#some say if you put the marble up to your ear you can still hear them arguing

[moodyvoid]

Dabi and Toga arguing.

Mr. Compress: “Why are you two bickering?”

Toga: “He called me a leach.”

Dabi: “Because you called me beef jerky.”

Toga: “Because you called me a mosquito.”

Dabi: “Because you called me a burnt pepperoni.”

Toga: “Because you called me a bed bug.”

Mr. Compress, watching them endlessly go back and forth.

—

Shigaraki: “Where are Dabi and Toga?”

Mr. Compress: “I put them in the get-along marble.”

[spacebarbarianweird]

Alright fic request! (Either reader or named Tav, whatever sparks joy.)

I HC that since Baldurs Gate has such a low population of elves, a lot of Astarion's previous sexual experiences did not involve his ears. They are probably the least "used" (his feelings) part of himself.

Maybe Tav isn't an elf and doesn't know, so they eventually just casually reach out- because they are so cute and Astarion's been OK with casual touches like that now they are in a relationship. But he just flinches away- very uncomfortable and hurt this happened.

Tav is obviously going to apologize and try to accept they hurt Astarion by mistake. Maybe not that night, but sometimes later after Astarion got to see them be sincere about his boundaries (maybe even OK woth him having a "bad" reaction) he puts his head in their lap and asks them to touch his ears in a quiet voice.

Basically a story about navigating rough waters with love.

I finally got to your request! I know it's been a while, thank you for waiting!

Synopsis: Astarion has very sensitive ears, you've never touched them. Until today.

Tags: fluff, Elven language and culture.

Thanks @bunnidarling for beta-reading! Your notes are super helpful!

Read on AO3

Masterlist

Headcanons

Pointy Ears

Moon washes the meadow in silver light. As he sits by the campfire, Astarion's skin looks almost marble to you: white and perfect. You glance at him from time to time to detect a hint of disturbance, that his mind has dragged him to some unpleasant place.  

But it seems like he is at peace with himself.

His pointy ears twitch a bit when invisible facial muscles move. They’re probably your favorite part of his body: long and sensitive, with a delightful pinkish hue. The elves, Tel’Quessira, have the most amazing ears. 

But you suddenly realize you’ve never touched them. You often massage his scalp and have kissed almost every inch of his body, but the ears remain untouched.

The scars and the bite mark? It took months for him to relax enough to let his guard down. You still remember him muttering “Tav loves me, Tav won’t hurt me” while you were caressing his back. You pretended you didn’t hear that. As for the more intimate parts of his body, you two agreed on an “ask before putting a hand into the trousers”.

But his ears… You are a non-elf, a lesser being in the eyes of elves, and know nothing about them. But you remember how many years ago someone told you “Never touch their pointy ears, they hate it”.

“Astarion.”

Silence. 

“Astarion, are you with me?”

Silence yet again. He looks somewhere into the woods, mentally far away from your small camp. Suddenly, his eyes squint and you see anxiety on his face.

Nine hells, again. 

It happens to him often. He just sits motionless as if someone has cast a “hold a person” spell on him. He can stay like that for hours oblivious to the world around him. As if his mind shuts itself down. Sometimes he returns, surprised it’s already sunset “I thought it was still morning”, he says.

He describes it as a dark wave that just pulls him under into the nightmare, and he can’t do anything, only to keep drowning.

You approach Astarion and sit behind him. Then you touch his curls, slowly brushing them with your finger.

“I am here. I am not going anywhere,” you whisper. “Return to me, please.”

No response. 

You keep caressing his head, intensifying your touches as you try to return him to reality.

And then your fingers accidently brush along his left ear.

Astarion flinches, forcing you to take your hands away.

“I am sorry,” you mutter.

Astarion covers his ear with his palm and stares at you in shock. He looks like a person who has been woken up in the middle of the night in some weird and violent way.

“Did I hurt you? I am so sorry!”

“No… you didn’t…” He still looks startled. “I just… Seldarine… How long have I been like that?”

“Since sunset. It’s almost the middle of the night.”

He snatches his shirt from the ground and puts it on. You still feel guilty.

“Sorry… I won’t touch your ears again.”

“Darling, you’ve touched me in much more intimate places and done much more lewd things to my body than this.”

You blush.

“It’s just… unexpected.”

“I am sorry.”

“Stop it! I hate it when you apologize. You’ve done nothing wrong. It’s just… Fuck it. I want to take a walk.”

You nod. “Take a walk” means “I want to wander the woods on my own''. Sometimes he hunts small animals and drains them dry. More often he just walks enjoying the freedom of being in nature. Even a person who loves cities would go insane, forced to spend 200 years within its walls.

You are still embarrassed by your actions, so you return to the tent. You are feeling sleepy and doze off on your bedroll hugging a pillow. 

You wake up a few hours later when Astarion returns to the tent. His shirt is bloodstained and his trousers are dirty, but he looks happy.

“Good morning, darling”, he kisses you. “It’s sunrise, time for the mortals.”

“Unless they travel with vampires,” you mumble as you sit up, feeling more or less rested. “I see you are in a good mood.”

“I am always in a good mood when I see your face, my dear.”

You scoot over, making more room for him. The tent is small but enchanted with darkness which fully protects Astarion from the sunlight. You would love to spend a couple of days in the inn, but the nearest town has no such place and you have to stay at the camp.

“Listen… about what happened…” He stumbles over his words. “Could you touch my ears?”

You giggle and invite him to sit between your legs. He presses his back against your chest and you wrap your arms around his body.

“You have leaves in your hair,” you say, brushing his curls with your fingers before kissing the crown of his head. “How sensitive are your ears?”

“Very sensitive, he admits. “That’s why… I… we… don’t like unwelcome touches.”

You carefully touch the tip of his left ear, then move your finger along the edge of the shell. 

He closes his eyes and smiles.

You get braver and use your other hand to caress his right ear. You lean forward and kiss the tips, and as you do you feel an electric impulse coarse through Astarion's body.

“Why don’t you wear any adornments? You like rings and necklaces, but all the elves I have ever seen wear something on their ears. I mean, I understand why Tel’Quessir don’t pierce them…”

“Darling, never suggest to pierce the ears of the elf, it’s fucking painful.”

“But are there other ways? Without damaging the skin?”

He shrugs. “Never found anything proper I guess.”

He softly touches your finger and you understand he’s signaling you to stop. You press Astarion tighter. 

You sit like that for a while in silence before you make yourself return to reality.

“I need to go to the town to see if they have some job for us.”

“I doubt it. We’d better return to the road at sunset,"he said.

“Yeah, this place is unbelievably peaceful.”

“I would say boring”, he takes out a book from his sack and you recognize Gnim, the language of the gnomes. Noticing your stare, he chuckles. “I prefer to know the enemy.”

You kiss Astarion’s cheek and leave the tent.

The town looks sleepy as if its residents exist in some weird world without troubles and worries. The townsfolk look at you with suspicion. Adventurers are rarely guests since there's almost nothing to do. 

You ask here and there about a job, but as Astarion said there is nothing to be found. No troubles. No dangers. No reward. 

Suddenly something catches your eye: a small building different in style from the rest of the houses. It is more elegant, with intricate runes on the wooden door.

Elven. 

You enter carefully, opening the door as if you are afraid you may break it, 

It’s a Jewelry store.

There are dozens of rings, necklaces, and bracelets. They are simple and delicate, but you just can’t take your eyes off them. 

“Do you want anything?” A golden-haired elven woman waves her hand over the adornments. “Maybe for yourself?”

You shake your head. “I wouldn’t want to wear such things on the road. I will either break them or lose them.”

“Pity. Maybe for someone you care about?”

Astarion would love something like that. No matter what happened to him, he is still an elf. Nothing will ever change it.

“Yes...” You say with some hesitation. “What do elves put on their ears?”

The woman smiles. “We wear ear cuffs. Like these”, she points at her own ear, showing a golden adornment that looks like flowers. “You want a gift for an elf, don’t you?”

You nod.

“Can I ask what kind of bond you share?”

You blush a bit and the elf smiles again. “It’s not an idle question. Elven culture is very complicated”.

“He is my… love.”

She points at the ear cuffs. “Then, this. Only lovers can give such things to each other. Received from a friend or, worse, a stranger, would be considered an insult.”

“Why so?”

“Oh, poor N'Tel'Quess. So bad of him not to tell you such important things.”

You pretend not to understand that the word she’s used is an insult. You speak some Elven.

“And how important is that?”

“Have you wondered why elves don’t like their ears being touched?”

“Because it hurts?”

Her laughter sounds like bells chiming. “The same way lovemaking hurts when nonconsensual.”

Fuck.

“It’s intimate. Even lovers sometimes don’t do it because they don’t fully trust each other. We allow this only to our aestara, our thiramina.For us, it’s a form of sex. But even regular sex might be less intimate. So, tell me, does he allow you to do that?”

“He did let me do this… today. For the first time. ”

“Then, give him an ear cuff. Choose.”

They all look equally beautiful and you try to picture Astarion wearing them but nothing is quite him. There are smaller and larger ones, golden and silver. Some resemble flowers, and some are more like stars.

Noticing your confusion, the shopkeeper sighs.

“Tell me about him.”

“He… is very kind. To me, at least. Very brave, but never admits it even to himself. He is smart, can learn a whole new language within a week, and can persuade people to do anything he needs. He can do a lot of things with his hands – embroidery, lock picking, you name it. But… he’s been through a lot. His past is very dark and he is still overcoming it, learning how to be with people, how to live this life.”

You carefully avoid details, trying to sound as vague as possible.

“It’s called srinna. The one who tests limits and establishes new boundaries.”

“Yes, it does sound like him”

The woman hands you a metallic ear cuff. It is simpler than the others but you notice small details like crescents and birds. It will look nice with his curls, you think.

You pay and as you leave the elf laughs again. “If I were you, I would scold him!”

You return to the camp at sunset. Astarion is still inside the tent engrossed in the book. He hasn’t been through too many pages. Gnim is difficult for someone who can’t stand its speakers.

Astarion smiles joyfully as he notices you. He always looks like this when you return. Pure happiness.

“So was I right about these peaceful people?”

“Yes. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Why didn’t I tell you what?”

“About your ears! The elven jeweler gave me a lecture about them! You could have at least explained this to me before I embarrassed myself!”

He disarms you with his puppy eyes. They say: ‘Oh, darling, you can’t be really angry with me, can you?’

“Stop making that face. You know I can’t resist it!”

Astarion sighs. “My apologies. Never really took it into account. But yes, touching ears is a form of showing affection.”

You take out the ear cuff and hold it out to him “I’ve brought a gift for you.”

Astarion puts the book away and takes the cuff. He is silent and you are afraid he doesn’t like it.

“Srinna”, he says. “The one who establishes boundaries. Thank you”, Astarion doesn’t try to laugh it away or mask his emotions. His smile is goofy and sincere; he rarely shows it even to you.

“Put it on!” you encourage him. “I want to see how it looks!”

“You’ve given it to me. You must put it on, not me.”

You lean to Astarion and carefully adjust the adornment to his left ear. To your surprise, it fits perfectly and doesn’t show any indication it can fall off. You think it must be easier to lose regular earrings than elven cuffs. 

“How does it look?” he asks.

“Gorgeous.”

He cups your cheeks and kisses you. You feel like floating, forgetting about everything. You touch his ears and caress them with your fingers. Then he lets you go and presses his forehead against yours. “Salen arivae.”

“Salen means ‘my’, what does “arivae” mean?”

“Sunshine”, he answers after a short pause. 

--

Seldarine - Gods! N'Tel'Quess - not people. A derogatory term referring to non-elves. Aestar- love Thiramin - soulmate

--

Tag list

@tugoslovenka @marcynomercy @wintersire @vixstarria @not-so-lost-after-all @ashiro20 @theearthsfinalconfession @herstxrgirl @starlight-ipomoea @micropoe10 @astarion-imagine-archive @veillsar @elora-the-slutty-songstress @fayeriess @lumienyx @astarion-beloved @tallymonster @caitlincat-95 @tragedybunny @valeprati

[weedpallor]

Wrong girl made right ch2

Mob WandaNat x reader

18+

Summary-your walking to work one day and you get kidnapped being mistaken for someone else but they can’t just let you go now can they and your too cute to kill

Warnings:Slow burn, murder, mafia, mean wandanat, mob wandanat, mommy kink, daddy kink, guns, manhandling, manipulation, forced relationship, dark wandanat, reader is a big baby, wandanat threaten her with death, mean nat very mean

Word count:1.5k kinda short but I was tired

After around 20 minutes you heard your name being called.

“y/n hurry up.” wanda demands.

When you hear her voice you quickly rush out wrapping a towel around your waist. You open the door and Wanda is sitting on the bed next to an outfit. It was an adorable denim skirt, a white shirt that had a small pink bow in the middle and a pair of knee high socks. You actually liked the outfit and you were surprised she bought something that matched your style in a way.

Wanda smirks, seeing the slight happiness in your gaze as you look at the outfit.

