at her or something. Sera stood up harshly, startling you in the process. Her long cocoa hair swirled as she turned around.

“How can you say that? I-I’m not like them! That’s not fair!” She hissed.

You raise you own voice too. “How is it not fair?”

“It's not fair that you’re comparing me to them when all I did was try to protect you! It's not fair that you’re defending them when they hurt you this much! It’s not fair that they already have your attention, while I didn’t even stand a chance! It’s not fair how much I love you and have loved you for all these years yet you never see me!”

There was no doubt the other girls could hear her rant by now as tears ran violently down her face. Her loud voice resonated off the walls until she reaches the very last sentence, when she speaks the last sentence her crying voice is barley a whisper.

It takes every muscle in your body to keep you from running towards her crying figure even though you’re crying too.

“I did see you, Sera, but you left and I moved on! Did you expect me to wait forever?” The question comes out as pleading as you also stand up. “Don’t I deserve to be happy too?”

Your words must’ve hit her as she freezes. Her arms hug her body while the supposedly ‘calming’ music still continues to play.

“I was.. I’m jealous.”

“I care about you and I don’t want to lose you again.” You move closer to her. “But please stop pretending that this was all for my sake.”

Before you can get any closer she grabs her phone and her bag, avoiding your gaze as you just watch her clumsily move around the room.

“I think I should leave.”

You don’t say anything, silently but begrudgingly agreeing with her. You both know that this conversation is something that had been coming since the two of you met again. But now that it’s actually happening, it doesn’t feel right.

Before she can leave, you call out for her one last time. “Goodbye, Sera. Please.. don’t be a stranger.”

“You were right. You deserve to be happy. Even if that’s not with me.” To your surprise, she turns back in your direction, a sad smile on her beautiful features. “And as much as I hate to admit it.. Seonghwa, San, and Mingi truly care about you, Yn.”

Then she closes the door, taking the noise and the heavy atmosphere with her, leaving you standing in silence, alone.

Sera Watanabe is confident, caring, clever and comfortable to be around, she is also impulsive, unpredictable, explosive and selfish.

And she is right. Despite everything, you know they care about you.

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NOTES. who keeps eating fatous pudding :(( ++ i’m sorry that this chapter is terribly written but it’s necessary and i like it’s contents! yn deserves happiness and so do u and i promise the next chapter isn’t as heavy! anyway love ya let’s kiss :3

TAGLIST. @bunnystrm @seongwin @aestheticsluut @meginthebuilding27 @gaebestie @stopeatread @pr1ncessm1ng1 @persphonesorchid @se0nghwaswife @seonghwasslytherin @leeknowsnothing @alixnsuperstxr @bluehwale-main @miriamxsworld @tocupid @rieuvie @sunoo-bby @jcngh0-hq @dudufodd @nikisbf @mrowwww @end0rchans @qtdenks @mintgki @dear-dreamie @leo-seonghwa @evilsailorsenshi @seonghwaddict @choichaeyiul @iw4milf @yunstarz @cvberidiot @not2daym8 @tubatu-wari-wari @sunshine1438 @jaehunnyy @brrrkdslek @whippedforbeomgyu @amara-mars @crvzy-fujoshi @hyuk4ngel @atinyinateezverse @nickiminajleftasscheek

#★ MILKY WAY — smau #ad0rechuu — works #cromernet #ateez #ateez social media au #san #mingi #seonghwa #ateez smau #san smau #mingi smau #seonghwa smau #ateez x reader #mingi x reader #san x reader #ateez texts #kpop smau #kpop social media au #kpop x black reader

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tehriel · 2 years ago

Text

Commissioned (Terzo x Reader x Sodo)

It is completely finished!

Blurb

Reader is afab nonbinary.

Against your better judgment, you take on a portrait commission with suspicious beginnings. You are an atheist thrust into the world of Satanism as you meet and paint for the earth's most charming antipope. Will you walk away with your worldview untainted? Or will your little chats with Papa Emeritus the Third leave you changed forever? And what of his ghouls~? —Who is that in your motel window your first night in town?

This fic likes cheeky banter, discourse and character driven plot. It's an extremely slow burn featuring Terzo, Sodo—and a little Swiss. It’s about 110k words to get lost in~

You can find the piece here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/44321002/chapters/111461152

Below is the first chapter! I hope you like it :3

Chapter 1 - A message from the clergy

[Message from the clergy]

Dear ______

I am writing regarding a one-on-one portrait our clergy would like to commission. I am attaching a calendar. Would these dates suit you?

