#someone let him out of his CRYSTAL CLEAR glass closet

[numberfiveenterprises]

the robe five wears in season 3 makes him look like a raging homosexual and im tired of not letting my voice be heard...

[jinnieboosworld]

Ho Phase

Sunwoo x Reader

@deoboyznet @a-dream-bookmark @k-labels

Genre: Smut, RomCom

Part of The MeetCute Series

Summary: Y/n a college freshman catches her boyfriend of 4 years making out with a girl in their shared apartment. So after moving in with her best friend she decides to go through a hoe phase. So when she goes to her first college party she’s extremely upset when she meets a guy who makes her forget about her hoe phase completely.

Word Count: 5986

!!Minors Do Not Interact!!

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The apartment smelled like betrayal and overpriced candles—lavender and eucalyptus, her ex’s favorite combo. Y/N didn’t even need to see them to know. The telltale sounds of a Netflix drama playing faintly in the background and the muffled giggles from the bedroom made it crystal clear.

She opened the door to the bedroom slowly, not to give herself time to think, but to give them time to scramble. Predictably, her boyfriend—scratch that, ex-boyfriend—was tangled in the sheets with someone she vaguely recognized from his office party.

“Oh,” Y/N said, leaning casually against the doorframe. Her face betrayed nothing, though her pulse roared in her ears. “Am I interrupting?”

“Y/N!” he yelped, scrambling to cover himself. The girl next to him let out a shriek and disappeared under the duvet like a groundhog on February 2nd.

“Relax,” Y/N said, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m not here to fight. I’m here to pack.”

“Baby, I—” he started, but she held up a finger, silencing him with the same energy as a teacher about to hand out detention.

“Let’s not make this awkward. You cheated. I’m leaving. End of story.”

As he stammered out excuses, Y/N grabbed a suitcase from the closet and began filling it with essentials: her favorite jeans, skincare products, and that hoodie he always tried to claim but was way too good for him.

He was still talking—something about “miscommunication” and “it didn’t mean anything”—when she paused, holding up a pair of lacy underwear that definitely wasn’t hers.

She arched an eyebrow. “Miscommunication? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“Y/N, please—”

“Save it.” She stuffed the mystery lingerie into the suitcase, purely for dramatic effect, and zipped it shut. Turning to leave, she glanced back one last time, her lips quirking into a sardonic smile. “By the way, you should really wash those sheets. They reek of desperation.”

She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a deep breath. The anger was manageable, but the hurt? That was going to take a while.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Fifteen minutes later, Y/N was sitting cross-legged on her best friend Lia’s couch, inhaling greasy pizza and venting like her life depended on it.

“And then he had the audacity to stammer like he was the victim!” Y/N said, waving a slice of pepperoni for emphasis.

Lia snorted, handing her a glass of wine. “Men are predictable. You date a loser; you get loser behavior.”

“Four years, Lia. I wasted four years of my life on that guy.”

“Well,” Lia said, tilting her glass toward her, “here’s to starting over. Clean slate. No losers, no drama, and definitely no more ‘boyfriend’ nonsense.”

Y/N clinked glasses with her. “Amen to that.”

Lia grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. “You know what you need? A ho phase.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “A what now?”

“A ho phase,” Lia repeated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You’ve been playing housewife since you were eighteen. It’s time to cut loose. No strings, no commitments—just fun.”

Y/N took a sip of wine, mulling it over. “A ho phase, huh?”

Lia nodded, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “We’ll start tomorrow night. There’s a party at Zach’s place, and trust me, it’ll be crawling with eligible distractions.”

Y/N laughed despite herself. “Alright, fine. One party. But if it’s lame, I’m bailing.”

“Deal,” Lia said, raising her glass. “To your ho phase.”

“To my ho phase,” Y/N echoed, clinking glasses again. But as she stared into her wine, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was really cut out for this.

Still, one thing was certain: her ex was the past, and the future? Well, the future was wide open.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The Beginning: The Heartbreak

The apartment smelled like betrayal and overpriced candles—lavender and eucalyptus, her ex’s favorite combo. Y/N didn’t even need to see them to know. The telltale sounds of a Netflix drama playing faintly in the background and the muffled giggles from the bedroom made it crystal clear.

She opened the door to the bedroom slowly, not to give herself time to think, but to give them time to scramble. Predictably, her boyfriend—scratch that, ex-boyfriend—was tangled in the sheets with someone she vaguely recognized from his office party.

“Oh,” Y/N said, leaning casually against the doorframe. Her face betrayed nothing, though her pulse roared in her ears. “Am I interrupting?”

“Y/N!” he yelped, scrambling to cover himself. The girl next to him let out a shriek and disappeared under the duvet like a groundhog on February 2nd.

“Relax,” Y/N said, waving a dismissive hand. “I’m not here to fight. I’m here to pack.”

“Baby, I—” he started, but she held up a finger, silencing him with the same energy as a teacher about to hand out detention.

“Let’s not make this awkward. You cheated. I’m leaving. End of story.”

As he stammered out excuses, Y/N grabbed a suitcase from the closet and began filling it with essentials: her favorite jeans, skincare products, and that hoodie he always tried to claim but was way too good for him.

He was still talking—something about “miscommunication” and “it didn’t mean anything”—when she paused, holding up a pair of lacy underwear that definitely wasn’t hers.

She arched an eyebrow. “Miscommunication? Is that what we’re calling it now?”

“Y/N, please—”

“Save it.” She stuffed the mystery lingerie into the suitcase, purely for dramatic effect, and zipped it shut. Turning to leave, she glanced back one last time, her lips quirking into a sardonic smile. “By the way, you should really wash those sheets. They reek of desperation.”

She slammed the door behind her and leaned against it for a moment, letting out a deep breath. The anger was manageable, but the hurt? That was going to take a while.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Fifteen minutes later, Y/N was sitting cross-legged on her best friend Lia’s couch, inhaling greasy pizza and venting like her life depended on it.

“And then he had the audacity to stammer like he was the victim!” Y/N said, waving a slice of pepperoni for emphasis.

Lia snorted, handing her a glass of wine. “Men are predictable. You date a loser; you get loser behavior.”

“Four years, Lia. I wasted four years of my life on that guy.”

“Well,” Lia said, tilting her glass toward her, “here’s to starting over. Clean slate. No losers, no drama, and definitely no more ‘boyfriend’ nonsense.”

Y/N clinked glasses with her. “Amen to that.”

Lia grinned, leaning in conspiratorially. “You know what you need? A ho phase.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow. “A what now?”

“A ho phase,” Lia repeated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “You’ve been playing housewife since you were eighteen. It’s time to cut loose. No strings, no commitments—just fun.”

Y/N took a sip of wine, mulling it over. “A ho phase, huh?”

Lia nodded, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “We’ll start tomorrow night. There’s a party at Eric’s place, and trust me, it’ll be crawling with eligible distractions.”

Y/N laughed despite herself. “Alright, fine. One party. But if it’s lame, I’m bailing.”

“Deal,” Lia said, raising her glass. “To your ho phase.”

“To my ho phase,” Y/N echoed, clinking glasses again. But as she stared into her wine, she couldn’t help but wonder if she was really cut out for this.

Still, one thing was certain: her ex was the past, and the future? Well, the future was wide open.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The bass from Eric’s party was so loud it practically had its own gravitational pull. Lia was already dragging Y/N through the front door before she could come up with an excuse to leave.

“Okay, ground rules,” Lia said, gripping Y/N’s arm as they weaved through the crowd. “No sulking in the corner, no long rants about your ex, and absolutely no turning down free drinks.”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “Got it, Mom.”

“I’m serious!” Lia said, pausing to adjust Y/N’s top, which she claimed needed to show “just a little more clavicle.” “Tonight’s about you. Fun, freedom, and maybe a little chaos.”

Y/N laughed, shaking her head. “Fine. Fun, freedom, chaos. Got it.”

They made their way to the makeshift bar in the kitchen, where Lia handed Y/N a solo cup filled with something suspiciously blue. “What is this?” Y/N asked, eyeing the drink.

“No idea,” Lia said, taking a sip of her own. “But it’s strong, so drink up.”

Y/N took a tentative sip, grimacing as the sweetness hit her tongue. It tasted like regret and gummy bears, but she wasn’t about to back down.

“See? You’re already having fun,” Lia said, grinning. “Now, go mingle. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Before Y/N could protest, Lia disappeared into the crowd, leaving her alone in the chaos. She sighed, leaning against the counter and sipping her drink. Maybe this whole “ho phase” thing wasn’t for her after all.

And then she saw him.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

He was leaning against the wall across the room, a red solo cup in one hand and an easy, confident smile on his face. His dark hair fell perfectly into place, and his eyes had a mischievous glint that made him look like he was always on the verge of saying something outrageous.

He caught her staring and raised an eyebrow, his smile widening into a smirk.

“Uh-oh,” Y/N muttered to herself, turning back to her drink.

A moment later, she felt someone step up beside her.

“Deer in headlights,” the guy said, his voice low and teasing.

Y/N glanced at him, narrowing her eyes. “Excuse me?”

“You’ve got that look,” he said, leaning against the counter next to her. “Like you’re wondering how the hell you ended up here.”

“I’m wondering how you ended up here,” Y/N shot back.

He laughed, and the sound was warm, like honey drizzled over a snarky comment. “Fair. I’m Sunwoo, by the way.”

“Y/N,” she said, taking another sip of her drink.

“Y/N,” he repeated, like he was testing the name on his tongue. “So, what brings you to the circus tonight?”

“My friend dragged me here,” she admitted. “Apparently, I need to ‘cut loose.’”

Sunwoo raised an eyebrow. “And how’s that going so far?”

“Well, I’m talking to you, so… mediocre at best,” she said, her lips twitching into a smile.

He grinned. “Ouch. Guess I’ll have to step up my game.”

Before she could respond, someone called Sunwoo’s name, and he glanced over his shoulder. “Looks like I’m needed,” he said, turning back to her. “But I’ll see you around, Y/N.”

And just like that, he was gone, disappearing into the crowd like a magician after the big finale.

Y/N shook her head, trying to ignore the way her heart skipped a beat.

“Fun, freedom, chaos,” she muttered to herself. “What could possibly go wrong?”

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The music in the party was pounding louder now, the bass vibrating through the floor as Y/N stood alone by the counter, nursing her drink. She couldn't get Sunwoo out of her head. The way his smirk lingered when he looked at her, the playful way he talked—it was all too much.

What had just happened? One

conversation, and she felt like her whole night had shifted. She didn't know whether to feel embarrassed or excited.

Then, just as her mind began to race, she saw him again.

Sunwoo was making his way across the room toward her, his confidence unmistakable.

When he reached her, he leaned in close, the scent of his cologne making her pulse quicken.

"Back again, huh?" His voice was low, teasing, but there was something in it that made her heart race.

"Couldn't stay away," she said, surprised at how easily the words slipped from her lips. "You must be getting desperate."

He grinned, eyes twinkling.

"Not desperate. Just interested."

"Interested in what exactly?"

Y/N couldn't help but ask, arching an eyebrow.

Sunwoo's gaze dropped to her lips for just a second before flicking back to her eyes. "In you."

The words hung in the air, heavier than anything she could have imagined.

Y/N's breath caught. She

swallowed, trying to focus on something-anything-other than the feeling of his

presence overwhelming her.

"I'm not really the kind of girl who does this kind of thing."

He smirked, leaning a little closer. "Lucky for you, neither am I."

Y/N couldn't resist the urge to glance at his lips again, her heartbeat thundering in her chest. Was this really happening? Could it be this easy? She had sworn off relationships, but this... whatever this was with Sunwoo, felt like an escape.

Before she could say another word, Sunwoo closed the gap between them. His lips brushed lightly against hers, a tentative touch that sent sparks flying through her. Her pulse spiked. She hadn't expected it to feel like this, not with someone she'd just met.

His hand found her waist, pulling her closer, and she didn't resist. The heat between them intensified, and before she knew it, she was kissing him back, responding with the same urgency. His lips were soft but insistent, and Y/N felt something unfamiliar stir inside her-something she couldn't quite name but wanted to explore further.

She pulled away just enough to breathe, but Sunwoo wasn't having it. His lips found hers again, this time deeper, hungrier.

One of his hands slid to her back, pressing her body against his. The chemistry between them was undeniable.

"Are you sure about this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, her body already responding to him in ways she couldn't control.

Sunwoo's grin was sly. "Are you?"

Y/N closed her eyes, shaking her head. It didn't matter. The night had already taken a turn she hadn't planned, and part of her wanted to see where it went. She wasn't just going to let the moment slip away. Without thinking, she kissed him again, deeper this time, pulling him in even closer. He responded immediately, his hands roaming as his body pressed against hers, both of them forgetting about everything else in that moment.

The noise of the party, the people around them, it all faded into the background as Y/N allowed herself to focus on the only thing that mattered right then: the way Sunwoo made her feel.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting a soft glow across the room. Y/N's head was spinning, a mix of alcohol and the lingering heat of the night before. She groggily blinked, her body aching in all the right places, and for a brief moment, she forgot where she was.

Then, she heard it—a soft snore.

Her gaze shifted to the bed beside her, and there he was, sprawled out next to her.

Sunwoo. His dark hair was a mess, his lips slightly parted in sleep, and his arm was draped over her waist, pulling her closer even in slumber. It didn't take long for the memories of the previous night to come rushing back.

The kiss. The way their bodies had moved together in perfect harmony. The heat. The connection.

She exhaled sharply, guilt flooding her chest. What had she just done?

Y/N gently shifted away from Sunwoo, careful not to wake him, and grabbed her phone from the nightstand. The harsh reality of her situation settled in-she'd really gone and done it. And she had no idea what this meant. Was this just a random hook-up?

A one-time thing? Or did it mean something more?

Her thoughts spiraled as she swung her legs off the bed, feeling the aftermath of their passion in the soreness that radiated through her limbs.

As she stood, trying to steady herself, she froze when she heard Sunwoo shift behind her.

"Morning," he said, his voice still rough with sleep but warm and inviting.

"Where are you going?"

Y/N turned around, trying to play it cool. "I was just... getting some water."

Sunwoo grinned sleepily, pushing himself up onto his elbows. "Sure. Water. You're running away already?"

"I'm not running," she lied, her voice tight as she grabbed the glass from the side table and took a long sip. Her hands were shaking, and she couldn't understand why.

The silence between them was thick, and Y/N couldn't decide if it was awkward or just... new. Sunwoo didn't seem to mind, though. He sat up fully, stretching his arms over his head, revealing the toned muscles of his chest.

Y/N's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly looked away, trying to regain some semblance of control.

Y/N bit her lip. "It was just... a thing," she muttered, her gaze flicking to the window. "A one-time thing."

The words left her mouth, but they didn't feel right. The way she'd felt in his arms— there was no way it could've been just a "thing." But she wasn't ready to admit that.

Not to herself, and definitely not to him.

Sunwoo was silent for a moment, and for a brief second, Y/N wondered if she'd said too much.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Sunwoo’s lazy grin never faltered as he watched Y/N, sensing her unease but not pushing her to explain herself. He sat up fully now, stretching his arms above his head, his toned chest catching the morning light. Y/N’s gaze instinctively dropped to the defined muscles of his torso, and she quickly averted her eyes, trying to regain her composure.

He seemed to find amusement in her discomfort, but he didn’t tease her too much. Instead, he let the silence hang for a beat, the air between them thick with something neither of them were quite ready to address.

“So,” Sunwoo said, breaking the tension with his usual playful tone, though there was a glint of something more serious beneath the surface, “If it was just a ‘one-time thing,’ it must’ve been a pretty damn memorable one, huh?”

Y/N’s heart skipped at his words, but she quickly masked her emotions with a shrug. “Yeah, it was memorable,” she muttered, not quite meeting his eyes as she stared into her water glass. The words felt wrong coming out of her mouth, but she didn’t let herself think about it too much. She wasn’t going to let herself feel anything more than what she was willing to admit.

“Right,” Sunwoo said, his voice still teasing, though now it had a hint of something deeper. “And what happens now?”

She shook her head quickly, her words coming out almost too fast. “Nothing,” she replied with a tight-lipped smile. “It was just… fun, you know? No need to make it complicated.”

Sunwoo raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “Complicated? Who said anything about complicated?”

Y/N could feel her pulse quicken at the way he looked at her, but she ignored it, forcing herself to stand up. “I need to get dressed,” she said, her voice more clipped than she intended. She wasn’t going to let this moment become more than it was. She wasn’t going to let him become more than just a one-night thing.

Sunwoo didn’t press her any further, though the disappointment in his eyes was subtle enough to make Y/N’s chest tighten. But she wasn’t going to deal with that. Not now.

As she grabbed her clothes from the floor, she heard him mutter under his breath, “I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”

The words hung in the air as Y/N dressed quickly, trying not to let herself dwell on the emotions that threatened to rise up inside her. She wasn’t going to let herself fall for him. She wouldn’t.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, she finished dressing and grabbed her phone from the nightstand. Sunwoo still sat on the bed, his eyes following her, but he didn’t say anything else. He didn’t need to. Y/N knew what he was thinking, but she wasn’t ready to admit it.

“Thanks for… last night,” she said, her voice clipped as she moved toward the door. It was the only thing she could think to say without letting her emotions show.

Sunwoo didn’t respond immediately, but as she reached the door, he spoke, his tone softer now. “Anytime, Y/N. But you know, it doesn’t have to be a one-time thing.”

Y/N didn’t look back as she stepped into the hallway, the words echoing in her head. She wasn’t going to let herself believe it.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Y/N was grateful for the crisp autumn air that greeted her as she stepped outside Lia’s apartment complex. Her thoughts swirled like the golden leaves at her feet, but she didn’t stop walking. She needed space, clarity—anything to quiet the noise in her head.

The night before was unforgettable, but she was determined to reframe it as just a night. Nothing more, nothing less. A mistake she wouldn’t let happen again.

“Why does he have to be so…” she muttered to herself, her boots crunching against the pavement. “So smug. So charming. So… Sunwoo.”

The very thought of him made her heart race, which only frustrated her more. This wasn’t part of the plan. She was supposed to have fun, be carefree, and maybe kiss a cute guy or two. Not whatever this was.

She turned the corner onto campus and was immediately met with familiar chatter and bustling energy. Students crowded the sidewalks, clutching their coffee cups and rushing to classes. The normalcy of it all was oddly grounding.

Until she saw him.

Sunwoo, leaning casually against a lamppost just outside the student center. His dark hair was still messy from the morning, but now it looked intentional. He was talking to someone—a girl, smiling and laughing at whatever joke he’d just made.

Y/N’s stomach twisted.

“What the hell is that?” she muttered under her breath. The jealousy hit her before she could rationalize it, and it annoyed her to no end. She had no right to feel this way. It was one night. One damn night.

Still, she found herself ducking behind a nearby tree, peeking around it like some lovesick teenager.

“What are you doing?” a voice whispered behind her.

Y/N jumped, spinning around to find her best friend grinning like the cat that ate the canary.

“Nothing!” she hissed, trying to compose herself.

“Oh, please,” her friend said, crossing their arms. “You’re staring at him like he hung the stars in the sky. Didn’t you say this was supposed to be a one-time thing?”

“It is!” Y/N insisted, though the heat rising in her cheeks betrayed her. “I’m just… making sure he’s not following me or something.”

Her best friend snorted. “Right. Because he’s so obsessed with you that he’s hanging out with other girls just to get your attention.”

“Exactly!” Y/N said, before realizing how ridiculous it sounded. “Wait, no. That’s not what I meant.”

“Uh-huh.”

Before Y/N could argue further, Sunwoo’s voice carried over the noise of the crowd. “Y/N!”

Her heart dropped. She turned to see him walking toward her, a lopsided grin on his face. The other girl was gone, and now it was just him. And her. And the increasingly smug expression on her best friend’s face.

“Hey,” Sunwoo said, his tone casual but his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Yeah, funny how that works on a campus full of students,” Y/N replied, trying to sound indifferent.

Her best friend coughed something that suspiciously sounded like liar and wandered off, leaving them alone.

Sunwoo tilted his head, studying her. “So, did you sleep okay?”

Y/N rolled her eyes. “Why are you asking?”

“I don’t know. Just being polite.” He shrugged but didn’t stop smiling.

“Well, thanks for your concern. I’m fine.”

“Good,” he said, stepping closer. “Because you seemed a little… tense this morning.”

Y/N crossed her arms, determined not to let him get under her skin. “I’m fine, Sunwoo. Really.”

He leaned in, his voice dropping just enough to make her pulse quicken. “You sure about that?”

“Yes,” she said firmly, though the way her voice wavered betrayed her.

Sunwoo didn’t push further, but the look he gave her was enough to send her thoughts spiraling again. There was something about him—something infuriatingly magnetic—that she couldn’t shake.

“Anyway,” she said, clearing her throat and stepping back, “I’ve got class. See you around.”

Before he could respond, she turned on her heel and walked away, determined not to look back.

But she felt his gaze on her the whole time.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

The music pulsed through the dimly lit house, the bass reverberating in Y/N’s chest as she nursed her second drink of the night. Lia had dragged her out again, insisting she needed to stop moping and have some actual fun.

“You’re supposed to be in your ho phase, not your hermit phase,” Lia had joked earlier, handing Y/N a cup before disappearing into the crowd.

Y/N leaned against the wall, scanning the party with a mix of boredom and apprehension. That was when she saw him. Sunwoo. Of course, he was here. He seemed to be everywhere lately, infiltrating her thoughts and now her weekends.

He was standing across the room, chatting with a petite girl with long, wavy hair. She laughed at something he said, her hand brushing his arm, and Y/N felt her stomach churn.

“Why do I care?” she muttered to herself, taking a bigger sip of her drink.

But no amount of rationalizing could stop the jealousy that bubbled up, uninvited and undeniable.

Lia appeared out of nowhere, a sly smile on her face. “You’re glaring. It’s kind of terrifying.”

“I’m not glaring,” Y/N snapped, too quickly.

“Oh, totally,” Lia said, leaning against the wall beside her. “You’re just admiring the decor. Very intense admiration.”

Y/N groaned, tipping her head back against the wall. “I’m not jealous.”

“Did I say you were?” Lia teased, grinning.

“Go away,” Y/N muttered, though there was no heat in her voice.

Lia patted her shoulder. “Relax. I’ll be back later to pick up the pieces of your denial. Have fun!”

Y/N rolled her eyes as Lia disappeared again, leaving her alone with her thoughts—and her drink, which was disappearing way too quickly.

Before she knew it, Sunwoo was standing in front of her, that infuriatingly charming smirk plastered on his face.

“Hey,” he said, leaning in slightly to be heard over the music. “You’ve been avoiding me all night.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, but she played it cool, crossing her arms. “I’ve been busy. You know, doing my own thing.”

“Sure,” Sunwoo said, his tone light but his gaze unwavering. “Your own thing involves staring at me from across the room?”

“I wasn’t staring,” she shot back, though her cheeks betrayed her with a faint blush.

Sunwoo chuckled, stepping closer. “Right. Just like you’re not jealous right now.”

Y/N scoffed, trying to ignore the way her pulse quickened. “Why would I be jealous? You can talk to whoever you want.”

“Good to know,” he said, but the teasing lilt in his voice was gone. He tilted his head, studying her with an intensity that made her want to squirm. “What’s wrong? Seriously.”

Y/N looked away, the sudden sincerity in his voice throwing her off. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine,” he said, his voice quieter now.

“Why do you care?” she snapped, the alcohol loosening her tongue more than she intended. “Go back to your fan club.”

Sunwoo frowned, his brows knitting together. “Is that what you think? That I’m just messing around?”

She didn’t answer, and that seemed to frustrate him even more.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice soft but firm, “you’re jealous.”

“I’m not!” she insisted, but even to her own ears, the words sounded hollow.

“Then why are you acting like this?”

“Because!” she started, but the words caught in her throat. She had no good answer. At least, not one she was ready to admit.

The tension between them crackled like static, and before she could think of something else to say, Sunwoo leaned in, his lips crashing against hers.

Her cup slipped from her hand, forgotten, as she grabbed his shirt to pull him closer. The kiss was heated, desperate, and all the feelings she’d been trying to bury came rushing to the surface.

When they finally pulled apart, both breathless, Sunwoo rested his forehead against hers.

“You don’t have to say it,” he murmured, his hands still on her waist. “But stop lying to yourself.”

Y/N swallowed hard, her mind racing. For once, she had no witty comeback, no sarcastic remark. Just the sound of her heart pounding in her ears and the weight of his words sinking in.

Still caught in the heat of their argument-turned-kiss, Sunwoo grabbed her hand, leading her out of the party. Y/N followed without hesitation, her emotions spiraling somewhere between anger, attraction, and confusion.

Back in Sunwoo’s room, the tension between them spilled over, escalating into another round of feverish kisses. Sunwoo’s usual teasing demeanor was replaced with a raw vulnerability, and Y/N found herself letting her guard down in a way she hadn’t expected.

Their intimacy was both passionate and tender, the playful edge of their earlier encounter now replaced by an undeniable connection. In this moment, Y/N couldn’t deny that there was something deeper between them—something she wasn’t ready to name but could no longer ignore.

Afterward, lying tangled together, Sunwoo broke the silence.

“You’re not just a fling to me, you know,” he murmured, his fingers brushing softly against her arm.

Y/N, still trying to steady her racing thoughts, whispered, “Don’t ruin this by talking.”

But her walls had already begun to crumble.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Over the next few weeks, Y/N’s life became a whirlwind of accidental run-ins, teasing banter, and stolen moments with Sunwoo. He seemed to be everywhere—at the coffee shop she frequented, the campus quad, even the library during her late-night study sessions.

“Fate, maybe?” he would say, his signature smirk making her stomach flip.

“Or just bad luck,” she’d retort, though her flushed cheeks always gave her away.

Lia, of course, noticed immediately.

“You’re acting like a teenager with a crush,” Lia teased one evening as they lounged on the couch.

“I do not have a crush,” Y/N insisted, her voice rising an octave.

Lia raised an eyebrow. “You literally turned down a guy at the bar last night because he wasn’t Sunwoo.”

Y/N groaned, throwing a pillow at her friend. “That’s not what happened.”

“Oh, it is. You’re basically doodling his name in your notebook at this point,” Lia said, laughing.

Y/N crossed her arms, glaring. “I don’t like him. He’s… annoying!”

“Sure,” Lia said, rolling her eyes. “And I’m Beyoncé’s backup dancer.”

Meanwhile, Sunwoo wasn’t making things any easier. Every time he saw her, he would grin like he knew something she didn’t.

“You’re cute when you’re in denial,” he said one afternoon after catching her staring at him during a group study session.

“I’m not in denial,” Y/N shot back, her face heating.

“You keep telling yourself that,” he said with a wink, before returning to his notes like he hadn’t just derailed her entire focus.

Despite her protests, Y/N couldn’t shake the growing warmth in her chest whenever he was around. But she refused to acknowledge it. Admitting it would mean accepting that she’d broken her vow of no attachments, and she wasn’t ready for that.

“Denial,” Lia would sing-song whenever Y/N tried to change the subject.

But deep down, Y/N knew there was only so much longer she could keep lying to herself.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

It was late in the evening when Y/N found herself wandering the campus courtyard, trying to clear her head. The events of the past few weeks had her spiraling—Sunwoo’s constant presence, the teasing, the way her heart betrayed her every time he smiled.

She spotted him across the courtyard, sitting on a bench with his headphones in, scrolling through his phone. For a moment, she considered walking away, but Sunwoo looked up, as if sensing her presence. He grinned and gestured for her to come over.

“Fancy seeing you here,” he said, his voice light.

Y/N crossed her arms, standing a few feet away. “We go to the same school. It’s not exactly a miracle.”

“True. But you don’t usually come looking for me.”

“I wasn’t looking for you!” she said, too quickly.

Sunwoo tilted his head, his smirk softening into something gentler. “Why do you always push me away, Y/N?”

Her heart sank. His question caught her off guard, and for once, she didn’t have a snappy comeback.

“I don’t…” she started, but her voice faltered.

“You do,” Sunwoo said, standing and closing the distance between them. “It’s okay, you know. You don’t have to keep pretending.”

“Pretending what?” she said, her tone defensive.

“That you don’t like me,” he said softly.

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. She opened her mouth to deny it, but the words wouldn’t come.

“You’re infuriating,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sunwoo chuckled. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“I didn’t say yes!”

“But you didn’t say no,” he pointed out, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Y/N groaned, covering her face with her hands. “Fine. Maybe I like you. Happy now?”

Sunwoo gently pulled her hands away from her face, his touch warm and grounding. “Ecstatic,” he said, his voice sincere. “Took you long enough.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t fight the smile tugging at her lips. For once, she stopped resisting the fluttering in her chest and let herself feel it fully.

“You’re such a pain,” she muttered.

“And yet, here you are,” Sunwoo said, leaning in closer.

She didn’t pull away this time.

⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Dating Sunwoo wasn’t something Y/N ever expected, yet here they were, strolling down the campus quad hand in hand. Lia had teased her mercilessly that morning, recounting how Y/N had finally admitted to liking him, but Y/N ignored her best friend’s jabs. She was too busy replaying how Sunwoo had kissed her after her confession, how his smile hadn’t left his face all night.

“You’re awfully quiet,” Sunwoo said, glancing at her with a smirk.

“Just thinking,” Y/N said, rolling her eyes when she noticed his expression.

“Thinking about how great I am?”

“Hardly,” she replied, though her heart betrayed her by skipping a beat when he laced their fingers tighter.

Stopping by a campus bench, Sunwoo tugged her down to sit beside him. His usual teasing demeanor softened as he looked at her. “I know this is new for you. For us. But I meant what I said—I’m not going anywhere.”

Y/N’s chest felt lighter than it had in weeks. “I know,” she admitted.

“And just so we’re clear,” Sunwoo added, grinning now, “this means your ho phase is officially over.”

“Who says I’m done?” she teased, nudging him playfully.

“You did. The second you confessed.”

Y/N laughed despite herself, leaning her head on his shoulder. “Guess you’re right. But don’t let it get to your head.”

“No promises,” Sunwoo said, pressing a kiss to her temple.

[wynnyfryd]

Trailer park Steve AU pt 67

part 1 | part 66 | ao3

cw: recreational drug use

Waiting around to die or get arrested or whatever fucking sucks. Partly because there’s no running water (Steve’s never wanted to take a stress shower so badly in his life) and partly because Eddie won’t let him stay sober. Has it in his head that altering Steve’s mental state will keep Vecna away, like hanging a mosquito net over the opening of a tent.

It’s not not working, he guesses.

He hasn’t fallen in to any more hallucinated open graves, at least.

He comes down the stairs a little before noon, towel-drying his hair after a bottled water sink bath, and finds Eddie in the kitchen: Reeboks on, hair a cotton candy mess, head-to-toe teddy bear tie-dye under his leather jacket — a matching shirt and sweats that he fished out of Rick’s dresser. He’s stirring Spaghettios in a small pot at the stove, and when he sees Steve come in he turns to offer some, the wooden spoon held out with a sort of desperate perkiness. “Morning! I found food that isn’t expired. You want some?”

Steve shakes his head.

Eddie shovels the whole spoonful into his mouth; wipes sauce off his chin, speaks before he’s finished chewing. “I also found blotters in the freezer and shrooms in the bedroom closet, so uh. Pick your poison.”

Steve picks the shrooms. They wait a few hours to take them because Eddie swears the sunset while you’re tripping is unparalleled, man, although Steve kind of suspects that he’s just giving him time to work up the nerve to eat them. He still gets nervous about chemicals — probably always will, after the shit the Russians did.

In the meantime, Eddie rummages through Rick’s cassette collection, and Steve talks to Robin on the walkie; gets all the new details in staticky half-sentences — something about mind flayers and mental hospitals, what else is new? He tells her to be safe; tells her that he loves her; keeps his eyes trained on the clock.

—

Shrooms smell and taste like ass. Steve can’t stomach them; spits into the grass while Eddie laughs sympathetically and hands him a little square of paper to put on his tongue instead, and they spread out side by side on a few old beach towels by the water and wait for it to kick in.

Nothing, at first, not that Steve expected different. Twenty minutes; forty-five.

“Still nothing?”

“Nothing.”

And then.

Eddie holds up a glossy aquamarine pebble, squinting at its glow in the late afternoon sun. “I should give this rock to Skye. Bet she’d love it.”

“That’s a shard of glass.”

Eddie blinks at it. “Oh, shit.”

Steve snorts, and when he looks at Eddie sideways there’s a glimmer of that same cerulean shade outlining his whole body, a low-frequency feather of energy rolling off of him in waves. Eddie moves his arm and the color chases it, a long-exposure photo of high beams on rain-slick roads.

“Oh,” Steve says, mouth slack. His voices echo in his head; all six of them. “I think I’m…”

“Yeah?” Eddie asks, eyes alight, pupils blown.

“Yeah.”

All at once something slots into place, attunes itself inside of Steve, and it’s like… he can see Eddie’s mind; touch it, cradle it, reach out to it with its own. It feels crazy. Psychedelics are fucking crazy. He reaches out a hand, slicing through ribbons of shimmering light, tasting the colors as they fade, and Eddie’s emotions spread out in high-definition before him — like the image has always been there but now it’s crystal clear; someone’s shifted his focal point, filled a kiddie pool with Epsom salt and left him there to float.

“I see you,” he says nonsensically.

Eddie frowns. “I’m sorry.”

“…That I can see you?”

“I usually am.”

That’s not right. Eddie’s thoughts shouldn’t sour on his account, shouldn’t sag in the middle like a moldy tangerine. “I can close my eyes?”

“Fuck,” Eddie laughs, thin and strained. “Don’t say shit like that when I’m not allowed to kiss you.”

“You’re not?”

He hesitates. “Am I?” Antsy fingers drum the grass, overgrown with vibrant clover and dandelion stalks. “Just feel like we should talk first, if uh, if it’s safe.”

Steve probes his own mind, tests it for outside threats, but there’s nothing. The acid forms a fractal fortress. Penrose steps, paradoxical and strange. “It’s safe.”

He moves to lie on his side, invites Eddie to do the same. “Talk into the kiss,” he suggests when Eddie joins him — face to face, chest to chest, Steve can see the thrum of Eddie’s heartbeat in the hollow of his throat; wants to press his thumb to it, so he does, the sense memory of ripe cherries bursting on his tongue.

Eddie’s lips against his own; hovering. Static electricity like the scent of summer rain. “I think my pride makes me a coward.”

Steve rubs his dry lips across Eddie’s, chapped skin and shared heat.

“It’s like… I kept trying to tell myself that I was being… I don’t know, valiant, or some shit? Like, ‘oh, he’s so much better without me. I’m the town pariah; I’m keeping him safe by running away.’” He thumps his fist against his heart as if beating a shield to shining armor, and Steve can’t see his eyebrows with their foreheads pressed together, but he can feel Eddie scrunching them into a picture-perfect hero frown. Almost has to laugh — so fucking theatrical even when he’s serious.

“But if I’m honest,” Eddie murmurs, “it wasn’t like that at all. Nothing fucking brave about vanishing on you. Like, what?” His voice shifts again, lilting but critical, a comedian doing crowd work. “I get a liiiittle fucked up by townies two too many times, and I sabotage my whole life over it? Ruin the best thing I’ve ever had over it? As if this goddamn horseshit hasn’t been happening to me since— forever! Shit.” He blows his bangs out of his face; calms himself. Goes a little cross-eyed trying to look Steve in the eye. “I got scared, Steve. There it is. That’s the ugly truth of it.”

He swallows harshly in the dense silence that follows.

Robins chirp; cars pass.

The lake laps at the shore and casts prisms like fishing line, spiderwebs of rainbow light flashing behind Steve’s eyelids. He brings his hands up to Eddie’s face.

“Christ.” Eddie shudders; lets himself become dead weight, rubbing his cheek into the touch, warm stubble scratching over the pads of Steve’s fingers. “Am I making any sense? I feel like I’m not making any sense.”

Yes. No. “You’re making sense. I mean. As much as anything is right now.” The sandy brown freckles on the bridge of Eddie’s nose are swirling like snow flurries. Steve traces them with curious hands. His knuckles blur and swivel, too. “You left because… you wanted to protect me from… yourself?” He sums up, not sure if he’s getting the math right.

“I left because I’m a scared little shit who couldn’t handle getting bullied in a parking lot, but uh. Yeah. I guess I, like, didn’t want to…” His eyes go big and startled, cheeks flooding bright pink. “Oh, shit, I was about to say I didn’t want to curse you, Jesus Christ.”

Steve honks with laughter. Loud and deep and punched out without warning, because the irony of that — that there’s a literal big bad running around cursing people, and the person who was actually doing some real good in his life decided that he was the problem — it’s fucking— hilarious! Hysterical! Steve giggles himself sick, lungs burning as it tapers to a silent wheeze, and Eddie joins him, confusion giving way to compulsion; contagion in the manic giddiness spewing out of Steve.

“You thought—” Steve struggles through hiccups, tears beading in his lash line, “you thought you were the bad luck charm in this relationship?”

“Don’t mock me!” Eddie whines, still laughing. “I already said it was dumb.”

“It’s so dumb.” Eddie may be the cutest, dumbest thing he’s ever seen. He rubs his thumbs over his cheekbones, smile fading. “If anyone’s a curse, it’s me.” Four for four here on getting dragged into supernatural shit. Does Eddie really think homophobes are more dangerous than hell dimensions?

Eddie’s already shaking his head. “You’re a fucking blessing.”

Warmth radiates through Steve, drips from the crown of his head like a downpour of holy water. He feels anointed. Ascended. He feels— “Please tell me we’re allowed to kiss now.”

Their mouths crush together, impossible to tell who moves first, whose tongue is in whose mouth, whose desperate breath Steve swallows as Eddie rolls him onto his back. Hands roam and pull and clutch, molding the shape of him into the earth. Maybe someday, Steve thinks, if aliens invade, they’ll study these imprints like crop circles, trampled declarations of how much Steve loves this boy. “God,” he gasps into the kiss. “Missed you so much.”

“So much.”

“Don’t do that to me again. Don’t go.”

“Never,” Eddie swears. His grip tightens on Steve’s waist. “Never again, baby, I fucking promise. I think I—”

On the far side of the house, leaves crunch and branches snap as a car pulls up the drive. Boots on pavement, rowdy voices; unfamiliar; red alert.

“Spread out, boys!” the voice of Jason Carver bellows. “If that Freak’s in here, we’ll find him.”

—

part 68

tag list in separate reblogs under '#trailer park steve au taglist' if you'd like to filter that content. if you want to be added please comment and let me know (must be over 21; please either verify in the comment or have your age visible on your blog)

[spectrs]

can you write a smut with erik lensherr with the female reader where they are on a mission at a party and suddenly they need a change of clothes due to which they rush to the washroom and the reader asks him to enter her stall to help her with the zip of her party wear and .....yk.....things get frisky..

thank you so much for the request!! i apologize for this taking two months to write (i swear i wanted to finish it sooner but i couldn't due to personal problems.) thankfully it's now finished, and i hope you like it as much as i do <3

---------------------------------------------------

erik lehnsherr x afab!reader

missions with erik are always risky, mainly because of the indisputable attraction between you two. so when your dress zipper gets stuck during a quick change and he’s the only one who can help, things get awfully scandalous. 

WARNINGS - (this is an 18+ fic, minors dni!) semi-public sex, fingering, praise, (not sure if that counts as a warning but i'm putting it regardless)

WORD COUNT - 3.0k

The dim light of the candles was the only thing illuminating the room, the air flowing through the vents occasionally whipping around the dying flames. The room still had a considerable amount of people, yet most of them had already cleared out. You stood to the side, one hand lazily holding a crystalized glass, the other tightly grasping the drive you had come to collect. 

Your eyes scanned the room, looking out for anyone you knew who shouldn’t have been there. The only stragglers left were the wealthy slobs who were waiting for some stripper to whisk them away to a private room. The only one you truly focused on, however, was Erik. Of course, he was disguised to blend into the crowd, but so far you were the only one who knew he wasn't supposed to be here. 

He was leaning against the fireplace, a drink in hand and an almost irritating smirk on his face. The grand gestures his arms were making and the sound of fluent German flowing from his mouth suggested he was bragging about some fake financial or political achievement. The others stared at him, not in awe or disgust, but more in interest. You had only been in this area of Germany for a couple of days, traveling around for the mission Charles had sent you on. It hadn’t been entirely worthless since you and Erik managed to pick up some useful information along the way. The only thing you had a problem with was the fact that he had been getting oddly restless. 

Of course, you knew it was nothing to worry about, since Erik would never let whatever feelings he had disrupt him from the mission. But it still concerned you. 

He didn’t look restless at that moment, though. He looked comfortable and arrogant, which is a look you thought you had forgotten about. Your eyes traveled up to the clock, its gothic hands reading half past nine. You looked at him again, this time with your eyes locking onto each other. You gave him a slight nod and he turned back to the crowd, most likely getting one last comment in.

You heard the groans and disgruntled German as you walked to the nearest bathroom, speeding up as you heard the quiet footsteps of someone behind you. The double doors that had been a common appearance in the hotel came into view, and you slowed down slightly. The dark yet beautiful hallway was void of people, letting the click of your heels echo through. 

Taking a quick look around to make sure no one was there, you opened a closet door and grabbed a duffle bag lying in the shadows. Your hand held onto the rough handle while the other closed it slowly, then pushed the double doors open and walked in. 

The large bathroom was empty as well. You sighed with relief, plopping the bag down and bending down to carefully stuff the drive against one of the walls. You stood back up, kicking it into a corner and walking over to one of the many sinks. Like the hallway, the room was empty and the muffled sound of a vent was the only sound reaching your ears. You stopped in front of a sink, staring straight into the mirror. 

Your appearance was only a little disheveled, mainly because of the continuous motion of running your hand through your hair. Other than that, you still looked presentable.

The sudden sound of the door opening made you whip around and immediately reach for the gun strapped to your thigh. Instead, a sigh of relief left your mouth as Erik walked in, hands empty and a somewhat relieved look on his face as well. He saw you, letting his eyes travel down to the hand wrapped around your gun, and his lips curled into a smirk.

"Were you preparing to shoot me?"

You sighed, letting your hand fall away to rub at your temple. “I would’ve if you didn’t give me a warning. No one’s following you, are they?”

“No.”

“You double-checked?”

“Yes. Do you have the bag?”

You gestured to the corner, and Erik’s eyes followed your hand to the duffle bag. He turned to look back at you, giving you a look as to confirm.

“Yes, the suits and drive are in there. I made sure,” you sighed.

With that, he walked over to it, quickly undid the clasps, and threw a bundle of gray and yellow fabric at you. You caught it immediately, letting your hands glide over the fabric before turning towards the nearest stall. 

“Remind me again why we need these stored away in this…”

“Bag that’s almost completely destroyed?” you asked, turning back to face him.

“Yes.”

“Erik, you know why."

"Just tell me again," he said irritably.

"It's a precaution. We don't want anyone knowing of our mission, so we wait to put on the suits until after the plan's first phase. That way, no one suspects us."

He made a noise of understanding, and you turned back around. Ignoring the sudden rustling behind you, you walked over to the stall, pushed the door open, and locked it behind you. You carefully slipped the heels off your feet, then started to roll the tights down your thighs.

“So,” you started. “What lies were you telling them this time?”

You knew a smirk was adorning his face as he spoke. “The typical lie.”

“Oh, you mean the one where you’re a foreign governor who happens to be traveling through Germany? Or is it the one where your rich slob of a father is dying and you’re here to represent him?”

He scoffed, most likely at the fact that you memorized the lies he usually went with on missions. “Actually, it was neither.”

“A new one? Indulge me.”

“My father was involved with the Nazis and his dying wish was for me to finish what he started.” You could hear the grimace in his voice. You knew he wasn’t proud, but you also knew how determined he was to rid the world of the people who had caused him so much pain. 

“Well, it definitely worked. They were completely fucking enamored with whatever emotional story you fed them.”

“I could tell.”

It was your turn to scoff, not only at Erik’s words but also at the fact the stalls were so small. The only clothing left was your dress and underwear, the rest scattered on the floor. Your hands snuck to the back of your dress, skillfully undoing the zipper about halfway. You felt it snag, and you groaned in irritation, tugging on it harder. 

“Fuck…” you mumbled.

“What’s wrong?”

“The zipper is stuck.”

Instead of a verbal response, you heard his stall door open and a knock on yours. Hesitation stopped your brain from unlocking it, but with a sigh, you clicked the lock open and let the door move away from you.

Half of his clothing was gone. It shouldn’t have bothered you since you were so close, but you couldn't help the blush creeping up your cheeks as you studied him. His shoes were gone, and so was everything on his upper half, which gave you a clear view of his chest. Your eyes analyzed him longer than they should have because suddenly you feel his fingers grabbing hold of your chin and pulling your face up to look at his.

His hand was warm and rough, and his fingers caressed only the parts of your jaw they could reach. His mouth was curled into a small smirk, but his eyes held that restless look again.

“Mein schatz, did you need help with your dress or did you just want me to come out so you could stare at me?”

Your face blazed with heat, and you embarrassingly looked down. Slowly, you felt him turn your body around, and his hands found themselves on your bare back. They took hold of the zipper and slightly tugged up, then smoothly slid it down the rest of your back. The sleeves were now clinging onto your shoulders, threatening to fall off and leave you bare in front of him. 

Your skin grew hot as his hands traveled down further, leaving a trail of heat in its wake. Your movements stopped him from moving further, and his hand dropped to your sides as you faced him. 

You gazed up at him, finally realizing what it was that made him so agitated. The way his hands glided over your bare arms and the way his eyes darted to your lips was so obvious, yet so intoxicating. Your eyes met his, and with one swift movement, his arms grabbed your waist, pulling you flush against his body, and his lips landed on yours.

While your mind chastised you for getting yourself into this position, you couldn’t help the way your body melted into his. Your arms quickly wrapped around his neck for support, hands getting tangled in his hair. He kissed you softly, not bothering to rush or use much force. He was being so tender yet so strong. His body pushed slightly into yours and slowly guided you away from the stall.

You gasped when your back hit the counter, not remembering he turned your bodies around and abandoned the stall in back of him. Your mind had been overrun by the euphoric feelings he was giving you, and that realization made you pull away.

“Erik, we can’t-”

Another non-verbal response. He only lifted his finger to your mouth in a shushing motion. Your eyes met, and you finally understood what was causing his restlessness. 

“Let me take care of you.”

A command when said by the right person, but also a silent plea. From him, it was both. His eyes were terrifyingly dark from lust, and his stoic expression wasn’t hiding it. It felt like your lungs were collapsing underneath the look. A whimper left your lips when his fingers pressed into your waist, persistent for an answer.

“Please.”

You looked at him fully, surprised to hear the desperation in his voice. You swore to yourself you could hear your hearts racing. The whole situation was overwhelming, if you were truly being honest with yourself. Just listening to your fast breathing, feeling his hands clutching your sides, having his face so close to yours. You wanted to convince yourself you shouldn’t. There were so many reasons not to give in, but you couldn’t bring yourself to care at that moment. The only sign of reply you gave him was a small nod. He immediately sprang forwards to capture his lips with yours again, sealing your fate.

Erik’s finger tapped against your flesh and he broke away, which told you to lift yourself onto the counter. You did, and his mouth found yours again. Unlike the first time, this kiss was more desperate, more forceful, more restless. Now that you knew why, it made you lean into the kiss even more. Your hands wrapped around his shoulders once again, leaving your hands to tangle in his disheveled hair.

You felt his lips detach from yours and you opened your mouth in protest, but all that came out was a whimper as his mouth sucked at the side of your neck. You pulled him closer, needing to feel his body against yours. He peppered kisses along the side of your neck, only stopping to suck at your collarbone. His muttering of praises and your gasps were the only sounds you were focusing on. 

Slowly, his hands pushed your short sleeves down your arms and his head went lower, leaving a glistening trail of wet kisses down your chest. A particular bite on the side of your breast had your back arching into his body. All of the teasing had made you steadily wetter, and your core screamed for any sort of friction.

"God, you're beautiful."

Another muffled praise. His voice was deeper and you could feel his mouth curling into a smirk against your skin. The feel of his tongue was making you absolutely feral. He reached the center of your left breast, his tongue swirling around the peaked nipple. Your back arched into the feeling and a moan slipped past your lips. His hands dragged your dress down until it bunched at your hips, and when he finally looked up at you, you almost melted.

His lips were glistening with spit, his face was slightly flushed, and that goddamn smirk was still adorning his face. Your eyes lingered for a moment, silently admiring his state, then you grabbed his face and brought it to yours for another hungry kiss. While your hands held his head in place, his hands still had free reign, and one of them slipped under your dress to skim over the area that craved his attention. 

He groaned into your mouth as his fingers slowly glided over your clothed cunt, the feeling sending a shock throughout your body. 

“Have you always been like this for me? Completely soaked and pleading for my attention?”

Once again, Erik’s words were muffled as his mouth attacked your collarbone again, but you nodded in response. You felt his hand slowly push your underwear to the side, exposing your core to the cold bathroom air. His thumb rubbed the center in small circles, and that was all your mind could focus on. 

You let out a small whimper as his finger left your clit and his mouth left your skin. Instead, he looked down at his fingers dripping in your arousal, then back at you. 

“Open.”

You obliged quickly, opening your mouth wide as he slipped his fingers in. Your tongue happily sucked at the essence, another groan leaving his mouth as he felt you lick his fingers clean. 

“You’ve been waiting for this, haven’t you?” he asked, his pupils so dilated you could barely see the green of his eyes. You smirked at him, giving him a look he knew all too well. With that, he removed his fingers from your mouth, kissed you, and slipped those same fingers into your cunt.

His mouth swallowed the loud moan you let out at the feeling of his fingers stretching you out. You had wanted this for so long, wanted him, but you feared he would reject any sort of advancement you made. Now, from this moment, you knew that would never have been the case.

His hand thrusted in and out of your cunt, and the movements made it feel like your veins were set alight. The stretch felt so amazing, so needed, and when he added another finger, you swore you were going to pass out from the ecstasy. His mouth assaulted yours, and your back was flat against the counter with his body towering over yours. Before you knew it, you felt the familiar feeling start to build up in your stomach.

“Please, go faster Erik.”

You thought you would’ve needed to beg more, but he complied almost immediately, his fingers speeding up and curling against your g-spot. Your moans and whimpers got louder, and your body couldn’t stay still. You thought you felt his arm press down on your hips to keep you still, but the only thing you were aware of was the pleasure building up in your abdomen.

Your cunt clenched around his fingers, and his thumb quickly pressed against your clit, pushing you over the edge. White obscure your vision and your eyes rolled to the back of your head as you came on his hand, your body and mind choosing to ignore everything except the pure euphoria. His fingers were slowly coaxing you through your high, and as you came down from it, you felt them leave your cunt. 

Your chest was heaving and a thin layer of sweat coated your skin. Erik’s hands rested at your bare hips, his body still in a relatively normal shape. 

“How long have you been wanting to do this?” Your voice was quiet and raspy, and his eyes rose to meet yours.

“Ever since we left New York, my dear.”

A mix of a scoff and a laugh left your mouth. “Of course you have.”

He smirked, then let go of your hips to offer you a hand. You gratefully took it, relying on his weight to steady you as you slid off the counter. A trickle down your thigh made you look down to see your soaked inner legs, and you let out a groan.

“How the fuck am I supposed to clean this up well enough?” you mumbled. You looked around and spotted your discarded tights still on the floor. You stumbled towards them, letting go of Erik’s hand to pick them up and clean the mess between your legs. When you looked up to throw them away, he gave you a look.

“My skin will be sensitive for a bit, who cares? At least it won’t stick to my suit.”

He just rolled his eyes and gestured to the ruined tights. “You’re going to regret it later.”

All you did was smile at him as you walked back into your stall, lock the door, and lift your suit up. You sighed slightly, eyes roaming over the yellow and black design. You stepped into it and put it on easily, zipping it up and walking out of the stall to see him in the same thing. You scowled, hating the way you only acknowledged how good he looked. 

Clearly noticing the look you gave him, he dropped the duffle bag, pocketed something, and walked over to stand in front of you. 

“Don’t tell me you’re admiring me again, my dear.”

You looked up at him and smirked. “How could I not?”

Instead of returning the gesture, he leaned down and placed a chaste kiss to your mouth. Soft, quick, and one to leave a light touch on your mouth for the rest of the night.

“While I appreciate the kiss, Lehnsherr, I’m going to murder you if this ruined our mission.”

--------------------------------------------- TAGS - @low-keylover @logans-soulmate

[coffe-book-club]

✩‧₊ coffee, coffee, coffee *༄

info: boss tom kaulitz x staff manager fem! reader

summary: your boyfriend and boss of the coffee shop where you work, decides to take away your role as staff manager after you broke two coffee cups, without even notifying you.

disclaimers: none in particular, just a little bit of agnst and a little bit of a love quarrel. mini one shot

the moon had taken over the dark blue sky adorned with numerous shining stars, it was now closing time and i was near the counter bending over the floor to pick up the ceramic shards of the cappuccino cups.

by mistake a boy had bumped into her and with the loss of balance the tray had slipped from her hands and she had dropped the cups, her owner was finishing cleaning the shot glasses and was watching her in silence, but she knew he was angry.

tom was walking towards her with an expression of fury, his lips were clenched together and his cheeks were flushed, the other employees looked on in shock, this is the first time they saw him angry. tom looked at her for a few seconds before asking her in an ice-cold voice: “how dare you be so clumsy?!”

she look up slightly, her face flushed with embarrassment as she continue to put the ceramic shards back on the plastic tray. “i didn't do it on purpose, i'm sorry”

since they had started hang out outside of work, he had started to be much more strict with her at work. tom stayed quiet for a few seconds as he looked at her with a cold and sharp expression, he let out a sharp inhale before speaking again: “i don’t care if you did it on purpose or not, but this is unacceptable! how dare you be so clumsy?!”

he kept staring at her with that same sharp and cold expression that seemed to pierce right through her, other employees watched nervously as they feared that he’ll blow his top and fire her.

a small sigh leaves her lips making her look down again as she finish picking up all the ceramic shards. they had spent a quiet morning together, they had slept together the previous night and then went to breakfast together and now he was angry with her. “i'm sorry”

tom let out a small grunt of irritation before speaking again with a cold and sharp tone: “well, you should be.” he stayed quiet for a few seconds as he stared at her again before speaking again with a little less sharp tone: “do you know how much those cups cost?”

he stayed quiet for another few second as he stared at you with a cold expression, he then finally said with an annoyed tone: “they’re expensive, you have to be aware of that!” he stayed quiet again for a few second before speaking again but with a bit less of an annoyed tone: “i’m going to take the cost of those cups out of your pay, are we clear?”

a light snort leaves her lips it wasn't the first time he deducted money from her paycheck even when it wasn't her fault, she was the staff manager and every time someone made a mistake she had to pay the consequences. even though tom and her were dating.

as soon as she finish collecting all the ceramic shards from the two cappuccino cups, she straighten herself up again with the plastic tray in her hands, placing it on the bar counter, and then pass tom to go get the broom and dustpan from the closet. “don't you think you're exaggerating? they were cappuccino cups not crystal goblets, you will buy others again...”

she answer him in a flat tone of voice going towards the changing rooms where there is a small closet nearby where inside there is the counter and the cleaning products, the broom and the mop. my colleagues didn't say a word, they remained silent as they finished cleaning the cafè.

tom stayed silent for a few seconds, he seemed to be thinking about what you said, he then spoke again with an annoyed tone: “oh, so now you’re trying to tell me how to run my business? this is why i deduct money from your pay, you seem to think that you can just do whatever you like” he stayed quiet again for a few seconds as he looked at her with that same sharp and cold stare, she began hearing the other employees whisper around her.

she avoided replying so as not to have to continue arguing with him, walking past him without even turning to look at him. going along a small corridor to go to the back bar where there is the wrong room for the employees and next to the small closet, to take the broom and the red plastic dustpan. the closet had no windows, it was small and gave off a slight smell of a closed and slightly dusty room.

tom seemed annoyed by her not replying but he didn’t say anything else as he stared at her and she walked past him, he seemed to be thinking as he watched her.

the small room where you went to was in the corner of the coffee shop, it was a tiny room with no windows and it smelled slightly dusty as her picked up the red plastic dustpan and broom to clean up the broken cappuccino cups.

through a text message from a colleague of hers. she learned that her boyfriend, before closing the bar, had made some phone calls to look for someone to replace her and take over her role as manager of his employees, after four months' training and half.

when she read that message she had just returned home and her heart sank into an abyss of sadness. she had always been committed to her work, trying to give her best and make the work of her colleagues easier, always taking responsibility for their mistakes and tom hadn't even told me about it, he had just acted. tom had decided to replace her because he felt that she were too lenient with the employees and he was becoming tired of her letting them get away with small mistakes, so he decided to hire someone who would take over her role as manager and be more strict with the employees as he felt that’s what his business needed. he hadn’t told her because he didn’t want to make it seem like he was replacing her because he was tired of her, he just wanted to appear professional and didn’t want to make it seem personal.

hi 🍒 how are you? it's been a very intense week at work and now i find myself with absurd pain in my feet, shoulders and arms 🥲 but right now my dear mother is making strawberry jam in the tavern and the house is filled with that delicious aroma of sweetened strawberries with an aftertaste of vanilla, which makes my mouth water. anyway, i had this one shot in the drafts for some time and i couldn't wait to publish it, because years ago i read a fan-fiction on the wattpad platform starring kim taehyung (v) of bts and as the main place it was a coffee shop. i hope you have a wonderful day. xoxo flo.