“I had one of my maids go out and grab it for you this morning. Do you like sweetheart?” wanda's question sounded more like a statement than an actual question so you just nodded opting to stay quiet.

After you had gotten dressed Wanda had placed a pink bow in your hair she smiled at you “so innocent”

After that Wanda walked you downstairs into the massive dining room. It was enormous. It had a big expensive looking white marble table in the middle of the room surrounded by around 12 chairs, the walls were surrounded by paintings and a few pictures.

Natasha was sitting at the head of the table there was fruits and pastries at one end of the table the end natasha was seated at.

“Finally you're here god i didn't think i could wait any longer……. Sit.” Natasha demands when you don't sit down straight away. You reluctantly sat down and your nerves were going haywire. The kiss with wanda had left you confused and mind blown that someone could be that hot.

Wanda nodded towards the food.

“Eat.” she demands, you slowly pick up some food from the table and put it on your plate wanda and natasha watch closely as they also begin picking some fruit and pastries placing their picks onto their plates.

A few moments later Natashas voice rings through the silence, her accent slipping through “did you sleep well милый?” natasha asks her gaze shifting to you waiting for your reply.

You look up at her and give her a small nod and you look back down at your plate. You couldn't understand why they were acting so normal they had just kidnapped you, taken you from the life you had created for yourself, it made you angry.

“Why are you acting normal!” you say in a frustrated tone. Wanda and Natasha snap their attention to you.

Wanda speaks first, “would you like to try asking that again in a better tone.” she says with so much calmness it seemed she was angry.

“No!..... I-i no i don't” your voice started to waver as tears welled up in your eyes. Natasha smirked “aw is the poor baby going to cry….. Ask your question again and sort your tone out” the redhead says in a cruel demanding tone.

You slowly took a deep breath trying to calm your rising emotions. Tears were falling down your cheek as you stuttered out. “I-i-i'm sorry i just don't understand why your acting like this is normal” your voice was small and broken.

Natasha rolled her eyes at you, she seemed uninterested in your emotions, and on the other hand smirked “good girl using your voice nicely. We are acting normal because this is your new normal.” the way wanda said it made you think that she wouldn't discuss it further, so you stayed quiet tears still streaming down your cheeks.

Natasha stood up and walked around the table towards you with confidence in her step. She leaned down and wiped your tears “crying is for the weak” she whispered in your ear.

She grabbed your chin and tilted your head up to meet her gaze, the redhead smirked at you and slowly connected your lips with hers in a slow bruising kiss.

Her lips moved perfectly against yours. you gasped as she pulled away fuck how can these two women be so goot at kissing. you desperately didn't want to feel anything towards them as they kissed you they did kidnap you after all but all you could think about is how hot they were it was confusing.

Natasha went back over to wanda kissed her on the cheek.“i've got a meeting, i'll call you if i need anything my love” with that Natasha strutted out the room confidence following her, the guards cowered in her presence.

You turned back to wanda to see her full attention on you. “So sweetheart……”

A few hours later you are in your new bedroom reading Wanda had given you a book called ‘Harry Potter, she said she had to work in her office and to come down if you need anything.

As you read the book your mind drifted back to the women, ‘why did they want you?’ ‘What was their purpose with you?’ ‘Why did they kiss you?’ the thoughts in your head were crazy and they weren't stopping. but somebody knocking on your door stopped your thought it couldn't be your two captours they would just walk in.

You decided to go over to the door and open it.

At the door stood a young girl around your age. She had short brown hair and big brown eyes, the thing that caught your attention was the collar around her neck.

The girl smiled at you “hello ,im Mila my master is in a meeting with Mrs Maximoff and Mrs Romanoff, they said i could come say hi to you” the girl said politely she seemed nice so you smiled at her

“Oh um Wanda and Natasha said that yeah hi my name is y/n” you said to the girl you were slightly sceptical of her but nevertheless you were polite.

You spoke with the girl for a while. You spoke about changing this room up about books about films and much more. Until wanda and natasha and a blonde lady came in, mila ran over to the blonde lady smiling ohhh so that was her ‘master’ you remembered mila saying her name was carol.

Wanda walked over to you “bunny, mila and carol are staying for dinner” you liked the nickname she had just called you it made your eyes sparkle wanda saw this and smirked she grabbed your arm roughly pulling you up.

As the 5 of you walked downstairs, you couldn't help wondering about the blonde and why did mila called her master. Maybe mila was kidnapped too! But she didn't seem like she was.

At the dinner table, staff had brought everyone's food Natasha was eating some kind of steak with a side of salad and fires, Wanda had what looked to be salmon with salad and fires, Carol had a similar thing to Nat, mila had chicken tenders with a salad and surprising natasha and wanda had picked you your favourite meal, as you all digged in you wondered how wand and nat knew you so well, it was confusing.

As dinner wore on the conversations kept bubbling to life, mostly the three older women talking. But suddenly Carol turned to YOU. she smiled.

“So miss y/l/n how does it feel being kidnapped by the two most feared mafia bosses in the city” she asks with a smirk.

“Carol shut up.” wanda says glaring at carol playfully. No one expected you to answer the question. So you didn't.

Natasha had an evil smirk on her face “no wanda i want her to answer the question bunny.” wanda's face turned into a smirk realising Natashas thoughts. “Go on answer.” wanda orders.

You were shocked. It took you a moment to think and decide whether to be honest or lie and not risk getting on the wrong side of your captors. You opened and closed your mouth a few time struggling to find the words. “it is okay i think they let me read so i don't hate it” you were truthful but you left out the things you hated about it.

Carol smirks at your reply “no training needed with this one aye?” you were confused what that meant but didnt say anything.

Wanda grinned. “Oh don't worry she'll get her training soon enough” you were even more confused by that ‘what did she mean?’ You wondered. Natasha let out a sinister laugh. “Oh yes she will.” natasha confirmed.

You looked over to Mila confusion covering your features she gave you a sympathy smile ‘what the fuck why‘ you thought.

Authors note: so I think I’m gunna call the reader bunny from now on it’s easier to refer to and with the dinner part I didn’t want to say a meal because what if one of you is vegan or has allergies so I just said your favorite meal hope that’s okay also let me know if you want me to add more actual marvel characters I’m thinking yelena and Kate

[hencheri]

18+ mdni.

pairing: toxic ex bf!ten x fem!reader

warnings: ten is super manipulative, he's mean too, mention of harassment, toxic relationship, dubcon-ish.

wc: 1.6k

your phone is ringing again. the melody echoes in the room, breaking the heavy silence that was once installed in your kitchen. your phone vibrates on the marble counter as you look down at it, the familiar number showing up on the screen. 

you gulp down, letting it ring until the call eventually ends. you get notified of a new message on your voicemail and you reluctantly pick up your phone. 

you have 10 missed calls and 4 messages on your voicemail from the same exact number.

it’s been like this every night since your breakup with your ex-boyfriend, ten. it was 6 months ago, but he hasn’t accepted the fact you’re not together anymore. at least that’s what you think with what his messages say.

he wasn’t as insistent in the beginning, he was playing the sad and apologetic boyfriend card, telling you how much he regrets the way he was treating you and that he wishes for a second chance. you didn’t give him one, of course.

well, not exactly. 

you used to answer his calls and entertain the idea of forgiving him. you were wrong for that, you now realize, but ten has always been so convincing, and with how soft-spoken he is, everything he said seemed trustworthy. 

after letting him in your apartment a couple of times, after letting him touch you and kiss you, but as the night always ended horribly with tears in your eyes and insults thrown at you, you gave up and never answered his calls again. you were done with him — officially. 

you decide to listen to his most recent message, putting your phone to your ear. you start to anxiously bite down on your bottom lip, pacing around in your kitchen.

“answer me, please. i’m outside, just let me in. we have to talk, baby, you know we have to…” 

you rush to the window in your living room, pulling the curtains aside to look down where ten should be if he was really outside, but he’s not. did someone let him in?

when it’s the end of his message you click on another one, bringing your phone to your ear. 

“i’m doing the most for you, you know? and that’s how you treat me? ignoring my calls, throwing my letters in the trash, making me wait here little an idiot…” you listen to his rambles, walking to your front door. “remember those flowers you found outside your door? they weren’t from that little brat… what’s his name again?” he pauses for a short moment. “yeah, yangyang… they weren’t from him, baby. it was my gift.”

“nobody will do what i do for you. you know why? ‘cause you’re just a seeking attention whore, and men don’t like that. you should know by now that i’m the only one generous enough to put up with you.”

you hear the beep that signals the end of the message and you look at your phone, defeated, eyes welling up in tears. he knows where to hit. he knows where it hurts. 

you unlock your front door and step outside, going to check around for ten. you lean over the railing, glancing down, but he isn’t there either. maybe he left and didn’t get in the building like you thought?

“so, you finally decided to show up?” 

you turn around, startled by ten. you breathe out, calming yourself down, even though your heart races faster. 

his black hair hides his forehead, some wild strands peeking out in every direction. his white shirt is also unbuttoned all the way down, showing his tank-top of the same colour underneath. 

“ten…” you call his name, unsure of what he’s going to do — of what he’s planned to do. 

he can see the clear tears in your eyes, looking oh so desperate. he still has you trapped in his weebs, he knows it. you’re still affected by his words, by what he thinks of you. you’re so weak, but that’s why he likes you. you’re so easy to manipulate.

“let’s get inside, yeah?” he proposes, but you know you don’t have a say in it. 

you let him in after you, closing the door and looking at him anxiously. ten checks out your apartment, noting that it hasn’t changed since the last time he was here. everything is the same, it’s like you’re unconsciously afraid of change. 

you stand there, tears threatening to fall, but you wipe them off quickly before ten can say anything about it. you take a huge breath, “did you mean it?” you ask, and he turns around, facing you. “your message,” you specify, “or was it… i don’t know…” a way to hurt me. 

he steps closer to you, passing a hand through his dark hair, and it’s like reviving all those moments you had with ten as your boyfriend, all the good and bad ones. he looks down at you, staring into your eyes, “do you really want to know what i think? is that what you want, baby?”

he gets closer and closer, his face inches away from yours. he only has to lean in a little bit and he’d be able to kiss your lips. 

you think about his words and shake your head as a no, gaze shifting between his eyes and pink lips. what does it mean if he says no? and what if he says yes? it’s simpler if you don’t know. 

you turn your head to the side, cowering in front of your ex-boyfriend’s stare. it’s embarrassing how easily he can trick you. you’re so gullible, it’s pathetic.

he takes a hold of your chin and brings your face back toward him, forcing you to look at him. “tell me one thing, love,” ten begins, his breath fanning across your face and making your eyes flutter, “do you love him?” he asks and his question catches you off guard. “do you love him the same way you did for me?”

you frown, guessing where this is going. he’s trying to make you doubt… and it’s working. you could never love someone as much as you did for ten. as much as you do…

you’re unable to speak, words caught in your throat, but he already knows the answer; of course you don’t. 

“see, that’s what i think… you shouldn’t play with someone’s heart when yours isn’t even available,” he softly says, articulating each word perfectly. “that’s dishonest, baby.”

“you wouldn’t hurt a poor guy like yangyang who thinks he has a chance with you, right? you wouldn’t want that…” he continues, adding more salt to the open wound. 

ten is right. you can’t be with someone else when you’re still not over your ex-boyfriend. but you want to be over him, you wish you could turn the page, finally. you just can’t, though. not when ten is always there. he’ll never leave you.

he’s the only one that could ever love you, anyway.

ten kisses you softly, but he bites into your bottom lip, as if emphasizing on the fact that his love will always come with pain and misery. you accept it nonetheless, and he leans in, making you arch your back as his lips follow yours. 

he’s always chased you, and you’ve always played hard to get, even though your heart is the most accessible thing. nothing hiding it, just out on the outside for ten to take and he of course did it gladly. 

it’s like that even now, pushing on his chest, but he tightens his hold, keeping you secured against him. he brings you away as his mouth explores yours until you feel the counter of the kitchen island hitting you in the lower back, caging you there. 

ten puts his hands on your shoulders and lowers you down to your knees, his fingers finding their spot in your hair. “i know you want it, baby. just take it,” he purrs, pulling your face into his growing bulge as your eyes stare up at him through your eyelashes. 

your mind is fuzzy, you don’t know what to think anymore, but your desires will always have the best out of you. you just can’t help it. you blink a few times, getting the water out of your eyes while reaching out for his zipper. 

you tug down his jeans and boxers, and ten guides your mouth to his erection with a hand behind your head. you oblige, feeling the familiar taste of his pre-cum on your tongue. you gently suck on his tip, going slowly until he pushes your head down on him, taking the entirety of his length inside your mouth. 

“f-fuck,” he moans and grips the side of the counter, your hair still wrapped around his fist. his bangs fall in front of his eyes as he titls down his head and you’re a little relieved to not feel his intense gaze on you anymore. “good girl, that’s it… take all of it.”

despite blinking the tears out of your eyes, they’re fast to come back as you struggle to breathe, ten keeping your head steady in place. he eventually pulls out and you gasp out for air, but he’s rather focused on your glossy lips, a strand of spit connecting them to his tip. 