In his name,

Sister Imperator

Ahoy!

Sister Imperator, thank you for your interest in my work. I have attached a pricing sheet. If pricing is okay with you, then we talk about dates.

-_______

[Message from the clergy]

Dear ______

We have seen your work, and we want you regardless of cost. Do any of these dates suffice?

In his name,

Sister Imperator

Thank you for getting back to me so promptly, Sister.

I recently had my schedule cleared, actually. Any of those dates should suffice. Depending on size, I will need two to four separate sessions with the model, rounding up to about 10 hours for a small piece going upwards of 18 hours in person for bigger. It's all in my pricing guide.

If it is interstate, I will need lodging. It is my personal preference that I do not stay with you in your home, of course. And finally, I would like half up front and half once the painting is completed.

If these conditions meet your expectations, I have attached my contract.

-_______

[Message from the clergy]

Dear _____

We look forward to meeting you at the Mountview Cathedral next week.

In his name,

Sister Imperator

***

Fuck. It was a drive. It was a whole long ass drive with hours to contemplate just how many red flags you ignored in taking the job. It’s not like you had a choice; you needed the pay. You didn't want to admit it, but you also needed to get out of state.

‘Sister Imperator’ had been weirdly pushy and lightning quick to respond—you had to hard ignore the alarm bells ringing. It was difficult, almost as if your right ear had developed tinnitus as some physical manifestation of alarm. There was a low tuning-fork hum reading over each email.

You thought you might scare the sister off with your prices; most people saw your work online and how effortless it seems in your time-lapse videos and happily told you to go to hell after seeing your prices. Making those videos look effortless took a lot of time, practice, student loans and editing. Then there were the travel expenses. People just don't do sit-in portraiture anymore. And for a good reason, you would have to be a little insane to pick it up.

Most people had you paint from photos, which was fine and a staple for your income. But meeting a person and painting them, knowing a facade of them, and there are many facades to a person—just hit differently. And the job came with such an eccentric clientele; you'd painted a man who wanted to pose in a suit made of squirrels, a woman and her five Pekingese all in matching attire. Once, your commission was gifted to an old person to be painted amongst the forest they had saved. They had wanted to be seen as a fairy. It was beautiful. That all seemed so far away now.

You glanced at a sticker pasted in the window of the gas station. It was going to be one of those kinds of towns. It read, ‘they will rise again.’ Crucifix and all. You adjusted the enamel pronouns pin on your lapel. Both the sticker and your pin said ‘they’; maybe these people would be open-minded kind of rise again.

“Excuse me, do you mind if I use the key to your bathroom? The door said to ask,” your voice came out shitty and meek. You were just tired.

“Rightio,” the gas attendant was an older man. He was chewing something—surely not tobacco. He passed over the key; it had a hefty wooden tag to save anyone from making off with it. “You got gas?”

“Uh yeah, number 3, thanks.” You put the key in your pocket and felt his eyes dip to your chest.

“Oh.” He said, as in, ‘oh, you’re one of those’. So it would be like that. “Here you are. Gas is on me, kid.”

Or maybe it wouldn’t be like that? Nope, he handed you a pamphlet that said ‘Mountview holy trinity’. “Oh.” You said, as in, ‘oh, you’re giving me a pamphlet on a religion that could probably hate me.’ “Thank you very much—I am actually painting for a church in town, so that’s..” you didn’t need to tell him your whole thing, but you had, and you were.

“Not that damned cathedral,” he eyed you warily.

“No, I don’t think so, no….” you waved off. Yes, that one, whatever that meant. You knew Catholics and Christians were not really into each other, but you’d thought most of the vitriol had been lost to history. Then again, you were beginning to think this town might have been stuck in history, like a mosquito in amber. You watched him chew. “Cool, I’ll, uh, see about this.” You pointed to the key. “Thank you again for the gas.”

The worst part of the entire interaction was coming back to him after your stop to the bathroom. You had to return the key and inform him that someone had overflowed the toilet.

***

You had to tilt your head to take in all of the cathedral. Something was off about it; maybe it was darker than you were used to, most cathedrals were gothic, but this was gothic in italics. It was jagged and waiting.. for something. Or maybe there was something off about all churches with inflated infrastructure. Maybe you should have 'inflated’ your prices. You binned the thought as soon as you had it; money and asking for it… made your skin crawl sometimes. The pricing sheet asked for the money for you, so you did not have to.

You rubbed your right ear as it had decided to start ringing again.