[kandadiff]

Van Der Wulff : Paradise & Hell

~

"Good morning, Mrs. Mendes. What would you like for breakfast?" She asked again when you didn't respond. You blinked at her, unsure what she was talking about. Mrs. Mendes? Was Shawn's grandmother or aunt here? Wait? Where were you?

You pulled the covers off of you realizing you were not in the same dress as you left in the night before. Instead you were donned in expensive silk pajamas. Ones that you did not own. Your heart started beating faster as the memories of the previous night invaded your head. You remembered the red lips and maniacal laugh of Mister J and for a moment you wondered if thats were you were. Was he playing a prank on you by having someone call you Mrs. Mendes.

"Shall I let you rest more?" The maid said, a bit irritated by your lack of response. You blinked at her again and shook your head.

"Where am I?" You asked trying to sound put together and not borderline terrified. What if you were with J and Robin caught you? you were sure anything that might have happened between you would surely dissipate if he found out. Plus, Xavier-

"Santorini." Your thoughts were quickly silenced by her saying your location. Her accent was thick when she said your whereabouts making you conclude she must be a local. Which meant you weren't in California because you knew Spanish accents and this was not it. Where the hell was Santorini?

"Excuse me?"

She looked at you as though you were stupid but quickly fixed her face and shook her head as she made her way into the closet. you got up and followed to hear her. "The great country of Greece. Master Mendes did tell me you've never been here before but I find that hard to believe." She said coming out of the closet with three different outfit definitely not appropriate for the winter weather you were used to in Northern California. "He never showed his fiancé his favorite house?" She shook her head and looked at you. "These clothes should be good for you today. Master Mendes says he has a few things to handle this morning but will be back to take you out on the town. You're free to explore the grounds but he insisted you have a guard."

She threw all this information at you so fast you had to sit down to gather your thoughts. You fell into a push arm chair by the large window and gasped. The view was breathtaking, the sea reminded you of thousands swarovski crystals gleaming under the clear blue sky. Stark white architecture complimented the beige stone of the mountain this paradise seemed to be built on.

Noticing you staring the maid opened the windows - which weren't windows at all. Instead they were floor length doors that lead out into a patio where a small table and two chairs were. "You'll have breakfast outside." She pinched your cheek. "Need more food in you, how will you bare him sons? - too skinny." She tauted.

"wait-" You were confused and the way your head pounded promised a lasting hangover. "Excuse me!" You called out to her but she was already out of the door. Leaving you utterly confused until you finally saw the ring on your left ring finger and her words clicked together in your head. The diamond shining up at you menacingly.

"Fiance?!"

~

I kept screaming and screaming and screaming until my throat felt like I had swallowed shards of glass. Then full of swirling emotions, I crawled on the bed and cried. I cried remembering the last thing I said to my parents was 'I hate you both!' I cried knowing if I died here Robin would think I left him again. I cried thinking no one would know where I was because I had broken my phone and didn't tell anyone my plan. I cried until my hiccups became to much and I nearly hyperventilated.

I turned on the shower in the corner, running the cold water over my face and I looked around. The sheer depressive nature of the bedroom I was held captive in was enough to almost get me to cry again. Almost. Instead, I took a few sheets of the toilet paper that sat on the lid of the toilet and wiped my eyes.

I can't cry anymore. I have to get out of here. I will get out of here. This was just a game, a game of survival. My parents trained me for this since I was adopted by Harley and J. I could play Luthers game and I could beat him and when I did I would kill him. He was no longer Naomi's father or my English professor. He was the enemy and he needed to be destroyed.

My hands shot to the necklace Harley had given me when I was 5 years old and Lloyd had given back to me just a couple of weeks ago and felt a renewal of some type of confidence. I was all my parents child and I could survive this and I could win it. All these emotions had to stay in check just until I could get to a phone or a weapon. I had to be smart about it. Luther would know I was lying if I suddenly pretended to be okay with this kidnapping. No, he would try and convince me - or threaten me. I had to stay on his good side - just long enough until I could make my move.

Or I could do it sooner then later?

I moved from the shower to the bed, yanking at the bed frame. The metal was lightweight - too light to be used as a blunt object but light enough to pierce through skin. I could use it as a spear. I yanked at the bed again, pressing my weight on the mattress trying to pull the metal apart. The frame was too steady. It wouldn't budge and I didn't have any tools to pull it apart. What did I have? I searched my dress. I shuttered thinking of Luther stripping me of my other dress and placing this plain ugly dress on me instead.

Nothing in the dress. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair. My fingers tangled on a few bobby pins holding a few curls back.... Okay I could use this! I ran to the door pressing the bobby pin into the lock. I bit my lip as I fiddled with the tumbler's of the lock until one of the pins snapped in my hand. Part of me wanted to scream but I bit my lip instead and shoved the broken pieces under the bed. Its okay. Its okay. I had more. I better save those.

I looked over the pins, never so grateful as I was today to have wild curls. I had 6 bobby pins left. My eyes shot at the door lock. I could risk another one but then I would just have 5 and who knows if he'd keep me down here. I placed three back in my hair and hid the rest under the mattress.

I quickly went over the rest of the room. Besides the bed, toilet and shower. There was a night stand full of Luther's favorite books and an empty wardrobe with a small mirror inside. I thought about breaking the the mirror but decided against it for now. Luther might notice any pieces I couldn't clean up plus what if I broke it and he walked in right as I did. I shook my head and kept looking but other then that the room was bare. I sighed and sat back down on the bed, staring at the door lock in silence until the door opened.

~

[inkwolvesandcoffee]

Imagine drinking moonshine with Forrest and (unintentionally) becoming tipsy.

TH Masterlist

- It’s no surprise Forrest knows how to hold his liquor. However, when he gets drunk, he gets absolutely ossified.

- But tonight he drinks even less than he usually does.

- Because he doesn’t want you to hurt yourself.

- He’d seen you leave the office earlier. He just came up the stairs as you left through the front door. You held it open for him, but he didn’t walk on as he usually does when it’s someone else.

- “Where you goin’?”

- “Home. I…,” you breath tapered and you swallowed hard to conceal your hurt as best as possible, “I didn’t make it. We terminated my contract and I’ve handed over my stuff.”

- His eyes flitted across your face, frantically looking for a lie that wasn’t there.

- You mustered your kindest smile. “Goodbye, Forrest.”

- You made to move past him, but he grabbed your arm like he did the night he dropped you off at the central station for the first time.

- You gave him a quizzical look.

- “Can we… during my break… coffee? You. Me.” His breath hitched and he grabbed you a little tighter. “Have a drink? After work?”

- He bit his lip and looked at you through his lashes, blue eyes luminous but shut away behind a thick wall of timidity. “At my place?”

- Knowing him enough to be certain he harbours no ill intentions towards you, you agreed.

- So here you are, seated on a worn leather couch in his apartment. The interior mixes modern luxury with rustic cabin vibes. Various wood tones are worked into decorations and bigger furniture pieces like the coffee table in front of the hearth, one of Forrest’s old weekend projects.

- The scent of cedar mixed with black tea, raspberries, and sandalwood hangs in the air while you two sit in front of the fire. In your hands, you hold the latest invention of the Bondurant brothers; pumpkin spice moonshine.

- If it isn’t the strong alcohol percentage that makes you choke, it’s the very strong presence of cinnamon. All the same, it makes for an easy drink.

- Being a lightweight, one glass is already enough to make you feel lightheaded. But one glass follows another and after the third you’re heavily leaning on the burly bear of a man next to you.

- In the meanwhile, there’s little conversation. In part because you share the language of silence, comfortable with one another without the need for words. But it’s also due to Forrest not knowing what else to talk about and not wanting to pry into what happened earlier that morning.

- Nonetheless, although he won’t admit it outright or even to himself, he’s glad you’re no longer colleagues for a very shallow reason.

- You’re no longer off-limits.

- He hates himself for using your state to push his own agenda a little bit, but he weaves his fingers through yours. You blink in surprise, but hum and snuggle up into him further while looking at your hands.

- “Can’t let you go home in this state.”

- “But I can’t stay here. I don’t wanna…” you frown, at a loss for words. It seems your brain has lost the battle war with the booze in your veins, rendering you unable to form a single coherent sentence. Doesn’t help his body is really warm and his mere presence offers the type of comfort you’ve been needing all day. “You know.”

- And he does, because he doesn’t need words to form a crystal clear explanation. “You won’t be. You sleep in my bed and I’ll sleep here.”

- “Grumpy wolf.” You chuckle at yourself. “Curled up by the fire.”

- The thought that passes through his mind at that moment?

- I’d rather be curled up next to you.

- “C’mon, time for bed.”

- “I’m not sleepy,” you protest, clutching his arm. “Stay here. At least for a little while longer.”

- He groans and then lets out a deep sigh through his nose as a smile slowly spreads on his lips. “You’re starting to talk nonsense. I’ll see if I have a toothbrush lying around too.”

- Gently he frees himself from your grip to prep his bedroom and find you your own toothbrush as well as pyjamas. He catches himself standing in front of his closet, smiling at the shirt and cardigan in his hands.

- Dreaming of how you’d look in them.

- Like you’re his.

- Woken up next to him.

- Back in the living room, he sees you’ve fallen asleep. You’ve toppled over and are basically sprawled over the couch.

- He grumbles about how you just had to fall asleep in the worst possible posture. Forrest picks you up and immediately stops his grumpy rambling when you curl up into his chest, humming contently.

- But it’s not only that which makes his heart stop.

- It’s also the prospect of having to dress you in the pyjamas he’s prepared for you. Now, of course he could put you to bed dressed as you are, but he wants you to be as comfortable as possible. And wearing jeans to bed is anything but that.

- He’s glad you’re sound asleep because you won’t be able to see how red he is while carefully manoeuvring you out of your clothes and into his shirt and cardigan. All the while, he makes sure not to touch you inappropriately, being wary about where his fingers touch you.

- He remains seated on the edge of the bed for a moment after he’s tucked you in. On the one hand, he’s overjoyed you’re with him, in his bed, safe and sound. On the other, he feels guilty since it’s because you lost your job you’re here.

- He runs a hand through your hair before he gets ready for a night on the couch.

- Come morn, you wake up to a glass of water with painkillers next to it as well as a wee note stating: “In case you need it”.

- You smile, take a painkiller, drink the water, and look down at your pyjamas. Had it been anyone else, you would have dreaded the thought at likely having been touched inappropriately. However, when it comes to Forrest, you don’t need that type of reassurance. Instinctively you know he respected you even in your unconscious state.

- In the kitchen, Forrest is busy making pancakes. The table has already been set. A pot of steaming coffee, yogurt with fresh fruits, a big mason jar filled with orange juice, and a reed basket with croissants and pains aux chocolates line the middle of the table.

- “Sleep well?” Forrest asks, briefly looking away from the pan. He’s clad in loose grey sweatpants, a matching cardigan, and a dark blue shirt portraying a dog snout. On his nose balances a pair of thick black glasses.

- “I did.” You stretch and bite your lip, only now aware of the trouble you caused last night. “Thanks for letting me stay. You didn’t have to.”

- “‘Course I did. It would’ve been irresponsible to let you go home when you’re not steady on your feet.” He gestures at the table with his spatula. “Sit. Eat.”

- “You had to sleep on the couch, though,” you mumble as you settle on the chair facing the kitchen. It’s not a bad view to wake up to, messy brown locks and broad shoulders working hard to put proper grub on the table.

- He puts a plate stacked with fluffy pancakes between the mason jar with orange juice and pot of coffee. “Dig in.”

- “Forrest?”

- “Hm?” He looks at you over the rim of his coffee cup. Normally he reads the paper during breakfast, but he gladly makes an exception for his secret favourite person.

- His secret girl.

- “Next time, sleep next to me. I was cold.”

- He almost spits out his coffee and quickly grabs the newspaper to hide his beet red face behind. Under his breath, though still crystal clear, he mumbles: “Next time.”

- And all the times to come.

Let’s end with the wee treasure I found;

Imagine doing this with him after some rounds of very steamy (and very passionate) sex🥰🤤

I went off with this one, but I have so many feels and Forrest is simply still one of my faves to write😅🥰

Tag list: @buttercup32sstuff @hecatemoon87 @potter-solomons @liliac-dreamer @vir-tual @alikaheroes @ilovemanypeople @zablife

[matsur1]

Mitsuya x reader, fluff, ABSOLUTE FLUFF, more fluff, even more fluff, yeah that's all

Word count: 805 words

You and Mitsuya weren’t on the same page. It’s not that you were enemies, it’s just that you two are very different from each other. And somehow, that made your heart beat in excitement knowing that you had a mission with him. Even if you both didn’t have the same energy, you still admired him and how strong of a man he is.

The mission involved fighting, of course. It also apparently involves a gang far from where you guys were at. Both of you had to take a train to get there. But to give context, this mission all started because some random punks decided to pick on Emma in the middle of nowhere, without knowing that her brother was “The Invincible Mikey.” He decided to assign the mission to you and Mitsuya because he was busy treating Emma food as an apology for what happened. Even though Emma had already told Mikey it was not his fault at all. But Mikey at the same time decided to pair you two for this mission because he thought it was time for you two to work together.

You and Mitsuya had somehow tracked down all three of the guys and decided to wait until no one else was passing by in the alley. Then, you both took your chance to make your move. You, making one of them pass out with a few kicks and hits at their vital points. Mitsuya took out two of them to give you less work, just like the gentleman he is.

As soon as the mission was done, both of you didn’t notice that it was already 11 pm. Mitsuya sighed and turned to look at you, “What are we gonna do now?”

“I dunno, you already texted Mikey that we just finished, right?” You asked. He replied with a hum representing a “yeah.” 

Then you both decided to sit down on a bench at a nearby park. Mitsuya sitting beside you, his head leaned back while you watched the cars pass by on the road.

“The moon looks beautiful.” You flinched at the sudden break of silence. Mitsuya moved his hand up and pointed his fingers at the moon. Then you soon joined him, also leaning your head back to take a good look at the moon. “Yeah, it su-“ a sudden ring cut you off. It was Mitsuya’s phone.

He looked away to check his phone. “It’s from Mikey,” he softly murmured. “He said he reserved a hotel room and the hotel isss - 8 blocks away from here, I suppose.” 

“Oh, well we should start going then.” You stood up energetically and stretched your body a little, earning a weak chuckle from Mitsuya. “Hm?” you asked in curiosity. “It’s nothing, we should go now, it’s getting late,” Mitsuya stated.

Then you both walked on the sidewalk in awkward silence until you both found the hotel you were supposed to be staying in. But… the moment you walked in the room, there was only ONE bed. Mikey sure knew what he was doing, Mitsuya thought.

“Am I seeing this right?” You seriously asked, “Do you see this too?”

“Clear as crystal, dear.” Mitsuya laughed. “Well, there’s another way to turn this situation around,” you grabbed a pillow from the bed and an extra blanket from the closet. You placed them down on the floor. “Yeah, this is good,” you decided. “You sure? Our places could be switched y’know,” Mitsuya disagreed. “Nah, it’s alright, I can make this comfy.”

Mitsuya let you be. Honestly speaking though, you struggled to find a position that could make you fall asleep. It took quite a while to find a good position. A random thought passed your mind, you wondered if he was able to fall asleep. A little moment later, your eyes finally shut. 

Later, you felt someone carrying you. You woke up but you hadn’t opened your eyes yet, “Oh shit,” he shout whispered almost slipping. “Please don’t wake up” Mitsuya gently whispered. You thought it was cute how he was so gentle with you. He acted like you were glass. A very fragile glass he absolutely can’t break. 

Then you felt yourself laid down on the bed. So soft, you thought. Then you felt the side of the bed slowly sink down. Feeling Mitsuya’s presence beside you. Then you also felt his hands run through your scalp and play with your hair. His soft but calloused hands from all the fighting and sewing he’s probably been doing. But nevertheless, it all felt satisfying.

But you slipped up. Accidentally leaning into his touch and letting a soft giggle out. Mitsuya stopped in shock, “Holy fuck Y/N. You were awake this whole time, weren’t you?” He blushed and moved his hand away from your hair to cover up his blushing face. 

A/n: this is also a tiktok inspired ff 😭

tiktok link: https://www.tiktok.com/@wattpadnightreader2/video/7082895447282453762?_t=8TB7QanWXzd&_r=1

© Matsuri

[captainscanadian]

Sanguis Sanguinis Mei | Bucky Barnes x Reader (Part 2)

MY MASTERLIST || NAYNAY’S MASTERLIST

Series Masterlist

Summary: It’s the Roaring Twenties, and when Natasha gets kidnapped by a hunter, Y/N teams up with James to save her. 

Word Count: 2435

Pairing: Vampire!Bucky Barnes x Vampire!Reader, Vampire!Natasha Romanoff x Hunter!Steve Rogers

Warnings: Death, Blood, Violence 

A/N: This fic is a collaboration between @i-am-a-closet-fanfic-fiend and myself, and we decided to write a Vampire AU in honour of Halloween. I’m really excited to share this with you all, because Naynay and I enjoyed writing this so much. Divider credit to @whimsicalrogers​!

At the turn of the twentieth century, Sir James decided to make the move across the pond, wanting a fresh start. Adopting the name of James Buchanan Barnes after the former president of the United States, and captivated by the American dream, he had managed to set up a speakeasy in Brooklyn. Before he knew it, his establishment became a safe place for all supernatural beings to unwind, and his business was booming as a result. 

“Read ‘em and weep, boys. Full house, aces over queens.” 

There was a chorus of groans from around the poker table, nearly loud enough to drown out the pretty bird singing. James smirked as he dragged the pile of chips towards himself. 

“Getting pretty low on chips there, Rumlow,” he taunted.

“Don’t worry about me, Barnes. I feel my luck changing.” The werewolf sneered. 

“I wouldn’t count on it. My lucky charm just walked in.” James remarked with a rather cheeky grin plastered across his face. 

Y/N hmphed as she approached the table, hearing his comment. James sat with his back to the club - proof of how confident he was in his ability to handle anything or anyone that came his way. Even if she did try to creep up on him. He turned to watch her saunter towards him, a vision in red and black fringe and crystals. 

“Lucky charm, hmm?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest. 

��Always.” 

“Well, well, well. Who’s this?” Rumlow leered. 

“Someone who will take great pleasure in ripping you to shreds,” Y/N stated in a bored tone before James could even muster a growl. 

Rumlow surged to his feet. “Listen, here you little bi-” 

Y/N had him pinned against the wall by the throat in the blink of an eye. “I’m listening. What were you saying?” she taunted as he gasped for air. “Nothing. Oh you’re sorry for even thinking about speaking to a lady like that. Not good enough.” 

“Doll,” James sighed with a clear hint of amusement. . 

She glanced back at him and pouted. 

“Really? Spoiling my fun already?” 

The older vampire quirked an eyebrow at her, and she rolled her eyes. “Fine.” 

She let the werewolf drop to the ground, stepping over him to make her way around the table. 

“We need to talk,” she said in a low voice. 

James nodded and stood up from the table. Snapping his fingers, two of his guards removed Rumlow, his friends following swiftly behind him. 

“Come with me.” He led the way down the hallway of the club to his office. “Drink?” he offered, pulling two glasses from his bottom desk drawer. 

“Do you have the good stuff? Or just the hooch you’re serving to the poor jerks out there?” She asked him, her lips curling into a smirk as she looked around his office. 

He shot her a mildly disdainful look. “You think I’d drink that bathtub gin.” He pulled two crystal bottles from the drawer. “My finest whiskey or fresh O-negative?” 

“Whiskey.” She stated, rather plainly. 

He nodded and poured them both a drink. “I take it this isn’t a social call, but it’s good to see you, doll.” 

A small smile graced her lips in spite of the serious nature of her visit. “It’s good to see you too, James.”

“Now, what’s wrong, sanguinis mei?” He asked her, a hint of worry evident in his tone. 

Warmth filled her chest at the term of endearment, and she was reminded of the first time he had called her that, all those decades ago during one of her first nights at Bran Castle. 

He had stopped by the guest room to give her her daylight ring, and found the young vampire feeling rather nervous about the choice she had made. While she had chosen to become a vampire, and had acknowledged that she had a lot to learn about this life, that did not mean that she was free of her guilt. She had killed the man who had tortured her, and surely, she had retained a bit of her humanity when it came to her guilt. 

Thankfully, Sir James understood all too well about the guilt, for he himself had always felt like a monster for the horrific acts he had committed in the war against the Ottomans. That night, they had bonded over that, and Y/N had realized that this man was not as cruel as everyone made him out to be. He had a big heart, but it seemed that only Natasha had been able to see that. After that night, so did Y/N. 

“Natasha missed our rendezvous.” She replied, letting out a nervous sigh as she sipped her drink. 

“What?” James quipped, raising his brow as he sat at his desk. 

“We were supposed to meet two days ago. Here. But she never showed.” She stated, clearly worried for her sire. “You know she’s not one to miss our rendezvous like this, James.” 

“Any idea on where she could be?” He asked. 

“There were rumors of a hunter in the area.” Y/N informed him. “I think he has her.” 

“What’s his name?” 

“Steve Rogers.” 

James growled. 

“I take it you know him.” She noted, not entirely surprised by his reaction. 

“We’ve never met, but he’s caused a few problems for me in the past.” He replied with a sigh. “I know his usual haunts. I’ll take care of it.” 

“We will take care of it.” She clarified, clearly not wanting to sit this one out. 

“No, you’re staying here, sanguinis mei.” James told her, though it came out sounding more like an order. 

“Like hell. She’s my sire,” she reminded him. 

“Which is exactly why I’m not about to put you anywhere near the man who kidnapped her.” He was clearly protective of her. 

“You’re not putting me anywhere. I’m going. End of discussion.” She stated, rather sternly. There was a time when she had been intimidated by him, but those days were clearly behind them. 

James cursed something in Romanian, which had become a habit of his. 

“That was rude.” she deadpanned; she clearly understood what he had said, considering that she had spent quite a few years of her immortal life in Romania. 

“You are just as infuriating as Natasha. Fine. If you insist, let's get you ready. As pretty as that dress is, it’s not exactly stealth.” As gorgeous as you look in it, he’d wanted to say, but he decided to refrain from that. 

“Honestly, I expected more from the famous Black Widow,” Steve Rogers mocked as he leaned against the wall. “But you really don’t have much fight in you at all. Do you?” 

Natasha snorted indelicately. “I have only ever fought people I thought were a threat to me. And you, Rogers, are most definitely not.” 

“We’ll see about that,” He marched forward dragging the chair she was strapped to across the floor towards the other end of the room, where a single window allowed in the first rays of daylight. 

“A lovely view. Your method of intimidation needs work.” 

His smile turned smug as he appraised her. “Taunt all you want. When daylight comes, you’re nothing more than a pile of ash. Just like the rest of your kind.” 

Natasha held back a scoff. Little did he know. That light wasn’t going to do anything to her. 

“You don’t look worried.” 

“Maybe I know something you don’t.”

He placed his hands over hers on each arm of the chair, leaning in close.  “Or maybe you think I’m as dumb as the other hunters you’ve come up against. Think again.”

Nat’s eyes went wide as the hunter slipped her daylight ring from her finger. Their existence was a well kept secret even among her own kind. She’d never met a hunter who knew about them. 

“Not so mouthy now are you?” 

Natasha swallowed the worry that was beginning to gnaw in her gut and offered him a saccharine smile. She needed to bide her time. “You’re going to regret this.” 

“No, Miss Rushman. I really don’t think I will-” 

“Think again,” James hissed as he placed a blade against Steve’s neck. 

Y/N moved quickly, dragging Natasha away from the window before releasing her. 

“Well, if it isn’t the man himself. James Buchanan Barnes, New York’s own godfather,” Steve greeted conversationally. 

“You’ve been a thorn in my side for a while now, Rogers, give me one reason I shouldn’t kill you right now.” The vampire growled, tightening his grip on the blade. 

“Because I'm more useful to you on your payroll.” The hunter stated, rather cockily. 

“Excuse me?” 

“Oh come on, you’re a smart man. I’m the best hunter there is. I’ve taken down more of your kind than I can count.” He boasted. 

“That’s not saying much,” Y/N sneered. 

Natasha hushed her with a warning look.  

“You’re not really selling me on not killing you right now, pal.” James pressed the blade harder. 

“Look, I’m not some fanatic. I know I’ll never kill every last one of you. But being a hunter is a thankless job. I figure if I work for you, I can get paid to kill vampires and whatever other monsters you want taken out. It’s a win win.” Steve explained, hoping that he could convince James. 

“Or I keep my money. Kill you, and put your head on pike as a message to all those who would cross me.” James suggested, his eyes burning bright red as his fangs peeked through his lips. 

Steve’s undoubtedly witty reply was cut off by a series of deafening howls. 

“Rumlow?” Y/N asked and James nodded. 

“What the hell is he doing all the way out here?” Natasha asked. 

“They probably followed us here hoping to get a shot at killing us,” James explained, more annoyed at the interruption than anything. 

“And why would they do that?” The red-head asked in confusion. 

“Why don’t you ask your protege over there?” 

“Y/N,” Natasha’s voice held a warning tone. 

“He was rude. So I pinned him to the wall. By his throat,” she added innocently. 

Steve barked out a laugh, which he regretted when the blade broke the skin. 

“Is this what it was like dealing with me?” Natasha questioned. 

The howling continued, moving ever closer.  

“It is still what it’s like dealing with you,” James shot back, gesturing to the situation at hand. 

Steve took the opportunity to wrestle out of the vampire’s hold, throwing his hands up in surrender. “Here, let’s make a deal. I’ll help with your werewolf problem. If I do a good job, you hire me. If I betray you, you can kill me.” 

“Win win,” James mocked. 

The wolves had surrounded the building and were clearly getting ready to launch an offensive. Steve returned the daylight ring and her weapons to Natasha before picking up two crossbows and two quivers of bolts. He offered them to James and Y/N. “Top floor has windows on all sides. You should be able to get off clean shots before they manage to climb the building.” He turned to Natasha. “You can come with me and we’ll take them on, hand to hand.” 

“No way. I’m coming with you. Natasha, Y/N. Cover us.” James argued. 

“You know these bolts won’t do anything to werewolves except piss them off right?” Y/N asked. 

“These will do more than that,” Steve assured her. 

Natasha plucked one from the quiver and examined the tip. “Silver plated. You really are smarter than the average hunter.” 

“Told you.” 

A grating voice cut off the interaction. “Come out, come out, Barnes. We’ll see whose luck is holding out tonight.” 

James shared a look with both Natasha and Y/N before nodding once. They disappeared up the stairs, taking positions at opposite windows. 

“So why did you let him catch you?” Y/N asked conversationally as she took aim at a hulking brute of a werewolf who’d posted himself on the hill behind the house. 

“I was bored. And I thought he’d be good for the team.” Natasha responded with a shrug. 

“Did you recruit him?” The younger vampire asked curiously. 

“No, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t hoping for this.” 

“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.” Y/N pointed out. “James could still rip his throat out.” 

“He won’t. James knows that he’s either good enough to catch me or I thought he was good enough to let him catch me.” The red-head clarified. “Either way…” 

“He’ll give him a chance.” She concluded. “You really do always get your way don’t you.”

“Mhmm.”  

Downstairs, James glared at the blonde.   “Let’s go. I’m giving you this chance. But just know, Rogers. You make one move against me or them and I’ll make you wish I killed you.” 

Steve smirked and snapped a mock salute. “Message received, sir.” 

Rumlow managed to sneer at James for a whole three seconds before the look was wiped off his face by a right cross. “Oh you are going to pay for that.” 

James did not pay for that. 

Steve had slipped out the back of the building and was able to take out two of them while Natasha and Y/N picked off another four together. James walked away from Rumlow’s body, barely rumpled. Steve had  tussled with another wolf and bore a few scratches but nothing too bad. James could tell from the smell that the blood on his shirt was not his. The vampire had to acknowledge that the fight would have been much harder without his silver plated weapons. Maybe Rogers would prove useful after all. 

As he walked back towards the building he noticed Steve reach for something in his pocket. A revolver his mind recognized a moment too late. Steve managed to get the shot off before James could react. The bullet raced towards him and whizzed past his ear, directly into the werewolf about to charge him. The beast crumpled to the ground motionless. 

“How?” James questioned. 

“Silver bullets.” He replied. 

“You had a gun that shot silver bullets and you gave us crossbows?” Y/N huffed, unimpressed. 

“Guns make it too easy. Where’s the fun in that?” The hunter remarked with a rather snarky grin. 

Natasha laughed, and Y/N shared a look with James. 

“Welcome to the team, Rogers. Don’t forget, you take your orders from me.” James told him. 

“Of course.” He eyed Nat who looked entirely too pleased with herself. “Who else would I take orders from? You won’t regret this, Bucky.” 

“I already do,” he sighed.

[princehrry-writings]

Y/n's a witch and Harry's her soulmate

I'VE LITERALLY BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR 2 MONTHS!!!

lanfvksbkvjbs I hope you guys like it because I poured my whole soul into this!!!! I wanted it to be over 10k but I felt like I was just dragging it on and the ending isn't great but it's ok.