“so, so pretty. didn’t you miss it, baby? didn’t you miss my cock in your pretty little throat?” he asks in his sultry voice, tempting you to answer yes to everything he says. 

you bob your head and he smiles, something you haven’t seen in a while that inevitably makes your heart flutter.

[enkvyu]

5:22pm — gojo satoru ;

there's a kind of urgency in your steps that parts the crowd of onlooking guests, and they split in half to avoid the trailing hot path you leave in your wake. cold, hard shock twists your stomach and wrings it out, heaving about the wine and finger foods you had consumed when you were still ignorant.

the clicking of your heels echos in the silent ballroom, the bottom of your gown sweeping up the marble floors and the frantic clacks only enhances your horror. if only someone could talk and shatter the silence so you no longer had to be suffocated in your own traitorous thoughts, if only someone could laugh away the situation, though you're sure you'll forever see this scene illuminated on the back of your eyelids for weeks to come.

"let the celebrations resume," a voice answers your prayers, but it is the person who says it that causes you to clamp a hand over your mouth.

even now, you can hear the beginning whispers of small talk and chatter, gossip spreading through the lavish room. it trails after you like a pungent smell, and you're certain the morning news tomorrow will have your name lined in big, bold letters on its front page.

footsteps chase after you, and you curse your gown for slowing your pace. it's inevitable that he catches up to you, just as you exit the grand hall into the balcony, and his hand closes around your arm, pulling you back.

loose strands of your hair whips across your face as you're forced to turn to your pursuer. "gojo." you swallow hard as the foreign syllables leave your mouth. "what do you want?"

the crown prince has grown over the last few years, you think. there's an aura of arrogance he lacked when he was younger, a certainty that straightens his back and the kind of confidence that allows him to chase an older lover out into the night.

gojo's eyes are haunted when he looks at you, really looks at the person you've become in his absence. the hand holding your arm trembles and falls. "why aren't you happy to see me?"

you bark out a cruel laugh. out of all the things he could ever say to you, after the raw anguish that you've never been able to express, after all the silent midnights, interlocked hands pressed tight together praying to the moon that his death was all a big, cruel joke, that was all he could say?

"do you seriously believe i would feel happy seeing you, after all this time?" it's hilarious, and you don't hesitate to let your laugh show it.

"all i could think about was you." he confesses but it's too late, years far too late.

"why didn't you tell me?" you ask instead. "did you think i could see you again and forgive you? on the spot, after leaving me in the dark for so long?"

gojo is still frowning, and you hate that he can't ever see the errors of his ways. perhaps that was the single thing that remained the same. "i couldn't put you in that kind of danger."

"gojo, i thought you were dead!" you finally explode, and the relief it feels to finally tell someone overwhelms you. you choke on the raw emotion, balling your hands by your side. "you still are to me. what did you think i would feel? i finally, finally, got over you, i finally accepted that you were gone and now you're back? now, of all times? i was going to get married, gojo! i was going to have a family, and kids, and finally live my life again. why did you have to show up?"

"your husband is a gambling addict." he says drily. "i wasn't going to let you marry some bastard like him."

"well, thanks." you say, voice flat. typical of him to only hear what he wants to hear, what he can find a response to. "thanks, gojo, is that what you want me to say?"

gojo clenches his jaw and when he grabs a hold of you again, it hurts a whole lot more. "listen to me, i didn't have a choice."

and again, you shake it off. "fuck you, gojo."

"i came back as soon as i could. i prepared all of this for you!" his voice raises and raises, and it's such a contrast to the sweet nothings he'd whisper in your ear when you were only two secret lovers hiding in the stables. “you were the only thing that kept me going and this is what you have to say now that i’m back?”

"and i would throw it all away if it would mean you had told me you were still alive."

"i didn't have a choice." he says again. "if i did you know i would have come back for you."

"do i know that?" the wind picks up and you shiver. "i waited for you. for months i thought this was just another scheme. you would find your way back to me again, because you always did. you always survived, no matter what."

"i did survive."

"but i didn't know, gojo, don't you see?" was it really so hard to understand? had it ever been so hard to convey your feelings to him like it was now, two strangers seeing a different image before them?

there's a creeping sense of foreboding that starts in your stomach and overcomes your mind, a sense that things will never be the same again. even if you were to meticulously piece back a broken faith, even if you were to abandon all sense and throw yourself into a deceitful love, the memories you crave will never be re-experienced, you will never know the pure love of gojo again.

too much has changed.

you shiver and it isn't the cold that shakes you.

gojo takes off his coat at the sight, throwing it over your shoulders and holding it tight in front of your throat. once, your heart might have leapt out at the warm gesture, but now it feels like a noose around your neck.

"i don't need your coat." you say, past all the memories. "what would your wife think?"

gojo groans, brushing back his hair as the wind rustles it in front of his eyes. "is that what it is? me being married?"

you flare up and the cold no longer seems an issue. "of course not! god, gojo, you would be the only one who would think as shallowly as that. you were dead! i saw your corpse tonight at the ball and you have me to believe that all my tears, all those sleepless nights, was because i was jealous?"

gojo breaks away, exhaling deeply. he shoves his hand into his pant pocket and shakes his head. "sorry. i just, you didn't seem happy to see me."

"you sound like a broken record." you remark. with his hands away from the coat, the sleeves flap away in the wind and it's less suffocating, but also less warm.

“i came back for you tonight.”

you were already shaking your head before the last of his words leaves his mouth. “it’s too late.”

“you don’t get to tell me that.” he growls and it’s the second time in one night that he has shown you this feral, aggressive side. “i won’t let you let me go.”

you want to cry. how long had you wanted, needed even, to hear those words? words you were sure would heal the wounds of your heart, words that would fix the world as you know it and lunge you back into the joy of past memories.

those memories are dead now, a part of you whispers, mockingly. you can’t seriously trust him again. can’t you see how he’s aged into a person you no longer know?

you curl your fingers into your dress and pierce your thigh through the fabric. “why did you chase after me?”

maybe gojo senses his chance because he answers the question without another thought. “i needed to talk to you. i needed to see you again and have you see me back.”

“well, we’re both here now. don’t miss your chance.”

gojo takes a step forward. "i'm here to tell you i'm alive. that i've been alive for the past ten years."

"i know."

"and that i'm the crown prince now."

"i know."

"i'm also married now."

"god, you're really bad at apologies." you sniffle, taking a hold of the coat and pulling it tighter. it's because the wind was getting to you, you reason. "but, i know."

"do you, do you have someone you like?" gojo coughs out, feigning indifference. your jaw drops at the topic of conversation.

"gojo, i haven't even forgiven you yet."

"i just wanted to know! the man you were meant to marry tonight, do you...?"

"no."

"okay." gojo says, and exhales. "okay."

"is that everything?" you ask, and you painfully wish that it isn't. you want him to chase after you, to hold onto your hand and keep you there by his side, to want you again. because god knows all you've ever wanted was him.

gojo raises his head at your words, searching your eyes for permission. there's a hard tint to his face you don't recognise and the blue you've once called your sanctuary is duller, lacking light. an aged scar runs across his neck, and a shoot of bitterness surges through you as you realise it had healed in the time that he was without you.

still, you let him take a step closer. closer, you can see everything that has changed at the hand of time. it makes his unfamiliar, different, your old lover wearing a stranger's skin, but it's still the gojo you know.

you have to believe that.

so when he reaches up to caress your cheek, running a thumb over a falling tear, you subdue the shiver that runs its course through you.

you bite your lip and it draws blood. gojo sees it, tracks it with his eyes and even when your tongue has swiped across and licked it away, his gaze still lingers.

"i really did miss you." he whispers and you feel his breath against your wet lips. "you were all i could think about."

"me too." you confess and his eyes flicker up to yours.

"does that mean you forgive me?" and though he smiles, there's a nervous quirk to it that you're sure only you would recognise. this was a side of him that only you saw, only you were allowed to bask in.

"what about your wife?"

"i'll divorce her. i was already planning to, we never married out of love. you know you're the only one for me."

“i know.” you lie. what did you even know about him?

“i love you.” he says and you nod, not trusting your voice to answer. “god, i love you so much.”

when he dips to capture your lips in a sweet kiss, you fight the urge to push him away when he no longer taste like how you remember.

i know you guys want that part two of the gojo imagine but listen to me, 2.5k is a lot to edit when there are tears in your eyes from chem 😮‍💨 i promise i'm not ignoring you guys i js have a lot of studying to do so !! i wrote this quick thing as a filler

[jasminsstories]

How finals week with Zayne by your side would be…probably:

gn!reader x zayne / fluff; just for fun, don’t take this seriously pls

will try to support you as much as he can, since he knows best how hard studying is

“I told you to start earlier than to cram the material in the last minute. It won’t stick in your long-term memory this way” “Zayne, I don’t care if it sticks in my long-term memory as long as I pass this exam”

“Come here and eat this before continuing”

Basically drags you daily to the kitchen table where he prepared healthy meals

“But why do only I have carrots in my salad?” “Because you need Vitamin B to stay fit for your exams” “Just say you gave all of your carrots to me, because you don’t like them!”

“If you continue to drink so much coffee, I am afraid I will see you in the ER soon because of arrhythmia… and I don’t want that” “Zayne, you can’t just hide my coffee machine!!”

opens the windows regularly to help you concentrate and makes sure you stay hydrated

definitely will try to lure you out for walks to get some steps in

“Didn’t you say you wanted to see the sunset?” “I do, I really want… but I have to get this done today” “Let’s go, you need some Vitamin D” *suddenly lifts you up bridal style* “Hey, let me down!!” *acts like he doesn’t hear you*

the more time passes and the deeper the night gets with every passing minute, you can’t stop yawning and rubbing your heavy eyelids; still you try to focus them on your bright notebook screen

“Go to sleep. You have to get enough sleep to function tomorrow as well” “I can’t afford to sleep now. Sleep can wait, the deadline for my essay won’t”

tries to get you to bed through various methods

first tries to make it less obvious and wants to make you jealous through your plushies

“Then Mr. Snowman will have to cuddle with me today..” “Mhmmm”

But quickly realizes that it doesn’t work and you don’t react to it

for his second try he sneaks up to you from behind and puts his hands on your waist, pressing a lingering kiss on the shell of your ear, whispering a tempting “Come to bed with me”

you try to stay strong though and ignore his attempt with the last endurance you have

the next time he comes up to your desk for his third attempt, he finds you asleep already, your face planted on the surface of your desk

he can’t hold back a chuckle and a fond glow is in his orbs as he gazes at your face; just looks at you for some minutes

carefully picks you up and carries you to bed, trying his hardest not to wake you up; whispers a “Good night, my angel” and gives your forehead a small kiss

tucks you to bed and will lay down beside you to watch you sleep

when you wake up the next morning you begin to panic because you weren’t able to pull the all-nighter you desperately needed to finish on time

“Breathe, Love. Don’t worry. You can do it, I know it”

“I look kinda like a Panda now with my dark circles, don’t I?” “Yeah…kinda. Maybe more like a raccoon”

when you are finally done with all of your exams and your essays, he will pat your head and smile proudly; “Good job, I knew you can do it”

with a relieved sigh you press a loving kiss on his lips

and now you can finally get revenge for the times he teased you

just the brain rot i have in my finals week. i am quite literally losing my marbles right now, so i needed some zayne fluff. did i write this instead of studying…maybe. i need this man so bad. actually working on a smut atm but since its been so long since i wrote one, it’s hard for me to get into the flow right now.

[marsbutterfly]

Rather Be Alone (With You)

a/n: HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANJI, I LOVE YOU PLS COME BACK, THE KIDS MISS YOU. a special thank you to my friends eden, spencer and wizzy, who proof read this. ♡

warnings: fluff, smoking and drinking, kissing. wc: 1.7k | wattpad! | ao3|

The loud music coming from inside the apartment is now muffled by the closed glass sliding doors. The cold air feels nice on their skin as they look over the city, the twinkling lights resembling thousands of fireflies dancing in the sky.

The ice in their cup clings against the glass as they swirl the brown liquid around, the smell being an earthy and fruity mixture as it is a combination of two different kinds of whiskeys. Though tonight is supposed to be a celebration, Hanji would rather be at home with a book and maybe some hot chocolate.

A long and heavy sigh escapes them as they place the cup on the marble ledge, reaching for their back pocket and pulling out an unopened pack of spearmint flavored cigarettes.

For a second, the song that plays becomes more recognizable and louder, only to be muffled away once more with a swift closing of the doors. Hanji can hear a few quiet footsteps joining them on the balcony, though they don't turn around to acknowledge the other person's presence.

No words are exchanged, but the pure feeling of calm and easiness that washes over them is enough to let them know exactly who is standing there. They still aren't sure exactly what they want to say or even what it is that they should say in this situation, so they remain quiet, giving you the opportunity to be the first one to speak.