“You must be ______,” came a call from the entrance while you were wrapped in the tallness of it all. She was an older woman, her hair greying and pulled back. She had the shape of a kindly woman but with something cold creeping into her smile.

You felt your car keys in your hand. You could still deny your name and drive as many hours as it took to return home. You could shake a pride flag at the church’s face and run for the hills. You squeezed the keys for grounding before slowly delivering them to your pocket. “I am,” you heard yourself say. It'd been a while since you used your voice; why did you think it would be deeper? Commanding? Noticeable. You cleared your throat. “Yes, are you Sister…” fuck, you had forgotten her name from the emails. Super professional of you.

“Sister Imperator, yes, it's a pleasure to meet you. Come, follow me; I'll take you to Papa.”

You were about to thumb over to your shitty van where all your supplies were hiding, 'I need to set up, where can I…’ and/or 'I've been driving for hours and would like to know where I'm staying so that I can freshen up,’ all died in your throat as the woman turned around. You had no choice but to follow her into the building.

“Is ‘Papa’ the person whom I will be painting?” You asked, catching up, absently shining the ‘they/them’ pin on your overalls. Saying ‘Papa’ as a full-grown human being clenched something within you—and not in a super good way.

“Yes, Papa Emeritus the third, he ascended to the ranks of Papa as of last year and has not yet had a portrait painted for the hall.”

You heard most of what she had said, only then noting the Italian accent. You admittedly spent more of your time openly gawking at the ceiling, then gawking at the stained glass windows and the paintings. Did they have the right painter? You had confidence in your work, but these were named artists, named. Masterworks. You made a ‘ffff’ fizzling sound as you held back swearing in a holy place.

Holy place. The iconography only then caught up with you. That was a lot of cloven hooves for a holy place. “That's nice,” is all you thought to say faintly. ‘That's nice he ascended to the highest of high unholy ranks, good for that guy.’ A kind of peace came with the satanic-ness of it all. At least you could flap all your favourite pride flags, and no one would bat an eye. Would they?

“Yes, I understand our ways might not be for everyone, but I hope you will give him your utmost respect, regardless.”

Your head snapped back from scrutinising passing satanic depictions for signs of gayness. “I am always professional regarding belief systems; it will not affect the outcome of my work.” ‘Unless you somehow turn out to be a nazi,’ You added silently.

“Good, good.” She seemed to smile genuinely before the cold crept back into her face, sending a chill to your spine, “This is his office here. He knows to expect you. I hope together you'll make something beautiful for our church.”

Why did everything she had to say creep you out like that? “I will do my best to do that,” you nodded and held yourself back from using a thumbs-up to secure the awkwardness.

“I will find you before our mass to give you the directions to your motel,” she nodded and began walking away. “Again, it was a pleasure meeting you.”

You could read people well; maybe she couldn't. You were shitting yourself, being left in the dead centre of an unknown church, about to bother the head of the said church, without backup. “Pleasure meeting you right back,” you grinned nonetheless with your super normal situation. It's called masking, baby~

Her clipped footsteps began disappearing down the stone-tiled hallway. When silence fell, you could really take in the surrounding church ambience. Yep, it was a church. The incense smelt of something in your childhood. The eyes of statues and portraits looked down on you as if they knew you were not supposed to be there.

You blinked at the aged wooden door; it was detailed with a plaque that read ‘Papa Emeritus III’. This was the most uncomfortable opening commission you've ever been through, and one guy wanted to show off his dead arachnid collection to you. Maybe it was more of a tie then? You swore quietly to yourself before you knocked on the door. The hollow knuckle-on-wood sound gave you flashbacks of a principal's office.

“Not on a mass night,” came a slow answer and a slight groan.

You folded your arms and frowned at what that could mean. Outwardly you looked like a person annoyed by the woodgrain of a door.

“I feel you judging me, Sister,” his voice was an ashy sound. “My days before mass are my own, si?”

What does an unholy minister do a day before mass? Some search answers in your mind come up lewd, and others come up sadistic. You look up and down the hallway for Sister Imperator. Then and there, you were a child lost in a supermarket. You sighed softly and remembered you were an adult in an adult situation. “Sorry, I'm an artist—your, uh, Sister said you were expecting me.”

“You’re sorry you’re an artist?” Came the voice on the other side of the door.

“Eh, I have my days,” you shrug.

The ashy voice on the over side of the wood seemed to enjoy that, with a huff of laughter.

He had a nice laugh, smoky. Maybe painting this ‘Papa’ guy wouldn’t be so bad.