I switch between present and past tense without meaning too- oops :)

wordcount: 9911

warnings: uhhh, swearing, google translated latin :) catcalling and unwanted male attention (with a bad witch moment... see what i did there😏), a little bit of violence, very lightly edited lmao

She didn’t quite understand what was going on. Was this another witch? No, she would have felt that energy differently. So he had to be a mortal. But why did it feel like she had just been set on fire in the best way possible.

“Thank you…” He muttered, eyes glazed over. “M’Harry, by the way.”

Harry.

What a magical name, she thought.

or

Harry walks into Y/n’s shop one day, sees the brooms sweeping by themselves and gets a little curious.

.

.

.

“Althea, get your claws out of there. You’re gonna get hair in the muffins!” Y/n shrieked, quickly shooing the troublesome feline away from the open bowl of batter sat atop the counter. The cat just meowed at her, unbothered by her person's shrieking. Thea was quite the diva. She couldn’t give a flying fuck even if she tried.

“Oh Stars, look what you’ve done!” Y/n continued, cleaning up the trail of paw prints left in the flour on the table. “How many times do I have to tell you to stay out of the kitchen when I’m baking Thea! Why don’t you ever listen!”

Y/n has been a little strung up lately. That’s probably the understatement of the century. Maybe if she hadn’t been put in charge of the shop for the first time by herself while her mother went to gather supplies and place orders for said shop, she wouldn’t be so stressed. She’s only 22 years into her eternal lifetime. She’s yet to learn the virtue of patience, her mind never ceasing to run with ideas and thoughts and feelings.

Her mother always griped about how she needed to take a deep breath and let go of the tension in her shoulders because now that she had stopped ageing- she had all the time in the world (literally) to do everything she was worried about. Y/n would argue that she’s not worried so much as eager. She’s just very excitable.

“Why do I even bother yelling at you anymore.” Y/n grumbled, flicking her wrist in the direction of the broom closet. The broom and dustpan came floating out and got to work sweeping up the bits of flower seeds and petals that had dropped off the table instead of into the mortar like she had planned.

Y/n’s never been known for her cleanliness.

Out of the blue, the hair on the back of her neck and arms stood at full attention, a warm shiver shooting down her spine. What the hell? She thought to herself. Thea didn’t seem bothered by whatever energy was coming closer so she knew it wasn’t any danger, but it was something. Y/n flicked her wrist once more, quickly sending the broom away and going to hide behind a wall where whoever this was couldn’t see her.

The little bells above the door chimed, alerting anyone inside that someone had just arrived. In walked, who Y/n thought to be, the most beautiful boy she thinks she’s ever seen. Chestnut curls shielded by a knit beanie, sea glass eyes, broad shoulders, a kind smile on his face. He looked as ethereal as she was.

She felt the earth shift under her feet, her heart speeding up slightly in his presence. He was magnificent, she thought. The shiver she felt was steadfast and unchanging, finding a home in the goosebumps covering her whole body. She had never felt like this before.

The witch watched from behind the wall as the man gazed about the shop, his hands rested behind his back. In a pair of black jeans with a rip in the knee and a white tee shirt with a cardigan thrown over it, he shuffled about.

Y/n took a deep breath, collecting herself before making her presence known. She walked out from behind the wall, stepping behind the main checkout counter and clearing her throat lightly.

“Welcome in! I’m Y/n, let me know if you need any help!” She said, trying not to cringe at how scripted that sounded.

His head popped up, eyes connecting with hers and that’s when they both felt the energy in the room grow. Thea came sauntering out of the kitchen area in the back, Y/n made a mental note to check the muffin batter for cat hair later, no doubt at the electrical charge of the room.

She didn’t quite understand what was going on. Was this another witch? No, she would have felt that energy differently. So he had to be a mortal. But why did it feel like she had just been set on fire in the best way possible.

“Thank you…” He muttered, eyes glazed over. “M’Harry, by the way.”

Harry.

What a magical name, she thought.

There was a pause, where neither of them wanted to move, in fear of this moment passing and never getting to feel like this ever again.

It felt like having a picnic on a warm summer day, where it’s not too hot but just right. It felt like the first breath of fresh Spring air, like hearing a baby giggle. She felt fuzzy and warm. Like she was wrapped in a hug. Y/n felt… peaceful. She felt all of her anxiety about the shop melt away, as if it had never been there.

Harry smiled at her, a pink tinge coating his skin, and pulled his eyes away (he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by staring), continuing on with his peruse of the shop. He had no idea why he was here, truly. Didn’t realize where he was until he pushed through the door. He doesn’t even know what any of this stuff is, he’s just looking so it seems like he knows what he’s doing.

He felt something brush his ankle, looking down and seeing a fluffy snow white cat with striking green eyes (just like his!), and cooed at her.

“Is it alright if I pet her?” He asked, looking back up at Y/n. He would take any chance he got to look at her. She was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen. With her shiny hair and kind eyes, a smile that made you want to hug her. She looked so welcoming. He felt… oddly peaceful.

“Yeah of course! She’s my little attention whore, aren’t you Thea?” Y/n giggled and Harry thought his heart would stop right there. Her little giggle was the most glorious sound he’d ever heard, he decided.

She got up from her little stool behind the counter and floated over to him, using her cat as an excuse to get closer. She just couldn’t figure out why she had such a pull to him. It didn’t make sense to her. Maybe he was a witch and was just masking his energy really well, maybe he was some sort of other creature, or maybe… no, that can’t be it.

Well…

Maybe… he’s her Flame. Her Twin Flame… Her Soulmate.

No. There’s no way. It’s so rare for witches to find their flames. And especially at such a young age. Y/n’s parents didn’t find each other for almost 75 years, and here she is at just 22, stumbling upon some magical happenstance where her Flame just saunters into her family’s shop.

Harry scratched behind Thea’s ear, a motor-like pur erupting from her little belly. She nuzzled into his touch, and then sprung up onto his shoulder from the table, startling the man. Y/n giggled at the look on his face, reaching up to scratch just above Thea’s tail, her favorite spot.

“She does that when she likes someone.” Y/n explained. A blush appeared on his face at this.

She likes him.

“So was there anything in particular you were looking for?” Y/n continued, hoping to make more conversation with him. Her fingers are buzzing, wanting to reach out and hold his hand or touch his arm, anyway she can get her hands on him really, but she knows that would be inappropriate so she refrains (however difficult it may be).

Harry was in the same boat. He felt the need to wrap her up in his embrace and never let her go. It was the strangest thing he thinks he’s ever felt.

“Honestly, no. I don’t really know what any of this stuff is… I didn’t even realize when I walked in but I didn’t want to look like a psycho just walking in and out of shops randomly.” A shy smile displays on his features.

Y/n chuckled. This furthers her hunch that he is, in fact, her Flame. Getting a random urge to come in here could only mean that the invisible string tying them together was leading him to her. Pulling them closer and closer everyday until this very moment, when they were fated to meet. Written in the stars to know each other, whether that be for love or friendship only time would tell.

She really hopes it’s love.

“Ok… We’re kind of just a general shop. We carry crystals, herbs, spices, oils, candles, and my mother does a lot of crafts, so we sell those here too.” Y/n went on to explain, Harry’s eyes flitted around to all the things she mentioned. He saw glittering crystals, by themselves but also made into jewelry like rings and necklaces, he saw bundles of different flowers and vials of liquids he assumed were the oils she mentioned.

“What is all this stuff for?” He questioned. He had never heard of anyone suddenly needing Oxeye Daisies or black onyx crystals, but he’d never been one to judge.

Y/n paused, thinking of the best way to explain everything. Practising “witchcraft” wasn’t an unusual topic to humans, but they didn’t know that witches with magic that was (semi-inaccurately) portrayed in movies and tv shows actually existed.

“Uhm, anything in the shop can be used for a number of things. Apothecary, gardening, herbal remedies, manifestation.” She explained. He nodded along with her words, doing his best to focus on what she was saying rather than just her. His body was tingling the closer she stood. He never wanted this feeling to go away.

Whatever this feeling was.

Harry looked around, his sights landing on a shelf full of colorful candles. His eyes lit up, trotting over to them, picking up one that was a light lavender color. He didn’t know he was drawn to this one in particular, but something had pulled him to grab it. Something was telling him to buy it, bring it home, and burn it on his bedside table, right next to his head every night.

It was Y/n’s favorite color.

The girl's cheeks burnt when she realized this was the one he had picked out. The occurrence might seem random to anyone passing by, anyone who didn’t know two halves of a soul had just been reunited with one another after being apart for however many years. But Y/n knew, and hopefully Harry would know soon.

She didn’t want to scare him though. He would think she was crazy. Imagine a random stranger that you’ve never seen before in your entire life tells you that you’re meant to spend the rest of your life together. He would run away screaming.

So she has to start slow.

“Think I might get a few candles…” Harry trails off, looking around at all the different shapes and sizes of colored wax sitting before him. Y/n smiles at this and nods, letting him know she’ll be at the counter if he needs anything.

Please need something, she hopes to herself.

He didn’t end up needing anything, but he ended up purchasing 3 candles, all of them being that same lavender color.

* .

. * .

It was a few weeks later when Y/n felt a familiar tingle run down her spine. Harry must be near, she thought.

She had spent the last fortnight and then some moping about the shop and her flat, hoping her Flame would turn up again. Her mother, Asteria, had been ecstatic when she heard that her daughter had found her Flame, and empathised with her pain, understanding that he was a mortal and it was difficult to form bonds with them quickly. The woman always found it interesting how the most indefinite creatures took the longest to form their bonds. But then she remembered they had no knowledge of Twin Souls and often settled for one not fated to them.

“Mama, he’s close. I can feel him!” Y/n cried, tidying her appearance in the reflection of the window. She hopes to the Stars that he’s coming to see her and not just passing through.

Waving away the brooms fluttering around the shop, she busies herself restocking shelves. Asteria had just finished a new batch of candles that needed shelving. The mother had been trying new recipes lately and was excited to see how they would fare.

Y/n almost misses the little chime of the bells signaling that someone has just entered. If it weren’t for the energy in the room skyrocketing and all the hair in her body standing at attention, she wouldn’t have noticed it at all. Turning, her gaze falls upon a familiar set of sea glass eyes and chestnut curls that have enchanted her mind every passing second since the first time they met. She tried her damndest to hide her grin, but had to turn away so he wouldn’t be able to see it.

Harry looked around the shop before his gaze fell upon the girl he hadn’t stopped dreaming about since he last was here. There she stood, back turned to him, with her shiny hair and adorable outfit. In a lavender colored sundress, hair pulled back by a white scarf, she fussed about the candle shelf that Harry had searched the last time he came.

Everytime he burned that candle, he thought of the way her eyes sparkled when she talked about the different items in the shop and how she smiled at him when he asked her a question.

Harry had never been one to jump into things quickly. He was the kind of guy that liked to get a feel for a situation before he really dived into it. But there was something about this girl that made him want to jump in head first, fearless. He hadn’t stopped thinking about her, daydreaming about little scenarios that he wished would happen between them.

He knows he sounds crazy, but he has a crush on her. And he’d only met her once! That is so not like him at all.

Y/n turned once again, sure that she had calmed the burning in her cheeks, greeting Harry as if she hadn’t thought of him in weeks.

“Welcome in,” she says, wondering if it would be weird to him if she remembered who he was, she decided she doesn’t care, “Oh, hi Harry!”

“Hello Y/n!” He smiles. Y/n felt her heart stutter in her chest when her name fell from his lips. As if she was floating (she had to check to make sure she actually wasn’t), she followed the sound of his voice, going to stand before him. Her first instinct was to hug him, and she was very sad that she had to stop herself.

“What brings you back?” She asked, itching to reach out and hold his hand. His gaze flits around for a few seconds before landing back on her face, a rose tint now on his cheeks.

“I- uh, I don’t really know. I just felt like I needed to come back…” He stuttered. A smile graced her lips, causing an identical one to grow on his own. Asteria watched from behind the counter, beaming at the couple.

“Y/n dear, who’s this?” The witch called. Y/n snapped out of her love-drunk haze, looking to her mother.

“Mama, this is Harry. He came in a few weeks ago while you were away.” She answered, giving her a look that said “please don’t say anything.” Asteria had a tendency to butt into her daughter's life, and Y/n needed to figure this out on her own.

Thea came flouncing out from whichever corner she had burrowed herself into and nosed at Harry’s feet before launching herself onto Y/n’s shoulder and staring at Harry from her new height advantage.

“Well look at you Thea, sittin’ all pretty up there!” Harry reached out to scratch behind her ears. Thea began purring loudly, louder than she did when Y/n petted her (Y/n did her best not to roll her eyes at her attention whore cat). The one thing the girl loved about this was now she had a reason to step closer to the boy before her. He smelled like citrus and woods, with a hint of weed (she’s not judging, she just wouldn’t peg him for a stoner so it’s a little surprising). She let it take over her senses until all she could think about was HaryHaryHary, having to stop herself from purring just like the cat.

“Well, whatever led you back here, it’s nice to see you again!” She blushed, deciding to let her affection for him shine through lightly. Y/n realized she didn’t really want to waste time dancing around mortal niceties. She didn’t want to scare him off but she wouldn’t feign disinterest. The witch wanted to make it clear she was smitten with him. So this was her way of starting slow, letting her blushes be seen, maybe resting a gentle hand on his bicep if he says something that makes her laugh, letting her longing gazes be caught before she looks away.

Like she said before, she’s going to start slow.

“I am too…” Harry wondered if maybe she felt the things he was feeling too. If she couldn’t stop thinking about him the way he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He wondered if it would be weird to ask her out. See if she wanted to get dinner with him, or have a picnic in a park on a sunny afternoon while he stared, as uncreepily as he could, at her bright smile and star-stricken eyes.

Very quickly, like it almost didn’t happen, Y/n saw a blush pink haze surrounding the boy. He was feeling love. The heat in her cheeks rose, fluttering of her heart increasing.

Now she knew for sure, he was her soulmate for love- not friendship. Thank the Stars!

* .

. * .

The next few weeks, Harry would come in every few days just to see Y/n. After realizing that she might be feeling the way he was, he wanted to make it clear to her that he was smitten. So he’d come in after he got done with whatever he’d been doing that day, bring her flowers or a blue-raspberry red bull italian soda (he saw her drinking one one day when he came by) and they would talk and sometimes he’d bring food if it was late and they would eat at the counter in the back kitchen. It became a routine, and he started showing up almost everyday. On slower days, she would close up early, so as not to have a single distraction from her Flame.

The two would talk about the most obscure things, not giving a rat if others heard them cackling at each other's jokes and misspeakings (Y/n stumbled over her words quite a bit when she was tired, he came to realize. He thought it was adorable).

In return for the beautiful flowers and the delicious drinks he’d bring her, Y/n would give him little spell jars or charmed items to make his life easier. He didn’t know they were spelled or charmed, but he thought it was cute how she gave him a lavender colored pen and told him he would think of her every time he wrote anything down (she had charmed it to always spell things correctly) or a little jar filled with lavender and chamomile buds, a few drops of lavender oil and a small amethyst crystal sealed in white wax to help quell the anxiety he’d been feeling with his job lately.

He appreciated them more than any material thing she could have purchased for him. He liked that she wanted him to think about her or that she wanted to do away with his ailments. He came in with a cold once and she spent the better part of an hour fussing over him, telling him all these little tricks to clear his sinuses and giving him different blends of herbs and spices that should clear this up in no time! He thought she was very adorable, worrying over a little cold and wanting to make him better.

Harry found that each time he left her, the force that pulled him to her grew stronger. He wanted to be in her presence more and more every time he walked out the door of the shop. The boy still didn’t really understand what it was about her, but he’s long since stopped asking questions and was just rolling with the punches.

Speaking of things Y/n did that Harry thought was cute- the things she said enamoured him, rendered him so speechless sometimes all he could do was sit there and look at her, (ironically) wondering what magical force brought her to him. He had no idea that the Universe herself was the one who chose his favorite girl.

“Oh Stars Thea! Get out of the nettle! It makes you sneeze, silly cat!”

“Stars forbid you ever listen to me, mother.”

“Althea Rose get your furry ass away from that hot wax before I feed you to the hellhounds!”

He loved how she was always saying Stars where he would normally say Jesus Christ. He never was one to be into religion but it was just something people around him said.

As the weeks went by, they began to sit closer and closer to each other. What started as across the table from one another, began to turn into her at the head and him on the corner next to her, then both of them sitting on one side but a bit of space between them, and then side by side, thighs touching, on the bench seat. Eventually, Y/n would lay one of her legs over his and he would rest his hand innocently on her skin, his thumb absentmindedly brushing back and forth, tapping his fingers to an imaginary beat as she told him a story about a kooky customer that came in.

That was another thing he loved that she said a lot: kooky.

Their goodbyes had grown more and more affectionate over time as well. From a little wave and a shy smile to a little hug, to a bear hug with a kiss on the temple from Harry.

Things were moving very swimmingly. Y/n was happy with the progress the two had made in getting to know each other. She had learned that he worked at a marketing firm but his passion was music, that he was in a band when he was in high school, and he’s from a village in Manchester.

Harry learned that Y/n has a degree in herbology and really likes the woods, and the show The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (despite the inaccurate depiction of witches, she thinks the characters are pretty).

Y/n has been trying to figure out the best way to tell Harry about her… lifestyle. It’s going to be a big shift in his reality and she worries that she’s going to overwhelm him. Her parents didn’t have this problem because they were both witches, but she had been fated to a mortal, which she’s not complaining about because loves Harry and all his human afflictions (loves!), but it’s quite a task keeping him in the dark until she’s ready to shed light on everything.

Especially on a day like today.

Her mother is out again, leaving her in charge of the store, again! And as previously mentioned, Y/n gets a little strung up when she’s left in charge. She’s forgetful, her mind flying all over the place. Her messiness gets worse, leaving different things all over the place (she somehow left a grimoire in the refrigerator at home), losing things… Basically, Y/n’s not doing so hot at the moment.

A busy spell had just finished, she had like 7 different customers in at once, all of them needing her for different things and all the chamomile and lavender oil rubbed behind her ear in the world couldn’t calm the anxiety flowing through her at the moment. She’d been so strung up that she hadn’t noticed the warm golden shiver running down her spine or all the hair on her body raising to attention or the jingle of the bells on the door when Harry walked in.

Walked in to see… the brooms sweeping up by themselves? And different pots and pans flying back into place… with no one carrying them. And Y/n muttering words he didn’t understand while her fingers wiggled, making the pestle inside what he learned to be called a mortar, moving by itself.

To say the least, Harry was very confused. And a little scared. Was he dreaming? Did today even happen? Was he still at home lying in bed?

The only thing that makes him realize he’s not is the shriek Y/n let’s out when she sees him standing frozen in the doorway, eyebrows pulled together in confusion (and a little bit of terror), mouth agape like he wanted to say something but didn’t know where to start. All at once, every moving item ceased and dropped, including the pots and pans which made a very loud noise, scaring Thea so much that she did the loud “meow!” that you only hear cats do in movies, and Y/n let out a quiet“Shit!”

“Harry…” She muttered, standing up slowly and treading towards him.

“Um… Y/n. What- what the fuck… was all of that?” He stuttered, and she continued to walk to him.

“Love, why don’t we go sit down and I’ll explain everything to you!” Y/n said slowly. She had taken to calling him Love lately, not being able to stop herself. They had yet to really “confess their feelings” to the other, but it was like a silent thing that no one said but they both just knew. So the name didn’t surprise him. Actually in the midst of all this craziness (and how his whole world had just seemed to be flipped in a matter of 5 seconds) he was clinging to the familiarity of the pet name.

He nodded, his eyes glazing over as he tried to wrap his head around what he was seeing. Y/n waved her wrist, everything that had dropped seeming to come to life again and be put back into their rightful places. Harry stared in amazement. Seeing it for the second time really drove the nail into the coffin that holy shit this is really happening…

They sat down side by side on the bench where they normally did but Y/n didn’t put her leg over his like they had grown used to. She missed the contact but figured a little space while she explained everything would be best for her Flame. Harry didn’t agree and tugged her closer to him. She didn’t fight it.

“Ok,” She sighed, cracking her knuckles as she took a deep breath, “Harry… my darling Harry. I need you to keep an open mind while I tell you all of this ok? It’s gonna be a lot for you to take in and I don’t want you to get a headache.” He nodded, and she took his hands in her own, running her thumb over his palm and channeling positive energy between the two of them. She saw Harry relax a little, letting her know it worked. He was ready (as ready as he could be) to hear what she had to say.

“Love, I’m a witch.” She says, letting it sink in for a moment. Harry doesn’t say anything for a moment. Y/n wonders if he’s even breathing. The strong pulse thumping in his wrist is a steady reminder that he’s ok, just shocked. (Very, very shocked).

“I come from a very long line of very powerful witches. I have magic, kind of like you see in movies and tv shows except I don’t worship the devil or eat children. None of us do. We’re usually very gentle creatures, unless we’re put in danger. Witches don’t use magic to hurt others, quite the opposite actually.”

“So… you cast spells and stuff?” He asks quietly. She breathes a laugh through her nose, nodding her head, continuing to channel him by rubbing her thumbs over his palms.

“I do, that’s what you saw me doing at the counter. I was actually strengthening the anti-anxiety jar I gave you a few weeks ago, because you told me you had a big project coming up and I didn’t want you to get too stressed out.” The girl said.

Harry couldn’t really focus on one thing for too long, letting his gaze flit around the kitchen area. He felt oddly… calm.

“Why do I feel so calm right now? I feel like I should be freaking out a little bit more than I am…” He voiced, finally looking into her eyes.

“I’m channeling you… look.” She said, pointing her gaze to their hands. He sees her thumbs rubbing gentle circles into his palms and looks back into her eyes.

“You’re casting a spell on me right now?” Harry wonders out loud.

“Channeling isn’t necessarily a spell, I’m just focusing and directing positive energy onto you right now, to help keep you calm. Like I said, I don’t want you to get a headache or pass out on me. I can stop if you want me to though!” She added quickly at the end but he shook his head.

“No, don’t stop…” He almost cried, pulling her closer to him.

“Ok, I won’t. It’s ok!” She shushed him, letting one of her hands float to his cheek, brushing over his cheek bone and pushing a fallen curl out of his eyes, before her hand found his again.

“Was it a spell that made me want to come in here that first day?”

“No baby, that’s actually a little different. This might be a little much so you gotta bear with me ok?” She explained and he nodded, heaving out a heavy breath.

A beat of silence passes and Y/n lets her eyes lock with his.

“We’re Twin Flames… or what you would know as Soulmates. We were fated to be together. That’s why you felt a pull to come in here. We were… destined… to meet each other.”

Harry doesn’t say anything and Y/n feels like her heart is about to beat out of her chest. She knew he was going to find out someday, but really didn’t expect that day to be this one. This crazy long day where everything had seemed to just bubble over and explode. She should have known something was going to happen when this morning, the flame on the candle she had lit for Harry on her altar was taller than it ever had been. She had written it off to him just thinking about her or something (if this was the case, it would be to the ceiling all day everyday because he never stops thinking about her), but she should have known. And now, here she was, terrified that Harry was going to walk away from her. She would understand if he did, it’s a lot to take in, and having your whole world flipped on its head is a bit much.

It would still break her heart though.

“So… this is normal?” Harry broke his silence.

“Is what normal?”

“That I want to be around you all the time? That I think about you all the time? What I’m feeling is normal?”

Y/n’s face softens. He’s so cute, she thinks. She could just wrap him up in a little bow and keep him all to herself for the rest of time.

“Yes, baby. It’s normal! I’ve been feeling the same things as you ever since we first met!” Harry’s mind is a little clearer now, so he picks up on the new pet name. Baby. He likes it, he decides.

“You feel this way too?” He looks like a little puppy right now, Y/n could just cry. She nodded her head, scooting impossibly closer to him, practically sitting in his lap. It seemed now that he was even calmer than he had been before, even without her channeling. She stopped for a second to test his reaction and he was ok. He didn’t tense up, eyes didn’t well in tears, didn’t lose consciousness. So she moved her hands to cup his cheeks now, feeling him lean into her touch.

“You’ve been the only thing on my mind since before you even walked through the door that first day. You’re in my dreams every night, I see you every time I close my eyes, I’m completely taken with everything you do.” Y/n confesses, feeling a weight lift off her chest.

“I know it seems fast to you, as a mortal. Your kind usually takes this kind of thing slowly, really learns a person before you become vulnerable. Out of fear for being judged or whatever it might be, but I would never judge you. I want you to know it’s ok to let your guard down with me. Whatever you're comfortable with! I don’t want to overwhelm you in any way, and I know all of this is so so much to take in. I just want what’s best for you, my Love.”

It’s not lost on Harry that she adds my before Love. He feels his heart flutter.

“I’m taken with everything you do too. Absolutely everything.” He whispers, if he speaks too loudly the moment might be lost.

They stare into each other's eyes, feeling the energy in the room grow. Flames from the lit candles around the room grow tenfold, reflecting the rising energy. Harry has half a mind to break his gaze from the girl before him, seeing the tall flames before bringing his eyes back to hers. He sees her gaze drop to his lips repeatedly. He doesn’t think she even realizes that she’s leaning in to him, but he’s not going to stop her.

When she’s so close he can feel her breath fanning over his face, she pauses, looking back up to his eyes, silently asking for permission. With her hands still cupping his cheeks gently, she closes the distance between them, pressing her lips delicately to his. Harry places his hands in two places: her waist and her neck. He pulls her in closer, pressing their lips together more firmly. A wildfire spreads from head to toe on both of them. It seems as though time has paused for this very moment, and again the earth shifts. A piece of the universe has just been restored, two halves of a soul reunited.

Harry’s fingertips send sparks flowing down her spine, she hums against his lips. The kiss is simple, just two people getting to know each other, learning the other's body, but it’s long. It’s not just one peck. Harry presses his lips against hers multiple times, slotting her bottom between both of his.

When Y/n pulls back to catch her breath, Harry chases after her, not ready to end this moment yet. She chuckles and grants him a few more kisses until she really is about to pass out because she needs to breathe. Pushing him gently, she breaks the kiss and rests her forehead against his, keeping her eyes closed.

She so badly wants to let the three words sitting on the tip of her tongue go, but doesn’t want to overwhelm him with too much all at once.

“Do you feel that?” He whispers, pulling her to sit astride his lap. She moves pliantly, letting him take control of the situation.

The air feels charged, thick, like it should be hard to breath but it flows, smooth as water, into their lungs.

Y/n’s head feels heavy, like she’s high on every drug there ever was, her mind fuzzy, unable to think outside of this moment. Outside of this little wrinkle in time where Harry is the only other thing that exists.

“Yeah,” She whispers back, reconnecting their lips, slotting them together over and over until their lips are puffy and red. Harry slides his hands around her waist, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her flush against him, not even a slip of paper would fit.

Pulling away, Harry heaves in a deep breath, squeezing Y/n’s hips.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for so long…” He says, nudging his nose against hers. She smiles, letting his affections wash over her, warming her eternal soul.

“This doesn’t freak you out?”

“Oh, I’m so freaked out but I'm kind of just going with it, living in the ambiguity and all that shit.” He heaves a laugh through his nose, pressing kisses to her cheek and down her neck, smoothing his hands up and down her back.

This was the best possible outcome of the situation, if Y/n had to be honest. It could have gone so many ways. Harry being freaked out but rolling with it… she’ll take it.

“How about we make dinner and you can ask me any questions you have?” She suggested and he nodded.

So they did just that. But Y/n closed the shop early and they went back to her place. Hand in hand they walked the few blocks, side glaces of reassurance and little squeezes of the hand, letting the other know they were there, and they weren’t going anywhere, with Thea in her little travel backpack (that she was absolutely in love with surprisingly).

They came upon an unsuspecting alleyway. Harry thought they were just passing through as a shortcut but Y/n stopped walking in the middle of a blank brick wall and muttered a few words she didn’t understand while waving her hands. He started to realize maybe this wasn’t just a shortcut.

Before his eyes, a door appeared. His brows shot up in surprise (he’s gonna get worry lines on his forehead if he doesn’t stop doing that, he realizes). Y/n looked over her shoulder at him, trying to hide a smirk but the look on his face was too good.

“Pretty wicked huh?” Harry didn't say anything, just chuckled and nodded, following her when she opened the door and a set of stairs appeared. Walking up the dimly lit hallway, they come to another door with the cheeky The Witch Is In sign.

“Cute.” Harry smirks at her and she laughs, opening it and letting him walk through first.

“Make yourself at home! I’ve got records on the shelf over there, you can pick one if you want. I’m just gonna feed Thea and get her all settled and we can get to making dinner.” Y/n explained. Harry ventured off into her living room, seeing the shelf she was talking about and browsing through. There were many different artists from Fleetwood Mac to Taylor Swift to Weezer. He picks out Hozier's self-titled album and puts it on, the beginning of Take Me To Church crackling through the speakers.