"What are you doing out here?" A calm voice enters their ears and they can't help but allow a smile to take over their features. The cigarette now loosely dangles from their lips as they reach for the lighter. When there is no answer, you move closer to them, body leaning against the balcony ledge while making sure not to hit their cup, "It is your birthday party, after all."

Hanji sighs before taking a drag out of their cigarette, the smell so faintly familiar yet still slightly unpleasant, even if it reminds you of them. They hold it in for a few seconds before exhaling, picking the cigarette between their index finger and their thumb, their glasses resting on top of their head as they seemingly avoid eye contact with you.

"I never asked for a party," they say. For most, that sentence would come off as ungrateful and slightly bratty, but you know Hanji like the palm of your hand. Enough to know that they only smoke when they are either extremely drunk, which doesn't seem to be the case, or when they have something that is eating them up alive.

Your expression softens as you take a step closer, your eyes analyzing their face and there you find it, the smallest hint of pain. Your heart aches in your chest as you watch Hanji take another drag out of their cigarette, quickly followed by a sip of their drink before even exhaling the smoke.

"Aren't you having fun?" You ask quietly, your eyes silently begging them to talk to you, to give you any sort of information that would be useful to change this nagging feeling in their chest. Once they blow the smoke away from you, Hanji turns to look at you, a loving yet guilty expression on their face.

"That's not it," they whisper, an almost shameful look on their face. Their index finger taps on the cigarette, getting rid of the excess of ash that forms before they bring it back up to their lips, their brain struggling to put into words exactly what is the problem as they take another drag, "I just... Really wanted to spend the day with you. Just you, in our bed, with some books or some tv shows. We could have made a pillow fort or - "

"Sunshine," you whisper in return, your hand gently touching their face as they turn the other way to blow the smoke once more, your voice is careful, laced with so much love, it would be enough to get them to overdose on it. You take the cigarette out of their hand, putting it out on the marble ledge, "Why didn't you tell me? I would have stopped Moblit and the others from putting this party together for you."

They shake their head, "I... I-I just... My age keeps getting more and more real and I always feel like I'm not doing enough, like I'm not enough. And you are so wonderful and I -"

You interrupt them once again, this time by standing closer to them and sealing your lips together. You can hear the small gasp they let out and the way they stay still for a couple of seconds before completely melting away against you. You can taste the aged whiskey against your lips and the warm yet cold mixture of their cigarette.

The familiar feeling of your lips meeting causes Hanji's eyelids to flutter shut, their heart speeding in their chest as they focus on how soft your lips feel against their own, a shiver traveling through their spine as they wrap an arm around your waist, pulling you as close to them as physics will allow.

You hum in response to their actions and the sound itself immediately clouds their brain. Pleasure and desire coursing through their veins at the speed of light as they continue to move against you, hoping to never move. Especially when you wrap your arms around their neck.

The tip of your tongue gently brushes against theirs, a silent invitation for something more intense. Without missing a second, Hanji obliges and swirls their tongue with yours, deepening the kiss to a whole new degree. The action gets more and more desperate with each quiet moan the two of you let out.

Your tongues dance together to the beat of your synchronized heartbeats, tangling with each other as the kiss continues. Their hand slowly travels from its place on your hips down to your ass, gently giving it a squeeze and dragging out a louder moan out of you.

Unfortunately, you pull away. Not only because you need air after such an intense rush, but because the idea of someone catching the two of you with their hand on such a part of your body is embarrassing and you know they won't stop unless you give them a real reason.

"We can go home if you want," you whisper, your fingers playfully grabbing the back of their hair and playing with the loose strands. The look in your eyes is gentle, filled with love and concern for them, "I can bake you a new cake and we can watch a horror movie."

Hanji immediately shakes their head, a hint of desperation crossing their features as they become terrified and plagued by the idea of sounding so ungrateful after you most likely put effort into helping the boys get the party together.

"N-No! I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything," they plead, scared to have hurt your feelings in any way. When a frown forms on your face, their words become more frantic, "I am enjoying the party, really.."

"Hanji..." You whisper softly, pulling them closer for a hug, though their hand remains on your ass regardless of how guilty they are feeling. You let out a quiet chuckle, "It's your special day, I want to do something you enjoy."

"But... You guys put together this amazing party for me," they respond, clinging to you so tightly that one would think they are scared you will disappear the second their arms aren't wrapped around you anymore, "I don't want to seem ungrateful."

"You seem tired, my love..." You respond, one arm still wrapped around their neck while your dominant hand now touches their face. Your eyes contain an ocean of love that Hanji would gladly drown in. "They will understand."

They ponder for a second, their eyes analyzing every aspect of your face to try and determine if there is any malice behind it. They can't find any ounce of an emotion that isn't pure love and devotion. Knowing you are absolutely right, Hanji sighs, now turning their attention to the dancing figures inside Moblit's apartment.

"No. I want to stay," they say, their hand grasping your waist tightly. Once their face turns back at you, your heart nearly stops beating in your chest, a blush covering their cheeks as a genuine smile takes over their features, the night wind rushes by and their hair blows with it, "As long as I can keep you by my side."

You chuckle, your face warming up in embarrassment as you nod, "I would never go anywhere else, my love. Wherever you are, that's where I will follow."

Hanji begins to lean their face closer to you again, eagerly hoping to capture your lips in another passionate display of your love but the two of you are quickly interrupted by a drunk Erwin and a somewhat annoyed Levi (who is just using that expression as a facade to hide how content he actually is.)

"Four-eyes!" Levi exclaims, finally allowing a smile to make its way onto his lips. Hanji rolls their eyes, not only at the nickname but because of their audacity in interrupting this moment between the two of you.

Before they can respond, Erwin, Moblit, and Levi have already wrapped their arms around them and lifted Hanji into the air, earning a strained yelp out of them. You can barely understand what any of them are saying: with the loud music blaring, Hanji's annoyed protests, Erwin and Moblit's laugh, and Levi's lecture, you can barely even hear your own thoughts.

But when they look back at you, the smile on Hanji's face is now so bright that you feel like you need sunglasses or else it would be too dangerous to look directly at it. The three men now lower your partner onto the couch, a cake with a few too many candles for comic effect and a pile of presents in front of them.

A smile of your own forms as you take Hanji's glass of whiskey from the balcony onto your hands, looking back at the city lights one more time before making your way inside, closing the glass doors behind you as you are the one who begins singing.

"Happy birthday to you!"

[novasintheroom]

003. Important

♡ Pairing - Vash x Reader

♡ Word count - 0.5k

♡ Warnings - none

♡ Description: Vash wants to call you something other than 'mayfly.'

A small fleshing-out of the blurb I posted a few days ago <3

Now part of the 150 Bullets drabble series on AO3

The first time Vash calls you ‘baby,’ it’s too soft to hear.

He does it when you aren’t looking, too distracted by the notebook in your lap. You’re looking beautiful in the morning sunlight, and, he doesn’t know, it just hits him to call you it.

It’s a whisper. A hint of a word. It rolls in his mouth like a marble, smooth and warm. He’s afraid to spit it out. Instead, his lips meet twice, a formation of what he wants to say: Baby.

You don’t see it. Definitely don’t hear it. He clears his throat and goes on to ask what he meant to: “Do you want jerky or a granola bar for breakfast?" To that, you respond with a hum and an answer, missing the way he grimaces at his own cowardice.

The second time, he’s louder.

He’s leading you through a crowd, and you’re – not yapping, but definitely talking a lot more than usual. You’re excited about the piece of lost history tech you and he found in a nearby derelict ship from the Fall, and you’re going on and on about how it might hold this or that or the other in its small chips. He loves it, loves when you get excited enough to talk this much. But he needs to ask you something, and you aren’t giving him the room to ask.

“And just think, if we found some of the literature that was lost from Ship 591, we could piece together the – “

“Baby,” he says, just as a tomas cart pulls by and the bird squawks, “put the breaks on for a sec, I need to ask you something.”

You stop abruptly, and Vash is pulled to his own stop. His heart is in his throat, worried you wouldn’t like it, that it was too mushy to be called such a thing.

“What did you call me?” The grin on your face is telling, but still, he waits. “Did you call me ‘baby?’”

A squeaky ‘yes?’ comes out, and he knows his ears are red.

Humming, you sidle up to him and pull on this arm, holding his hand close. “Not ‘mayfly?’ ‘Baby?’”

He pouts. You’re making fun of him. “What’s wrong with it?”

You shake your head. “Nothing! I just wasn’t expecting it.” You play with his hand, and it’s the first time he notices your shaky smile, the way you shyly look him up and down. “The sheriff’s office should have some postings of jobs we can do this time of day. Let’s go...baby.”

A thrill goes up and down his spine. He can’t hide the huge grin now on his face, and you pull him along through the crowd to hide from it. “Hey, I didn’t get to ask my question!” He calls out.

All he hears is your nervous peal of laughter, and his own follows. It wasn’t an important question, anyway.

[willalove75]

Alcina's New Maid Pt. 2. Lady Dimitrescu x Reader

Summary: Lady Dimitrescu brings you in as one of her maids, at least, that's what you thought she brought you to the castle for.

Warnings: 18+ minors DNI

Tags: flirty, fluff, slow burn, smut.

Notes: Part 2! This one is smuttyyyyyy and a little long hehe there will probably be a part 3 once I crank out some other fics!

Click here for the rest of the series

You head to the Lady's chambers, nerves filling your belly as you walk up. You put your ear to the door to see if you can hear her inside, the wood is too thick to hear anything so you take a deep breath and knock on the door. After a few seconds nothing happens, you knock again, a little harder this time. Still, nothing. Terrified to open the door on your own, you stand there for a few minutes, unsure of what to do. Eventually you hear the clacking of heels across the marble floor and the familiar shadow of the Lady's curvy figure appears down the hall. She sees you standing at the door and smiles.

"You didn't have to wait for me draga, you could have waited inside."

"Oh, sorry, I wasn't sure." You shyly say.

She gently caresses your cheek and smiles at you.

"After you." She says, gesturing to the door.

You carefully open the door and walk in. She ducks into the doorway and enters her room, closing the door behind her. You're not sure why, but your stomach sank when you heard the door shut. She hasn't given you any reason to be afraid of her, but there's an uneasiness that you aren't able to settle.

She sits at her large vanity, you notice that everything in her room is made to scale for her, the furniture just a little bigger than what it normally would be. She takes her hat off and sets it aside, she slowly removes her gloves and sets them down also. She looks at you through the mirror as you stand near her bed, unsure of where to go or what to do. She gently pulls out the pins in her hair and her dark curls gently fall past her shoulders. You look around the room, turning to the side to admire everything.

"What is that?" She asks, her eyes focused on the bloodied bandage wrapped around your arm.

"Oh, nothing, just an accident in the kitchen during dinner." You say turning away from her a bit.

She turns around and looks at you, her yellow eye suddenly intense.

"There was no accident, was there?" She says, staring into your eyes.

You go to speak and she cuts you off.

"Do not lie to me."

A chill goes down your spine, you look down at the floor.

"No, at least I don't think it was an accident." You quietly say.

You hear a low growl come from her chest, she turns back to the mirror and ties a silk scarf around her head as she grumbles something you can't understand.

"Darling help me with these damned buttons." She says, trying to undo the buttons down the back of her dress.

You walk up to her and carefully unbutton her dress. She pulls her arms out of the sleeves and reveals a navy blue lingerie set. The lacy bra just barely holding in her breasts, you realize you were staring and look away, your cheeks turning red. She smiles and stands up, the dress falling to her feet. She walks over to her wardrobe, you can't help but be mesmerized watching her. Her heels showing off her long, strong legs, the lacy garters hugging her thighs, the garter belt hugging her large, round hips, her thong showing off her perfect ass. She looks over her shoulder and catches you staring at her. You look down, your cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.

She pulls a robe out from her wardrobe and wraps it around herself. She walks up to you, your eyes still focused on the ground, and puts her finger under your chin and lifts your face. Your eyes meet hers and you feel like the air was stolen from your lungs.

"Who did this to you?" She asks.

"I don't know," her stare becomes more intense. "I mean I know, I just don't know her name." You say as your voice begins to shake.

She continues to look at you, waiting for you to tell her.

"I don't want to get anyone in trouble, or killed." You say.

"I will not kill her." She says as her stare softens. "Or maim her." She adds.

You take a deep breath and describe the maid that's been harassing you. "She has dark hair, she's a little taller than me, a little older than me I think, blue eyes."

You hear her growl again, her face is so close to yours you feel the vibration rattle in your chest.

"I know exactly who that is." She says with a hint of annoyance in her voice. "I will take care of her. Stay here, make yourself comfortable."

In one swift movement she lifts you and places you on her bed.

"I will be right back." She says.

She opens the door and ducks out, shutting it behind her. You hear the sound of her heels get further and further away. You sit on her bed, not wanting to get too comfortable and risk bleeding on it, since you're pretty sure the cut hasn't stopped bleeding yet. After about 10 minutes the door opens and she walks back in and smiles at you as she shuts the door.