“Give me but a moment, artist. I have to make myself, eh, decent.”

Lewd. Definitely lewd; that's what satanic priests do before mass. “Oh, sure, good. Yep.” You stepped far away from the door to give him privacy. “Take uh, your time.” You did not feel like painting someone half way through the job. Standing so long for a painting while being irritable and unsatisfied does not a good portrait make.

You turned on your heel. You went for your AirPods, played something thrashy to mimic the surroundings, and began treating the area as you would a gallery. Ahead you saw the dancing sunshine of windswept branches through stained glass. You stepped into the light and let the colours paint you in rainbows. The lead lighting portrayed an angelic person with arms around a small boy. It could have passed for any religion—save for the smeared Latin and small horns on the child’s forehead.

“Are you supposed to be here?”

“Cheezus, chrimany!” You flinched, pulling a bud from your ear. A shorter masculine figure had suddenly appeared in your peripherals. His voice was marred by the fabric and metallic devil’s mask he wore. The mask must have been a church thing—were you supposed to be masked?

The green eyes behind the mask squinted in amusement.

“Were you just waiting to do that or..?”

He shook his head innocently, “are you supposed to be here?” He asked again.

“I really don’t know at this stage, is anyone supposed to be anywhere?” You pulled a straight face, and he tilted his head slightly, “I’m painting a ‘Papa’(?) or supposed to be. You're not him, right?”

The figure dressed formally in all black and suspenders shook his head slowly. He had a lean figure, kind of like a short, straight stick. It was a nice stick.

You appreciated him for a moment, figuring out his shapes and lines before you realised what you were doing and grimaced to yourself. You did that often. Intimidated by the shiny mask, you hid in humour, “And you,” you gesture around, “you supposed to be here? If not, I could keep a secret,” you winked and tried to be playful.

“I am supposed to be here,” he answered, not entirely playing into your shenanigans.

“Ah,” you nod sagely. You looked around, realising your new companion wanted to stay and watch you. “So this you then?” You point at the horned baby in the led lighting and back to his horned mask.

He smiled then, not that you could see his lips, only hear it in his, “no.”

“Oh?” You arch a brow and point to the blackened scripture, “says right here, this be the baby who would sneak up on people admiring its own depiction.” You tapped the glass like you knew what you were talking about. As if you were not just wasting time. As if you weren’t waiting for your satanic portrait model to finish fucking maybe nine people in the room down the hall.

The devil saddled closer to you with a sly look, “So you read the dead language?”

“It's not dead; it's right there.”

He huffed slightly. “What is your name? For the registry.”

“I was supposed to sign in?” You frowned.

“You were signed in, whether you know it or not, which means you're protected while you're here.”

Protected from…? You bit your lips together; why did he seem more sinister than before? “_____ ______,” you replied, trying to read what lay beyond the mask. “And yours? Something in the old language? Something with no vowels and a couple hissing noises?”

“Sodomiser,” there was a slight growl in his throat.

You nodded profoundly, “Oh, like, you just put that right out there, huh?” That was like calling yourself by your kinks, ‘hey, I'm buttstuff’ or ‘hey, I'm one of those pink flamingos you find on front lawns.’ Could happen. “Did I pass your registration, uh, Mr Sodomiser?”

The red light of the window glinted in the mask as he nodded, and you were suddenly captivated by the reflection. It would be interesting to paint, but the lighting was fleeting. Taking that moment in paint would be impossible. And you were then aware of how close he lingered; if he wasn't wearing a mask, would you have let him so close? He seemed to want to scare you, and you weren't impenetrable, but masks didn't scare you. It was what lay underneath that was genuinely terrifying. Wait, was he sniffing you? “Call me Sodo.”

“Can do,” you rapidly turned back to the window and shoved your hands back into your overalls, suddenly self-conscious about how a drive like that would leave you smelling. “Uh, am I supposed to be wearing one of those?” You figured to ask while watching the leaves shift in the wind before gesturing to where his mask had been moments ago but was then missing. You looked around curiously; the guy had just… vanished.

“Ah, you must be my eh, little painter,” came a voice through a mist of incense from down the hall. “Sorry about that… uhh…” he ended up shrugging.

“Oh.” Was all you had to say. As in, ‘‘oh’, that's what a Papa of a satanic clergy looks like.’ He was not much taller than the masked man that had just left you, but the popey hat did lend to height. He was dressed rather popey all over, with a long, dark cloak patterned religiously. He had a simplistic skull face paint; it was fresh, and you could only imagine how it looked moments ago. “Yes, I'm ______.” You offered a professional handshake—people liked those.