“Good choice,” He hears from behind him and smiles, turning around to see the girl he was apparently destined to spend the rest of his life with standing before him.

“Jackie and Wilson has been stuck in my head the last few days so,” He said, sauntering over to her and snaking his arms around her waist.

Taking a look around, he sees many different trinkets and items similar to what was in the shop. A lot of jars filled with different things, candles of all different colors, crystals, a broom (he didn’t realize witches actually had brooms but ok), among other things that he didn’t know the purpose of.

“Wait… how are there windows in here? I didn’t see any outside.” He asked, pulling back from the hug and looking at her.

“Well, there aren’t any windows in the alley. But there’s also a glamour spell on this building so nobody can see my apartment. That’s why you can’t see the door until I do the little thing you saw me do.” She answered. A sheepish smile broke onto his face.

“Oh,” he said and she laughed from her chest, petting a few fallen curls back from his forehead. She could get used to this, she thinks as she stares into his eyes, green as the forest and wide with wonder at everything he’s discovered today.

Who knew the girl he was falling in love with would be a witch… with actual powers.

* .

. * .

“Wait so, if no one can see your front door… how do you get mail?” Harry asked, reaching around Y/n for the salt.

“At the shop,”

“Oh,” He says. She laughs, kissing his cheek and continuing on cutting up veggies for the salad they're making.

“Have you always been able to do magic or was it something you grew into?” Y/n thought back to when she was little, remembering how she struggled to harness her powers for a few years before she started getting the hang of things.

“I always had powers, but imagic isn’t something you just wake up and know how to do so it took a while for me to really settle into and control. Magic is a skill, same as reading and writing, so I had to be taught and I had to work on it. Does that make sense?” She pauses while she explains, looking into his eyes. Harry nods, but his light hearted curious expression turns into one of embarrassment and she doesn’t understand why.

A rosy red color surrounds him, telling her he was feeling… embarrassed? Why did he feel embarrassed?

“Baby? What’s going through your head?” She asks, wanting to help him feel better.

She doesn’t like when he’s feeling anything other than happy!

“I just… I feel like I’m asking you so many questions about all of this stuff and it’s just tough to wrap my head around I guess.” She puts the knife down and sets her hand on his wrist, stopping from what he’s doing. She places her other hand on his shoulder, coaxing him to face her.

“Harry, this is a lot to take in, yeah? It’s not something you can just find out and move on from. It’s gonna take time to process. You’re gonna feel a lot of emotions, and that’s ok! I would be worried if you weren’t feeling a little off, as much as I hate that you’re not feeling 100%.”

She places a series of gentle pecks on his lips, doing her best to soothe him in any way.

“Ask all the questions you want! You don’t have to worry about being judged or saying something wrong, you have a right to be curious.” She feels him relax in her hold which in turn makes her relax.

“Thank you for being patient with me,”

He’ll get used to this, he thinks. He’ll get used to the fact that real witches actually exist, he’ll start to understand the words she mutters when she waves her hands, he’ll get it eventually. But right now, he doesn’t really get it, he’s not really used to it. But she’s worth it. She’s worth more than everything.

“I think you’re the one thing I know how to be patient with,” Again, she wants to mutter those three words on the tip of her tongue, but he’s already been through so much today, she doesn’t want to overwhelm him any more than he already is. So she’ll wait, because one day (hopefully soon) he’ll be ready to hear them.

“Can you do a spell? I kind of want to see how they work…” Harry asks after a moment of them just enjoying the silence that only really comes when two people understand each other.

She chuckles and nods, telling him she will show him a few spells after dinner. He agrees and they go back to making their meal, dancing around each other and laughing just like they always did and it felt good. Felt like this would be ok. Y/n was still scared because he could still decide to leave, that this was too much for him. That she was too much for him.

But for right now, things were ok.

* .

. * .

“Amoris et lux sum ego ipse, et carorum beatum facere potest, per potentiam solem et lunam, ut superius, et inferius.”

(I am love and light, I bring happiness to myself and my loved ones, By the power of the sun and moon, as above, so below)

Harry doesn’t think he’s ever heard anything weirder in his life...and his college roommate freshman year was a conspiracy theorist.

As Y/n spoke the words, she stirred a brew of tea infused with different herbs clockwise. He watched from beside her as she did this, his hand placed on her thigh so that his energy could be used in the spell along with hers.

Before she said the spell, she told him to set an intention and he had no idea what that was so she did a little lesson after reassuring him that his question was valid. (He’s still feeling insecure about not understanding anything she was talking about.) She told him to “close your eyes, take a deep breath, and clear your mind. Think of something you want in life that isn’t material.”

His immediate thought was that he wanted to spread kindness and love in the world (Y/n did her best not to tear up at her Flame’s pure intentions) so she nodded, telling him to think about that and only that, and set her intentions to the same thing so the spell would work. Mixing lavender, rose petals, and chamomile in a large mug, she pours in hot water to steep the herbs and, as previously mentioned, stirs it clockwise (something about clockwise being for manifestation), , rubs her palms together and snaps her fingers, and snuffs out the candles she had lit.

When all is said and finished, Y/n pulls Harry into a sweet kiss, and then has him take a sip of the tea telling him be careful my Love, it’s still hot. He kisses her back, taking a sip of the tea (he’d never been one for lavender things but this was actually really good. He wonders if it has anything to do with the fact that Y/n made it).

“So we just drink this and then what?” He asks, handing her the mug.

“We sacrifice an animal,” She says, not skipping a beat and taking her sip. Harry chokes on his spit, gasping for a breath of air before the girl bursts into a fit of giggles.

“I’m just kidding, baby. That’s it. That’s the whole spell. You just have to honestly believe it for it to work.” She says and he heaves a sigh of relief.

“Don’t joke like that!” He whines, more giggles escaping from Y/n’s throat.

“I’m sorry bub, I won’t do that anymore.” She says, still fighting off laughs. They continue to sip the tea, Y/n telling Harry about different things she did during the day.

Harry looked upon her as if she hung the moon just for him, and was telling him all about how she did it. Without even realizing it, he started to feel warmer and like a buzz was coursing through his veins.

“I feel weird…”

“What do you mean you mean you feel weird?” She voiced, pressing the back of her hand to his forehead and then feeling his pulse. Both were normal.

“I feel warm and like I’m buzzing… Kind of like I’m high…” He explained and she nodded her head, a small sigh of relief escaping her.

“That’s the spell working baby. You’re ok!”

“Oh, ok. It just worried me a little,”

“You’re ok! I want you to tell me when something worries you or feels different or off.” She says, and places a hand on his thigh. Harry agrees and they continue with their conversation.

When they both took their last sips on the tea, they cuddled up on the couch, an incense stick and candle lit on the coffee table.

Y/n sat, manipulating the smoke and flame simultaneously while Harry watched with a wide eyed gaze. She had explained how this was something he would be able to learn if he wanted to, and that she had been practicing for years to be able to do both things at the same time.

“I started when I was… I want to say 5. It’s a simple skill that promotes concentration. You have to stay extremely focused to even manipulate one element at a time. It’s only been these last few years that I’ve been able to concentrate enough to do both.” She explained, taking a break. As much as she loved showing Harry all these different things, it took a lot of energy out of her and it had already been a dreadfully long day.

“How about we go to sleep and I’ll show you more tomorrow? I’m pooped!” Harry hums an agreement, lifting his head from her lap and letting her lead the way to her bedroom.

Light lavender walls adorned with shelves full of plants and different nicknacks, and a desk with more candles, herbs, and other eclectic items sat atop it.

“What is all of this?” He sifts through all the things on the desk, not touching as Y/n had explained to him at some point today, I know you don’t have any ill intent, but a lot of this stuff absorbs other people's energy which can mess up what I use it for, so look and don’t touch. If you want a closer look, I’ll pick it up. There are different colored stones of varied shapes and sizes and many candles. One in particular catches his eyes. A green one with a very tall flame with something carved into the side of it. “What’s up with this green candle?”

“This is my altar, and the green candle is the one I have lit for you. I’m assuming that because you’re here, it’s going a little crazy. Nothing to be afraid of! I’m actually going to put it out since you’re here with me.” She explained quickly, reaching towards the flame with her finger and snuffing it out.

“Wait, you had a candle lit for me?” His eyes rounded, a shy smile coming onto his lips. An identical smile graced her features as she turned to look at him.

“Yeah, I’ve had one lit for you since the day we met. I made a sigil and carved it into the side and keep it lit day and night as an extra layer of protection for you.” She explained. Harry felt his heart melt at this.

She couldn’t get any cuter, he thinks.

A candle lit for him… to keep him safe. That’s adorable.

He leans in and places a gentle kiss on her lips, brushing the little hairs away from her face.

Y/n led him further into her room where her ensuite bathroom was, giving him a tooth brush and letting him know he could shower if he wanted to. When he came back into the room after getting ready, Y/n laid out on the bed in a sports bra and shorts. He just wore his boxers.

Climbing into bed next to her, she cuddled up to him right away, his arm finding a home around her body and her head laid on his chest, listening to his heart beat.

“Been dreaming about this moment my whole life,” Y/n mumbled, cheek smushed against his skin, making her look all cute and cuddly. Harry had to hold back a coo at the sentiment.

“Me too Moppet, me too,” He sighed, and they both drifted off into warm, fluffy, dream-like states, wrapped in the safety of each other's arms.

* .

. * .

Walking down the street at night isn’t the best idea for normal women, Y/n had learned over her 22 years of life. But Y/n is not a normal woman. She’s a witch.

And while most women carry their keys between their knuckles and have tasers or pepper spray or mace at the ready, Y/n didn’t really need that. This was one of the only instances where she would use her magic to harm anyone. Like she’d said before- only when she’s put in danger (or someone else around her is put in danger).

So when a prick who reeks of whiskey starts tailing her, she waits for him to take the first blow. Waits for him to get a little too close, so she can turn around and unleash her wrath on him. All the while making it seem like it’s not her doing. Like causing a brink to fall off the roof above her and hit him in the head. She wouldn’t actually do that but a witch could dream.

No, she’ll trip him up without turning around and if he still insists on gaining her attention, she’ll spin around quick, flick her wrist and send him into an unconscious daze and let him sleep off his inebriation on the lovely warmth of the concrete sidewalk.

That’s exactly what she does.

“Hey sweetheart, where you goin’?” He slurs, beginning his trek behind her. She’s unresponsive which leads him to believe she’s playing hard to get because his fragile little man ego can’t fathom that a woman would ignore his attention.

“Oh c’mon baby don’t be like that!” He speeds up, already wobbling but this only serves to make him clumsier.

She does her thing, flicking her wrist in his direction (discreetly) so he trips, but this doesn’t stall him. He reaches out, effectively grabbing her arm. She whips around to face him, cheeks growing red hot with anger. Ripping her arm out of his grasp and twisting his arm around, she gets close to his face.

“Touch me again, I fucking dare you!” She snarls, doesn’t even realize her grip is burning into his flesh- her magic gets a little crazy when she’s mad. Releasing him (tossing his arm away from her in a rough manner), she flicks her wrist once again and mutters a quick “et obliviscere somnum*”, watching him fall to the ground, unconscious. She looked around to see if anyone was watching the scene go down but no one was sober enough to pay attention to some drunk bloke harassing a young woman.

*(forget and sleep)

She shakes off her frustration as she comes to a stop in front of an unfamiliar building. Where her Flame lives.

She had agreed to let him make her dinner at his house, so she packed an overnight back and made her way further into town. He had given her an address and while, yes she did use it, she also let their bond lead her to him. She just kind of knew where to go, it seemed. Harry had expressed that he felt something similar the first time he went into the shop, though he didn’t understand why he wanted to walk in- just felt like he had to.

Making her way up the stairs, she let’s Harry know she’s there, beginning to feel the familiar tingle rush down her spine. She hadn’t seen him for a week and a half since he's been busy with a project at work- a client wasn’t happy with all the work he and a coworker had done so they had to quickly re-do an entire proposal to meet the client's deadline. Needless to say- the little anti-anxiety jar she made him was coming in real handy lately. Y/n had also had him put citrine and amethyst points on his desk while he worked to help him focus and stay calm so he didn’t stress too badly.

She always had a little something to make his life easier, whether it be a stone, or a jar of different things (a spell jar, he’d learned), or whatever it may be- she always had something to help.

When she made it to his floor, he was standing there waiting for her with open arms. She ran to him, jumping into his arms and holding onto him tight.

“I missed you, my wild girl,” He muttered into her neck, spinning her around. Her face flushed without fail, her arms wrapping tighter around him.

“Missed you most,” She sighed, nuzzling into him.

“Don’t think that’s possible.”

She hummed in disagreement while he walked them inside, Y/n still wrapped around him like a koala bear. His house smelled of peach and mango. It’s sweet- just like him. The thought made her smile.

Giving him a big smacking kiss on the cheek, she pulls back to have a look at his face, seeing he’s smiling like an idiot. It warms her heart to see him smile, butterflies breaking out of their cocoons and fluttering about her tummy.

“What’re you smiling for?” She voices, giggling at him.

“M’ happy you’re here,” He sighed, “Don’t like not seeing you.”

“I don’t like not seeing you either,” She frowned, petting his wild curls back and placing little pecks all around his face.

His cheeks flushed at her affection.

Harry set Y/n down on the kitchen counter, standing in between her legs, hands resting on her hips. Leaning forward, he pressed his lips to hers lightly, before slotting them together, fully indulging himself in his girl. She responds immediately, letting her hands rest around his neck.

She will never not be amazed by how soft his lips are. Kissing him feels like floating through clouds, like laying down in bed after a long day on your feet. Kissing him is like the first breath of warm summer air after the longest winter. Kissing him feels like coming home.

Y/n’s heartbeat picks up as the kiss becomes more needy, leaning into him further. Harry pulls her closer, his hands ghosting up the bare skin under her shirt and fiddling with the band of the bralette she’s wearing. A gasp escapes her lips when he pulled the fabric up, letting it snap back to her skin causing a smirk to grow on his face- struggling to keep up with her lips.

He kisses her breathless before pulling away, watching as her eyes flutter open and she heaves air into her lungs, her cheeks flushed and supple.

“Don’t want the food to burn,” He smirks again, hands falling away from her body, moving the pots and pans on the stove around to the counter so he could plate their dinner.

“Asshole,” He hears her mutter.

Harry could get used to this, having Y/n around. Being able to come home to her, make them dinner, make out in the kitchen, fall asleep together. He can’t believe he ever thought he loved anyone before she came along. There was just no way. Y/n came into his life and took over every aspect and now he couldn’t imagine a world without her in it. He hopes to the Stars he doesn’t have to.

Yeah, she’s got him praying to the stars now.

[onewithnomightypowers]

Old Habits

pairing: Tom Holland x fem!reader

summary: Old habits come back when you meet an ex lover after a long time. Conversations feel like you never stopped talking to them. Sometimes you have to see them one last time to say goodbye like you mean it but most of the time it doesn’t go as planned.

warning: drinking

words: 2.1k

a/n: could be read as part 2 of last kiss but is a stand alone. got a bit poetic at the end. hope you guys like it. and as always, love reading your opinions/reactions. also asks are open. (gif not mine)

masterlist 

'@tomholland2013 posted a story'

'@tomholland2013 posted a story'

 She picked up her phone to open Instagram. Yes, Y/N still had notifications on for his account even after they were broken up for months. Classic Tom. 

 He posted two of the same picture on his story. No one understood how that would happen almost every time, not even the people working at Instagram to whom they contacted about the glitch.

 Tom had his hair slicked back, standing in a white t-shirt next to Harry, his brother, giving a million-dollar smile. They were holding a clapperboard together. There was text on the picture too, 'day 1 let's go!!' She smiled to herself. Just because they weren't together doesn't mean that she wasn't allowed to feel happy for his achievements. Even though she wishes to know all these big things from Tom himself she is, unfortunately, left here, watching a small part of his life flash in front of her for less than thirty seconds.

 "Are you listening?" Hope, Y/N's date said.

 "Yeah, I'm sorry. You were saying?" Y/N placed the phone back where it was resting, next to the cold wine bottle.

 "You seem distant," they said.

 When she 'met' Hope (she only really met them 30 minutes ago), Y/N wasn't looking for love, just sex, and that is what online dating specializes in. She hoped Hope knew what they were signing up for, sexual intimacy and nothing else.

 "It doesn't matter does, does it? We both know what we are here for. Why not just cut the chase," Y/N replied.

--

It was early in the morning, the sun had yet to shine in its full glory. Y/N could only think of the first time she stayed over at Tom's old apartment but then she turned her head only to find Hope's naked body next to her. Her heartbeat accelerated with the realization that he was not hers anymore. Being in a foreign environment didn't help her growing anxiety, twisting and turning her intestines.

 It's been four months, her feelings for Tom refuse to quit on her because she knows she could never quit on them, on him, even if he has. He probably has already found someone else in Canada, she thought. She didn't want him anymore but she still needed him, one last time just to teach her stupid heart how to say goodbye.

 Y/N wore her clothes and picked up her shoes, going on a trail to find Hope's door to get out before they wake up. Climbing down the stairs, she took out her phone from the back pocket of her jeans.

 '5 new messages from Sam' 7 hours ago

Sam: hey

Sam: ik it's late

Sam: I am going for a run tmr morning @6

Sam: do you wanna come?

Sam: will go to the new coffee house near my house after that

 Y/N texted him back

Y/N: I'll meet you at the coffee place

Sam: come fast. already here

--

Sam and Y/N were standing in the queue to place their orders. “You look especially shitty today,” Sam said, running his right hand through his sweaty hair.

“I haven’t been home yet,” Y/N reasoned her appearance.

 His mouth formed an ‘o’ shape. The person in front of them left the queue, they moved towards the counter. “One hazelnut latte, double shot with skimmed milk,” Y/N gave her order.

 “And you?” the cashier’s question directed to Sam.

 “I’ll have a matcha latte with oat milk”

 Sam turned to Y/N, “Harrison got me on matcha, and now I can’t go back to coffee”

 They paid their dues and moved over to the barista counter to collect their order.

 “So, what were you doing last night?” Sam inquired.

 “I was on a date, it isn't a big deal though. Just had some needs to take care of”

 “Oh, was it any good?”

 “It was fine. I was distracted the whole time. Saw Tom’s story about halfway into the bottle of merlot. Couldn’t stop thinking about him”

 “Seems…sad. But you know Tom is coming back for the Christmas weekend, I think. He might attend Harrison’s Christmas eve party”

 “One hazelnut latte and one matcha latte,” someone behind the counter screamed.

 “That’s us,” Sam raised his voice.

--

Harrison had a bucket inside his house, under a sign that said 'drop your tracking devices here' with an arrow pointing to the bucket. Y/N dropped her phone on a pile of roughly fourteen others. Debating whether to see Tom's face was something she wanted or not made her late and not very fashionably.

 The house was decorated with empty liquor bottles along with red and green streamers from one wall to another. Everyone was drunk in their best dress. There were no signs of Tom yet. Y/N took a deep breath, walking towards the kitchen to get herself some liquid courage to help her socialize.

 The kitchen was rather scarcely populated. Empty glasses were lined up next to the sink. Are they clean or used? Bending down, Y/N opened the refrigerator to see if Harrison had any chilled wine. No luck. "Hey," a familiar voice was heard.

 She looked up at the familiar stranger.

 "Hey Tom," she smiled. The refrigerator light falling on Y/N made her blush visible.

She grabbed a half-cut lemon placed in the egg tray.

 “How have you been?" Tom asked leaning back on the kitchen counter, observing her movements.

 Y/N walked towards the sink to grab herself a crystal glass hoping for it to be clean. "Just busy with work these days"

 "I heard you got a job at Condé Nast, is that true?" he took a sip from his beer.

 "Well, you heard right. You are looking at their new senior brand manager for digital", she said proudly.

 Tom hugged her from the side she was holding a knife to cut the lemon for her gin and tonic. "That's great darling! You always wanted to work there"

 Darling. The butterflies in her stomach were fluttering like the first time she met Tom.

 "I saw your story the other day. You started filming your script, right?" she dropped the lemon in the glass.  

 "Yup, it was a long time coming," he grabbed the knife she was using and washed it without even knowing. He was so used to Y/N never washing utensils after using them and, he would always have to clean up after her.

 "Congrats on that babe!" The word 'babe' just slipped out of practice.

 Y/N grabbed a Bombay Sapphire standing still on the marble slab. The blue of the bottle shinning even in the dim-lit room.

 "I missed you," Y/N made eye contact, screwing the cap back on. A long, silent pause.

 I miss you too, so very much

 She cleared her throat, "so, how long are you staying?"

 "Going back Monday morning"

 She opened a can of tonic water.

 "Are you seeing someone?" Tom asked.

 "Wouldn't you wanna know" a smirk on her face grew. "I've been out on few dates, nothing serious. What about you?"

 "Met this girl online, dated for a bit but, she wanted something I couldn't give to her"

 Y/N scoffed, "did she have a foot fetish or something?"

 "No, Y/N. She wanted love, not my feet" they both laughed.

 "On that topic..." Tom calmed himself, "...I was listening to this song a few weeks ago and, there was this line, 'the smell of your hair reminds me of her feet' and it made me think of you"

 "I reckon," she took a sip of her gin and tonic.

 "No, seriously, I really related to that line. No matter how many people I hook up with, it will be hard to find the type of intimacy I shared with you. I still relate to it"

 "I hate going on walks alone and having faceless dreams," Y/N blurted, lacking a proper reaction.

 "You're still the face of all my fantasies," Tom confessed.

 None of them knew what to say next. Anything they thought of saying now included walking over the blurry line of exes to lovers.

 "You look pretty"

 "Classic me, had a glow up after getting my heartbroken"

 "You always looked this pretty. You are beautiful," Tom assured her. The 'heartbroken part did not sit well with him. He already felt guilty for taking a job across the pond which was a great opportunity for him to grow but was only possible by severing his ties with Y/N.  

 --

It had just started snowing on Boxing Day. Tom was alone in his cold home, boiling a pot of ramen noodles. He took out his phone and snapped a picture of the burning stove with the pot on top.

Tom: *attached photo*

Tom: I come back after months and my family leaves me alone with no food

Y/N: you should add a poached egg

Tom: Thanks. I shall.

Tom: I think I made too much ramen for me

Tom: do you wanna come over and share?

 Her indecision was visible by the coming and going of the gray dots. Then finally, Tom could tame his anxiety by her simple reply.

 Y/N: sure.

--

There was a loud knock on the door. Tom put two bowls of hot ramen on the dining table and went to open the door. Behind the door, Y/N was standing with her hands inside her brown checker coat. There was dust of snow sitting on her shoulders. Her braided hair was made by the most anxious hands in town.

 The door opened and, Tom’s hands flew to take Y/N in his arms. They hugged like little kids hug their parents after being away from each other, for them, an eternity. It did feel like an eternity to them too but, they hadn’t forgotten each other’s touch.

 “I parked my car at the church, couldn’t find any spot here ‘cause of the snow," she pulled out.

 “The snow seems to be gaining momentum.”

 Y/N hummed in agreement. She took off her coat and hung it in the Holland’s coat closet.

 “Come on, the ramen is getting cold,” she followed tom into the kitchen.

 They sat adjacent on the wooden table in comfortable silence. Tom used chopsticks and, Y/N used a fork. Only the occasional noodles falling in the broth were heard, along with the gushing of wind.

 “It’s really spicy for me,” Tom said.

 “Yeah, I can see your ears turning red.”

She still remembers 

 Y/N raised her hand to cover her mouth while yawning.

 “Since you made the food, I’ll do the dishes,” she got up, grabbed their bowls, and walked over to the sink.

 Wearing the gloves, she turned to Tom, “it was quite tasty”.

 Tom gave her a smile.

 She spread the soap on the dishes and turned the tap on. Tom pushed his chair back to get up.

 “Have you made any friends at your new job,” he jumped and sat on the counter next to Y/N.

 “Yeah, sort of. Kyara works there too so, I have just made her friends my friends,” she washed his chopsticks.

 “That’s good. Have you talked to Emily after the wedding? She told me they are planning on adopting.”

 “They invited me over for dinner when they got the approval from the agency. Kyara made this amazing Hyderabadi biryani, it was her mum’s recipe so, it was obviously better than the restaurant”

 “God! You and your love for Indian food”

 Y/N removed her gloves, “I should go. Thanks for the ramen, by the way”

 “Are you sure you can go out in this weather?”

 “Yeah I think," she started walking out of the kitchen.

 Tom grabbed her hand. “Stay”, his voice was like cotton.

 Y/N turned and made contact with his pleading eyes. She moved closer to him. “Please”, he said. They both were inching in to lock their desperate lips.

--

Y/N did not notice when she had fallen asleep talking to Tom. Their naked bodies were covered by the white comforter. Her eyes slowly opened to a boy with brown eyes and messy hair looking at her.

 “I like it when you sleep. I love watching you sleep”

 She chuckled. “That’s a bit creepy, don’t you think?” She had a sleepy voice.

 “You look so serene, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I could stare at you for eons”

 “But love, I'm only here till the snow settles,” she caressed his cheeks.

“Then the cold shall frost our limbs," he leaned in to kiss her.

tags: @elios-timotea​

[forever-rogue]

Honeyed Whiskey

A/N: This was not called for at all, but I was so inspired by THIS dress from yesterday. It’s just a little soft, gentle fluff. Enjoy! xx

Pairing: Jack Daniels x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.5k

Warnings: references to sex, but nothing graphic

Pedro Character Masterlist

»»————-　♡　————-««

By the time he's lulled from sleep, far later than he normally would have preferred, the first thing he notices is the golden sunlight streaming in through sheer curtains and open windows. Instantaneously, a smile is tugging on his features and he shifts onto his back, stretching limbs made stiff by sleep. He's content and comfortable, already enjoying his days off, knowing they'd be spent with you. 

As soon as the thought of you crosses his mind, honeyed brown eyes slowly open again and he's blinking away the bleariness while reaching over to your side of the bed. But you're gone already, he notes with a light huff, finding nothing but cool emptiness where you normally laid.

Before he can get too lost in his own thoughts, he hears you. Its faint - soft and barely audible over the steady stream of the shower, but it's there. Crystal clear and beautiful, at least to his ears, he hears you singing softly under your breath along to whatever you had playing on the speakers. Rubbing away the remaining sleep from his eyes, he pulls back the soft, warm blankets and slides out from underneath. 

He's still naked from the evening before, but he doesn't even bother to dress or reach for even a stitch of clothing. He already knows you'll just strip off in seconds anyway. A beaming grin crosses his features at that; you certainly knew what you wanted and when you wanted it.

Almost as if you could sense him, you stopped singing for a moment and he hears the tell-tale rustle of the shower curtain, "Jack? Honey, is that you?"

"Hi Sugar," he poked his head and found you staring back with excited eyes and a head full of shampoo lather, "you're up early...need a hand?"

"Its the Farmers Market today," you reminded him with a crook of your finger as he stepped into the warm bathroom, "I don't want to miss it, besides you're taking me to brunch and everything!"

"And just who decided this?" his tone was teasing as he stepped into the shower and pulled the curtain closed. You grinned up at him, pressing a kiss to his plush lips and batting your lashes innocently. He huffed in jest before reaching up and tenderly cupping your face, "I suppose I did, huh?"

"I'm sure that's what you were saying last night," you couldn't help but beam at him, "when I was on top - somewhere in between telling me how good I was and how much you love me."

"Well now, I definitely can't say no to you, Sugar," his hands slowly went from the side of your face and into your scalp as delicately massaged it to help wash the shampoo out.

"Jack, you don't have to wash my hair," you insisted but you definitely wouldn't have minded if he did. Showering with Jack was always an experience; something so intimate and sacred, especially when you took the time to wash and explore each other's bodies. You took the opportunity to shower together whenever you could, especially on lazy weekend days.

"I know I don't have to, baby," he insisted softly as he started to tender wash the lather, "but I want to. Let me take care of you, Sugar. You always take such good care of me, its my turn to love you."

"Well, who am I to turn down an offer like that?" a contented sigh left your lips as you keened into his gentle touch, "I am no fool. I love you, Jack."

"And I love you, honey."

»»————-　♡　————-««

You spent a long time in the shower, and by the time the two of you got you were both pruned. Jack's towel was slung low on his hips as he went to his side of the closet to grab some clothes for the day.

A sly little smile found its way onto your face as you dashed down the stairs and to the laundry room. You'd gone shopping yesterday and found something you'd planned on wearing today. As soon as you had seen it, you knew you had to have it, and you were positive that Jack would love it too.

"What happened?" Jack called down the stairs as you quickly slipped on your undergarments and the item of clothing.

"Nothing!" you promised as you bounded back up stairs to surprise him. Jack was standing in front of the full length mirror, buttoning up his shirt. The simple sight was still enough to take your breath away as you watched him for a few moments. His dark mop of hair was still damp and unruly, and you couldn't wait to run your hands through it.