"If she bothers you again, you must tell me. Yes?"

You nod your head.

"You arm is still bleeding." She says as she grabs it and examines it.

She walks into the bathroom and walks out with more bandages. She sits next to you on the bed and removes the poorly wrapped bandage you had applied earlier, a little blood trickles down your arm and she takes in a deep breath, inhaling the scent.

"Cassandra was certainly right, you do smell sweet." She says with a smile.

She wipes the blood off with her finger and licks it clean.

"Mmm, draga mea, you are very sweet." She says with her eyes closed, trying to savor the taste on her tongue.

She opens her eyes and gazes into yours, she's a little surprised to see curiosity and wonder in your eyes instead of fear. She wraps your arm with new bandages, and does a much better job than you were able to.

"If that doesn't stop bleeding by morning have the head maid take you to the infirmary, understood?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Call me Mistress." She says, caressing your cheek.

"Yes Mistress."

"Good girl." She purrs.

You feel like your heart skips a beat as she praises you, you swear she also notices because a smile crosses her face after you feel it.

"Mistress? May I ask you a question?" You ask, averting her gaze.

"Of course draga, what is it?"

"Why did you bring me here, to the castle? Why did you pay my uncle so much so you could take me here?"

"Come." She says taking your hand.

She leads you to the vanity and sits, she motions for you to climb up and she pulls you into her lap, you're a little surprised, you're also caught off guard when you realize you feel safe with her. She pulls your ponytail out and your hair falls around your face. She runs her fingers through your hair, gently pulling it back. She picks up a hairbrush and begins to brush your hair, delicately brushing out every knot she comes across. You close your eyes and smile, the last person to do this was your mother before she died, you forgot how relaxing it is.

"The thought of killing the both of you then and there did cross my mind when we first met." She says, breaking the silence. You eyes snap open, staring at her in the mirror, her attention still focused on brushing your hair. "But you were, and are, very beautiful and the thought of killing someone so beautiful due to the careless actions of a child seemed like a waste." She pauses for a moment as she untangles a knot.

"And then you said you were willing to give your life for your cousin" she says with a laugh "not even your own child, it, impressed me. But I also pitied you when you said taking care of those children was your only purpose. I thought to myself 'how does someone so beautiful think so low of herself where her sole purpose in life was taking care of someone else's children?'" you feel her fingers part your hair as she starts to French braid it.

"Once I met your," she pauses for a moment. "Charming, uncle," you giggle. "It all made sense. I knew you would be much more appreciated here, because I appreciate everything that is beautiful. So I made him an offer he could not refuse, and it was worth every cent because you, draga mea, are very beautiful and you are one of the best maid's I've ever had." She ties off the bottom of the braid and drapes it over your shoulder. She puts her hands on your shoulders, and looks at you in the mirror.

"I must admit though, it would have brought me endless joy to have ripped that retched man apart. Speaking to you like that, in front of me, he is lucky I was able to restrain myself."

"Yeah, he's kind of a dick." You say with a smile on your face.

Her hands slide down to your hips and she gently leans down, placing a kiss on the top of you shoulder. You feel a chill run up your spine, she smiles as she feels it run through you. She places another kiss and you lean your head to the side, giving her more access. She places another kiss, this one on your neck and you take a sharp breath in. You feel a wetness form between your legs as you feel her cool, soft lips on your warm skin. She pulls away and you wait for her lips to meet your skin again, but it doesn't happen. You open your eyes and look at her in the mirror, a smile across her face.

"That's enough for tonight." She says softly into your ear.

You can't hide the look of disappointment on your face.

"Patience draga."

She lifts you off of her lap and onto the floor.

"Remember, straight to the infirmary in the morning if that is still bleeding. And if that maid does anything, at all, you tell me. Yes?"

"Yes ma-" you pause and she looks at you through the mirror. "Mistress."

"Good girl. Goodnight." She turns her attention back to herself and unties the scarf from her head.

"Goodnight."

You head back to your room and crawl into bed, mixed emotions swirling in your mind, you were terrified of your Mistress when you walked into her bedroom, but by the time you left, all you wanted was more of her touch. You drift off to sleep with her on your mind.

You wake up the next morning and get dressed, you check your arm and luckily the bleeding stopped. You head to the kitchen for breakfast, you sit down to eat and see the maid walk in, she shoots you a dirty look as she holds her arm over her abdomen. To your surprise, she does and says nothing. "Maybe she'll finally leave me alone." You think to yourself.

The next few weeks go by smoothly, the maid doesn't bother you, besides shooting you dirty looks every chance she got, your Mistress invites you back to her chambers a few times each week, always ending the same way, her lips making contact with your skin, each time her hands gently explore your body a little more, and then sending you on your way, leaving you desperate for more every time you leave.

She invites you into her chambers again, you knock on the door and there's no answer. She's made it clear more than once you're allowed to go in and wait for her, so that's what you do. You climb up onto her bed and make yourself comfortable. You lay back on her pillows, you're surrounded by the smell of her perfume, cigarettes and a hint of her wine. You close your eyes and breathe in the smells, an arousal building between your legs as you wait for her.

The sensation becomes too much to ignore, you slowly reach your hand between your legs and rub your aching bud over your underwear, a quiet moan escapes your lips as you release the intense tension that has been building up.

"Patience is not a virtue you possess, is it?"

You jump when you hear her voice, you slam your legs shut and sit up, both mortified and a little scared, you didn't hear her come in at all.

"I- I'm so sorry mistress, I- I was-" You panic a little trying to find the words.

"Pleasuring yourself, in my bed?" She says with a raised eyebrow.

You put your head down, your cheeks on fire, you wish you could disappear into a swarm of flies right now.

You hear her laugh and feel her finger under your chin, her cold skin feels like ice, she turns your face towards her.

"I will dismiss it this time, but make no mistake, if it happens again, I will not be as generous." Her piercing yellow eyes staring into yours.

"Yes Mistress, thank you." You quietly say.

She pulls you closer, her lips gently brushing against your ear, the sensation between your legs grows once more.

"I am the only one who is allowed to pleasure you, understand?"

An involuntary moan escapes your lips at her words, the arousal in your legs unbearable, you close your eyes to try and ignore it. She pulls back, her finger still under your chin, you open your eyes and see her staring at you, waiting for your response.

Your throat suddenly dry, you manage to squeeze a "yes Mistress." out.

She smiles and walks towards her vanity, setting down her hat.

"Come, pet." She says to you as she sits.

You scramble off of the bed and walk over to the vanity, she moves her curls to the side, gesturing for you to unbutton her dress. You unbutton it and she stands up and slides out of it as usual, but unlike the other times she's invited you into her chambers, tonight she doesn't go to her wardrobe and put on her robe, she returns to her seat at the vanity in a black lace lingerie set . She looks at you through the mirror and you climb up next to her as usual. You're taken by surprise when she pulls you into her lap, she usually does, but you weren't expecting it since she was just in her underwear.

She pulls your hair out of the ponytail and brushes it like she does almost every time she invites you in. Instead of braiding it, she pulls it to the side when she's done combing through. You automatically lean your head to the side, giving her access to your skin, becoming desperate for her touch.

You hear her smirk and feel her pull the shoulder of your dress down, exposing your skin. Her soft, cold lips meet your bare skin and a moan escapes your lips. She gently hums at your reaction.

"Eager tonight are we?" She seductively whispers into your ear.

"Mhm." You say, nodding your head. Another moan escapes as she places her lips closer to your neck.

You feel her smile and another moan escapes as her lips make contact with your pulse point. Your panties are soaked, you feel a throb between your legs, you shift in her lap to try and make it go away. She gently slides one of her hands to the inside of your thigh, her lips firmly planted on your neck, you spread your legs, desperate for her to touch you.

"Do you want mommy to touch you?" She whispers into your ear.

You let out a whimper as you nod your head.

"Use your words, tell mommy what you want."

"I need you to touch me, please." Your request sounding more like you're begging than asking.

You let out a moan as she cups your soaked panties, your eyes roll and you lean back into her a little.

She gently rubs your throbbing clit over your underwear and you buck your hips and throw your head back, more sounds passing through your lips. She hums as she feels the wetness between your legs, the sound gently vibrating your ribcage.

"Did you ruin your panties thinking of me?"

"Mhm" you say, unable to form words.

She watches you squirm in her lap in the mirror, enjoying every second as you're desperate for her touch. She begins to feel a wetness between her legs as she too becomes eager for you.

She removes her hand and you let out a small whine, she picks you up and puts you on the floor, you look up at her, never feeling so desperate in your life. She swings her legs to the other side of the vanity bench and leans forward, her gigantic, perfect breasts in your face.

"You have been so patient draga, I think it's time you're rewarded for your excellent behavior." She says, she extends one of her claws and you freeze, fear runs through you for a moment as you stare at the razor sharp claw, the fear does not go unnoticed by your Mistress.

"Oh sweet pet, I won't hurt you. This is just the most efficient way to move things along." In one swift movement she claws through your dress, not once touching your skin. The rags fall around you, leaving you in your bra and drenched panties.

She retracts the claw and stands, she lifts you into her arms and slides her hand to the back of your head. She pulls you into her and your lips slam together, you hold onto her tightly as you kiss her back, hard. You feel her sharp fangs across your bottom lip, as well as her tongue, asking for for admittance. You part your lips and her tongue slides into your mouth, swirling and exploring inside. You moan into her mouth, her lips curling into a smile as you kiss. She's taken by surprise when you gently bite and suck on her bottom lip, a moan rattling in the back of her throat. She carries you over to the bed, she lays you down and climbs on top of you, your lips not once parting.

She kisses down your jaw and nips at the skin down your neck, her tongue soothing each small bite you receive. She moves to the other side of your neck and kisses and nips at it, she purrs into your skin.

"If only I could taste you." She says quietly, probably more to herself than to you.

"Do it." You say breathlessly.

She lifts her face from your neck and looks you in the eyes.

"Do it, it's okay, I trust you." You say, meeting her stare.

She looks a little surprised, never expecting you to offer yourself in that way to her, at least not this quickly.

"Draga, are you sure?" She asks, scanning your face for any hint of hesitation.

You pull her lips into yours and kiss her again, you slowly pull away and look back into her eyes.

"Yes."

"If I take too much, tap me on my arm and I will immediately stop, understand?"

You nod your head and smile at her. She smiles back at you and lays you back into the pillows, gently exposing your neck, holding your face so you don't move.

"Keep still, I will do my best to make it as painless as possible."

You hold onto her arm and she gently sucks and swipes her tongue over the perfect spot on your neck. You take a slow, deep breath in as you feel her move in. You feel her fangs dig into your neck, a sharp pain shoots through you as she breaks through your skin. You furrow your brows and let out a whine and tighten your grip on her arm. She doesn't go further, her eyes focused on your face. You take a few more deep breaths and loosen your grip, you relax your face and gently caress her arm with your thumb, signaling her to continue. She sinks her fangs in a little more, the pain less than the initial bite. You feel her drink, small moans of pleasure escaping from her. You move your hand up from her arm to the back of her head and hold onto her curls. You feel her smile into you as she drinks. Just when you think you're going to feel lightheaded, she pulls her fangs out of you and caresses the puncture wounds with her tongue.

She places a soft kiss on the wound and places a kiss on your lips, the metallic taste of blood still on them.

"If at any time you feel uncomfortable, or if something hurts or doesn't feel right, or if you want to stop, tell me, and I will stop. Understood?"

"Yes Mistress."

It turned you on even more hearing her speaking so gently and softly, yet still coming off as so dominating and commanding.

She kisses her way down your body, unclasping your bra and throwing it aside. She kneads your breasts and gently sucks and licks your nipple, moving over to the other, giving it the same amount of attention as the first one. Small moans leave your lips as your hips lift off of the mattress a little. She pulls your soaked panties off and kisses down your stomach, her hands following the curves of your waist, coming to a rest on your hips. She gently kisses and nips at the inside of your thighs and you let out a few giggles. She looks up at you and you make eye contact with her, the throbbing in your core only increased as you looked at her with her head between your legs.

She drags her tongue up your folds, your eyes roll back and your hips lift off of the mattress, she holds them steady as she licks you up and down, your moans go up an octave when you feel here wrap her lips around your clit and suck on it.

"Fuck, Mistress, it feels so good." You whine.

She flicks her tongue across your clit and you cry out again. She licks you up and down, giving special attention to your aching bud each time she passes over it. You feel yourself getting closer and closer to the edge, you grab a handful of hair at the back of her head as she brings you to the brink of orgasm.

"Mistress, please, don't stop, I'm gonna-" another moan passes through your lips.

"You're gonna what?" She asks between licks. "Tell mommy what you want."

"You're gonna make me cum." You whine. "Please, make me cum Mistress, please." Your whines turn into begs as she brings you closer.

She flicks her tongue across your clit again and latches onto it, licking and sucking it as your legs begin to shake.

"Oh yes, oh fuck, don't stop, I'm gonna cum."