“I'm Papa Emeritus, the congregation calls me Papa, so please, call me Papa.” He took your hand in his in a way you weren't expecting, lifting it to his lips. You only then noticed his heterochromia as he captured your eyes in his, one eye stark white and the other shifted green to hazel in the rainbow bath of the window.

“Oh, okay,” not missing a beat, you took his leather-clad hand and bowed to kiss the back of it.

He lightly cocked his head as you returned his hand back to him.

“Thought we were just…people don’t return the kiss?”

“No, not usually.”

You nod slowly, “it doesn't seem fair though. Was it… nice anyway? Or are you more give than take? I'm sorry, I'm not sure how to act. I've done religious portraiture, sure, but….”

“Does our church scare you?” He raised his chin and bored into you with his white iris. “It’s not often Sister looks outside the congregation for hire.” His Italian accent brought a musicality to his words.

“Scared? Not really, but you seem….” You gestured around, “like a Pope? Like a lot bigger of a deal than I am qualified for. That’s a big deal,” you point to the elaborate painting your painting would supposedly share a wall with, “that looks like a huge deal,” you address the window. “Just look how I talk, that’s not really.. this..” you floundered with your hands again.

“Big deal, eh?” He relaxed and shrugged a little, “Sister usually knows what she likes, and she likes you, but you are correct; this is a huge deal,” some of his words sounded like growls. It wasn’t temperament, it was animal. His robes billowed as he stepped to take in the stained glass beside you, “do you know the story of Archon the fallen?”

You shook your head and looked up into the eyes of the angel. You couldn't place gender upon them, which was comforting somehow.

“It is said that after the bible age, prophets became obsolete. Who would believe them after all, hum?” He raised a brow at you, his hands clasped behind his back.

You looked away shyly; you didn't mean to oppose his belief system, but you don't get to choose what you believe in, and for you, it was nothing.

“We have newer stories from a war waged between heaven and hell in the after. In this one, the archangel Archon fell to protect what hell believed would be their next weapon. A prince of hell. Atmos.”

“Weapon… That’s a kid.”

Papa Emeritus smiled slightly, “Archon felt the same; as a testament to free will above all else, Archon saw the child their people were fighting to kill and found him blameless. The child was yet to be any kind of weapon. Archon believed no one decides our future so they saved and hid Atmos. Granted him free will to become a weapon or not, and for it, their wings were stripped. Archon stands for the ultimate rebellion, that fate is a lie.” He growled the word ‘lie’ in a way that ran through your gut.

“Mmm, that doesn't seem so scary,” you said softly, looking into the angel’s face for a new perspective.

Papa turned, and you shared a look. You saw a shimmer of the facade you would paint.

Then you blinked, “but I somehow have to create a painting that can share a wall with that.” you flailed a hand at only the most incredible stained glass window ever.

“I am telling you, if Sister thinks you are able, you are more than able. Come, I know a place where you can set up.”

***

“So how would you like to be seen, P-papa?” you stumbled with his name because, honestly, it didn't want to come out of your lips.

His makeup skewed as he quirked his brow at your slip-up. You’d already had him move through poses and had taken photos for him to see. Your mirror was set up, your canvas… The room you were set into was a study—you think. There was a desk, an eclectic collection of skulls and bones, bookcases and an ornate chair. Taken from behind the desk, the chair was something akin to a throne.

“I am unsure what you mean, caro Pittore.” He leaned against the desk beside you and was peering at your phone. He seemed to know how to pose for a picture, but a painting was different; you had to be comfortable with no intricate hand gestures you could not hold for hours. Definitely no arms out.

“Suppose it's for your clergy. How do you want them to see you, powerful, infallible?” You skip past photos taken early on where it seemed he wanted to claw at you through the camera with the golden-tipped fingernails attached to every finger of his leather gloves.

“A storyteller?” you asked simultaneously as he said, “fuckable.”

“What did you say?” He asked.

“I said storyteller, you told me a story out there, I know it's not your whole being, but it's the facade I have of you, and it was nice… I think I know what you said, but run that by me again.”

“I said, fuckable,” he admitted, “inviting, you know? This is a house of sin, si? I want to invite sin.”

You slowly looked up at him from your phone. And blinked. “You want me to paint you a calling card?”

He smiled slowly. “Non?” He said in a particular way that meant he very much wanted you to paint a calling card.