You leaned against the door frame and cleared your throat in order to garner his attention. Jack slowly turned around, and when he was fully facing you, his jaw almost dropped. He slowly walked over to you, that look of adoration and devotion in his eyes that you were so fond of.

"You look beautiful, Sugar," he drawled as you slowly twirled to give him a look good at the beautiful yellow sundress you were wearing. It was breathtaking, and you had known from the moment you spied it that it was the one. Stopping just at your knees it was a beautiful, golden yellow with flowers all over it, with simple thin straps. The bodice hugged you just right and the little flare was perfect. You had a feeling Jack would like it too, "what a gorgeous dress on the most gorgeous woman in the world."

"Now you're just flattering me," you laughed lightly and put a hand on his broad, pushing him back ever so lightly, "do you like though? Really? I-I saw it and fell in love and couldn't help myself."

"Its not flattery if it's true," he insisted as he grabbed your hand and pressed a gentle kiss to your knuckles, "I love it - not nearly as much as you, of course, but it's beautiful. And you make it even more so."

"You really do know just what to say, don't you, my love?" you couldn't help but steal a quick kiss as you flounced past him to finish getting ready, "still up for brunch?"

"And then the farmer's market," he reminded you with a soft smile, "I couldn't think of a better way to spend my day."

»»————-　♡　————-««

Brunch was a slow, fun affair as the two of you ate and drank your way through probably too much food. You'd insisted that Jack could pick the place since you were technically forcing him to brunch. He'd agreed, but that quickly turned into him driving to your favorite spot regardless. A silly old fool you had lovingly deemed him.

By the time you'd reached the farmer's market, it was warm and everything was bathed in brilliant sunlight. Jack had quickly reached for your hand and laced your fingers together, as you walked around and looked at all the various little stalls. It was busy and bustling, and everyone seemed to be in a good mood today; funny what the first nice day in the spring could do.

Jack was the type of man that loved to show you off, but there was also a part of him that was fiercely protective, never possessive, over you. It comes from years as an agent; a tried and practiced thing. 

Whenever someone would stop the two of you, he'd always make sure you were front and center, getting all the attention you deserved. Today, in your new yellow sundress, that was no exception. There was something about today, how radiant and happy you looked, how kind and gentle you were, that set something off in him. Suddenly, as he watched you pick out some fresh oranges and apples from one of the stalls, he knew he had the answer to the question that had been on his mind. 

“Honey?” you turned back to him, finding him watching you with a dopey little grin on his face. You held out your hand to him, and Jack wasted no time in coming over and taking, effortlessly entwining your fingers, “what’s wrong, Jack?”

“Nothing’s wrong at all, Sugar,” he pressed a kiss to the side of your head before taking the large tote filled with fresh fruits from you, ever the gentleman. You used to try and fight him on little things like that, insisting that you were more than capable of doing things on your own, but it was always useless. Eventually you learned not to argue with your cowboy. 

“You’re just awfully quiet today is all,” you squeezed his hand in a sign of reassurance to let him know that everything was okay, “you can tell me anything, right?”

“Of course,” he stopped suddenly so he was facing you, a half smile on his handsome features. After studying your features in his aviators for a moment, you gently pushed them to the top of his head before leaving in to give him a gentle, saccharine kiss. When you pulled back, you found a light tinge of pink creeping into his cheeks, “whatever was that for?”

‘Just because,” you shrugged lightly before taking his hand again and tugging on it for him to follow, “I love you, Jack.”

“I love you too,” he shook his head at your playfulness but both knew the words were true. You’d both been jaded in different ways throughout your lives, but this was the one thing you were sure about. You really did love him more than anything - and he you.

»»————-　♡　————-««

You clutched onto your drink, or rather what was left of the smooth, honeyed whiskey, before turning to Jack and setting the glass down. You found Jack staring into the roaring fire across from you, his expression suggesting that a lot was going through his mind. 

You were across the small fire pit from him, the one he had lovingly built in the background for cool nights just like this and let out a small sigh. His drink wasn’t even touched and he’d hardly said more than a word or two the whole evening, leaving you to do most of the talking yourself.

“Alright, Jack, this is enough,” you stood up and flounced over to him, and sat down next to him, “what’s going on, Jack? Ever since this afternoon at the market, you’ve gone practically silent. It’s not like you, honey. I-is it something I did? Are you upset with me?”

“No, no, no it’s nothing like that at all, sugar,” he promised as he turned to you, a worried expression on his own face, “I am far from upset, or anything else for that matter. I’ve just had a lot on my mind today - lately.”

“What’s going on? I can help…” you watched with worried eyes as he stood up and moved in front of you, a thoughtful expression on his face as his hands dove into his pockets, “Jack?”

“We’ve been together for a long time now,” he started as you swallowed the lump in your throat, “honestly, it seems like there wasn’t any time in which I didn’t know you. It feels like we’ve always been together…”

“Oh my God,” you looked at him with pouted lips and a worried expression in your eyes, “you’re breaking up with me, aren’t you?”

“What on earth...how...no, Sugar, I am absolutely not breaking up with you or anything of the sort,” he quickly insisted and you relaxed at his reassurance. Then why was he so...off today?

“Then what’s…”

“I love you more than anything,” he reminded you, and your heart fluttered in your chest as you nodded slowly, “and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and only you. I don’t know a lot, but that is one thing I do know.”

“I want that too,” the corners of your mouth turned up into that brilliant smile that still made Jack weak in the knees. Radiant and golden as ever as nervous butterflies fluttered about his stomach; he was sure you would be able to hear the nervous beating of his heart, “you’re my one, Jack.”

“And you are mine, Sugar,” he slowly kneeled, almost eye level with you as he got down on one knee and reached back into his pocket. Suddenly you knew - all the quiet moments, the little secret he seemed to be hiding, all the extra declarations of love, it all made sense now. Your lip trembled with effort as you tried not to cry then and there. He reached for your left hand and gently held it in his, “I have never been more sure of anyone or anything, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you, I want to build and grow our family together, all of it - I want it with you.”

“Oh honey…” you looked into those soft brown eyes and found that they were glossy with tears as well, “I...love you so much. I want everything with you too. Only you.”

“Well then I just have one very important question to ask you,” he slipped his free hand into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. He made quick work of displaying the beautiful ring inside. You looked between the ring and him, hardly able to believe this was happening, “Sugar, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and allowing me to be your husband?”

“Yes - yes,” you nodded as he slipped the ring onto your finger. He studied your face for a moment before delicately wiping away your tears, after which you put your hands on the sides of his face and pulled him in for a gentle kiss, “of course I’ll marry you, Jack. Yes, yes, yes, a million times yes.”

“And just like that, you continue to make me the happiest man in the world,” he scooped you up in his arms and spun you around as he held onto you tightly, “I love you so much, Sugar.”

“I love you too, Jack,” you whispered against his lips, “tell me what finally made you ask? Was it the dress? I always knew yellow was your favorite!”

“Of course not, darlin’,” he laughed lightly, “it was all you - the dress was just an added bonus. How lucky I must be to have the privilege of getting to gaze upon such beauty everyday.”

“And what about me?” you asked in response, “I must be pretty lucky as well. I get you all to myself, the best man, and soon I get to call you my husband.”

“I suppose that makes us a pair of lucky fools,” he mused as you beamed at him, “what do you say we do inside and grab some champagne to celebrate? Just the two of us for now, before we tell the world.”

“I love the sound of that,” you agreed, “this is perfect.”

»»————-　♡　————-««

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[tickledpink31]

Epics of Ink & Light Chapter 8: Queen of Tarts

Summary: In which the first years prepare a tart to appease the ill-tempered Queen of Heartslabyul.

When you see an asterisk (*), there will information about a topic that appears within the story and will be explained in the author’s notes at the end of the chapter.

My Instagram Read on Ao3 Read on Wattpad

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◐ ━━━━━ ºoº Minako ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

It was a quarter to four when Minako’s appointment with Dr. Radcliffe finished. She spent much of her appointment being made to blast a combination of light spells and her severely underdeveloped patronus at the magic crystal that she corrupted from the test. She barely cleared a quarter of the blot after twenty minutes. In the end, Radcliffe prescribed her with a potion to reduce her nightmares should she end up destroying her dorm in her sleep again.

Ace and Deuce might still be picking chestnuts. She and Grim should offer a hand, so off they went to find them.

On the way to the nearby woods, she kept staring down at the old camera that Crowley had given her a couple minutes ago. The shape of the lens was unmistakably her family’s mouse symbol. Grim had taken to walking in front of her rather than being carried like she usually did for him.

“It’s just an old camera. Quit staring and keep up with me,” said Grim.

“But…” Minako frantically turned the camera around so that the lens would face him. “The insignia! Camera lenses aren’t shaped like this, Grim!”

“Would you stop worrying about that? Your job is to take as many pictures of me— Whoa, look at all these chestnuts!”

They finally made it to the woods behind the campus. Grim was practically drooling over the amount of chestnuts on the trees and on the ground. His paw reached out to grab one but was promptly stopped when its spiny burr poked him.

“Yowch!” Grim pressed his paw up against his mouth to lick it better.

Minako rolled her eyes. She would have thought that he would have been smart enough to not pick up something so prickly. Absolutely no self-preservation.

“There’s a botanical garden nearby. It might have some supplies to pick them up,” she suggested.

The botanical garden was bigger than any greenhouse at Hogwarts. The outside was a massive glass dome surrounded by large shrubs of greenery. Inside, it looked like a jungle. The air was warm and many of the plants stood over Minako like giants. There were various exotic flora, some of which she did not recognize. She was sure that a lot of them were only native to Twisted Wonderland.

Grim sniffed the air, a smile plastered on his face that only meant that he was going to do something horribly idiotic for the sake of food. “Look at those fruits! One bite wouldn’t hurt.” He reached for one of the large, fuchsia berries growing on a nearby tree.

“No.” Minako smacked his paw away and pinned him to her side as she carried him. “Are you trying to pull an Ace? Big Bad Riddle might come here and chop off your head!” She made a menacing grin at him and curled her fingers to mimic a set of sharp claws.

“Eep! I mean— I’m not scared!”

She let Grim be for now, still carrying him securely. There didn’t seem to be a supply closet. Hopefully, there was a caretaker around here to help her.

While walking along the stone pathway, Minako’s foot collided against an uneven plot of land that felt strangely soft. She tripped on it and nearly lost her footing. She glanced back, thinking that it was some kind of plant, but no.

It was a lion’s tail.

“Hey.” There was a gruff voice coming from the bushes. “You’ve got some nerve stepping on someone’s tail.” The leaves began rustling as a figure rose up from it.

A tall and dark man emerged from the bushes. He had a mop of long, brown hair that was unkempt but braided on both sides of his face. A pair of lion’s ears sat atop of his head, seemingly flicking with irritation. Although he appeared to be groggy as if he had just woken up from a nap, his expression said that he was ready to snap someone in half. The scar over his eye didn’t help in making him look any less terrifying.

Ah, Minako remembered him now. This was Savanaclaw’s dorm leader.

I can’t take him on, and snapping back might get me killed, she thought. This was an entirely different situation from fighting with Ace. The leonine beastman standing before her was quite brawny and much older than him. Not to mention that she wasn’t ready for another flare-up to happen.

Choose your battles wisely, she reminded herself. Apologise then run for the hills if all goes wrong.

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº Leona ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

An irate grumble left Leona’s lips when he felt something brush against his tail. It didn’t hurt him, but it was enough to rouse him from his sleep. The scent of a human and a cat filled his nostrils. He was having such a good nap, and now whoever stepped on his tail has to pay.

He rose up with his fists clenched and scowled. “I was having such a good fucking nap. Then you just had to ruin it.”

His sensitive nose caught something else—the scent of a female. That’s when his eyes landed on the lone girl on the campus and her pesky monster cat.

The Afterglow of Savannah, Leona’s home country, was not without its cultural customs. Respecting all women was the law that everyone must live by and for a good reason too. The women of his country were outspoken and fearsome, including his mother. Many of them were among the highest ranking soldiers that served the royal family.

There was a huge commotion when the news of a girl attending the school broke out and Leona cared for none of that. He won’t fight her according to the laws of his country, but he didn’t plan on helping her either. However, there was something off about the way she smelled. It was hard to ignore it.

The human girl lifted the hem of her skirt ever so slightly and bent her knees in a curtsy. “I’m very sorry for interrupting your nap. I’ll be on my way.”

What the fuck?

Okay, now Leona knew that Mirror definitely made a mistake. That old piece of glass. The students of NRC apologise to no one, no matter how high-class they were. He expected a snarky comeback, something to put him in his place. But the new girl bowed her head to him?

“Stop that,” Leona ordered. “Aren’t you that weird, dormless herbivore? Why do you still have that ratty pest with you?” he added snidely.

“You’re a rude one,” huffed the grey cat. His mouth was promptly held shut by the girl.

Leona advanced on them. The cat can take the consequences for his owner. Every step forward that he took, the girl went two steps back. She then made an attempt to turn on her heel and run, but he seized her by the forearm. He felt her quivering like a mouse in his grip, which he didn’t see when he first saw her. She hid it well from his sight.

The smirk on Leona’s face fell when he detected another scent that clashed with the others—ink.

He began sniffing her wrist, taking in more of the human’s foreign but sweet-smelling magic. It faded into something earthy and metallic. Sorrow and anger have no particular scent, but he felt it for a brief moment and made his hair stand on end. His senses screamed, “Danger!” so he pulled away, still keeping his hold on her forearm.

It wasn’t just ink, it was blot.

All beastmen were familiar with the smell of blot, even if they’ve never witnessed an overblot before. What was practically nonexistent to a regular human’s sense of smell can be sniffed out by the keen nose of a beastman. There were days when Leona could smell when his own crystal was half-covered in blot before he could even look at it to check, so he would use it as an excuse to sleep it off until it went away.

But the difference between that and now was that the stench of blot was normally faint. With this girl, the smell was becoming more and more potent as he inhaled her scent. She should be dead by now with that much blot in her system.

It seems that by now, the human girl had dropped the niceties as she was cursing under her breath and trying to yank her arm away from him. Fat chance. She wasn’t getting away until he got answers from her.

Leona tightened his grip as a warning. “Oi, tell me, herbivore. Why do you smell like blot?”

The grey cat yelped and covered his paws with his mouth like he knew something. The girl’s eyes darted back and forth, trying not to meet his eyes.

“Let go of me!” she demanded.

“Watch what you say to me,” Leona growled. “Answer me and maybe I’ll forgive you for stepping on my tail.”

Leona could see how the girl was trying to pull her arm, the arm that he had grabbed, towards her waist but to no avail. He glanced down and realised that she was trying to reach for her wooden wand that was latched to her holster. It occurred to him that the wand lacked a crystal that all magicians needed.

That must be it. How long had she been using magic without a crystal? How much blot has she been amassing directly inside her body? And why was she still alive?

All of a sudden, Leona yowled in pain when the girl stomped on his foot. He had subsequently let go of the two perpetrators from the shock, allowing them to bolt away from his sight.

Leona hissed, trying to somehow ease the pain by massaging his foot. That little twerp was going to pay the next time he sees her.

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº Minako ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

Minako made a dead sprint for the back door without any supplies. Her new camera, its strap hanging around her neck, banged against her chest as she ran. Grim, who she was still carrying, let out uneven shrieks and cries like he was on a bumpy ride at an amusement park.

Now that she thought about it, she was probably going to pay for the consequences later for stepping on a dorm leader’s tail and his foot. And that question he asked was haunting her. Of course he could smell her curse! She practically reeked of it.

Minako took cover in the woods, crouching behind a large bush. She slowed her breathing, covered Grim’s mouth, and prayed that she wouldn’t be found.

For a couple minutes, everything was still. All she could hear was the soft wind in the trees and the tweet of the birds. Maybe it was safe to come out.

“BOO!”

Minako and Grim let out blood-curdling screams. Not caring who it was, Minako whirled around and blindly punched whoever decided to sneak up behind them. She felt her fist collide with the person’s face before he fell to the ground with a grunt.

“Ow! Minako, what the hell?!”

Minako opened one eye and found Ace sitting up from the grass and covering his nose. His expression was a mix of anger and pain.

“Ace, I’m so sorry! Let me see it.” Minako knelt down to her classmate’s level and gently pried his hand away from his face.

Oof. It looked pretty bad. Ace’s nose was bleeding and a bruise began to form on the bridge.

Grim, having forgotten his fear, began cackling and rolling on the ground. “That’s what you get for being a jerk!”

Ace snarled at him. “Why you—”

“Grim, shut up,” said Minako. She pulled out a handkerchief from her pocket and charmed it to an icy temperature so that it would become a pseudo ice pack. “I’m not good at healing charms, but I hope this’ll do.”

Ace hissed when she pressed the hanky against his nose. He moved his hand to hold the hanky himself. “Ugh, you sure know how to pack a punch.”

“You had it coming. I told you not to do that.” Deuce came closer, carrying two full baskets of marron chestnuts. A couple of them were still inside their husks.

“Shut it!”

“Hey! That’s a lot of chestnuts.” Minako cut in to prevent a fight from breaking out. “How many did you get?”

“We stopped counting at 217,” said Deuce. Then he paused before saying, “Are you alright, though? Your neck is uh…”

Minako’s hand flew up to touch her neck. Bad idea. She hissed, knowing full well that the curse had acted up again. She just didn’t realise it until now.

Deuce glowered and hit Ace in the arm. “That was your fault for scaring her.”

“Ow! Okay! I’m sorry, Minako!” Ace blurted out.

“No, no. Grim and I had a run in with a beastman at the botanical garden when we were looking for supplies.” Minako began rummaging through her bag for her potion.

“Yeah, I think it was the caretaker, or maybe it was someone from the banana dorm. He did wear a yellow vest,” said Grim.

“It’s Savanaclaw, not banana,” Minako corrected. “We ran into Savanaclaw’s dorm leader no less.”

“What?” Ace’s eyes looked like they were about to pop out from his head.

“Why don’t we head back to the campus? You can tell us on the way there,” suggested Deuce.

On their way to the infirmary to quickly fix Ace's nose, Minako explained her encounter with the leonine beastman. She did her best to stay calm when she told them how he was able to smell blot in her. When he grabbed her arm, it probably didn’t help that her fear and panic were setting in.

Deuce hummed. “This has been bugging me for a while. For a prestigious school, NRC has a lot of delinquents attending.”

“Takes one to know one, I guess,” Ace snorted.*

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Minako raised a brow and wondered what Ace meant by that. She decided to ignore it, seeing that it was probably none of her business.

“Say, where’d you get that old camera?” asked Ace.

Minako looked down at the ghost camera, realising that she hadn’t mentioned it yet. “The Headmaster gave it to me. He wants me to supervise the other students with it.”

“Wait a sec, that’s a ghost camera! My grandma told me about those,” Ace exclaimed.

Deuce paled. “G-ghost?” he stuttered out.

“Yeah, it captures a piece of people’s souls and projects memories of whatever I took a picture of.” Minako still felt uneasy about the lens resembling her family’s mouse symbol.

“Sounds like some kind of spirit photography,” Deuce shuddered.

“Make sure to get my good side when you’re taking photos of me,” said Grim.

“And me!” Ace pointed to himself.

Minako snorted. “We’ll see if you have a good side once your nose gets fixed.”

“Hey!”

At the infirmary, Ace’s nose quickly healed up when he drank a potion that one of the nurses offered to him. It was like he was never punched at all. Minako was relieved. Next, they headed to the school’s kitchen where Trey had just put the tart crusts into the oven to brown. He looked rather impressed when they plopped down two heavy baskets filled with plenty of chestnuts on the counter.

Grim’s jaw was wide open and his saliva pooled onto the table. “Imagine how big of a tart we can make with all these chestnuts!”

“Hold it,” Trey said. “You still need to peel them.”

Ace, Deuce, and Grim collectively groaned at the mention of more work.

Minako twirled her wand from its holster. “I’ll take care of it. I didn’t get a chance to pick the chestnuts after all.”

“Are you sure? That’s a lot of chestnuts.” Trey looked hesitant.

“Trust me on this. It’ll go faster.”

“Minako you’re a lifesaver!” chorused Ace and Deuce.

Minako was fairly confident in her non-verbal magic as long as her wand was still in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, all of the gaps of the half-open husks widened and the large chestnuts rolled out. She floated them over to the sink to be washed thoroughly, dried them, and scored the inner shells.

Trey had to adjust his glasses, looking astounded by her performance. “You did all that in just five minutes?”

“Hmph! I knew I picked the right henchwoman,” Grim bragged. “I can already taste that tart.”

“We just need to boil the chestnuts before we peel the inner shells, right?” Minako began filling a pot with water using the Aguamenti charm.

“I guess if you can do all that then the tart might as well be done.” Ace was already making an attempt to exit the kitchen. That traitor.

“Ace.” Trey stopped him before Minako could. “The dorm leader won’t accept your apology if you don’t help make the tart.”

Deuce joined in on the scolding, “And don’t take advantage of Minako just because she’s nice to you.”

“I never said that I was going to use magic the whole way through. This was just to make preparations easier.” Minako crossed her arms with a glare.

Ace grimaced and his shoulders drooped. “Ugh, fine. Let’s get this over with.”

As promised, Minako stopped using magic after she discarded the brown shells from the piping hot chestnuts. Making the chestnut base was where the real baking began. For the first few minutes, Ace was quietly muttering to himself about having to do the painstaking task of doing things by hand while keeping an eye on the simmering pot of chestnut meat and milk.

“Minako.” Ace beckoned her closer to him. He spoke in a whisper that was quiet enough for Trey to not hear. “Why aren't you using your magic? It’s unlimited, right?”

“Don’t you find baking therapeutic? I cook at least once every week.” Minako replied. In all honesty, she preferred to cook like a Muggle. If she wasn’t cooking supper for her family during semester breaks, she was spending her Friday evenings in the Hogwarts kitchens trying to come up with the best ways to make meat-free versions of British dishes. It was the best remedy after a particularly stressful week.

“Oh, I get it. This isn’t much of a chore for you.”

“It helps when you have a lot of hobbies. You should probably stop cooking that now before the paste burns.”

“Before you do that, we still have to add a special ingredient,” said Trey. He then pulled out a long bottle of dark sauce with a sharply-dressed walrus and clams on the label. “Just add a teaspoon of oyster sauce and the marron paste should be perfect.”

What? Minako wondered if she built up any ink in her ears from the amount of flare-ups she had today.

“Oyster sauce?!” Ace and Deuce, both equally flabbergasted, parroted back to him.

“It seems strange, but the briny flavour gives depth to the taste of the cream. Famous patisseries tend to favour young oyster sauce with the Walrus’ seal of excellence.” Trey was even showing off the brand label to them!

Minako couldn’t believe what was coming out of his mouth. She was scandalised. Scandalised, I tell you! This was a prank, it had to be. She didn’t care how twisted Twisted Wonderland really is.

“It’s so salty, though,” Deuce said.

“I mean…” Ace hesitated. “Chocolate does go into curry sometimes.”

Ace, no! It’s a trap!

“Nope. Keep that far away from the tart,” Minako bluntly stated. “Not one drop of oyster sauce in the sweets.”

“Minako, I’m pretty sure Trey knows what he’s doing.” Deuce made an attempt to rationalise the idea.

Suddenly, a snicker rang out. “I’m kidding. I guess that joke didn’t land very well with you, Prefect.” Trey chuckled into his hand. He turned to Ace and Deuce. “Next time, learn to take things with a grain of salt, you two.”

Ace choked, annoyed with the revelation. “Screw you! It sounded convincing enough!”

Minako breathed a sigh of relief. Consider yourself lucky, Trey. I’m not cutting you out of my life today.

The abundance of chestnuts resulted in them making so much marron paste that they had to use three bowls and three food mills to puree all of it. Trey must have taken that into consideration once he decked out four blind-baked tart crusts from the oven.

Trey, however, didn’t consider how much whip cream he needed for the chestnut buttercream. Deuce (bless his heart) offered to go get some for him at the school’s shop.

“While you’re there, do you mind getting a couple of other groceries too?” Trey began jotting the things he needed on a pad of paper: two cartons of milk, a dozen eggs, a package of aluminium cups, and five cans of fruit.

“That looks like too much to carry for one person. Do you want me to come with you? I need to see Sam again, anyway,” Minako offered.

“That would be great.” Deuce beamed.

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº Ace ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

“Ace, can I ask you something about the prefect?” is what Trey said once Minako, Deuce, and Grim were out of earshot.

“No, you can’t date Minako. You’d have to go through me first,” Ace snickered. He might have said that as a joke, but seeing someone dating Minako just didn’t sit right with him.

“That’s not what I was going to ask. It’s just…” Trey paused for a second. “Is she sick?”

Ace’s heart missed a beat. Damn it, Minako. If she didn’t like people knowing about her curse so much, then that girl should learn to keep her condition on the down-low.

“Everyone gets sick, don’t they?” Ace dodged the question a bit too nervously than he intended.

Trey frowned, not buying his reasoning. “The medicine she was taking didn’t smell like something you would use for common colds and flus,* and they had to call in a doctor for her appointment. We usually don’t do that, unless it’s an emergency.” His eyes shifted down and he scratched the nape of his neck. “I know she looks healthy now, but does she feel frail sometimes? Being in a new environment can be stressful—”

“New environment? How did you—” Ace paused, momentarily registering that being here was new for all first years. “I mean, yeah! She’s new. I’m new. We’re all nervous.” He covered his initial shock with another rubbish excuse.

“Ace.” Trey’s voice adopted a slight sternness. “The dorm leaders and the vice dorm leaders know that she was ripped away from her home by accident, and she can’t go back through the mirror for some reason. It’s just concerning because she was sent to live in an old dorm.”

Damn it, Crowley. Why did he have to tell them about that?

Now that Ace thought about it, the Headmaster clearly knew about her curse before he and Deuce did, and he still sent Minako to live in the old dorm. Sure, Minako has mending charms, but even with that, she could only make the conditions of Mugglesworth decent enough to live in for someone without a curse. The place was chilly, there were a few cracks in the walls that couldn’t be magicked away, and the floorboards were weak. When he woke up this morning, all of that literally fell apart. After that incident, it didn’t seem to matter that Minako could fix the dorm with a flick of her wand since there was a big chance that she might break it again even when she was awake and more in control.

Trey continued, “You’re her friend. I can tell that you know something. Or am I just acting crazy?”

“No, no! You’re not…” Ace trailed off. It wasn’t his place to tell him about Minako’s curse, but Trey was a lot more observant than he thought. He managed to back him up into a corner. “She is my friend,” he affirmed. “But this isn’t something you should ask me about. She gets upset when people find out about her cur— condition.”

Trey’s expression softened. “I guess you’re right. Can you at least tell me how she’s managed to live in Mugglesworth?”

“She’s fixed it for the most part, but I don’t think it’s liveable for someone like her at least. It’s cold there too, even the water supply.”

“I’ll bring a few blankets tomorrow. Then I’ll talk to her about you-know-what.”

Ace let out a sigh of relief at how he’s managed to avoid mentioning too much about the curse. Then his eyes opened wide when he remembered something.

“Don’t tell Minako I told you about it! She might hex me if she finds out!” Ace yapped.

Trey chuckled. “Are you afraid of her?”

“She paralyzed me yesterday! I don’t want to find out about what else she can do!”

Trey laughed even louder.

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº Minako ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

The door to Mr. S’s Mystery Shop jingled when it opened. Despite it being her second time visiting the shop, it still baffled Minako how she was able to find groceries here. Deuce eyed the crystal balls and voodoo masks with a childlike wonder.

Sam wasn’t there to spook them this time when they entered. Instead, they found him sitting by his counter, nose-deep in a book with his shadows looming above him.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Sam,” Minako greeted.

Sam looked up in surprise and he shut his book with a sharp snap. He quickly regained his composure by flashing them a charming smile and announcing his usual gimmick.

“Welcome back, little demons! Could I interest you in some grimoires? Jewels from a cursed temple?” Sam stood up from his seat, pulling out necklaces of precious stones and spell books with ornate bindings.

Deuce handed him the piece of paper that Trey had given them. “We just need the ones on this list.”

“Including my prescription and my job application. That will be all. Don’t listen to Grim.” Minako handed over her own papers, silencing Grim’s requests for more tuna cans.

Sam made a low whistle as he took a quick look at the shopping list. “Let’s see. A sweet line-up of whip cream, eggs, and a potion for nightmares. Coming right up!” He left to go get the groceries himself without at all mentioning the job application.

Fingers crossed. Minako really needed this job offer.

“Does he really sell whip cream around here?” Deuce began poking around through a rack of tooth necklaces. “These aren’t real teeth are they?”

“From the looks of it, they’re probably teeth from an alligator.” Minako could only hope that Sam was getting the teeth through ethical means.

Remembering to keep an eye on Grim, she watched him peer through the glass countertops displaying various voodoo dolls with signs that said, “PLEASE HANDLE WITH CARE!” in bold, red letters. Then she followed Grim over to the counter where Sam had been sitting.