The orgasm crashes over you like a tidal wave, screams of pleasure emerge from you as your back arches and your hips come off of the bed. She holds them back down, making you ride out the orgasm as long as possible. You come down from the high, your legs shaking, trying to catch your breath.

"Oh my god," you pant. "That was amazing."

"Oh my," she says, a chill runs up your spine as you feel her finger between your folds as she covers it in your juices. She looks up at you with a devilish smile on her face, her finger dancing around your entrance.

"Wait, before you-" you begin to speak, she immediately pulls her finger away and looks into your eyes. "I just feel like I should tell you, I've never- I'm-" you look away, a little embarrassed.

"Draga mea," she says, caressing the inside of you thigh. "Are you a virgin?"

Your eyes meet hers and you nod your head. Her eyes glow as a smile crosses her face.

"Do you want me to stop?" She asks sincerely.

"No."

"Are you sure?" She asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, please Mistress, don't stop."

She places a kiss on the inside of your thigh and brings her finger back to your dripping entrance.

"Just relax, mommy will take good care of you."

She slides her finger into you, your eyes roll as you let out a moan, you feel a sharp pain for a second, but pleasure takes over as she slowly moves her finger in and out. Her large middle finger stretches you out as she quickens her pace, gently curling into your walls on each re-entry. She pushes in deeper, the tip of her finger hitting a spot inside of you that makes you cry out in pleasure.

"Good girl." She says with a smile.

She makes sure to hit that spot each time she pushes into you making your back arch each time as you cry out for her to keep going. She quickens her pace further, thrusting a little harder each time. You feel another orgasm building quickly as she continues to pleasure you.

"Mistress, you're gonna make me cum again." You cry out.

You think to see stars when she pushes harder and faster into you, herself eager to make you cum again. Your screams get louder as you get closer, you tightly grip onto the comforter and clench down around her finger, desperate for the release she's about to bring.

"Yes, I'm gonna- I'm gonna cum. Don't stop Mistress." You yell, you feel her lips wrap around your clit, she sucks hard on it as she finger fucks you. You make a noise you've never made before and your body convulses when the orgasm hits. You scream out her name in pleasure as she makes you ride it out for as long as possible. She slows her pace, the shockwaves from the orgasm still shooting through you. She gently removes her finger from you, she places a kiss on the inside of your legs as they gently tremble.

Your heartrate begins to return to normal as your Mistress crawls up next to you and wraps her arms around you. Her soft lips meet yours, she slowly and passionately kisses you, her hand cupped around your face. You gently grab her breast over her bra, your thumb caressing her hard nipple over the lace. She smiles and brings your hand up to her lips and kisses it.

"I think that's enough for one night." She softly says.

"Are you sure, if you want me to I can-" you say, your eyelids feeling heavy.

"Draga mea you have done more than enough to satisfy me tonight." She gently kisses the bite mark again. "You will sleep here tonight and return to the maids quarters in the morning, understood?"

You nod your head. "Yes Mistress." You say with a sleepiness in your voice that brings an endearing smile to her face.

She wraps her arms around you and you cuddle into her, she gently hums as she strokes your hair, the beautiful yet haunting tune lulling into you a deep sleep.

You wake up the next morning feeling like you slept for two days, you sit up in your Mistresses bed and rub the sleep from your eyes. You take note of a soreness between your legs and look around the room, realizing you're alone. You spot a new, clean uniform on the bench of her vanity with a note on it. You climb out of the bed and walk over to pick up the note.

Draga, A new uniform to replace the other one. Enjoy. LD

You almost wish the note had more to it, but you also know that she isn't one to show her soft side, you really weren't sure if she even had one until last night. You put the new uniform on and place the note in your pocket. You climb onto the vanity bench and look into the mirror, you pull your hair back into a ponytail and examine the bite mark on your neck, it's not incredibly noticeable, but not completely invisible either. It feels sore when you bring your fingers to it, inspecting the marks.

You hear the door open and turn to see your Mistress walk into the room, she spots you at the vanity.

"Good morning Mistress, I hope you don't mind me using your mirror for a moment." You say shyly.

She walks over to you and turns your face to the side, you drop your hand from your neck and she inspects the marks.

"This should heal just fine." She mutters. She turns your face back towards her, her hand not leaving your face. "Did you sleep well my little pet?"

"Yes, very well, thank you."

"Excellent." She says, caressing your cheek with her thumb. You close your eyes and lean into her hand a little, you hear her smirk and you look up into her eyes. You are putty in her hands, and she loves it, truth be told, you love it too. She drops her hand from your face, the coolness of her fingers lingering on your skin. "Off you go." She says, nodding towards the door. "The head maid will be waiting for you to give you instructions and lay out your new responsibilities."

"New responsibilities Mistress?" You ask, confused.

"Yes, as my new handmaiden you have a new set of responsibilities that must be fulfilled."

"Oh." You say, looking into her eyes.

She gives you a look, waiting for you to obey her orders and leave.

"Thank you Mistress, I will head there at once."

The corner of her lip curls into a smile and you make your way out of her room. As you leave you hear a noise down the hall, you turn to look and you see one of the maids who is friends with the one who has it out for you. She looks at you, surprised and unsure as she sees you leaving the Lady's chambers, you see her gaze shift to your neck and her eyes widen. You quickly turn and make your way to the head maid, an unsettling feeling begins to gnaw at you, "this won't end well." you think to yourself.

[lazyjellyfish300]

Hi Jelly! I would love some more of your exquisite Shiu fluff, please 😌 So my request is for Shiu with prompt number 3. rainy day. (I still think about Stella and her droopy ears watching the fishies 🥹)

hello my love!! You're the best 💕💕😭😭 leave it to me to leave things til the last minute 💀💀😭😭 I'm so sorry! Lol. More Shiu is on the way, don't worry ;)

My Fall masterlist 🍂

CW: xFEM!READER, fluff, smoking obv

Words: 473

"BRRRRBBBBHHH!" You blew your lips together as you crossed over the threshold of your home. The comparatively warmer temperature was a welcome respite from the rain drenched world you just came out of as it hit your soaked skin. You shrugged off your jacket and boots, your equally soaked husband right behind you puffing out the last exhale of his cigarette before he extinguished it on the ashtray that sat by the garage door.

Stella waddled in last, shaking off the raindrops that clung to her mocha spotted fur. Loose skin flapping in the wind before she let out the yawn of a lifetime and the tiny pat pats of her feet disappeared down the hall to find her rightful throne among the fish in Shiu's study.

"Sorry we got rained out at the apple orchard, dollface." Shiu gives your bum a playful squeeze as he breezes by you in the kitchen, running a hand through his rain slicked hair. "I've never seen you get so competitive over apples."

"Well they're not just any old apples, they're honey crisp." You clarify with a smile, putting your frozen fingers in Shiu's while he attempted to warm them up with endearing breaths as he held them to his mouth and rubbed them quickly.

"These babies go for like $7 a pound at the grocery store. No way Halloween Holly was gonna get away with the last of them. Not when this is the first and only day off me and my husband have had together in weeks."

"Oh, certainly not Halloween Holly." Shiu winked. "I like this fiery side of you, sweetheart." He leaned on his elbows as he watched you dump this afternoon's harvest haul, several red shiny juicy looking apples with patches of yellow rolling onto the sleek marble countertop.

"How can I be of assistance, dollface? Just say the word."

"Hmmm, first, coffee. Would you get me a cup, my love?"

"But of course, angel." He smiled at you as he crossed over to your fancy coffee press, preparing two mugs of the rich brew. As the water began to bubble, he crossed into the living room, playing some laid back r&b on the vinyl, along with lighting up your favorite candles that made the whole house smell like melted caramel. He could hear Stella's unemployed little snores gently echo off the hallways.

As he looked at you, the love of his life, apple of his eye baking apple pie in the kitchen, with the low hum of the torrent of raindrops outside, and the cozy feeling of his beautiful home slowly warmed him from the inside out, he couldn't help the ache in his chest at realization of the piece of heaven he had carved out for you both.

"Something wrong, darling?"

He can just smile, "None at all, Mrs. Kong. I'm the luckiest man in the world."

[harrywavycurly]

The Last Visit: An Eddie Munson Oneshot

TW: Death/dying, mentions of blood, cemetery

A/N: This is pure sadness, but like a tiny tiny tiny hint of happiness if you squint? I’ve had this idea in my head all day and it just seemed interesting and I hope y’all enjoy also sorry I didn’t edit it much I wrote it in one sitting✨

Eddie zips up his jacket as he walks down the worn out path, the only sound he hears is the crunching of leaves beneath his shoes and trees blowing in the slightly chilly autumn breeze. He looks around and can’t help but feel a little sad at how empty it is, he knows it’s an odd time to be here but still he feels as though he shouldn’t be the only one here every time he comes to visit. The moment he turns the corner his eyes land on the reason he’s here, the Hawkins cemetery, he smiles when he sees the flowers he put up last week are still there and haven’t blown away or dried out yet.

“Hey sweetheart.” he whispers as he places his hand on the cold stone. “Miss me?” He asks as he takes a seat on the bench in front of the headstone.

“It’s a little hard to miss someone who doesn’t ever really leave.” Your voice is as clear as day as you lean against the shiny marble stone that has your name etched on the front of it. Eddie just rolls his eyes as you playfully glare at him.

“I don’t want you to get lonely.” Eddie watches as you look around at all the headstones covering the ground of the cemetery.

“I’m not alone Eddie.” You explain as you walk around your headstone and pick up the flowers he had picked just for you. “It’s been six months.” Eddie looks down at his feet as you bring the flowers up to your nose so you can smell them. He doesn’t need to be reminded of how long you’ve been gone, he knows exactly how many weeks, days and hours it’s been since he lost you.

“It feels like it happened yesterday.” His voice is low and you know he’s a few moments from losing it by the way he runs a hand over his face and looks away from you. “I can still hear Harrington’s voice in my ear telling me you’re gone.” His voice cracks as you slide down the front of your headstone so you’re sitting with your back against it as the memories of your last few moments alive flood your mind.

“No no no.” Steve’s voice is frantic as he runs to the middle of the street in front of Family Video where you were headed to start your closing shift. “You’re okay.” You can tell by the way his eyes get wide as they scan over your face and your body that he’s lying. You can’t feel much as you lay in the middle of the intersection’s crosswalk, Steve carefully lifts your head so it’s resting in his lap.

“It’s just a scratch right?” You mumble and Steve just nods his head as a few tears slip down his cheeks.

“Yeah just a scratch.” He repeats as he grabs your hands and holds them in his, you can hear sirens in the distance but you know they’ll be too late because you can feel the warmth of the blood coming from your head now covering Steve’s lap.

“Tell him,” you find it hard to speak but Steve just holds onto you tighter as he nods to try to encourage you to keep going. “I love him so much.” You feel your eyes water as tears freely fall down your face. “And I’m sorry I won’t be home for dinner.” Steve looks away from you as he tries to hold himself together.

“I’ll tell him.” He promises as he looks at you one last time before you feel everything beginning to go dark. “It’s okay.” Is the last thing you hear Steve say before your eyes close for the last time.

“I’m sorry.” Is all you can say as you look over at Eddie who is already staring right back at you as a single tear rolls down your cheek. “But you can’t just keep coming here Eddie you need to try to move on.” Eddie lets out a sigh of frustration as he stands up.

“Move on? How the fuck am I supposed to move on when my wife was taken from me by some asshole on a random ass Tuesday afternoon on her way to work?” You let him get it all out because you know he’s been holding it in for a while. “It makes no fucking sense so that’s why I can’t move on.” He runs a hand through his hair as he looks at your headstone. “Why’d it have to be you? Of all the people in the world why are you the one that had to die that day?” You stand up and drop the flowers letting them land right in front of your name.

“It was going to happen eventually.” You know that’s not what he wanted to hear as he takes a step closer to your headstone. “You deserve to be out there living your life not hanging out with dead people.” You fight the urge to reach out and touch him but you know it’s pointless because he can’t feel you.

“You know she looks just like you.” You smile at the mention of your daughter. “Sometimes a little too much but in a good way.” Eddie reaches into his back pocket so he can grab his wallet.

“Better me than you right? Isn’t that what Wayne would say.” Eddie just chuckles as he shakes his head, he opens the wallet and holds up a photo of your little girl who just turned two almost three weeks ago. “If you needed a reason to move on and start living your life to the fullest you have the biggest one in your hand right now.” Eddie looks down at the photo and smiles at his little girl’s big goofy grin on her cake covered face. “She needs you.” You watch him bend down and place the photo next to the flowers by your headstone.

“I love you.” Eddie swallows back the lump in his throat as he looks at your name etched in the stone.

“I love you too.” You answer as you move so you’re back behind your headstone. “Moving on doesn’t mean you love my any less Eddie.” Eddie turns so he can look at you as you speak. “It just means you’re making room to let others in.” You give him your best reassuring smile making him just nod because you’re right, as usual. “This is our last visit.” Eddie knew this moment would come, where he’d stop being able to see you and it would become all too real that you’re actually gone.