“I can do it,” you suppose, “now how fuckable are we going? I've painted boudoir before, never a religious figure but, first time for everything.” You sat upon the throne and made a boudoir pose. “oh, or this…” you showed off your buns riding the throne backward and looking back at the mirror in your super attractive stained overalls. “Ooo, ahhh, so fabulous.”

“Okay, okay, I see,” Papa chuckled. “Take a couple steps back, a storyteller, huh? You said it is a facade? I’ve been called alotta things, but not storyteller. Books are more the cardinals thing.”

You stop posing, “Yeah, it comes with the job, right? You stand up before mass and tell a proverb, tell what you see in it, add a dash of charisma, and make it alluring; I can’t paint all of you; of course, I can only paint what I see. People are diamonds, multifaceted; this will be one facet or façade—of you.” And you had just gone on a passion rant in front of a new client. You internally grimaced.

He looked into the middle distance in ponder before responding, “I like alluring,” he admitted.

You realised you were just putting on your usual act for your client to make them feel at ease in the space, but he was really looking at you. You realised how you were sitting, realised the silence and moved more meekly away from the throne. “Then take a seat, Papa; make sure you're comfortable.” His eyes were on yours as he passed. His warm shoulder slightly brushed yours as he took his throne. At first, he was just sitting, then looking in the mirror, he arranged his robes, shifting his legs apart to rest a hand on his thigh and lean back in his chair.

“What do you think, caro pittore? Does it say, eh, let Papa tell you a story? Is it alluring? Hmm?”

You felt your ears go pink, “Yes, all of those, but this hand,” the one not welcoming the viewer to his thigh, “it's not really—” He touched it to his chin, and you shook your head, then he touched a finger to his mouth, “still… oooo, skull.” You hurried over and picked up a very human skull. “Something with this.” You passed it over, and he held it in one palm. “Oh, I saw this piece on Pinterest where there was a rosary coming out of it, not that we have to physically do that; I can add that later. But it means I can draw attention to your… ‘not-crucifix’(?)”

“Grucifix,” he quietly corrected, eyes following you around the room as you inspected for props.

“Oh, you learn something new every day… uh, is this important?” Sat on a tall bookshelf was a helmet like the one the man in the hallway had been wearing. You shifted a wall-riding ladder to get a better look.

“It's one of the masks our ghouls wear.”

“Does it seem like something you want to be portrayed with?” You moved your head to watch the sheen before taking it down towards Papa. You wanted to paint the colours of the stained glass window in it.

“I know what to do with it,” You were hyper-aware of his movements as he took his hand away from his thigh and received the mask from you to put it beneath his boot before replacing his hand.

“Uh, not a fan of ‘ghouls’? What are they about anyway? I met…..” you then pulled a straight face knowing what you had to say, “I met ‘Sodo’ in the hallway earlier.”

“I hope he, eh, played nice? I love my ghouls, and sometimes, they love being stepped on. They’re something like the church’s protectors; some help lead our rituals.”

Your brain was left behind when he admitted to stepping on ghouls. “Oh, good. Good, good, good, good, good. Yeah, he played.” You supposed.

“Sodo is… how to put.. eh uno stronzo corto--small and fucking angry,” he laughed sympathetically.

You hadn’t quite got angry from Sodo, maybe a bit cold. You snapped more photos on your phone and were reviewing them when you felt Papa come in close behind to look. He was quite a curious man. For some reason, the incense peeling off his body didn't seem stuffy when it often did for you. You could also smell the leather of his gloves.

“You, uh, like this pose?” He asked about the one your brain decided to stutter on, his voice lower with proximity.

“Yeah,” your voice was faint before returning to yourself, “yes, the background and the lighting just need some adjustment. In the afternoons, we should get some nice lighting through that window; I'll bring some diffusers.. maybe something coloured to mimic the stained glass outside.” You looked up and found him staring at you with his mismatched eyes.

You paused.

He paused.

“I should…”

“You should…”

You weren't about to be caught in another spider’s web. “I should grab my equipment. You’re going to be stuck in that chair for a while… go, you know,” you gestured about, “whatever you need to do, give me an hour or so,” you nodded and gave Papa a sparkly thumbs up.

“hmm, I wasn’t wholly thrilled about Sister making this appointment, but uh, it seems I am changing my mind.”

“Good, we like a willing participant,” you said with all your sparkly masking ignoring the mood he was trying to set. Keep up the energy, keep up the image, keep up the unthreatening. Hide your teeth. Thank you so much for reading! I hope you liked it :3

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