“Don’t touch that,” Minako scolded him just as he was about to poke a large, crystal ball.

When she moved to pick him from the display, that’s when she saw it: the mouse symbol in the crystal ball.

Minako’s head was spinning and her breathing became heavier. Thankfully, she had enough awareness left to recall the first time this has happened.

“Deuce,” she croaked.

It didn’t take him long to pick up on the fact that her knees were about to give up on her. Deuce had put his hands around her shoulders and kept her steady. “You okay? What do you need?”

“Are you about to faint again?” asked a panicked Grim.

“Is there a place to sit down? I need to rest my eyes for a bit.” Minako’s eyelids were getting too heavy.

Deuce quickly walked her over to a bench by the door. Before she even got to thank him, she went out like a light once more.

Minako was back in that monochromatic world where the people were nothing but silhouettes attached to voices. She was met with the same room and the same two people.

“That will be the end of your classical magic studies for today. I want you to memorise everything you learned about magical ethics and get through page fifty of your language philosophy text,” the mother said as she put one text book aside only to put three more in front of the child. “Once you’ve finished all that, you’ll have an hour to study for your next potions lesson.”

The child, with his head low, grabbed a pen and opened up a textbook. He complied with, “Yes, Mother.”

The more Minako got to know whoever that lady was, the more she grew to hate her. All of that work and not once did she hear that woman talk about giving her son a break. Just as the lady was about to leave to run an errand, Minako made a move to grab her to perhaps knock some sense into that nutcase of a mother. However, her hand passed right through the silhouette’s body like she was a ghost.

Frustrated, Minako shrieked at her, “Your son is not a machine, you know?!”

Once again, the world shattered and she was back at Sam’s shop. Her arms and neck were stinging for the umpteenth time that day.

“Minako, drink it.” Someone had pressed her flask up against her lips. It was Deuce. “Hurry, before Sam sees your marks.”

Minako sat up with a gasp, unscrewed the lid of her flask, and drank from it. Just for extra measure, her hands flew up to cover her neck. She made a habit of doing that whenever she was nervous.

“I’m back!” Sam called as he walked in with arms full of grocery bags. He stacked them next to the register with a grunt. “These are quite heavy. I could throw in a flying saucer to carry them. It’s thirty percent off if you order now.” As if on cue, a miniature UFO with flashing light floated up behind the shopkeeper.

“Ooh, cool! Let’s buy it!” Grim was jumping up and down like an excited kid at a toy store.

“No thank you. We have what we need.” Minako placed thirty madols on the counter and scooped Grim up into one arm.

Deuce cleared the counter of the grocery bags, and they left the store in a hurry.

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº Deuce ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

“That was close.” Deuce breathed a sigh of relief, glancing back at the front of the shop.

Minako finally removed her hand from her neck. “Are my marks gone?” Her skin was clear of the cursed black lines.

“They’re gone,” Deuce said.

It was Minako's turn to let out a sigh of relief. She let her hand fall to her side before she grabbed a bag from the ground that Deuce wasn’t carrying.

“Tch! Why did you have to be so stingy back there?” Grim complained as they started making their way back to the building.

“Stingy? Don’t you think you should be more considerate of your dorm leader’s situation?” Deuce snapped back.

“Let’s not fight. I don’t want to get stressed again.” Minako’s rambling was what instantly made Deuce’s anger wane. “Deuce, you’re carrying a lot. Let me carry another bag.” Her free hand reached out to him, expecting a second bag to be offered to her.

Deuce had to politely decline, knowing that Minako must be a bit light-headed after passing out, “No, it’s fine. I always carry the heaviest shopping bags for my mom. She buys way too much whenever there’s limited sales.”

“I understand. There's been five mouths to feed at home ever since my sister got married, six if my brother’s girlfriend comes over, and we tend to eat a lot. So, everyone has to chip in with the groceries or Ate Flor will get mad,” Minako said. A nostalgic smile was beginning to etch onto her face.

“Ate Flor?” Deuce quirked a brow. It occurred to him that he didn’t really know much about his new friends at all. “Is that the name of your relative?”

“Ate'' is a Tagalog honorific for older sisters. Flor is our big sister’s nickname,” Minako replied.

Deuce didn’t know what she meant by ‘Tagalog,’ but he kept the conversation going anyway. “Is it noisy back at your home? I can’t imagine living with so many people.”

“It is! All of my siblings are horrible, including me. That’s why I spend way too much time biking in the forest alone during school breaks,” Minako said with a laugh. “What about you? I can’t imagine a house with less than four people.”

“It’s just me and my mom. Sometimes my grandma comes over to visit. I’m the man of the house, so it’s my job to do most of the heavy labour.” A twinge of guilt made its way to Deuce’s heart when his mother came to mind.

“That’s so sweet. It’s great that you care about your mother,” Minako cooed.

Deuce’s cheeks heated up that, but it didn’t really help quell his shame. Another dreaded thought that came to mind was that Minako had blurted out to him and Ace about her dead parents yesterday. She probably missed them.

I guess if she’s my friend and we’re being honest to each other, I should probably come clean, Deuce thought. In a span of two days, he’s seen that Minako was kinder than most of the NRC students he’s come across. She only seemed to get angry at the face of injustice, or when Ace and Grim were misbehaving.

“Actually, I have something to confess,” Deuce said solemnly. “I would always make my mom—”

“Deuce, look out!”

Crash! Crack!

Him and Minako were sent to the pavement after they collided with something hard, or rather someone. The eggs. The poor eggs. Half of them were smashed! The yolks were leaking all over the bag.

“Watch it!” Deuce heard someone snarl. He looked up and was met with the baleful faces of two upperclassmen. From their red armbands, he instantly knew that they were from his dorm.

“I saw you run right into us on purpose. We aren’t playing bumper cars, you know?” Minako retaliated.

“Are you saying it’s my fault, girly? Watch how you talk to your seniors!” The taller upperclassman harshly lifted Minako up from the ground by her shirt, causing her to let go of Grim.

Grim landed on his belly with a thud. “Deuce, do something!” he yelped.

Deuce pushed himself off the ground and got between Minako and the upperclassman. They were toe-to-toe. “Leave her out of this,” he growled. “I want you to pay for the eggs. Apologise to my friends and the little chicks too.”

The upperclassman scoffed. “What’s the matter? You’re making a big deal over some eggs.”

Deep breaths. Deuce’s eye twitched and fists were clenched.

“They’re still edible. If anything, we saved you the trouble of opening them!” The shorter upperclassman jeered, mockingly patting him on the shoulder.

And they laughed at him. They were cackling like those eggs didn’t matter!

How dare they!

“DON’T YOU TELL ME WHAT’S A BIG DEAL!” With white hot fury, Deuce grabbed the lapels of the taller upperclassman’s blazer. “Instead of hatching into chicks… we were going to use them to be a part of our delicious tarts!”

His arm swung back, and he delivered the first blow of many more punches to come.

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº Minako ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

Minako must admit that she had turned white as a sheet when that older delinquent had yanked her off the ground. Her and her stupid mouth. On more than one occasion, impulsively giving someone lip had gotten her into trouble as much as it served as a decent coping mechanism.

Her plan was to paralyse the seniors first so that they could make a run for it, but it seemed that Deuce had already got that handled.

There was a kicker to it though when Deuce blew up on the seniors over a bunch of eggs. Did he really just say that they were going to hatch into chicks? Aside from the eggs, Minako supposed that she got hints of Deuce’s thuggish behaviour the other night at the mines. Is this what Ace meant earlier about how it takes one delinquent to know another? Maybe that’s why she felt a kinship with him the most. After all, she’s gotten into a few skirmishes herself when she was little.

Minako and Grim could only watch from the sidelines while Deuce sent a flurry of fists at the seniors. He was a beast. It wasn’t like Minako could jump into the fray and help with her curse being particularly bad today. Instead, she took to calming down Grim who was quivering in her grasp.

The seniors, despite being older and bigger, had no chance of landing a hit on Deuce. The navy-haired boy was as fast as lightning and he didn’t pull his punches or his kicks either. Even after they’ve become black and blue (and red if you count the hint of blood), there was no stopping Deuce.

“That’s six blows to your head for six eggs you broke!” he cried. That was either a lie or a mistake; it was more like ten blows for each delinquent.

Seeing the seniors finally recoil back instead of continuing to fight was when Minako decided that enough was enough. “Deuce, you can stop!” she commanded.

He didn’t listen. His fist swung again to strike the senior that he had tackled to the ground.

“You’ll get expelled for sure if you don’t stop!” Minako warned Deuce one last time.

Deuce’s fist paused, inches away from the senior’s nose.

The seniors, having been reduced to tears from the fight, quickly turned their heels and ran with their tails in between their legs.

“Amscray! This kid is nuts!”

“I’m sorry for the chickens!”

Deuce was breathing hard from the shock, like he had been possessed by some spirit when he fought then released right after. “I…” His tone had gone raspy and soft compared to the booming shouts he had displayed a minute ago. “I messed up… I promised her that I would become an honour student,” he croaked as he turned to her and Grim.

“What do you mean?” asked Grim. He had chosen to hide behind Minako, afraid that he would have another outburst.

All at once, everything was clear to Minako. “Deuce, did you used to get in trouble a lot when you were young?”

Deuce gave her a solemn nod and his head sunk low. “I was a delinquent back in middle school. I skipped classes, got into fights, called my teachers by their first names to disrespect them, and bleached my hair until it was fried.”

Minako remained silent, suppressing a burst of laughter when the image of a bleach-blonde Deuce in a leather jacket came to mind.

“The upperclassmen that I hung out with were just as bad as me, and I’d one up people by recklessly driving my magical wheel all over the place. I was so terrible that I used my magic to torment a bunch of magicless kids, and I know you hate those kinds of people.” Shame and self-loathing filled Deuce’s eyes. “Minako, I admire that you’re really put together. The teachers seem to like you, and you’re willing to put up with the likes of us despite the fact that it puts a lot of stress on you.”

“Put together?'' Have you met me?” Minako snorted.

“I mean it,” Deuce stressed. “I caught my mom crying on the phone while having a talk with my grandma. ‘Was I a bad mother? Would it be better if his father was around,’ she said.” He shut his eyes, his tears threatening to spill. “It was my fault. My mom didn’t do anything wrong. Then when the black carriage from this school came to pick me up, she was so happy.”

“You just wanted to make her proud,” Minako finished for him.

“I don’t want to make her cry again, so I vowed to become an honour student and make her proud of me.”

“Deuce…” Minako couldn’t find the words beyond his name.

Mom. Her mother. To Minako she was gone forever, including her father. She knew that she wasn’t the easiest child to raise. If anyone could recall her childhood, people would say that she could go from as quiet as a mouse to a brat who threw the worst temper tantrums. She was lucky to be raised by the most supportive parents that she could ever ask for, but would they be proud of her if they were still alive today?

“I promised that I wouldn’t go back to that person ever again… then I do something like this!” Deuce slammed his fists on the pavement, swearing under his breath.

Grim stepped out of his hiding spot behind Minako. “Hey, you can’t tell me that you’re just going to take every bad thing that happens to you with a smile.”

Deuce looked up in surprise.

“Grim’s right. Take it from an honour student who used to get into fights herself,” Minako admitted sheepishly.

“You? Even with your curse?” Deuce said with disbelief.

“I wasn’t always affected by my curse. There was a time I didn’t even know we had a family curse.”

“You know what? You should’ve kicked those upperclassmen around a bit more. Of course with my help.” Grim arrogantly puffed up his chest.

Minako sighed. “What we’re trying to say is that model students aren’t perfect. It’s true that violence doesn’t fix everything, but in this situation, I don’t blame you for fighting back. Just remember to choose your battles wisely next time.”

She could see that Deuce was still snivelling, so she made a hanky materialise from her wand. His cheeks and ears reddened when she offered to him.

Minako failed to suppress a snicker. “Are you falling for me, Deuce?”

Deuce choked at that. “Wha— no! I mean— I like you, but— No! I mean—” Out of words to say, he let out a frustrated groan and his hands covered his face in shame.

Minako laughed and laughed.

“It’s not funny.” Deuce was fuming.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Let’s go back to Sam’s and buy a new carton of eggs.”

Deuce sighed forlornly as he picked up a cracked egg from the bag. “May the chicks rest in peace.”

He wasn’t joking earlier. He really didn’t know how eggs work. I’m going to tell him.

“Um… Deuce, those eggs aren’t fertilised.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean there aren’t any chicks that will hatch from store-bought eggs.”

At that revelation, Deuce dropped the eggshells and went silent. Then he cried out so loudly in disbelief that it could be heard across the entire island.

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

“Make sure to give it a sharp peak and place some chestnuts on top. Then dust some powdered sugar, and you’re finished,” Trey instructed.

“Oh, I get it now. It’s called a mont blanc because it looks like a snowy mountain,” said Minako. She made the final touches on her tart and marvelled at her work, feeling proud that she managed to do so well for her first time making a mont blanc.

Grim was grinning from ear-to-ear, just as amazed with how the tart turned out. “I want to eat it now!”

“Wait for a couple of minutes. Let me preserve this.” Minako angled her camera and snapped a picture. The photo instantly printed out, coming out black before the image appeared.

She looked over at Ace and Deuce’s progress. Ace’s tart looked just as good, but Deuce… Deuce’s mont blanc looked very deflated like a plot of land with a bunch of hills and not very mountain-like.

Deuce kept mumbling and muttering something along the lines of, “Eggs… all my sixteen years… what on earth did I believe in?”

Maybe he was making a big deal out of eggs.

Ace nudged her in the elbow. “What’s up with him? He’s been like that since you came back,” he whispered.

“Trauma from chicken eggs. It’ll pass,” Minako said. Then she looked over at Deuce who was ready to let go of his soul. “At least I hope it’ll pass.”

Cater’s head popped in through the door. “Hey, how’s it going with the tarts? Ooh! They look tasty! Totally Magicam-grammable!” He made his way over to Trey’s perfectly made mont blanc to snap a picture.

His sudden appearance made Ace scowl. “How convenient that you finally came over once the tarts were finished.”

“What do you mean? I came here to be the taste-tester.”

“Minako, pass me your tart. We’ll be eating that,” said Trey.

Trey cleanly divided her tart into six equal pieces after she handed it to him. Each slice sat on a crisp, white platter like a work of art to behold. Minako was only brought out of her stupor from looking at it when she heard the forks clatter against the counter.

“Thank you for the food!” Ace, Deuce, and Cater all said together.

“Thank you for the food.” Minako and Grim’s response was a bit delayed.

Minako dug her fork into her slice, guided the piece towards her mouth, and the taste was magnificent.

“Wow,” was all she could really say, but the others described it better for her.

“So good!” Ace took a couple more big bites until his slice was only half its size.

“It’s just like it’s been store-bought. No… it tastes better than that!” Deuce exclaimed.

“The sweetness isn’t too overpowering, but the taste of chestnuts are so rich!” Grim, ever the foodie, had a lot to say about the tart. Like Ace, he began to wolf it down.

“Ah, ah, ah. Don’t finish it yet.” Cater had barely taken a bite out of his piece. He didn’t even take a part of the creamy tart filling, only the crust. “Trey, work your magic.”

“Again? Alright.” Trey unhooked his pen from his pocket. “Everyone, tell me your favourite things to eat.”

Minako raised a brow, wondering where this was going. This wasn’t another joke of his, was it?

“I like tuna!” Grim blurted out. He didn’t stop there, “And cheese omelettes, and grilled meat, and pudding, and…” Drool dribbled from the corner of his mouth at the thought of food.

“I have to say cherry pie and cheeseburgers,” said Ace.

Deuce had to think of his favourite food for a moment. “Omurice… I guess?”

“Mine is grilled lamb with diablo sauce,” Cater said with an excited grin.

Well, if Cater was mentioning his favourite, then this probably wasn’t a trick.

What’s my favourite food? Minako didn’t know if she had a favourite. What food can I never say no too?

“I guess I can never get tired of veggie hotdogs and ube cream bread,” she said.

“What’s ube?” asked Cater.

Oh no. Did ube not exist around in this world?

“Oh, you mean the sweet purple yams from the Eastern tropics?” said Trey.

“Y-yes.” Minako sighed with relief. If she had to take a guess, the Eastern tropics must be Twisted Wonderland’s equivalent of Southeast Asia.

Waving his pen, Trey cast a spell on the partially-eaten tart slices. “Alright, here goes. Doodle suit!”

Cater dug his fork into the tart filling with vigour and eagerness, taking a much bigger chunk than he did before. “Take a bite of it now!”

And one by one, each person in the room was amazed at how the flavours of their tarts changed into their respective favourite foods. Some of them even tasted a multi-course meal in one bite, like Ace and Grim. They couldn’t get enough of it.

However, when Minako took a bite of her own tart, the experience wasn’t as fun. Yup. The taste was unmistakably a spicy beyond meat hot dog like the ones she would buy from the local diner in London. She should love it, but the creamy consistency of the tart filling did not blend well with the taste of hot dogs. She felt bad when Trey caught her shuddering.*

“I’m sorry. Is the texture throwing you off?” Trey was chuckling at her.

“It is,” Minako mumbled. The taste quickly shifted into the ube cream bread, which soothed the icky feeling. “The ube bread is a lot better, though.” It felt like a Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory moment with the three-course dinner gum, except she wasn’t blowing up like a giant blueberry… thankfully.

“I can change it to just ube bread if you want.”

“Yes please!”

Cater quickly finished his tart in a few bites before pausing to talk, “This is Trey’s unique magic. A pretty cool party trick when you’re on a date with a girl, don’t you think, Mini-chan?”

Minako felt uneasy at the way he winked at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Sooo…” Ace sounded a bit agitated. What for? “Your unique magic changes the taste of food?”

“Actually, my unique magic can overwrite the traits of something,” Trey explained. “I can even change the scent—” He waved his pen over his piece of the tart and it gave off a rosy fragrance. “—or even change the colour.” At his command, the tart’s cream transformed into a chocolate brown. “But this magic is only temporary like a doodle, so I called it ‘Doodle Suit.’ ”

“I wish I had that kind of power. Think of all the canned tuna flavoured food that I can eat. It’s so much better than Riddle's magic collar,” Grim said with a mouthful of tart.

Trey let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his neck. “I wouldn’t say it’s better than Riddle’s level of magic. My Doodle Suit is merely child’s play.”

“Don’t sell yourself so short. Thinking beyond food, it can be potentially powerful,” Minako commented.

She wasn’t intending on telling him what he can do with his unique magic, but the thought of having the ability to alter anything had so many possibilities. She excelled in something similar to Trey’s magic too, which was transfiguration. It was a complex and dangerous art to perform. How she managed to be three years ahead in that subject when she used to struggle with charms so much was beyond her.*

“I guess that’s true. Thanks for that.” Looking embarrassed, he began scratching his neck again. “It’s getting late. Ace, you can give Riddle the tart during the Unbirthday party.”

“Remember, it’s in two days.* Make sure you get to our dorm’s Rose Maze on Friday at four after school. Do not be late.” Cater placed an extra emphasis on the last few words.

Ace wrapped an arm around Minako's shoulders, which could only mean that he wanted something from her. “Minako, let me stay over again.” My God, he was even pouting for added effectiveness.

“Really? After…” Minako paused trying to think of a better way to describe this morning’s destruction. “After you-know-what?”

“Don’t listen to him, Minako. You’re just going to spoil him.” Deuce clicked his tongue in annoyance.

Grim crossed his arms, looking equally annoyed. “You have to pay us rent in tuna cans!”

“That’s not fair! What am I going to do? Camp out in the forest?”

“No, but Deuce and Grim are right. If you help me clean up and prepare supper, you can stay,” Minako offered. She gingerly elbowed him in the chest when Ace only responded with his grumbling. “Do we have a deal?”

Ace’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “Fine.”

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº Trey ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

The stars were beginning to shine and the sunset’s saffron hue was quickly fading. That was when Trey and Cater finally made it back to their dorm.

“It was nice of you to let the firsties have a sleepover,” said Cater. “But couldn’t you have let me stay over at Mugglesworth too?”

“No,” Trey told him firmly. “I only sent Deuce because he’s responsible enough and the fact that they’re friends. I know that you just want to flirt with the prefect.”

Cater let out a puff of air and pouted. “Killjoy.”

When Trey opened the door to the dorm, he was greeted by a tense feeling that was so heavy that it could knock him down. Something was wrong. The dorm usually wasn’t this quiet even in the evening.

“What’s going on?” Cater could sense it too.

They opened the doors to the lounge and Trey felt his heart stop.

So many students, with pained expressions, had their heads chopped off. Riddle took no prisoners. Not a single student in the room wasn’t wearing a collar. Their movements were tense, some rapidly looking left and right for any incoming danger. What happened?

“Trey, you’re back!” A redheaded second-year, Milo, came up to him with an abashed cry. As if his collar wasn’t bad enough, his face was all bruised and swollen.

Milo’s taller friend, Sutton, stood next to him looking much worse. Two bloody tissues were shoved up his nostrils, he had a half-healed shiner, and a few cuts on his cheeks and lips. It was obvious that he had a rough day. Their injuries must have been so severe that even the infirmary’s potions couldn’t heal them up completely.

“Did the dorm leader take off your heads for fighting?” asked Trey. It wasn’t often that Heartslabyul students got into physical fights, at least when they knew when Riddle wasn’t around.

“No, a first-year with a spade mark did this,” Milo admitted quietly.

“Shut the hell up! You didn’t need to tell him that!” shouted Sutton.

Did he mean Deuce? It can’t be. Trey told himself that there were other first-years with spade marks. It had to be one of them.

“Ten of us broke rule 256: ‘Past eight at night, one must drink lemonade with honey,’ ” Milo explained.

Trey’s heart clenched when he looked over at the coffee table where a cool pitcher of lemonade and half-drunken glasses sat.

“I know that following the Laws of the Queen of Hearts is tradition, but… at least let us eat or drink whatever we want! I almost got caught eating a hamburger steak on a Tuesday.” A first year began weeping into his hands.

“I can’t take this anymore. It’s stifling to keep living like this! Let me transfer to another dorm!” cried a student with hare ears.

Trey was at loss about what to do. He gave the distraught beastman a comforting pat on the shoulder, which he knew didn’t really help at all. “I’ll try to talk to the dorm leader about getting your collars off soon. For now, all of you should go back to your rooms.” It wasn’t a promise. Convincing Riddle to lift punishments was like walking on eggshells.

“I guess I should try and help win our Queen’s favour with some tea.” Cater sighed helplessly.

“Herbal tea, not black tea. I think rule 153 mentioned something about that,” said Trey. The last thing they needed was for Riddle to lose his temper on his second-most trusted dorm member.

As everyone left the lounge, Trey couldn’t help but think about how they were all in for a rough night, and it wasn’t just the neck pains from lying down in bed wearing a bulky collar. The punishments were becoming more and more harsher and frequent. It was like he was turning into…

No, Riddle was not that person. He was just misguided. His reign terror will pass, eventually.

It always does, right?

◐ ━━━━━ ºoº ━━━━━ ◑

Notes:

*“Takes one to know one, I guess.”— I remember how in episode 1-20, Ace picked up on Deuce's "bad boy mode". At this point, only MC and Grim knew about Deuce's past as a delinquent, so this really hones in the fact that Ace is pretty observant and smart. He might have picked up on Deuce's behaviour during their adventure in the mines.

*“The medicine she was taking didn’t smell like something you would use for common colds and flus"— This is based on the fact that Trey is in the science club. I'm pretty sure they had a club meeting for medicinal potions at some point

*However, when Minako took a bite of her own tart, the experience wasn’t as fun.— This idea was borrowed from Broken_Synchronicity's fanfic, Lost in Translation. When it came to that scene, I was like, "Oh yeah some people don't like certain textures mixed with certain flavours." Minako does not appreciate mushy veggie hot dogs, no sir.

*How she managed to be three years ahead in that [Transfiguration] when she used to struggle with charms so much was beyond her.*— I have a headcanon, at least for the modern times of the Potterverse, that while the students of Hogwarts cannot graduate early, they can still choose to be ahead in 1–3 core classes in school. Minako actually completed her 7th year studies for potions and transifguration during her 4th year of Hogwarts. She chose to do this because the professors were ordered to go easy on her in terms of workload to prevent her curse from acting up from stress. Minako wanted to prove herself as one of the brightest students in the school, so she pushed herself to excel in her two best subjects.

*"Remember, it’s in two days."— I remember when the braincell group first met Cater, he said that the Unbirthday party was coming in two days. Then later on in the same day, they said that the party was tomorrow. It could be a mistranslation or a mistake, but I'm going to keep it there because I need the extra day for the next chapter.

IMPORTANT NOTES: Okay, so I was gone for a hot minute. By January 11th, I will be beginning my final semester of college. Just as a warning, I will likely be extremely busy making my design thesis project from now until April 22. I will also be busy looking for jobs. So, what's going to happen?

Obviously, I don't want to drop writing this fanfic so soon. However, you might expect delays in updates. I'm also considering just writing out the chapters and posting it without the illustrations to save some time. I may or may not add illustrations to the posted chapters later on if I have time.

Thank you so much for reading and understanding and I'll see you in the next chapter. Have a happy belated New Year!

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[dancingazaleas]

𖨆. 05 / all for us

summary: after the recent incident, you don’t feel a real reason to live. so why try to live?

note: this was supposed to be longer, but i loved how it ended. i’m also a suffering from headaches again. please be patient with me. also, PLEASE READ THE WARNINGS IVE LISTED. this is a DARK chapter.

taglist: @the-sun-baby @voltairelesecond @baelo80 @uniquepickle @ascybous @saturnalya @messyhairday-me @stupid-stinky

word count: 1.4k

warnings/notes: cursing, suicidal thoughts, self harm, attempt of suicide, dark, panic attack

YOU lay on the floor of your closet once again, the scratchy carpet being the only thing that provided you with warmth. the only person you'd seen for the past few days was erwin. anytime he'd even mention levi, you'd beg for him not to see you.

you groan quietly, deciding to go lay in your bed for a while so your skin won't keep itching. your foot chills when it touches the hardwood floor of your room, and it distracts you from the task at hand.

you're dizzy now, only being able to focus on your foot. it didn't help much since you collapsed onto your side, breathing heavily through your nose as you stare blankly to the wall. you haven't stood up for hours, opting to leave the closet only to go to the restroom.

you blink while getting back onto your feet, hand pressed against your head as if you were soothing it. you decide to go to the bathroom, if you go now that means you won't have to go later.

you watch your hands afterwards, tired eyes watching your reflection in the crystal clear mirror.

your face was bruised, you have a black eye and a deep cut on your cheek from levi's wedding band.

you look back down to your hands, wanting to focus on something else in order to soothe yourself. you don't bother to dry your hands off with a towel, opting to shaking them around in the air.

your feet drag against the floor as you jump into your bed, body smoothly sliding across it so your head rests against a pillow. you curl up under the covers, genuine warmth crashing against your body for the first time in days. it's almost overwhelming, but you can't find it in yourself to care.

you watch a movie to help pass the first hour and a half of you being outside of the closet. you play another movie for background noise, getting off of your bed and walking to the bookshelf.

you grab a black book with white font, grabbing a smaller blanket and throwing it over your lap once you sit in a chair.

you’re going to read some of this book and then retreat back to your safe space whenever they come to feed you.

even though you’re reading the story, you can barely comprehend the words along with the plot line. everything seems to be a jumbled mess inside of your mind, so much that it makes your head hurt right behind your eyes. time stretches longer than you meant for it to as you keep rereading all the sentences, hoping to gain at least a tiny bit of understanding.

you’re attention is taken away by the sound of the door opening and closing. you’d been so focused you hadn’t even noticed that someone was coming to see you. and not only was it someone, it was levi.

the book falls out of your hands and onto the floor, eyes wide as you stare at levi with fear.

he’s holding your tray of food for lunch, which you don’t think you’ll be eating today since it’s not erwin who’s going to feed you.

levi tries not to get irritated at the way your body is trembling. he hasn’t even said a single word and you’re already cowering.

when levi steps closer, you jump out of the chair and into the corner furthest from him. you cry out for erwin, for help, anyone that will be able to take levi away from you.

it startles levi for a moment, but it’s soon replaced with frustration as he makes another step.

you scream while tears gush out of your eyes, nailing planting onto the wall you’re up against. levi angrily puts the tray of food down onto your windowsill, metal and glass clinking against one another in unsynchronized harmony.

for whatever reason, it has you screeching with you dropping to the floor and cover your head with your arms. levi’s worried and goes to make a move towards you, but you’re too frightened to think.

your screeching has his head pounding, so much that he’s silently praying that erwin would just come in already.

“i’m—i’m trying to fucking help!” he barks at you, stomping his foot onto the hardwood flooring.

you jump once more, protecting yourself more than before.

levi goes to scream again, but he’s interrupted by the door to your room slamming open.

erwin’s there, half dressed and messy hair while his eyes frantically scan the area. his eyes widen at the sight of your cowering, quickly rushing over to you to sit in front of you.