“I’m not ready.” He knows he sounds like he’s begging but he doesn’t care, you feel his sadness and it’s overwhelming making tears flow down your cheeks. “I can’t do this without you.”

“You already are.” Your voice is soft and sweet as it flows into Eddie’s ears. “You’re going to be okay Eddie.” You look away from him as you begin yourself starting to fade. “I’ll check in on you two from time to time.” Eddie just nods as he wipes at his cheeks with the back of his wrist.

“I love you.” Is all he can saw as he watches you give him one last smile as you fade away and eventually disappear. “I’ll always love you.” He whispers as he places a hand on top of your headstone. He stays there for a few more minutes before he looks at his watch and sees it’s almost time for him to go pick his daughter up from your mom’s house so the two of them can go have dinner with Wayne.

“See you later sweetheart.” Is all he says before he turns and begins his walk back towards his car. Eddie knows this is the last time he’ll come visit you for a while and deep down he knows you’re somewhere smiling down at him because you’re right, he needs to start living life again but not just for himself but for the little girl that calls him dad.

[scoops-aboy86]

In which Eddie panics a bit, Wayne is a voice of reason, and Steve is really going through it but finds some relief in Eddie bringing him lunch.

Part 1, part 1.5, part 2, part 3, part 4 of the love spell no go au

Eddie does not, in fact, see Robin or Steve the next day. He holes up in his room for three days until Wayne drags him out by his ear, sits him down, and pries an explanation out of him because “do you know how many times that Harrington boy has called, knocked, and slid notes under the door trying to track you down? I’m surprised he hasn’t climbed in your damn window by now.”

He breaks and tells Wayne about the love spell and getting to know Steve. He walks his uncle through the entire strangled route of his logic and the thoughts he’s been stuck in his head with ever since the other day. 

And, okay, the whole prom scenario had been a completely theoretical product of his overactive and dramatic imagination, but something like that might have happened. Except if Eddie, instead of fucking up, had somehow cast it really, really strong… 

“That’s why he keeps calling, because of the spell,” Eddie concludes. “It makes sense, doesn’t it?” He desperately wants to hear that no, actually, he’s lost his marbles, no one can brute force a spell into being smart and biding it’s time like that. 

But Wayne sighs, somehow conveying both endless patience and weary amusement, and says, “Eddie, what have I always told you?”

“Uh… never tell anyone that magic is real?”

Wayne snorts. “That, sure, and that magic ain’t ever something outta nothing. Your daddy always thought he could make gold from thin air, never even tried spinning it outta straw, and look where it landed him.” Jail. Eddie winces. “The reason no one bothers with love spells much is they gotta have some potential to grab onto, so they fail more’n you’d think. Spell or not, Ed, there was always something there.”

By the end of the conversation, Wayne has more or less managed to hammer in the idea that maybe all the spell had done was keep them apart until they fit better. Eddie retreats to his room again, this time to brainstorm how to make up for the abrupt three day radio silence. 

Steve has had… a rough few days. If it hadn’t been for Wayne Munson assuring him that no, his nephew hadn’t disappeared like Will Byers or the Holland girl, just “got a bug up his ass about something and is still holed up in his room working on it,” he would have completely spiraled. As it was, he’d had trouble sleeping even before smoking through the last of his stash, on edge all the time, swimming laps at night because that feels better than doing nothing. 

So when he looks up at the jingle of the bell over the door and sees Eddie slink into Family Video, he’s torn between relief and upset. If Eddie is fine, and very obviously not eaten by monsters or kidnapped to an alternate dimension, then where the hell has he been? Why hadn’t he returned any of the messages Steve had left him? Is the return to jock tendencies that off-putting?

His eyes catch on the bag and cardboard carrier Eddie is carrying, laden with three paper cups from the nearest diner. The warm greasy smell hits him, and it’s been a long few days of wanting to stress eat but not letting himself. Steve’s mouth fills with saliva—just because he hasn’t had his lunch break yet.

“Where the hell have you been?” he asks flatly, since there’s no one else in the store right now. 

Eddie ducks his head. “Ye-eah, I deserve that.” He holds up the bag and drinks, tentatively meeting Steve’s gaze from under his bangs. “Brought you a peace offering?”

Steve breaths out sharply and runs a hand through his hair. He’d probably…Yeah, he’d probably been overthinking everything. Wound too tight, like Robin said. Not everything is a sign that the world is ending; Eddie had probably just been busy and knows that Steve is kind of needy, and brought him lunch as an apology. 

God, it smells like his usual order from before Starcourt. And Eddie is here now, perfectly fine except for the shadows under his eyes. What does Eddie have to be so worried about?

Get it together, Harrington. 

“Okay,” Steve says, not bothering to wonder if he can make whatever Eddie’s brought him fit into his diet—cheat days are a thing for a reason, right? “I’ll let Keith know I’m taking my break.”

Tilting his head to one side, Eddie is now close enough to set his offerings on the checkout counter. “No Robin today?”

“I wish. It’s her dad’s birthday, so she got roped into family stuff.”

“Hm.” He flicks at one of the straws poked through the top of the lid. “Looks like I brought one too many milkshakes then. Which is the more egregious sin, letting it go to waste or sharing it with Keith?”

Steve wrinkles his nose. “Second one. I’ll go punch out, meet me around back?”

A few minutes later they’re sitting across from each other at the table behind the little strip mall that houses Family Video and the arcade. It’s technically for anyone who works there, not just the video store, but it’s hot as balls out so there’s no competition for the spot. The first mouthful of milkshake is a welcome explosion of cold and rich chocolatey goodness in Steve’s mouth, and he hums approvingly. Holy shit, he’d forgotten how much he liked ice cream. 

“How’m I doing on the apology?” Eddie asks, starting to pull foil-wrapped burgers out of the greasy bag. 

“Pretty good, if one of those has cheese or bacon on it.” Steve accepts the one held out for him and unwrapping it to find both, and a second patty. He takes a big bite and hums in satisfaction, chewing for a moment and pleasantly aware that Eddie is watching him. As soon as his mouth is empty enough to speak, he says, “... Alright, you’re forgiven. Just answer your damn phone next time, man, okay? Let me know you’re still alive?”

“Sorry,” Eddie says, looking guilty. “Yeah, sorry, I will.” He nudges a large fries across the table, followed by several packets of ketchup. Eddie hates ketchup on fries, because he’s some sort of heathen, but doesn’t so much as comment when Steve squirts all of the packets down one side of the container for himself. “Didn’t mean to make you worry about me, Stevie, I just… got in my head about something.” 

Steve swallows a mixed bite of fries and burger, christ he’s hungry today. Must be the relief of knowing that Eddie is okay. “Anything I can help with?” he offers, because now that his ruffled feathers are soothed, he doesn’t like how tired his friend looks or the hint of melancholy that had flashed across his face at Steve’s requests. Eddie, who had looked at his bruises from Starcourt and visibly didn’t buy the government-concocted explanation for them but agreed not to ask, and thinks the source of his recent tension is from a few days of trauma rather than going on two years.

But also—Stevie? That’s new. Steve takes another big bite of his burger to hide how much the nickname makes him want to beam, that would be so weird given the current topic of conversation. 

“Nah,” Eddie says. He mimes knocking his fist against one temple, other hand tapping the underneath of the table to make a wooden sound. “Got it worked out now. I’m good.”

“Well, good.” Despite himself, Steve grins around his next bite of burger. He swallows, snags Eddie’s milkshake (strawberry) and then Robin’s (vanilla), following with a sip from his own—a poor man’s Neapolitan. “Want to come over tonight and finish that movie?”

A surprised look crosses Eddie’s face at the offer, followed by something else that Steve can’t read, and then a small grin of his own. “Sure, if you don’t mind starting it over. I’ve kinda forgotten the beginning.”

Which is fine, because Robin had insisted on finishing it (“You know I don’t do well with cliffhangers, Steve. Do you want me to not be able to fall asleep tonight trying to guess what happens next? Do you?”) and Steve isn’t sure he remembers where they paused it last time anyway. He’s pleased as he finishes his burger, licking the grease from his fingers and grabbing a bunch of fries positively dripping with ketchup, hurriedly getting them in his mouth before any can drop on his work clothes. Feels even better when Eddie chuckles and reaches across the table to wipe a smear of the condiment that had dripped down the side of his chin, almost making it to his work vest. The contact is nice, makes his heart beat faster. 

It doesn’t have to mean anything, but he wants it to.

Tag list (comment to be added): @hotluncheddie @8em-em-em8

Part 6, part 7, part 8, part 9, part 10, part 11

[sweetwriter]

Oh To Love

by Sweetwriter

I often feel like Hephaestus, the throwed away one; the ugly one; the crafter. People only care about the craft and never the crafter. 

I write this story, as a manifestation of a love I would like to receive. 

Hephaestus!Reiner x black reader (at certain points)

this chapter and a couple other chapters are going to be build ups to the love story of Reiner x YN

Heads up: abandonment, self hate, rejection, shame, angst, fluff, maybe smut (later) idk, happy ending :)

This story is based off the poem by Nikola Gill the story of Hephaestus 

“He is dismembered! He will bring shame to my womb” 

Hephaestus hears this conversation, ears pressed against the marble doors.  Looking down at his legs, they didn’t look different to him- I guess it should make sense that the rest of the Pantheon just chooses to completely ignore him. He thought that it was the fact that he wasn't as confident as his brother, Ares or well loved like his half brother, Heracles; nor was he wise like his half sister Athena. But, he thought that people did not mind, he is still young finding his way. 

“You know it is rude to eavesdrop, Hephaestus.” He turns around to see Aphrodite, his aphrodite. He had loved her for as long as he has known what love was. 

“They are talking about my appearance again. How come they never talk about my projects- the very crown she has on her head is a design I created.” He sighs. It has been a time where Hephaestus has conceded that he is gifted in crafts work. He often spent time mining near volcanoes to search for precious gems he will use for his next project. It is nearing his birthday, no one really remembers, so he decided to make a gift for himself.  

“Appearances are everything to an Olympian, we are perfect beings, when one is imperfect, what will that do to the Pantheon” she says softly. Hephaestus notices she often does that, she is harsh with her words and soft with her voice, it does not stop the sting, instead it prolongs it. He is use to the harsh tone. Soft tones are tattooed in his mind forever, for how can forget kindness. But as he grows, he questions whether softness is equivalent to kindness. 

“He looks like a beast because of your transgressions, whoring your love out to whatever you please but your wife. You have put shame on me, and I refuse to accept such thing as a son of mine.” Hera shouted, All Hephaestus saw was his mother storming his way with anger in his face, “mother, what are you” that was all he remembered. 

As he fell that day, all the pain and suffering settled in his chest; The humiliation of being discarded. “Who would want me if Olympus does not desire my presence?” Hephaestus questioned himself for hours as he fell. All the pain and suffering marinating into his bones, the agony wearing down his godly bones. 

He spent his 14th birthday falling from his godliness. His age progressed and his pride of being Olympian diminished.

When he hit the ground his heart rate picked up speed. Gods can not get hurt or feel pain, they say. The agony of falling must’ve weakened his goldy pride because when he fell. Everything held dearly, fell along with that: the pride of being his parent’s child, to be the sibling of all he cares for, the love of another. 

He felt as if his immortal life was over, that there was nothing that he needed to look forward to, all he had to do was aimlessly wander the earth. What he did not expect, was when Hephaestus was thrown off of Olympus and to the mortal realm, he experienced something he had never experienced, love. 

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A/N: HANBDJBFSB sorry it took me so long to get back to writing, I wanted to write all the parts out and then post them individually. I feel less stressed when all the parts are already saved and such. But yeah- leave notes or feedback or anything. maybe even some other mythology x anime ideas. Let me knooooowww

with love,

sweet writer

[mr-ghoulish-bones]

⛧ Too loud ⛧

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

(I wrote this a while ago so I made some changes to it)

(Side note: I let my friend read this because I wanted her opinion on whether I should of posted this or not, and I shit you not she started crying good tears mind you and ngl that was all i needed. so I hope all of you cry even just a tiny bit I thrive off of your misery/j)

Sodo/dew: orange text

Reader: green text

Today just wasn’t your day, it just wasn’t going how you planned it in your head everything just seemed to go wrong and everything was just so god damn loud you couldn’t stand it. After what felt like years of having to put up with the other siblings of sin shit today, you just wanted to sleep just anything that you could use to escape the stress of today you’d take without hesitation. Walking through the empty halls of the ministry where the only sounds you could hear now were of you shoes clanking against the nice marble floor and the occasional rustling of your clothes as you walk. When you finally reached your room you open your door as quiet as possible because you were skipping the afternoon mass as you just couldn’t be bothered to attend after the terrible day you'd been having but you still didn’t want to get caught, quietly closing the door behind you practically throw on the first set of semi comfortable clothes you find, really anything you get out of your uncomfortable clothes you had been wearing.