“what happened,” he asks levi while cautiously pressing a hand to your knee.

“i just walked in and she just went batshit,” levi says with exasperation, confusion and anger flashing on his face.

“get out. you scare her,” he orders with furrowed brows, stroking the skin of your kneecap with his thumb.

levi scoffs but listens anyways, shutting the door behind him.

“my love, everything’s okay. it’s just us now,” he murmurs sweetly, managing to coax you out of your panicked state just a bit.

“us? j... just us,” your voice is shaky as your hand absentmindedly reaches out for erwin.

“yes, just us,” he confirms with a smile, managing to gather you in his large arms.

you continue to cry, only this time you can breathe.

“can’t be with ‘im... i’m scared,” you admit while attaching yourself to erwin, “so scared.”

shushing you, he coos, “you can, i believe in you.”

wrong choice.

“no! no! NO,” you start to trash in his arms, once again entering the almost inconsolable mind state.

since he wasn’t expecting your panicked reactions, you manage to kick him in the chest and push him away. his body bangs against the stool of your vanity, knocking it onto his side with a loud crash.

levi runs back inside, watching how you jump to your feet and over to your vanity. erwin manages to scoot further away from you, slightly unsure of your next move.

you’re sobbing uncontrollably as you slam your fast into your vanity’s mirror. it’s so clean, not a smudge on it. not even a speck of lint. it’s perfect.

the shards cut your hand, but you don’t care, too high on adrenaline. levi and erwin go to disarm you just as you manage to grasp a particularly large and sharp shard of glass.

the moment it’s in your hand, you raise your opposite wrist to the glass while screaming at the two men.

“NOT ANOTHER STEP,” you cry as you push the glass against your skin, freezing both levi and erwin, “not another fucking step or i kill myself with this shard right fucking here.”

“(name), my love, it’s alright! it’s okay! no one’s going to hurt you,” erwin barely moves an inch while he pleads, but you don’t care.

“I SAID NOT ANOTHER STEP!!” you roar while slicing the glass against your skin, blood immediately pouring from the new wound.

dark red paints the glass as your finger swipes against the blood by accident.

“get out,” you whimper, “just leave me alone to die, please.”

“we can’t do that,” levi says calmly, accidentally taking a step out of instinct.

it feels comparable to flour whenever the blade slices through your pretty skin. it burns and you know that you might end up having to get stitches from just how deep it is if you want to live. and considering you can only really get stitches from hospitals, you say your goodbyes in your head.

“if you can’t do that,” your vision is starting to grow hazy as your breath comes out ragged, “then, i’ll just kill myself right here, knife at the vein.”

this is the only way you’ll be free again. the only way you’ll be away from them. the only way you’ll probably ever get to see your friends again.

your hope has dwindled into nothing. you know you cannot get away, not in a million years. now, there’s only one way to escape. death.

and by god if you let one of them slaughter you.

and so, you slash your arm once more right against the vein. blood oozes from the wound with ease while your eyes roll back and your knees hit the floor. the last thing you see is erwin and levi running towards you with panicked looks on their faces. it almost makes you laugh.

you hope to see them in hell.

[wornoutmouse]

Deku cursing is so hard to write. Uraraka slander, I don't really hate her but this was needed. Cunt is such a funny word.

"Zuku are you ready?!" You call out as you put on your hoop earrings. You were going to a hero gala of sorts and of course you wanted to look your best.  "I think so y/n." 

Izuku walks out from the bathroom looking absoulutely scrumptious as he rolled up his dark green cuffs that matched perfectly with your green slit dress. You lick your lips as you trail your eyes down his form groaning when you get to his feet. "Really Deku, the red converse?!" He blushes, "I feel like it's very nostalgic to wear these shoes especially when we're seeing the others."

"Yeah well go be 'nostalgic' with those green bottom church shoes I got you in the closet." You rolled your eyes before fluffing your hair as you hum your way past Midoriya's whines of displeasure. 

When you arrive it's extravagant. Paparazzi are lining the outskirts trying to get even a pinch of an interview with a hero. "Puppy, stay here I'm going to go try to find the others!" Izuku yells over the noise as he heads towards the line of limousines arriving alongside the building.

 "Miss, "H/N, can i ask you a question!" A reporter calls out to you.

Judging by her shakiness and crooked glasses, she was a juvenile reporter. Feeling bad, you decided talking to her wouldn't hurt. "Sure what would you like to know?" The reporter fumbles through her notes elegantly ignoring the hateful glares coming from her peers. "Um, w-what is your take on the recent rumors, b-between pro hero Uravity and Deku?!" 

You hold your chin in thought, as far as you knew there were no rumors surrounding the two so maybe this is a new one that just barely breached the surface. "I'm sorry you're going to have to tell me this rumor dear." The reporter blushes at the term of endearment before fumbling with her notes once again. "I uh, according to a few eye witnesses, Pro-Hero Deku and Uravity were seen together late at night multiple times alone.

You laugh out loud scaring nearby people. "Oh really, are there any photo evidence of these meetups?" Outwardly one would think you were amused but they could tell by the way the blood drained from the thing reporters face that she realized that her new career depended on her proof. The other reporters had cleared away once the senior hero's arrived so it was just the two of you minus the civilians.

The clumsy girl fumbled with her phone and borderline dropped it from her sweaty grasps as she tried to keep her cool. 

Low and behold, there was a crystal clear photo of Deku and Uraraka walking into a park with big bright smiles on their faces. "Interesting.." you mutter squeezing the phone so tightly that it bursted. You blink before shaking it's remains from your hands.

 "Sorry about that hon," you pull out a few hundreds and toss them her. "Use this to buy yourself a new one." The reporter nods weakly and walks away clutching at her chest.

"Y/N!" Izuku calls out to you waving you over. Behind him is the rest of 1-A and next to him is....Uraraka. "Sup Bakuhoe." You say daping up Bakugo who only grunts in response. 

As you all go to walk in, Deku reaches for your hand but you quickly walk up to Shoji and start a miscellaneous conversation. "What's up four arms?" Shoji rolls his eye at you before slinging his webbed forearms around your shoulder.

From behind, Izuku purses his lips at the sight as Uraraka takes this as a chance to latch onto his and start a worthless conversation.

Inside the plaza, there are lights adorning the walls and ceilings creating a warm golden glow onto the various colors gliding across the floor as the hero's conversed below.

"Izuku honey can you go get me some wine?" You ask jutting out your bottom lip as you gesture to the table adorned with finger sandwiches and a river of chocolate. "Sure!" Izuku immediately perks up as he heads trip the table, Bakugo following close behind. 

"So...Y/N, you look nice!?" Ochako  starts up picking hesitantly at her nails. You swallow the distain and put a smile on your face once again. "How have you been Ochako, it's been a while since we've all seen each other." Momo clasped hey hands together, "It has hasn't it?! If someone would have told me hero work would be this time consuming, I would have second guessed my choices."

Todoroki shook his head, "No you wouldn't have." Suddenly pink arms wrap around your shoulders in a tight embrace, "Y/N!!! Heya g-friend!" You giggle as you feel a chin rub the top of your head. "Mimi you gon mess up my hair!" 

Mina laughs as she comes into your view, her vibrant pink skin blending with her red dress. "I see you girl, matching with your husband!" You tease watching her pink hue turn darker. "Your one to talk! Where's Katsuki anyways?" Your point to the wine table, shaking your head as Mina struts off. 

Moments later, Izuku walks over with two glasses of a clear alcohol. "So Y/N, anything new come up recently?" Ochaco asked poking at a small piece of cake settled on her plate. You gingerly take your glass from Izuku as he sits down next to you. "No I have not, why is there anything you'd like to share?" You stare at Ochaco over the rim of your glass as you sip.

Uraraka's eyebrow twitches slightly as she plasters on a tight smile. "No, not at all." 

From the corner of your eye you see Bakugo shift in his seat as the subtle hostility in the air gets thicker. "Aye nerd, come over here, I need to talk to you about something." Deku places his glass down and stands up oblivious of the situation as always.

"Is it hot in here or is it just me?" Momo asked glancing from the two of you. "You know Y/N, usually in this stage of life, one would settle down with their…highschool sweetheart?" You bite the inside of your cheek at the comment. "Oh Uraraka you're so funny, just because Kaminari and Jiro are married doesn't mean we need to add well!" Momo chuckles softly. Under the desk you could feel her leg tapping rapidly from nerves. 

You down the rest of your drink and release your curled hair from it's bobby pins before turning to Ochaco. "Look sis, if you got something to say, say it." Uraraka giggles playfully, "All I'm saying is it's very strange that Deku seems to have so much free time that he's able to spend a lot of it with me all the while he had a.. loving(?) Girlfriend at home."

Shoji tensed in his seat and tried to make himself look smaller which was in no way an easy feat.

You clench the table sheet in your hands. "Is it getting darker in here?" Todoroki asked as he watched the small shadows in the room grow in size. "So, Uravity, what are you two doing during your alone time since you seem to have something to say?"

Ochaco smirked as her brown eyes darkened, "Oh a few things, but I don't think any of them are appropriate to discuss in a public place like this. Maybe it is where your from but not in Japan." 

Momo squeeked, "Uraraka that's so rude! Y/N you know she's only jesting, Deku would never do something like that"

The room had darkened considerably and the other guest had finally took noticed  including Deku and Bakugo who were talking in the most well lit part of the room. "It's about time she reacted." Bakugo said as Deku quickly shuffled back towards the table.

"Puppy?" You breathe shallowly glaring at Ochaco who gave you one last look before putting on a scared face. "Deku, I don't know what happened, she's freaking me out!" Izuku places a hesitant hand on your shoulder, "Y/N what happened." You close your eyes and stand up, "It's nothing, I think I'm ready to go home." 

You head to the car with anger in your heart as Izuku stays back to pay respect to the others. From any onlooker, you would think the end was near from the way shadows seemed to come out from the darkness and wrap around you as you headed towards the car. "Okay Y/N calm down." You say to yourself as you take out your keys. 

"Puppy." Izuku mumbles sliding his hands around your waist, gently burying his face into your neck. "What's wrong?" You grunt shrugging your shoulders, "Get off." Deku releases you after placing a gentle kiss on your shoulder. "You can't avoid me."

You both get into the car and sit in silence as he drove. "What have you been doing with Uraraka?!" You say staring ahead. "What do you mean?" 

"Why are there pictures of your an Ochaco floating around in less than appropriate places?!" Izuku glances at you and sighed, "Nothing puppy, Uraraka has just been asking to spar with me."

"Then why didn't you tell me?!" You yelled slightly making Deku swerve a bit. "I...I didn't think it was important?" Your roll your eyes, "You had me clueless and stupid." Was all you said before you got out the car. Deku got out to follow you but his phone suddenly rang, "Who is that Ochaco? Go ahead and answer since you have so much time for her." 

"Puppy it's not like that!" You slam the door in his face and head to the room.

Moments later Deku walks in  but you ignore him. "Puppy?" You remain silent "Puppy I'm sorry for not telling you, I didn't think you'd care." You whine into the sheets turning your head away. 

"That was Momo, she told me what happened. It's not true…what Uraraka said" 

You didn't reply but you lifted your head to look at him "I'm not speaking to you." His eyebrows furrowed as he walks behind you. 

*Thwap!*

You lurch forward as a hand comes to grab your ass cheek. "Huh?" Deku crawls up and straddles your thighs while gently massaging your lower back. "Want me to make it up to you puppy?" Izuku asked, kissing the back of your neck sucking lightly. "You looked so good at the party that I was jealous." You moan softly as teeth sink into your neck, "You let Shoji touch you but not me? That hurt puppy." 

A soft hand trails up the expanse of your leg where your dress split open. "Zuku?" You feel something hard press into the curve of your ass. "I wanna make you feel good puppy, forget about the rumors."

You find yourself turning around with Deku settled in between your opened legs. Your dress had rode up your legs so Izuku took this as an opportunity to press kisses to your lower stomach and naval. You huff Izuku pressed kisses on your face, "Will you forgive me?" Two hands take hold on your thighs and pull you forward. "Or will I have to make you?"

Deku kisses you, accidently clinking your teeth together making you grunt. You trail your fingers through his hair drinking his moans with your mouth. You pull Izuku further into the bed as you switch positions opting to straddle him instead. "I wanna be on top."

Deku licked his lips as he gazed hungrily at your breasts. You pull the dress over yourself sighing as your chest fall out, bra-less. "Y-You were walking around in nothing Puppy!?" Deku asked, face flushed as he took in all the bare skin displayed in front of him. "Well I was thinking of doing something naughty while we were at the party anyways." You reply, looking at Deku with lidded eyes as you played with your hardened nipples.

Izuku leaned forward and took your nipple into his mouth sucking lightly on your bud making you toss your head back. "Your so perverted puppy."

By now Deku was extremely hard as you rocked yourself back on his unclothed length, when that happened, you have no clue.. "Sit in my cock puppy, I need you so bad!" 

You reach behind yourself and grab Izuku's dick, positioning it below yourself. Izuku moans softly as you side down slowly making him sheath snuggly inside of you. It took all l the strength in his body not to thrust completely inside of you.

You rock slowly trying to adjust to the feeling of fullness. Izuku may be shy in the streets but the length of his dick was not. "You're so fucking warm." He growled, wrapping his arms around your waist before thrusting once, pushing the rest of himself inside of you. You whine as your nails unapologetically scratch the curve of Izuku's back.

Contrary to popular belief, Deku was a slut for pain and the feeling of your nails breaking through his skin only edged him more as he suckled dark bruises onto your right breast praying you'd adjust soon. He trails his hands down your sides before coming back to grip your ass in-between his hands.

You trail your hands down your stomach and rub soothing circles into your clit. Izuku watches closely as your face contorted from pleasure while you made yourself feel good. Each flick of your fingers made your cunt clench on his dick as it twitched inside you.

Izuku rolls his hips purposefully up into you, making your breath hitch as it slowly exits your body before slamming back in. 

Soon you'ry both breathing heavily and Izuku is using his full quirkless strength to lift you up and slam you back down on his cock. "Fuck you feel to damn good!" You wrap your arms around his shoulders as your body bursts with pleasure. "I'm gonna cum, make me cum Izuku!"

Deku lays back a bit and watches your boobs bounce with the force of his thrusts. "You gonna cum? Then cum puppy!" You arch your back as Izuku's thrust turned frantic and rhythmless. The sound of his balls hitting your ass was hilarious yet sexy as his fingertips would briefly light up with green sparks, shocking your nerves every time. 

The room was filled with a series of 'fucks' and 'so close' as you used your little bit of strength to bounce on his cock. You trembled from the overstimulation as Izuku cums inside of you, filling you up so much that you could feel it deep inside your womb.

You roll off of Deku and he immediately pulls you towards him in a loving embrace. "M'sorry for not telling you Y/N, i won't do it again, promise." He mumbled into your hair which had miraculously survived your seat inducing activities. To your left, Deku's phone rings and the name Ochaco flashes before you. Izuku was already snoring softly behind you so seeing this as an opportunity, your answer it.

"Hello? Deku?" You hum softly as to not give away your identity. "How did it go with Y/N? I feel so sorry that she embarrassed you in front of everyone like that… You know if you ever want to talk about it, my door is always open." 

You growled and opened your mouth to tell her off but a hand, soft but firmly, removes the phone from your hand. "Uraraka, I think it's best if we maintain a professional relationship from now on." From the other line you could faintly hear sputtered responses, "What do you mean, I-I was just trying to help and-" Izuku gently grips the bridge of his nose, "Shut up and don't lie to me, I don't want you near me or my family, now excuse me while I cuddle with my freshly fucked wife." 

You slap your hands over your mouth in shock and laughter as Izuku hangs up the phone without further response. Izuku smiled softly before rolling over on top of you, "Oh, you're not off the hook yet puppy, keep laughing and I'll put that mouth of yours to use next.

[holidaywishes]

the truth

part nine: the truth

  Requested: 🙅‍♀️

  Summary: “I ended things because I hated being your second-choice, I hated sharing you with this city, I hated not having an identity aside from... you. And honestly, I think you like it that way...”

  Warning: angst, some fluff

  Author’s Note: As I was looking over this series, I realized the last time I wrote for it was the beginning of the Pandemic. Literally, it was like March 25th, 2020. I keep trying to find time to add to it, or to finish it, but never get a chance; until now. I’m making myself do it and it’s a big reason why my requests are closed. I have three chapters planned and they’re all gonna be pretty angsty with some fluff thrown in for the hell of it. I’m curious to know how many people want this to end happily and how many people want it to end... “realistically” i.e. with more angst than fluff; so I created a poll! Have fun and let me know what you think! I’m hoping that I can get this out before my birthday because it’s been more than a year and I’m ready to move on to other fics lol. Enjoy! Stay Golden, loves! <3

  masterlist

  the other masterlist

xx

  You would be lying to yourself if you said you hadn’t spent the last week thinking about what you and Brendan had talked about; how your ideas of marriage didn’t seem to match up anymore. There was a few days when the conversations the two of you had would hover around superficial topics, like the weather or his practices or what either of you wanted for supper, and you knew it was so you would just avoid bringing up the truth

  “So...” he finally said one Sunday afternoon and you felt yourself prepare yourself for the inevitable conversation, furrowing your brows when he kept it to small talk, “what are the plans for today?”

  “Nothing in particular...” you sighed, “got any ideas?”

  “Wanna go out for dinner?” he asked, not looking up from the paper he was reading. He never read the paper and you weren’t sure why he was starting now

  “Like a date night?” you prompted and he finally looked up, giving you a smirk

  “Yeah,” he replied, “like a date night. How does that sound?”

  “I mean,” you smiled, sitting back in your seat, “yeah that sounds great. Where are we going?”

  “That one in the Birks Hotel? With the Stained Glass?” he said, trying to think of the name

  “Henri Brasserie?” you questioned

  “HENRI BRASSERIE! That’s it” he exclaimed

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah... why wouldn’t I be?”

  “Every time we walk past, you kinda.. scoff at it”

  “I do not” he countered and you raised your eyebrows at him

  “Yes. You do”

  “Well, I think it would be a nice place for a date night. Plus, we’ve never been”

  “Yeah, that’s true,” you added, “alright! What time?”

  “6”

  “It’s almost 4 now!” you exclaimed

  “Yeah?” he said dumbly and you scoffed hastily before making your way to the bedroom to pick an outfit, “(Y/N)? Babe?” he called

  “I have to get ready...” you replied and he laughed 

  “You have tons of time!”

  “STOP!” you laughed in a small panic, “I’m going to take a shower!”

xx

Brendan’s P.O.V

  You shook your head as (Y/N) rushed around trying to get ready, jumping into the shower quickly while you stayed downstairs in the kitchen.

  “Bonjour, Henri Brasserie, comment puis-je vous aider aujourd'hui?” a voice asked when they picked up on the other line

  “Bonjour,” you started, switching to English quickly, “I know it’s last minute but I’m hoping to make a reservation for two, tonight, at 6?”

  “Oh,” the voice said, clearly baffled at the last minute request, “uhm.. let me see”

  “I really appreciate it,” you said, looking up the stairs to make sure (Y/N) was still in the shower, “I’m planning to propose tonight”

  “Congratulations!” the voice exclaimed

  “Merci” you smiled to yourself

  “Oh, wow,” she scoffed, surprised, “someone just cancelled their reservation, for 6:15 tonight”

  “Perfect!”

  “Can I just grab a name for the reservation?”

  “Brendan,” you said, “Last name, Gallagher” you heard them gasp and you had to hold back a chuckle

  “Monsieur Gallagher,” they started, “I’m so sorry. I’m such a fan, I should’ve recognized your voice...”

  “Don’t worry,” you smiled, “I’m happy you were able to find a table for us”

  “Is there anything special you would like? We are so honoured you have chosen us for your proposal tonight and we would love to be able to make the night as special as possible for you and your soon-to-be-fiancée”

  “If you could put us next to that big Stained Glass window that would be perfect,” you asked, hoping they could manage it, “and maybe have a bottle of your favourite Champagne ready for dessert?”

  “Of course!” they said excitedly, “we would be happy to do that. Anything you need”

  “Thank you,” you smiled again, blushing slightly, “but you don’t have to go out of your way. I don’t want to make anything difficult”

  “We will make it an unforgettable night, Monsieur”

  “Thank you. We’ll see you at 6″

  “See you then!” You imagined that as soon as you ended the call, they were frantically trying to get things sorted so that you had everything you needed and you just hoped it wasn’t too much for (Y/N), who you could now hear searching through her closet for a dress to wear

  “You’ll look beautiful in anything you choose” you flirted, heading to your closet to grab a suit

  “But this is a nice place, B, we should look nice”

  “And you will,” you replied, walking over to her after throwing your chosen suit on the bed, “because you look beautiful always.” You placed your arms around her waist as she continued to search her closet, kissing her cheek before leaving to get dressed, “I love you”

  “Love you, too” she smiled, turning around to plant a light kiss on your lips before she shooed you away. When the two of you finally got to the restaurant, you were welcomed quickly and (Y/N) smiled awkwardly before whispering to you, “you called this in last minute didn’t you?”

  “I would never. I always plan everything, to the smallest detail” you joked, nodded in appreciation to the hostess who showed you and (Y/N) to your table

  “Liar” she teased

  “Love you.”

xx

  The staff fell over him like he was made of gold and you could only laugh at how hard they were trying. The restaurant was beautiful and Brendan had managed to reserve the bay window where the stained glass stood; whether it was planned weeks in advance or just a few minutes, you were just happy to be out with him like this. It had been so long.

  “What are you thinking about?” he asked

  “Nothing,” you smiled, shaking your head, “I’m just wondering how you’d ever get by without all this attention...”

  “Oh come on,” he chuckled, wiping his mouth with his napkin before placing it on his plate before the servers came to take away your dishes, “I’m not... it’s not that bad is it?”

  “You like all this attention, I get it” you smirked, shrugging playfully

  “How was everything?” your server asked

  “It was great!” Brendan said quickly before ordering dessert for the two of you

  “Oh, Bren, I’m so full... I don’t think we should get dessert..” you tried

  “How about some Champagne?”

  “Sure,” you smiled, “Champagne sounds nice.” The wait staff rushed to clear the table, leaving you to giggle at their eagerness, before you were being handed a crystal glass to clink with Brendan

  “To you,” he started, “to us”

  “To us” you repeated with a smile, taking a sip of the bubbly beverage, not realizing Brendan had gotten up from his seat until you were placing your glass back on the table, finding him kneeling on one knee. “No,” you thought to yourself, “please no. Not here, not like this...”

  “(Y/N)...” he started

  “Shit” you thought to yourself, a tear building in your eye as you already knew what you were about to say

  “I love you more than I ever thought I could love somebody and we’ve definitely had our moments that made things difficult but in the end it was all worth it. Because we wound up stronger,”

  “Brendan...” you tried to stop him

  “We found each other when I think we both needed it and I could not be more grateful for anyone in my life. When I think about my future, you’re the first thing I see. I want to share everything with you. The good, the bad, the in-between. I want us to share our lives together”

  “B..” you sighed, closing your eyes as he reached into his pocket

  “Will you marry me?” he asked, pulling out a small velvet box and revealing a diamond ring more beautiful than you could’ve imagined and you sat there in silence for a moment while the entire restaurant looked on. Any words struggled to escape your throat and your eyes just lingered on Brendan’s for a minute before you finally spoke

  “No” you said quietly, wiping a tear from your eye and walking away, stopping only when he grabbed your arm lightly, light enough for you to pull it away. You made your way out of the restaurant and leaned against the wall before walking toward the apartment. You couldn’t believe you were here again, trying to navigate this relationship while on a completely different page than the person you were supposed to be figuring it out with. When you felt a drop of water fall on your skin, you groaned to yourself before hearing a car pull up behind you

  “Get in,” Brendan called to you and you shook your head, “(Y/N), just get in the damn car” you stopped before walking to the passenger door and hopping into the seat

  “Le--” you started but he just turned up the volume on the radio to tune you out, leading you to turn your face to stare out the window. He slammed the door as he got out of the car, leaving the front door to the apartment wide open and you took a deep breath before you walked inside, closing it slowly behind you

  “WHAT THE HELL?!” he yelled

  “Let me explain,” you started, “I’m sorry”

  “Explain!”

  “You can’t get mad at me. I get that you’re upset but don’t yell and go on like a child. Just listen to me”

  “Fine” he huffed

  “Why did you propose? I mean really, what made you think that it was a good time or that we were ready or that I would say yes?”

  “Because we love each other?!” he said angrily

  “Yes,” you sighed, “I love you but I never said I was ready to marry you”

  “We talked about it…”

  “Did we?” you countered, sitting across from him as he thought about his answer, “I found your scrapbook, we talked about the wedding. I let it go because I thought it was sweet that you even had the scrapbook in the first place but then when we talked about being married…”

  “We talked about how nothing would change…”

  “You talked about how nothing would change and how great that would be for you,” you argued, sighing before dropping your head to your hands, “I never said I wanted to get married or that I was ready to get married”

  “You don’t want to marry me?” he asked sadly, a frown covering his features in a way you’d never seen before

  “That’s not what I’m saying”

  “Then what are you saying? You just humiliated me back there so I think I deserve the truth”

  “I don’t… know,” you huffed, getting up and pacing away from him, “I don’t know. I love you, Brendan, you know that. I wouldn’t have agreed to try this again if I didn’t love you but it just I can’t marry you right now”

  “Why not?!”

  “Because nothing has changed!” you yelled back finally, letting your mouth drop open at your own admission, watching his eyebrows scrunch together as he took in what you were saying

  “What do you mean..? What hasn’t changed?” he asked

  “Why do you think we broke up in the first place, the first time?”

  “I don’t know. You kept saying that we weren’t good for each other anymore and stuff like that…” you scoffed

  “You’re right,” you said, knowing that you couldn’t deny that you had, in fact, said those words, “but what else did I say? Why would I have said that we weren’t good for each other?”

  “I have no idea! I always thought we were good for each other.”

  “You don’t listen! You think you have all the answers or that you can fix everything so easily but you can’t. Not everything can be fixed so quickly.”

  “Fine. Okay, tell me now.” He insisted and you tilted your head, “I’m listening. I won’t say a word. I won’t try to fix it. Tell me now why you think we weren’t good for each other”

  “The truth?” you asked once before he took your hand and sat you down next to him on the couch

  “The truth”

  “We drifted apart. We were so hopelessly in love when we first met and I know things got stressful for you because of how the seasons were going but you wouldn’t talk to me about it. At first, I thought it was fine. Like I’d give you your space and there was a reason you didn’t want me to know you were feeling shitty about the way things were going. But a few years later and you’re still not talking to me about it? We’re supposed to be a team, you’re supposed to be able to talk to me about the stress you have so I can take some of it from you but that wasn’t us. You kept your stress to yourself and I got frustrated and mad and I made brash decisions like that guy,” you sighed, turning your body slightly, your knees grazing his, “you didn’t have to be alone in all of it”

  “I never felt like I was alone…” he said

  “I did” you confessed, realizing that was the first time you had really said those words out loud. You did feel alone all those years. Every decision you made was because you felt like you were in the relationship without him and it still felt that way; especially when your idea of marriage was so different than his seemed to be. “I guess,” you said, biting the inside of your cheek nervously, “I ended things because I hated being your second-choice, I hated sharing you with this city, I hated not having an identity aside from... you” you took a minute so he could hear what you were saying but there was still more you wanted him to understand, “honestly, I think you like it that way...”

  “What does that mean?”

  “If I’m here for you, unconditionally, then I get to be one of these girlfriends that the city can accept. I won’t be a loose cannon or someone that brings drama. They’ll accept me and you’ll get to finally have all this acceptance that you crave"

  "You think I crave acceptance?"

  "Yes" you replied simply

  "I don't.. think that's true" he stammered

  "I don't know if it's because you're a small guy in the league and you feel like you have to constantly prove yourself," you said, shaking your head to yourself as you spoke before catching a glimpse of his scowl, "or if it has something to do with being the eldest sibling.. I don't know, but yeah, yeah I think you crave acceptance"

  "What if I just crave your acceptance?"

  "Brendan..." you sighed, "you've always had my acceptance. That's why it's not about me"

  "So.. what does this mean?" he asked, head hung low

  "I love you. I always have and I always will and I want to marry you someday but I can't sacrifice myself for you. I need to be able to work and go on vacations and have friends outside of the Habs Wives. I need to not feel like I belong to you," you said, taking his hand softly in yours so he would look at you, "we're not objects. We're people and I want us both to be treated that way"

  "Me too" he smiled softly, leaning in to kiss your forehead

  "Are you okay?" you asked, wincing a little as you looked at his still sad face

  "I'm fine," he said, "a little embarrassed but it'll pass. I love you"

  "I love you, too," you replied, smiling as you kissed the tip of his nose. "Hey," you continued, "don't give up on me okay?"

  "I wouldn't dream of it" he smirked

  "I just mean... keep asking"

  "You got it, babe."