Once you changed you made your way to your bed to lay down you proceed to bury yourself in a blanket and pillows hoping it’ll shield you from the chaos outside, you attempted to try and fall asleep but no to avail, after what feels like hours of laying in bed with your eyes shut hoping to sleep the rest of the day away, you start to hear someone talking from outside your door you can’t quite tell who it is and you can barely make out what they’re saying, but in the midst of you trying to figure what’s being said your thoughts get interrupted by your door being swung open surprised it didn’t break off the hinges and you were met with the voice of sodo announcing his entrance into your room.

“MIN KÄRLEK!!! ITS ME!!!”

(Swedish for my love)

This type of entrance wasn’t uncommon for sodo but today was just the wrong day he chose to do it, in response to the yelling and the loudness of the door almost flying off its hinges, you immediately cover your face with your blanket and cover your ears, you at this point were barely hanging on and so close to tears from the overstimulation, with Sodo noticing the reaction from you he immediately freezes in place trying to figure what was wrong after a few seconds of silence with your fire ghoul standing halfway in your room practically frozen trying to figure out what was wrong and you trying to hold back tears, he starts to approach the bed where you’re curled up in, when Sodo finally goes to speak again his voice softens and he changes the tone he’s speaking in to one not even you’ve heard before saying.

“My dear, are you alright? Did I startle you?” He says, sounding so loving yet almost scared,”sweetheart why are you hiding? I haven’t seen you all day. I've been so worried.” this time kneeling down in front of your covered face.He reaches to uncover your face, and in doing so he’s met with you with your eyes tightly shut and you covering your ears.

“Oh love…” his voice is now softer and almost sympathetic, he moves to brush some of your hair out of your face, and his hand ends up finding a place cupping your cheek.

You open your eyes only to be met with your masked ghoul. His head is tilted slightly to the side, you go to say something anything to him but there are no words that come out, instead you just start to cry. Your tears feel like acid on your skin you’ve been holding them in for so long, sure it’s relieving but for some reason it still hurts. Whatever it is it hurts, it hurts more than anything. You close your eyes and instinctively you go to cover your face again, in your mind you don’t want sodo to see you like this, no. you can’t have him see you like this especially now. After a few seconds the sound of your muffled crying was interrupted by a sudden loud thud of something hitting the floor.

“y/n….please don’t hide from me…please.” Sodo reaches to pull down your arms which you’re using to cover your face, in doing so you’re now met with Sodos face this time unmasked. His eyes are kind and there's still that loving look that was only for you, and there are still some long strands of his blonde hair still in his face after taking off his helmet.

“See, now neither of us are hiding anymore…”

He says, those words are sweet but still don’t make you feel any better about all of this. Hell this was the first time you’ve ever cried in front of sodo and you felt just so guilty for it no matter what he said to make you feel better. After what felt like ages you finally open your mouth.

“im sorry…..i-im so fucking sorry!…im sorry.”

That’s all that you can get out, his face doesn’t change much but you can see some form of pain or guilt behind his eyes, its starting to get harder and harder to tell, his hand reaches back to cup your cheek but this time he’s using his thumb to wipe away your tears as they fall.

“Shhhhh…it’s alright my dear there is no reason you should have to apologize, especially for something like crying.” He reassures but there’s something in his voice that makes it sound like he’s starting to choke back his own tears. “Love….please never apologize for something like this again…promise me.” You laughed a bit after he said that and him just seeing you laugh seemed to be enough for him to smile even just a tiny bit. “fine but I can’t make any serious promises.” Sodo rolled his eyes at this but still seems to be happy that you were starting to feel even just a little bit better,after wiping away a few more tears from your face, sodo pulls you in to a loving kiss and after a few moments he pulls away just to place another kiss on your forehead this time, when he pulls back both of his kisses still linger on your lips and forehead only for a few moments. Sodo looks at you with a smile this time enough for one of his fangs to show a tiny bit. “hey y/n, can you tell me what was wrong, or if there’s anything you want or need from me?” You’ll be honest you were dreading him asking you what was wrong because you felt like you’d sound stupid or like you were overreacting if you told him, so maybe you’ll hold off for now. “Hmmmm, I’ll tell you later maybe when I’ve fully calmed down, but there’s one thing I need from you, all I really need is for you to hold me again if you want to.”

Without a word Sodo immediately climbed into bed alongside you and pull you close to his chest,but still giving you room to adjust and get comfortable, when you finally got comfortable your head was close to his chest, his tail found a place wrapped around round your leg and one hand found its way to your waist and the other held the back of your head, and not long after getting comfortable Sodo started purring which made you start to drift asleep but before you could you had one last thing to tell your ghoul lover

“Thank you, thank you for being here….I love you.”

“Of course, I’ll always be here my dear, I love you too.”

That was the last thing you told him before you fell asleep peacefully in his arms, no matter how much your fire ghoul got on your nerves you knew you could never stay frustrated at him for long and you knew he’d always find a way to make it up to you.

End

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

(Authors note: HIIIIIII ALLISTER HERE!! I just wanted to say thank you for reading and here’s what happened when you woke up for those who wanted to know. when you woke up you ended up telling sodo what was wrong and he started to profusely apologize afterwards no matter how many may times you told him he was fine.)

[hannahlovesluca]

Hii can you do a fluffy scenario where mysta thinks that reader has forgotten their anniversary, but reader is planning something special in secret or something like that? is that ok? or not? its up to you thank youuuu <33

absolutely!! i love this man sm, so sad to see him gone.. hopefully im feeding the mystakes well 🧡

| Warnings: Angst to fluff, mild cursing

All I’ve Done - Mysta Rias

October 28th was the date. This was his favorite day of the year (besides your birthday, of course.) He loved the fact that he could shower you in affection, give you presents, show you how much he love-

“Mysta, honey, I’m going out with Pomu today. Girls day, you know?”

He did not expect to hear that as soon as he woke up.

You walked out of the bathroom, looking absolutely beautiful. Hair tied half up half down, earrings, a crop top and jeans… Oh my lord.. Mysta is snapped out of his thoughts when you speak again.

“Is something wrong? You’re quiet.”

Mysta shakes his head ‘no’, feeling disappointed. Although, he couldn’t let you see that. Maybe you were tricking him? Maybe this is a dream, even? He gets up off of the bed and walks over to you, his hands on your hips and head buried into your neck.

“Are you forgetting the date?” He asks softly.

You pause, seeming to think for a second. “I don’t believe so; its the 28th, right?” Your voice is so sweet, so oblivious.

It hurts his heart. You had forgotten something that meant so goddamn much to him.

“Baby, I have to go, I’ll be late.” You smile softly, giving him a kiss on the cheek before practically sprinting out of the room and through the front door.

Mysta finds himself just standing where he was for a few minutes, not finding any motivation to move. You really forgot. It wasn’t a question anymore, it was a statement. You forgot something that meant so much to him, something he had been preparing for since your first got together.

He walks backwards, falling onto his bed before silently crying.

………

As soon as you exit your shared apartment with Mysta, you dial Pomu’s number. It only takes three rings before she picks up.

“Hey, Y/N! Are you heading to mine?”

“On my way. Pomu, I feel so fucking bad, he has no clue what I’m planning; he really thinks I forgot.” You say, looking at the ground and kicking some rocks off the sidewalk whilst still walking towards her apartment.

……..

Once you arrive at Pomu’s house, you see that she had already put up the hundreds of decorations you had bought at Walmart a few days ago, as well as bought the cake and had it on full display in the kitchen. It was a marble cake with beautiful white icing with flowers laced onto the sides, pink icing on all the edges, and in the middle, in orange writing, spelled out:

“I love you, Mysta.”

You’d admit, you were hesitant buying this many decorations, you were hesitant with how time consuming it would be to plan this out,

But, you were so incredibly happy with how it turned out.

Now, the last step, was to text Mysta. Pomu had already left the house, she wanted you guys to be on your own. You thanked her repeatedly for the act of service she had done for the both of you.

Within seconds, you had texted Mysta to come over. Saying that you wanted to give him a fashion show with all that you had bought with Pomu in Diamond City. Of course, he immediately responded, agreeing to come over.

It really only took like five minutes, but it had felt like hours of holding this godforsaken cake in both of your arms, and smiling at the front door. You had already told Mysta that there was a spare key hidden in the bushes outside Pomu’s house, and to invite himself in.

He did just that.

The door slowly creaked open, gray hair and teal eyes peaking into the house. It took him a few seconds to realize who was standing there with a cake, and what the cake had written on it.

“I love you, Mysta.”

Not only was it a beautiful sentence in itself, but it was the first thing you had muttered when you confessed your feelings towards him. Had you remembered this whole time? Why else would you get him a cake?

He took his leisurely time to walk towards you, placing the cake on a nearby table and just embracing you. His arms were wrapped around your sides and his head, once again, was buried in your neck.

“I guess I kind of love you, too.”

………

A/N: AHHH I HOPE THIS IS OKAY… im sorry its super short but i just woke up an hour or so ago and i did this without my glasses so if there are any mistakes im so sorry 💔💔 i hope the mystakes r being fed…

[comatosebunny09]

You've been putting off that oil change for far too long, sis.

You can't ignore that angry, red oil lamp leering at you from the dash much longer. So, you call a mom-and-pop shop to schedule an appointment for an oil change. And to your surprise, they have an opening right now!

Sure, you don't want to shell out the coins to keep your car running. Rather spend your money on booze, food, and whatever other oddities get you through the weekend. But you're an adult now. You've got 'sponsibilities. You want to trade that car in for a Mercedes someday.

Right?

You whip down the sunny highway, weaving through traffic. Pull up to the quaint repair shop you'd phoned earlier, still wearing your uniform and smelling like the struggle—it's inventory week. Lots of heavy lifting, sweating, and hating your life. 

It's surprisingly clean inside despite being low-key. Freshly painted, ivory walls. Glittering tile floors. Smells like bubblegum and lemon interweaved with motor oil. Warm and homely in contrast to the biting cold outside.

A neatly-arranged lobby sits on your left, two rows of chairs flanking the wall-mounted T.V., abuzz with the weather. Ceiling high windows permit sun rays to shine through. To your right is a marbled counter with a black top, unmanned, tidy stacks of paper, and intricately arranged business cards adorning it.

The door behind the counter is cracked open, a conglomerate of drilling, whirring, and shouting over heavy machinery pouring in. You ring the bell perched on the counter's edge to get serviced. Wait a few beats. Convinced no one will hear you over all the ruckus going on outside, you turn around to lean against the counter, thoroughly engrossed by your phone.

You don't notice when he sneaks in. Situational awareness has always been shit despite your profession. Hear him before you see him, his tone like static tearing into a quiet room. You flinch, spinning around to face the room's new occupant with squinted eyes.

"Good morning, Miss!" says this blond mountain of a man, throwing you off kilter. "How may I assist you?"

He's all teeth and sunshine, this guy. Towers a good foot over you. He wears sandy skin stretched over sharp features. Wiry, dark brows. Freckles stipple his nose. Dimples crater his cheeks. Wheat-colored hair bleeds into a deep crimson on his shoulders and frames his jaws. His face is smudged with what you assume is oil. But it does nothing to detract from how incredible he looks.

You can make out the virility of his body through the confines of his royal blue jumpsuit. Arms lean and bulging with veins pouring from his rolled-up sleeves. Homie clearly works out. He drums his thick fingers on the countertop. You gnaw on your lip, unconsciously imagining them wrapped around your throat...

Despite majoring in linguistics, you've suddenly forgotten how to speak. Mouth gaping like a fish. Eyes blinking rapidly. Your heart is pounding over time in your ears. You're scorching hot.

Breathe, girl.

Breathe.

When you've found your voice again, you clear your throat. Try to act all casual, like you didn't almost wet your panties. "I-I'm here for a nine-o-clock oil change."

"Ah!" he remarks as if you've unearthed the meaning of life. You resist snorting, watching this ball of electricity bounce around and fiddle with a clipboard. He passes it to you, grin never faltering, your nerves slowly draining away. "Please fill out all of the highlighted areas with your information!"

He's intense, sure. Like an ecstatic puppy waiting for its owner to toss a tennis ball. But he gives you good vibes. Smile is infectious. You can't help the ghost of one sliding past your lips as you grab a pen. Feel heat pervading your cheeks, and you glance down to jot down your info.

You slide the beach boy your documents and keys when you're done. He dangles them between you, chuckling at your choice of keychain. A gaudy, fuzzy, pink ball that's been through some things. You're suddenly self-conscious. A little more self-aware, with your hair sticking up at odd angles, your uniform coated with a film of dust, and the laces of your boots peeking out. Though, dude doesn't seem to notice or care.

He tells you to make yourself comfortable halfway out the door again. Motions to the coffee bar nestled beneath the T.V. Flashes you another thousand-watt smile. Says, "my name is Kyojuro, by the way," before going outside to bring your ride around back.

As you plop your weary bones into a chair in the lobby, you can't help wondering how someone that hot ended up working at a place like this.

But dammit, if you don't enjoy having something nice to look at while you wait.

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